2019 in Review

2019 was pretty great! I accomplished some goals, learned some things, grew a bit, had some fun, and also found new opportunities and direction along the way. Here are a few highlights....

Family / Relationships
I loved spending time with family this year and had quite a few chances.  

• Although I missed the spontaneous family trip to Disneyland in April, I did get to spend a weekend in Carlsbad in March with Matt's family.  
• I made a weekend trip up to Washington at the end of April to see Josh and Kirsten and the Skagit Valley tulips.  
• Many of us gathered together in Utah at the beginning of May to celebrate Grandma Morgan who passed away at the end of April.  She was and is such a blessing in my life.  I learned so much from her and will always remember her happiness, kindness, and love for everyone.  I'm glad I had so many opportunities to spend meaningful time with her in the mountains and beyond.  I miss her, but am grateful for so many happy memories together.
• The same weekend in May we celebrated Mason's baptism.  
• Cari and I (and usually Mason or any of the rest of her family that was willing) spent time hiking together in all the seasons.  Josh and Kirsten stopped by for a few days too and we went to Lake Blanche mostly together (when I could keep up).  Dad is always a willing and encouraging hiking companion when he's in town.
• Matt and Josh surprised me for my birthday and came to hike the Tetons with me and Cari and Mom and Dad.  It was a really sweet weekend.  
• I made another trip to Washington in September for Noah's baptism and Harry's blessing.  It was fun to meet the newest nephew (who is darling!!!) and spend time together in Washington (it's a great place to have two brothers). ;)  
• We all got to be together in St. George and Lehi for Thanksgiving this year.  It was really nice to all be together for a few days.  

I tried to spend a little more one-on-one time with the nieces and nephews this year.  Kayla and I went to In-N-Out to celebrate her elementary school graduation!  Kai and I had fun learning quite a few spelling words together.  Mason and I enjoyed hiking together to Lake Desolation (8 miles... he's a good little hiker!).  Hailey and I have fun doing whatever Hailey's doing.  ;)  She always makes me smile.  Noah inspired me with his football knowledge and catching.  Henri and I wrote notes together at Thanksgiving and he was my best helper with the Thanksgiving puzzle.  Charlie (or Captain America, that day) and I hiked up Rattlesnake Ridge (it was kind of a highlight to see how he'd make everyone smile).  Harry is the sweetest thing--love him!  I need to spend more time with him and am grateful for Marco Polo. ;)

I enjoyed catching up with old friends and roommates who came to town, traveling or hiking or celebrating Chinese new year with other friends, and building meaningful relationships with friends in my neighborhood that I met with regularly to study the scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I've learned and grown much at work this year and am grateful for dear friends and mentors and leaders there.  I celebrated weddings and new babies with some friends and mourned with another who lost her father suddenly.  I was grateful to be able to get together with our "Loto Taha family" in December.  Relationships truly are such a blessing and purpose of life!

Traveling 

2019 was a good year for travel!  Here are some of the adventures...

• Australia / New Zealand - This year's travel highlight was Australia and New Zealand in February. It was WONDERFUL! My friend Kat and I visited Sydney where we walked across the harbor bridge and around the harbor, including the Opera House. We took a ferry to Manly and walked around the beaches there, too. We went to church at a Tongan ward and then flew to Queenstown, New Zealand (South Island). We stayed in a great little airbnb and explored the city for a couple of days. Then we spent a couple of nights in Te Auna where we did part of the Kepler Track, and the Routeburn Track, and cruised the Milford Sound. We saw lots of sheep, waterfalls, and gorgeous landscapes. Then we flew to Melbourne where we did a temple session and drove the Great Ocean Road. We stayed in Lorne near the beginning of the road for two nights. The Twelve Apostles were quite impressive. It was a fantastic trip! I'd love to spend a lot more time in New Zealand some day.
• Carlsbad, California - I spent a nice weekend in Carlsbad while Matt's family was living there in March. It was lovely! We could walk to the beach from their house. We spent time in the tide pools, seeing the La Jolla sea lions, and walking around Torrey Pines.
• Kirkland and Snoqualmie, Washington - I made it to Washington twice this year, once at the end of April to visit Josh and Kirsten and see the tulips in Skagit Valley (BEAUTIFUL! Highlight! Must see!); and once in September for Noah's baptism and Harry's baby blessing (wonderful!).
• NORTH DAKOTA - I made it to my fiftieth state, North Dakota, over Memorial Day. It was actually very nice. My friend Melanie and I flew to Bismarck, did a temple session, looked around the state capital, and then drove to Dickinson. We walked around a little bit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and then went on to visit Devil's Tower. We attended church in Casper, Wyoming before stopping along the pioneer trail sites on the drive home--Independence Rock, Martin's Cove, 6th Crossing of the Sweetwater, and Rock Creek Hollow. These were special places I was grateful to see!
• Driggs to Jenny Lake - I celebrate my fortieth birthday hiking 23 miles from Driggs to Jenny Lake with Dad, Cari, Matt, and Josh. One of my very favorite hikes and one of the most beautiful places in the world! I've now done it four times and hope to do it again sometime in my life. Mom was a patient driver and supporter. It was a really fun day (expect for the last three miles of blisters). It was nice to spend a long weekend with my parents and siblings. I'm grateful for their support and encouragement throughout life.
• St. George - I made it to St. George twice this year, for Thanksgiving (with the whole family) and for Christmas (with Mom and Dad). It's a great place to get away to when there's time.

