Welcome to Omaha

Robert and I flew into Omaha during the final game of the College World Series between South Carolina and Florida. As we drove past TD Ameritrade Park during the game, I asked him who he wanted to win. He said he didn't care, but we later learned we should have been rooting for Florida, more to come on that.

Robert travels to Omaha, TD Ameritrade Headquarters, quite a bit for work, but this time I decided to tag along with him. We have friends from our neighborhood who moved to Omaha a few years ago and I looked forward to visiting them and checking out the city. When we travel, we always try to visit a nearby temple. Here I am at the Winter Quarters Temple. It was especially meaningful after just returning from Trek.

Ahhh, the new TD Ameritrade Headquarters in all it's steel beam glory. I can remember quite awhile back when they did the ground breaking for this new building and it was fun to see it in progress. It will eventually be an 8 story 'environmentally friendly' building, but won't be done for another year or two.

And here we have a current TDA building. Building #4 I believe, where Robert usually holds his meetings when he is here. I actually liked Omaha, I liked it alot, which surprised me, and had a great time eating, and visiting, and eating, and eating some more with the Pattersons.
Back to our College World Series story - South Carolina ended up winning the series the night we arrived, and as we entered our hotel well after midnight, the lobby was full of South Carolina fans and even the school mascot. As we got up to our room, Robert made a call down to the front desk asking if the team might be staying in the hotel that night. She assured us that Yes, they would be staying there, and in fact, their rooms were located directly next to ours. Oh joy. They arrived in their rooms about 1:15 am and the celebrations continued until about 4:00am. We are definitely sports fans and were excited about their accomplishment, so we gave them the benefit of the doubt, but we were glad when they packed up the next day and headed back home. We slept much better after that.

6th grade Dance

The 6th grade Dance is a big deal here. It is an event organized by the school with assigned partners and specific dances performed (like the waltz and the fox trot). Robert and I were sad to not be here to see Kayla off this morning - but she looks beautiful and had a great time. Our girls are growing up on us!

Emma's Wedding

Emma with her new husband Jordan.

Emma and her favorite girls in the world.

Emma started babysitting for us when she was 12-years old. She has had more influence in raising our girls than anyone other than us. She spent countless days, nights, and combinations of days and nights with our girls during her middle and high school years. We figure we helped pay for her college education, and we are very happy about that. She is and always has been such a gentle and wonderful young women. She cooked from scratch with the kids, done endless crafts, read thousands of books and often sat with them in their rooms until they fell asleep. She will always be a part of our extended family and we love her deeply. We wish her the very best as she begins this new chapter of her life.

Spring Dance Recital

Emi's friend Mia helping her get ready for the Big Night.

Emi is a dancer.  She loves to dance to any kind of music, but especially loves ballet.  She already talks about getting her pointe shoes.  She is beautiful, and graceful, and makes a great ballerina.

Lindsay loves tap.  She is in the highest level at her studio and loves the rhythms and beats you can create with taps.  This years routine was done with trash cans, drums sticks, and no music, creating a STOMP like performance.  She is a very talented tapper and we are glad she enjoys it so much.

Emi and Lindsay with their support team of Grandma and Papa Miller.  Grandma and Papa did everything to get them ready for their performance and we sure appreciate all they do to support the girls!

Robert and I rolled into town a few minutes before the show began.  We really wanted to make it to their performance and we are grateful for the miracles that helped us get there.  You girls are awesome! 

Pioneer Trek

The PREP - Spraying all of our clothing items with some concoction that is supposed to keep ticks from embedding into your skin. I just hope it works, not really a bug fan.

Our little Trek family - 2 boys and 3 girls. They were so awesome! They worked hard, were very helpful and kind, and had great attitudes. We couldn't have asked for better kids - except maybe to have Aubrey in our fam.

Heading out on the actual Mormon trail near Afton, Wyoming. About 600,000 people used this trail to travel West - whether they were headed to Oregon, California, or the Salt Lake Valley. Our trek was simulating the roughly 6,000 people that traveled west using Handcarts versus Covered Wagons driven by a team. The Handcart system was cost effective and many were successful using them, but those traveling in the Willie and Martin Handcart Company's ran into trouble here in Wyoming back in 1856.

