It's Official - We Are Homeowners!!!

Omar & I with Paula, our real estate agent
Check out our keys!
The person representing Seda Construction Company giving us our keys for the first time

Finally the day arrived...yesterday! It was one wild ride. We were supposed to close last Friday at 3pm, but it did not happen because there was something wrong with the appraisal. The appraiser made a mistake. It seems like mistakes were made all along the way ... whoever told me that home buying was a smooth process for them, man were they lucky or just plain wrong. It took us forever to get to closing. But it happened...and I guess that is all that matters.

Our closing was 10 AM yesterday and it took a little over an hour for the paperwork. Then they held us hostage until the bank our loan was with sent their side of the money over. It was about a 30 minute wait. What an adventure.

The funny thing is...we still haven't gone by our new home yet. I am not sure when we will move in, but we have to be out of our apartment a month from today! Life is good...we are blessed that we were able to get a great home.

My friend, Brooke Wilberger's Body Found

My old boss from BYU, Brandon, sent me an email today with the link to an article about Brooke Wilberger. I knew Brooke from the Cannon Center where I worked and had just hired her to be a Supervisor that next school year. She was young, bright, and beautiful. It was a shock and tragedy when she went missing during the summer. I remember going to the press conferences and support causes to help find her. I just pulled up my journal from 2004 when I found out about her missing. I still have all the newspaper articles saved about it. It is weird because it was just a week or 2 ago that I thought I saw a flier about her. I still think about her. Now I know, she is gone. I am just happy that she had the gospel and she was a beautiful person in and out from what I knew of her. Below you can find the article about the man that murdered her, it is sickening to know that there are people out there like this man...I suppose that one day true justice will prevail.

"Remains of BYU student found 5 years after disappearance
By William McCall
The Associated Press
Updated: 09/21/2009 03:15:47 PM MDT
Sep 21:
Discovery of BYU student's body brings closureCorvallis, Ore. » Five years after Brooke Wilberger, a Brigham Young University sophomore, disappeared, a man pleaded guilty Monday to her murder and led police to her body.

The developments ended one of the most publicized murder investigations in Oregon history and put away a man who also was convicted of raping another student in New Mexico.

Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson made the surprise announcement in the case of Wilberger, a BYU student who vanished in May 2004 from an apartment building near the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis.

Defendant Joel Courtney avoided a possible death sentence by pleading guilty to aggravated murder and revealing the location of Wilberger's remains, Haroldson said.

Courtney, 43, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after entering the plea in Marion County Circuit Court in Salem.

The prosecutor, who once vowed to seek the death penalty in the case, declined to discuss further details about the plea deal or the investigation until a news conference later in the day in Corvallis.

Wilberger's family had said they would support a plea deal if Courtney would reveal the location of the her remains.

Courtney was convicted of kidnapping and raping a foreign exchange student at the University of New Mexico before he was extradited to Oregon.

The victim of that attack resembled Wilberger young, pretty and blonde.

The 19-year-old Wilberger was working at her summer job scrubbing lighting fixtures outside an apartment complex managed by her sister when she disappeared on May 24, 2004. Nothing but her flip-flop sandals were left behind.

Wilberger had just completed her freshman year at Brigham Young after graduating in 2003 from Elmira High School.

A massive search that included family, friends and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints turned up nothing, and investigators struggled to find a lead.

Then a detective in the New Mexico case called Oregon investigators, and a troubling picture of Courtney emerged, linking him to Wilberger.

Courtney's sister told investigators Courtney began using drugs at age 11, developed an interest in Satanism by the age of 15, and once had to be hit over the head with a clock to prevent him from raping her.

He served time in jail in Oregon for a 1991 sex abuse conviction in Washington County, where he grew up.

It was luck, bravery and the sheer determination of the student victim in New Mexico that tripped up Courtney when she escaped and called police.

Court documents show Courtney grew up in the Portland area before moving to Alaska, Florida and New Mexico, working at times as a fisherman, mechanic and janitor.

He eventually married and settled in Rio Rancho, N.M., an Albuquerque suburb. It seemed he was living a quiet life until details emerged from the investigation suggesting he was a secretive, angry man who drank too much, used crack cocaine and frightened his wife and three children.

The first major break in the Wilberger case came in 2004 when an Albuquerque police detective made a call to Oregon to check on Courtney's criminal record.

Evidence quickly accumulated indicating Courtney was in Corvallis the day of Wilberger's disappearance.

After his return to Oregon, Courtney was also charged with attempted murder, attempted kidnapping and attempted rape involving two former Oregon State students the same day Wilberger disappeared."

