Retro Wednesday: Road Trips

The fall of 2007 was my brief stint as a single mom. Niles was in Utah and I was in Arizona, waiting for our house to sell. During the week I did O.K. because during the day I could pretend that Niles was just at work, as usual, instead of too many miles away. (Until the evening, anyway, when he didn't come home!) I dreaded the weekends, though, because they were long and lonely. So I decided that I could mope around or I could do something to make it more bearable. I made a list of places in Arizona that I had always wanted to visit but hadn't made it to yet, packed up the kids in the car, and started checking places off the list. Niles isn't big on road trips so he didn't mind missing out on them. Jumble feels the same about road trips as her dad, so she always stayed home or found a friend to hang out with--that's why she isn't in any of the photos.

Our first trip was to Tuscon:

This is Jet, Atom, and Minnie posing at Saguro National Park.

And later in the day we visited Mission San Xavier del Bac. Too bad they were doing some restoration work at the time, so half of the mission was covered with scaffolding and tarp. So our photo wasn't as great as I'd hoped.

Another weekend we visited Montezuma's Castle and Tuzigoot National Monument (both Native American ruins.)

This is Montezuma's Castle. It is pretty impressive.

This is later in the day at Tuzigoot--we actually got to go inside and on top of this ruin. The red bird is a stuffed cardinal that sings that we had just purchased at the gift shop. Jet still loves that thing!

The last place we made it to before moving was the Grand Canyon. This was in early October and it was windy and the kids thought it was pretty cold. Now they know what cold really feels like. It was sunny, though, and we had a great time despite the fact it was a bit nippy.

I wish we had been able to visit a few more places, but I'm glad our time being apart didn't last much longer. I'm glad I was able to show my children a little bit more of the amazing state where they were born before we moved. And it helped us all feel a bit happier during a difficult time in our lives.

Year-Round Valentine

These are the beautiful flowers my husband got for me for Valentine's Day. Every year I tell him that he doesn't need to get me anything for Valentine's Day. He can't comprehend that I am being sincere. He thinks that deep down inside I would be hurt if he didn't get me anything. I'm not complaining, I love the gifts! But what he doesn't understand is that I truly wouldn't mind because he treats me like an absolute queen every day of the year. Who could ask for more? I don't ask for more, but I still get more! Having a husband like mine is true bliss.

Draper Temple

At the end of January, we were able to attend the Draper Temple Open House. It was a great experience. (Jumble had an after-school band rehearsal so she couldn't go with us but she will get to go soon.) They have come a long way since I went with my family (when I was ten years old) to the Logan temple open house prior to it's being re-dedicated following renovations. That involved standing in a line for 3 hours in the slush. Yes, it was slushing that cold January day and we had lived in Utah a little over a month so we were not used to the cold (I'm still not.) It was totally worth it, but I am glad the church has figured out how to operate open houses so that the attendees don't have to endure such hardships for the privilege of visiting the temple! They now have you meeting at one of four different area chapels where you view a video and then you are taken on a charter bus to the temple:

The reservations are coordinated so that only a manageable amount of people show up at any given time, but even if you did have to wait in line, you are escorted from the bus directly into a heated and lighted tent that extends from the bus curb to the doors of the temple. Afterwards, you go into another tent that leads to an open house with nice displays and refreshments at the adjoining church. After that, another heated tent serves as the waiting area for the charter bus trip back to the chapel where your car is parked:

So you stay warm, dry, fed, and uplifted for the entire experience. The kids really loved the temple and it is so very beautiful and feels so very peaceful. The stained glass, the paintings on the ordinance room walls, the carved wood--all so beautiful. All any of us can say about the celestial room is WOW!! The only sad thing about how organized they were is that you never really saw the outside of the temple itself since you were in a tent the entire time you were on the temple grounds. So we weren't able to get a family photo in front of the temple. That will have to wait until after the dedication. This temple is only about 20 minutes drive from our home--and the Mt. Timp temple is even closer--7 minutes from our house. Definitely a nice thing about living in Utah.

The Draper Temple is up on the side of the mountain. As we drove up to the chapel where we started our tour, I could see out the window of the car the Jordan River Temple and the Oquirrh Mountain Temple (which will be completed and dedicated later this year.) I am pretty certain that you will be able to stand on the temple grounds of the Draper Temple and see the Jordan River and Oquirrh Mountain temples. That will be amazing! You may be able to find a spot where you could get a photo of three temples in one shot. Temples dotting the earth--prophecy fulfilled. So cool.

New Calling--Again!!

Annette jinxed me. She told me she had the YW secretary job once and loved it. When I was called to be the YW secretary last month she said, "You will love that calling so you probably won't be able to keep it very long, so watch out!" I already knew I would love this calling. I've had it before--recently. They called me to be YW secretary while we were living in my Mom & Dad's ward last spring so I had already been the YW secretary for a short time (about 3 months.) When we moved into our own house, and out of their ward, I remember wishing that I could take my calling with me. When they released the YW secretary in my current ward last month, I noticed. And I noticed that they didn't call anyone to take her place. And I thought, "I want that calling!" but figured I had no hope since I had just been given a new Primary class the week before.

