Day 5 :Montserrat

The following day was a lengthy travel day as we made the seven hour drive from Madrid to our bungalow outside of Barcelona.  Before hitting the road, we connected with my mission bestie, Hermana Wendy Rivera Billings, who now lives in Alcalá, birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes. Not only are Wendy and I the same height, but we both have daughters on missions and we both named daughters Brooklyn. It was such a treat to connect, especially on market day where we got to enjoy all the colorful delicacies and products her town has to offer.

Talia, Brooklyn, and Brooklyn.

From there, we drove for a long while, then stopped in Zaragoza for a late lunch. While I enjoyed our brief visit, everyone was pretty hot and hangry, plus I think Jason wanted kebab instead of the bar food we picked up. If we went back under different circumstances, I'm pretty sure we'd all like it even more.

Zaragoza has its own version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

This is how amused everyone felt when I tried to get the group to smile for a photo. I think I would have been more successful if I'd waited until after we'd eaten.  :)

At least the tiles and the birds looked happy.

Our next stop was far more successful. At Brooklyn's suggestion, we visited Montserrat, getting there in the late afternoon just as the crowds were dispersing. This turned out to be perfect--plenty of parking, cooler temps, and a reflective feeling of solitude.

Here's a place to peer into the window of your soul.

Just glad we could share it as an entire family.

The surroundings were stunning. My humanities classes would label it romantic in the most mystical sense of the word.

Our only regret was that the funicular wasn't running.

Far better than a funicular was our discovery that we'd arrived just in time for Evensong where the boys choir was singing. This serendipitous spiritual encounter is one of my highlights for the entire trip. I've always felt that places of worship are best experienced as precisely that--a place to worship. And the music? Nothing short of heavenly.

Gosh, I love this man.

Thank you ever so much for bringing us here, Brooklyn!

Speaking of things that touch my heart, one of the things that I loved most about Spain was that there were well-labeled AEDs in public spaces everywhere, even Montserrat. Not only could you find them in every metro station, there was clear signage showing you where they were located. In an emergency, this makes all the difference!

While we didn't need an AED, we did need some more food by the time we finally arrived in Malgrat de Mar. Fortunately we found a cute little restaurant with a cast-iron skillet full of tasty mushrooms just for us.

Viva españa!

Day 4: Fuenlabrada

In order for blogging to work for me, two things have to align. I have to have both the desire and the time. Lately, I seem to be lacking in both. This morning I happen to have a little bit of time, though, so let me start there and perhaps the motivation will come.

Spain! It was increíble, and yet it already feels so long go. I want to capture the memories before they slip away.

Day 4 was Sunday. When planning our itinerary, we first decided where we wanted to be on Sunday, then slotted in the rest. And for Brooklyn, the place she wanted to be above all others was her beloved barrio of Fuenlabrada. As a missionary, Brooklyn helped  open the area to sisters, then finished her mission there. It seems quite appropriate that this would be the first area she returned to. Walking in the church doors, you could tell that this congregation loves their missionaries. Brooklyn was greeted with hugs and exclamations of joy and surprise. 

We were likewise to discover Elder Holman from our home Emigration stake serving there as well. Armed with awesome red hair and a smile, he recognized Jason from a mission prep class Jason taught.

For not understanding the language, Annika did pretty well participating.

As for Eli, well, he looks ready for a nametag.

After church, we all crammed into a tiny elevator for our lunch date with the Murillo family.

This darling family from welcomed us all ever so warmly. The father Carlos is a chef, so we certainly dined well! The Mom, Angela, was also so kind, taking me aside and telling me the most lovely things about Brooklyn. It's amazing how moms can bond over the shared love of their children, even across languages and cultures. Their son Ricky recently returned from a mission to Argentina, so he had plenty of good advice to share with Talia. Annika thought he was cute, but Ricky's currently engaged to Diana (pictured next to him), so she'll have to pursue a different crush.

Course 1

Course 2

Dessert was also delicious, but for Annika the best part was the kitty.

Afterward we went to a park where Brooklyn connected with her friend Mariana. New to the church, Mariana was baptized at the end of Brooklyn's mission.

But wait, the visits aren't over! That evening we ate rice krispy treats with Brooklyn's mission leaders, President and Sister Grow. And indeed, it certainly is a growing time for the mission with so many new missionaries coming and the expansion to include a Madrid East Mission.

 To all the people who helped Brooklyn thrive on her mission, whether members, friends, or leaders, thanks for loving our daughter. She loves you too!