Reading
This year I read the Book of Mormon and the New Testament. This has been my most important reading and study this year. I've loved learning about the Savior! It has changed me. I feel like I know Him better. I want to continue to learn and focus on Him. I know He lives and loves us. I've had the chance to study with family and friends throughout the year which has helped me learn and apply even more.  

In addition to this study, I read 102 books. Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order):

• A Republic, If You Can Keep It by Neil Gorsuch
• Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Freedom in America by Luke Goodrich
• Witness for His Names by Jeffrey R. Holland
• His Holy Name by Dallin H. Oaks
• The Priesthood Power of Women by Barbara Morgan Gardner
• L. Tom Perry: An Uncommon Life, Vol. 2 by Lee Tom Perry
• The Second Mountain by David Brooks
• Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin
• From Heart to Heart by Russell M. Nelson
• The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede
• This is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick
• The Divine Center by Steven R. Covey
• Listening is An Act of Love by Dave Isay
• The Mortal Messiah, Book 4 by Bruce R, McConkie
• Crossings by Melissa Inouye
• The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
• Insights from a Prophet's Life: Russell M. Nelson by Sheri Dew
• Follow Me to Zion: Stories from the Willie Handcart Pioneers by Andrew D. Olsen
• Love Your Enemies by Arthur C. Brooks
• Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
• The Prosperity Paradox by Clayton M. Christensen
• Learning in the Light of Faith by Henry B. Eyring
• Grace Works by Robert Millet
• Where We Belong by Lynn Austin
• Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin
• Blessed by Lloyd D. Newell
• Faith is Not Blind by Bruce C. Hafen
• An Early Resurrection by Adam S. Miller
• First Principles and Ordinances by Samuel Morris Brown
• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
• What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Chieko Okazaki
• A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner
• Handcarts to Zion by Leroy R. Hafen
• Silent Souls Weeping by Jane Clayson Johnson
• Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver
• Wishtree by Kathrine Applegate

Service / Learning / Other Exploring

• Temples - This year I attended three new temples - Melbourne Australia, Bismarck North Dakota, and Las Vegas Nevada. I'm grateful for the blessings of the temple in my life!
• Service - I was a hostess again at the Festival of Trees in December. I found a few causes to support for Christmas and want to be more involved in the community in 2020.
• Church - I have loved teaching Sunday School this year and learning about the Savior's life and teachings in the New Testament. One of the greatest blessings of my life this year has been a consistent Come, Follow Me study group.
• Fitness and Nature - I was a little more social with my fitness goals this year. For about six months of the year I was pretty consistent working out at my gym before work with a friend. I also found friends and family to take hiking quite a bit this year which was nice. I made it to Desolation Lake, the Snowbird Tram, Albion Basin, Lake Blanche, Willow Heights Lake, Driggs to Jenny Lake via Alaska Basin and Cascade Canyon, and lots of the Draper trails.

I'm grateful for another year. Life is great!

"For now we see through a glass darkly"

The last few months a phrase from 1 Corinthians 13:12 has taken on new meaning for me.  "For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." This verse is surrounded by faith, hope, and charity; characteristics of the Savior. 

