Where it All Began- the Idaho Falls Temple

Twenty-one years ago, my husband and I were married in this temple.

We believe that families are an eternal unit.  It seemed fitting to spend a little time here before we dropped our daughter off at college.

 We've been able to visit this sacred spot many times through the years, and the girls have always loved coming here.

 My husband and I took quite a few walks along this are when we were dating.  I will always remember it as a place where we knew we were getting more and more serious about committing to each other.

I am thankful for the peace and refuge that comes from the temple, and so thankful for another beautiful, sunny August day like the one 21 years ago that we could spend together-- this time with our children.

Yellowstone 2014!

On the way out we decided to stop at Yellowstone for one last family vacation before we sent out daughter off to college.

We had a wonderful time.  There are areas it truly looks like another planet.  You are so high in elevation it feels heavenly being at the top of the mountain at times.  We came in the East Entrance and I loved it.  It brought you in on a high mountain top then we drove down a bit and stayed in Lake Village.  The hotel was..... let's say- interesting.  It was a lot of money for an extremely outdated place that was really quite weird.  Things I won't forget that we will always have a good laugh at: the look on the girl's face when we got in it, the smell, the bathroom door that trapped us in it/the door that stuck, the tiny beds, the stains on the carpet, the sink in the hotel room rather than the bathroom.  I'm not complaining because it always makes for a good memory and gives us a little more gratitude for the things we have!  You are basically paying for sleeping in the park and a roof over your head.  We got up early and were in good spirits the next morning.  We followed the loop around the park and hit the main attractions.

Mud Volcanos and Mud Pots

I really wish we could still hear the Dragon's Mouth- it really sounds like a dragon breathing hot air.

 Hayden Valley

This is where you see the most wildlife.  And we happened upon the rare viewing of 2 wolves attacking a baby elk.  The park ranger was there with his telescope explaining it to us and letting people view it.  

 The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

What else can I say except spectacular!

I know it totally looks fake in the photo, but it is very real.

 We were very close to two different Bison.  Just going for a stroll.  What fine fellows.

 Norris

OUR VERY FAVORITE PLACE!

It had amazing blue pools of sulfuric acid- a shade that is hard to create.  We love, love, loved hiking around this area.  

 Old Faithful

I have seen it erupt quite a few times.... and it was a little disappointment.  It blended in with the clouds and wasn't very high this time.  We still had a fun time and it was great to relax here with our hot chocolate.

 Grand Prismatic

Another fascinating wonder, my youngest daughter wanted to see this more than anything.  And she was spot on- it was amazing.  Here is the deal, though.  It was getting really cold with wind and rain.  So the steam covered the actual basin, but the mist was spectacular.  It was the color of the sulfuric acid.  Where does coral and aqua mist occur naturally?  I can't think of anyplace.  It was so worth the getting wet and cold.  (I love how this phot of the girls under the umbrella turned out but it isn't my girls- just 2 girls who were there when I wanted to take the photo.)

 On our way out of the park, this was our Farewell Committee, Mr. Elk.  "Please come back again!"

Packing Up- I Am Woman Hear Me Roar, #252

When I have to do something hard, I pull up my sleeves, dig in, and remind myself "I am Woman."  I can do this.  Roar.

This has happened 251 other times.

Opening the baggage carrier we bought for the back of the car and finding that the entire thing needed to be assembled without my husband around was the 252nd time I needed to be Woman.  And roar.

I haven't really counted, but it is probably that many times.  

I don't like nuts and bolts.  Or instructions.  I wanted to run far away into the corner when I saw all the little pieces.

So, I dug deep, and said "I can do this.  I've got this."

And guess what.... I done-did-it.  ROAR!!!!!!!!

And then I drove myself to the hardware store to make sure I did it right and got some extra heavy- duty locks and such for the connection of the carrier and the car.  

And Oh, Yea---- I did it.  It was secure.

And then we loaded it up, pulled out the tarp and the bungie chords and got it all secure again.

And then, behold..... just to make sure again it was the most secure as possible I pulled out the DUCT TAPE.  I love that stuff.  I went tape crazy.

Then we girls dug deep again to find the innermost mathematical and engineering parts of our minds and we got everything to fit in just perfect.  Quite a masterpiece, right?

And then we drove.  And drove.  And drove.  Maybe 1000 miles or so.  And it all held up.  And so did I, which was the greatest miracle of all, which you would only understand if you've ever taken a child to college.  But like I said-- I.  Am.  Woman.  That means I can do hard things!

If I wrote a book it would be called, From Labor and Delivery to Laboring Over the Delivery to the Dorm: Finding Strength in the Hard Things Women Do.

And that is how you pack up to take a child to college- you dig deep and roar.

Last Sunday Home

So on our last Sunday as a family before we took my oldest to college, we had our traditional Sunday meal.  Then we had one last Family Home Evening.  And can I tell you I wasn't prepared for the tears?  It was so bittersweet.  So wonderful to think of the time we've had, yet so sad to see it come to an end.  Yet, we will carry on with our youngest daughter, and my oldest will return for more.

I realized during those tears that we are still a family.  No matter where we are-- we are still bound together in unity and love.

I love the way one parent explained it.  He called it the Boom-a-rang years.  They keep coming back.  I love that notion!

And I love these girls.  I will miss the two of them being together.

And I miss giving this girl a hug every day.

And she will miss giving these girls a hug, too.  She loves her furry friends.  (And I might add she was often the one who was most atuned to their needs at times, always willing to feed them and let them out).  They will miss her, too.  I keep finding Daisy sleeping in her room.

We decided long ago when we first had our babies that Sunday would be a day of worship, service, rest, and family.  We have had Sunday dinner as a family every Sunday since we were first married.  We chose not to participate in sports, birthday parties, recreational activities, etc.  Instead, we go to church, visit people, volunteer at church, spend time as a family, have Family Home Evening, play games with each other, rest (reading, napping, relaxing, pondering).  We also study the words of the scriptures and the prophets.  It has become a wonderful day for us that has brought great strength to our family and it also prepares us for the busy week ahead.  I am so thankful for all of those Sundays well spent.  And for all of those days that turned into weeks that turned into years.  It really does go fast, though I never believed it would when my babies were young.  I am so thankful for this very special phase of life with my children.  They are still my children with many more phases and Sundays and weeks and years to come.

Bye-Bye, Babies

They will always be our little girls, but these girls who still hold a place in our hearts as babies, are really now what I would dub closer to being a Babe.

We had a fun evening out with the moms and our girls who have been long-time friends.  They are each going to different colleges in 3 different states.  After walking along the river and Nicolett Island taking photos that we moms had fun shooting, we went to dinner on Niccolet Island.  It was a beautiful summer night and I felt grateful for the friendships the girls have in eachother, but also the friendships that us moms have developed, too.  And I adore the girls, as well.

This first photo is my favorite: This was their good-bye to high school years and their "Entrance" to the next phase of life.