Escape Room Family Reunion

Each summer the Keisels have a reunion with the immediate family. Each year a different family member is in charge and this year it was John's turn to plan the trip. This year we camped at Spruces campground up Big Cottonwood Canyon south of Salt Lake City. Typically, there has been some sort of theme associated with camp and this year I wanted to put together an escape room. I've had lots of people ask or follow along with me putting it together so I thought I would write it somewhere to be able to share what we did. Unfortunately, I was not great at taking pictures of each step like I wanted to be, so I mostly just have descriptions.

John and I drove out from Colorado and only had an hour to set up from check-in to our family's arrival, so we knew our planning would have to work in a short time frame.

When they arrived at camp there were 6 containers that were locked on the table as well as a puzzle and envelope with coloring sheets. When we started, we had each person take a gallon sized ziplock and grab a pencil and small notebook they could use if they needed to take notes. There were three tracks that merged together in the middle.

TRACK 1

We had an envelope that had 3 of these Querkle Masterpieces with some colored pencils. On each of these coloring sheets was numbered 1, 2 and 3. When they colored in the coloring page, it matched a painting that we had hanging up. (We had the Mona Lisa on the site sign, the Van Gogh self portrait by the men's bathroom and the Girl With the Pearl Earring by the women's bathroom) On the back of each of these paintings was a number that when put in order on the coloring sheets opened the first lock. This was the only part of the escape room I would have changed. The family hacked the paintings and opened the lock without even coloring the pages. In the future if I use the same idea, I'd hang up 10 different paintings so they had to do the coloring pages to know which ones to do.

So the coloring page for the Mona Lisa had a 1 on it and on the back of the Mona Lisa picture was the first number to unlock this lock and the same for the 2nd and 3rd number.

When they unlocked this lock, inside they found an envelope that had TEXT:HELP written on it. Inside the envelope were 10 sudokus. There was also a card that had the Morse Code alphabet on it. 

Each of the 10 sudokus had an Easy, Medium or Hard written on top just so kids could work on the easy ones and adults on the harder ones. There was also a number written on top and a square circled in the puzzle. I used Printable Sudoku Puzzles (dadsworksheets.com) to find the Sudokus. They have different difficulties as well as the answer key so I wouldn't have to do all the puzzles to find the number I needed to circle. They finished the 10 puzzles. When they put the puzzles in order 1-10 and used the circled numbers it revealed a 10 digit phone number. At that point they texted the word HELP to that number (which was my brother's number). He then responded with an audio file.

We had created a file with a word in Morse Code using a Morse Code generator CW Generator | Morse Code World.  The word was 'toads' and unlocked another lock.

In this box there was a card with the Pigpen Cipher on it as well as some candy for them to put in their bags as a reward.

TRACK 2

This 750 piece puzzle was on the table to do. 

TRACK 3

This lock was on another container. We used this colored electrical tape and made rings around the legs of the picnic tables at camp.

Our camp had a ring of tables around the fire pit and on the legs we put 4 yellow rings, 7 green rings, 3 red rings and 2 blue rings. Once someone figured out it was there and counted them up they were able to unlock the lock. In that box was a puzzle box.

On Amazon it is the BSIRI money holder puzzle box. I let them try to open it for a while. No one was able to do it and so I coached them along to open it. In it was a key to a bicycle lock which held our camp t-shirts. 

Each year the family has designed shirts for that year's reunion. I thought it would be cool to try to have the shirts be incorporated into the plot.

This might have been my favorite part of the plot, because the arrows on the shirts corresponded with this directional lock.

Inside the box with this lock was some more treats, a black light flashlight as well as blacklight pens with lights on the lids for each of them to put in their bags.

COMING TOGETHER

So the three tracks found them a completed puzzle, a black light flashlight and the Pigpen Cipher.

When they used the light over the puzzle, this is what was revealed. It spells out Looking Glass as well as having the car in the puzzle circled. Tucked in the mirror of our driver's side vanity mirror was a blank paper. When the black light was used again it gave them a set of directions. I can't remember the exact numbers but it said something like...

X marks the spot (we had an X taped to one of the picnic table benches to start)

45 steps at 290 degrees

25 steps at 80 degrees

11 steps at 0 degrees

We didn't hide a compass, we just let them use a phone compass. (This could have been another step) They found a box hidden under a tree limb on the ground and on the box was written 0 + (Addyson+Lucy+Erik). The lock on the box was a 3 digit lock and my nieces and nephew's ages added up to 34. The lock code was 034.

