we like to party...we like, we like to party!

I love my branch (Church Congregation)! They are the best at having fun! We got together and had a potluck dinner and a dance... It 's so nice to see people outside of the spiritual and serious setting of Church and the callings they are assigned! I was feeling discouraged and kinda ugly...but once I got there- everything was better because I felt wanted and loved by everyone there! Thanks to our Dj's Hyrum Riofano and Danny Ignacio as well as Pierre Anthian who coordinated us all!

métisse babies...

are the cutest thing in the world!!! We went to visit Fausta after Church today and got to play with her nephew Joshua...I love having cute friends who have cute babies!

my babysitting job!

This is Michka Anthian...one of the cutest, funniest and fattest little girl you will ever meet!


I had a great time visiting with her...and we ended up sharing more than just a great evening with each other: she gave me the stomac flu (gastro) and I was sick for a couple of days afterwards...

Nothing like being around small children to test your immune system!

THANK YOU...ALL!

so I hear this took quite the comittee to choose! I love the sweater!!! It's so soft and warm! I usually avoid having a boyfriend for Valentine's day...because I don't want to have to accept silly gifts...you might yet make me change my mind, David!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

This one's for David...yes, I am quite smitten by the boy: he is cute, funny, smart, talented...AND HE LIVES SO FAR!!!! This is my first long distance relationship...so it's not easy, but it's definitely worth it! I am thankful for the technologies we have that allow us to talk for NOTHING and share pictures, thoughts, readings, music (Dave is QUITE the composer!)...so it's a blessing to be able to get to know such an amazing person so well...who needs to kiss? (all right, I do, and my partner will be back soon...so I can be patient!) I'm adding his blog to my favorite sites...yeah, I do daydream about him...and it's AWESOME!

After making cards for everyone we love... Me made our way to the kitchen to make "rolo-pretzel sandwiches"...so unhealthy but so easy and sooooo GOOD! Just melt the rolos in the microwave long enough to soften them adn smash tehm between 2 small heart-shaped pretzels! I totally stole the idea-- I'm not THAT amazing!
Our Branch President, Pierre Anthian, found time to join us...wonder how he fit that in his busy schedule! (kidding, we invited him!)



This is half of the children we had this week...we chose only to have the activity with the older ones--and that was already OUT OF CONTROL FUN! I love serving them!
(From Left to Right: Emilie Sacuto, Sara-Patricia Razafinimanana, Paul-Antoine De Serres, Kervens Joseph, Gaëlle Talec, Jeremie Defaye, Sister Lauritzen, Dennis Contreras, Lara Talec, Dominique Weber, Pablo's mom, Maricka Pradieu, Rodrique Mikala, Joëdna D'Aout; and in the front: Marie-Thésèse Vincent, Guenevièvre Talec and Pablo)

Living close to Rebecca

I am getting to know my older sister Rebecca MUCH better since I have been living here in Montréal. She is married to an exceptional man, Yohann, and they are a lot of fun to be with!
They are always supportive of my choices, and I know that I would not be the strong person everybody can see me be if I wasn't able to lean on their experience, counsel and humour! (from medical to financial advice to long distance dating tips---which I badly need some days!)

I feel extremely blessed to share this time with them now...who knows? Yohann graduates as a pediatrician next year and me...(feels like my heart is calling me South lately!) We even get to celebrate birthdays together...AND have more birthdays to celebrate! I LOVE IT!


Here are their children Estelle Adn Guillaume! I love being their aunt...as well as knowing that I am adored by them!
If loving your own child is anything at least as powerful as the love I have for those 2...I can't wait!

Thanks Mom and Dad for loving me like that still!

the girls!

i went out to a polynesian buffet with some of the ladies from Church that I am friends with! there was a band there and we danced a little too!
Marcia Hinojosa brought her friend (can't remember her name now), and Jackie Ouira and Madeleine Morin came!

They were saying how happy they are to be single...truth is, only if in bad company-- so I am happy I am not at the moment!

My Canadian Birthday!

Today is my 6th Canadian birthday! I really enjoy being on this continent...I am so thankful for this great opportunity to live closer to family and strengthen the ties I have with them! I am also so very grateful for the blessing of being able to communicate with my family in France and China...I do miss you guys! truly, today was just a normal day...maybe I'll have a muffin to celebrate!

Living with Emilie

of course, you can't figure out just what we are up to by the pictures...let me explain:

I have started running again(as a little bit of a competition between Dave and I)...but unlike Boise, ID - where he is training right now- it's COLD here! So I got a picture of my many layers and then...I got home and hung out in my leggings...Emilie does the same! We feel like we are wearing "Peter Pan" outfits...so we practiced flying for you!
Living with Emilie is a BLAST!

Happy Birthday Jorge

We were looking for an excuse to have friends over today, and decided it was Jorge's birthday party! Jorge is my avocado plant... I started growing him one week after I got in Montreal.
In times when I have difficulty seeing what I should be doing in my life, I know I can be lead and guided by my Heavenly Father...it's just a matter of faith! Except Faith is something no one can see, or measure...until it produces fruit- kind of like a plant that you grow. It takes a lot of time to grow something, and I need to be patient... So I have taken up the habit of planting things to remind me to have faith and patience.
"Then, ..., shall ye reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligience, and patience, and long suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you" (Alma 32:43)

To everyone else, it is only a house plant...to me, it is a reminder that the blessings are on their way!

RECONNECTED!!!!

For those of you who were trying to reach us...via internet or phone...it HAS been a tad difficult!

Emilie and I take turns calling the phone company to get them to fix it...quite frustrating!

SO they said they'd come on Tuesday...I rushed home after class...barely made it one time...

It turns out there were 2 problems with our line :
#1 : there are 3 phone lines entering our house...and we were using all 3 of them with one phone number!
#2: one of the previous tenants had an alarm system...those are attached into the phone lines...and this one wasnt' actually disconnected yet!!!

We now enjoy PERFECT clearness on both our line AND internet service!!! Feel free to call!