May Has Arrived!

Blossoms are indeed a favorite and feel as if I've been neglecting them in photos. Lately I've just been walking to admire them instead of capturing pictures of every cherry tree in sight. Spring is such a beautiful season and it flies by so fast. There were a few trees in Utah while we were walking around Lexie's neighborhood. The flowers are vibrant but soon they will fall off. I captured a few in Utah and a couple here in our Jersey hood. Noah's allergies were bothering him that day but he was a good sport and he let me take a few photos! 

Scenes From The SOAR Program At BYU...

Never thought the time would come when I would send my last daughter to attend the SOAR program in Utah. Sierra and Lexie both attended and really enjoyed the program and even though Lexie is the only one that's attended BYU so far I'm grateful that Sierra had the opportunity to go and experience it. 

According to Chelsea she had fun making friends and I know that's the best part of attending these events. Making friends. What's important is that she attended, learned a few things, made friends and was surrounded with other kids who share the same values and who knows...maybe she'll choose this college to attend next year. 

At any rate I'm just so glad she got to experience this. And that she stayed for an extra week to spend quality time with her sisters and family which is so rare these days. OHHHH- the cons of living across the country! Times are a changing and I look forward to this time when it's Noah's turn to go...if he chooses to!

Now for some photos...

Lexie Lately in 2022....

 

“One of the best things about a church mission is not only sharing the gospel and seeing people’s lives change, but the relationships you develop with the people and the friendships you create with fellow missionaries.” -Lexie

Since Lexie doesn’t share too much online she gave me the ok to post a bit about the beginning of her 2022.

The first week back in Utah was super busy for her. She flew back on New Year’s Eve and had a whole weekend to move into her apartment. Started school that Monday. Was part of a wedding party and a bridesmaid for one of her missionary companions that same week. A lot of crazy firsts but she loves her classes, her new ward, her new place (she has a room of her own) and rooming with one of her old missionary companions, but most of all…she has much more appreciation for her religion classes, and the fact that she has some of her old mission peeps attending BYU is the best!

For Cousins.

I didn't take too many photos of the family while I was in Utah which I'm pretty bummed about, but that's okay. The kids were too busy playing and getting to know one another as it should be without a camera shoved in their face! I did manage to capture this photo of one of the cousins with Noah. She kept Noah entertained when she would come over, and I'm so glad they met. Yes, this is the first time that Chelsea and Noah have met their cousins, and uncles, and aunts in real life! Crazy sad, but grateful at the same time!

For Memories.

I will always remember the years we lived at 1720. Our little basement apartment in Utah was perfect for our three girls. Lexie, Sierra (not pictured) and Chelsea were such a joy to have while living there. Chelsea was 18 months old when we moved to the east coast so she doesn't remember anything about the fact that she once lived in Utah! I'm so grateful for the memories we made there, and that we were able to walk down memory lane to show Chelsea where she was born, and lived.

For Friends.

I want to start out this post by introducing you to some great people, and to express how thankful I am to have them in my life! In some shape or form they have uplifted me, fed me, taught me, and loved me in the most unconditional way. These are the friends I have in Utah, and even though I'm writing about my west coast peeps want all of y'all to know that I appreciate all the friends I have from all over the world!

Attending Some Of The Newest Temples In Utah.

Writing about the temple, and sharing some of my experiences is one of my favorite things to do on here. I write about it as a reminder as to why I attend, and how it helps me as a person. I write it for anyone who may wonder what temples are all about, and also for my posterity. 

A Special Morning At The Jordan River Temple.

While in Utah we took advantage of attending a lot of temples so brace yourself because this won't be the only temple post to come! I wanted to write about this special day because it totally reminded me of the time I first went in with Jon, and the sister missionaries who taught me the gospel of Jesus Christ. This spot right is where we all stood. 

FiiZ, Swig, & Sodalicious!

One of man mades greatest inventions are the specialty soda shops that we visited while we were in Utah. I've been a dr. pepper fan since I was a little kid, and will still drink it from time to time. I believe in moderation, and in my opinion see nothing wrong with having a soda every now and then. 

Museum Of Ancient Life At Thanksgiving Point.

One of my favorite places I frequented often while living in Utah was a place called Thanksgiving point. It was a place where they had stores including one that sold a ton of Mary Englebreit decorations. It had a country feel to it. It was a place where I could go to just browse, and get ideas for our little apartment back when I had two kids. It was a place where my girls loved going to get away from the city. The drive was always a peaceful one, and since we were on our way to Provo to take Lexie to her dorm decided to stop on the way to check it out.

Hall Of Breakfast in Salt Lake City!

Pop up museums have become a favorite and when we heard about the Hall of Breakfast in Utah knew I had to get tickets and go. It's a seasonal museum so they are only here in Utah until Sept. 1st, and then they head out to a different state. It truly was the best interactive art installation ever created, and we had so much fun with picture posing all around us! 