This verse is descriptive in a way that I can relate to well.  I've never had wonderful eyesight, but with glasses since I was three and dependable contacts since I was fourteen, I've almost forgotten how blurry things can get.  The last couple of months, probably to celebrate my 40th birthday, I've been seeing more as this scripture describes.  Our eyes really are amazing things!  It's remarkable that there are glasses and contacts and eye drops and surgeries that can help so well, but there's not always a solution and sometimes we either have to trust and/or get used to the new normal.  What I love about this verse most is the reminder that ultimately our Heavenly Father is the one that can truly see things as they are and it's important to try to know Him. ;)  He can help us see clearly.  I wonder if sometimes blurred physical vision might actually be a blessing that helps us to remember to trust in and rely on Him and His goodness and miracles and purposes and really look for Him!!  Maybe we can see Him better if we aren't distracted by things of this world, as beautiful as they might be. 

As frustrating as it is to "see through a glass darkly," I think He's asking us to truly seek Him, see Him, know Him. This year, one of the things that has brought me the most joy has been studying the New Testament. My heart has changed and grown nearly three sizes, I think.  I've always loved the scriptures.  I have great memories of reading and learning with family and friends growing up.  This year I found added light and love and purpose.  I've learned to love our Savior, Jesus Christ, even more.  I feel like I know Him a little bit better.  He is kind, loving, merciful, and just.  He is real and He is present.  He is the Good Shepherd, the Light and Life and Hope of the world, the Prince of Peace, our Advocate, Savior, Deliverer, and Redeemer.

Some of my favorite stories about Him this year include His interactions with the children, the blind man on His path (and Elder Holland's timely reference to this same man in general conference in October made me cry), the widow who gave her two mites, the rich young ruler, the woman at the well, Mary and Martha, Peter, Paul, and each of the disciples.  But I think I loved most of all how He constantly teaches us about our Heavenly Father and His great love and plan and purpose and will (see John 5:17, 30).

A few other verses and phrases I've loved include the following:

• What seek ye? (John 1:38; Matthew 6:19-21, 33; 1 Nephi 10:17-19)
• Ask, God gives good gifts (Matthew 6:8; Luke 11:9-13)
• Go to a solitary place (Mark 1:35)
• Know Him (Matthew 7:22-23; Mosiah 26:22-30)
• Who hath ears to hear, let Him hear... walk by faith not sight... see as He sees (Mark 10:21)
• He is risen! Rejoice!  Come and see, go and tell (Matthew 28:5-10, Philippians 4:4)
• Be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15)
• What is eternal life? How do we obtain it? What lack I yet? (D&C 14:7; John 17:3; Luke 18:18)
• Be as children (Mark 10:13-16)
• Love the Lord, give all (Luke 21:1-4)
• What would you have me do? (Acts 9:6–8)
• A minister and a witness (Acts 22:15a and 26:16b)
• Be of good cheer, believe God! (Acts 27:25)
• If God be for us, who can be against us? Nothing separates us from love of God (Romans 8:31, 35-37)
• Put the law in your hearts (Hebrews 10:16)
• Cast not away your confidence, receive promises; see them far off (Hebrews 10:35-36; 11:13)
• Run with patience the race set before us, look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2)
• Overcome by blood of the Lamb and word of testimonies (JST Revelations 12:11)
• Do the Lord's will, fulfill mission (Rev. 10:9-10)
• He stands at the door and knocks (Revelations 3:20)
• Blessing, honour, glory, power to the Lamb for ever and ever! (Revelations 5:12-13)

A few other words and ideas I feel like I heard over and over... unity, peace, humility, revelation, courage, loyalty, abundance, gentle, dear to us, holy, walk with God, love, continue, abide.... and the reminder to see and hear and know... Matthew 11:7-11, 15 is beautiful. "And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he... He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."  Later in Matthew 13:13-16 where the Savior is teaching the Parable of the Sower, He says more about why He speaks in parables and how we need to open our eyes and ears and hearts in order to be converted and healed by Him.

I want to see, I want to hear, I want to understand, I want to know.  My prayers lately have been, "Dear Father, please help me to be able to see what I need to see."  He answers those prayers. :)

There's a Christmas song that seems to go along with this message...
“Do you see what I see… Do you hear what I hear…”

I don't see and know a lot, but what I do see and hear and understand brings me great joy and makes me want to shout... "Hark, now hear the angels sing!  A new King's born today, and we will live forever more because of Christmas day."

“We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).

“Break forth into joy, sing together…for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” (Mosiah 15:30-31).

“Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel” (Alma 26:16).

"Jesus, our only joy be thou, As thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be thou our glory now, And thru eternity."

"Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light."

Although we can't see everything now, we can have faith and rejoice in Jesus who will help us to see, and bring us goodness and light in the meantime. ;)

40!

I made it over the hill, 23 miles of hill, one of my favorite hills in fact.  I'm grateful for my family that helped me get there.  To be honest, thinking of turning 40 was hard for me.  My family was very sweet and helped plan something they knew I would love--hiking and being with them in one of my favorite places! ;)

With my very patient and kind mother as the driver and goodie bag party planner and best supporter, my dad and three siblings and I set out on Saturday, August 31 for an all-day hike from Driggs, Idaho to Jenny Lake, Wyoming.  This same group of five did this same hike together 15 years earlier.  It was fun to be together to do it again.  It was as great as I remembered, with just a few more blisters.  It's a beautiful walk up to the Teton Crest Trail and Alaska Basin, right past the Grand Teton, and then down Cascade Canyon into Teton National Park.

I'm grateful for thoughtful and generous parents, supportive siblings, and a kind brother-in-law and sisters-in-law who not only helped make this adventure happen, but are always so kind and supportive and loving along this whole adventure called life.  It's such a blessing to have such a fun, happy, willing, and good team helping to encourage and lift and cheer all along the way! ;)

50!!

I made it... to all 50 states in the United States of America!  I'm grateful for opportunities I've had to travel and explore and visit so many wonderful places and to live in such an incredible country!  Some of these places I saw when I was young and traveling with my parents back and forth across the country, but many of them I've seen in the last 15 years or so.  My last trip was on purpose to North Dakota... it's harder to pass through on your way somewhere.  ;)  And it was lovely!  Here are some of the highlights and my favorite things about each state (the states in bold are states I've lived in)...