Inside this box was more treats and a key that unlocked the final box's padlock.

Inside the final box was a sign that said "Congratulations you have escaped!" There were more treats, party blowers and an envelope with letters that spelled out WE ESCAPED! for our family picture.

We had talked about locking everyone's keys in or something, but there were hikes to drive to etc. so we just had a party instead.

So as a recap, when they got to camp there was a puzzle, coloring pages as well as 6 different locked boxes sitting on the table (as well as one that was hidden under a tree). 

The 6 boxes had a locker lock, a letter lock, a directional lock, a color lock, a bike lock, a padlock on them.  

There was an x on a bench, tape rings on the legs of the picnic tables and 3 art portraits hanging up.

Because we were doing the reunion over multiple days, I purposely chose some time-consuming activities.

I had so much fun putting it together and we had a great time at camp. Though the mama and baby moose walking through our camp was probably the highlight of it all!

Grandma Anne

I’ve been collecting my thoughts and memories about my Grandma Anne. I’ve decided not to repeat the ones that I mentioned in my Grandpa Russell’s post even though some of those were definitely of them as a couple. Once again, I’ll just share my thoughts in vignettes instead of trying to tie them together.

~~~~~

Every Christmas Eve I was sent over to Grandma’s early to help her set and decorate the many tables that were needed to host everyone for dinner that night. Throughout the years we found which tablecloths, centerpieces or glasses went best with which table and it was fun to try to recall together which ones were the best. I always helped her make the frills for the crown roast and was often put in charge of other little things to help the evening run smoothly. It was something I looked forward to each year. Perhaps the year we had 18 people for Thanksgiving in our one bedroom apartment in Durham was not intimidating to me because of the time setting up at Grandma’s.

~~~~~

I don’t know if I believe in tone deafness, but if there was anyone who was, it was Grandma Anne. Grandma and Grandpa began having an annual caroling party with their neighbors across the fence the Handys. We had a huge group with the two of our families and a pretty talented group at that. Each year we’d switch off between the houses and carol around the neighborhood. Grandma loved it. She was always singing just as strongly and proudly as everyone else in the group. At the end of each song, if she hadn’t made her way to the front of the group already, she would march up to the door to personally wish the neighbors a Merry Christmas and give her personal greeting. I remember watching her with such great joy, never embarrassed that she wasn’t matching the harmonies that were being created. We weren’t there to be a choir, we were there to spread Christmas cheer and Grandma was perhaps the best at it.

~~~~~

When I was young, each year at Christmas time Grandma would recite the Grinch from memory and donned her handmade Grinch costume as she told the story. I didn’t get to see much of Grandma’s directing or acting in my lifetime, but this was a small glimpse into her passion and service.

~~~~~

Grandma Anne was the queen of make believe and helped make my childhood quite magical. I remember watching the Mary Martin Peter Pan with her and as Tinkerbell was dying from drinking Hook’s poison, she looked at me and said, “Clap. You’re a Rasmussen and Rasmussens believe in fairies.”

~~~~~

Memories of Grandma don't come without some quirks. Many of us (if not all of us) have some funny story of Grandma. But so often those quirky stories are so endearing because they come from a place of sincerity even though sometimes frank. These stories are often humorous, but sharing them in family's company is necessary, because it doesn't always paint the true picture of who we remember Grandma Anne as.

~~~~~

When I was little, Grandma Anne dressed up as a witch each Halloween. Now when I say she dressed up as a witch, it was not just a dress and hat. Her teeth were blackened, warts added and skin yellowed and greened. When we went to visit, we were told that Grandma had switched places with this witch for the night. I don’t remember the whole dialogue of where Grandma had gone, but it was convincing enough for a few years. Each time someone would ring the doorbell, Grandma would fling open the door and cackle giving children quite the scare. I was the coolest kid on the bus the day after Halloween since everyone had been scared by my Grandma the night before.

~~~~~

My love for Harry Potter is almost directly tied to the relationship it gave me with my Grandma. Because my birthday was in July, and the new books were released each July, every year she would take me to get my new book for my birthday. When I would drive with her and Grandpa down to Cedar City or other trips we took together, we’d always have the audio books going in the car. When my Grandma grew tired of her Halloween tradition, she decided to dress instead as Professor McGonagall and hosted an annual Harry Potter Halloween party. Each year there was a great activity. The three I remember most being the Mirror of Erised where we all shared what we saw in the mirror, the Pensieve where we shared our most treasured memories and my personal favorite, the Boggart we had to banish.

