In March, Matt and I had the opportunity to attend a Yellowcard concert here in Florida. It was very crowded and EXTREMELY warm. Despite being told we were “past the concert going age” by some new bands sampling music outside the venue – I think we did pretty well!
The next week, we went to an event on our campus that hosted Common. He gave a guest lecture and then gave us an opportunity to meet him.
But the highlight of this spring so far has to be my mom’s stay! Mutti came down to visit for a week and we enjoyed some time at the beach, on the intercoastal waterway, and spending some time with Monsi.
It had been over 20 years since Mutti last saw her sister Ilse. While she was in town, we went to Monsi’s and spend the day chatting and munching. It was wonderful seeing my mother get to reconnect with her sister after so much time and for both of them to find that despite the years and distance – they are still so similar and close.
We had fun at the beach where my mom shared her tradition of making bracelets out of shells and natural materials found on the beach. On our few trips to the beach, we found seeds called “Ojos de Samuro.” These seeds are thought to bring good luck to those who find it.
We took my mom to tour Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Riding the water taxi, eating at Shooter’s on the coast, and finding some authentic empanadas and cachapas in Miami helped my mom feel a little more comfortable leaving Utah after so much time. As we drove around downtown, my mom reminisced sharing stories of life in Venezuela and the memories this trip brought back.
It was such a special memory to have made with my mom – I hope that the next step will be making these memories with Francisco and Brigitte.
This last weekend, Matt and I took a boat ride out to the ocean to explore snorkeling. Though we didn’t fare so well against the choppy waves, difficulty breathing, and sea sickness Matt experienced – we were very proud to have taken a step to experience something we’ve never done. The good news was that we did jump into the water and tried exploring. But we found the glass-bottom boat a better way to observe the sea creatures.
Wrapping up all of these great experiences was the end of Matt’s first semester as a grad student. I’m very proud to announce that Matt got all A’s and will be working in a clinic with clients within a months time! We also have an exciting trip to Indiana coming up in a couple days that is much needed. We’re hoping for a fun trip to French Lick with Matt’s grandmother and grandfather along with some time catching up with our family friends the Peyton’s. I hope that in a couple of weeks we’ll have some pictures and updates to share!
