Utah!

Ok people, hold on to your hats. This is going to be a crazy full post. I went to Utah last week and came back with some amazing things to share!!

First things first. I would like to express my sincere regret that I did not get to see the Berger families, Stacey J., Amy F., and Diana H.! Some of the dearest people I'll ever know and it will be another several years before I see you still. I'm very sorry I couldn't make it work. You are in my thoughts so often and I have such fond memories of you.

I am happy to report that prayers are answered. I prayed for snow and I got it baby! The Utahans were not pleased with my fervent prayers but I got it nonetheless. Ok, so it didn't stick on anything but the mountains and some of the roofs and tops of cars, but it was falling on my hair and it was wonderful. The weather was very good to us. Cool air with a bright sun most days. I was thankful for this since I was without car most of the time and was able to walk all throughout downtown SLC.


My oldest sister, Melissa was out there for a nursing conference. I just couldn't stand the thought of her being in that big huge hotel room all alone so I did what any stalwart sister would do and flew out there to take care of it. Kidding, she was gracious enough to have me tag along! But it was a big beautiful hotel room and we enjoyed all the luxuries of bath robes, turned down beds and breakfast brought up to us. Ahh the life.

While she was gone to her classes I visited Temple Square. I really did take advantage of everything; getting a solo tour of the new (not so new) Conference building, going through the Family History building, going through the Museum of Church History, watching the new Joseph Smith movie, shopping at the Distribution Center, etc. I was going to watch The Testaments for the third time, but decided to purchase it instead. A must have! There were a couple of newly wedded couples having pictures taken out in the flowers and that's always fun because they are so beautiful and look so happy. And the flowers were so, so beautiful. I tried to take pictures, but that didn't do it justice.

I got to see old roommates and eat at the Training Table! Shena and I went to TT one too many times in our days. We would share the turkey sandwich (which is awesome by the way!) and we'd share the big huge plate of cheese fries. We'd each get our own special BBQ sauce because, well, there just wasn't enough to go around. We laughed at the olden days when I would get all panicky that she would eat more fries than me. (And you wonder why I've got the hips I have!) Thanks Shena, Angela and Trista for a great reunion!


I got to love on my niece Amelia and boy, did she come alive in that bathtub! I checked out my brother's new gym. Didn't take pictures because I was too busy trying out his equipment. My muscles are screaming at him today!

I'm proud of his accomplishments. I know he is working so hard to get this gym up and running and it's not easy work. He's very stressed, but maintains a positive attitude. Keep up the good work, bro! They are visiting Texas at the end of this month and I'm very excited to see him and love on that baby. She is getting big and oh, those eyes!!

My dearest friend and mentor, Tammy, was in Utah visiting her daughter, Autumn during the same week. She's always so fun to be with and brought her two youngest with her. I'd never met Abby and she was just beautiful. Alena was cuter than ever and so personable. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to see them again. Tammy treated us to a delicious dinner at The Roof. It is a restaurant that sits on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Where we were sitting was a beautiful view of the state capital to our right and a breathtaking view of the temple to our left. It was very memorable!

I have to tell you my favorite story! As I was looking out the window of our hotel room, I was enjoying the view when my sister called to tell me that she couldn't get into her last class and she was skipping it and heading back to the hotel. She was walking and said she'd be there in about 15 minutes. I waited and waited. Suddenly I heard sirens and my heart got to feeling a little worried. Then I saw an ambulance and fire truck come our way and turn into the parking garage of our hotel. I was definately worried at this point. I was about to make a call to my sister when my phone rang. It was Melissa telling me that she would be up in a little while and that she had to give report to the emergency team downstairs. Apparently, when my sister walked into the hotel, she saw that a man had just collapsed in the elevator and another nurse was starting chest compressions because he was not breathing. My sister called for a defibrillator and shocked the man once and he started breathing again immediately. By then the ambulance showed up and took over.

What are the odds that this guy had a heartattack in a hotel housing a bunch of nurses and also that two of these nurses happened to be there instead of in class right at the instant he needed them! Apparently the hotel manager is married to a cardiologist and that is probably why they had the defibrillator there. I'm so proud of my sister!! The hotel sent her a thank you note with some chocolate covered strawberries. I read the note as it brought tears to my eyes. "Your help saved a life." Wow. When my sister got home, the patient's wife called and was able to speak to her. It was an emotional conversation as the woman explained that her husband had already had surgery and went into v-fib in the elevator. The man was so emotional that he couldn't even talk on the phone. I'm so thankful for people so willing to study and be available for emergencies like that!


So when I got home, I was greeted with lots of hugs and kisses! The kids and Mike were glad to see me. Not sure if Mike's reaction was a sign of excitement or relief! He did a great job keeping the kids alive while I was gone. I think they had a great time 'cause no one was here to tell them to go to bed early, take a bath, chill on the desserts, do homework, etc! I did something a little different this time around and did not get the usual souvenirs. Instead I lugged home a 12 pack of caffeine free Mountain Dew and a dozen Krispy Kream donuts. Neither of those are available in our area and I thought it would be a fun gesture as my family thinks they are the best things since sliced bread. They all downed the donuts within minutes of my return and said it was way, way better than any T-shirt! An explanation of my interesting experiences in getting the soda and donuts on and off the plane safely are too long and drawn out. Let's just say they got here safe and sound!!


So today is Monday and I'm getting things back in order. And look what I found waiting for me from my little garden! It's good to be home. I missed my family! Life is good!