And they're OFF!

Well...... It's official, Mom and Dad are on their way to Puerto Rico for the next 18 months. They left Sunday (6-29) to Provo to the MTC. They will be there only for about a week before they go to San Juan. We went this weekend to see them off and wish them well on their new adventure.

We got there on Fri with enough time to get together with some of the family for dinner. The kids had such a fun time catching up with their cousins.







I am not a big seafood person and so we don't usually have seafood to eat at our home. Well, this place we were eating at was primarily seafood. When the food came out for the grownups, Emma who was sitting next to Abuelo, just stared at his bowl.



He had ordered shrimp cocktail with octupus. Abuelo fished one little octupus out for her to see, and to her horror, ate it right in front of her! LOL She didn't know what to make of it!

Well, it only took the kids about 1/2 hour to make their own plans for the night. There was Pablo and Jesika's house that ended up with the girls for the night, and Ezi and Maria with the older boys. I was going to have the two little boys Lito and Isaac, but poor Lito changed his mind when we had him in our car. Maybe next time.

On Saturday, Ezi and I went to help Mom and Dad finish up at their house, a couple last trips to the storage, and some cleaning. While we were there, the kids got to go to a splash park that Jesika knew about. They had so much fun there. They all got a nice tan (sunburn)! :-) That afternoon we were all invited to eat at our Tia Alma's house with her family and we really enjoyed the carne asada.

On Sunday, we met at Sis Shaub's house for the setting apart. (Sis Shaub's parents where the family that welcomed my Abuelitos Eseteban y Jovita when they came to AZ to be sealed in the Mesa, AZ Temple as a family 50 years ago!) The Stake Pres was there along with Mom and Dad's Bishop. We got a chance to share testimonies, thoughts and feelings with everyone. It was very nice to be in that setting with the family. Then Mom and Dad were set apart as Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in the San Juan, Puerto Rico mission.

After that, we had to rush to the chapel, cause both Mom and Dad were asked to speak during Sacrament. It was a lovely service accentuated by a sister who played the harp, "the music of angels" as dad said. After church we went to Ezi's house to eat and spend a few last minutes with the newly called missionaries. At the airport we had time for a few last minute pics and some more tears and hugs. And with a final "bye Abuelos" from the grandkids they were off.






We are so excited to be a part of this wonderful work. On the way home last night, Emma was in tears, cause she was going to miss her Abuelos so much, but this morning she came to me and told me that she was happy cause she knew that Abuelos were helping Heavenly Father and Jesus. Even though she was going to miss them so much, she said she wanted them to be able to help some kids that maybe don't have the gospel. We will miss them so much but we are so excited to have our parents and Abuelos as Missionaries!