Each Trek participant walked in honor of a pioneer who had actually made this journey West, in hopes of joining with the Saints in Zion, and having the ability to worship as they chose without fear of persecution.
 Robert walked for Milo Andrus - my great, great, great grandfather.  I walked for his 1st wife Abigail Andrus, and Aubrey walked for their daughter Mary Jane Andrus. They have an interesting story.  Milo and Abilgail fell in love in their early teens.  They marriage at a young age and had 5 children together.  Milo, who served in the Quorum of the Seventy under the Prophet Brigham Young, was asked to take participate in polygamy, or the act of taking on numerous wives.  Abigail was very against the idea and separated from Milo after he married his 2nd wife Sarah.  When Milo was called to served a mission back in England, he took Sarah with him, leaving Abigial and  their 15-year old daughter Mary Jane, 13-year old son John Daley, and three small children in Nauvoo.  Abigail decided that she and her children would join the Heber C. Kimball Company and travel west to the Salt Lake Valley.  It was a difficult journey, with 15-year old John serving as the 'man of the family'.  Not only did he have to care for his mother and sisters, but also had to fulfill taxing duties within the Company.  Abigail and Mary Jane's shoes quickly wore out, and they walked most of the 1000 miles without shoes.  They faced harsh storms, poverty, and starvation, not only on the trail, but also after reaching the valley.  It was a hard road for Abigail and her family, and Aubrey and I felt honored to walk for such strong and amazing women.

In this picture I envision Robert as Milo.  Interestingly enough, Abigail and Milo were remarried in the Logan Temple when they were 70 years old.  Though polygamy had taken it's toll on their marriage (as well as Abigail's 2nd marriage) their love for each other had continued through the years, and in the end, they were sealed together for time and all eternity in the House of the Lord.  What an amazing story, what amazing people,and all that they went through and suffered to come to know God.  And this is the stock, the heritage, that we come from.  I am so grateful for our ancestors and for the records and journals they kept so diligently so that one day we could read them, and as their posterity, be strengthened by them.  That was just one of the great parts of Trek.

Our trek children choose 'Return to Christ' as our family motto and the crest on our flag.  It ties in well with the overall Trek theme, which was 'Bring them Home'.  We felt a sincere obligation and duty to bring our 5 children back home safely, but also to help bring them home spiritually, to help strengethen their own testimony and relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ.  As we walked and as we stopped and listened to the various missionary firesides held throughout the trail, I could not help but think about why so many people had chosen to endure so much, to gather together as Saints in Zion.  The thought that repeatedly came to my mind was The Temple.  They desired to partake of the sacred ordinances that are only available in the Temple, or House of the Lord.  I now live in a city with 2 sacred temples within our midst, and they gave literally everything they had, even their lives sometimes, to be obedient and have the blessings of the temple.  It struck my to my core and brought about immense feelings of gratitude and a deep desire to be found often in the House of the Lord.

As a ward, we also experienced many miracles during our short Trek.  Miracles in funds becoming available, miracles in health and wellness (including my own untimely vertigo episodes), miracles in travel, and in finding gas (for $8.00/gallon), and broken down cars, and unexpected hail and lightening storms.  Enough that not one of us could go forward without recognizing the Lord's Hand in our experience.

So amazing were the pioneers who traveled these trails West, and so amazing are the Youth of this generation.  To both I take my bonnet off and say THANK YOU.  Thank you for your legacy of Faith, Love, and Endurance.

17 Miracles

This weekend the Ma's and Pa's that will be serving together for our Ward Pioneer Trek went together to see the movie 17 Miracles, which tells the story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Company's journey to the Salt Lake Valley.  As someone who really only likes non-fiction movies, this is one of my VERY FAVORITES!  It was soooo good.  I would highly recommend it to any movie watchers. 

As we left the theater we were greeted by Levi Savage (played by actor Jason Wade) himself.  There were several people talking to him, but I really wish we had of stopped and told him that we were Ma's and Pa's just about to head out on Trek and how much the movie touched us.  And a group picture with him would have been a cool keepsake.  I really, really do recommend this movie to any and everyone.   It is well worth your time.

K Leaving for Europe

 

Kayla left for Europe today.  There was a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and trepidation in the air.  We know she will do great and are so glad she has this opportunity to go explore and experience another part of the world, but it's hard to see her go.

One final pic of the girls.  I didn't realize at the time that you could read so many of our emotions on our faces.

Her People to People Delegation and 2 fearless leaders that would guide them through this amazing journey.

Our final view of her as she went through security.  I said a quick prayer in that moment thanking Heavenly Father for her and asking that HE would watch over her while we're apart.  Love you K!

