We just got back from the most enjoyable Easter break EVER!
A few weeks back, we began hatching a plan that involved attending General Conference in Utah (for the first time) as well as visiting Bryce Canyon with John's brother Jordan and his family.
We had no idea then how great those activities would be, nor did we have a clue how much fun and family would be added in to make this a truly memorable trip.
We left work early on Thursday afternoon (no small feat for two do gooders like us;) and stopped at home only long enough to load the van full of luggage and four very excited kids.
John's sister Sarah graciously let us stop off at her home in Montana, which allowed us to split the twelve hour drive in half. We reached their home around 8:30 pm and were delighted to finally get to see it! It's a beautiful home that has one feeling comfy and cozy the minute you walk through the door. (Ed's hot pot of chili and artisan bread may have had something to do with that feeling too;)
We got to visit with them, see pictures from Ed and Mala's recent Galapagos adventure, and get a view of the beautiful area they live in.
It was a most perfect beginning and we were so grateful for their hospitality!!
We arrived at Jordan and Luci's on Friday evening. We couldn't have been more excited to find that Gina and a couple of our nephews were there as well. After a delicious dinner, the kids each decorated their own egg (hard boiled) in preparation of the first annual "Egg Jousting Competition."
Egg Jousting consists holding your egg and charging at your opponents egg.
Without fail, one egg will crack (the loser's), and one will not (the winner's).
It's a ridiculously stupid game.
We can't wait to play it again;)
Luci had managed to snag eight tickets from her Bishop for my family. On Saturday morning John and I grabbed the kids (along with Libby and Jax) and excitedly made our way to Temple Square.
This marked the kids' second time on temple square only, and the first time we'd ever watched conference in the Conference Center.
We didn't bother standing in line to get in to the morning session, we simply spent a few hours wandering and exploring.
Libby and Jax were great buddies to have with us for the day.
They took photos for us, kept my kids interested and energized, and made us laugh.
I LOVED watching my kids soak in the atmosphere of Temple Square.
They saw beautiful landscaping, inspiring photos, they heard conference talks being blared over loudspeakers, they watched wide eyed as protesters called out to them to repent, and they felt the contrasting calm sweet feeling inside the special conference centre.
I've heard people speak of it before, but I too LOVED seeing personally what happens to a room full of 20,000 people the minute the prophet walks in the room. Without any spoken warning that he had arrived, the moment President Nelson walked through the doors everybody (everybody!) went silent and stood. It was the most impressive silence I have ever witnessed and it spoke volumes of the love that we all have for our prophet.
It has only been a couple of months since President Nelson was sustained the new President of the Church, but this was a monumental conference weekend as he announced some major changes to the church. Some of the announced changes were:
* 7 new temples were announced.
* It was announced that from this point on, the organizations of the High Priest Group will be dissolved and all men in the church will be a part of one unified Elders Quorum.
* Home teaching and Visiting teaching as we know it was dissolved. We were taught that there will be a knew idea put in place in which members will minister in a less programmatic, yet more Christlike way. I am certainly excited to see how these changes unfold!
It absolutely blew my mind to see just how many people attend conference each year. We saw many of our hometown friends, and made our way through throngs and throngs of strangers. So.many.people!!
There was admittedly moments while watching where we missed our comfy couch, cozy blankets and endless supply of snack foods, but we were so so glad to get to experience Conference in such a memorable way. Now whenever my kids watch conference on TV (yes from the comforts of our cozy couch;) they will be able to say that they know exactly what it is like to hear our prophet speak in person.
What a great weekend!!!
Sunday was spent lazing around at Jordan and Luci's house. (Well...John and I lazed around. Luci probably can't say that she did;) We watched conference, ate a yummy Easter meal, the kids enjoyed an Easter Egg hung, and we packed and set out on our grand adventure to Bryce Canyon.
Oh man, Bryce Canyon was such fun!! (So fun that it deserves a blog post of it's own!;)
I really couldn't get over how much there is to do in Utah.
So many places to explore.
So much shopping I wish I'd done.
So many places to eat.
Throughout the week there were so many moments in which Jordan and Luci absolutely made our day. For example:
Before leaving, Jordan made our kids' day when he took everyone to the Living Planet Aquarium.
Despite their past pleas, John and I had never taken our kids to an aquarium before. Turns out we really should have.
Apparently nothing gets my kid excited like sloths, golden pheasants, and Arapaima's do!
Luci made Jessica's day when she took her to the "Puppy Barn," a place Jess had been dreaming of going to ever since she learned of it's existence months ago. She hopped from one bin of puppy to another, happily declaring which one we should get, as if we ever actually would;)
She was in absolute heaven!
The night before we left, Luce and Jordan took us to a pizza place called Midici's which was so much fun! I never knew eating pizza could be such an elegant dining experience, but it was. And boy was it ever delish! Luci absolutely made my trip when she pointed out that the famous mormon blogger Stephanie Nelson (aka. Nie Nie) was there as well. It has been a long time joke between Luci an I that I would only come to Utah if Luci would help me see Nie Nie. During a previous trip, Luci had bought cupcakes for us from Nie Nie's favorite cupcake shop, but landing at Midici's with her was so so much better. I still don't know how Luci made it happen. haha.
I was too much of a chicken to go up and talk to her, even though I really really wanted to. Luckily Luci went all Carpe Diem on us and seized the moment!
With our hubbies we talked about Tesla's, Banff, and southern Alberta. What I didn't tell Stephanie was that her writing was a source of hope and inspiration for me 7 years ago when going through a tediously painful onset of Rheumatoid arthritis. While wondering if I would ever walk or move freely again, she was a constant reminder to me of the truth that "I am not my body" and that our spirits are greater than our limitations.
I kinda wish I'd thanked her for that...
My kids and I all woke up Wednesday and very reluctantly got ready for our 12 hour drive home. John's brother Aaron had so kindly insisted on driving all the way from his place forty some minutes away to meet us for breakfast at 7:00 am. I couldn't believe it. Part of my felt really guilty for making them make that early morning drive, but the other part of me just really wanted to see them again. They treated us to a delicious breakfast and we got to visit with them a little while longer before they sent us on our way with a delicious Chocolate Cake in hand. It was an incredibly kind gesture and I don't think they will realize how touched we were by the effort they made.
Anyways, there it is. A recap of a most enjoyable week in Utah.
It was an incredible week full of first, and a week that was made amazing by so many family members who opened their homes, fed us, and made us feel as though we were people worth hanging out with.
We love them all for it!
