Saturday, April 28, 2012

Update #1: Valentine's Day-ish Jazz Game


At work I was gifted two tickets to the Jazz game.  My friend Katie got two tickets for herself and her husband Nathan, so we got to double-date.  Here we are on Row ... 3!  With dinner and half-time desserts included.  My job is great!

Update #2: Lisel and Blanca visited from Uruguay

Lisel and Blanca are ward members and good friends of Diego's parents.  Lisel's daughter Lucia (Hna. Perez, really) was finishing up her mission on Temple Square during March, and Blanca (she's basically the ward grandmother) convinced Lisel to come to Salt Lake to pick up Lucia.  It was even emotional for me when Lucia and Lisel and Blanca were reunited after 18 months; all of the emotions of leaving my own mission came back to me.  I'm so grateful to be near my family now, but I still miss my companions and Argentine friends so much!

Blanca's story was especially sweet to me: her husband had seen the Salt Lake temple in a dream before he had ever heard of the Church.  The missionaries "happened" to come to their door just a few days after this dream, and they were Golden Converts.  It was their lifelong dream to someday visit the Salt Lake temple, and although Blanca's husband passed away years ago now, Blanca was able to fulfill her dream!


Blanca is the closest thing that Diego has to a Grandma now.  Stella's mom passed away when she Stella was about 15 and Blanca (who had also introduced Stella's family to the Gospel earlier) practically raised Stella and her two brothers while their dad was at work.  She is a true Saint!

Update #3: Visit from Mom and Dad from Uruguay

This month our Uruguayan parents came to visit!


It's the first time since 2004 that Diego has been with his parents for his Birthday!  Stella taught me how to make an AMAZING cake, and Diego got to spend time with friends and all of his family!  We went to Ensign Peak, Buca di Beppo, City Creek Center, Park City Outlets, a small Rosario mission reunion, and Arches National Park.


While Diego and I were at work each week day, Stella and Hugo got to hang out with some other friends here who took them shopping and to sites like the Bingham Copper Mine and the Salt Lake City cemetery, and some days they just stayed home and Stella cooked all day.  Yum!!


I'm pretty sure that I gained at least 8 pounds these two weeks, and we still have a freezer FULL of delicious Uruguayan foods!  MMmm!  Gracias Ma y Pa!  Los amo!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Happy NANCY Day!

My birthday this year was such a great day!

I woke up to a yummy breakfast in bed from Diego...



...followed by awesome gifts from my Gonzalez mom and dad: handmade scarf and shawl from Uruguay.



At work I got balloons and a gourmet cupcake. (Earlier in the month, they also gave me a card and movie giftcard!)


I got fun presents from the Cooper fam too, and had a great free lunch one Saturday at Tucanos when we doubled with Nathan and Stephanie. Then yesterday we finished off the birthday festivities by free dinner at Red Robin doubling with our friends Claire and Scott, and while we waited to be seated I got my last gift...from myself: I pierced my ears.


It was fun and exciting, and I felt so loved! Thank you, everyone!