Her 2nd Birthday in the Hospital

So Adrienne got the best present for her birthday 2 days early this last September: Hence: we celebrated her birthday in the hospital. I didn't have a present for her, so I whipped this beauty up: I know, you're so jealous you didn't get a slice- as you should be! I had seen pictures of similar cakes and wanted a slice so I decided this was the perfect time to try it out. I used a lot of high grade food dye and six trips to the oven later assembled the rainbow with layers of better creme- yummy yum! I love the sprinkles too- they added a fantastic crunch to each bite.

New Niece

Okay, so she's 8 months old now... but it was so great to be there for her first day in the world! On the same trip I took to Michigan to go to the temple Malia Lou Dial was born Thursday, September 9th 2010. Adrienne had been waiting anxiously for 2 weeks to get done with her pregnancy, even exercising uncomfortably to promote the birthing process, but Malia would come when she was ready. So on Wednesday night Adrienne, Bryce, Mom and I went to a Tigers game ('Papa' was kind enough to stay home with Ollie)... It was so Fun! We ate elephant ears and nachos. At the conclusion to the game there was a fantastic firework show comparable to what seemed like 10 minutes of continuous 4th of July grand finale excitement! During this time I leaned over and asked Adrienne if the baby was as excited about the fireworks as we were... she said her belly was calm. I suggested that the fireworks should be her wake-up call to come into the world, though it wasn't promising. We left the game and sat in traffic on the freeway for quite sometime, during which Adrienne said, "I don't want to get any one's hopes up, especially mine, but I am feeling pressure... though I've felt this way before without results, so don't worry." We came home and Bryce and Adrienne picked up Ollie and went to their home.
A few hours and a short nap later Mom woke me up with exciting news... Adrienne and Bryce were on their way over to drop off Ollie and pick me and her up to go to the hospital. I was a little nervous myself, never having been a part of this exciting process in person. We were timing contractions and making sure we had all our stuff ready. I never realized how intense the situation is... I always figured movies were exaggerating, but there is some truth to their portrayal of birth. I didn't know that contractions were a paralyzing kind of pain... Walking from the house to the car Adrienne had to pause and steady herself waiting for a contraction to pass. We drove over to the hospital where Adrienne got checked in and strapped into some monitors- she thought she would wait as long as possible before getting an epidural so as not to prolong the birthing process. She hunkered down and endured her contractions. Just as Adrienne requested her epidural her contractions and dilation were where they needed to be and it was too late for drugs. Labor is hard work (from what I can tell). I was in awe the whole time, but I tell you what- birth is quite gross... its kind of confusing because it is so magical waiting to meet this new person and beautiful and incredible what the body is capable of, but very gross and don't get me started on the afterbirth (so I wont go into details). Then the outcome is even more beautiful then the rest of the process:So much joy and love. This picture just kills me (in a very good way) the way it captures all the love in the world a person can have for another.Then, finally big sister Ollie got to meet her new family member.Lets Hear it for The Girls!I think Ollie will be a great big sister! Reflecting back on the event now and looking at these pictures pulls on my heartstrings for the love and joy shared between sisters. I know Ollie and Lulu will be best friends (even through the trials of growing up) because my sister is my best friend! I feel all warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about her- she is such an example to me and so supportive in my times of need. Of course we have had difficult times but we grew up ;)
Best Friends Forever:So thanks to her for sharing yet another magnificent part of her life with me! Thanks for being the mother of my beautiful nieces. I'm so glad I have this time to be a small part of her wonderful family full of wonderful people.

Sacred Covenants

Soon after returning from trek, feeling inspired, I scheduled an appointment with my bishop to discuss preparing to receive my endowment. When we met he asked me why I wanted to do this and then gave me homework and set up our next appointment. I read out of Moses about the creation and pondered it and what that had to do with the temple, and concluded that God loves us so much that he has made all the beauty in the world for us, that because he loves us so much we are created in his image and all of this life is a blessing for us to learn so we can return to him and become like him... Amazing! It is amazing to me that Heavenly Father, with all his power, has chosen to use his power for our benefit. At the next appointment we discussed what I had read after which he gave me another assignment in the scriptures as well as a recommendation to read House of Glory by S. Michael Wilcox. So I went out and got the book and read my scriptures. I thoroughly enjoyed both of my reads and forward the recommendation to read House of Glory. After one more meeting with the bishop I set up the interviews for my temple recommend and arranged to fly home to Michigan for the special occasion. I also had a wonderful time shopping with Jessica for some of necessities I would need for the temple. I am glad I got to share that with her.
I was so excited to go home and see family and make this important step in my life. My wonderful sister set up an appointment with the Detroit Temple for Wednesday, August 25, 2010. I got to Michigan late the day before and felt little anxiety about the next day. I dont really remember what I did that morning but I think it was easy going. We (me mom and dad) got to the temple around 6:15 before everyone else to get ready. Bryce and very pregnant Adrienne came a little later. It was especially nice of Jessica's mom to come as well, I was grateful for all the people who came to share this momentous occasion with me. There is something so special and comforting about the temple, a strong sense of unity, peace, and joy. It is truly beautiful being in a room in the House of the Lord, surrounded by people dressed in white who love you, love the Lord, and are worthy of his spirit (Speaking of being dressed in white, I thought it was pretty special that for this event I was able to wear a dress made by my Grandma Ellen and worn by Mom the day of her wedding). It is especially beautiful in the celestial room where family members greet you with smiles and hugs for the first time. It is such a blessing in my life to have a greater understanding and testimony that my family will always be there for me now and in eternity.
I have never made a more important or rewarding decision in my life up to now, than to be worthy of receiving my endowment and going to the temple. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have received from my Father in Heaven and for the support I feel from Him in His House.
I returned to Utah about a month later and was so excited to visit the many temple there. While the most important part about going to the temple is about the covenants it doesn't keep me from admiring the beautiful structures those covenants take place in. I LOVE temples architecturally and designedly speaking! I was so lucky to be surrounded by so many different temples with different histories and styles, so I made it a point to visit as many as I could in the surrounding areas. And luckily I had a fantastic roommate who joined me for most of those visits ;) I have visited 10 temples since that 1st time in Detroit, making it a total of 11. I have decided it would be a fantastic bucket list item to visit all of the temples in the world... which would also mean I get to do a lot of traveling ;) So, I started in Detroit. Next I went to Draper, where I was lucky enough to attend my old roommate Tenna's endowment. I also went to Salt Lake- Incredible! Timpanogos Bountiful Oquirrh Mountain Ogden Manti, which is my favorite! Logan Jordan River and Sacramento