~~~~~

I grew up in the same ward (congregation) as my grandparents. We always sat on the third middle row and my Grandma always preferred to be right under the pulpit. Every Sunday my grandma commented on how we were matching that week. She went to sometime absurd lengths to make it happen talking about how her green skirt was the grass and my flowered dress were the flowers above the grass and her yellow top was the sun shining over both them. But anytime I sat next to Grandma, she’d pull out a pencil and we’d write on the program of the day filling every blank space with her beautiful cursive as she asked me about all the youth that were helping with the sacrament or giving talks. Or sometimes the questions were about me or more general matter. But the scribbling didn’t stop until it was time for the closing song.

~~~~~

Every summer my family went with Grandma and Grandpa to the Utah Shakespeare Festival. In order to prepare us for the week, we would have a family evening where we would act out the plays on their back patio. It familiarized us with the works and was always a highlight of the year. We loved dressing up and my Grandma's excitement was contagious. There are so many little memories I have of the festival with Grandma. Every year I didn't get a Harry Potter book for my birthday I got a souvenir from the festival. The morning after each of the plays, the festival holds a seminar to discuss the previous evening's performance. I loved going with Grandma to go listen to the seminars. They'd discuss directing choices, insider information to performance glitches and general reviews to previous productions along with all sorts of other discussion. I was so often the youngest audience member there but I just loved it all. We'd so often discuss our opinion of the play on the way there and then have fun seeing what had changed due to what we had heard, or just complaining about the ridiculous comments some people felt necessary to share.

~~~~~

Grandma and Grandpa were good at giving us kids experiences as gifts. Whether it was a ride on the Polar Express, tickets to plays (the time just us older grandkids got to go to Westside Story together was soooo fun!) or even something that was just meaningful, like the blankets they sent us from Philadelphia, I almost always felt an additional meaning behind what they would give us.

~~~~~

When I dated and married John, I quickly fell second to Grandma Anne's attention. I think this is partially because John has an amazing ability as a listener but was greatly due to the fact that they share the same birthday. John would tell her, "Only the best looking and most intelligent people are born on March 16th." She loved it. We made sure she got a call from her birthday twin every year and I loved the special relationship John had with her. The last time I met with Grandma, my family had gone together on Christmas afternoon to sing her some carols. Even from my visit two weeks prior, she wasn't able to really recognize what was going on. But when she saw John, she said, "Oh, what a surprise!" I love that two people whom I love so much found such a bond.

~~~~~

I remember visiting Grandma Anne at Temple Square on her mission. Then we got the opportunity to also visit them while they served in Philadelphia. She would always tell me, "We served on Temple Square for Russell and we served in Philadelphia for us." She was a woman of great and unshakeable faith. It was important to her to bear testimony to us of the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. Her love of her family gave her the greatest joy, and because of that it was also sometimes her greatest concern. But she always found strength and comfort in the message of the redeeming power through Christ.

Grandpa Russell

The story most told to me about my early childhood, is that of my attachment to my dad and my grandpa. My mom talks of enrolling me in a mommy/daughter gymnastics class just so I would start doing things with her. There's a picture of Grandma and Grandpa with Kirsten's 3 kids, me, Andrea and Rachel. In the picture, I am happy sitting in the arms of Grandpa Russell. I don't remember much about those first years, but I'm grateful for that initial bond that lead to so many treasured memories I have of my Grandpa Russell. My thoughts and memories right now are mostly vignettes of our time together. So after trying to string them all together, I find it most fitting to just leave them separate without me trying to transition from one thought to the other.

~~~~~

Grandma and Grandpa served two missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Grandma told me they served their first mission for Grandpa (who was called to serve in the Korean War before he was able to serve in his youth). I remember visiting their apartment up the hill from Temple Square in Salt Lake City where they first served as well as the Christmas Eve we spent with them that year. Grandma told me their second mission was them as a couple and they served in Philadelphia and we were able to visit with them there as well to introduce them to Lauren. They were serving there when the World Trade Centers were attacked in New York. A few weeks after the event, I received a card from my grandparents who said they had been reading in the Book of Mormon and shared Alma 28:11-14 with me.

 11 And the bodies of many thousands are laid low in the earth, while the bodies of many thousands are moldering in heaps upon the face of the earth; yea, and many thousands are mourning for the loss of their kindred, because they have reason to fear, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are consigned to a state of endless wo.

 12 While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending happiness.

 13 And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men.

 14 And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life.

They bore testimony and let me know this is the reason they were serving a mission.

