Servants of the Lord.

Elder and Sister Shaver with Iva.

I am so thankful for my parents and their willingness to serve a mission. I can only imagine how hard it has been for them to go and leave everything behind. I remember as I prepared to go on my mission that I thought I was leaving a lot behind, but looking at them I realize I hardly left anything behind.

I know this is where Heavenly Father wants them to be. As I followed them around for a week and a half, I loved watching them interact with the people, missionaries, and especially hearing Grampie talking to the missionaries and others on the phone. I, also, have a greater appreciation for all that they are doing. I know it is not easy and I am so proud of them for doing it. I can't imagine being thrown into the DR without any Spanish lessons in the MTC, but somehow they are doing it. I loved watching Grammie speak Spanish and the look of shock on the Dominican's faces when she talked to them. I, also, loved how Grampie was our tour guide and translator several times. (It made me think of times on our trip to China when I was supposed to be translating.)

I tell Iva everyday that we are so blessed because her grandparents are on a mission. I really have felt the blessings of their service. I am not ready for them to come home because I need those blessings. I mentioned extending to Grammie and she just laughed :)

One day as we were walking around the temple, Elder J Devn Cornish of the Seventy came up to us. He looked Iva over and gave his approval. (He is a pediatrician.) And then he looked at me and told me my parents are priceless. I know they are priceless and a servant of the Lord confirmed it to me.

I am so proud to call Grammie and Grampie missionaries.

Last one...

My last post of our trip... Maybe. I might post again once Dad and Laura share all their pictures with us. But for now here are some random pictures off of Grampie's camera.

At the beach in Santo Domingo.

The Horne children outside the temple. They are beautiful.

Iva at the resort.

Cousins. Iva and Ward took a lot of naps together
on Grammie and Grampie's bed. 

Shawn with my baby lizard.

Baby Ward... he is the cutest! And best ever.
He made Iva seem so fussy.

That is all for now :(

Ward's Blessing...

Rewind to the second day in the DR...

The day after we got there, we woke up and went to the temple. There was quite the excitement in getting there. I had set our alarm, but had forgotten about the time change. So Shawn and I didn't wake up until Grampie was knocking on our door to leave... oops. Luckily, it turned out the babysitters were running late. So Shawn and I managed to get ready and we made it to the temple.

Walking to the temple for photos.

Outside the Temple doors. 

After we went to the temple, Laura and Eric had the opportunity to give baby Ward a name and a blessing. Pres Glazier (the MTC President) came and stood in the circle. Ward is named after my dad, his brother, and my grandpa. It was a pretty amazing experience and the Spirit was so strong.

My favorite part was later in the day, while we were driving in the car, Amos said, "Nana, we told Jesus baby's Ward's name today." Little kids sure are special. And Amos is especially special.

Pres Glazier, Eric, Baby Ward, Grampie, and Shawn 

Snorkeling...

Shawn and I had decided we wanted to go snorkeling and look for shells. We borrowed my parent's snorkels and rented one from the resort so Shawn, Grampie and I could go snorkeling. After Grampie warned us about not putting our feet down because we'd step on a sea urchin, off we went. (Grammie babysat Iva.)

The weather was perfect...

But the water was too cloudy :(

It still was a lot of fun. I love being in the water.

Shawn and Grampie floating.

Last Stop: Juan Dolio

After spending a few days in Santo Domingo, we headed to our last stop the Barcelo at Juan Dolio. It was another fun all inclusive. We had nice rooms with amazing views of the beach. We enjoyed the all you can eat buffets again- gained another 10 lbs. 

At the beach entrance

More of the beach.

Oh, palm trees...

They were everywhere.

One night, Grammie and Grampie babysat Iva so we could go to the night show. We went to the show and were unimpressed. (Plus it was in Spanish.) So we decided to go take pictures around the resort instead.

On the beach.

With a mini palm tree.

At the bar- waiting for Shirley temples :)

The beach and chairs.

