Utah Trip

Jake and I had the best vacation! It was sooo good for us. Although we missed Jonathon like crazy, it was so nice to be alone as a couple for a week! It was a time of reflection, visiting with friends, and many spiritual upliftings that come from witnessing the marriage of your best friend and other temple ordinances. My best friend Chelsea and her hubby Jed were married in the Salt Lake Temple by his father, Elder Sybrowsky who is in the second quorum of the Seventy. Monday when we flew in my other best friend Andrea had an ice cream party for Jed and Chelsea at her home in Lehi, and it was so good to see old friends there. Wednesday was the wedding and reception at the Joseph Smith Building and it was the only day that snowed! It turned out to be beautiful though with the sun coming out in the afternoon. After the wedding their was a beautiful luncheon where I gave a toast and balled the entire time :) I do have to say though that one of the most exciting moments was when we met and shook hands with many general authorities and members of the Twelve Apostles! I know... I have pictures below :) I can't remember them all because it was shocking, but we met Elder Oaks, Elder Perry, Elder Holland, and Elder Cook, and other members of the Seventy. I cannot describe what it was like to shake their hands and look them in the eye! The day after the wedding Jake and I toured Temple Square; the museums, family history center, tabernacle, etc. It was an awesome trip and I can go on, here are lots of pictures though.

I took this because it reminded me of angel babies :) In the Joseph Smith Building. In the Salt Lake Temple we have never felt closer to Ryan, it was so neat to feel of his spirit and be reminded once again where he is, what he is doing, and that one day we will feel better! It was our first time in the Salt Lake Temple and it is sooo beautiful. It just made us speechless to see the detail and hard labor the Saints put into it.

Jake's best friend Mark/mission companion/best man/ reason for Jake and I meeting to begin with.... and his wife Mary!

Jake in front of the beautiful Salt Lake Temple

best friends since birth :) Andrea and I

Fresno Temple. This was in the church history museum that had a new section on our beloved Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, it had all the temples behind his picture that he has dedicated and I found the Fresno Temple. When I was 14 it was built behind my ward building (the stake center) and I was very involved in that whole process! We were so lucky to get a temple and have Gordon B. Hinckley come and dedicate it. I patted his shoulder when he walked by me at the dedication hehe :)

Gordon B. Hinckley's life...

Jake speaking at General Conference :)

me standing by a life size angel Moroni!

Jake in the old Tabernacle

Jake trying to get a feel of what the pioneers from England had to sleep in on the boats when they traveled to the U.S

Jake and Jed the lucky groom :) !

my life long best friend and beautiful bride, me, and Jake

look at the view behind us! She makes me laugh always

hiding behind our beautiful bouquets

Elder Holland. There was something so amazing about him. When I shook his hand he stared at me without a word, like he could see right through me. And then he put his arm around me for a while and said, "Well don't you look like a beautiful blushing bride." Probably because I was smiling so wide and couldn't stop! I didn't want him to go, I felt so whole, almost healed by the love I felt from his touch, like the Savior. I'll never forget it.

the beautiful view from the reception room

in the background you can see Elder Cook shaking Chelsea's hand

Furthest right is Elder Perry and his cute wife. He's so tall and funny too. When we met he said, "Well don't you have beautiful locks of hair" :) He was helping the servers with their trays and calling out for the mother of the bride when she was missing. lol

my sweet husband and I, my better half

Chelsea's best friends and bridesmaids

like I said in my toast, she has been by my side through the good times, and the bad and is in almost every memory I have of the past decade. She flew out here to meet Ryan before he passed and spent all night with him and Jake while I slept. I will always be grateful for that.

another picture of Andrea and I, thank you for being such a great hostess when we stayed at your beautiful home! I love you and miss you already!

the beautiful bride, look at the snow outside, so gorgeous

coming out of the temple in to the blizzard, Mr. and Mrs. Sybrowsky

she's wearing my beautiful fur shawl that I wore at my reception here in WA :)

so this is Jake with Chelsea's second cousin, he was glued to Jake all day, Jake loved it because we both think he looks exactly like Jake's younger brother Josh when he was little, like identical! It was so weird!

We are grateful for the memories made on our trip and are glad to be home too, our little boy missed us!