 ~~~~~

One of my favorite memories happened the week of Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary celebration. All the extended family gathered together at Pond's Lodge in Island Park outside of Yellowstone. Everyone went together to watch the Old Faithful eruption. My dad checked the times the geyser predictions and found that within a very short amount of time, the five most predictable geysers in the Upper Basin were predicted to go off. Some of the predictions are as much as a +/- 90 minute prediction, but my dad showed interest in going to try to see all of them. After everyone had watched Old Faithful, my dad, my grandpa, uncle Scott and I set off to try to see the other four. We almost Riverside catching it just after its eruption had started and were most lucky to be there at the end of our circle for the Grand Geyser eruption. We witnessed all five that day. It was my birthday July 8th, and I remember thinking it was the best birthday present I could have been given. It seems fitting that it was once again me and my guys.

~~~~~

Evening primrose, yellow and peach roses and raspberries. I long for a garden with these.

~~~~~

Of course you can't talk about Grandpa Russell without mentioning the Utah State basketball and football games. Whether it was watching the sun set behind the Wellsvilles seated on a wood or metal bleacher bench or in the autumn leaf colored seats of Romney Stadium. Many afternoons and evenings were spent cheering on the Aggies. My favorite Aggie tradition however, was the annual breakfast at JB's (or Angie's) before the homecoming parade. But Grandpa was the best kind of fan. He was the one who stayed until the end of the game even when they were down by 40 and it was snowing. But he also spoke no (or little) ill of the opponents. Loyal and kind.

~~~~~

Grandma decided that she was going to stop making desserts in an effort to help Grandpa lose some weight. One Sunday we received a knock at our front door. Grandpa stepped in and said, "Amy did you make any of those delicious brownies?"

 ~~~~~

Of course there are the stories us cousins will tell, like how Grandpa would take us fishing or golfing or his go-to jokes: "Hello, statue?" "What color is a belch? Burple" "The peach pie one". There's the stories of Aggie games and Dr. Pepper. But I think we all can say the greatest gift he gave us was how he raised our parents and how dearly and sweetly he loved Grandma.

~~~~~

When I was in 5th grade I was presented the Hope of America award by the Kiwanis club. Grandpa presented me the award. He took me to several Kiwanis meetings when grandchildren were invited to attend. I am not personally aware of the individual service he gave as a member, but I am grateful to know he was part of a community service organization.

~~~~~

I don't remember all the details of this memory, but I do know that when I was in elementary school, a boy named Fabio moved into the area from Brazil. My family went over for dinner (I don't remember if it was a holiday) and my grandparents had invited Fabio's family over. In my little girl mind I was a little embarrassed that I was having a boy from school over to dinner with my family, but their family joined us several times for dinners and activities. Now I look back and am so grateful the door they opened to either those they invited or friends I brought to their home.

~~~~~

Grandpa and Grandma heard of a little girl in the valley who needed a surgery they couldn't afford.  Not only did they help this girl get the medical care she needed, they provided gifts for the entire family for Christmas that year. I helped deliver the gifts and will forever remember the grateful faces of that family that day.

~~~~~

I remember singing "When Grandpa Comes" in Primary.  The words are "It's always fun when grandpa comes. Hooray! He always says the kindest things and in the kindest way. He has a wrinkly twinkly smile he's happy all the day. It's always fun for everyone when grandpa comes." I can still see the picture of the smile that I saw when I sang that song. I am blessed to have a grandfather who fits this description.

~~~~~

Grandpa had some traditions that he loved. From my perspective, our annual trip to the Shakespeare Festival was largely driven by Grandma Anne. But also from my perspective, our annual trip to Cedar Breaks with a fried chicken picnic and hike down the Alpine Pond trail was largely driven by Grandpa.

