Get-a-Way

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Get-a-Way

The boys stayed at home to party it up with all four of their grandparents, and we headed South to St. George/Zion National Park. We were gone away from our children for three days and two nights, which we have never done before. In fact, this is the first time since our honeymoon that we went on a trip with just the two of us and completely on our own time table. It was heavenly!

As we drove, I read the Hunger Games aloud to Andy. I had read it before and wanted Andy to get a chance to experience it. The story was a perfect way to pass the drive time. We stopped for gas and ended up eating at a gas station Teriyaki Sticks. Apparently we are simple people, easy to please, because by this point of our trip, we were just ecstatic with the joy of hanging out as a couple again. I caught myself delighting in the sheer thrill of couple-dom when I thought, "This would be super fun to have the boys here with us too." But I quickly determined that, although I would love vacation time as a family, this time as a couple was LONG overdue.

We arrived at our destination in the afternoon and spent the rest of the day wandering around St. George just going from store to store. We discovered Del Sol, which was really fun, and Andy drooled his way through the VanHeusen outlet. (I had to laugh at that because we have one 20 minutes from us and it isn't like he ever goes up here...)

On Saturday we woke up and headed in to Zion National Park. Andy had never been. My parents took me often as a child, but it's probably been a good 20 years since the last time I was there. We had an awesome time hiking and walking and laughing. We took our book up to the top of the Emerald Pools, found a secluded area and read a chapter before heading back down. We ate a pleasant lunch at the lodge. We hiked the steep (but short) climb up to Weeping Rock and then we meandered along Pa'Ran trail which was pleasantly void of other people. The weather was absolutely perfect!

We wore ourselves out sooner than expected and got back to the hotel in St. George in time for Andy to take a nap before going to see Brian Regan at the Tuachan theatre. This was actually the original purpose of our trip. We saw him in Salt Lake this past February and impulsively bought tickets when we heard he was going to be in St George. We expected it to be the same act, and were pleasantly surprised by all new jokes. There were only one or two that we had heard before.

On Sunday we headed home through Zion. We stopped at the museum and then took the scenic route home merging on to 1-15 just South of Fillmore. Andy was fascinated by the beauty of Southern Utah and we are eager to return - next time as a family.

3 comments:

Heather HMay 18, 2010 at 3:31 PM
Awww, I am so glad your trip went well!!
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KristaMay 18, 2010 at 4:39 PM
What a fun little trip! I need something like that about now. Brian Regan is great at not doing the same old stuff all the time. Every time we've seen him there has always been different stuff.
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MichelleMay 19, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Looks like a great time! I'm glad you got to go! :-)
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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.