“Sometimes I think I've figured out some order in the universe, but then I find myself in Florida”

― Susan Orlean, The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession

Life can be pretty crazy sometimes. When you are me, it is pretty crazy often. Or so it seems.

Sometimes the overbearing pressure of work is briefly expelled by awesomeness that comes in the form of Spring Break. Sometimes Spring Break happens to correspond with the open house of the Fort Lauderdale Temple Dedication and sometimes you have a sympathetic mother who will take you to see it.
This is that story.

A Few Months Ago

My Facebook newsfeed was suddenly filled with exciting declarations and links to the announcement of the Ft Lauderdale Temple Open House. With the quick check of the calendar, we realized that it was going to correspond with Spring Break and immediately made the decision to go visit. I made plans to visit the Mission President, the open house, and every area I served in. I asked mom if there was anything in particular that she wanted to do in Florida and she said, "I want to do two things: go to a beach so that I can say I've been to a Florida beach, and go to Harry Potter World."

Sometimes I love my mom more than I can say.

A Few Weeks Ago

With all the reservations made and the excitement level spewing out of us, we left school early on Wednesday, March 26 (happy anniversary, Emma and Jordan!) and got on a plane to Florida!




We arrived late at night, ended up with a mini-van rental car, and found our interesting motel room that was hot and humid. Welcome to Florida. But we happened to fly past the Temple, so it was actually a very exciting welcome! 

We woke up Thursday and went to see President and Sister Anderson first. It was so great to see these wonderful people that were my pseudo-parents for a year and a half! They are so amazing in their dedication to missionary work and their love for the missionaries and all of South Florida. They gave me some mementos of the Mission and Temple that I will cherish forever with the memories I have of serving with them. I am so blessed to have been a part of the FFLM!

From the mission home, we drove up to my first area: Boynton Beach. The sisters happened to be home, so we got to see the apartment I lived in and found out that Delray is it's own ward! Way to go, Sisters!
I got to see Ardena, one of the first people I taught on my mission and who helped me to figure out how to teach according to people's needs. Someday, she will remember all the things she has learned and ACT on the witness she has received. What good is knowing the blessings of the Atonement if we are not going to use them? 

Mom and I also went to lunch with Scott and his stepson. Seeing Scott and hearing him explain how the church has changed his life filled my heart with joy. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to meet him in the dark depths of his life in Delray two years ago! He is such an inspiration to me for all the changes he has made in his life. I am so happy that he was searching for the truth and was able to recognize it when those around him would have him disregard it as flawed or inaccurate. I am so blessed to have been there to see the Spirit enter his life and bring him into the light!

From there, we drove past my second area, and my last area, and all the way up to Orlando where we got Publix Ice Cream and stayed in a slightly nicer motel and ate salad.

Friday, we fulfilled mom's second wish by going to Universal Studios' The Wonderful World of Harry Potter! It was epic. We didn't know that it was part of the whole Islands of Adventure Park, so we were surprised to be able to go to the Jurassic Park and Marvel sections, also. I can't say more than these pictures can: 

 

 

 



On Saturday, we went to the Orlando Temple so mom could add that to her list. It was beautiful. We also had some delicious Steak N Shake before driving back down to the within the mission boundaries. 

It was pretty rainy the whole day, but we got to see Stacey before meeting up at the Garrett's house. What wonderful people they are! Kim took us down to the church and we enjoyed spending time with the Stuart Ward Sisters and celebrating with them. They made it such a great ward to end my mission in!

     Also awesome: The General Women's Meeting. If you didn't watch/hear it, do so now.

The Garrett's are so cool that they let us stay at their house and made us breakfast in the morning!

Then we headed down to West Palm Beach and made it early to church. Being in that barrio makes me so happy! So many great and wonderful people that come together until the Spirit can hardly be contained! Plus, we were there for testimony meeting so we got to hear and not just feel of their testimonies. I am so blessed to have been able to serve there!