Lexie Lately- Her Acceptance Into BYU Provo!

As the years have gone by I've kind of shifted to a point where I don't really write too much about my girls. I know that I post, and write a lot about Noah, and our family adventures, but when it comes to personal things such as relationships, and school I don't want to invade their privacy, and so I leave it up to them to post, or write about whatever they want to write about on their own corner of the internet. 

The Uinta Mountains in 2001.

The type of weather that is currently happening right now totally reminds me of the weather I once experienced in the mountains while living in Utah. You know, the kind of weather where the snow has hardened up, and is pretty much frozen solid on the ground with the right temperature where all you need is a fleece jacket, or a warm sweater. That's how it feels right about now, and oh how I long to go for a drive up to the Uinta mountains right about now!

A Reminder: 14 Years Later.

"Marriage is the foundry for social order, the fountain of virtue, and the foundation for eternal elation. Marriage has bene divinely designated as an eternal and everlasting covenant. Marriage is sanctified when it is cherished and honored in holiness. That union is not merely between husband, and wife; it embraces a partnership with God. "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other. Children born of that marital union are "an heritage of the Lord." Marriage is but the beginning bud of family life;parenthoodis its flower. And that bouquet becomes even more beautiful when graced with grandchildren. Families may become as eternal as the Kingdom of God itself. 

~Elder Russell M. Nelson

A Few Photos From The SOAR Program at BYU!

Seeing these pictures brings back so many memories of Sierra when she went to SOAR five years ago. (For those of you who are unfamiliar with this program you can read this detailed article about it here.) The new friends, the temple, the smiles, and the captions that are written underneath these pictures that I stole from Lexie and her friends Instagram is very nostalgic. I love how this program inspires, and teaches our cultured children to prosper, and grow spiritually as well as preparing them with success in their academics once they are in college. 

Errand Of Angels From Utah, Circa 2006.

It's hard to believe that this video is ten years old, but boy oh boy do i love a good reminder. It feels as if I left from that area yesterday. All the sisters in this video remind me of the goodness that we can share, and the love that we can give to others. No matter what paths we have all gone towards, or where we live at this moment what matters is that these angels that were mine for those short years expressed service, love, devotion, thoughtfulness, compassion, love, and kindness. All the attributes that the Savior has, and desires us to inhibit were given to me, and because of that I will pass that on! 

Witches Night Out at Gardner Village - Circa, 2005

Even though I've scrap booked my kids lives in their memory books since the day they were born there was no depiction or stories written behind the photos. And since I enjoy writing I've decided to do a few throwback posts on some of my fondest memories before we moved to Jersey, and before we became a family of six. They won't be in order, but i hope that you won't get bored with my short stories or snippets of my family behind these posts. This is being written for my posterity, and will be printed and added on to the tangible photos in their scrapbooks. I also hope that at the same time it'll make you smile, and have you leaving saying, "no wonder", "so that's what happened to her",  "cute kids", and "so glad she was safe all these years!" So enjoy! Note that all photos in this post were taken by wonderful husband with a Nikon N4004 back when people used to develop film in a dark room, and way before smartphones! 
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There are days when I miss Halloweens in Utah. Back when the girls were little we always dressed up as witches to attend an event called witches night out at Gardner Village. I blame my mother-in-law for getting me hooked on this tradition, and every time I see my friends with their daughters going to this fun event via social media, I have to admit I get a tad bit jealous!

A Place We'll Always Call Home.

Memories came flooding back when I saw this picture of my two oldest girls standing inside the conference center. I'm so thankful for our stake president in getting tickets for them to be able to attend two sessions. Although jetlagged Lexie came home refreshed and over all had a grand week. Even teenagers need to get away from all the hustle and bustle that life can bring no matter where you live!

For me sometimes living away from family and friends that i've known for years can be tough. It'll be nine years since we left Utah, but living on the east for the past nine years (if you count the two years living in North Carolina) has been a challenging, but growing experience. I just count my blessings for living in three states before moving to Jersey because when you're raised in Texas, (strive to) live your live as a christian in Utah, and become super southernized in North Carolina, moving up to a fast paced area like Jersey can be a challenge. Luckily I passed all the tests, and so far we have grown to adjust, and tolerate all the differences that life here can bring. And most of them have been good, challenging differences! I surprise myself at how well I have tolerated living in Jersey. Don't get me wrong because I love the East Coast but sometimes living in Jersey can be a bit lonely when everyone is sooooooo busy (hence all the road trips we've taken as a family.) One thing I am most grateful for are the friends and family that I do have out west, Texas, and North Carolina that I can call upon whenever I need a little pick me up. I am also extremely grateful for a place where my girls can be able to get away from here, and venture out to familiar territory and get reacquainted with blasts from the past. Almost nine years have past since we moved from Utah, and for the first time since then my middle daughter Lexie made it back for spring break for some much needed quality time with her sister as well as other family members. Besides getting reacquainted with family, and cousins she's never met, one of the highlights of her trip was attending General conference. She had never stepped foot inside the new conference center since it was built. Luckily Jon, and Sierra went inside when sisters from the Relief Societies in our stake were chosen to sing in the choir for conference. I was so excited to have had the opportunity to do that in the spring of 2004. 

