one special day in palmyra

When Kaitlyn started filling out her mission papers, I asked her through which temple she wanted to go and with whom. She quietly said "I guess it doesn't matter as it will just be me and you." I really questioned her asking if there was really no one else she wanted to go with. She said, "Well, the ones I really want to go with are Grandma and Grandpa Wells, but they are on a mission." So, I went to work to see if there was any way she could share this day with her grandparents. We got it all worked out and were able to meet them in Palmyra, NY. What an amazing day.

Kaitlyn flew in to VA on 6/29, we actually met at the airport as I had a business trip that ended that day. I was lucky to find two flights that landed within 10 minutes of each other. She met me at my gate and we walked out. It was nice a relaxing the way it worked out.

On 6/30, we decided to make a roadtrip out of our road trip and found a few detours to take along the already 6.5 hour trip. We wanted to share the day with Wells and took a Flat Elder with us. Isn't he cute?

Here we are just getting into the car for this epic adventure.















Our first stop was a random covered bridge. It has some historical significance but we didn't really stop to see what it was. It was a little difficult to find but thanks to Kaitlyn's amazing map reading skills she learned in Ireland, we finally made it.

We made a brief stop at Gettysburg. Not as long as I would have liked but we still had such a long way to go! Here we are visitin' with Abraham Lincoln. We then made our way to the National Cemetary and walked around a bit. Then, we gave up trying to find the auto tour of the battle grounds and just stopped to have some lunch. 

Walking around downtown Gettysburg, we happened upon this cute little diner with Phosphates (honestly we had to ask what they were, think old time soda fountain and you would be right). I ordered a Raspberry Phosphate and shared with everyone, including our Flat Elder! 

The Southwest Nachos were amazing as were the above the rim shakes. We were stuffed and ready for our next adventure.








 This is one of the longest mason bridges in the United States. It is currently used by the rail roads and spans the Susquehanna River.



  On our way we found this giant dragon and had to take a pic.

We had a few other stops scheduled but realized it would take us another 12 hours if we stopped at everything so decided to start driving and see how long it took us. We had a long slog of about 4 straight hours in the car but pulled up to the hotel within minutes of Grandma and Grandpa. A yummy dinner at Chili's and then to bed.

We left the hotel about 7:30 am to get to the temple by 8:15 for orientation and paperwork. This is Kaitlyn's BEFORE picture. She was excited and nervous, as to be expected.

 And...here we are AFTER. All smiles. It was a beautiful day in the temple. And Palmyra is just stunning.

After having such a full day in the temple, we decided to see the sites. I think the perfect follow up to the temple was spending some time in the Sacred Grove. There is an amazing spirit there. You have to walk up the hill though to really feel the power of that place. I heard stories of families spending 2-3 hours there and now I know why. It is truly inspiring. 

After the Sacred Grove, we walked around the Smith Farm, toured the Book of Mormon print shop, and drove to the top of Hill Cumorah. That right there was a full day. I really wish we could have spent more time in Palmyra itself. Someday. :) 

Afterwards, we started the long slog back to VA. No stops this time except for fuel and some snacks. We drove the 6.5 hours straight and ended up back to my place at 11:30pm, exhausted but happy. Luckily church wasn't until 2:00pm the next day so we were able to sleep in a bit. 

It was one amazing weekend. I'm so glad we got to do it. 

let's bump into each other one day

At long last, we have a big, white envelope and a girl in the same place at the same time! Kaitlyn got her mission call and didn't read it like you expected her too, silly girl. She likes to bend the rules a bit I guess. It will be interesting to see how that plays out on her mission.

Yup, Cincinnati OH. Want to know more about Cincinnati? They put chili on their spaghetti, on purpose, and they like it. :)

some comic relief from two thousand miles away

Oh, life right now is COMPLICATED!! Seriously....




There are many moving pieces and I have to rely on kind neighbors to help me move them in the right direction. Today is one such example of moving pieces that didn't move as planned but still got moved and provided some comic relief in the meantime. Here's the story.

1. One of my neighbors went to Brazil for a month. Her mother is in town watching her children part time until some time next week then will be watching them full time. Said neighbor asked if her mother could stay at my place at night to give her a break from the kids while her husband took care of things. No problem, I'm not there anyway. She locked the door to the garage, complicating the entire day.

2. Kaitlyn's mission call was assigned last week, which means there is a good chance it is in the mail right now! I am in Virginia and was going to go straight from the airport to Cedar City to support Kaitlyn in a couple of plays and have some Easter time via Cleveland to drop of some things at the storage unit. I'm getting to SLC late Thursday night and need to be in Cedar City by 6pm on Friday. Not much time to run to Logan, go back down to Cleveland and then get to Cedar City in time for the play. Enter neighbor #2 who has broken into my house and done little things for me before. I called her to ask if she was willing to check my mail to see if it was there. She has the garage code, but the inside garage door was locked. She decided to wait until tonight to try and get in.