Emi photo shoot

Emi's baptism is coming up in July. Melanie took her for a photo shoot at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. She sure is a beautiful girl - inside and out. So glad she is a part of our family.

Amy's 5K

In celebration of our good friend Amy's 40th Birthday, some of us got together to run a Neighborhood 5K. It was such a beautiful Saturday morning for a run and so fun to all be together. Here's Lindsay finishing strong.

And me and Amy coming in just after her, with Kay cheering us on. We topped off the day with a surprise party for her in the backyard. Our family has been blessed with very wonderful friends!

Rose Canyon

Our favorite bike ride route. Feels so good to get out and ride together.

Jordan

Everyone is sleeping better now that Jordan is back home with us.

People to People

It's hard to know where this story begins.  A few years back we decided that when each of the girls turned 12 they could take a trip anywhere in  the world.  We decided on 12 because it is kind of a 'coming of age time'.  By age 16 or even 18, we were afraid they may be too busy or have too much going on and we wanted these trip experiences to come at a time when they could learn more about themselves and their potential.

When Aubrey was 12 she wanted to go visit her very 1st friend, Aubrye Lyn, who was living in Australia.  Together we made a 10-day journey 'Down Under' and enjoyed the sights, sounds, wonders, and friendships Australia had for us.  We enjoyed the 18-hour flights each way, and all of the time we were able to spend together.  At that time, Kayla decided she wanted to take her trip to Paris, France, so we started watching for information about Paris.

Fast forward 2 years. Kayla is just starting 6th grade and receives a letter that she has been nominated by her 4th grade ALPS teacher to be a Student Ambassador in the People to People Program.    They were forming a Utah delegation to travel to Paris, France and London England in the summer of 2011, just before Kayla's 12th birthday.  We didn't know much about the program at the time, but decided to look into it.

The program was started in 1956 by President Eisenhower with a mission to "bridge cultural and political borders through education and exchange, making the world a better place for future generations".  Each year delegations of elementary school, middle school, and high school students, travel to locations on all 7 continents of the Earth.   After the initial information meeting Kayla decided to apply and gathered letters of recommendations, filled out paperwork, wrote an essay, and interviewed to be a part of the 2011 Utah delegation.  The process reminded me of the process she went through when she advanced a grade after starting Kindergarten, where the 'process' actually helps solidify that the child is ready for the experience.

One note that comes to mind when I think back on her interview.  I just dropped her off at the school where interviews were taking place and came back to get her later (like I did so many times during her grade advancement process) but when we were driving home she was telling me about it.  One of the questions had to do with how she would deal with being extremely homesick while on an overseas trip.  She told me how she responded and I asked her "Really? That's really how you think you'd deal with it?"  She said., "No, but I didn't want to tell them what I would really do because .....".  It opened up a new avenue of really deep conversation about beliefs and religion and is something we have both had to really think about since then.  It was one of those tender moment conversations that you can bottle up and cherish.

Once she got into the program about October, the delegates and their parents started meeting monthly.  The delegates are from all over northern Utah, from Vernal to Park City,and out to Stansbury Park.  The group was much more diverse than just the small school community she is used to.  The monthly meetings were fun and very well designed to help prepare both the delegates and the parents.  I know they have been doing this for over 50 years, but I will say I think they covered and prepared the students for most things they will experience on these trips, without being too overbearing about it.  They participated in lots of ice breaker games getting to know each other.  They had homework assignments and took online tests learning about the history, culture, language, and geography of the places they would be visiting.  When they met together they played Jeopardy games to review the information and made quizzes for each other to take to make sure they knew the information that need to.  So Kayla has devoted part of one Saturday a month for the past 8 months to People to People preparations and by the time travel time arrived, I think all delegates and parents felt prepared and ready to go.

There is a 1 to 10 ratio of leader : delegates. The leaders are teachers and her leader is Awesome!  We have spent lots of time together as parents, delegates, and leaders and we feel very comfortable sending Kayla over seas under her care.

Some of the other fun things that have come with the experience.  Getting a passport - that's exciting.  Having suitcase relays to practice getting 21 students around airports and hotels with their luggage.  That's fun.  Ordering and eating at a restaurant all together to practice how they will do this during the trip.  Making sack lunches and then exchanging them as to learn that they may not always like what is served on their trip, but they will still need to eat it. 

It has been a fun process, a fun and well executed process that has prepared us for where we are today - being separated by many miles but still connected in many ways.  We are excited that she is able to have this experience and we can't wait to hear from her soon.