I originally figured after loving Utah with all of my heart I would be able to wrap up the trip with blogging gusto! I guess I just hate to close this chapter. But anyways:

    On day 2 of our trip to Salt Lake City trip, we had destined this day to be one of sight- seeing. I had researched, asked around and finally settled on a schedule I felt confident in. I am super grateful Mama and Listi let me make all of the plans- it was truly the cherry on top. 

    Let me just say that if you visit Temple Square,  the entire keystone of our viewing pleasure, in one day (like us) you'll need to have your game shoes on. Although everything was right next to each other, we were unfamiliar so we took lots of time just getting to the right spot.

    We flew in late and everything operated on a 9am opening schedule so we didn't arrive until then. It's just hard to explain how incredible it felt to watch as the Salt Lake City temple appeared. My breath was quite literally taken away as we the tip of the temple crept over the hedge. Architecturally, it's magnificent. 

     As we were all truly awe- stuck by being in the vicinity of such a magnificent place, we dropped by Kneader's in the City Creek Mall for breakfast. My croissant was delicious and then some, so good, look it up if you go- very Panera'esque. 

    As we ate in the restaurant, Listi's pal joined us. Ethan served in Douglas 2nd ward for the final transfer or two, the two became friends and he drove 2 hours north to spend the day with us before Listi left.

    Our Temple Square escapade began with the Church History Museum! But c'mon when you're there every destination in between becomes a photo opportunity. (Insert little embarrassed emoji here.) Truly we weren't able to offer it as much time as I had planned, we were behind on schedule due to breakfast. Highlights from there include: the bookstore (which we accidentally started with first), the enormous Moroni- located on most temple steeples-, morbid death masks of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. This was only the beginning of photobombed candids. 

    As we left, we were in a hurry to accomplish two tasks. One, visit with the dear Hepworth family, sons included!, and, two, make sure to be on time for the movie in the Legacy theatre. We successfully did both, but not without cooing over the baby boys and running to the movies. ;) The Church produces a free movie held in a large theatre inside of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, every few years, whenever a new one is created, they will trade it out. Whenever we went it was a movie about the life of Joseph Smith, the first prophet in this dispensation. As they wrapped the movie up, it depicted his violent death, it was very moving and tears may or may not have been shed. 

    (Joshua & Joseph make me giggle!)

    Our movie finished up with a good deal of time before our lunch reservation. Since we hadn't had a great chance to get pictures with the Temple we sought out the ideal photo spots. As we walked we saw many (!) couples marrying. Wait- on a Tuesday morning? Turns out that 2 months of the summer this temple, a very old building, is closed for maintenance purposes. We arrived, this being Monday, on the first day they reopened. When hearing this news, I just, I don't know- felt so overwhelmed with gratitude. My greatest wish with coming to SLC has been to visit the Temple, I would have been devastated had it of been closed. But, things were wonderful around Temple Grounds. An adorable circular platform is placed strategically in front of the temple, an elegant photo spot, y'all. We took more pictures than I would have imagined necessary.

    We realized that we had a few more moments before our next appointment , so we took my friend Jonathan's suggestion to go toward 26th tower for the Church Observatory. As we peered over, mountains with letter, the capital building and so much more was visible. It always mesmerizes me how different every state is, the people, the landscape.

    Finally, 'twas lunchtime. For this I had combed the internet and picked the brains of those I knew had visited. "The Garden" is located on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial, a restaurant popular for its magnificent view. I am now soooo glad I called to make a request for the best seat in the house! We truly were placed in the most adorable location. The food was pretty good, better to some (Ethan) than to others (Listi). But the view man, that view is what made it so worthwhile.

    And on this note, I'll finish up the rest of our day later :)

SLC (pt. 1)

    Okay, it's official, moment of truth: 

I take things for granted.

1.) Like my husband letting me spend an atrocious amount of money for a plane ticket to Utah because it was important to me. 

2.) Like my job who let me have days off without the issues I predicted would ensue. 

3.) Like my extended family being so kind they'd drop everything to run to my aid.

    Two weeks ago on Monday, August 4th, my trek to the capital of Utah began. I pressured Graham into getting off early and taking me to the airport because this would be the final time in 3 years we would all be together. As we pulled into the airport the knots inside my stomach were unbelievable- our last day together in so long... 

     Mizell's, though, aren't ones to put on a passionate theatrical production so we grabbed supper together from small places in the Jax airport and made small talk. I noticed my Grandma Marilyn was white as a cotton ball, sick from worrying and being sad. Graham, as always, was totally nonchalant, Mr. Cool, and gave Listi his famed awkward side hug, excited for her new adventure. My Daddy wasn't smiling or frowning, just kind of taking it all in- he shares a special bond with Listi and hasn't been sure how to take in the thought of a mission. Granger, trying to lighten the mood said, "hey, Daddy don't start crying now!" And without blinking he whips back, "don't you start crying!" 