Maru's Baby Shower

This picture was before many people had arrived - she had gifts covering the table and floor. Very cute decorations.
The boys playing Dominos
The expecting couple, Maru y Cesar
Tres Leches cake made by one of the sisters (the same that made our anniversary cake) - isn't the little baby so cute
The women that came
I think every expecting mother right now is expecting a baby boy. Tonight we went to a babyshower for one of the sisters that was in the Young Women's Presidency with me in the Spanish Branch. It was packed - husbands and kids were even able to come. The husbands were playing Domino's (I never realized until this past weekend in NY that people that aren't just senior citizens play that game) and the women were playing baby games. We have just been going to a lot of activities with Spanish Branch members recently.

A Day with My Heart

So today Omar was supposed to work most all day and in the morning he planned to play softball with some other guys. It left me all alone. I am not much of a loner really. I occassionally enjoy time alone, but really I love to be around people, doing things. He just told me to go and do whatever I wanted to do...not the easiest thing.

Since friends are very limited to non-existant for me still in Jacksonville, I was thinking back to a group that I was part of briefly until I got married...Zion Women. One of the classes that took place after I moved was about giving your heart a date to do whatever it wanted to do.

So here goes my first semi-attempt at A Day with My Heart...
Wake up at 8:30 AM becuase I could not sleep anymore. Get ready and go to the beach. It was cloudy and raining off an on. A walk down Jax beach past the pancreatic cancer runners to sit near where a surfing competition is taking place. Watch the crazy waves and listen to the ocean while reading a book.

After about an hour the rain was really starting and so I decided to browse in a few beach shops - thinking how much I really love beach attire and brands. Wondering, what it would be like to wear a bikini. I walk past the pancreatic cancer bash and get a free sample of a smoothie and then a Rita's icee (classic!!).

I drive to St. Johns Town Center to buy a baby gift for a friend's baby shower that night who I have not seen since I learned she was pregnant. After my purchase, hunger strikes - where to eat? Of course somewhere I can't eat with Omar - "The Healthy Way" (that really is the name of the place - not just that Omar doesn't eat healthy - smile). I ate a whole organic meal - the raw onions brought this yummy flavor to the food. Sometimes I forget to savor my food - I have to remind myself I am in no hurry.

Off to a few other stores - one Ashley Furniture where a saleswoman hounds me even though I clearly told her that I do not want any help and am not buying anything today. My trip was not as leisurely there as I would have hoped.

Home to make some brownies for my friend who is having the baby - I know she loves them. Wrap the gifts, do some laundry, talk to my dad. Spend some time listening to music and getting dressed to leave for the evening.

Not a complete heart day, but actually quite satisfying. It was nice to take the time to do what I would like to do with no one bugging, asking, or making me feel like I have to do something. Maybe I can handle more Days with My Heart.

Tuesday: Katz & Home

Our last day, Tuesday, Omar took the kids to their first day of school. We then went with Hermana Osorio to the store where she bought house stuff and then we went to Katz. Omar has been talking about this place since we got married. He loves it. Pastrami and Corn Beef remind me of my dad. But I can honestly say that it was SO delicious. I loved it.
The left is my sandwich a combination of pastrami and corn beef and Omar's was pastrami. Both were on rye bread with their spicy mustard and pickles.
The line is always long at Katz - no matter what time you get there

Omar tried to eat my sandwich
Finally a peice of NY cheesecake
Hermana Osorio and her sister
What a crazy amount of sales tax.
Us outside the restaraunt


Later we went back to the house, played some Dominos, Omar grilled ribs and other food, then we packed up and went home. The whole time the Osorios were saying how we hardly stayed and how normally Omar stays for 2 weeks and did we really have to leave. They were already talking about our next visit and places we could go. It was a nice trip and I wouldn't mind visiting some other time.

Monday - NY Labor Day BBQ

Monday Omar woke up early to help the Osorios clean their outside porch for all the food and people that would be coming over. Tito taught me how to play Dominos. I never knew Spanish people played Dominos, I learned that it is a HUGE game for Dominicans (the Osorios are Dominicans) and it becomes quite brutal. Omar went to go buy more meat than I have ever seen before for the bbq. I guess everytime Omar goes to NY he bbqs tons of meat for them. They had large portions of steak, malinesa, fish, lamb, corn, eggplant, and chicken. It was ridiculous. There was also mashed potatoes, pico di gallo, tortillas, cheesecake, Dominican Cake, and other Dominican sweets. It was so much food. Later that night we went to this place I think was called Rock City where we went bowling.
These ribs were actually cooked on Tuesday - but you get the idea

