Girls' Hiking Trip at Capitol Reef!!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend last weekend with these amazing ladies during our hiking trip at Capitol Reef!! It was so refreshing to disconnect from technology for a few days and enjoy God's beautiful creations!! Thank you to everyone who made it happen!! Here is a little breakdown:

Sunrises: 3

Car breaking down: 1

Hikes: 6

Miles hiked: 24

Miles driving: A lot!

Highest step day: 30,757

Friendships: 12

Memories: Countless!!

LD Singers Reunion

Today I had the amazing opportunity to go to the LD Singer's reunion in Orem. I have so many wonderful memories from being involved with the LD Singers while attending Snow College. I would like to offer a big shout out to my sweet husband for traveling four hours each way to come with me! I was in LD Singers in 1986-1988. The experiences that I had and the friendships I made had a profound impact on my life. It was so fun seeing Brother Willmore, and his wife, Pat again! It was because of my experience working with Brother Willmore in LD Singers and in LDSSA years ago that I made the decision that I wanted to marry a seminary/institute teacher someday! When I was dating Rick I told him this and he said that I was definitely looking at the wrong person, because he would never want to become a seminary teacher. 

Well, I married him anyway, and three years later after working in the field of finance, insurance, and accounting, he realized he might want to look at something different. Well, long story short, he eventually ended up as a seminary teacher. This was completely his decision. I didn't suggest, or even encourage him to take that route because I knew it had to be a decision that he pursued on his own. Yes, I may have planted the seed years ago when we were dating and I am sure I offered many prayers that it would happen, but other than that, the path opened up for him and he took it. It has been a wonderful career and I am so glad that we have been able to be a part of it! 

At the reunion we mingled in the church gym and then everyone went in to the chapel to sing a couple of songs that were traditionally sung every year in LD Singers. One was, "Oh, That I Were an Angel," and the other one was, "Bonding," written especially for LD's by David Naylor, a former LD Singer. He sadly passed away at a young age, but his legacy lives on through his music. At least one of his songs is in the new Hymns for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is amazing how you can sing a song you haven't sung in 37 years and still remember every word and every note. It was so powerful and touching to be able to sing these songs with members of the group through the years. It was so fun and sounded amazing!! 

I was glad that I got to see Lesli and Steve Neighbergall and other friends. There were a couple of people I was excited to see, but they didn't end up coming. I think they regretted not coming after seeing all of the pictures and posts on Facebook about it. I was glad that I came though. Rick didn't really know anyone at the reunion (except for Julie Shuppy, because they served in the same mission) and a few people through me, but he said it was still enjoyable. He was so touched by the songs we sang that he took a recording of it and sent it to the person who is over all of S&I so that he could demonstrate what an impact groups like this had on so many people through the years. 

We were sad when the church did away with LD Singers and all other groups like it. Institute Choir is still around, but it just isn't the same. Institute Choir is more like a once a week class that people show up to and sing, but doesn't have the same impact as something like LD's. LD Singers, and other performing groups like it, involved auditions, concerts, going on tour, fun songs (in addition to spiritual songs) and so many other things. We made lifelong friendships. There were at least five marriages that came out of the group, just from the two years I was in the group. I can't imagine how many there are throughout the many years it was in existence. Rick and I feel that these groups are so important and demonstrate the S&I's mission of belonging. So Rick sent a letter along with the video showing the impact groups like this have made on so many people through the years with a request to revisit the idea of bringing groups like this back. 

There were several others from my years that I didn't get pictures with, but here are a few pictures I did get!  

Cheryl Tolman and Mark Tarr (who we ran into at Golden Corral with two of our missionaries when he was also dropping off his missionaries!) 

Lilly, Tresa Haymond... (in LD Singers with my sister, Jen), Rex Hale, Leslie and Steve Neighbergall, Julie Shuppy, Ruel Haymond, Wendy Jensen

Julie (Julie served in Rick's mission and they had the opportunity to sing together), me, Lesli (Lesli has been dealing with cancer the past several years and her hair is just barely growing back from the chemo treatments. She has had such a great attitude through the whole ordeal. She is amazing!)

Wendy and Brother Willmore

The last time we most of us saw each other was at Shawn Prince's funeral in 2018  

Some pictures from the past!! 

 Preston Black, pictured below, passed away in 2019 from Cancer, leaving behind a wife and 8 children. So sad! He was the President of the LD Singers my first year. 

Happy Birthday!!

Today was my birthday. I woke up to a nice text from Jared. Janelle left this morning to head back to Provo, but before she left she gave me a sweet note for my birthday that she had written and I was able to give her the missionary book that I had made for her. She arrived home one year ago on my birthday! It is hard to believe that she has been home a year already! The book took me months to make since I did a lot of editing on it, but it turned out really nice! 

Rick prepared a nice dinner for my birthday and Jenna walked all the way to Albertsons, over a mile away, with her friends after school to buy me some flowers. I thought that was really sweet of her! I was also able to have a video call with Jaiden, which is always nice! 

I wanted to go see the Musical Revue at the high school and tonight was the only night I had available, so I decided to go with Jenna. Rick wasn't interested and didn't understand why I wanted to go see it, especially on my birthday, since none of my kids were in it. But I thought it would be fun to go with Jenna and maybe it would get her interested in auditioning next year. Josh and Bridget came too and met us there. I am glad I went. The in the show did a great job and it was fun and entertaining! 

 

Alyssa's Bridal Shower

This morning Josh and I left at 6:00 am so that I could drop him off to State Madrigal and Ensemble at Provo high school at 10:00. Everyone else left on the bus yesterday right after school, but Josh had a soccer game last night that he didn't want to miss. So I offered to drive him separately. It also happened to by Alyssa's bridal shower today and so I dropped him off in Provo (he had slept the whole way, ha ha), and then hurried to Highland to catch a ride with family to the shower. 

Alicia drove and those of us who went with her were me, my mom, my aunt Nelva, and Kim. We enjoyed a nice visit in the car and enjoyed visiting at the shower. Scott and Amy have done so much with the house -- it looks totally different! They have done a great job remodeling and it looks amazing. They had added a huge covered back porch in the back yard. I would love something like that for our house! I was glad that I could come to the shower and visit with everyone. We are so happy for Alyssa! 

Hunchback at Tuacahn

I had two tickets to go see The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Tuacahn and so I invited my friend Allison to come along. The weather was perfect and the talent was amazing! It definitely isn't one of my favorite shows (too depressing), but it was very well done and we enjoyed the night out! 

Owen's Loop Trail

Today was an active day for me! This morning I went on a 4 mile brisk walk with Allison Williams. It has been a while since we have gone walking together and so it was nice to catch up! The kids were still out of school for a teacher work day and so Jenna invited me to do Pilates with her. Then tonight I did another 3 mile hike with some friends! So I got LOTS of steps today! 

Tonight we met at the Brook's Nature Park to do the Owen's Loop Trail at 5:30 for our hike. (Note to self to google BROOK'S NATURE PARK, not Owen's Loop Trailhead when trying to find the trail!) I have done that hike before, but it has been a while. It is a pretty hike that overlooks the city. The temperature was perfect and it was fun to be active while visiting with friends! It was starting to get near the end of the hike, but we had come prepared with flashlights. It was fun!