Where in the world?

First a request- G. Parker, please use this address (sandra.sorenson@gmail.com)

Now that that is out of the way, on to other stuff. Remember last summer when I took a virtual tour of the world? We are going to do a take off of that this week. But with a twist.

Matthew submitted his mission papers 2 weeks ago. If tradition here in Utah holds, his call should be in the mailbox Wednesday afternoon. If tradition here in PG holds, someone from the post office will call us Wed. morning to ask if we want to come down and pick it up or have it delivered with the regular mail. Since I will be at work, Matt will have to be up to answer the phone.

Matt has decided that the opening will be a party of sorts. I am making cookies and other assorted junk to serve. I have parent-teacher conference Wed. after school from 3:30-7. I have class at 6. He wants to open his call between 5 and 5:30.

We made a deal. I'll stay at PTC until 4:30 then come home, be there when he opens his call, cry, give him a hug and kiss and head out to class. Our hometeacher works in the building where I have class and he is going to stick his head in the classroom on his way out of the building so I can tell him the news.

I was reading the Church News this morning. There are missions being combined and others being split. When that is all done, there will be 340 missions. (Everett, the mission you went to, and our home teacher served in as well, will now be 3 missions!!)

Matt wants to use our big world map and have everyone stick a pin in it where they think he will be called. He wants to give a prize to the person that guesses the closest. (He has no idea what prize it should be though- suggestions?)

If you know Matt, you know it is his secret wish and strong desire to be called to Norway, but he thinks he will go to Brazil. I think it will be the new Guatemala Retalhuleu Mission.

So, where in the world do you think he will go preach the gospel?

And I'll let you know Wed. evening after class.

Unless the call doesn't come this week.

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Indeed.

Our trip to South America?

For my final Where in the World post I told you about the Land of Eternal Spring, which is Guatemala. Someday I will go there and see it for myself. Until then I will have to settle for this:

Entering South America

Temple wall?

Black Knife fish

Dwarf Caiman

Rainbow Boa constrictor

River Sting Ray

Some kind of poison dart frog (blue maybe?)

Rowing down the Amazon

We were here and it was a blast and we will be going back soon.

Where in the World? Coming home

I just realized that it is the end of July and time to come home from my virtual world trip. My last stop was Greece. I still have so many places on my list of places to visit.

Like, Spain and Denmark, and Holland and Mexico, Canada, the Carribean, places in Africa....

Thanks for joining me for this quick tour of our world and guessing all the places I visited. One last stop on my way home- Land of Eternal Spring.

I hear this is a magical place. If you’re into the Maya, the mountains, the markets or a million other things, you’re bound to be captivated. People come and they stay. Or they leave and return. There’s almost too much going on here, and even the shortest trip takes you completely different places, with new challenges and surprises. Students of Spanish flock to Antigua, a gorgeous town nestled between three volcanoes, while those travelers seeking the 'real (place name)' might head to lesser known places like Lago de Izabal or Nebaj, a Maya village hidden in a remote fold of the Cuchumatanes mountains. And sooner or later, just about everyone ends up in the Highlands – Lago de Atitlán being an irresistable drawcard

We could go to Tikal, Antigua,the capital City and other places of interest

We will discover a variety of incredible destinations. The unique hospitality of its people plus the mystique of their culture will inspire your senses. Whether your interest is in Mayan culture, colonial architecture, volcanoes or rainforest, we will have a perfect vacation.

Someday I will be able to take a trip that is more than virtual. And when I do, I'll take real pictures and take you along with me. And bring home souveniers to share.

Indeed.

Interrupted thoughts

I was in the middle of a post when I stopped to deal with something. Then I went back to the post and my personal feelings were overwhelming to the point that I was in tears. (unrelated to the something and totally related to what I was writing though the something did make me want to cry)

Enough tears that I could not see what I was writing and had to redo my makeup because it was time to take Brandi to library and Ethan to take a test to makeup credit and pick up a UB order and deliver it. By the time I got home I had lost my train of thought. Or was out of the groove. Or something.

I am going to let that post sit until I can finish it. In the mean time I will do a quick Where in the World to lighten the mood a bit.

So last time we were in England, the setting for Josi S. Kilpack's new book, English Trifle.

Today's stop was inspired by these pictures

She said this was the way to be a Zen master.

I think she is in the wrong garden.

She also wanted to take a picture of me in this pose.

I just laughed.

While here we will see
the Duomo, La Scala, Castello Sforzesco and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
Then we will move on to another city to see scenic canals, beautiful buildings and world famous landmarks, in a city that exudes romance, history, fantastic photo opportunities and good food, almost at every corner. Whether taking a gondola down the Grand Canal or examining this romantic city's unique setting and architecture while on foot, you will find _____ inviting and magical.