Pioneer Trek

Soon after my birthday I went on trek with my ward and it was a really great experience! We bussed out at 4 in the morning for the long drive. Grouped in "families" we picked up our handcarts and started walking. Our family name was "Gang Green" made up by yours truly. The first day we visited Veil Crossingand Martin's Cove where many of the saints died from the cold and were buried.We returned to to buses and took a short drive to our campsite for the night where delicious dinner was waiting. Although the place was swarming with mosquitoes it was nice to kick back for the evening and enjoy getting to know new people. The next morning came too soonand we got to work pretty quickly after breakfast, rolling up sleeping bags, dismantling tents and making preparations for the long trail ahead. The day is easily summarized: We walked a LOT. Stumbling into camp my legs were jell-o. Still we had to set up our tents and start fires. After all of that business, dinner and a short nap we had the pleasure of listening to a guest speaker who told us great stories about the land we were traveling through as the sun set. I didn't know that up until a few years ago many of the saints who died in the handcart companies hadn't had their temple work done. Interesting fact. Anyway, that night after the sun set and most trekkers were in their tents I took a few minutes to lie down on a bench and marvel at the heavens above (which are fantastically bright and bountiful in the middle of nowhere Wyoming). It is incredible to me how much more there is in the universe and beyond than I can ever fathom. Beautiful. I retired to my tent and had some of the most fulfilling sleep of my life. There is something about eating and sleeping after exhausting days outside. Food is more delicious and sleep is heavenly, even on uneven, hard ground. The next morning we would set out for the roughest terrain we had seen yet: Rocky Ridge and 3 or 4 mud bogs. It was a rough day, being drained from the 2 days before trudging on. I can hardly imagine how the pioneers in the handcart companies found the strength and courage to face the conditions crossing the harsh, frozen Wyoming plain.
We had it pretty easy, it being summer and having modern foot apparel, tents and some of the tastiest food made for us. Still, having flat feet, there were times my feet were so cramped up it was a mind over matter situation in which I just kept telling myself, "just make it to that next bush in the distance... just make it to the next potty stop..." and so on. On the last day I had a particularly moving experience: I was exhausted and my feet were killing me. I wanted to give up so badly, but kept pushing on fighting the pain. As we finally reached Rocky Creek Hollow, the last campsite at the end of our 30 mile journey on foot, tears filled my eyes in relief which turned into awe and appreciation for the pioneers who sacrificed so much for what they believed. I wondered how they must have felt when they finally reached the Salt Lake Valley, knowing they had completed their journey... but then having to establish residence building shelter and finding food in a barren land. I am so grateful for the sacrifice they made, and the great blessings that have flowed down from it. All they did, and for what? For their covenants. This was very inspiring to me as I had been wanting to enter the Lord's House to make my own covenants. It also stressed the importance and weight of being true to promises made with Heavenly Father. We had dinner and concluded the evening with a testimony meeting. It always seems emotions are strong when fatigued and surrounded by nature. Some of the best, most meaningful testimony meetings I've been to are on camping trips. The night wound down as "families" shared spiritual thoughts and departed for bed or huddled around campfires singing hymns softly to a strumming guitar. Once again, I took time to admire the star filled sky before falling asleep to the sounds of crickets and a babbling brook. In the morning we cleared camp and headed home.
I am grateful I had the opportunity to attend trek and learn new things about the pioneers and myself.
Call me crazy, but after all of this, I still didn't sleep in my own bed the next night! I slept in my tent again! It was a fun night I'm glad I didn't miss. Making memories with Jessica and Amber is worth one more night away from my bed. We went up to a fireside in Rockport, roasted (err... played with) marshmallowsand spent the next day at the lake.
Oh, funny story: The Sunday after trek I went to church early for choir, ran into my trek "Pa" (the only guy in our family) and asked him if he knew anything about choir. He had a look on his face like, "I know I know you from somewhere, but I can't place it" and answered "I'm not sure, but if they're having it its in the relief society room." I thanked him and went to check. No one was there so I went back downstairs where I saw him again this time with a resolved look on his face. He then said, "We look a lot different when we're not on trek." Yeah... Its amazing what a shower, make-up, a dress and heels can do to a person.