Another moment when I was so filled with joy I thought I was going to burst was seeing la familia Canales again. All of them holding and fulfilling callings while continually helping the missionaries, along with being sealed as an eternal family was almost more than I could handle! They mean so much to me, and I am so glad I got to introduce them to my mom, so that she too could feel of their amazing spirits! And then Dora made her baleadas and I was in heaven! I wish I could have stayed their forever! Hopefully they will be able to come to Utah soon!

We stopped by and saw Joel. It gave mom the chance to feel like my mission companion as I can't help but teach when I'm there. One day he will understand all that we, and so many others, have taught him and will fulfill the covenants he made at baptism and be able to make more by going to the temple! As we all should!
Mom and I stopped by the West Palm apartment before heading back down to Fort Lauderdale and saw the Sisters there. Such great disciples!

Monday dawned bright and happy, as Florida should, but most especially because the reason we were there had arrived! The Fort Lauderdale, Florida Temple Open House! We went through the tour and got to see some sister missionaries that I knew and were guided by one of the bishops I knew. The temple itself is amazing! It is very Florida-themed, with sawgrass designs all over, greens and blues in the windows and carpets, and even coral in the tiles. The best of the best, of course, since it is a temple, but it really was extremely incredible. The Bride's room alone was almost more than I could handle!  And the chandeliers were made even more awe-inspiring by the fact that I know several people that helped hang each individual crystal. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. Afterwards, we got to see Cesar again, as a tour guide! So much happiness!

 

The rest of the day was spent shopping, eating at Pollo Tropical, walking on the beach (a perfect kind of Florida beach), walked to Publix, and watched Harry Potter 7 on TV. Pictures are more useful here.

 

Tuesday was our last day and was well spent. We drove down to Miami along the beach and stopped on the iconic Miami Beach. It was beautiful. Don't you think?

However, we didn't feel very welcome there, so after walking down the boardwalk for a few minutes, we headed farther south to more familiar territory. 

 

I served for over 6 months in South Miami and was amazed at the diversity there. We tried to see as much of it as we could. We started by visiting San Lorenzo's and ate delicious pupusas and baleadas. We got to see inside the Riverside Chapel, which used to be a bank, and chatted with a few missionaries as they were leaving district meeting before walking around Calle Ocho. Apparently that bit of Cuba in Florida is a lot like Mexico, according to mom. We didn't stay very long.

We drove farther south to visit Amy, but since she was busy, we decided to keep going. All the way to Key Largo! (We didn't have time to go all the way to Key West. Someday. Sigh.) We got Key Lime Pie on a Stick and looked around. That was about all there was to do without going in the water, so we headed back to the mainland. At least I can say I've been there!

We saw the ever-amazing and cute Amy Lopez and Mom got to finally meet her parents! We had a lovely time visiting and they fed us dinner. They are such wonderful people! I'm so glad they found the Gospel!  On the way back north, we stopped in Kendall to see the chapel and my old apartment, saw the sisters (but unfortunately not anyone from the YSA branch), and drove by the Temple at night. It is a brilliant sight even from the freeway! 

Unfortunately, Wednesday came far too early. We drove to the airport, and just like that! on our way back to reality. The rest of Spring Break was nice enough. I got to see some other former missionaries from the great FFLM, as well as having the pleasurable company of one Miss Kelli Dougal for a few days. Not to mention the most excellent General Conference!

So, in summary, I had a good spring break.

A few days ago

I started writing about Florida and then lost all that I had written. So I had to re-write it, which added to the already delayed time.

A few moments ago

I finally posted this story of my Spring Break.

For the record, I took more videos than pictures. One day, when I'm not busy with teaching, you'll see them. 

Random Extra Quote:

“It’s a shiny tin can of a day, bright but gray. Welcome to one of Florida’s two overcast days per year. A Florida winter can last a brutally long 48 hours, and in that time the state’s residents don’t know how to cope. Probably there are more suicides on these two days in Florida than in a whole year of Seattle’s drizzly existence.” 
― Jarod Kintz, Gosh, I probably shouldn't publish this.