Hill Family Reunion 2011

I have been remiss in posting about this only because I took no pictures. Not a single one :( We went to Island Park over Labor Day weekend. It was so wonderful! I am one of those oober lucky people that has amazing in-laws, and Burke's parents and all of his siblings/ in-laws, and his niece and nephews were there. We also were excited to meet Brooke who will be joining the family officially right after Christmas! Since I have no pictures here are a few highlights that I enjoyed (in no particular order):

• Family Picture Bingo
• Games and Play-dough with the kiddies
• Walking to church in the mountains
  
• The Cat-Eye Night Hike
• Pedicures
• Canoeing Warm River
• The Brother's Bike Ride
• Reading Burke's journal that his parents kept for him when he was small.
• looking at scrapbooks and old funny family photos
• laughing until my sides hurt
  
• All of Grandma's Yummy treats and food :)

We also were lucky enough to sneak in a quick visit with my parents and Ron and Brittany Lyn on Monday evening. Then, Tuesday we went to Grandma and Grandpa Hill's to see the chocolate factory and we tried a few new flavors (Huckleberry Creme anyone?) and had a nice visit there. Afterwards, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Ferguson's and enjoyed fresh tomato sandwiches on Grandma's famous toast before we hit the road for home. It had been far too long since we had enjoyed a visit with them, so I was thankful we had the chance to go and see them. I wish we had found time to see my Grandma Youd before we left, but hopefully I will get to see her & Grandpa over the upcoming holidays. As always, it was too quick, but we are all counting down the days when we will get together for fun times again!!

Temple Square

On our way to Idaho for Labor Day weekend, we stopped at Temple Square to see the model of the Salt Lake Temple. It was so beautiful and wonderful to talk with our little children about our testimonies of the temple and see so many details of the building both inside and out. I have not been to the Salt Lake temple for an endowment session since right after we were married, I was surprised how many of the details I actually remembered about the ordinance rooms.

We went at about 10:00 in the morning on a Friday so there weren't tons of people around, but enough that I couldn't get a clear shot of the inside of the model-- there is a picture of it inside the September 2011 Friend. Anyway, it was so beautiful and hearing my children's ideas and opinions about the temple was so sweet.
I can't wait to be inside this building with these little sweeties someday. How I hope they know how important it is to me.

They were also very impressed with the conference center-- it was fun just to tell them about how the prophet and apostles would be speaking here in just a few more weeks. They thought that was amazing :)

I really love the temple. I wish right now more than ever I lived nearer to a temple. I find myself aching for more opportunities to attend. I am so sad to live so far away (and that I didn't treasure it enough when I lived right by it.) Realizing of course that when I say "so far away" it is still relatively easy for me to get to the temple and many people in the world would consider a day trip to the temple an easy distance-- but working out the child care seems to be the big hitch-- it is just a really big day to leave my kids with a friend or to pay a sitter (though I have done those things). But in the end those are excuses, and I need to make more regular attendance to the temple a priority. How else will I teach my children how important it really is to me? I am looking forward to getting my recommend renewed as it will expire soon. I love to assess where I am and report my worthiness before the Lord and find my spirit renewed with determination to make time for the blessings of temple.