Latter-day Saint temples usher in the Christmas holiday season

A beautiful way to usher in the holidays is to enjoy the Salt Lake temple Christmas lights and visitors center; equal to the beauty of the Washington DC temple and all of the fond memories based on incredible experiences we as a family have enjoyed throughout the years here at our beloved temple! Latter-day Saint temples world wide celebrate in the birth of our savior Jesus Christ and provide exquisite, visual confirmation of that fact through beautiful Christmas light displays for all members and non members alike to enjoy!

I am so very grateful for the extraordinary blessings we have enjoyed; truly humbled by sacred miracles that have changed my life, and others, forever. I am so blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and bare witness that our Heavenly Father loves all of His children on this earth. Also, Jesus is the Christ, our savior and redeemer and leads his church this day. Countless lives are blessed throughout the world due to member’s testimonies and commitment to gospel principles along with countless loving acts of service which all saints (followers of Christ) provide society. Please read my testimony and others from nearly every continent on the face of the earth on www.mormon.org (click on people).

Desert landscapes & the mountain west - that's living!

We enjoyed a delightful combined personal / business trip to Phoenix and Salt Lake City! Arizona cactus is the most bizarre, somewhat disturbing yet irritatingly interesting plant species ever - grin. Sunshine INCREDIBLE sunshine, fantastic people and ya can't forget all of those palm trees!

Our last night there dining in a fabulous Scottsdale restaurant with a table of friends; ground level, large windows open allowing a slight desert breeze to embrace us along with the fresh scent tied to a surprise thunder storm permeated the room. Talking, laughing, relaxing and thoroughly enjoying the moment - pure heaven ... we WILL return still again!

Utah's rugged Wasatch Mountain Range always warmly welcomes me home. Having grown up at the foot of Mount Timpanogos with its 11,000 feet of shear granite cliffs is impressive to say the least. In my youth I hiked to the top of Timp enjoying Emerald Lake, a beautiful lake created by glacier water, along with hiking up 'G' mountain and enjoying the local canyons - delightful memories.

I received another warm welcome at the airport from our adult children now residing in Utah wearing zany, fake mustaches including one for me and boy did I rock that Hulk Hogan knock off hahaha! (Our family is always doing crazy fun things). Time with our kids was blissful, time spent with mom, extended family and friends was also delightful; great fun at a family party, wonderful conversations as well as hanging out at former haunts raking in the memories of first meeting my husband when we were in high school together and now a gazillion years later here we are still together, happy, in love, devoted to one another enjoying a life that provides us opportunities like these for travel and adventure. Thanks Jon - you rock!

Here is just a snippet of photo's I snapped ... hey fam enjoy the memories! xoxo to all

Welcome new friends one and all

A warm welcome to our new friends Ivonne & Franco in the Netherlands! As you read my blog you will most certainly learn more about life within the framework of an American family. It was such a pleasure getting to know you while we were all in Phoenix; I look forward to our continued friendship and correspondence and learning more about your life and family. I hope you enjoyed your first visit to America!