Frary Peak on Antelope Island

 JD has wanted to hike Frary peak out at Antelope Island. 

I was feeling the need to not do homework 

and really wanted to get out of the house. 

The hike seemed like the perfect solution.

The views on this hike are breathtaking, literally and figuratively.

You gain over 2,335 feet in elevation gain on this 6.9-mile hike

 and man, did my lungs feel it!

The scenery is incredible in

a desolate and beautiful sort of way. 

Along the trail, we came across a coyote 

that was too quick for me to get a picture.

As we came around one corner this buffalo 

was practically sitting on the trail. 

Needless to say, we took a detour around the trail:). 

When we reached the summit, I was an extremely happy girl!

The last quarter mile of this hike is the most difficult. 

It is rocky and steep in a few areas. I loved being back on flat ground.

Typically, the bugs are really bad this time of year.

 Thankfully it has been a cooler spring. 

We were on the mountain by 9AM and the bugs were just starting to 

come out when we were headed home.

Thanks JD, for taking me on this continuously uphill, gorgeous hike!

I loved spending the morning with you!

Even when I was complaining:).

ProStart Competition

On April 21st, Britton had a Pro-Start competition in Provo.

"ProStart is a nationwide, two-year high school program.

ProStart's industry-driven curriculum provides real-life 

experience opportunities and builds practical skills that will last a lifetime."

The group's finished product.

It looked and smelled delicious!

For months, he and his team have been to the school by 6 am, 2 or 3 times a week,

to practice, and go over preparation for this competition. 

It was fun to be a participant at the actual 

competition and watch him and his team work together.

I love that the schools have this program. 

I feel it is so beneficial to the students.  Learning to prepare a formal meal in my mind is a very small part of this program. The students also learn to work together as a team. 

Numerous leadership skills are developed in a ProStart setting. 

Life skills that require discipline, patience, 

and leadership are also developed.

Skills are taught that cannot be learned at a desk.

Our son Riley also had the 

opportunity to be part of ProStart in Iowa. 

It has been fun to be part 

of this journey with our boys.

On the way home from the competition, 

JD and I stopped and ate at the Sticky Bird in Farmington. 

If you have not tried it you are missing out.

It is FREAKING AMAZING!!!!!

 

Called To Serve - Ghana Accra West Mission

On Tuesday, April 20th 

Britton received his mission call. Almost exactly one year from the day Daxon returned from his mission in Canada.

He will be serving in the Ghana Accra West Mission. 

He is so excited and can hardly stand it.  Over the last few weeks,

 Ashlynn has been walking around the house singing the song, 

"Oh, do you wanna go to Ghana?" She and our good friend 

Tammy from Iowa guessed he would be called to Ghana. 

We all felt blessed by the love and support 

of those who came to watch Britton open his call. 

I love this picture. I love it because it 

reminds me of the great friends Britton has. 

It also reminds me of how amazing 

the youth of the world are today!

The youth live in a world full of many challenges 

and they continually rise to them. 

They are strong and unwavering. 

I echo the words of Elder Neal A. Maxwell from this 

outstanding talk.

To all the youth of the world today,

"I Salute You."

Here we have all of the missionary siblings, 

(Except Madeline who served in Germany, she had to work), 

Grandpa Terry, and 

aunt Shari pointing to where they served their missions. 

The gathering of Isreal is indeed a continual work in progress!

My dad did not tell us he was coming. He simply surprised us.

It was a very happy surprise! We always enjoy his company.

Since the day Britton was born, he has been drawn to people. 

He loves to have a conversation with anyone in the room. 

He will make a first-class missionary!

Britton, I hope you always remember how much 

your parents and your Heavenly Father Loves you!

I HOPE THEY CALL ME ON A MISSION!

I love these thoughts taken from this article

“My dear extraordinary youth, you were sent to earth at this precise time — this most crucial time in the history of the world — to help gather Israel,” he said. “There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. … This is the mission for which you were sent to earth.”

President Nelson said the gathering of Israel ultimately means “offering the gospel of Jesus Christ to God’s children on both sides of the veil, children who have neither made crucial covenants with God nor received their essential ordinances.”

Recognizing that participating in the gathering of Israel often requires sacrifice, change, time and energy, the prophet encouraged the youth to join the “finest team” for “this final phase.”

“Those noble spirits — those finest players, those heroes — are you!” he said. “I testify that the gathering is now, and it is real.”

President Nelson said that he is preparing for the day when he will be required to give an accounting to the Lord about his stewardship as God’s prophet, and he did not want to report at that time that he was not more clear or bold with the youth about their part in the gathering of Israel.

Day 8 - Florida Temple / Let's go Home!

Today we are headed back to our home sweet home!

Before heading to the airport we had to stop and see the Orlando Temple.

The grounds are closed due to Covid, so this is as close as we could get.  

It is a beautiful temple. 

