Weekend Trip

The weekend after New Year's we got to take a little trip.  Eleven years ago we moved here.  We had lived in our previous city for 8 years.  Such wonderful memories and good times were had there.  Alex was quite young and Latisha a toddler when we moved there.  So their early childhood memories were from this city.  They still have friends they keep in contact with there.  Sierra and Danika were both born there, but Sierra's memories are few and Danika really remembers nothing of living there.  I think of those days as a great growth time, we loved our church, made life long friends, and enjoyed the ministry we were in.  For years, David and I were the junior high leaders and worked in youth.  Later we started the Missionettes and Royal Rangers programs at that church.  Just before we moved David was in charge of the Children's ministry.  Going back is always so fun.  I believe the relationships we made there really became family.

January 2nd one of Latisha's friends got married.  We were so excited to get the invitation and were eager to go see our friends/family.  At first we had planned to only go for the day but I am so glad we extended our visit.  I had called my friend Lien to let her know we were coming and she really encouraged us to stay the night with her, I am so glad she did.  We met her and her family for lunch and another dear friends we hadn't got to talk with for years.  It was a wonderful time.  Then we went to the precious wedding.  The bride and groom had prepared a video for the opening of the wedding. It was so well done.  It told of their courtship in a comical/fun way.  Then the lovely bride came, the vows were said, and then they had a slideshow.  It was so fun to watch, especially when it got to the time we lived there.  That was the little girl we knew and her wonderful family and now she was a bride.  There was even a picture of her and Latisha skiing.  The reception followed.  Brent, Latisha, and August came up for the wedding and reception but had to head back home.

The next morning we had to go to the early service, which worked out well because we got to see people between services.  It was so fun to hear our pastor speak and see the changes in the congregation.  Faces we hadn't seen in years.  We surprised several people and we really enjoyed our time.  Several of the youth that are now adults were going up to Sierra and Danika and telling them about how they were in our youth.  It was such a blessing.  I got such a kick out of seeing the youth now adults, some of which I would not have recognized.  People were so friendly.

Then we headed back home in time for night skiing.  Sierra got to get some driving time in as she drove us there and took us home, a couple of hours drive each way.  She is becoming a good little driver.  We got home with a quick turn around to head up to the ski hill.  This was the first time I had been up there since Cassandra was a baby.  I didn't ski but got to be Mom and Grandma for the evening.  I remember taking the kids homeschool skiing years ago and there was a lady up there who was watching her grandchild.  I had asked her if she was skiing and she said no, she had done that in the past but was enjoying being grandma while her kids skied.  I thought that sounded like fun.  I had Isabella, Aidric, and August, so I wasn't just grandma but I had a great time and got a lot of exercise.  David used to be a ski instructor when we were in college, and now teaches our kids and at times their friends.  Sierra took a friend who was skiing for the first time and they had a great time.  Brent and Alex's best man was going back to college and planned this trip before he left.  It was good to see him before he left and the kids had a great time.  Here are a couple pictures.  Have a blessed day.

Alicia

Isabella enjoying time with Daddy at the reception

Getting ready to hit the hill.