Snakes in the Park

I am afraid of snakes. Seriously, I hate them. So when Whit, my dad and I were in the park in Philadelphia and I saw a man holding two boa constrictors, the last thing was that I wanted to hold one.  As we got closer to the man, he asked if we wanted to, and Whitni and I both said yes. WHAT?! He put one on Whit and then put one on me (I didn't want to be left out!) and I didn't cry! It kept dropping off my shoulder and wrapping around my waist, which gave me the creeps but it was so worth it.  Definitely something I haven't done in like fifteen years or so when my cousin Travis had his boa. I still hate snakes, but at least I know I can deal with my fears. :)

Whitni getting her snake wrapped around her shoulders, I'm a little freaked out. 

Getting my snake...it was HUGE! It grossed me out.

He made fun of me for holding his hand, when I was supposed to hold the snake...I was too flustered to know what I was supposed to be doing!

We did it! Notice my waist and the snake creeping around.

Elder Ascanio

Last year Whit and I were playing catch outside her apartment when Derek (one of our friends) came out with his roommate (Javier, who was Whit's home teacher) to play with us. I knew him as the white kid with the Hispanic name at first. I never would have guessed then how close we'd become. He's opening his mission call tonight in Texas with his family, and I've been lucky enough to see him change and grow spiritually this last year and a half, especially in the last six months.  He is someone I can trust because he is honest. His parents raised a very respectable and sincere young man who has taught me more than he realizes. The people he will be serving while on the mission are incredibly lucky. 

Congrats Javi, you're my favorite Cuban! :) 

Me, Javi, Junior, and Pepe at the airport dropping Javi off

After our goodbye dinner at Tucanos

Whit, Javi and I at the Riverwoods

Javi and I

This is my fake sad face, I'm really super excited for him. :)