I am excited that the temples are beginning to open up again. 

We have missed being able to go. 

Our youth have a temple trip planned for the end of this month, Yahoo!

It is the first trip since they all closed due to the pandemic back in March of last year.

I love that even with the temples being closed it has 

not slowed the announcement 

and construction of new temples.

To me, it is a symbol that even when we cannot 

attend the temple, we can still pattern 

our lives after the covenants we make. 

In a sense, we build and attend the temple in our hearts until the day we can return.

"We are a temple-building and a temple attending people." President Thomas S. Monson.

What did people do in airports 

before the days of technology?

We arrived home very late. 

Riley and Madeline were spending the night. 

We are always happy to see them. 

They were headed to the airport 

for a flight to Iowa in the morning.

 Madeline's sister Emily had returned from her mission. 

Yahoo for missionaries!

It has been a magical 8 days 

but we are happy to be home!

 

DAY 7 - Epcot/ Park Hop to Hollywood Studios

Epcot does not open until 11 AM. This made all of us extremely happy because it meant we HAD to sleep-in and take the morning slowly.  It was wonderful not being allowed to go into the park until later. The kids went down to the pool and around noon we headed back to Epcot. 

(Chinese food anyone?)

Noon was the perfect time to hit Epcot 

because we were all hungry.

(Mexican ruins)

As you can see Ashlynn 

never gets tired of striking a pose for a picture. 

(Japanese archway was perfect for an Ashlynn pose.)

The Finding Nemo ride at Epcot isn't overly amazing, but the

 fish tanks afterward makes it worth your time. 

(Can you see Joy in this picture?)

While we were walking through the butterfly gardens,

 JOY from the movie

 Inside Out was wandering around. 

I love this meme Ashlynn put together:). 

(If we walk fast, can we lose our parents?)

Back to Hollywood on the Skycoaster.

Ashlynn and Britton wanted  

to ride the Rockin' Roller Coaster again.

(What's wrong with this picture? Yes, outside with masks on.)

While we were there, we were lucky

 enough to see a Disney character 

parade before heading back to Epcot.

I loved that it was so simple to go back and 

forth from Epcot to Hollywood. 

(A spicy hot dog with pineapple chutney and mustard.)

When we returned to Epcot that evening Ashlynn was

 positive her life would not be complete until she ate this ...

After one bite she proclaimed that her life was

 indeed better after having tasted that bite of heaven!

(Hard to believe there is a ride inside that ball.)

Goodbye Disney World. 

We have all had an outstanding time. 

Besides all of the delicious food, Test Track, 

Soarin, Mission Space, Frozen Ever After, and Seas with Nemo

were our favorites in Epcot. 

Epcot is the most lenient about masks and restrictions.

We all loved that:).

 

I am thankful we were able to spend this time together. 

We have all had a fabulous time.

Don't let Britton fool you, he is NOT too 

old for Disney and he had more 

fun than he is willing to admit.

Day 6 - Back to Animal Kingdom/ Park Hop to Epcot

We started the day today in Animal Kingdom.  

When we first made reservations, Animal Kingdom was the only one with a reservation opened today.

Originally, I did not want to use our passes twice for this kingdom. 

Surprisingly, we loved it there and were excited to return.

On our first day in Animal Kingdom, we missed the Navi River Rapids ride because the line was so long. The special effects and design on this ride are impressive. Obviously, we had to hit Pandora and Everest again. I REALLY wanted an Everest t-shirt, I hesitated and did not get one for myself. I still regret that choice a little bit. Far too often I waver when I need to just decide and move forward. 

Britton Loves it when 

I ask him to take a picture LOL:)

EPCOT

The second half of the day, we headed over to Epcot.

WE ALL LOVED EPCOT!

(Ashlynn was particularly enamored with "France".)

If you ever plan to visit Epcot, make sure you go

during the International Flower and Garden Festival.  

(Striking a pose in Morocco)

Each country you come to has little stands 

where they serve food and drinks from that country. 

Those smaller portions were great because 

you can get a little taste of the world without getting too stuffed:).

(Bowing to the crowd in Japan)

I wish I would have received the memo that we needed t-shirts that read 

 "snacking or drinking around the world". 

if we wanted to be part of the Epcot ambiance:). 

(Fruit sushi and crab something-or-other from Japan)

We may not have had the t-shirts, but

 "snacking around the world" 

was one of our beloved activities from the entire trip.

Of course, Ashlynn had to get snacks from Paris.

Other than the beautiful sculpture gardens, 

and snacking,

the ride "Soarin around the world" 

was a favorite and we rode it more than once.  

(German food)

Britton did not care where the food was from. He 

wanted to try everything from everywhere.

His stomach is a bottomless pit:). 

We all loved Epcot. 

We covered over 15 miles this day.

We returned to our hotel a little

after 11 PM with full bellies and very tired feet.