So, as I reported on this blog earlier, I was surprised but THRILLED when I got a call that week that the bishop wanted to talk to me and he called me to be the YW Secretary. Aaah! All is right in my world. I'm back where I belong. YW secretary is definitely in my comfort zone. After my third activity night last week, imagine my surprise, when the 2nd counselor in the bishopric calls me to ask if he can come by and talk to me for a few minutes! What?! He asked me how I was enjoying YW. (I love it!) He then asked, "How long have you been the secretary--about 2 months?" (No, 4 weeks!) Looking a little chagrined he says, "Well, we don't normally change callings so quickly... (My heart sank and it must have showed on my face because he paused and said, "Now don't panic!" to which I replied, "I AM panicking!") "The time has come to release our YW President. The new YW President will be Sister JoAnn Scott and she has asked you to serve as her 1st counselor." ("Whew! I was thinking. I was just so totally relieved that I get to stay in YW! But I was also thinking, "Is she SURE? Me? 1st counselor? Why not just leave me in as secretary?) So I accepted and yesterday we all got sustained and set apart. And JoAnn told me later that she thought it made much more sense to keep me in as secretary but she really felt like I was supposed to be her 1st counselor instead. O.K. I believe her, so I'm going to do my best but, darn, I really would have rather stayed the secretary. 1st counselor is NOT so much in my comfort zone as secretary is, especially when the newly set-apart President is leaving town tomorrow and won't be back until next Sunday evening--leaving me in charge of this Wednesday's activity and our first Sunday as a new presidency. The first counselor is also on the schedule to teach the combined lesson to all the YW on the first Sunday in March. I guess I get to jump right in! I am very excited to be in charge of the Mia Maids, though. They are a great group of girls. And Jumble is actually happy to be working with me, which is a plus. (She is the Mia Maid class president.)

Who got my coveted secretary job? The Primary President! So we got a new Primary Presidency yesterday, too. Jet's den leader (for one week) is now the Primary President and his primary teacher (for 1 1/2 months) is now the second counselor in the Primary. I think half the women in the ward got released yesterday (all our YW advisors were also changed.) Things will be shuffling for a while until everyone gets settled in a new calling.

So I have now been the YW secretary twice--in two different wards--for a grand total of 4 1/2 months. Thanks a lot, Annette!

Jet's Busy Week

Thursday, February 5th:

Jet turns 8 years old!

(Atom loves to help people open their presents.)

New bike (the sad thing about a February birthday when you don't live in Arizona anymore--it's hard to try out your new bike when there is ice and snow covering the sidewalks!)

New triple combination from Dad and Mom and new suit from Grandad and Nana. Doesn't he look like a little missionary? Since Jet's birthday, in the mornings I find his triple in his bed with a flashlight. He has been reading his scriptures at night. What a sweet boy!

New Jedi robe made by Mom.

Blowing out the candles.


Saturday, February 7th:

Jet's Baptism Day with family brunch afterwards!

Posing with the family beforehand (Jumble and Minnie played their instruments as part of a musical number making mom very happy! [which almost makes up for the weird hair day that day.])

Dad baptized Jet.

Almost everyone (the Cambra's were taking the photos, along with Aunt Rachelle) that came for Jet's baptism outside the historic Alpine Tabernacle in American Fork. I guess this building has been the site for all local baptisms for generations and they have a book where they record every baptism that has ever taken place in this buidling. So now Jet is part of that record of thousands of people baptized in the Alpine Tabernacle.

The baptism and confirmation went beautifully, there was such a sweet spirit there. It was great to have so many family members there for Jet's special day. Thanks to Jumble and Nana for giving the prayers, Grandma Pew for giving the talk on baptism, Uncle Tim for playing the piano, Aunt Rachelle for leading the music, and cousins Taran, Timo, Emily, Izak, Micah, and Zane for singing a long with Jumble and Minnie for playing the clarinet and flute. I gave the talk on the Holy Ghost with the traditional "baptism box" that I made for Jet. (Jumble and Minnie received these boxes at their baptisms as well. It is a box with symbols that help you remember your baptism and what the Holy Ghost feels like and what He can do for you--His roles.) Grandpa Pew and Grandad served as witnesses and of course, Niles performed the baptism and the confirmation. Jet was so happy and smiling. We know he knows that getting baptized and promising to follow Jesus Christ was the right thing to do.

We had brunch at our house afterwards but I forgot to take any photos of the event. Nana made cinnamon rolls, Grandma made fruit salad, Aunt Rachelle made chocolate muffins and we made a ham and scrambled egg muffins and juice. Everything was very yummy. Thanks to everyone who helped and everyone who came. It was a great day.

Wednesday, February 11th:

Jet's first day of Cub Scouts!

(Mom managed to get all those patches sewed on in time! My sore fingers thank Grandma Pew for giving me a thimble since mine has disappeared.)

Friday, February 13th:

Jet's Star Wars Birthday Party with friends and cousins!

Making droids and aliens.

Bouncing on the couch while guessing Star Wars identities.

Atom uses the force to guess his Star Wars identity with help from Dad and Princess Leia.

Jet gets ready to run the obstacle course with the "Huttlet" (Jabba the Hutt's offspring) in his backpack.

Shooting bad guys as part of the obstacle course.

Light saber training: How long can you keep a balloon aloft with your light saber?

Time for cake.

Eating dinner (english muffin pizzas, corn dog muffins, applesauce, and Yoda Soda!)

I was a little nervous about this party--with the cousins and including Jet and Atom--we had 13 excited boys at our house!! They were all very well-behaved, though, and miraclulously no one got hit with a light saber. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Aunt Shellie who stayed and helped with the entire party and clean-up afterwards!!

Sunday, February 15th:

Pew Family birthday party and potluck dinner with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents!

(Thanks for the cool Legos Grandpa & Grandma Pew!)

Do you think Jet is tired after all these festivities? I don't know. But I know one thing for sure, his mom is exhausted!! It has been a blast but I definitely could use a nap. And now you know why I haven't been blogging lately.