~~~~~

Perhaps one of the most special moments for me was being able to participate and witness with John in the final temple session Grandpa led. Grandpa performed my confirmation after my baptism when I was eight. I remember receiving priesthood blessings from him and my dad when I was sick. I sang in the ward choir with him and sat with him and Grandma each Sunday at church. He had a testimony of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and their plan of salvation. I am so grateful for his legacy and righteous example in my life.

~~~~~

Tobacco road...year one

So, it has been just about one year since we set off for North Carolina. There have been some changes, but also some things haven't changed much since our arrival. I guess one of the biggest changes is that we're planning on being here for, well, as long as we want to now. The purpose of coming to North Carolina was for a fellowship with the VA Hospital here in Durham. The Fellowship was supposed to be a one year extra training opportunity followed by an actually jump in the pool of being responsible adults. Well, around March, something unexpected happened. Aubrey was preparing to fly to Utah for a wedding and one of the staff members at one of the clinics that I worked at decided to move out of state. Aubrey and I talked about it and I let my supervisor know of my interest in the position. Two day's prior to Aubrey flying out, I was told that there might be an interview upcoming, we were guardedly excited. The day Aubrey flew to Utah, I was offered an interview. The following day, I had my interview and that same day, I was offered the position. We took it! I then flew out to meet Aubrey the following day, completing this whirlwind with a super-fast trip to Utah for the wedding.
Accepting this job has been bittersweet. Starting with the sweet part, I love my job. It is totally the job that I aspired to have in maybe 5-7 years. I work with an unbelievable group of people who really care about the work that they're doing. I feel very challenged and fulfilled with the work that I am doing and really enjoy working with the folks I'm privileged to work for. Now, the bitter part...we miss the West, and family...and the opportunity to see more than 45 feet in front of us (the trees are thick). That being said, things seem to be moving in a positive direction. Aubrey is ever more busy with her growing studio, her church callings, and making sure our ward's missionaries survive their time here. We have found more and more that we love about living here and it's feeling more and more like home. So, how about a top ten (in no particular order, by the way) things we've done/seen/learned about/enjoyed here in the NC since our arrival...

10. Basketball, basketball, basketball! It's been fun living in North Carolina because there is so much good basketball being played/tradition. So far we've been able to sneak onto Duke's basketball floor. We also went to an NCAA tournament game for my birthday (sports highlight of my life!)

9. The trees/forests/woods: It's been fun to be in a place where a lot of effort goes into keeping trees from growing where they're not wanted as opposed to Utah/Colorado where great efforts are taken to get tree's to grow!

8. Proximity: This one is kind of cheating, but we were able to go to Washington D.C. with my parents late last year. It's amazing to me that we live within driving distance of D.C.!

7.  Barbeque...which we have been informed is the term only appropriate when doing pulled pork. Hamburgers/hotdogs/bratwurst are made during cookouts...who knew? Anyway, it's been delicious, as advertized!

6. Sunsets: So one of the benefits of having a lot of clouds is that there are some great sunsets!

5. The beach: We haven't been very often, but they are amazing!

4. Saxapahaw: So, there is this really cool outdoor music concert series out in the middle of NC. There are performances every Saturday throughout the summer. Not really a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

3. My job...sorry no picture, but it's great!
2. Fishing! Notice I didn't say catching, but there's some beautiful lakes nearby and I enjoy time at the lake.

1. So, I've also really enjoyed being in an area that's just very alive! Beautiful flowers (like our parking lot smells perfumed during the spring/early summer), plus a lot of critters! I've always loved animals and nature, so it's fun to live in just a very vibrantly alive area.

Big Bird in Japan and Relief Society Broadcasts

There are simple treasured moments that I hold very dear to me.  One of those moments is a moment shared with the movie Big Bird in Japan.  We all have those seemingly childish things that when we admit their sentimental value, we are almost embarrassed because of the meaning they hold in our hearts.

My dad served a two year mission in Sendai, Japan for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He later returned to teach math for a brief time before coming back to the States.  My dad's love for the Japanese people is contagious and as we had several students that either lived with my family or were hosted by my family, it became part of all of my siblings' experience.

I don't remember the first time watching Big Bird in Japan, but I have a very poignant memory that I have new perspective to add to in my life.

