Two President Monson Quotes

From last conference's Sunday Morning Session:

"My brothers and sisters, temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service."

"Each of our temples is an expression of our testimony that life beyond the grave is as real and as certain as is our life here on earth. I so testify."

So powerful to read and ponder.

Miss You

Love you and miss you on your birthday

10 Years--a Different View

As most people today, I am reflecting on the events of September 11, 2001. I remember details of that day, but not too much about the days following.  Just a few short weeks after 9/11, the country's tragedy was completely eclipsed by my own personal tragedy. My mom had been living with multiple myloma for 8 years and finally succumbed to that disease on October 3, 2001. My life would never be the same, not just because of the horrific events of September 11, but because my mom was gone.  I am still moved to tears by the thoughts and images of 9/11. My travels have been affected because of the choices of others. Our country is at war because of that day. I don't diminish the pain and suffering of those who were directly affected from the attacks, but my own suffering was, and still is, for a different loss. I honor those whose lives were taken and given that fateful day and those who heroically served in so many ways.

And I honor the life and memory of my mother
Karen Kay Wright Henrichsen

January 3, 1943 - October 3, 2001

Visit to Oregon

This is a much belated post about our quick visit to the Oregon coast. My dad and his wife have recently returned from their mission in South Africa. I was looking forward to them coming to Utah to visit, but when their plans changed and it was going to be a while longer before we could see them, I was really sad. I had an overwhelming feeling that I just needed to see my dad. So I figured out a few days that we could go visit them. It wasn't ideal, too short of a trip for that (they live 3 hours from the Portland airport--lots of driving as well as flying), on top of the fact that we would be coming home the night before school started. I was just hoping there weren't any problems with our flight. But it all turned out wonderful! It was great to see them, hear stories from their experiences in the mission, see some of the cool African stuff they brought back, and just be around them again. Since school was about to start I asked Dad to give us blessings and that was a great experience as well.

So our trip was short and sweet and I'm so glad we went. Here are some of our pictures (okay, lots of our pictures)

We stopped at Burgerville between the airport and Waldport. The sandwiches were pretty good, but the shakes were not-to-be missed! We started off with one marionberry and then went back for a raspberry and strawberry one too!

We went to the bike shop to pick up Georgia's bike--Maren found one she wanted to buy

Carson really wanted to eat at ORIGINAL Mo's...so we did. Yum!

Yaquina Bay Bridge

Carson's thoughtful pose

Cute kids with their grandparents

We took a morning walk to the beach--it was a beautiful day!

These are Carson's footprints--I don't know how he made them look 3-D, but it's pretty cool!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Yaquina Head

Carson snuck a picture of my dad & me while we weren't looking, he's so sneaky...

The only picture of all five of us that weekend

We'd gone to look at the tidepools, but misjudged the time a bit, so the tide was coming in pretty fast while we were there. Even though we didn't get to see too much of the tidepools, it was still a nice place to visit (though I could have done without the flies)

My dad and me

Dad & Georgia

Yaquina Head--there are seals on the rock in the foreground

Gotta eat at Izzy's!

Devil's Churn

Having some fun on the way down to Devil's Churn

It was so cool to sit and watch the waves crash over the rocks

To cap off our day of fun, we went back to Patterson Beach and built a fire to roast marshmallows

Getting the marshmallows ready for roasting

Sunset over Patterson Beach

Heading back to the parking lot

Sunset view from the parking lot above Patterson Beach

It was a great weekend with family!

Put it on Your Calendar

December 18, 2011 is going to be a great day at my house. At 1:00 Aubrey will be speaking in church as a returning missionary and then later that day we will be having Carson's Eagle Court of Honor. All are welcome to both activities--hope to see you there!