Merry Christmas yet again :)

In front of the Christmas tree.

 We tried our best to keep Iva "protected"... from the sun, people, bugs, and anything else. We did pretty good with most of it. She was irresistible to the people. They loved her and she loved them. It was hard to say no to them holding her when she was so happy about it.

One of Iva's many friends. So happy!

This was when they called her a gordito. 

She is beautiful! Look at those rolls... 

One day, we decided to have a bocce ball tournament. I used to love playing petanque (bocce ball) in French club. So I thought I was up for the challenge. I didn't even come close to Grammie, Grampie, or Shawn. I don't know what happened?

Who is the closest?

Scouting it out.

Our last night there, we kept baby Iva up late so we could live it up a little. We sure lived it up- we went to the Christmas tree and took a family picture.

Merry Christmas from the Catmulls (again.)

Sunday in Santo Domingo

We spent Sunday in the CCM (or MTC.) We went to church with all the missionaries getting ready to go out and serve. There were senior couples and young elders and sisters. During Sacrament meeting, a group of Haitians sang a special musical number. It was amazing. They sang with such spirit and vigor. It was pretty amazing to hear them sing (or shout) and just know they were happy. Grampie taught the senior couples Sunday school and did a great job. And then for Relief Society, two Haitian sisters taught about the spirit. It was an amazing Sunday.

Me, Grammie, Grampie, and Iva.
I cannot get enough of that smile.

Shawn, me, Grammie, Grampie, and Iva.

After church, we went for a Sunday walk to the park across the street from the temple. It was an old rundown park that they are restoring. It looked like it was going to be beautiful. It was still in the works though. When Grammie asked the guard when it was going to be finished he told her tomorrow. She said they have been telling her that since they got there about 14 months ago. It was coming along now though.

This was at a different park,
but it has the same "exercise equipment."

Grampie, Shawn, Grammie and Iva
Walking to the park. 

The were building an iguana habitat.

I spy two iguanas...

So sad. This was once a beautiful water fountain.
Hopefully, they will restore this as well.

Playing in the tree. 

Love the thorny flowers. 

Colonial Zone.

The same day we went to the aquarium, we, also, went to the Colonial Zone. I am still a little unclear on all the history of it. Some say it was Christopher Columbus' son who lived here and others say it was his brother, Bartholomew Columbus. I will have to read more and figure it out for myself. (While we were at the Colonial Zone, I realized how little I know about history and especially about Christopher Columbus. I am pretty sure what I learned in Elementary school is not quite accurate, to say the least.) Nonetheless, the colonial zone was beautiful and you could feel a unique spirit there. I do believe Christopher Columbus was truly inspired by Heavenly Father and felt that here.

The Kitchen: servants ate the food to check for poison.

Grampie hard at work. He had a lot of calls
because he had a lot of sick missionaries.

Christopher Columbus' son and his wife slept in different bedrooms so in case, someone stormed the "castle" they both would not be killed together. One would have a chance of escaping.

The Wife's Room

This would have been our room.
Iva seemed pretty happy about that.

The Son's Room. Or Shawn's :)

The Study 

Christopher Columbus and son.

A random photo op.

The Colonial Zone was decorated for Christmas. The sunny weather, palm trees, and Christmas decorations sure made me miss Christmases in Florida. 

Merry Christmas from the DR

Christmas with palm trees. 

It was really hot the day we toured the Colonial Zone. We had to make a pit stop for Gatorade- probably the best gatorade I have ever had. (Idaho has made me weak when it comes to heat and humidity.) After we finished all the touring, we went to Pizza Hut to cool off in the AC. Iva handled the heat and being dragged from one place to another like a champ.

Happy to be cooling off at Pizza Hut.

On our way to Pizza Hut, we found Michael Jackson. I knew he was still alive. He is living his life in the DR pretending to be a Michael Jackson impersonator.

Iva was amazed by him. She had to check him out.

I didn't realize she was trying to touch him.

And his awesome dance moves.