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| What are you worried about? |
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| Let's rock! |
I hate worry. I do so much of it and waste so much mental (probably physical too) energy on it. Turns out we had a great drive. Peter was truly amazing!! He didn't cry until the last hour of our trip. The roads were nearly clear and the sky was blue (great visibility). We survived being squished, the kids remind me that we have oodles of room without a piano on board (crazy trip to Winnipeg with a piano!). In fact, Gabriella is sure that we could fit a dog if I wanted to get her one for her birthday.
Fighting children ended up being a blessing! ha
We have had a few instances where we have been delivered from potential harm, inconvenience, discomfort and danger. Twice our car has had problems that were quickly and effortlessly taken care of. Once, before we were even aware there would be a problem. Our first experience was with a very flat tire. We were in Montana, just outside of a little town (mercy). I had slowed down the car (mercy) because the kids where fighting (thankfully the Lord helps us even when we are undeserving). A flat tire at highway speed can be extremely dangerous. It was extremely cold in Montana (-20)! Mike got out of the car and immediately waved down a big truck - the driver gave him the phone number of a tire repair guy in the town. We phoned, but he had no drivers that could come and help us, so Mike proceeded to pull everything out of the car and endeavor to change the tire (something he had never done before). Immediately, a man stopped to see if we needed help. Turns out he was there for moral support as he didn't really know how to change a tire either. As they spoke another guy pulled over, parked in front of us, bumper to bumper, jumped out of his car and immediately changed our tire. He didn't say a thing to Mike - he just changed the tire and left!! We drove into the little town, had our tire repaired for $15 ( turns out our spare was a brand new full size tire, so we left it on), fed the whole family for $15 and went on our merry way. I used the word immediately several times in this story because that is the only word to describe it. It couldn't have been any easier, faster or more efficient! We could choose to see this incident several different ways. We could focus on the fact that we got a flat at the beginning of our trip, in the freezing cold - delaying our already long drive! We could see this experience as an unfortunate situation but with a stroke of good luck. The way we have chosen to view this event is as a very fortunate situation in which the Lord allowed us to witness His tender mercies in our lives. We left Montana with a greater faith that the Lord was with us and would protect and help us if we put our trust in Him. Our testimonies of His love for us was strengthened and I am so grateful to have had the experience.
The next experience was in St. George, Utah. We were just heading out to start our drive to California when we heard our roof top carrier making a funny noise. Mike was going to get on to the highway and drive but I suggested that he stop at the gas station ahead and check the carrier. As we were doing this, the attendant noticed that our back tire was low and said he would add some air. As he was checking the tires he noticed that our shocks were shot! Both front and back where in bad shape and needed replacing. He was able to do it quickly and conveniently. Again, I feel that we were blessed to be able to fix the problem with the least amount of discomfort to us.
Gabriella has celebrated yet another uneventful birthday away from home. She was very graceful about the whole thing. It is hard to believe we have a 15 yr old! Here is a cute email she sent to uncle David that gives you a taste of her personality.
"Thanks for the email and yes we have started on our trip. It has had long hours of driving and I nearly went crazy with my siblings in our beat up van that seems to sprout problems at every gas station and makes people laugh and shake their heads in disbelief. I'm just waiting for the day when the engine falls out and tires roll out from under us but Sophia still insists that she wants it when she grows up. Anyway it has been a good trip and we have had a lot of fun. Hope to see you soon, Gabriella"
Lily, Gabriella and Mike have been excited about visiting as many temples on our trip as they can. In the temples they act as a proxy for someone who has died. They are baptized for and in behalf of that person. This allows for an earthly (physical) ordinance to be performed for all of God's children. It is then the choice of the person (who has died) to accept that ordinance or not. When youth reach the age of 12, they are permitted to perform these "baptisms for the dead".
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| Bountiful, Utah |
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| San Diego Temple |
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| Salt Lake Temple |
Some of our highlights in Salt Lake were going to "moochies" for their famous meatball subs - DELICIOUS! We had a huge suite in our hotel, which we proceeded to parkerize by spreading out! Temple square was snowy but beautiful with all the Christmas lights and nativity displays. On sunday we attended a ward that seemed to be for the elderly. It was so silent you could have heard a pin drop. Peter had a captive audience as he let his raspberries rip!! I thought it was quite cute, Gabriella was mortified, Lily, Brett and Sophia were shaking with suppressed laughter, Mike was amused! The three oldest and I were able to go to the first presidency's Christmas devotional at the conference centre, which was a real treat.
We left Salt Lake after breakfast at the Blue Plate diner, where we met a guy who knows a girl that lives in our neighbourhood in Cardston - small world! On to St. George to see my lovely cousin Michelle and her family. We met for dinner at the pizza factory and laughed at the all the snow on the palm trees. Apparently it hasn't snowed in St. George for 30 years. I guess we brought the cold with us.
We absolutely love the time share we had in Ramona, CA. It is a tennis club, so we spent many days playing tennis, basketball and swimming in the pool. Sunshine beats all!! I would be a snow bird if I could! Gabriella and I celebrated her birthday in Ramona by having a giant cinnamon bun at the Ramona Cafe.
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| Cowboy Santa |
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| Good thing they have a big bed |
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| There were all these wild Turkeys there. |
We spent one day in San Diego's old town, doing the exact same things we did the last time we visited San Diego.  |
| Went for dinner at a Mexican restaurant... |
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| Then visited the Mormon Battalion. |
On to Palm Desert to the Marriott at Shadow Ridge. We spent a week here soaking up the sun, playing wii and watching movies. It's all about sloth and glut!!
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| Breakfast by the pool? Oh ya!! |
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| This was our last day in Palm Desert and we had all these leftover lucy's to eat up - buffalo chicken for breakfast?? |
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| At least David and Thao play twister...I think everyone else had already lost. |
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| Sweet revenge! David held Charlie's electric collar to his leg, while I held the control! |
