SO lets just say the best thing in 2 years happened this summer. PARKER FINISHED HIS MISSION. Mom and I had the incredible opportunity to drive to WA to pick him up and bring him HOME:) It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. We literally lived like missionaries that week- woke up at 6am, went on a run (I could barely keep up with parker!!), had comp and personal study, then visited people all day. Yes, we even did some mini tracking and contacting. Parker taught me how to be a better everyday missionary. He reaches out to everyone he meets. I also picked up on a good amount of Spanish since that is literally all we heard all week. By the end of the week, I could bear a simple testimony and I gave a simple prayer. It has been so fun to pick up on a few things having Parker home. And even though he wrote amazing detailed emails, meeting all of the people and seeing all of the places truly brought his mission to life for me! It was incredible to see the love the people had for Parker and that he had for them. Several of them called him their angel! I witnessed what an AMAZING missionary Par was. So proud to call him my older brother. On that trip and since he has been home, I feel like I have learned so much about the gospel, life and yes... boys/dating from him ;) heheh Par gives the best advice and plenty of it. We are best friends because he loves giving advice, and I love getting it:) Below are pictures from our unforgettable trip!
2 years later and we are on our way to the WA.
Bahahah, it was a long drive.
MOM! are you watching the road?!
W for Washington!
My big toe thumbs up tribute to Parker!
Driving to the Mission office after cleaning up at the hotel. WE WERE SO EXCITED. I was shaking sooooo bad.
Hahaha and after we picked him up we had him drive cause we had no idea where we were!
That night we talked in the car forever and then in the hotel for hours. Nothing better than just catching up. I am unbelievably grateful for all the time we had that week to just talk and have Parker alllllllll to ourselves!
Mom's last missionary boy!
The moment I had been waiting for for far too long. Can't explain how fun it was to hug and see him again. Let's just say, tears and a 10 minute hug. :)
Calling some of the fam and dad! I couldn't stop just snapping pics and looking over at him! IT FELT UNREAL.
Sunday in Kirkland. Here is Maria Santo's son Ceasar! Love the kid.
Jesus, Jonathan, Par and Ceasar. The kids LOVE park and they all call him Marcen- as well as everyone else cause they can't say Marsden!!
Playing soccer at Lunch after church!
Par and some of the Elders!
Kirkland Members including Lorena, Maria and Cecilia!
Maria and Ceasar!
At the Morales home!
Cottage Meeting sunday night at the Mission President's home. Missionaries bring investigators to listen to new converts speak!
President and Sister Wilson. They also just finished their mission with Parker.
Monday!
Deception Pass. Parker was having memories of doing the "gallon challenge" here a year ago haha! so sick.
Absolutely beautiful!
Dinner with the Hortado family in Mount Vernon.
Tuesday visiting a member from Greenwood!
Lunch with Alfredo down in Greenwood area.
We went to this Burrito place called Gorditos where they have "Baby Burritos." You might be thinking that means they are small, but not they are as big as a newborn baby! It's hilarious cause all around the restaurant they have pictures of babies next to the burritos!
Dinner with Alma& Miguel in Marysville! Let's just say we ate a TON that week... I probably gained 20lbs.
Visiting some other members in Marysville:) Love freddy on the right!
Wednesday Lunch with Esperanza and Rosalina.
Parker and his two moms- Esperanza and Mom. Espy is INCREDIBLE.
Seattle temple trip Wednesday night!
The Boys!
The whole crew :) So cool to see many of them do baptisms for the first time!
Maria!
Miguel, who Parker was able to baptize and confirm for Maria's dad! So sweet.
Thursday Morning Bowling sesh.... missionary hipster style (only for the pic;))
Eating some Pho- a little break from all the Mexicano food.
Thursday night with the Santi Estebans in Kirkland! Since I can't speak or really understand Spanish, I played most of the time with their 10 year old daughter Angela! We made bracelets, played cats cradle, and other string games. It was such a blast!
Then she painted mom's nails!
Mom got a ton of compliments on them the rest of the week:)
Santi Esteban family
Friday morning breakfast at Maria's house. She cooked us soooo much food everytime. She is incredible. I love her so much.
Friday afternoon we had a tourist day so we went to the Space Needle and Pike's Place Market. Ray and John were in Seattle for John's UW graduation so they met up with us. So fun!
Meeting lil desi:)
Ice cream in the Market!
We found the fortune teller machine from BIG. So classic. We totally got our fortunes too!
Ray sitting on "Ray the Pig"- love the guy on the left... santa is that you??
Looks like the pig took a lil dump... oops
The famous gum wall... crazy cool but extremely gross..
This was a nice addition to the gum wall.. we were cracking up
Found my home town- bell town!
Friday night dinner with Maria Santos, and Ana and Miguel Martinez's family!
Caught the boy taking a snooze in his church clothes... life of a missionary.
Saturday afternoon vising some members in Mount Vernon- the Grosbecks!
Visiting Alejandra and Raphaels family. Raphael is HILARIOUS and the girls are so cute. Probably one of my very favorite families :)
Mom holding the dog.. bahahahahhah lol for days
Saturday night Father's Day party in Marysville. Betty's daughters put on a fun Spanish dance:)
Lucy and Orlando's adorable girl Lyla. I was obsessed with her.
Eli and Lyla giving Orlando their father's day present.
Esperanza and her family- Angelica and Lucy (far right) as well.
All the fathers!
Lucy and Orlando. Wow, I LOVE THEM.
Lyla and Eli.
Parker's last two companions since he was in a 3 pack! Elder Annand and Elder Robles.
Sunday Morning church in Greenwood! We saw another one of Parker's companions- Elder Riesterer.
Lunch at Lucy and Orlandos after Church in Marysville.
We had these amazing drowned sandwiches Parker had been dying to try this whole mission. Oh and we tried uncooked pig skin as well- SO GROSS
Raphael!
Angelica!
Starting the long trek home. Such a gooooooood week. We pretty much talked all 13 hours home.
Salute to the best 2 years!
The duck man lives on!
Deja Vu!
We MADE IT.
Spen and Diana's amazing Scavengar Hunt they had their niece Brianna set up at the house.
It was like finding all of their family members throughout the house. So cute.
Spen..
Diana
Marissa
Shem
Hudson
Owen on the toilet... haha
Sophia.
London
Violet
And the big surprise! Welcome home Parker:)
Then I gave Parker the mission book I had complied for him. I also had all the family members send cards, pictures etc to put in the book to welcome him home since he was literally coming home to me and mom (who he had been with all week) and an empty house!
Some of Parker's "bros" who came to see him the night we got home!
A few weeks later Parker gave his homecoming report. We love having him home!
Reunited con mi amigo mejor and it feels oh so bien. hahah
Par and the Sisters. So fun to have Shae there too!
NOTHING BETTER THAN A FRESH RM.
