Take Me Out to the Ball Game (July '10)

When I was little little - my Aunt Robin gave me a key chain that when you pushed it would play the song Take me out to the ball game. I would push it all the time. In fact I think I still had it when I packed up all my stuff to move to Australia. I'm a sentimentalist. In saying that I'm not a real big fan of baseball. However two games stand out in my memory as my favorite baseball experiences and truly were so much fun. 1- In New York when I saw a game in the old Yankee Stadium with my parents a few years ago and 2- When someone gave my dad Box seats last summer for a Buzz Game in Ogden. Two totally different venues, but both the thrill of the ol' home game. 

Also- last summer my sister Mandie got called to help with the Youth Spectacular and we went to support her and the youth of the stake. Here are the pictures of us melting away at the WSU stadium. (And some pictures of Jaren because he's just so dang cute!)

Cornflake Sisters - Moonlight Ladies - Best Friends!

The Katies and Liz. 3 of my best friends. I used to do everything with them. Now we live too far apart for that luxury. But last summer we were able to be reunited once again as we went and visited Katie (Cragun) Flaherty in Virgina.

Here is a picture of Jaren happy as a clam lying on the airport floor, and then happy again on Katie's floor. Oh my heavens what an angel baby to fly with. I was quite proud of myself for managing so many flights on my own, though luckily on the way home I got to fly with Lizzy Hardman and Katie (Bailey) Rogers. Someone sitting next to me on the flight said that he was the happiest baby they had ever seen.

Katie and Kevin and their boys. Poor little Brent would freak out when Katie would hold Jaren. I think he had a little jealousy issue with Jaren at first. I wish we could have gotten a picture of that. :}

These girls always make me laugh.

We went to the Smithsonian, shopping, out to eat, to the pool and just hung around the house together. What a great trip!

I cannot even begin to explain what a huge influence and blessing these women have been in my life. I love them dearly and am so grateful for them. One day we'll have our adjacent houses with a joining courtyard. That is the dream! If only Utah, Virginia and Queensland were all one place that could happen a whole lot sooner!

Goodbye Ogden Temple!

I'm so far behind in catching up so I'll resist the temptation to hunt down all of the pictures of the Ogden Temple that have been significant in my life and just include some that I took last July when I was home visiting.

Oh my dear Ogden temple. This is the temple where my parents were sealed. This is the temple that I would drive by regularly growing up and knew that one day I'd be able to go inside. This is the temple where I first and most often went to do baptisms for the dead with mutual groups. This is the temple that I first received my endowments out on June 8, 1999. What a wonderful experience that was for me.

This is the temple where for years before my mission I would go (almost) every week to do an ordinance and bask in the blessings of that wonderful place. This is the temple that I would often go and sit on the grounds and write in my journal or read my scriptures just to get a peaceful place to reflect and pray and have some quiet time.

This is the temple where I would go and sit in the Celestial room for hours basking in the beauty of the spirit and sparkly chandelier (Okay, I do that at every temple, but at this temple the most). This is the temple where I received so many answers to prayers and personal revelation. This is the temple that I could see if I stood in the middle of the street outside my first home on Cahoon Street. This is the temple where I was sealed to Varian for time and all eternity. This is my home temple.

Why are they tearing you down? It breaks my heart. I know that change can be good (for those of you who don't know they are building a new temple here in it's place) but change is still change and change is often hard. I'm so grateful I got to visit you one last time. Goodbye my dear Ogden Temple.

Green Acres is the Place to Be! (July '10)

It may be bad writing etiquette to start off with a tangent, but as a tangent - when we lived in Windsor after the floods I discovered old reruns of the TV show Green Acres that would come on around lunch time. And since our dining room and living room were essentially the same room, I would often put them on as we ate.  I had never seen them before but often would sing the opening line when I told people I taught at Green Acres.

BUT this post is not about the TV show - it's about my lovely Green Acres friends that I was able to get together with for a BBQ last summer at Kristin Teller's house. Oh how I love all of them and loved working with such great people. I still have teaching dreams where I'm back working with Kristin and John and the rest of the gang. It was so great getting together the last 2 summers that I was home. I'm sorry I couldn't be there this year, but look forward to seeing you all again next summer!!!

Also just to include in this post - my sweet friend Kristin who threw the above party also hand knitted this beautiful sweater, hat and booties for Jaren. They're so cute on him and have been so nice through the Australian winters. Look how happy he looks at getting his new present.