Our Costa Rica vacation ~ Day 6

Our final day in Costa Rica was spent on the ocean. We saw dolphins and birds and turtles
and fish and two humpback whales (a momma and her baby) and even sharks (well, that was
Jacob, I wouldn't be typing this if I had seen them while snorkeling, I would be dead of fright).
It was truly an amazing experience. And then we drove the four hours back to San Jose, to be
close to the airport for our early flight. On the way, we saw the beautiful temple and enjoyed
the Spanish feel of the Marriott we stayed in for one night. It was a wonderful last day.

Our Costa Rica vacation ~ Day 5

Even with leaving on time, the less-than-exactness of the GPS, mixed with a building that was not easy to spot, along with the parking being at a nearby hotel, we were a few minutes late for church this morning. But even with it being unlikely, I couldn't keep this prayer from being said over and over in my heart, "Please Father in Heaven, if at all possible, help us to be able to take the sacrament."

As we finally found a door to enter the chapel (there were approximately eight to choose from), we saw that the two men passing the bread had already offered it to the last person. Then, one of them saw us, and came to the back of the room, holding out the sacrament tray. It may seem small to many, but it wasn't to me.

The sacrament grounds me in a way that I cannot convey in words. I need it more than even I probably realize, but I do know that as a mother and wife and daughter of God, I have the deepest desire to remember what my Savior did for me at all times, but most especially, in this way that binds me to Him and makes so little in life truly matter. With some things heavy on my heart right now, I needed to partake of the bread and water in an ordinance that I absolutely know was instituted by Jesus Christ himself and that reminds me of the beautiful covenants I made with Him on the day I entered the waters of baptism.

I would have been okay this week without the sacrament. We had done everything we could to be to church on time and I knew that and the Savior knew that. But He allowed me not to have to go without this unequaled reminder of His atonement and His grace and His mercy and His love, for the next seven days.

And then, to worship with these incredible Costa Rican saints filled my heart to overflowing. God loves His children. Here, there, everywhere. And taking the sacrament doesn't make Him love me more than any of His other children, but it does make me love Him more. And when it comes down to it, that is everything I need in this life.

Our Costa Rica vacation ~ Day 4

On the fourth day, one of us spent the morning repelling multiple waterfalls and
one of us (with a dumb foot) did not. But tonight, we walked and talked on the
beach for a very long time and it was kind of the best. Both the time together and
the beauty everywhere we looked, felt really amazing. It was a lovely, lovely day.

Our Costa Rica vacation ~ Day 3

Day three was a calm day for one of us and a more adventurous day for the other.
With news of an upcoming and necessary foot surgery given to me the day before we
left, I probably shouldn't have gone on the multiple hikes yesterday. But since I did
and my foot wanted nothing to do with me today, I took a rest and reading day and
Jacob went  on a pretty good hike and jumped off/slid down multiple waterfalls.
I love these pictures he captured and how much he loved his time today.