The next city stop in this country is one who's art and architecture rivals that of the country's capitol. During the Renaissance, it was the art center of western civilization. A list of past residents of the city represents the "Who's Who" of the Masters, including: Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, among others. Culture seems to ooze from the frescoes and statues; perhaps that is why its museums tend to be incredibly attractive to tourists.

Then off to the capitol city. Oh so many things to see and do while here in "the eternal city". It is such a wonderful and popular place that all roads lead here.

Where in the World are we today?

*and if my descriptions sound like a guide book, I took them off of a guide to this country website.

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Indeed.

From sea to shining sea

Up at the crack of dawn, head to the high school to load the marching band. We usually have 5-6 parents to march the parade route with the band and keep them supplied with water. 4 miles in 90+ weather is a loooong way. This year we had 1 dad. 1. I had no idea how we were going to do it with 1 dad and the band and color guard directors.

We got to the parade staging area for marching bands. Someone made the parking lot smaller in the past year. And they were still trying to cram all of the marching bands and their various busses and support vehicles in a parking lot 1/4 the size it was before. Um? problem anyone?

How about when we were in the median of the road waiting our turn to squeeze in and the policeman stopped traffic both ways and then directed the bus coming out of the parking lot to go around us into the opposite lane (headed the wrong direction) and then back behind us into the proper lane? And the reason it was a problem? Either the bus driver was new or not watching, but I was scrambling my feet onto the seat so the fender wouldn't crush me when she hit the suburban.

How she missed us, I have no idea, but if you had put a piece of paper between us and the bus it would have yellow scrapes on one side and silver on the other. After she cleared us the policeman looked at the kid's dad and said, "Wow, just wow". Brandi, in the back seat said, "That was scary" and I just sat in the passenger seat trying to breath again.

We did have a couple more parents meet us at the staging area to walk with the band, so there were enough to keep the band hydrated.

Here are a few pictures from the morning of the 4th.

Oh, Say can you see?

Brandi watching the rest of the parade from the top of the suburban
while we load the band trailer after the parade

Brandi and I waiting for the parade to start.

We got rained on for about 15-20 minutes at the beginning,

then it cleared up and was nice the rest of the morning.

(Brandi has a sour candy in her mouth- I guess they were really

sour by the faces she was making)

Ethan getting parade ready

Jacob
Pre-parade staging field

See those clouds? Don't be fooled.

They dumped water on us for 15 minutes about half an hour after this picture.

Whitney's family went to DC this past week to visit their son that is doing an internship there. They said that the 4th in DC is better than anywhere they have ever been for that celebration. I was thinking- President Obama's daughter, Malia, was born on the 4th of July. She just turned 11. How awesome is that to celebrate your birthday, not only in the nation's capitol, but in the White House? And she gets to do it 3 more times. Lucky her.

I would like to celebrate the 4th in DC sometime. And while that would make a great Where in the World destination, it isn't one of this month's destinations.

The last Where in the World location was indeed, Philadelphia. David wrote a wonderful piece on those men that sacraficed their all to grant us our independence and freedom.

On a side note, I was teaching the 15-17 year olds in Sunday School yesterday. we were discussing Learning through study and faith. I wrote on the chalk board the following: 2+2=? E=mc2 When in the course of human events....

Then I asked the students who could read what was on the board- not will you read but can you read it? Of course they all could. Then I asked them if they knew what it meant or what it was. They all knew the math equation, most of them knew the equation meant energy=mass x the speed of light squared- whatever that means (their words) But only 2 of the 16 knew where the quote came from! I was flabbergasted. I told them to go home and read it. And then read it again.

Today's installment of Where in the World? begins with Spectacular Jousting at Linlithgow Palace, then we can go see Stirling Castle, or Castle Tioram, or Edinburgh Castle. Or we could witness the Clash of the Centuries: The magnificent setting of Caerlaverock Castle provides a great backdrop for a celebration of two thousand years of (this country's) rich history.

Re-enactors from all over _______ will depict Romans, Vikings, Medieval ____, Redcoats and Covenanters right through to the fighting troops of the 20th century in a packed programme of events and activities.

This country is where golf originated. Did you know that the name golf stands for Gentelmen Only Ladies Forbidden? Really.

My children's great great grandfather McGregor was a doctor there before immigrating to America.

My friend Lindsey is living there for a while. I wish I could go for a visit.

And this band was the first in the parade on Saturday. I am including it because 1) it is a hint and 2) Trevor used to play drum in this band

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Indeed.