January 2019

























2019 started out with an exciting change to the temple ceremony.  I have been praying and waiting for years for some parts of the language that have been painful for me to change in the temple.  The day I caught wind of the rumor I called my mom and we raced to the next session to see if it was all true.  When it really was I just couldn't stop crying.  It was such a special day to have her there with me.  









 McKell and I drove back to Utah together and we made a stop in Las Vegas to celebrate her 20th birthday!  We went to the show LOVE with the Beatles music.  It was pretty cool but also a little strange during some of the music.  Not sure we would recommend it to anyone. We ate at an Italian restaurant in the MGM and then after walked around and saw a yummy looking dessert shop we were excited to try, but sadly as we got closer we realized everything in there was made of soap!  HaHa . I wish we could have stayed a little longer but we had to get her moved into her new apartment at Alpine Village.  I hope she decides to stay there for awhile and doesn't want to move again anytime soon.  Luckily she has some nice roommates she likes this semester so fingers crossed.   McKell teaches our family about empathy and looking out for those who go unseen.  We sure love her!! I also was able to do another session at the Provo City Center Temple.  I had never been there before and I thought it was so beautiful.  I loved hearing the session all over again too. 

 These two have been getting along a lot better lately, despite how different they are from each other.  Jackson has been losing a lot of weight but I still don't think he is fitting into Syd's sweatshirt anytime soon. :)


 Jackson got a huge surprise when he was invited to go play with the Aspire Volleyball A team in Chicago in January.  He said it was the funnest weekend of his life!  He has some really good friends and seems to be happier than he has ever been.  We sure love him and we were so happy he got to enjoy the cool city of Chicago!











 My friend Caroline invited me to go to her Newport beach house for a girls' weekend the last week of January.  I was very hesitant to go because I don't normally go with just girlfriends somewhere.  But I decided I should do it and I'm so glad I did.  It was so amazingly beautiful and rejuvenating for my soul!  Caroline is such a gracious host and had everything planned out so we didn't have to make many decisions.  We biked everywhere, went to such awesome restaurants, went on a boat ride, talked for hours on the beach and then watched the sunset over the water.  It was exactly what I needed to remember friendship is important as well as taking care of myself so I can take care of others.  Two days after I returned home my Dad was put back in the hospital again for eight days, and then just last week went back in for another 4 days.  I have been able to help my Mom be with him.  I have lots of energy and feel like that Newport weekend was preparing me for this next hospital bout with my Dad.
Mike decided the husbands should have some fun too while we were away so he organized a dinner with the men. 

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