Treasures In St. George
Back to UT vacation...
I figure since this is our family record, to ultimately be printed, I'm going to go ahead and review what we did, but also share why I love these people so much, why it matters that we make an effort to see them, how they affect my life.
Life is partly about what we are doing, but what we remember are the moments, who we are with, and how they have made impressions in our lives.
Our Time with the Chamberlains...
We met Nic and Paige when they did law school in Buffalo. Our friendship is a match made in heaven. We had so much fun with them while they lived near us and were so heartbroken when they left.
We seem to be the perfect mix of spousal friendship as well as personal friendship. They are easy people! No complications. There is always laughter, joy and teasing, as well as great conversation, thoughtful questions. Our kids get along great. There is equal admiration and respect. We just make really great friends! There is no work involved at all! We could spend endless time with these guys and never get sick of them! They are a treasure!
We have kept in touch and as we have come out to UT they have driven, several times, many hours to see us. It is always a treat, like no time has passed, we laugh and laugh as we visit and catch up.
My first thought as we made our family reunion plans in St. George was I can finally go see the Chamberlains!!! We were so fortunate that they had nothing going, so we made plans to stay with them for a few days. Yea! After all of these years I can see where they live, and just take in their life. It is nice to experience that as good friends, to see the home they have created, what they do day to day...
Sunday I got my kids ready for church and then googled how to get to Paige's house.
I wrote down what I thought were clear directions, but didn't write any distances down.
I struggled a bit getting there, driving past large empty spaces of nothing, but eventually we made it! We attended church with their family. It was a pretty sucky way to start our visit because as we came in to sit next to them we had to be quiet! I wanted to give them big hugs and catch up! We had to wait until after!
Note: Something I heard during the meeting that I so appreciate, and still is with me, are the words from Stephen R. Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" book that a speaker referenced. It is something to the effect of: We don't see the world as it is, we see the world as we are. Such a true statement that helps us appreciate our differences, that each of us stands to see things from a different perspective.
My kids all went to class with their kids. It kills me that they don't even know each other, haven't met or don't remember each other, but that doesn't really matter, they are all just fast friends.
After church we ate and talked and talked while the kids played. I caught them up with our life and they did the same.
I love looking back so let's start with some photos of when these kids were even smaller kids...
Later that day we went on a little hike. It was beautiful and the kids had a great time. We saw deer, smelled trees, threw rocks in the lake and savored the mountain air.
The kids all got along great and had fun playing together. Of course we talked about everything from why they chose to live where they did, to extended family, parenting our kids, and a memory or two thrown in there!
Monday Nic took his M backpacking so we said our goodbyes. So glad we had at least a little time together. I ran in the morning then ran a little w/ Paige when I came back, man it's hot in St. G and blast there are a lot of hills... everywhere! I'm playing the elevation card too!
We went over to the Plumb's house before lunch time... and ended up staying all. day. long.!
We also met the Plumb's here in Buffalo, many years ago!
We haven't talked to them since they moved out to UT, which was something like 4 or 5 years ago. It was great seeing their family. All of their kids are grown up! Here is a pic of our two little girls from when they were so small...
We took some time to get reacquainted, catch up, see the Plumb's life now, then we went swimming!
Wherever we are that is a great activity! We had lunch and visited.
We all swam, then the boys went in to play electronics and the girls stayed out. Then the girls went in to craft and the boys came out to swim. Paige went home to nap her C then came back. Will came home early from work so we got to see him too!
It was wonderful seeing these friends! I have missed Kari! She is a great person. I was glad to have some time to just sit and talk with her. Her family is beautiful and I love seeing how these kids have changed!
We ended up staying all day long! We ordered pizza and partied into the night!
It was wonderful to see these kids connect. It's different for me than it is for them. They aren't connected to their past the way we adults are. It is so rewarding to still have these kids be friends, even though so much of all of our lives have changed so much. I can see the full scope of who they were and who they are becoming, they don't remember that. There is a part of the full circle, still holding onto our past, that I don't want to let go of, and hope to just add to. These people are a part of that.
We said goodbye after dinner and went back to the Chamberlains. We put tired kids to bed and Paige and I had uninterrupted time together! We stayed up many hours talking, crying, laughing, lifting each other, just connecting. It was so good. I miss her.
She has a part of my heart just tucked away all special! She is evidence that Heavenly Father loves me and sends people to us to remind us of His love and care. Having her in my life, while she was here in Buffalo was perfect. That's all I can say!
Above the timing of our friendship who Paige is, is why our friendship will continue on and on.
I admire this woman. She is disciplined, but not to the extent that the important things are missed. She is full of faith. She has boundaries, but offers such admirable patience and mercy. She is unassuming. You have to find her, she is not boisterous like me, out there for all to see. She is smart and loves to think. She is driven. She is structured and goal oriented. She loves to laugh and be out in nature. I love to see her in her home, how she teaches her kids. I love her domestic side. Her home and her part in it has always been important to her.
I want to be more like her, and as I strive to change things about me, I'm blessed to have her to balance me out!!!
Tuesday we rode bikes to the school before it got too hot. The kids played on the playground and found construction pieces to make a little gerbil house! I love the creativity! I also love the extent P went to get those tubes home!
We packed up after lunch and got ready to hit the road. G came in to me and said 'Mom, you need to go into your bathroom.' He sounded serious so I did. I found this little guy in my make up bag! He knew right where my mascara went!
We had a super long drive back to SL. The kids were great. Looking back at our whole trip, I am so glad the car, particularly the tires, took us all the way home safely!
Also looking back at our whole trip I didn't realize I missed so many friends when we were in southern UT! There were so many friends I didn't realize were there, that came out of the woodwork after I left!
Southern UT is beautiful! I will post some landscape photos on my photo blog. It is unique, but like the developed parts of UT seems so crowded and overpopulated to me!!!