• (AL) Alabama - I don't remember this family trip across the country from Connecticut to Colorado in 1982, but I did travel through. ;)
• (AK) Alaska - Anchorage, Alyeska, Seward, Denali... mountains and animals and flowers and fall in August.  I probably hiked at least 50 miles on 10 trails in a week.  STUNNING!
• (AZ) Arizona - Grand Canyon, Phoenix, Page.  I've made a few trips to and through Arizona over the years.  I think my most memorable adventure was hiking rim to rim of the Grand Canyon in 2009.  Beautiful!  I also loved my trip to Phoenix for a temple tour with Cari in 2017.
• (AR) Arkansas - I drove through the whole state across I-40 in one dry lightning storm of a night in 2012.  I should probably visit some sites off the interstate in the daylight. ;)
• (CA) California - I lived in Los Angeles for a summer as an almost one-year-old and have had many opportunities to go back... Yosemite, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, the Redwoods, Disneyland, Huntington Beach, San Diego, and Carlsbad to name a few.
• (CO) Colorado - I lived in Colorado Springs for five years (from three to eight years old).  It's where I went to kindergarten, where I was baptized, and where I spent a lot of time in the mountains with my family.  I still have a few pictures in my mind of our neighborhood, my school, and life in Colorado.  We had a view of Pike's Peak directly outside our living room window.  I've loved "America the Beautiful" ever since.
• (CT) Connecticut - I lived in Stamford, Connecticut for six months as a three-year old and I can still remember and have pictures in my head of driving through the fall leaves to get to friends' houses along the Merritt Parkway.  We picked the right six months to live in Connecticut. ;)
• (DC) - Okay, it's not official a state, but I lived there, two blocks from the Capitol, for three months, so it more than counts and is the cherry on top!  ;)  I really love Washington, D.C.!  Living within running distance of the monuments for a summer was magical!
• (DE) Delaware - I've mostly just traveled through Delaware on my way to or from other places
• (FL) Florida - This is a place I need to return to.  We passed through on our drive from Connecticut to Colorado in 1982.  
• (GA) Georgia - I visited Georgia as a little girl, but the trip I remember was in 2002 for my cousin's wedding.  We saw Stone Mountain, the Appalachian Trail, Atlanta, and Gainesville.
• (HI) Hawaii - This is home.  My growing up years from 8 to 18 were spent in Kailua on Oahu.  Paradise!  Grateful!  Yep, people do live there and we actually took FULL advantage of the beach and the mountains nearby.  "I'll never forget where I'm from." ;)
• (ID) Idaho - I've made quite a few trips through Idaho... to and from Rexburg, to and from the Tetons, to and from the PNW.  I could live and retire in Idaho... one of those mountain towns near Wyoming. ;)
• (IL) Illinois - We visited Chicago as a family on one of the hottest days of the year in 1999.  Then we went on to Carthage and Nauvoo.  It was a special trip.  I've been back to Chicago a few times since for work trips--walking around the city, attending the temple, eating pizza.  
• (IN) Indiana - My best memory of Indiana was staying with cousins in Indianapolis on my way to Washington, DC in 2010.
• (IA) Iowa - I love the Iowa cornfields.  That's what I remember about Iowa... driving for a long time... seeing the cornfields... and looking for the baseball field.  ;)
• (KS) Kansas - I remember driving across Kansas a few times, grateful the storms weren't coming our way.
• (KY) Kentucky - This is one I only saw as a kid.  I drove through with my parents in 1981.
• (LA) Louisiana - We drove through on our way from Connecticut to Colorado in 1982.
• (ME) Maine - York Beach, Maine.  We finished up a fun family trip to New York City and Boston at York Beach, Maine in 2005.
• (MD) Maryland - Kensington, Maryland was a weekly visit while I lived in D.C.  I loved being in the temple there.  One of my most memorable visits to Maryland though was visiting Fort McHenry in 1992.  I loved seeing the place where "The Star Spangled Banner" was written.
• (MA) Massachusetts - I really love Boston!  We visited when I was little and as a whole family in 2005.  I went back in 2009 and 2011 with friends.  I love the history, the Freedom Trail, Boston Common, the Charles River, Harvard, the Old North Church, Lexington and Concord.  I took the T and walked in the pouring rain to the temple in 2009.  It was a great adventure!
• (MI) Michigan - We drove through here on our way from Washington to Connecticut in 1982.
• (MN) Minnesota - We drove through here on our way from Washington to Connecticut in 1982.  This is on my list to return to and explore more.
• (MS) Mississippi - This was also along our drive from Connecticut to Colorado in 1982.
• (MO) Missouri - I've visited Missouri twice.  Our family visited Liberty Jail, Adam-ondi-Ahman, and Independence in 1999.  It was memorable and wonderful!  I went back again with my parents in 2012, driving from Kansas City to St. Louis.  We visited both temples, saw Truman's library, Independence, Jefferson City, the Missouri River, Columbia, and the Gateway Arch. 
• (MT) Montana - I love Montana!  Glacier National Park is one of my favorites!  We spent several days hiking around as a family in 2002.  We saw bears, drove the "Going to the Sun" road (after a great ranger talk on how it was built), and continued on to Banff and Jasper, Canada.  Beautiful!
• (NE) Nebraska - I've driven through Nebraska a number of times, but none more memorable than the drive to Lincoln in August 2010 in pouring rain.  I was grateful for the hotel hot tub that night to relax after some white knuckle driving.  I've also spent a little bit of time in Omaha and Winter Quarters.
• (NV) Nevada - I've driven through and stayed a time or two.  Family trips to and through Las Vegas in 1994 and 2015 are probably highlights, and a friend's broken down car in Primm on the way home from Disneyland is another memory.  
