Spring Break

For Spring Break I decided to head down to AZ, not only to visit family, but the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant was going on and I really wanted to see the new Gilbert Temple.  So Monday morning at 4am we woke up and layed everyone down in their spots and took off.  Trent stayed behind because he started a new job and couldn't leave.  Made it to Kanab, Ut (border of Utah and AZ) by 8am for breakfast and on to Page, AZ to head south.

Well, a funny story, with all intentions to gas up in Kanab.  The kids wanted breakfast first, so why not?  But after filling our bellies and feeling all happy again, I had forgotten all about needing gas.  I was about 25-30 miles into the next 74 mile stretch when I realized..."wait, I forgot to do something!"  My heart sank.  Because from Kanab to Page, there really isn't anything...I mean no life at all!  Although my brain was panicking, my heart was at ease.  I didn't want to let the kids know what was going on, but I did my best to conserve what ever gas I had left.  I turned the air off (still morning so it wasn't hot anyway), I slowed to 55 speed unplugged any devices...I was doing pretty well.  But without cell service and knowing just how far from Page I still was, I decided to make a choice to turn off into this small neighborhood.  Thoughts of being stranded in the middle of the desert with 5 kids ran through my brain.  How would I do that?  Hitch hike?  Walk?

About 5 miles west of Big Water (20 miles west of Page) was this place called Church Hill or something.  The kids became aware and I told them mom needed to look at something.  They know I'm one to stop and check things out, so they weren't too concerned.  I drove up and down the little desert streets and one green house stood out, but I kept going to see if there were any other options.  I hate to bother people, I feel I inconvenience others, so I wanted to find someone out and around.  But not a soul or even an animal moved.

I drove back the way I came and decided to turn down the street the green house was on.  Next door to it, it had a fenced in yard with a lot more green plants and trees, seemed maybe a woman could live there, so I tried the door...talk about awkward going into someones yard and knocking.  No one answered.  So I went back to my initial thought of the green house.  I knocked on the door and a nice older gentleman came to the door.  I was so embarrassed that me a "woman" ran out of gas..."women never run out of gas, we are very responsible"...well that is what one man told me in South Carolina (another story for another time).  I explained very sheepishly, but he was more than willing to help me out.  He has several 'toys' boats, dune buggy...so he had gas on hand.  Such a blessing.  I offered to pay but all he asked was that I pay it forward.  I said I would.  He gave me enough to get to Page, where I filled up to the brim!  Such a blessing to find someone willing to help out of the goodness of their heart.

By 3:30 we made it to my parents house.  The kids were glad to be out and moving around.  Me too.

We whipped out the hose, slip n slide and sprinkler head.  The kids were ready to enjoy the warm weather.  And when I say warm...it was HOT.  The week we came was their hottest week yet for the year.  It got as high as 98!  Anyway, I made sure to lather up my whities so they don't fry, and let them loose.  Between chickens, water fun, riding the tractor toy, picking oranges, and hanging out with grandma and grandpa, the kids loved being outside.

Wednesday of our Spring Break, was my birthday.  Probably my best one yet.  I was up at 4:45am to get ready and drive the 20 minutes to the Gilbert Temple to make the 6am session with my mom.  My dad and mom both work in the temple Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week all morning.  I not only wanted to see the brand new temple from my hometown, but also, my spirit was needing some uplifting in peace and love.  

It was amazing!  Wow, talk about spectacular and impressive.  It was grand and glorious!  All the detail and light that shown throughout the building was so ... reverent.

Because my parents work in the temple, and since I couldn't make the open house, my mom gave me the grand tour.  The Agave plant was a symbol throughout the temple.  It was in the stain glass windows, wood moldings, chair detail, carpet designs, tile designs...everywhere.  The subtle colors were a nice touch as well with this design.

From an article this is what was said about the plant... “We wanted something to represent the living waters of Christ, and for the temple to be an oasis in the desert..." --Principal Architect, Greg Lambright

Entrance, recommend desk

One of the endowment rooms, the one I was in

Celestial Room

Being in this room around 7:30 or 8, the morning sun coming in through this huge window was so grand and sweet I couldn't help but shed a few tears.

Up on the ceiling in a foyer, I think

After the temple, my sisters, mom and one of my sis-in-laws took me to lunch to the Blue Lemon.  It was fun to be around my family.  I just don't get enough of them. (yeah I look a bit tired but worth it)

Later my mom had the kids and Ashton help with my birthday cake.

That evening, to top off my birthday, I took my kids to the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant.  My mom and brother Dan came along too.  It was so awesome to be there!  I was in this pageant as an angel on the top my senior year in high school.  Such a neat experience.  Now to come full circle and have my kids see this depiction or our Saviors life, it was a joy for me.  To be at two temples in one day, and be with family, couldn't have been a better day.  I felt fulfilled.

Next day, we went to the Maricopa County Fair in Phoenix to see Josh and Hunter show their pigs they raised.  I've seen pigs, but these were huge!  It was neat to see all the different animals ready to be shown.

Hunter                                                                                  Josh

It was a very HOT day at the fair.  98 degrees is not too fun.  Good thing we could go inside and see fun things people made and enjoy the cooler air.

Jarom, Tarin and Raegan tried the roller coaster.  For a carnival ride, it was pretty intense for them.  They were pretty scared with some parts of it.  Worth it!

Ammon got his chance to ride too.

Ammon's first roller coaster ride.  He was pretty scared, but was a good sport.  It was so cute to watch him be brave.

Pretty funny, Jarom wanting to do this, Tarin tired and hot, and Ammon trying to reach it...

This boy loves trains.  He loved the huge model going around.

Finally Saturday at 4am we were up early ready to take off back to Utah for home.  This is in Page, AZ at the McDonalds for breakfast.  Perfect halfway home stop!  Made it home about 3:30 to 4, loosing an hour to daylight savings, stopping for breakfast and...these guys are awesome at traveling.  So great.  A fun Spring Break!