3. Neighbor #3 decided to buy my piano and asked if they could come and get it today as they had movers lined up to help them. Of course, I said! Just go in through the garage. Problem again as the garage inside door was locked. So, they called neighbor #1 who has a key to house who freaked out because there was this random phone call asking for permission to move a piano. Said neighbor was just trying to watch out for me and decided to call me first but was having a hard time finding my number. In the meantime....

So, now I have two neighbors trying to get into my house and neighbor #1 with the key who is not willing to share. I called and asked that he (the husband) please go to my house and let everyone in, only to find out that one of the movers helping neighbor #3 jimmied open the door with a credit card. So, I quickly called neighbor #2 and told her the house was open and she could go in and get the mail key. So, she went over and grabbed the key, just as neighbor #3 was finished up the move, just as neighbor #1 showed up with the key thinking he was going to let everyone in only to find out that everyone had been in and was getting ready to leave!

And, still no mission call. :(

it ain't about how hard you hit

Today, I spent a beautiful sunny day in Philadelphia. This birthplace of the nation has been on my bucket list for almost 20 years. Seriously. I love it when I get to cross things off my list! Problem is, I really enjoyed my visit and am now making plans to go back. And, that is only a problem because it means other places will have to wait.

This was a shorter trip than I expected. I'm really struggling with fatigue right now for some, weird reason and suddenly just couldn't go on. Knowing I had a three-hour drive ahead of me, I decided not to push my luck and headed home. Philly, for those who don't know, in addition to being the birthplace of a nation is also the birthplace of Rocky Balboa. At the top of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the famous steps Rocky runs up in the movies, is a statue of Rocky in his famous pose, fists in the air. I didn't make it to the steps but a famous quote from Rocky came to mind as I was driving out of the city, saddened that I didn't get to do everything on my list.

It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.

Next time, I will keep moving forward. Of course, next time I plan to have company so the journey will be easier. :) It was still a beautiful day in a beautiful city.

There is this wonderful area of Philly called Fabric Row. All this? $14/yard. Seriously! I need to go back to Philly just for the great pricing on fabric. I also need to go back with a plan and a lot of money so I can stock up and make it worth the gas money and toll charges. 

Rows of leather. Yes, leather! I want to pick the most unlikely color and commission a quiver. That's period, right? Colored leather? 

Independence Hall in all its glory. What a stately building! I didn't get a ticket to go inside but will makes sure I do next time. Oh, I bet these walls could tell stories. 

Congress Hall next to Independence Hall. Imagine those trees filled with leaves. Beauty personified. 

And who doesn't get excited for the first signs of spring!!!??!! 

Cobblestone streets.

I bet this alley is striking in the summer with all the leaves. I love how it is bordered by history, just to dump out in the modern world. Such a peaceful spot. 

The railing around the courtyard of the Second National Bank (in full view next picture). 

A recreation of an 18th Century Garden. Very English don't ya think? Everything is just starting to green and grow. It is small but will be lovely in the summer. 

More spring! Yay for bulbs! 

This is a "ghost" house and church in the middle of Franklin Square. The house is roughly where Benjamin Franklin's house would have been. Behind it is the printing office, book bindery, and post office...all businesses in which Mr. Franklin was heavily involved. I had studied Mr. Franklin before and knew of his works, so it was nice to walk to same paths as he did. And, if you have not studied his life, you really should. We owe libraries and fire stations and post offices to this great man. He started so many programs we take for granted today. 

The next few pictures are from the Christ Church Cemetary. What is a visit to a historic city without visiting a cementary? I mean, seriously? I'm always amazed at the orderly but uneven rows of headstones and wonder how people were really buried there. Did they have head and foot stones? Or just buried on top of each other? There was actually one vault that had seven names on top, so I guess they are layered a bit. Such history in this cemetary. Five signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried here including.... 

Benjamin Franklin himself. I love the plaque near his tomb. Not surprised that Mr. Franklin was as particular about his death as he was about his life. 

All in all it was a great day. I can't wait to go back and see more of the City of Brotherly Love! 

rejuvenating my spirit...with golf balls

Remember that story about the golf balls? Remember when I said my testimony is a golf ball?

This past week, I seriously considered driving to Philadelphia, PA for a day trip on Saturday. Phillie has been on my bucket list for close to 20 years. I have tried several times to get there, but it has never worked out. Now, it is only a short 2.5 hour drive from my new home. I was so excited to discover how close it was. Finally, I get to cross something new off my bucket list!! I made a list of all the places I wanted to go. I started to map out how to hit everything in just one day. I considered taking the train (just for the experience), but then discovered all the things I would miss, that can't happen. My excitement just grew and grew and grew. AND then, I remembered it was General Conference weekend. And my testimony is a golf ball and travel is gravel. So, I made the decision to stay home and watch General Conference. I am so very happy that I did. So many nuggets of hope and healing and growth and happiness. So many MEMES!! Phillie can wait. My testimony can't. Here are a few of my favorite thoughts from the weekend.

And my favorite....

adventures in va - part three

No foolin' here... I have a couch! I am another step closer to having a complete home! My couch is a sofa sleeper so that I can have company (hint, hint). Here it is all tucked into its little spot in my little home. I love it. And, it doesn't take as much space as I thought would. I have tons of space to fill, which is coming... :)

At first it was facing the dormers but I felt like the entire ceiling was coming down on me, which it was, and felt claustrophobic. Now, tucked under the dormer, I get to look out three HUGE windows and watch the birds and squirrels chase each other. My view will soon be obstructed with leaves, but I don't think I will mind that either.

