9 Years Later!

The year was 2000 -early spring -the hour around 5:30am. My mission companion was jogging in circles around the culdesac where our apartment was while I (too lazy that early in the morning to join her) sat in a lawn chair wrapped in a blanket reading/ watching her. No I didn't mind getting up even sooner than required for missionaries because Hermana Vranes was the coolest companion ever! If we were climbing a steep hill (and there were lots of them in the mountains of Puerto Rico where we were serving) and I was getting tuckered out -she would tell me to grab onto her top backpack strap which she called "The Rains of Vranes" and continue to lug me up the hill. Ever positive and full of energy -we had a blast together.

A year later she was one of my bridesmaids, and yesterday I finally enjoyed the privilege of attending a bridal shower for her. Also in attendance was our beloved mission president's wife Darla Davies (who happens to be in my stake). While together we began plans for a mission reunion this April. It will be my first! Although Deb (Hna. Vranes) is getting married in San Diego (her fiance is Blair Carlson is from Escondido) I'm too prego to travel to the wedding. So I look forward to meeting Blair at the reunion.

P.S. Mark -if you're reading this- Deb Vranes has a younger sister serving a mission in Texas that gets home this April :D.