Happy Birthday Melinda and Deah

Melinda and Deah both celebrate their birthdays in August so we decided to have a Salt Lake adventure to celebrate.
We went to the Salt Lake Cemetery and found some of the Prophet's and Church Leader's grave sites.
The Smith family plot includes Joseph F. and Joseph Fielding Smith.

We ate dinner at the Blue Plate Diner. It is a fun retro 40's diner and it is great fun! What great friends I have!

Examples that Teach Me

It is the week before school begins and I have had some time to enjoy spending time with my mom and to see a few good movies. Lately I have really enjoyed biographies.
I checked out a BBC movie about Florence Nightingale. Here was a woman during the Victorian Era that felt she had a calling from God to be a nurse. She, with the help of many others, changed the way we look at and handle modern medicine. Known as the "Lady with the Lamp" she held over 2,000 soldiers hands as they lay dying in times of war.
Her life did not turn out the way many people believed it would but it seems to me that she truly did the will of God and because of her heroic actions we have all been blessed.

I also went to see the movie Julie and Julia. This movie gives at least a portion of Julia Child's biography. Here was a woman who married later in life and then was unable to have children. Although I am sure she desired to be a mother the opportunity did not present itself and she struggled to find ways to be fulfilled.

Little did she know that her struggles would go on to not only change her life but that it would also change to world of cooking.

When it all comes down to it I realize that most of us will not change the world as Florence Nightingale and Julia Child did but each of us in our own way can learn from them that we have a purpose in this life. We may not fully understand our life missions but if we continue to pursue them they will make a difference. You never know what a difference it will make. You may never know. Don't allow this lack of knowledge to get you caught in a rut of the day to day. Live in the present.

Star Trek and JJ Abrams

Last night I went to see the New Star Trek movie directed and produced by JJ Abrams. The closest I have ever come to a Star Trek fan is watching "Trekkies". I was not familiar with the story line or anything but I will be honest this was a really good movie.
I am realizing more and more that I like the works of JJ Abrams including the TV Series Lost. They did a great job in this movie matching the characters to the 1966 TV series in a way that was not goofy.

If you have not seen it spend a $1.50 and go. It is worth it.

Gillespie Family Reunion

Uncle Brian and Aunt Trea hosted the Gillespie Reunion in their great backyard. Alaria, Kaitlyn and Qunicey were having fun.
Marcus wanted to try fishing with his dad.

Jethro, Kelly, Saige, Lincoln, Matt, Kris and Michelle.

Cheree, Heather, Stephanie and Trea.

Kylie and me.

Susan, Laura, Mom, Trea and Naoma.

Quincey, Stephanie, Alaria, Malia and Kaitlyn in the boat.

Andy caught a fish!

Brian, Jeff and Dad.

Uncle Brian and me.

Hiking to Ensign Peak

On Saturday Sarah Stewart and I decided to take an evening hike to Ensign Peak. Although it was windy it was the perfect day for a hike.The view was spectacular and I was surprised that you could see clear to Utah County.

This sign gave very interesting information about Brigham Young and the spiritual guidance given about the Salt Lake Valley while at Ensign Peak. It is likely you can't read it so you may have to make the hike.

Sarah at the top. It is not a long hike but be aware that it is all uphill.

The view of the city is beautiful.

Happy Birthday Kim

I spent the last week in Seattle with the Anderson's and the rest of my family. Kim turned 40 so we had a week long party.
Kris, need I say more, in Kim and Brad's new swimming pool.Picking blueberries and raspberries with Andersons, Lecheminants, Hortons, and Gillespies.

The Seattle Temple

Kris, Julie, LauraLee, Kim and Steph at the park.

Brad the BBQ King

Mackenzie at Snoqualime Falls

The girls at the train park.

Happy Birthday Kim!

More pictures coming soon...

Hortons Go to Salt Lake

The Hortons came up last Friday and spent the day in Salt Lake with me. We had to go to the school High School Musical was filmed at. We did not get to go in but the outside view was just as cool!
Steph and I in the Beehive House

The Relief Society Office on Temple Square.

We had a great and very HOT day.

Summer School

This summer I took two law courses and did a civil clinic at the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake County. I highly recommend summer classes in law school because you can really focus in on the classes you are taking.
I am happy to report that did much better than I expected in Constitutional Law II and I hope I can say the same for Lawyering Skills in the next few weeks.
I feel so blessed.

4th of July Showered With Love

We had a wonderful 4th of July filled with a picnic Friday and Saturday Night.
Kris enjoyed the corn on the cob,

Keena enjoyed the snow cones.

We had planned to attend the balloon festival early Saturday morning. We slept out in tents the night before and a lighting storm hit at about 1:00am. Kris, Steph, Andy and I carried all the kids in out of the rain to sleep on the floor. When Dad came and asked me at 5:30 if we should wake everyone surprisingly I said no.

Kerri took Saige and went down anyway at 6:00. Way to be a family representative Kerri.

After a great game of kickball and human soccer we loved the fireworks. No wonder the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays.

Celebrate

Believe it or not the Fourth of July Holiday is this weekend. I am so excited to spend time with family. Sleeping outside, going early to the hot air balloons and enjoying a round of kickball and fireworks in the evening. The only thing that might make this better is cinnamon bears and nachos.

I Just Got Season Two!

I love the Salt Lake City Library!

Lessons Learned

Today I went to meet with one of my law professors about my ability to interview clients. I had to do a mock interview that was taped and then sit down with my professor to critique it.
I did not feel confident about my interview and left on the day I did it feeling like I have a lot to learn (which I do).
The discussion with my professor was about an hour long and very helpful. Professor Smith did a wonderful job of helping me to see my strengths, areas to improve, and making me feel like I actually right on track.
One thing she pointed out about me is that I am a problem solver which is good but sometimes I try to solve the problem to quickly, before I have enough information. As I thought about this insight I realized that this is so true about me. So for all of you friends and family out there that I have given quick advice to please know that I now realize I did not have the whole story most the time.
It is amazing what law school can teach you!

Last Chance Harvey

I watched this movie tonight and I really enjoyed it. It is nice to see a movie where it is not two beautifully perfect people who easily find each other and fall in love.

These two characters are older and they each have complicated histories. Everything is not perfect and it does not end perfect. I really enjoyed it.

Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson seem very real and seem to bring their own life experiences into this picture.

Wow look at me trying to review a movie.

The Left Turn at Albuquerque

The day before we left California boxes were packed and then the truck. This was the box Trey and I packed.
On Friday, May 22nd we started the drive and this was pretty much how Kaden looked when he was awake.

This is what we saw out the window while listening to U2 Joshua Tree. Go figure?

This is all we saw for two straight days of driving...

...and this.

After the first day of driving Trey was a bit sleepy.

On Saturday, May 23rd, Trey got a special present from Mom. If you cannot tell he was excited.

You solved the mystery, it was the movie Bolt.

This was an actually building on the freeway. It was so rare I had to get a picture. The rain was consistent in New Mexico every afternoon that I was there.

There were trains every where. Trey loved it and I realized why Cowboy in Newsies wanted to head to Santa Fe.

May 23rd we arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico to an awesome new house for the Lecheminants. Thanks for all the reminders about taking that left turn at Albuquerque!

The hot air balloons came out for the two days after we arrived. Some may say it was for Memorial Day. But I think the balloons were meant to welcome Jeff and Julie. I love you guys.