Next? The perfect kitchen table and the rest of my "stuff" (i.e. computer and desk, sewing machine and table, etc.). But that won't be until the end of June. I'll post more pics when I'm fully moved in!

as the pieces fall in to place

I love puzzles. Always have. I never had the patience to do them when I was young, but I still loved them. I remember my mother starting a puzzle every year on New Year's Day. She would wake up in the morning, set up the card table in a corner of the living room, and dump out a 1,000 piece puzzle. Then the fun began. All of us would walk by and put in a piece here or there, but no one stayed with it like my mother. I would see her sitting there for hours piecing that puzzle together. It usually only took a couple of days and all the pieces would be in place. The puzzle was left out, finished, for several days (sometimes weeks) so we could enjoy the beauty of the picture but also the beauty of accomplishment. Puzzles are a wonderful thing.

It took me many years before I started doing puzzles on my own. First, I had little kids and little kids' hands and sticky fingers and their propensity of losing pieces. Then, I didn't really have a large enough surface that could remain undisturbed for as long as it took me to finish a puzzle. So, I found myself a mat that I could roll up and put away. I started a few puzzles. Now, all of those obstacles are gone and it is not uncommon for me to have a puzzle started at any time. I love the jumbled messes that turn into masterpieces. I love the sense of accomplishment. I love puzzles.

My life, lately, has felt like a great big puzzle. It is like I took a 5,000 piece puzzle  and just dumped it on the table. Just dumped!


But I'm finally starting to see patterns. I'm starting to fit 1, 2, sometimes 3 pieces together. A picture is starting to form. And the beginnings are beautiful.

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. A couple of years ago, my life looked perfect. I was married. I had a good job. My kids were active and healthy. Everything looked perfect...from the outside. It is amazing how things can change so drastically in just a few short months, especially when the insides are rotten. All it takes it one good poke for everything to collapse. But I am also constantly amazed at the divine help I receive that nudges me down paths that only make things better and better, that helps me put pieces together and gives me glimpses of my final picture. It is going to be spectacular.

One piece. When the divorce process began, I knew that I had to get out of the house I was in. I was traveling a lot and didn't have the time or energy to keep up the house and yard. The house was also just too big for little ol' me. I was down to one child at home, and she was leaving soon. I just didn't want to face that big house and big yard all by myself. I went looking, specifically for a town home, you know, the kind that comes with HOA fees and no yard maintenance, plowed driveways, and snow removal on the sidewalks. The kids and I drove through several communities and feel in love with Bridgerland Meadows. We loved the front courtyards vs. the limited backyards of the other communities. We loved the wide open spaces in the community as well. Then, we started going through units until we found THE ONE. Believe it or not, not all units in a community like this are created equal. Each one is just a little bit unique. Well, THE ONE had four bedrooms. What? Four bedrooms and three bathrooms? What was I thinking? I didn't need that much space; it was just me remember? Well, we still loved that specific unit so decided to buy it after all. Now, this is how that piece fits in my life right now. Instead of selling my unit when I move to VA, I am going to rent it. And, four bedroom units are HIGHLY sought after. They rent for much more (better for me) and are always in demand. I know that my unit will be rented at all times and am thankful for that comfort.

Another piece. In June 2013, I was approached by a colleague about leaving my current employment and joining their team. I thought it was THE PERFECT opportunity. I had been thinking about leaving my job any way so that was not the issue. And this company was going to let me move more into operations/project management. My travel would increase from 25% to 65% and I was a little worried about that but I thought I could make it happen. The catch was that I wouldn't be able to start with this company until probably Jan. The process was slow and then delayed and then delayed again. I was resigned to just wait. Then, I was laid off from that good job. I was so very calm about it. I knew that I would have a job in January and they were giving me a severance package. I could actually take the next couple of weeks off and rest up a bit. With this change, I sent emails to my network letting them know how to reach me and was contacted by another company about coming to work for them, which is where I am now and what is moving me to VA. Looking back, I believe that this job and this move are what I need to do right now. If I would not have been laid off, I would never have had this option. And, I just found out last week that the other company is struggling and will probably be closing their justice practice in the next year. I am in a better job, creating my own future, excited about new adventures, and feeling more secure than if I would have waited for the other company, all because I was laid off. I thank Heavenly Father every day for being laid off and these new opportunities. Weird thing to be thankful for, but I am.

And another piece. My apartment in VA is just a tiny little thing but it just seems to fit my life right now. I was directly by a very loud (well, not really but you understand) and persistent voice. This is where I need to live. I really don't know yet how this apartment fits into my life puzzle. I'm sure I will look back on this experience in a couple of years and better understand the picture as a few more puzzles are fit together. I can't wait to see what emerges.

I still don't know what image I'm putting together, but I am enjoying the process and what I can see emerging already.



Bring it on life! I am up for the challenge, one piece at a time.