In the movie.  Big Bird and Barkley spend longer than the five minutes allotted to them to "see everything their is to see in Tokyo" and are left stranded in the city.  Big Bird tries to read signs or talk to any of these people from Ohio and sings this song.

"Oh why did I come to this far away place? Why? Oh why? Oh why-o?
Where everyone talks in Japanese, but they say they're from Ohio.
I miss New York where you eat with a fork and English comes in handy.
Gee things were sweet on Sesame Street where the people all understand me.

There's a friendly nest where I love to play
on a friendly street that is far away.
And I want to be there right now.  Can't wait for a plane.
Cause I'm homesick, homesick, homesick.
If I ever get well, I'll never leave home again.

There's a teddy bear and he waits for me
There's a friend named Snuffy that I have to see.
Don't have a fever, but I do feel a pain.
Cause I'm homesick, homesick, homesick.
If I ever get well, I'll never leave home again."

Big Bird then meets a girl who shows him around the country, introduces him to her closest friends and takes care to catch them up to their tour in order for them to catch their flight home.  As it's time for Big Bird to leave, Big Bird says "I feel terrible.  I'm homesick for Japan and I haven't even left yet."  He then sings this reprise.

"Pretty paper houses, funny twisted trees
All the little children speaking Japanese.
And a mountain shining through the sun and the rain
Make me homesick, homesick, homesick.
I've got to go home but I will come back again."

I remember turning around to see my dad crying.  My dad is not one to hide his emotions and my mom has turned us all into sympathetic criers.  One of us asked my dad why he was crying and he just said that he was homesick for Japan.  In my memory, whether it happened or I am just remember every other similar event in our family, I then remember the rest of us crying along with him.

My Meaning in the Song:

When we moved to Denver, my brother put a comment on his Facebook page saying the person to post the song that most accurately describes how you are feeling right now would win something.  We had been there only a few days or weeks and I posted the first link to his Facebook page.  I know I won, but was never declared winner or given said "something".  The longest I had been away from home was summer festivals, but those were just really long vacations or trips and I'd always be coming back.
The hardest part about moving to Denver was that John started school, and I taught lessons Thursday nights.  That meant I had a great deal of time on my hands.  I knew why we were in Denver, but I didn't know why I was in Denver.  It's a lot easier to relocate when you have a festival, school or job that puts you in new social settings and gives you some purpose.  I was homesick.  And the words of this special song rang true as I longed to be near family, in a place where I found many opportunities to perform and had so many wonderful friends and students.

I will never forget the special peace, love and strength I felt during Relief Society Broadcast that September, as I sat with these new found sisters in the chapel and heard the words of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

"...as an Apostle of our Master, Jesus Christ, I proclaim with all the certainty and conviction of my heart...You are not forgotten.
Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten.  No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you."

I remember some of the sisters who sat on the row with me and can vividly remember us each feeling an individual comprehension of the words being spoken.  How beautiful a message.  We are not forgotten.

Once again, I find myself in quite similar circumstances.  Having spent two months in Utah before coming here, we once again leave family and make our way to our new home.  The song has even deeper meaning as we find ourselves out of driving distance and in different time zones making home further out of reach.  John began work three days after we found our apartment and moved in.  Once again I find myself trying to find my place in this new chapter of our lives and trying to comprehend not only why I am here, but how and when desired blessings will find their way into the timeline of our lives.

My Meaning in the Reprise:  As I found myself at the Relief Society Broadcast this past weekend, I sat by myself in the chapel desperately hoping for spiritual renewal.  I listened carefully waiting for an answer to my prayer.  President Monson was the final speaker of the broadcast and told a story of Tiffany from Denver who in a very desperate time in her life had a prayer answered by a sweet sister who barely knew her.  The story concludes as a simple loaf of bread provided her the insight into God's love for her that "She had an urgent need to feel that she wasn't alone, that God was aware of her and had not abandoned her."
A reprise of the feelings I felt in Denver were given as I heard these words.  As I heard of this sister in Denver, I thought of how I was also very personally taken care of in Denver.  I marvel that my home in Colorado which now I have become homesick for, was once as foreign and intimidating as my situation is here.  I now understand my dad's sentiments that he shared with me when I was so young.  The hardest part about moving to North Carolina, is leaving my heart in two places instead of one.  However, once again I am reminded, that I am not abandoned or forgotten.

