Tuachan Trip #2

The radio was advertising discount tickets to go and see Grease at the Tuachan. Of course we couldn't pass it up, so on Tuesday we packed up to go to Tuachan again in a weeks time. We were both so excited. I have always loved the movie and seeing it in life was so much fun! We even had 2nd row seats (amazing for only $10 each)! It was all I could do not to sing along to all the songs. They had a few malfunctions with the old cars that they drove on the stage, but over all it was great! My favorite scene was "Beauty School Dropout" - they did such a great job with costumes, dancing, singing, and acting. It was perfect! Every actor fit his/her role perfectly and it was fun pointing out those who were also in the Little Mermaid. After the play I was able to have all the cast -minus one- sign my program! Definitely another wonderful night at Tuachan!

 

The Little Mermaid

For my birthday Brent bought me tickets to see Disney's The Little Mermaid at the Tuachan. Ever since I was a little girl I have LOVED the Little Mermaid so this was such a fun thing to do. I definitely felt like a kid again waiting anxiously for the day to come. When the day finally came I was so excited I could hardly wait to go. Brent took me out to eat at Iggy's Grill. Their bread is to die for but I hate their service. We got to the play and I was shocked to see we had amazing seats (considering the show has been sold out almost every night) and that we were on the 8th row and dead center. Brent even bought me a great collectors program with lots of pictures from the play.

The play started by actually flooding the stage with water. It was so neat to see all of the special effects they did. They had a wall of water come down that they did light effects on it to make it seem like you were actually under the water. They also did a lot with black lights, wires & pulleys, and with costumes. Ursula's costume was the best. Her tentacles looked like the rolled across the stage with her! And her eels Flotsam and Jetsam had light on their costumes to make them electric eels. Every "fish" had on skates to seem more like they were swimming. My favorite scenes were the music number of "Under the sea", the fight between Sebastian and Chef Louis, and the dance numbers with the eels and Ursula.

I loved every minute of the play and spending the evening with Brent! I loved it so much I seriously was ready to watch it again! I bet Brent loved seeing me so giddy just as much if not more than the play itself. Thank you so much Brent for the wonderful evening and a great birthday! I love you!

Birthday

This year for Megan's birthday I kept it simple, but fun.  I got her a couple of CD's that she has been wanting.  I also got her The Hunger Games trilogy.  We have been reading it through a cousin's Nook account.  Thanks, Joey!!

We went to the bowling alley and played a couple of games.  We aren't very good, but we had a lot of fun playing and just spending some quality time together.

Megan's favorite Disney movie of all-time is The Little Mermaid.  It happens to be playing at the Tuacahn Amphitheater in Ivins, Utah.  I got eighth row seats for August 22nd.  I hope she will enjoy it

It has been a wonderful time together, Megan.  I count myself very lucky to be the man in your life.  I love you so much!  I hope we have many more wonderful years ahead.  :)

A nephew!

We just learned yesterday that we will be having a new nephew this coming December. Congrats Mark, Em, & Scott!

a week with family: like falling down a rabbit hole by: joey!

After the DeLeeuw family reunion, I was able to go to Cedar City with Cameron to visit Megan (a cousin who I never got to know). She was such an interesting character. She was full of excitement. She showed me so many cool things there. It was so much fun because we hit it off once we got to know each other as cousins...haha. While we were there she took us to the Renaissance Fair almost everyday. She acted like a mother towards me, payed for me when I lost my $20, and made us dinner =). Our schedules were pretty much mapped out. Every morning I'd wake up and have breakfast with Cam. Pass the time playing video games and watching movies until Megan got home from work. Then we would go to the store or the Fair then go home and make dinner. Afterwards we would watch a movie or play..again. Don't get me wrong it was fun. But my favorite moments weren't when we were at the fair, or when I was watching a million movies that I'd never seen that were apparently classics, or when we were up at 2 in the morning laughing our heads off while Brent slept. Instead they were when I was getting to know Brent and Megan. My favorite moments were when I had heart felt conversations with my new friend, one whom I would end up calling mom and speak to almost everyday. I enjoyed getting to know my wonderful, strong, bold cousin. She helped to open my eyes about just how important the church is. How important family is. Megan you will be a great mother when the time comes. Your excitement about the church just made me want to be more like you. So in a way my adventure to Cedar City can be seen as an adventure down to wonderland. Megan is like the Mad Hatter in this tale. Brilliant and likable. Going into Wonderland, Alice was indecisive and couldn't see the world for what it was. I was similar to Alice in that i didn't know much about who I wanted to be. Leaving Cedar City made me feel like I knew who I wanted to be. Thank you Megan for....everything.

(My sweet cousin Joey wrote the above. Seriously the sweetest thing anyone has ever said about me!! Thank you Joey! It was so fun having him and Cameron out for a week. Don't you just love the picture of them in jars!! Thank you Joey for coming down and for everything you did...especially for that extremely yummy dinner you made us. It was so nice to get to know you more. You are such a special person and we love you.)

Four weekends and a Wedding

Life has been pretty busy lately....

Weekend #1: Brent & I celebrated our 5 year anniversary of being sealed in the temple for eternity. I really can't believe it has been that long ago! We were able to go up to Sanpete that weekend to do a session in the Manti Temple to celebrate and also so that I could make it to Jenessa's bridal shower. I love the Manti Temple. It always has such a wonderful and special feeling that is different from all other temples. It was wonderful to see Nessa again and to spend more time with Jason. I'm so glad she loved the sign I made them.