I figure since this is our family record, to ultimately be printed, I'm going to go ahead and review what we did, but also share why I love these people so much, why it matters that we make an effort to see them, how they affect my life.
Life is partly about what we are doing, but what we remember are the moments, who we are with, and how they have made impressions in our lives.
Our Time with the Chamberlains...
We met Nic and Paige when they did law school in Buffalo. Our friendship is a match made in heaven. We had so much fun with them while they lived near us and were so heartbroken when they left.
We seem to be the perfect mix of spousal friendship as well as personal friendship. They are easy people! No complications. There is always laughter, joy and teasing, as well as great conversation, thoughtful questions. Our kids get along great. There is equal admiration and respect. We just make really great friends! There is no work involved at all! We could spend endless time with these guys and never get sick of them! They are a treasure!
We have kept in touch and as we have come out to UT they have driven, several times, many hours to see us. It is always a treat, like no time has passed, we laugh and laugh as we visit and catch up.
My first thought as we made our family reunion plans in St. George was I can finally go see the Chamberlains!!! We were so fortunate that they had nothing going, so we made plans to stay with them for a few days. Yea! After all of these years I can see where they live, and just take in their life. It is nice to experience that as good friends, to see the home they have created, what they do day to day...
Sunday I got my kids ready for church and then googled how to get to Paige's house.
I wrote down what I thought were clear directions, but didn't write any distances down.
I struggled a bit getting there, driving past large empty spaces of nothing, but eventually we made it! We attended church with their family. It was a pretty sucky way to start our visit because as we came in to sit next to them we had to be quiet! I wanted to give them big hugs and catch up! We had to wait until after!
Note: Something I heard during the meeting that I so appreciate, and still is with me, are the words from Stephen R. Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" book that a speaker referenced. It is something to the effect of: We don't see the world as it is, we see the world as we are. Such a true statement that helps us appreciate our differences, that each of us stands to see things from a different perspective.
My kids all went to class with their kids. It kills me that they don't even know each other, haven't met or don't remember each other, but that doesn't really matter, they are all just fast friends.
After church we ate and talked and talked while the kids played. I caught them up with our life and they did the same.
I love looking back so let's start with some photos of when these kids were even smaller kids...
Later that day we went on a little hike. It was beautiful and the kids had a great time. We saw deer, smelled trees, threw rocks in the lake and savored the mountain air.
The trees really smell like vanilla!
Our boys and girls have always gotten along, even they are opposite ages. A made fast friends w/ Q. She plays well with younger kids.
These two braniacs are so similar in temperament, thought and nature. It was so great to see them connect.
These two were fast friends, both a little devious and full of boundless energy!
The kids all got along great and had fun playing together. Of course we talked about everything from why they chose to live where they did, to extended family, parenting our kids, and a memory or two thrown in there!
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Monday Nic took his M backpacking so we said our goodbyes. So glad we had at least a little time together. I ran in the morning then ran a little w/ Paige when I came back, man it's hot in St. G and blast there are a lot of hills... everywhere! I'm playing the elevation card too!
We went over to the Plumb's house before lunch time... and ended up staying all. day. long.!
We also met the Plumb's here in Buffalo, many years ago!
We haven't talked to them since they moved out to UT, which was something like 4 or 5 years ago. It was great seeing their family. All of their kids are grown up! Here is a pic of our two little girls from when they were so small...
Wherever we are that is a great activity! We had lunch and visited.
It was wonderful seeing these friends! I have missed Kari! She is a great person. I was glad to have some time to just sit and talk with her. Her family is beautiful and I love seeing how these kids have changed!
It was wonderful to see these kids connect. It's different for me than it is for them. They aren't connected to their past the way we adults are. It is so rewarding to still have these kids be friends, even though so much of all of our lives have changed so much. I can see the full scope of who they were and who they are becoming, they don't remember that. There is a part of the full circle, still holding onto our past, that I don't want to let go of, and hope to just add to. These people are a part of that.
We said goodbye after dinner and went back to the Chamberlains. We put tired kids to bed and Paige and I had uninterrupted time together! We stayed up many hours talking, crying, laughing, lifting each other, just connecting. It was so good. I miss her.
I love this girl.
She has a part of my heart just tucked away all special! She is evidence that Heavenly Father loves me and sends people to us to remind us of His love and care. Having her in my life, while she was here in Buffalo was perfect. That's all I can say!
Above the timing of our friendship who Paige is, is why our friendship will continue on and on.
I admire this woman. She is disciplined, but not to the extent that the important things are missed. She is full of faith. She has boundaries, but offers such admirable patience and mercy. She is unassuming. You have to find her, she is not boisterous like me, out there for all to see. She is smart and loves to think. She is driven. She is structured and goal oriented. She loves to laugh and be out in nature. I love to see her in her home, how she teaches her kids. I love her domestic side. Her home and her part in it has always been important to her.
I want to be more like her, and as I strive to change things about me, I'm blessed to have her to balance me out!!!
-------------------------------------------------
O was being a ninja on the monkey bars and ripped his skin. He screamed! That was NOT fun!
We packed up after lunch and got ready to hit the road. G came in to me and said 'Mom, you need to go into your bathroom.' He sounded serious so I did. I found this little guy in my make up bag! He knew right where my mascara went!
We had a super long drive back to SL. The kids were great. Looking back at our whole trip, I am so glad the car, particularly the tires, took us all the way home safely!
Also looking back at our whole trip I didn't realize I missed so many friends when we were in southern UT! There were so many friends I didn't realize were there, that came out of the woodwork after I left!
Southern UT is beautiful! I will post some landscape photos on my photo blog. It is unique, but like the developed parts of UT seems so crowded and overpopulated to me!!!