Last week I was able to take a trip to Utah to spend time with my best friend and go to a dear friends wedding. It was such a well needed vacation for me and I came back feeling so refreshed. The trip was full of temple trips, hikes, stomach bugs, food trucks, lots of singing and wedding planning, dates with friends, long walks, snuggling and laughing, me and Lisa cooking and going to delicious places to eat. We had Pizzaria Limone, Ruby Snap Cookies, Cafe Rio, Gourmandise, Trader Joes Cookie Butter and lots of wedding waffles. I just did NOT want to leave.
Avett was the perfect child while I was there. He was the most smiley and flirty and easy-going child. He made the trip so enjoyable and easy on me. He didn't even cry until the last two days. Everywhere we went he would fall asleep in the car and when we got there he would crawl around and play without fussing.
Evie, who was with John and my mom the whole time, didn't really miss me until the the last day I was gone. And to be honest of course I thought about her but being away from her for a week wasn't that hard. I was sort of dreading it and thought there would be tears from both of us. But we were at the point where we needed a little break from each other. Being two is hard on the both of us.
I was able to help out with a lot for my friend Ashley's wedding. We've known each other for 14 years and went to middle school high school and seminary together. Lisa and I made her wedding cake with succulents on top. It had homemade strawberry jam in the middle and for our first shot at a wedding cake it turned out pretty darn good (even if it was crooked). I also did Ashley's hair, took the pictures at the temple, planted flowers in the backyard with the reception was going to be, sewed several aprons for the servers, and made a lot of decorations for the reception. It was so much fun to be able to be a part of her special day.
I don't know what it is about Utah that my heart loves so much. Whenever I am out there I feel so happy and peaceful. I just love being around all of the temples and church history sites. Part of me feels like we may wind up there someday, who knows. The air feels nice and pure and clean and being surrounded by all of the mountains makes me feel so safe. When I'm out there I feel so keenly aware of all of the history that took place there and that makes me feel good.
One of my goals for the trip was to hike the "Y" in Provo. When I lived out there several years ago I wanted to do it but never had the guts. It was a hard hike for me especially with a 20 pound baby on my back. But we made it to the top and the view was amazing and so very worth it. When we finally got back down to the bottom as I was exclaiming, "we finally made it down! " I tripped and fell down on all fours. Lisa and I giggled the whole way up and down, it was truly one of the highlights for me.
Another one of my favorite parts of the trip was going to the Salt Lake Temple for the first time. I was able to do an endowment session there. I never get over the peace that I feel when I am inside there. The whole time I was in there I couldn't stop thinking about how many prophets and apostles had passed through the very rooms that I was walking in. The spirit was so strong and it was a much-needed stop for me. The whole time my eyes were constantly looking up and around at all of the beautiful paintings inside on the walls. As I walked from room to room I would touch the walls, I wanted to take in every aspect of being there. When I'm there all I want to do is be at the temple with my baby and friends.
When it came time to leave I was not ready to go. Coming back home to Evie and John was such a sweet reunion but I definitely left a piece of my heart out there. I don't know when I'll be back again but I can't wait.