Weekend #2: We were able to go up to Sanpete again but this time it was to see the Mormon Miracle Pageant. We were able to meet up with my cousins Amanda (who is currently living in Hawaii), her fun in-laws, and my other cousins Laura, and Arianne. It was so wonderful to see the pageant again..especially since I grew up being in it pretty much every year. I was still able to quote most of it! We were also able to do another session in the Manti Temple. It really is the hardest thing to put into words how strong the spirit is there.

Weekend #3: Again up to Sanpete. This time to be with Jenessa as she went through the temple for the first time. I loved every minute I was able to share with her on that beautiful and wonderful day. The spirit was so incredibly strong and I know her mom was there with her. Seeing Jenessa in the Celestial room really brought back so many memories of when I went through to receive my own Endowments. I am so truly grateful for the gospel in my life and for the precious experiences I have been able to have because of it. We were then able to go to Brent's parents house to help them put a sprinkler system in their yard. It was hard work but it was great to be able to spend time with them and being able to work hard to accomplish our goals. We were also able to visit with Brent's mom since she had her surgery. We wish you a speedy recovery mom. We love you.

Weekend #4: Back up to Sanpete for my DeLeeuw Family Reunion. It was so great to go camping and to see so much family...most of whom I haven't seen in years. It was so fun!! I have such a goofy and loving family! Also this weekend Jenessa and Jason were married and we were blessed to be able to be there. It was so neat to listen to the sealer marry them and to hear and know that the spirit was directing him to things he needed to say. We were able to spend the day with them through the pictures, lunch, and reception. It was so wonderful to see Nessa so happy and seeing how much Jason really loves her. Nessa, I love you and I am so grateful that you found your prince. You are the most special person I have ever met and you are the best friend anyone could ask for. I am so lucky that I have been able to know you and have you for a friend for 18 years...and I look forward to many many more. Thank you Jason for treating her the way she deserves and making her happy. And thank you so much for letting us be a part of this special day! We wish you the most happiness in your life together!!

A lot happened during these 4 weeks. It was amazing being able to go to the temple each week and to feel the spirit so strongly. It has made me more positive about things going on in my life and the trials I am facing, and I am trying to remember those feelings I felt and incorporate them in every day. I love my family and I am so grateful for this chance we had to spend so much time with them. And I am especially thankful for the wonderful blessing of sharing this time with Jenessa and Jason. What a wonderful life we have because of our family, friends, and the gospel!

I'm proud to be an American

In the distance I see her

Ronald Crites

In the distance I see her, as she stands and waves,
As I sit and watch her, at the dawn of day.
As the sun arises, from our eastern shores,
I see Old Glory, she is battered and worn.
Her colors are faded, and her edges are frayed,
A symbol of our Nation, in its current stage.
I shed a tear, for my dear old friend,
As I remember what she's seen, and the places she's been.

She was there in the beginning, as she led in the fight,
As brave men and women fought, to defend what was right.
Washington, Sherman, and for Lincoln she flew,
Over blood soaked grounds, as our freedoms grew.
She made the journey, unto foreign lands,
Through both World Wars, Korea and Nam.
Against oppression, tyranny, and terror by night,
She stood for freedom, as a beacon of light.

But now she's here, in our present age,
As I look at her there, all tattered and frayed.
I can't understand it, where we are,
From where we've been, it seems so far.
She's been spit upon, trampled, burned and torn,
Dishonored, discarded, right here at home.
A House of cards, is where our liberties lie,
While a nation stands silent, as our freedoms slip by.
Where integrity, honesty and values are lost,
Where marriage is forsaken, the unborn pay the cost.

The word of God is silent, on Congress hill,
Even from our schools, it is silent still.
The Lord of heaven, of earth, and of man,
Says "return to Me, and I'll heal your land."
We must go to Him, on bended knee,
Give all unto Him, and He'll give unto thee.

As I watch my dear friend, as she starts to fly,
I hear her plea, I hear her cry.
As she sends out a call, across the land,
"To do what's right, make a stand!"
"Liberty, Justice and Freedom" she sounds,
"Do not compromise, or cross the bounds."
"We must stand together, though some may fall,
For freedom we'll lose, if we don't stand at all."
"To laugh, to play, to worship and live,
How much is freedom worth, how much will you give?"
"Like those before us, in wars fought and won,
Our fathers, brothers, daughters and sons."
"Who fought for freedom, they gave it all,
That our country may stand, and never, fall."

As the sun descends, beyond the western view,
And taps is played, in a lonesome tune.
Old Glory is lowered, in the last bit of light,
For on this day, was her last flight.
She gave all she could, she gave all her might,
She fought to the last, she fought the good fight.
For in the breaking, of tomorrows new dawn,
New hope shall arise, as Glory lives on.
She shall arise again, bright shining and new,
As she continues the call, to me, and to you.
From sea to sea, and mountains of white,
Our land, our home, we must defend and fight.

How much will you give, as Gods own Son,
To bring us back to Him, so we can live on.
Will you join with us, hand in hand,
In prayer and fasting, to heal our land?
Though our country's not perfect, this much is sure,
But it's still our county, and it's worth fighting for.

I truly love this Country, and I am so grateful to all those who have fought and gave their lives defending it. I would not be the same person I am without this pride and love I feel for this beautiful land. I know God gave us these freedoms and this nation so we would have the ability to receive his gospel. I am so grateful for all those who face trials to give us a better tomorrow and for those who stood up for what they knew to be right and all those who continue to stand. I thank you with my whole heart! I am proud to be an American and to be a part of this great nation, and to have the opportunity to do my part to help make it better. I know it isn't a perfect country, but I also know it has the potential to become so if people were honest, humble, and full of love and compassion for others. I hope we all have the courage to stand up and help make it a better place for tomorrow!

If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace. ~Hamilton Fish