     Without missing a beat Granger's eyes flooded with tears and he cried pitifully as he leaned down to shield himself. Acey realized what was happening and he broke down too, he is the only one who won't be with us to welcome her home on 2016. Grandma, Listi, Mama and I followed in suit. So there we are, a group of bawling adults all huddled together in the JAX airport. So much for us not being into theatrics. I finally leaned over and said to Ma, "We've got 48 more hours with her! We can't be acting like this!" We hugged, photographed and finally looked to see that our plane would leave in 45 minutes, it was time to go through security.

    I felt so sad to watch everyone but us girls leave, it was just so upsetting. So I'm getting misty- eyed again, looking back and forth between them walking away and Listi with her crazy short hair. Finally Listi said, "it's not like I'm dying!" Which was true, plus we had all of the great Salt Lake waiting before us! So we perked up immensely and boarded the plane.

    No matter how many times I ride one (I've been on about 10 in total) taking off in an airplane still freaks me out. The "what if's" run through my mind, the looming distance between land below and the turbulence are enough to just about make me stick to a car permanently. But y'all know I was the "expert" on this trip, considering Listi and Mama had never flown, so I had to show my poker face and offer a supportive hand :)

    The arrival trip ended up being so fun! I brought my typical carry- on bag of snacks we munched through, every couple of minutes a film crew (us!) was rolling to get the flight footage and we had a layover in North Carolina- time to mark that off my bucketlist. After super uneventful flights (which involved Listi and I switching off who got to rest on Mama's shoulders) our hearts were pumping to finally be there, there, in Salt Lake City.

    We scurried over to grab Listi's luggage (70 lbs of it- did you understand that? 70 lbs!!) So at 11pm we rolled into the rental car section of the airport, smiles despite the intense amount of luggage. Well suffice it to say that about an hour later, I surpressed the most intense frustration, we didn't have keys to a vehicle and our host Shannon came by unexpectedly to pick us up. What a sweetheart! 

    Finally, 2am our time, we keeled over into the bed and I don't recall the briefest trouble I had sleeping.

    

The Great Salt Lake

    I've been home from Salt Lake City for days, but I just can't quite write about it yet. I'm still processing all of my thoughts, reliving and reliving until I can finally accept that I'm back home. 

    Until I get the strength, here's my video summary if our trip. It was a fine one, I'll leave it at that.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gtxiEI_xiMg&feature=youtu.be

August is Upon Us

    For whatever we reason lately, I have been experiencing a phenomenon unknown to my physical body- I fall asleep at a late hour and yet arise at precisely 8:30 every morning. This weekend I imagined sleeping in to the max, but not even close. So here I am. 

    Tomorrow Mama, Listi and I leave for Salt Lake City! Since I have been a little girl I have dreamed of this place, the basic Mormon central. For it to be a reality is almost mind- boggling. We are making what could have easily been a lengthy sight-seeing trip into a jam packed 2 night trip. Actually, now that I know Listi will officially be operating on a LDS Missionary mode (curfew, attire, et cetera) a small trip is much more appropriate! Tonight she will be set apart as a sister missionary, wow! 

    I had a cousin, Ashlee, take a few photos of Listi in her missionary clothes to keep as memorabilia. A huge thank you to her for spending part of her day taking these! The ones I have seen look so cute! Tucson has no idea that they'll be getting such a pretty, sassy and Southern missionary. I know they are going to love her because she is so nuts. Seriously she is such a tomboy, people in the training center will probably be amazed by her.

    Speaking of, I keep getting the giggles knowing the moment Listi enters the MTC she will be getting the "dork dot." Graham said that basically all missionaries on their first day get a little sticker in case they need assistance getting around the place. I mean really, I need to see this! I know she will capture all 12 days (apparently that is the new time-frame for missionaries speaking their native tongue) with tons of pictures.

    So the little girl is going to have her own blog! If anyone gets curious about what that little rat is up to, our family will be posting her letters home for all to see. Her blog address is simple! 

Www.listimizell.blogspot.com

    It's so odd to think that my intermediate family won't be together again for a few years. This mission, man, it feels me with joy, dread, uneasiness, gratitude and adrenalin all in one moment. I hope these next 18 months fly by for us, but maintain a lengthy presence in her life. I want to be selfish, but I know she is truly doing a greater good. :)

    In other news, I'm going to be an aunt! A little sidekick to spoil! Super huge congrats to Jared and Kipin on their expectant bundle. Graham's family hasn't had a sweet baby in bit so I'll say it was perfectly timed. I figure I'm just going to keep a extravagant stack of Aunt and Uncle onesies at our house in case baby comes over to play! (See example below.)

Seriously, I am so thrilled at how our families have multiplied during the past 3 years we have known each other... I truly love our families so much! We have the most loving, kind, fun people in our clan. I completely wear out the term 'blessed' but when you know, you know. 

    Well please think of us tomorrow as we board where I'll be our stressed- out coordinator and non- doomsday cheerleader whispering "Planes really are safe!" every three minutes.