Our p day at the Guadalajara Zoo!

What a fun fun day we had last Saturday.  We went with our assistants to the Guadalajara zoo.  There were lots of shade trees and wide paths, statues and cute little shops. The funnest part was how active and lively all the animals were. The monkeys and lions, the BYU cougar :) up in the tree.  The colorful birds, the zebras, the shark tank.  The polar bear was especially fun to watch as he jumped and leaped around in his icy water. The giraffes were putting on quite the show. They walked right up to us, and bent low so we could pet them, and feed them.  We took a tram ride up high over the whole zoo and we could see far and around into La Barranca, which is a deep beautiful canyon just north of the zoo.  We took a train ride around the zoo, and of course, a safari ride to see the jungle animals. Such fun. We snacked on popcorn and got our assistants an ice cream bar. We spent all day there and just had a relaxing fun day together.

I took a bazillion pictures... What's new.... ok, seriously, I took a ton of pictures, so no judging.  I figure that this is our blog, we can put as many pictures of the zoo animals on as we want.
Also, a note for my girls, yes, I  wore the hat all day long :)  no. judging.
Here we are!

  

Just past the entrance and down the steps.

Us on the tram ride, with these two sillies right behind us. 

As we approached the turn around point, there is a gorgeous

view out over La Barranca, which is like a huge grand canyon.

We looked down on the lions

                                               yup, that's our feet swingin along our tram ride
                                                           with the lion below. :)

The elephants

catching a few rays..

I took so many pictures of this guy.

He was having such a great time

with this barrel.  He was relaxing,

floating, flat on his back for the longest time.

He was so full of personality coming

right up to the window.

So still, this guy was creepy.

for a memory...

Everything was so open, we walked

right up to these colorful birds.

                                                Here is the BYU cougar with her 3 cubs below

She was perched up on that branch, and looked

so uncomfortable, it was crazy.

This was so fun.

the musical duo

On our safari ride

I know... seriously, standing. right. there.

She looked like she had way too much

mascara on. :/

  

Gorgeous flowering bushes along our ride

so. exhausted.

In the penguin exhibit, President saw a boat,

of course we needed a picture of that.

These guys were little and just stood there.

Coming up to the shark tank

for my grand kids... with Nemo

this guy climbed up into my hands

                                                       

                                                               

This was a fun day.

Our trip home from Manzanillo

We love going to Manzanillo.

We had our Manzanillo District Conference several weekends ago, and then interviewed the Manzanillo zone missionaries the following Monday.  

We traveled home on Tuesday afternoon.  

It is a beautiful drive, and with the weather warming up, things were looking greener and starting to come into bloom.

We saw so many interesting things on the drive home... we always do.  I constantly want Bob to slow down, or even stop, to catch the perfect picture.  I am so taken by, and love these sweet people here in Mexico.  The culture, the countryside, the beautiful landscapes, but also, and especially the tender images of the precious families.  We see many who are struggling, but boy, I have learned that they are strong and resilient and humble.

Today we saw some things that really touched and broke our hearts.

I though I would share them here as they reminded Bob and I of how very blessed we are, and, I am persuaded that perhaps we each must be a little more grateful and thankful each and every day for our blessings and privileges and opportunities. Quite honestly, my hope is that these images will help us commit ourselves to do our part as we seek to hasten the work of salvation.

Our prayer as we serve here in Mexico, is to find and seek out those that are prepared to hear the gospel message.  The good news of the gospel, is the exact answer that will lift, strengthen and enable families like the ones in these pictures. 

We loved this first picture of a truck with the back stacked neatly with pineapples.  Look closely.

Can you see them stacked in there?

ok, here is this sweet extended family either coming or going to town.

I was very cautious and judicious in taking these pictures, so as not to be noticed or bring offense, then I edited them for a closer view.

We were honestly just so humbled to come upon this sight. To see how packed they were in the back of their truck with standing room only.

The children are standing along the sides

 

Here is a closer view 

This mother is sitting on the tailgate with a 

baby in her arms

Can you see the little children standing along the sides?

I absolutely could not resist editing this

picture even closer to highlight

this precious little boy so we could

see his little wind blown face.                     

This poor little guy looks like he has crashed

right there with his head on the side of the truck

                                        

These horses were so close to the highway.

They probably didn't think a thing about

all the cars and trucks whizzing by.

This beauty seemed to pause his lunch to ask if there

    was anything he could do to help me... If not then, MOVE ALONG...              

                      

I loved the wires attached to the trees and the tires stacked up

but what I really loved was the man taking a snooze.

His lawn chair in his doorway

 he's out..

This man is selling all kinds of treats

And this man is balancing his baked goods on his head 

Flower shops

 I absolutely love the brooms and mops
for sale on almost every corner

  
Some of these pictures are fuzzy and blurry due to the fact 

that we are whizzing by because

someone  won't slow down :/
the fruit stands

.

and of course the taco stands

Birthday!

Well, today's my birthday!

Hermana Hernandez surprised us with fresh tamales this morning

with green salsa to go with them.  She warmed

them up for us for our breakfast.  They were delicious!

Bob treated me to such a lovely day!

We ended our evening with a fabulous

dinner at the Cheesecake Factory

ok, these were not both mine!

beautiful flowers from Russ!

and from my Bob :)

I am excited for a fresh new year!