Memorial Day....

In honor of Memorial Day this year, I decided to share a few of my favorite pictures from my 1st graders. We have been talking about American Symbols and some of them had a very creative way of coloring the Staute of Liberty and other symbols.

Message in a bottle....

I went to one of my appointments the other day and saw this cute bottle on one of my students desks. I asked her about it and she said, "I found this bottle in my mom's room and I decided to put a secret in it." I thought it was so cute. I love how she made the scroll and sealed it with a heart sticker. I think I might find a cute bottle and make one of my own. Hmmm...I wonder what I should write. What would you write on your scroll?

Long Time No See.....

What a fun surprise! I finished up teaching today and decided to go to the supermarket. A supermarket that I rarely frequent. I literally bumped into a man on my way in and realized that I knew him. I was a bit confused at first because it was YEARS after I first met him and not far from the place that I previously knew him. Let me fill you in on the details.... When I was a missionary, one of my areas was the same part of Queens that I live in now. Our apartments windows faced another apartment building that was next to our church building. Javier, this man, was the "super" of that building and we would speak often. He wanted nothing to do with the church but that didn't keep me from stopping to talk to him. I lived in that area for 6 months and so I got to know him pretty well. I used to help him push the snow blower machine and he even lent me a bike that someone had left in the basement of his building. Now, 10 years later, he was here on vacation because he moved to Florida a few years ago. He had gone to the store for his daughter and we bumped into each other. It was so fun to stand there (for an hour) talking to him. The really cool part is that I was under the impression that he was from Puerto Rico or some place like that. Too my surprise he is from Costa Rica. It probably didn't stick with me before because it didn't mean anything. Now, with my recent connections to Costa Rica through my travels and my parents, it was the coolest thing ever. Here's to meeting up with old friends....great memories!

Greenport, Long Island....

Feliz Dia De Madre!!

This is my amazing mom.....also known as Hermana Munroe. I took this picture of her when I visited my parents on their mission in Costa Rica over the holidays. Isn't she cute? I really miss her and especially today......on Mother's Day. My mom and I haven't seen each other as much as we would have liked to over the last few years because I have been living in NYC. With that said, we kept Sprint in business with our frequent daily phone calls before they left on their mission. We Skype often....but it isn't quite the same. I treasure our friendship and the great honor that it is to be her daughter. She is hilarious and always makes me laugh with a funny comment or expression. She is strong and maintains and unwavering faith. She is supportive, optimistic, and a "DO-er." She is very caring and has fallen in love with many of the families that live in their community in Costa Rica. I saw a picture the other day of her rocking a little toddler, Mario, to sleep. He often goes to her so that she can hold him and he usually falls asleep after a while....very cute! I love you Mom! Happy Mother's Day!