oh, THANKS !

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND WAS PERFECT!


Going back home to the (408)

Every Thanksgiving, my parents and I fly out to California to be with my mom's side of the family. I LOVE THE BAY AREA! I lived there for a couple of years growing up and it will always be my second home. It was so perfect being with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.



Oh, and SPIKE the DOG.





[[ he and I have a bad relationship. you see...a few years ago, SPIKE the DOG bit me. riiiiight on the bum. Since then, I will not make eye contact with him. he plots against me to catch me alone just to bite me again...i just know it...i mean look at his smile...evil!!]]

I could write forever about Thanksgiving, but im'a just list some things that i'm most grateful for this year. ready...go.

1. The Gospel...oh my lanta, where would I be without it? (i dont even wanna think about it). The Gospel is special to me for SO many reasons. But the one most recent has to do with the unbelievably quick death of my grandpa Poli. Exactly ONE MONTH after me being with him in Peru, he fainted and in the blink of an eye, got diagnosed with Leukemia and passed away. It was my first loss in my immediate family and oh boy, it hit me hard. I'm teary just thinking about it, but what soothes my spirits is THE GOSPEL. knowing that i will see my Grandpa again one day and that he is in the most perfect place of all...brings joy to my heart and comforts me. He is with our loving Heavenly Father and is not hurting or in pain. He is at peace and I will see him again. For the Gospel and our knowledge, I am grateful.

2. My Familia...I wished i had family in Arizona. My entire mom's side resides in CA, and my papa's side in Peru. All i have here is my parents, brothers and their wifes, nephews and nieces. Being Peruvian, family in our direct culture is everything in the world. Traditions are passed and love is all around and expressed in so many ways. Our favorite way is in the kitchen...peruvian food is DELISH! My family is my world and my unconditional support. My parents and i were sealed as a family in the Mesa, AZ Temple on May 8th, 2010. Families can be together forever, and for that...i am grateful.






3. MUH BES FRANS...my buffalos. Everyone needs that great friend they can rely on. the friend they can spend hours talking to about life, hearts desires and the Gospel. The friend that knows what they're saying just by looking at their eyes or smile. The one that knows you're eating hot cheetos in bed when it's 1am. I AM SO LUCKY i have all of that and they go by the names of TORI WADSWORTH AND MICHELLE STONES. holler! i am a lucky girl. I can't tell you how many times michelle and i have stayed up till the weeee hours of the night discussing the Gospel and how we can better ourselves, and i can't tell you how many times something happens and tori knows EXACTLY what my reaction will be or what im thinking w/o even looking at me. For their love,support and never ending encouragement...for the greatest friends i could ask for...i am grateful.






4. EDUCATION...Oh what's up school books, wanna be my boyfriend? cause i seem to always be dating you and I can't seem to get rid of you! haha! General Authorities have encouraged us to get an education and that's exactly what I be doing...ya dig? haha. I LOVE THE MEDICAL WORLD!! Nursing is kicking my butt, the program is intense and this one little class seems to want me to never pass...but even if i dont pass it....NBD, i wont give up. But for continuing to learn, grow and be a professional...for all of that, i am grateful.


5. DANCE...oh haiii, that does not mean i'm good. Not at all. But i've been dancing for years now and i do it for the pure joy of it. All styles, all music and rhythms...put on a jam and i guarantee i'll be moving to it. I am thankful for MANIC MONDAY cause it kicks my trash andd it keeps me feeling like i wont be morbidly obese from all the hospital food i eat. Also am thankful for CHRISTIAN DANCE COMPANY. dancing through my testimony of my Savior is unreal, and performing at the Temple is such an incredible feeling. It gives me the perfect view of where i want to go, hopefully someday soon with my eternal companion. For the gift of music in my soul,...i am grateful.






....So, i could go on forever but...i have to go to work now. hehe. Im a 20 yr old, broke college student with a full heart and a million things to be thankful for. hey, im alive and kicking. Life is good :)

The sweetest example of selfless Love

...True Love...it's the sweetest thing to see and I can't wait to experience it! I had the pleasure of meeting a very special couple whom I'll never forget. They were in their 90's and the wife...she was my patient :)

My experience::




Early morning, as i got her ready for the day,I heard a sweet, gentle voice announce "Good morning!! Sorry i'm late sweetheart,...but i'm here and ready to read you your book" . I looked up at this sweet elderly man slowly shuffling his way to his wife on his walker. Immediately, a lump formed in my throat- was i seriously gonna cry already? c'mon now! I quickly introduced myself as her student nurse who was going to be taking full care of her. He sat down on the recliner next to her as I continued to do my duties. Playfully, he said "you take good care of her now, she's the love of my life and my sweetpea. She likes her hair to be in a head band, could you fix it for her?"....I happily agreed and before i knew it, i was in a deep conversation with the both of them.

He gets dropped off every morning to spend the day with his sweet heart and take care of her and keep her company. She wasn't very ill, but had to be taken care of professionally...to that, he stated "I can't be home without her thinking she could be lonely or might need something. we've been happily married for 75 years, I wont spend a day without her, I can't breathe without her, she's my everything..." ...after i shared a few AWW's ...she replied "oh, he has always been a sweet talker...". We shared some laughs and they looked at each other as if reading another's thoughts.

They shared a lot about their personal life story and their family. What an incredible couple. They told me how they have been happily married for 75 years and raised a wonderful family and have so many grandchildren. After a good 20 minutes of chatting, i had to go off to my other duties and left them to be.






A few hours later, i walked by the room to see him reading to her. If i could take a picture, i would have ...it was the most tender sight. Time passed again and she had to go to physical therapy. I took that time to go in and chat with him if he needed anything. He shared more stories with me, which i absolutely loved! He told me about how he courted his wife and how she is the prettiest gem of them all :) He then gave me a life lesson i was not expecting. He shared his thoughts of what a woman should be and how his biggest concern in in heart was making sure his daughters chose the right man to marry. He looked at my hand and said,...

..." I see you're not married...let me tell you something. Meeting you today has shown me that society isn't as bad as i think it can be, there are still good people out there who truly care about others and you are the perfect example of one. Women like you, deserve a very special kind of man. Do not settle for someone who doesn't deserve you. You...like my wife, are a gem, that sort of rare gem that you dont come around often. You will marry a good man. Don't go rushing into anything...you're young. But don't forget, you're a gem. Do not settle for anything other than a worthy man cause you deserve a Good man!...write that down in your chart, I dont want you to forget my wise words. Im wise you know ;) " ....



That man, is a gem! his wife, another gem! What a blessing to meet such a wonderful couple who in my shift taught me SO much! his advice to me, his "WISE ADVICE" will forever stay with me. What a wonderful man,...I definitely needed to be reminded of that.

His wife later came back from therapy and his sweet voice once again announced, "hi sweetheart, did you do good at therapy? I was waiting for you to continue our book..."


a few hours later, as i left the facility, i walked past her room to see him over her wheelchair, softly brushing her hair. yep...there goes that lump in my throat again...

.....their love was real, sincere and selfless! Their love, was eternal.

for their example, I am grateful.