• (NH) New Hampshire - We stayed in Franconia, New Hampshire for a night in 2005 and hiked in the White Mountains.  It was really beautiful and steep.  Those mountains seemed rockier than the ones I'm used to out West. ;)
• (NJ) New Jersey - I've mostly just driven through New Jersey to or from New York.
• (NM) New Mexico - We visited four corners while living in Colorado and I've driven through New Mexico a few times since.  I remember driving through Albuquerque on my way back from Washington, D.C. to Utah in 2012.
• (NY) New York - I really like New York!  I love the countryside and the city... Buffalo, Palmyra, New York City, Manhattan, Central Park, the Upper West Side, the Brooklyn Bridge.  Our family trip in 2005 to the city and Palmyra were great!  I made trips back to the city in 2011, 2017, and 2018.  I visited Palmyra for the Palmyra Pageant in 2011.  I visited Buffalo and Niagara Falls in 2012.  
• (NC) North Carolina - North Carolina is a big state.  I drove across the whole state in a day in February 2012 when moving to Utah from Washington, D.C., but not before spending a wonderful Presidents' Day weekend in the Outer Banks.  Beautiful!
• (ND) North Dakota - State #50 was a fun adventure.  I flew to Bismarck with a friend, visited the temple and the state capitol building before driving on to Dickinson and then visiting part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  This is really a beautiful state and I've heard the sunflowers are incredible a little later in the year. ;)
• (OH) Ohio - I'd driven across Ohio a couple of times, but I flew to Cleveland in August 2012 to meet my parents who were traveling slowly across the country.  While my dad rode his bike, I spent the day in Kirtland with my mom.  It was wonderful!  We also saw Lake Erie and continued on to Buffalo and Niagara Falls.  This was a neat trip!
• (OK) Oklahoma - I drove across Oklahoma and I-40 in February 2012.
• (OR) Oregon - I really love Oregon.  Oregon is probably the state I've visited the most without ever living in.  It feels like another home, party because both of my brother's married girls from Oregon, so I've attended two weddings in the Portland Temple and had fun side trips each time.  We visited Bend, Eugene, Aloha.  I spent a week traveling along the whole Oregon Coast in 2008 which was beautiful!  I traveled back to Portland for work for a week in March 2011.  I love the bookstore, the rose garden, and the greenery. ;)
• (PA) Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania is really a historic and beautiful!  I've visited several times.  We visited Gettysburg as a family when I was little and again in 1992.  I returned to Gettysburg in 2009 and also visited Philadelphia.  We visited the Susquehanna River in 2005.  This is one of the most special places I've ever visited.  We spent a lot of time there (not only because we lost the car keys for a bit, but because it was so peaceful).  I spent a week in a small resort just outside of Uniontown in 2011 for work.  We visited one of Frank Lloyd Wright's homes there.  I returned to Philadelphia and the Susquehanna River and Priesthood Restoration Site in 2016 with some friends which was wonderful.  Philadelphia is full of wonderful history.  I loved visiting Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Reading Terminal, and the Schuylkill River.
• (RI) Rhode Island - We drove through Rhode Island in 2005 as a family.
• (SC) South Carolina - This was another home for three months as a child.  We lived in Lancaster.  I don't remember much, but my parents enjoyed the experience.
• (SD) South Dakota - We drove through here on our way from Washington to Connecticut in 1982.
• (TN) Tennessee - Tennessee is a long state.  I drove all the way across it one night in February 2012.
• (TX) Texas - Texas is a big state.  I think I made some other trips and probably need to make more, but my most recent and memorable trip was finally stopping in Amarillo to sleep after driving all the way from North Carolina while moving across the country. ;)
• (UT) Utah - I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I lived my first two years in Provo while my dad was in graduate school and then six more years in Provo for my own college years.  I've now lived and worked in Salt Lake City for another twelve years, so that's a total of 20 years (or half my life) in Utah, through a variety of times and experiences.  I really do love Utah, the mountains, the people, the seasons, the school opportunities, the work opportunities, and it's where family is generally, so it's got my heart. ;)
• (VT) Vermont - We visited Sharon, Vermont (the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith) as a family in 2005.  This was a beautiful and peaceful place!
• (VA) Virginia - I lived in Crystal City, Virginia for 18 months.  This is a special place.  I was still in running distance to the Washington, D.C. monuments.  Virginia and D.C. is where I learned to love to run.  I spent a lot of time on the metro and walking around the Crystal City area, along the Mount Vernon Trail, and even over to the Pentagon.
• (WA) Washington - I really love Washington!  I lived in Everett for a few months as a two-year-old, but learned to say Mukilteo. ;)  I've been back to visit many, many times and am grateful for family that lives just outside of Seattle and gets me back there often.  It's beautiful!  Some of my favorites include Olympic National Park, the San Juan Islands, Skagit Valley, Mount Rainier, the North Cascades, Pike's Market, Kerry Park, and Snoqualmie Falls.
• (WV) West Virginia - We visited Harper's Ferry in 1992.
• (WI) Wisconsin - We drove through Wisconsin on our way from Washington to Connecticut in 1982.
• (WY) Wyoming - I really love Wyoming--the Tetons, the Wind Rivers, Farson, Devil's Tower, Martin's Cove, the 6th Crossing of the Sweetwater, Rock Creek Hollow, Star Valley.  It's kind of amazing!

