Madi & I waiting for the train

Ever since Madison and I started talking every single day, we have been waiting for the day that we could hang out again! One day we were talking and I just decided right then and there that I was coming to Utah to see her, so I bought a plane ticket.  We counted down the days for over a month and on May 12th the day finally arrived! With my bags packed, Kobee dropped me off at the airport and I flew to Salt Lake to come see Madison.  Although I was sad to say good-bye to Kobee, I was excited to come to Salt Lake!

I landed around 4:00 p.m. on that Thursday afternoon and Madison met me at the airport. I figured she would just pick me up outside, but to my surprise she was standing in the airport waiting for me :]  I was so happy to see her! We hugged for a long time, making the appropriate squealing noises, then just caught up and waited for my bags.  We then drove back to her house where we sat and talked, exchanged birthday gifts and ate dinner.  Her mom is a g r e a t cook so I was excited to dig into a homemade meal that I didn't have to prepare!


After dinner we ran to the store to rent a movie from the Redbox and get some Heaven on Earth, (aka Half Baked Ben & Jerry's ice cream).  When we got back to her house we got in our PJ's, gave each other facials and pedicures, and enjoyed our ice cream while we watched Unstoppable.  Nothing like a little Denzel Washington right before bed. :]


The next morning we got ready and headed to Layton Station to catch the Front Runner to Salt Lake City. For those of you that don't know, Unstoppable is about a run-away train, so it was pretty funny that we were getting on one after watching that movie the night before. 

When we got to the city we jumped on the other train, UTA Trax, and went to The Gateway Mall to do a little shopping. Madison got a bowl (it's a real treasure) from Anthropology, and we both got a "Wreck This Journal" from Urban Outfitters.  

It is a journal that basically gives you instructions on how to ruin it. Haha.  We ate lunch at Applebee's and then took Trax up to Temple Square.

Yummy :]

I was so excited to go see the Temple and just spend some time
at the Visitors Centers there. Everything was so beautiful :] it truly was a perfect day.  It was warm and there wasn't a cloud in the sky as we walked around the gorgeous grounds surrounding the temple.  

There were flowers in every direction and the trees and grass were so perfectly green.  I was mesmerized. While we were there we saw:

The Temple of course :]

The Famous Tabernacle and its organ...

The Conference Center

The Christus

At 4:30 we went and watched the new version of the Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration movie.  They changed it so that people who aren't members of the church can better understand the story.  The old version assumed that whoever was watching already had a lot of knowledge about church history.  As always, the movie was amazing. I can't imagine the scorn that came Joseph's way as he proclaimed that he had seen a vision, and I gained a deep gratitude for the early Saints and their strength.  They were badly persecuted, but they continued to build up the Church and many of them sacrificed almost all they had and moved West when the time came.  The story of the Church is such a testament to me that God is watching over us all and helping us to do the things that need to be done on this Earth.  With out His help I know that the Church never would have lasted.


After the movie Madison and I walked over to Deseret Book to meet my mom who was in town for a doctor's appointment.  She was going to Pleasant Grove to my aunt's and that is where we wanted to go so she came and picked us up.  Lucky me, she bought me new scriptures while we were there too :) yay!

That's right ;)

We got to my aunt's house and hung out for a little bit, but then left to go to a concert. Oh yeah, funny story: so Madison (my best friend) is now dating my cousin Jaxon.  That is why we were going down there really, so that they could hang out:] so a huge group of us went to a concert/block party at Provo Town Square.  It was really fun. A few bands played (including J.Wride and Vibrant Sound), and Sammy's provided free hot dogs for everyone. We had a blast and got to dance a lot.

After the concert we went to In-N-Out to grab some food, and then we went to Ricky's house, one of Jaxon's friends that we were with.  He plays the guitar and sings, so we just sat and listened to him for a while, I ended up singing with him a little bit too.  It was really fun.  He is really talented.

Once Ricky ran out of songs to sing us, at about midnight, we headed back to Jaxon's and c r a s h e d after our long day! It was fun but totally exhausting. I was so happy to get to see my family and spend some good quality time with Madison! Oh how I missed that lady!! :]

That very first weekend after I decided to go back to church (end of February--ish), I was feeling discouraged and alone. Although it was a fleeting thought, I was tempted to give up some days. One day a very wise woman (Madison), told me that I should go to the temple and just sit right inside the doors to read my scriptures.

I decided that this was a good idea, so I drove up to the temple in Reno and took some pictures before I went inside.


Here are the pictures I took:

Once inside, I felt peaceful and calm as I began to read in 2 Nephi.  In chapter 2 I got to verse 24 and was deeply touched as I read these words: "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things." I was once again reassured that my Heavenly Father knew me, and loved me. His plan is a perfect one.

"You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the 'mist of darkness.'" - Gary E. Stevenson

Going up to the temple helped me to remember what matters most, and I gained the strength that I needed to continue on the path that I had chosen, despite how hard it seemed.