Happy Days are here again...

A Birthday is not something you quietly observe in the mission.

Someone is sure to find out.

Someone is sure to make sure you are celebrated.

And thus it was...

The day BEFORE my birthday

Ana, Maria and the office crew worked hard to put together a party/lunch.
Complete with balloons, photos, flowers, and love.

They are so fun!

You can never go wrong with flowers...
The flowers here are incredible and you can buy bundles on the streets.
Jon bought flowers and we had enough to do an arrangement for the kitchen as well!

Dia de Amor y Amistad

(or Valentine's Day in September!!)

Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays.

In Colombia they celebrate the day of love and friendship in September.

It just happened to fall on my birthday this year (every year it is a different day in September)

 and we couldn't let it go uncelebrated...here are the cream filled cupcakes

Yes...the oven is up and working again (on a table, but working!!)

and how fun is it to use my decorations twice each year...

I love this family! 

find the hearts????

Celebrating with a Day in Paradise

We rented a van for the day and headed to Paradise

We took the office crew and Ana and Maria with us.

La Hacienda el Paraíso

The home of famous Colombian author, Jorge Isaacs.

Here is where his auto-biography, La Maria, takes place.

 

Elder Rivadeneira trying hard to impersonate Jorge Isaacs!

Elders Stutz, Silva, Almendares and Rivadeneira

 I wish I could attach the fragrance of these roses...it was truly Paradise!

Ana, Sister Oliver, Maria, Me, Sister Torgerson

 

The gardens

The view from the porch of the Hacienda...It really did look like Paradise!

some of the rooms in the Hacienda

Temptation abounds for the missionaries...this bench said, "thank you for not sitting here!"

Caballeros!

Las Damas!  These trees were REALLY big!

 Maria and Efrain...an unforgetable love story

Living our own unforgetable love story...and growing old together.

 Leaving Paradise...Elder Silva and Pres. Prince

and on to lunch

We enjoyed a great lunch at Siga La Vaca...a beautiful place, delicious food,

and wonderful company.

Back at the house we enjoyed Cake that was lovingly prepared

by

Elders Silva and Rivadeneira.

A day in Paradise...Happy days!