AWESOME!!!

In this picture you can see two faces, Max Hall's and my husbands!! This was on the front page of the newspaper today. This picture doesn't show it, but Bryan actually carried Max Hall for a bit. Crazy boy.

Bryan and I got to go see the BYU vs. UofU football game on Saturday. (Thanks Grandpa!) What an incredible game! We were sitting next to two Ute fans in a sea of blue. They were actually pretty classy about the whole thing. I didn't see much ugliness about the rivalry. (except, I'm sad to say, some of the older men that weren't too gracious ..... who knew?) It was just incredible to be there with all the action and noise. I swear that there is nothing louder than cougar stadium when they play the Utes! The last few minutes were incredible, I thought for sure that we'd lost the game, but my cougars pulled it out!! Go Cougs!

Kirtland Ohio:

Okay, so if you don't like history, religion or lots of pictures stop reading here and just pretend this post doesn't exist.

Still here? Great, on we go...

Last Saturday Bryan and I FINALLY made the trek up to Kirtland Ohio. We've been talking about doing it almost every weekend since we moved here. The 3 day weekend proved to be enough to get us there and it was a lot of fun. First we travelled to Hiram, Ohio where the John Johnson Farm is located. I drove the 3 hours, Bryan tried his best to study and Daniel tried his best to get his Daddy's attention.

We were very impressed with the condition of the farm and the restoration that had gone into it. They have stripped all of the paint to find the original colors and repainted using the same ones. I couldn't believe their brave use of colors! They used oranges, teals and yellows. It made the place bright and cheery, but wasn't overpowering. I would never have imagined it though.

I had forgotten how many important things had happened here. The above picture is of the "Revelation Room" where Joseph Smith held many meetings and received many sections of the D&C. The picture below is of the room that Joseph and Emma stayed in when they lived here for a year. This was the room that he was pulled from to be tarred and feathered and where one of the little twins they had adopted died.

Joseph would preach off of the front step and they would build a Bowery for hundreds of people to sit under and listen. If you ever get the chance to go to Kirtland, make sure you stop by the Johnson Farm in Hiram.

Our next stop (after getting lost a bit) was the Kirtland Temple. We didn't get to go inside because we were running short on time and the only way to get in is to take an 1 1/2 tour. But the grounds were beautiful! Maybe it was just that the leaves were all golden, but it was really something else.

The temple was originally a light blue/gray exterior with green doors and a red roof! I had never known that. They repainted the doors green and are planning on returning to the original colors in the next couple of years. Next time I make the trip up I am DEFINITELY going to go inside. Can't wait.
LDS visitors center and Newell K. Whitney store,etc.

Below is a picture of the inn. It's been beautifully restored and houses visitors information. (videos and models of the city, etc) This was Joseph Smith's private study above the Whitney store. You can't really tell in this picture, but the trim is all a mustardy yellow/brown. The table in the picture is the very same one that Joseph used in this room. The School of the Prophets was held here. It's a very special room and you can feel that when you go into it. I also couldn't believe that they used to fit so many men in here at once! This is the ashery where they made ash to sell and help support the church. It's a beautiful building, it's been built on top of the original foundation. It was kind of surreal standing inside of the Whitney store. It looks just like you'd think it would, kind of like the store in "little house on the prairie"

It was a great day for us, getting to spend time together as a family. We'll definitely do this one again!

5 Years Ago.....

Wow I was just thinking of where I was 5 years ago and it's amazing how quickly time flies! 5 years ago I was in college, single (I think I was dating someone at the time, but I'm not sure... yeah that's how memorable that relationship was;) I had just finished Performing in Carmen at BYU and I was inexplicably ahead in my classwork. I was preparing to give my hour long senior recital and singing in BYU Singers. I had stumbled upon some of the best roommates I ever had. 5 years ago I also found out that my sister had leukemia. I think that's why everything else is a bit of a fog. That one instance is so clear and precise in my mind. It's amazing how so many things can get lost in the shuffle and yet some things stay untouched, almost as if you carefully wrapped up the memory and put it high up on a shelf to be undisturbed by the humdrum of everyday life. It put a lot of things into perspective for me really fast. All of the little things I worried about so much were not even on the eternal radar. I had so much to learn. The past five years have served me well. I met and married Bryan and joined a wonderful family who adds so much to my life. I had a wonderful little boy who teaches me daily of God's love. I've learned to let go of some of the things that weigh me down. It's incredible to see not only how much my life has changed, but also just how much I have changed. I so grateful that the Lord is patient in giving us the time we have on this earth. Because for me growth is all about time.

What were you up to 5 years ago?