Sunday: Flushing & Winchester

The next morning, Sunday, we were picked up by Hermana Osorio, who Omar considers part of his family. Hermana Osorio and her husband have 5 girls whom call Omar their brother. The whole family came to our wedding in Orlando, that was the only time that I met them. We were to spend the rest of our trip with them. I was almost looking forward to some relaxing. I was dead tired. We went and visited another member from Omar's mission and stayed talking for a while. Then like Sabbath breakers we went and ate at this Korean restaraunt in Omar's favorite area that he served in. We were obviously were not the only people breaking the Sabbath, becuase the place was PACKED and the place was HUGE with Koreans everywhere. One party that they sat before us had over 30 people in it. That was an average group size. This place was amazing and very ingenious with how they served. It was buffet like, but you pay for everything you choose. It was really interesting becuase they would have people with carts come to your table to show you what they had and then you would tell them what you wanted. They had the foot of every animal and those you have not heard of. It was incredible. There was also a buffet line for other larger dishes and a grill area too. The food we ate was so delicious. I wish they had one of those places in Jacksonville. The weirdest thing to eat was the chicken feet - I was not so good at eating them and really there was nothing to eat I thought. I think Hispanic people are able to find things on bones that us Americans will never be able to. Hermana Osorio using chopsticks for the first time Yummy Korean food, but boy do I look exhausted! My first chicken foot Omar is pro at eating it don't the feet look weird? Omar and Hermana Osorio doing a tea toast We then went back to the Osorio house where she gave me a little tour. The kids were all excited to see Omar, who they call their brother. He really is like a member of their family. We were asked to take the kids to the mall to get them stuff for school because Hermana Osorio didn't trust her daughter to drive the Escalade. People drive like psychos in New York, I can't say that I was thrilled with Omar driving either - no less driving 7 kids in the car. The mall was very large - it was the size of a regular mall but with 4 stories too. The mall had even a sports authority, a target, and other regular stores like that too. It was crazy. The older kids ran off shopping and we were left with Tito, the youngest 10 going on 11. We took her to different stores and eventually made our way to David & Busters. We only spend $20, played games and Tito was able to get a small little stuffed animal with the proceeds of our tickets. We finally left the mall. It was insane to drive back - the tolls make everything take so long. Food was waiting for us. Everyone stayed up sharing stories - I understood a little bit of them, but man they talk so fast in Spanish. I finally could not stay up longer and made my way up to bed. I went to open the bedroom door after changing and of course what happened. The whole entire door knob on the outside fell off and hit the wood floor so loud that everyone just started laughing downstairs. I could not get out and so started knocking on the door. This happened multiple times a day for me with different doors, they (the doors) all hated me. The evil door

Saturday: Manhattan & China Town

I finally convinced Omar that we needed to spend a day in Manhattan. Omar decieved me and told me while in NY how he really does not like Manhattan because it is just a place all the “white people” go and does not feel that it represents the real NY and he wants me to learn the "real" NY. We went to Manhattan anyhow and that was our whole Saturday our last day/night at our hotel. We ate breakfast at this Columbian Spanish restaraunt. It was good, but I found out I am not such a fan of arapas.

Omar wanted to go and see Cirque de Soleil - we went all the way to Madison Square Gardens to get tickets to find out that Cirque only happens for a few weeks in December. We totally did not see that on the website.

We then went to find Broadway tickets. I heard that there are some spots for 1/2 price tickets - we walked and searched to no avail. We ended up buying our tickets at the box office an hour before a show started. We went and saw "In the Heights" it was the 2008 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical. Omar loved it! It is a mix of Spanish and Modern dancing and music. The show is about Washington Heights New York and the Spanish people there and the changes they are going through in their life. So much of what was talked about was what I imagine NY & Hispanic life to be. My friend Erin Pratt recommended it to me. We had a great time and had awesome seats. I have never sat so close to the stage or orchestra before.
The blonde head poking up in the middle of the picture is the director of the orchestra. He also played the piano - it was amazing. We were on the 4th row.


The scenery was in the background - we had a few others taken that would have been better, but the guy kept moving the camera so they are blurry
This is the scenery for the show
Us after the show
It was the 2008 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical
After the show we ended up getting tickets to go to this Comedy Club later that night. Omar wanted to be sure that we did not get ripped off from the tickets so we walked to find where the comedy club was located. Dangerfields is the world's oldest comedy club. We walked over 8 blocks to get there just to find out it existed - Times Square all the way to 1st street! That is a LONG ways.

To kill time we went over to China Town for some Chinese food. We found this one place - it was INCREDIBLE!!! I got a Thai Seafood Casserole. Boy was it hot/spicy, but it was incredibly delicious. Omar had been talking about buying a fake rolex for a while and that China Town has the best ones, the most "real" fake rolexes (folexes). The guy wanted $90, I got it down to $30. I was proud of myself. We also went to this Chinese bakery and got these yummy breads and things.