Many prayers have been answered as we made our way here and many prayers are still being sent towards our Heavenly Father but He listens and I am reminded of his constant love.

From President Monson:

"My dear sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you, each of you.  That love never changes.  It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or the amount of money you have in your bank account.  It is not changed by your talents and abilities.  It is simply there.  It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful.  God's love is there for you whether or not you deserve love.  It is simply always there."

Going to Carolina

Well we're here.  North Carolina.  And our car is 2 hours away from driving coast to coast.  John's begun work and since our stuff isn't here yet, and I don't have work/teaching/callings keeping me busy yet, that means blogs will once more be happening. (At least for now)

John and I really actually enjoyed the drive here.  You don't realize how large the country is and really how many different cultures there are throughout the country until you drive through it.  (The same as not being able to picture the Eiffel tower, grand canyon, etc. until you see it)  We left Monday night, stopped in Denver, St. Louis and Corbin, KY before arriving in North Carolina.  We had hopes to take our time touring across America, but due to lack of time and funds, we only made a few pit stops along the way.  It was so good to be back in Denver, if only for and evening and we both had a little bit of a hard time watching the sun rise on the Mile High city knowing we would then be driving even farther east away from what had become home.  The second day was long as we trekked across Colorado, Kansas and Missouri putting us just outside of Saint Louis. 

Wednesday morning we woke up early again and I asked that we stop at the Gateway Arch.  We started walking around the park about 7:15am and John almost had me on the top of the arch.  This is a big deal.  The last time I was at the gateway was the summer after 5th grade.  My parents had purchased a ticket for me to go up the arch.  The problem was when the guide at the base of the elevator thing started explaining how the arch sways in the wind, and I was able to look inside the pod that was going to take me to the top.  I started crying and refused to go up.  Well this time, John almost had me.  We were planning to try to get the first tickets up.  I of course started panicking again (I walked the stairs at the Eiffel tower and didn't go to the top) and was so grateful when we found out that the first ticket leaves at 8:20am, too late for us to meet our dinner appointment in Kentucky.  Whew!  John was particularly pleased for us to drive through Kentucky, and I was so happy to meet Dave and Debbie.  John met them in Kentucky and they have signed papers saying that John is 1/3rd their son when he is in the state of Kentucky.  It was such a fun night and we'll definitely be making our way back up there. 

Thursday was my favorite part of the drive.  Southern KY, northern TN and southern VA were BEAUTIFUL!  I wish I could have really taken it all in, but my nerves of finding an apartment seemed to be getting the best of me at this point.  I'm so excited to be so close to so many new adventures and such great areas of beauty and history to explore!

We searched for apartments all day on Friday and put in an application at literally the last minute Friday night.  I truly feel blessed for how this has all worked out.  I was so nervous since a lot of leasing offices have shorter hours Saturday and Sunday and Labor Day was Monday.  The idea of living in a hotel for a week while I searched for apartments by myself was too much!

Our explorations have been limited since our check engine light has come on (another blessing that it made it across the country and through apartment searching before it decided to come on). 

A few things I've enjoyed learning/experiencing so far...

~ Exercising.  We knew it would be easier coming from Denver/Utah but it's crazy that my muscles wear out before my cardiovascular system.

~ BBQ.  We have already found our way to some amazing bbq.  If we come out of this year broke, it'll be from to much bbq.

~ Crisper Drawer.  Now I know why you have a crisper drawer in your refrigerator.  Your veggies don't stay crisp if they aren't in it.

~ Trees.  Yep they're everywhere, and I feel like I'm in a constant labyrinth. 

~ I-85 South goes west.  I knew they didn't have the grid system, but no one uses north, south, east or west do describe anything.  We keep telling people we live in Southwest Durham and they just stare.  Also, the roads that say they are going south, could be going any direction, so really, even when I think I am being told I'm going south I might not be.

~  New animals.  Vultures fly around everywhere, cardinals, possums (only dead ones as of yet), fireflies, the salamander/newt things that live under our building and so many more bugs than I could have ever imagined.

I think each blog might get a couple of these "new" things. 

John's loving his work so far and is really excited to grow here.  I'm excited to get busy with whatever work or anything I can find!

Love from the east!