Trip to Salt Lake!

Lily has taken on a new job that has gotten Jeff and me pretty excited. She not only showers by herself, but she has taken on the role of also giving Ryan a shower! Once I showed her how to wash her back she was very excited to be completely independent in there. After she finishes hers, she calls for Ryan to come in. Then she does everything and he loves it. When I tell them to stop Ryan peeks his head out and asks for just one more shower. I was so happy to have that break at the end of the night to get dishes done or things put away that we are thrilled with this new development. Lily also helped me organize the food pantry. She was a great helper. When I threw the granola bars in the box, she protested that they were not organized right. So she took them out and put them back nicely one by one. She also wanted a say on where the items went on the shelf.

Why didn't I take a before picture? In any case, this looks much better than it did before. 

She made sure to put the orange ones on top since those are the only ones Ryan eats. 

Sometimes I'm not always sure if Ryan is listening much when we read the scriptures, but the other day he asked,"what are we reading tomorrow, Babylon?" We have been reading the illustrated Old Testament. Lily is so happy to finish the Old Testament and then we move on to the Doctrine and Covenants since that's the last illustrated book we haven't read....and then she is excited to start over after that. We are reading the family Book of Mormon so there's some pictures in it and she looked at one picture and said, "that's when they're at the promised land! And there's the liahona!" Ryan then said, "and those are the gold plates that God told them to get!" I was so impressed with these two and so happy that these simple daily things we are doing are having an impact. They are learning and we have a habit of reading scriptures established which I am so happy about. This just says to me how important it is to teach children at such a young age about the gospel because they do remember and they do learn and they do feel the spirit.

Ryan has been enjoying looking at the sight word flashcards, but there is one word he told me he doesn't like: from. He said it's too scary. But he is kind of obsessed with looking at it still. "From, I don't like you," is what he said quietly to the word. "But I like the rest of the words."

We had to do a puppet show for our summer reading program, so here's Ryan the elephant. 

And Lily's the little pig. 

Poor Max has not been himself all week. He is feverish, very fussy, and hasn't eaten much. We think he's teething but it makes me so sad for him. And at the same time so grateful for my sweet boy when he's feeling like himself. I was set to go to Utah this week for Darin and Rachel's baby blessing of Wesley, but I just wasn't sure if I should still plan on it. Jeff encouraged me to go and I'm so glad I did, but he then got some red spots while at Sandy and Ron's and was still not himself. Diana has handled it very well though and Jeff and Nick gave Max a blessing. I will say that I am at least grateful that in the evenings there are a lot of people who are there to hold him since I can't do that when I'm by myself. So perhaps it's a blessing to Max and me.

Max played in here for awhile, but I let him since it was the only thing making him happy. He also pulled out all the apples, dropped them on the floor, then took little bites in them. 

The good thing about a sick baby is he does love to cuddle. He fell asleep on Diana and slept there for awhile. 

Coming out of the airport and driving on the freeway to Salt Lake the view took my breath away. Looking at those beautiful mountains and seeing the beautiful city I have to admit I missed it. I saw our Mt Olympus and it is so majestic and the mountains are so close to the city it's really incredible. I drove past Benihana and Capitol Theater--where I used to go for my birthday dinners and where I saw many a play or musical. I just felt so blessed to have grown up there and to have had the childhood I did. I then went to Temple Square and was filled with the spirit as I looked at the temple and the grounds, watched videos in the visitor's center and saw the christus. The grounds in the summer with all the colorful flowers are absolutely beautiful. I just walked around enjoying the sunny gorgeous day feeling grateful for life, the gospel, my family, and all my blessings. I felt so privileged to be there and enjoy that moment by myself taking in all the goodness the Lord has given me.

It gave me chills to walk in and see this right away. What a beautiful building and testimony of the early saints and their dedication to the Lord and His church. 

The assembly hall, where I graduated from seminary. 

When I see the beauty of church grounds, it makes me want to beautify my own yard because it really brightens your day to see such lovely flowers and colors. 

I listened to the last week of Christ's life and a little light lit up where the events occurred in Jerusalem. It made me think fondly on our trip to Israel and how special it was to see these places in person. 

I always loves spending time sitting in front of this and pondering. 

I then went to lunch with my friend John Bonner. It is so fun to reconnect with old friends and talk about memories and what we have done with our lives since then. Afterward I headed to Park City were I saw the Fredrick's, our next door neighbors in Salt Lake who had 11 children. I saw Barbara, Jill, Deborah, and Kim and it was the absolute best, just like old times. It really felt like this joyful reunion and I have so much love and respect for them and they for our family. We all mentioned how living by each other was one of the greatest blessings and how it made our childhood magical. With all the challenges our family had in Utah with my dad's work, that was a bright light for our family. That ward, those friends and experiences, it was such a special time.

Kim, Deb, me, Jill, Jenny. Such a wonderful reunion!!

And Barbara

I then went to lunch with one of my companions, Rachel Steimetz (Beebe now). Again, reconnecting with dear friends feels like picking up right where you left off. It has been over 12 years or longer since seeing all of these people and I feel like I got a glimpse of heaven when we get to meet all those who have influenced us or whom we have influenced. And there is such great joy when they are still strong in the gospel and we share that love of that as well. 

The sisters together again! Rachel (Steinmetz) Beebe

Rachel came with me to listen to Darin's seminar on chiropractic and doulas in childbirth and I was so impressed with Darin. He is professional, educated, and such a great doctor. And I can tell his patients love him too. 

Overall it felt like the perfect day!!!

Darin doing a great job at this whole doctor thing.