puerto ricoooo

I've been home nearly 5 months now from my mission. It seems it was a dream! I wanted to pay homage to that wonderful time I spent. I was in some of the most beautiful places in this world. soooo here's some pictures to prove it

Shete Boka in Curacao

Curacao

El Morro in San Juan, PR

The view from our investigator's house in PR

The Ponce Plaza

ARUBA

Dona Juana in Villalba, PR

Even though my time has past here in these beautiful islands and among wonderful people...I'll always be puerto rican/aruban/curacilanian at heart.

getting married

These past few days have been hectic. I've spent most of my time preparing wedding announcements. I never knew there was so much involved! You've got stamps, envelopes, the announcement, pictures, addresses etc etc. It's quite a chore, now I see why mom left it to me to do. =) But it has gotten me all excited for june 20th! We've officially been together for 5 years...more if you include how long we've been friends. I know him better than anyone else and he definitely knows me. We may be young in the world's eyes but we know exactly what we're doing.

Being married is very important to us. It's not just for now but for forever. It dawned on me today how big a deal this is. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we hold family relationships very dear, they are essential to God's eternal plan. I wanted to explain a little of why being married in a temple is different from a civil ceremony.

In the temple, priesthood ordinances for the living and the dead are preformed, and sacred covenants are made. The primary purpose of the temple is to “seal” or unite families together for eternity. For this reason, Church members search out information about their ancestors. (http://www.mormon.org/) In a temple marriage, a couple is sealed "for time and all eternity" as opposed to "til death do you part."

visit this link to see a great video on temples. =)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x_-TQivCx8

What is the difference between a temple and a meetinghouse?
Regular Sunday worship, instruction and other social and recreational activities occur in Latter-day Saint meetinghouses, or chapels where visitors are always welcome. In temples, on the other hand, faithful members receive specific instruction about the purpose of life and their relationship to God. There they take part in family-oriented ordinances, both for themselves and in behalf of deceased ancestors. Sacred ordinances available only in temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally. Unlike meetinghouses, temples are closed on Sundays.

Visitors are welcome to visit the temple grounds at any temple and attend open houses prior to dedication, thereafter only baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are qualified and prepared are allowed to enter a temple after it is dedicated.

Families!
Families are ordained of God and are the most important social unit in time and eternity. Our Heavenly Father’s divine plan of happiness allows family relationships to endure beyond the grave. I cannot imagine heaven without being with those I love. That is why I am so grateful to know that after centuries of being lost, Jesus Christ's church is on the earth today in it's fulness. My current and future families are the greatest blessings I could ask for.