Explore. Dream. Discover.  There's more to see and explore, but I'm grateful for opportunities that have allowed me to see and enjoy so much of our wonderful country and look forward to seeing and learning more!

(Some day I'll have to go back and pick a favorite picture from every state, but for now here are a few I have handy on my phone from a few recent travels.)

Looking Forward to 2019

This year I need some goals.  I need to progress.  I need to accomplish something.  :)

I realize that anything I accomplish will be tied to my desires, so I've spent some time thinking about what I really want and need in my life (What seek ye? - see John 1:38 and Ether 12:41) and hope to connect my goals to these things, so that I'm able to accomplish the most meaningful good and improvement.

Desires:
* To know and love the Savior, Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father better, and have the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit.
* To learn and do His will, to build the kingdom of God, to help gather Israel, to fulfill my mission, to keep my covenants, to be ready, worthy, waiting, watching for the Savior’s return, the celestial kingdom, and eternal life, I want to be there--don't want to miss it!  This probably involves having a broken heart, a contrite spirit, and being humble enough every day to follow Him!
* To find an eternal companion, and build a happy marriage and family; find companionship, real friends, and build meaningful relationships; while always working to strengthen family relationships!
* To find truth, understanding, wisdom, peace, contentment, simplicity, clarity, direction, order, focus, purpose, meaning, happiness, joy.
* To find opportunities to learn, grow, progress, develop skills and talents, serve, help others, be useful and fruitful!
* To improve, repent, get ride of pride, be more selfless, more faithful, more thoughtful, more generous

Goals:
* Consistent faith-filled prayer.  Being more grateful, humble, full of love, and concern for others.
* Consistent meaningful study.  There is much I want to know and understand.  I want to work on gathering together in one the truth I learn.  I hope to find a consistent way to record what I learn, including a revelation/prayer journal, helping me to act on the things I learn and recognize progress in living the gospel better.  I'd like to continue my study of the standard works and the names, words, mission, and characteristics of Christ (including a focus on the Topical Guide and "The Living Christ").  I look forward to studying the New Testament and all of the Come, Follow Me resources for Sunday School this year.  I also plan to read the Book of Mormon at least twice focusing on a specific topic each time.  I'd like to read and study some selected BYU devotionals and continue to add to my favorite talks list, as I have time and hear good ones.  I also hope to find ways to have meaningful gospel discussions with family, friends, and others.

* Consistent meaningful service.  This year I want to find somewhere I can spend regular time helping others, besides the other things I hope to help my friends and family with, as needs arise.
* Consistent temple worship.  I feel like this hardly needs to be a goal--I love the temple and it's a great blessing to be there each week.  I hope to continue this habit and include more of my own family history work in the process.

* Learn, grow.  I hope to learn more this year, by reading and experiencing the world.  I plan to simplify my book reports a bit, but continue to read as much and to write.  I also plan to travel some and learn more about the world around me.  I had a pretty loose goal last year to work on improving my piano skills.  I'd like to be more focused on that and/or possibly Spanish this year.  There may be other gifts, talents, skills I can cultivate and I really want this to be a focus this year of using my time to learn and grow in the best ways and hopefully find joy in the process.  (I was inspired by President Eyring's art exhibit at the Church History Museum the last few months and how he used his "extra" to learn, create beauty, and find joy... I can limit social media and other distractions and do that too, in my own artist ways.)  I also plan to be a diligent journal keeper this year.  It's been a long time since I've been diligent in that regard and want to change.  And in all of these things that I learn, I hope to involve other people. ;)  Learning and growing in relationships is a key.  ;)

* Healthy lifestyle.  I hope, plan, intend to be more healthy this year--eating better, exercising more consistently, etc.  I may sign up for one race this year, I will definitely do a lot of hiking, but mostly I just want to work on being healthy--more water, less sugar and hopefully less weight.  ;)

* Side projects.  I don't know if saying these things out loud/writing them down officially will help them happen (making me more accountable) or jinx me, but I'd like to maybe create a blog or instagram page that's focused on sharing a reason for my hope (about the Savior and his gospel) each day (or so).  I'd also like to gather enough of my studying thoughts into one about some gospel principle that could become a poem and/or hymn.  And several have mentioned they'd like to see some of my instagram photos turned into a book.  Maybe I'll try to get serious about that in someway.  We'll see. ;)

Things I'm Looking Forward To:

I realize that in the past some of my "goals" were really just "things I'm looking forward to."  They're important and make life fun and you do have to plan to make them happen, so here's that list:
* Australia / New Zealand in February
* California in March
* Washington in April and September
* North Dakota + a few other highlights along the way in May/June
* St. George a few times
* Lots of hiking, to include a special all-day favorite in Idaho or Washington ("over the hill party")
* More temples
* Maybe someplace exciting for Christmas?