I really appreciate everything that my in-laws have done for my girls and am thankful for all the friends that I have out west, and for those who took the time to see both my girls, because even Utah folk can be busy! One being our landlord Melvin Thayne who is a whopping 92 years of age! He was the greatest, most generous landlord, and friend that we've ever had, and we miss him so much. He was especially happy when I spoke with him to let him know my girls were going to see him. He lost his wife Emma (who was an amazing poet) last December, and so having the girls over cheered him up even more! I was so happy that the girls took the time out to visit their "unofficial grandpa", and these pictures they took with him put a huge smile on my face. 

My heart is just filled with so much gratitude knowing that our family can always have a place to go back to even if it's just for a while that we can call "home." 

Off To Spend A Week With Her Sister.

How I wish I could pack myself inside Lexie's suitcase so that I can fly out to see Sierra over spring break. We wish we all could! I am so happy that these two are going to have an entire week to spend together including going to the conference center to attend two sessions of General Conference! How lucky are these girls of mine. Very lucky, and although I will miss cracking cascarones on their heads on Easter Sunday that's okay. There's always next year. It's very rare that General Conference falls on Easter Sunday, but nonetheless we will make this day special for Chelsea and Noah regardless of Conference, and their sisters being away. 

These two deserve all the happy moments that come their way, and I know that they will cherish each and every one of them. They have been the best of friends since the day Lexie was born, and I love that they have such a close relationship regardless of their age gap. It amazes me the bond they have, and ever since Sierra left Utah it has only grown stronger. Especially when one goes through dramas of "life" or a major trial. Sisters are there for each other no matter what, to support, and love each other unconditionally, and I can say that these two exhibit that perfect sisterly love. Whether it's through handwritten letters, texting, calling, Instagram, or snap chatting they are always there for each other. One thing I love about their relationship is that they have never once expressed anger towards one another, and if any yelling has occurred it's always been out of goofiness, or happiness. I know that they will have the time of their life in good old Salt Lake City. Lexie hasn't been back to Utah for almost nine years, and it is time for her to go back to familiar territory to visit old friends, visit a temple or two, and just have an adventurous  spring break!  

Happy Easter weekend all! 

Moab, Utah.

Moab. 

This was one place where I loved venturing out to get away when I lived in Salt Lake. I can't believe it has been eight years since we left Utah, and I'm sure missing it right now. Especially since we've been hit some massive, windy, cold weather. What happened to spring anyway? It's like it just sprung us over! 

I love looking back at old photos reflecting on the good times we had when the girls were little. Don't get me wrong...I love all the memories we're making now with a boy in the mix, but this part of my life watching the girls grow up, and developing into their own personalities was amazing. 

Still is...

Especially since these two girls are now teenagers, and one of them is about to turn nineteen in a couple of months. Now that Sierra is back in Utah going to school I hope that she is taking advantage of her surroundings and hope that she'll get the chance to go back to Moab.

The years fly by way too quickly especially with this cute little girl who is now nine! It seems as if she was this small yesterday. There are times when I look at Noah, and see Chelsea all over again. It's beautiful to see the way God creates our children, and how they all carry the same resemblance. 

Memories of a four drive to Moab was certainly worth it. The singing in the car with their squeaky voices, and giggling all around. Toys scattered about, and crayons rolling back and forth as we'd make a turn. The drive down is so peaceful, and the sun...oh man that sun can shine on my face for eternity if it could. The great part of my life while having three daughters was taking them to the most beautiful places out west. I think moving from a small town in Texas to a state like Utah gave me many opportunities to want to explore the western hemisphere, and we sure did a lot of that before moving out here. 

Jon is such a great photographer. I always tell him that he should go back and take up photography as a career. I love the way he captured the girls in all their beauty. I wish I'd been in some of these pics, but I was too busy taking in the beauty of Moab too! I was also making sure Chelsea wasn't running off, or putting rocks and dirt in her mouth! Living on the east coast is great and all, but sometimes you just need to get away...far away, and venture out to the other side of the hemisphere, and that is what we hope to do soon!

Cross country drive in our plans for the future? Who knows.  Right now all i want is some warmer weather. Taking it day by day, and living in the moment...for now.