I love America! I never realized how much until I spent a week in Honduras during a time of political unrest for the country. While the country was beautiful and the people we met were amazing and kind, the events of the week made me realize how protected and blessed we are in this country. You really don't realize it until you see how people in other countries live. The timing couldn't have been more appropriate either, as I returned to the states on the evening of July 2nd. I will blog more about my trip to Honduras in the days to come. For now, I'll just say God Bless the U.S.A.! 
I flew from Honduras to Atlanta and then straight to Vegas to spend the holiday weekend with my favorite niece and nephew....and favorite brother and sister-in-law (What? I only have one brother and sister-in-law? And only one niece and nephew? Oh well........they're my favorites anyway! :) My sister-in-law, Kam, had a family reunion scheduled for Saturday, July 4th in Dana Point, CA (on the beach!) so we loaded up the van on Friday and drove to California. This is me and Samantha in the van. She took the photo. She likes the angled photos, and I have to agree......it looks pretty cool.
We spent Saturday on the beach in Dana Point. It was beautiful! The water was freezing, but the weather was perfect and the sand was soft.
Mason wouldn't go near the water, but he sure had fun digging in the sand.
Me and Kam, getting a tan (actually we were getting sunburns.....I'm still waiting for mine to turn into a tan!)
We let Sissy put sunblock on Mason's face......maybe next time we should double check it? Luckily he said it didn't hurt. I think he looks like a little super-hero with a mask on (that face is too sweet to be that of a villain).
Going to do fireworks. Samantha's obsessed with anything to do with peace and love. I told her it's ironic because she'll be lucky if she doesn't get herself shot throwing gang signs like that.
Sunday I had planned on driving back to Vegas with the fam and then flying home from there. Unfortunately, the van started acting up on the way to church in the morning. So my brother and his wife sat in the parking lot during church, in their church clothes, working on the engine. I wish I'd gotten a picture but I didn't (dangit!) Good thing we said our prayers that day because a wonderfully kind member of the ward who happened to be a mechanic saw them and came to the rescue. Turns out their water pump was shot and they needed a new one. He was able to get it fixed for them that day so they could get home. It wasn't going to be in time to make my flight though, so I ended up flying out of California. I had a two hour layover in Vegas, but it worked out for the best and got me home two hours earlier than originally scheduled, which was good because by Sunday I was beat and ready for my own bed!! I have to give a shout out to Southwest here too......they changed my ticket to fly out of the Ontario, CA airport instead of Vegas the same day as my flight and didn't charge me a dime! They are so easy to work with all the time - I love it!
It was a great weekend, but after a long week far away, I'm glad to be home!
