A much needed vacation

About a month and a half ago I was looking at air fare prices to Germany, like I do every day on my lunch break. After several discouraging searches, I decided to enter in the dates of a trip to Utah I had been thinking about, but decided I couldn’t afford. The first tickets came up in the $200 range, then a few around $190, then the price dropped to $165 – my jaw dropped accordingly and with a quick click of my mouse, the ticket was mine! So last week I set out for my friend (aka adopted sister) Bethany’s wedding. Added bonus: by not telling her sister Karrie about it, I could make it into a surprise visit – I LOVE surprises!

I had a really great trip! It was pretty busy though too – full of visits with my brother and his wife, high school friends, mission friends, professors, new friends, and my adopted family! I also took special care to visit all of my old haunts, including Café Rio (way better than Costa Vida – that’s right, you heard me!).

My favorite part was just being able to have lots of little kids around me and to see a big family at work! It amazes me how well kids can focus and listen when they feel like they have a responsibility to fulfill and have the support of siblings and cousins to do it. Also, it was awesome to see how fast the kids have all grown and to meet the ones who were born since I left.

I had really been missing Utah and all of my friends and family the last few months, but I feel at peace after leaving. I loved living there and I miss everyone I have left behind, but there is also a lot of happiness in progressing in our lives, and if we cling too hard to things, people, places, etc. we miss the joy of new people and places. Moral of the story – moving on hurts, but it is good for us.

There are about a million stories to tell from this trip, but I already wrote, like, 12 pages in my journal, so I’m not really feeling up to writing any more. Goodness knows I like to talk though, so if you need the details, call me up! These pictures should tide you over.

P.S. A big THANK YOU to everyone who made my trip so wonderful!!

Manti Temple

Bethany and Tori - the happy couple

Meghan and Rorie

Bradley - he was being bashful,
so we told him NOT to smile and this is what we got.

Hayden - we didn't have to ask him to smile,
he KNOWS he's a good-lookin' kid.

The Little Ladies

Abby

Darcy, Karrie, and me

Disgusting, Disturbing... Classic!

Bradley

Mt. Timp

Up Provo Canyon