The Best Place To Live In

Costco Connection Magazine, May 2008 issue, says that Provo is the best place to live in in the United States.

I'm sure it is.

"Bert Sperling, along with partner Peter Sander, put together a list for The Connection of the best U.S. places to live, work and play that have nearby Costco locations. They evaluated more than 50 categories, including housing, economy, climate, crime, education, recreation, arts and culture, and health. Sperling says: "We strove to balance quality of life and affordability.""

1. Provo/Orem, UT
2. Bellingham, WA
3. Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA
4. Durham, NC
5. Atlanta, GA
6. Manchester/Nashua, NH
7. Boise/Nampa, ID
8 San Luis Obispo, CA
9. Northampton, MA
10. Indianapolis/Carmel, IN


I love Provo.

Angel(a)

Speaking on angels, I married an Angel(a).

My Guardian Angel

When I was a little kid my mon told me that I had a Guardian Angel that from time to time would come to protect me. She told me that every time I would hear a ring in my ear my angel was reminding me to pray.

Since then, I believe in angels. I have felt the presence of angels many times in my life.

I have seen also many people coming into my life in their role of angels to help me, guide me and protect me. I know they were angels because "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost;" (2 Nephi 32:3). Many of them were not members of the Church.


Angels were represented with wings all the time. (1st Facsimile from the Book of Abraham, Fig. 1). The wings represent love, shelter and protection. "In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge." (Psalms 57:1). I see that the wings represent "the pure love of Christ" (Moroni 7:47). I know that "the (Son) of Righteousness (shall) arise with healing in his wings." (Malachi 4:2).
So I believe that angels appear to men and minister to them. "Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them?" (Moroni 7:36).


One day, here in Utah, in my pain I called my mom. Years later I could recognize in Kate's voice the voice of my mom. In a picture I could see in Kate's small legs my mom's legs.

So I said to me: "My mom has sent me this angel."





The first day Heather, Cecilia's daughter, saw me, she came running to me and said: "Tio Hugo" and gave me a kiss. Her mom tells me that in her prayers she always asks our Father in heaven to bless tio Hugo.

Here I have another angel that prays for me.

Stephen's Best Cakes

The other day Stephen asked his abuela to make a cake for him. But abuela was really busy.

So Stephen pulled out all the ingredients to the table: an egg, milk, flour, and a pan, and began to fix his own cake, "a lo Stephen". His grandma came and finished the dough and baked the cake.

Two weeks later he asked his mom and grandma to make another cake, but they were watching TV. So Stephen did the same, pulled out the ingredients, but this time he broke seven eggs into pudding flour. When Angela and Vero found him doing this they had to use it to fix a cake.

The cake was good.

So next time I'm going to write down all the ingredients that Stephen uses for his cakes, the proportions and sequence also. This way he can share his recipes with all of you.

Caballo de Troya

Don't open the comments in this blog for now. They are full of viruses.

I Love You Grandpa

When Kate comes in a bad mood she doesn't want me to ask her for a hug or a kiss. She does not even want to talk to me.

"Kate, give me a hug." She says: "Nnnnno." "Kate, give me a kiss." Again: "Nnnnno."

The other day when I insisted, she told me: "I don't love you any more." That sounds cute for a little girl.

But today she was in a good mood, smiling, talking and playing around, and she told me: "I love you, grandpa."

Today I felt myself a real grandpa, that I have a tight relationship with my grandkids with reciprocal love.

El Peru, desde Este Momento, Es Libre e Independiente

I had the opportunity to visit the Plaza San Martin in Lima.

When I was watching the monument, my heart filled with great emotions to my country and to freedom. I began to contemplate the meaning of the words of the Libertador Don Jose de San Martin.

"El Peru, desde este momento, es libre e independiente por la voluntad general de los pueblos y por la justicia de su causa que Dios defiende."

"Peru, from now on, is free and independent by the general will of the peoples and by the righteousness of its cause that God defends."

What profound and meaningful words!

Inspired words that came from God.

We, Peruvians, are free, really free. Let us be forever.

Somebody told me that when the builders were ordered to put a flame (llama) on the top of the head of the lady under the statue of the Libertador, they understood a llama (the animal), and that's what they did.

But I don't think the story is true.

Karen

Two days before I returned to the States, I was just walking in the Miraflores park when suddenly I heard; "Uncle?" It was Karen, Alejandro's daughter.

She lives in Lima. We went to a McDonalds to eat something and talk.

She is so nice and cute. Karen said: "Tio, I"m going to give a news that it is going to disappoint you." "What?" I asked. "I've been converted to catholicism."

She is, or was, an LDS, born under the covenant.

I didn't condemn her. I explained to her about my belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Eventually, religion is a belief and a right. Joseph Smith wrote: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." (11th Article of Faith).

Larco Mar - Lima

During my visit to Lima I went to the Larco Mar mall in Miraflores.

I like Lima a lot. Too many people, but with beautiful and interesting places to go to.

My Brother Alvaro

Alvaro was not in Arequipa those days. We visited his wife Isaura, his daughter Nataly, and his son Jabob.

But when I was in Lima just walking by the Miraflores park, I came across Alvaro and his family.

They were in Lima because Nataly was going to the Netherlands (Holanda).

It was a happy visit.

My Brother Enrique

During my visit to Arequipa last month, I visited my brother Enrique and his wife Tula.

I don't have a picture of him. We were so excited talking to each other that I forgot to take a picture.

We grew up together in Cocachacra, with a closer relationship than with my other brothers.

We had no much time to talk. I have things that I want to share with my brother that he only would understand. I really miss him.

Now I will say only a song of Raphael's: "Mi hermano es diferente a mi. Mi hermano sabe mas que yo."

Relatives and close friends in Arequipa

During our visit to Arequipa we met again relatives and close friends:

Aurelio and Francisca Nina

Lilly Trillo

Luigi and Ana Morales.

Carlos and Abigail Zevallos

Juan Mendoza

We stayed with Ada Nunez. (She is the lady behind Angela). Gracias, Ada.

El Conto

When I was a teenager, my mom, my aunt Efigenia and my aunt Delia, and their families used to go to El Conto Beach.

It was really fun.

They made tents ("carpas') on the sand, out of "esteras", poles and peruvian canes. They used to have two or more bedrooms, a dining room, and a kitchen. There was also an area for a "bathroom."

In our visit to Peru in February, Angela and me went to visit my cousin Orfelina and her husband Pepe in El Conto and stayed there one day and one night.

We went to the beach and enjoyed the sand and the sea.

Thanks Orfelina. Thanks Pepe.

Mollendo

I lived in Mollendo for five years when I was a teenager. I went to high school there.

When married, we used to go to Mollendo for the weekends during Summer to enjoy the sun, the sand and the waves of the sea.

As a family, we had a lot a fun there.

"Confundido entre las rocas, y banado por las olas, te levantas puerto mio."