This is what most of the shops in China Town look like
Gotta love the chinese deserts and breads
Where all the people are the street is blocked off and lined with restaraunts - it moves from China Town to Little Italy.
Omar at the bridge
Nice view of Manhattan - most of our pictures did not turn out well due to the darkness
this is the bridge in Central Park that is in a lot of movies
the comedy club stage
We still had time left before the comedy show and so we went to Central Park. It was dark, but still very nice. If we wouldn't have been so tired, we maybe would have walked around more. We both were exhausted and we should have just gone to the hotel and lost out on our comedy show tickets. We went and it was so raunchy. I guess I learned the hard way, why I really do not go to comedy shows. We could not even really leave because you are required to buy 2 drinks per person. For our 4 drinks which we got 4 sodas and paid $28!!! Yup - I won't be doing that again in my life. We got out at midnight and were trashed for the day. The problem was that a lot of the subways were closed for the night and no one could give us directions of which ones. So we would walk from one stop to the next and then take a bus to try to find a subway that would work. When we finally found one it only came every 30 minutes. It took us 3 hours to get back to our hotel. It was crazy!!!

The New York Subway

These were Minonite singers in the Subway Station - they gave us a free cd. There were a few subway performers on the train, but not a lot.

Friday: Jamaica, Bushwick, Coney Island & Manhattan

We are in Jamaica. These weird bird toys sing and move - it made us think of our friend Victor who loves birds.
We went inside a few furniture stores that were packed to the brim. We liked this coffee table because of the storage and extra seating it provides.
We liked this one because of the extra seating.
I liked this grafiti wall.

Friday we went to Jamaica. Basically it is the place to shop if you want to shop. Everything is cheaper there, including all the stuff that people look for and buy in Manhattan - watches, jewelry, purses, etc. We couldn't help but eat a shish-ka-bob which was $3 cheaper there than in Manhattan and a small Spanish icee. So yummy! We had breakfast at this one place called Athena Cafe - it was SO delicious. I don't know if you have realized how much FOOD takes a part in our vacations.
People are crazy drivers in NY. They block every intersection and people honk their horns non-stop. I would not want to drive there
I ate a coconut and mango Mexican icee. Yum! I think the lady thought I was loca to take a picture with her.
I was going to go to the restroom at this public park - it was extremely dirty with pee everywhere. I waited for something better.
After Jaimaca, Omar took me over to Brooklyn - a part called Marcy in Bushwick. We happened to run into missionaries there - English speaking. Omar served in NY 7 years ago and the missionaries still live in the same apartment as he did.
Trash is piled up in the streets to be taken away. You see this all over the place.
The projects.
We then went over to Coney Island. Omar had never been there before. We went and ate at Nathan's hotdog stand. It was HUGE and tons of people there. Those hot dogs were truly amazing. We then walked around Coney Island and felt the water of the beach there.
Manhattan from Coney Island.
Nathan's Original Hot Dog Stand. It was packed with tons of people. Our yummy but messy hotdogs.
Omar got 2 chili-cheese dogs and I got a onion & pepper dog.
Man was that dog good!
Coney Island Board Walk.
You can see more projects in Coney Island.
Coney Island is like a big amusement park.
Us in front of the beach. It was a really hot day - a swim would not have been the worst idea.
People associate the structure behind us with Coney Island.
Me in front of the Ferris Wheel - it cost $6 for one person to ride it!

The aquarium is at Coney Island and we found it was free that day so we went to the NY Aquarium. It was pretty fun, but SUPER crowded. Omar had our backpack on for the day and he was taking a picture of some jellyfish when some lady came by and said, "Can you move...your back back is in the way and I am trying to walk here." It may have been mean, but I just kind of laughed at her since the place was packed and his back was not even in her way. I don't know where she was expecting him to move to.

The line to get in was so long - the place was packed for the free day.
Omar and I at the Sea Lion Show
About to get drenched






After Coney Island we went back to the hotel to rest a little bit and then we went to Manhattan at night time. We took the bus to the subway this time, since we finally learned the route. I visited Manhattan 2 times before in 2000 and then in 2001 (before the towers fell) for choir competitions. I did not remember there being so many people there. It just amazed me at how many people were there. We went to find a place to eat. It seemed as though all there was were chain restaraunts and we really did not want to eat at a chain restaraunt in NYC. We found one place that looked good but it was over $20 for a little sandwich. So Omar chose Hawaiian Tropic. Did he not realize that it would be girls in bathingsuits serving us food? He says he did not realize it, but thought the menu looked good. The food was good, less expensive, and we had a nice view of Manhattan while we ate. However the service was terrible. Ah well, you can't win them all I guess.
The view when we came out of the subway.
The buildings are so huge.
So many people at Times Square.
Where the ball drops for New Years...do you see the 2009?
My tuna dinner
Omar's NY Strip Steak
We walked around a while more and then headed back to the hotel. I only had 4 blisters from all the walking we did - it was quite the work out to just get to the subway - that is what we took the whole time. We walked a ton!