A New Home

Bugsy got a new home today.  She went to the Williamson's house.  Bryson was sad to see her go.  I made a deal with him.  If he would let me rehome Bugsy, then Bryson could bring home his class hamster for a weekend or two.  He's pretty excited.  I'm excited too.😊

Fall Is In The Air!

Drove the Alpine Loop today.  It's beautiful!  The leaves are just starting to change.  I took these pictures near the Timpanogus trail in Provo canyon.  

Corwyn Giles

Another soon-to-be missionary from our ward!  So proud of him and his desire to serve.  

Loving Dance

Little Lyssa is loving dance.  She started @ The Dance Conservatory in the summer taking jazz and modern dance.  Now she's taking jazz and ballet.   She has had all of her classes with her cousin, Sasha.  I love watching her dance!

Walk-A-Thon

Today was Shelley's walk-a-thon.  Bryson and Alyssa both gave it there all.  Both of them had 49 laps!  Pretty awesome.  They're going to sleep well tonight!

Too Much Fun On Family Tree

Answered Prayer

Today was the 3rd time we've spoken to Andrew since he Arrived in Cancun.  He sounded much better today, but he's definitely still struggling.   He's frustrated with the language.  He's also had some issues with his health.  We tried to send him some over the counter medication, but of course, it was confiscated.   Mail carriers in Mexico are allowed to go though packages.  😠

    

Another big frustration not only to Andrew, but also to us, is the fact that Andrew only has 1 hour on P days to talk on the phone, read his mail, and respond.  I wrote Andrew's mission president the second week after Andrew arrived because Andrew hadn't read any of his emails.  The mission president responded.  He said this rule was made by the past president and he would look into it.  

Well... today while we were talking, Andrew got the following email.

I have been meditating on various mission issues one of them is about the rules they have about the time they have to talk on the days of preparation to communicate with their family. I don't know the reason why they only have one hour to speak or write maybe they had abused time. But from today they will not have that rule, nor will I tell them how long they are going to have I could suggest 1 hour and a half. Maybe some will need less and maybe others a little more, I will trust you that you will follow the spirit, and you will not abuse time. Remember that you initiate the call and not your parents also the instructions say that you do not have to call every week you can call every week if you want and feel it but you don't have to. The main reason for the call is so that they can build each other talk with their families about their experiences. Missionaries, I want them to be aware of their companions and be aware of their time. This call has to be only to their parents and siblings, not to relatives or friends, much less to boyfriends or girlfriends, they can send them a message but they cannot be talking to them. , your partner has to be close to you all the time and if you are talking to people who are not your immediate family I would like you to let me know. Before speaking or writing to them I want to ask them to write to me giving me their weekly report by filling out the statistics that appear above in the report, for those who are new please ask the coaches to explain and help. Those who have not seen the videos of the safety zone please begin to see them and to mark which have seen all these indicators are necessary since The area presidency and the Salt Lake Mission Department see how progress is going. At the leadership conference we promised him the Pingree that we will fill out all the indicators every week. Another matter we want to ask everyone that the next day of preparation everyone, the whole mission take enough time to clean their apartments Elder and Sister Vera have been supervising some and most are living in very dirty conditions Sister Marin and I send you our love and wish you a beautiful week full of faith, obedience and miracles. - President Marin

I am so thankful!  This was truly an answer to  prayer.  

Andrew didn't have a letter this week, but next week he doesn't have an excuse!

Girl's Trip Days 4 & 5

We set our alarms for 3:30 am and left the house @ 4:00 am.  We drove to Tampa airport and flew to JFK airport.

I think everyone was a little sleepy???

Well... maybe not Ashlie 😄

We made it to New York!  Perfect weather.

We finally got to wear our "Girl's Trip Cheaper then therapy" shirts that Ashlie made for us.  Thank you Ash!

Our flight to SLC wasn't for several hours, so we decided to explore the city!

We took the subway and made it to the 9/11 Memorial.  So thankful that I got to see this.  I visited New York 20 years ago right after Aaron and I were married.  Aaron's parents were serving a mission in Bayonne,  New Jersey.   A friend from their ward, (Berroa Guerrero Manuel) gave us a tour of New York.  We saw so many things that day.  We even went inside one of the World Trade Center buildings.  I remember walking into one of the towers and seeing flags around the walls.  We wanted to go to the top floor, but it was cloudy that day.  We looked up, but couldn't see the top.   

As soon as I saw the signs for the 9/11 Memorial, my heart skipped a beat.  I felt a strong reverence.  It's hard to describe.  

Inside the oculus

We got a little turned around when we exited on Fulton St.  This old church is close by.  I remember seeing it 20 years ago.

These ladies in white t-shirts were so friendly.  They were celebrating a birthday.  Of course we had to get a picture together!😁  

We found our way to the fountains.

"DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO FELL
AND TO THOSE WHO CARRY ON
MAY WE NEVER FORGET"

This tree survived 9/11

We purchased tickets to the museum.  So much to see.  I could easily have spent the entire day there.  The public is only allowed to take pictures in a small section of it.

September 11, 2001 just before the first plane crashed.

Section of the steel facade

Ads of loved ones

"No day shall erase you from the memory of time."

The foundation of one of the towers

I think this man was a firefighter.  Someone had donated a bike in remembrance of him.

 

No photographs allowed in this room.  Pictures and names of all of the victims of 9/11

The top of one of the towers

Box column remnant

Elevator motor

A crushed firetruck 

Around 4 pm, we got some pizza, ate, and headed back to the airport.

Kristie and Leslie began checking flights.  Apparantly,  a large group of people bought the all the tickets to SLC!  We were using buddy passes, so there was nothing we could do.  We looked for other options.  The closest place to home was Los Angeles and Las Vegas.  We discussed our options, and decided to fly to Las Vegas.

It was late when we arrived.  Everyone was tired.  Kristie rented a van and we drove to Mesquite.

We stayed @ Rising Star.  -Cutest hotel ever.

Check out our bunk beds.  Exactly what we needed.

We ate breakfast @ the Virgin River Casino.  So yummy!

Welcome to Arizona!

Recognize this bed and breakfast?  

Here's a hint

Mary from the tv show Sister Wives purchased this place last year.  It's called Lizzy's Heritage Inn.  It's located in Parowan,  Utah.

We stopped @ the Creamery in Beaver.  It reminds me of the Tillamook Creamery in Oregon.   We bought some icecream and squeaky cheese.

Historic Cove Fort!  I can't believe this was my first visit.  

Cove Fort was built in 1867 by a man named Ira Hinckley, (A relative to President Gordon B Hinckley).  Hinckley was a blacksmith.  Cove Fort was built @ the request of former LDS church president Brigham Young to serve as a way station between Fillmore and Beaver.

 This is Ira Hinckley's cabin.  They moved it from Coalville.  We watched a short video inside.

Cove Fort was restored and rededicated in 1994

After Cove Fort, we drove to American Fork.  Kylar's babies were missing their mama!  We dropped Kylar off, drove to the SLC airport, returned the van, and drove back home.  

I loved every minute of our trip.  So thankful for the opportunity.   Thank you Kristie, Leslie, Ashlie, and Kylar!