Girls day out....

Jeff and Jared were going out for a father/son camp out, so Stephanie invited me to go with her and the girls to see Temple Square. We hadn't seen it this year with all of the summer flowers. It was so beautiful!! I had never noticed this statue before of Emma and Joseph. I loved it!!



And of course, I have always loved the reflection pond...





We were even able to go and see the Lion House, which I haven't been in for quite a few years. It just amazes me how much love and hard work the pioneers put into their work. The architecture and details...well all that I can say is you'll have to take a tour one of these days...



It was such a great time. I love hanging out with my sister and nieces. Thanks Steph, for inviting me!!

Gardner's Village in Midvale, UT

One of my mom and my favorite places we like to go to, is The Gardner's Village in Midvale, UT. We found it my Senior Year in Highschool and love to go there whenever possible. We were able to go there with Stephanie and Jenna one afternoon. Tons and tons of fun. They had it decorated for Halloween.

I highly recommend visiting this place. They have so many cute craft ideas, and it's just fun and relaxing to walk around the village. They have many houses, each specializing in something such as furniture, clothing, jewelry, crafts, paintings, quilts, Christmas, fudge, and more. They also decorate the village according to the time of year, making it fun for the kids.

Come what may, and love it!!

I have started my Rad. Tech. program!! It has been such a great experience so far, and I am so grateful that things have worked out so well. I will admit, I have been superly stressed out trying to fit school, clinicals, and work out.....but somehow they have come together. But to add to the choas called my life, I have moved yet again!! I swear, when I talk about what I have been up to at work, they all drop their jaws and say, "you just barely moved?!" LOL! Believe me, no one better than I know that fact!! So after almost a year of living in this place, needless to say that there were a few differences, and finally my roommate Annalea and I moved out. This happened Sept. 7th, and we found a place by the 11th. I tell ya what, it was a whirlwind, and now that it's all said and done, I am sure that we are going to love it!! It's very close to the hospital, and it's in a basement of a sweet family.



At church, the Sacrament talks were based on counting our blessings, and the talk that Elder Wirthlin shared a couple of conferences ago.... "I think she [his mother] may have meant that every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don’t sing and bells don’t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result." Now, not that I feel I am having a hard time, but the memory made me laugh when I thought of that wonderful man. I remember that talk, and thinking how great that advise was, especially to learn to laugh. "The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable." Thank goodness for the reminder, especially because I HATE MOVING!! So here is my time to list my many blessings from this move =0)

1. Decluttering....I am a packrat....there, I admit it!! I keep things "just in case" and there have been too many times that I have thrown something away just to need it a week later. But because of moving, I am able to sort through things and throw out my trash. I recommend it at least once a year....it just so happens that I move every year ;0) and therefore it forces me to do it.

2. My family....Stephanie and cute little Jenna helped me to move things on Wed. (this will be the third time they have helped me!!). I don't know what I would have done without them!! Steph brought her van, and we packed it full again and again. I cringe to think how long it would have taken me to do it by myself. And I wouldn't have been able to move my bed, desk, or furniture in my little car. Even Jenna did her help with bringing my baskets giggling the whole time =0) Thank you so much, Stephanie!!

3. My friends....that same day, Andrea came over with her little guy, Kimball, and helped me to unpack. Once again, how lucky can I get?!

4. Fresh start....I try and try to be organized, but soon I find piles of papers and what not left here and there in my room. Moving always gives me a fresh start to recommit myself....now if I can just get everything organized to start out with ;0)

5. Miracles....even though you would think that we could have chosen a better time to move (I had just started the Rad Tech program a few weeks before, and Annalea started teaching school the same time!?), it couldn't have gone any smoother. I was so worried about finding a place in time, and we found one in just a few days. Also, this past week my classes were canceled, so I only had to go to work and clinicals so I had time to pack, move and clean. Absolutely perfect!!

I truly feel like Heavenly Father was very aware of things in my life, and helped me out so much. I am truly blessed!!

"As we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation, and draw near to our Heavenly Father, we can endure hardship and trial. We can say, as did my mother, 'Come what may, and love it.'"

Family History...

I was going over some old pics that I got from my Aunt Joann. They are of my Hebdon side. I don't know what it is with old pictures, but I just love them. I am working on putting together a scrapbook, but that will be put on hold with school going on...Hopefully I can find some more pics of my dad. And I also need to scan the Neibaur photo albums as well. For some reason, and I don't know how it worked out, but it seems like there are so many pics of the kids before my dad and mom, and even pics after them...but NEVER hardly any of my parents =0(

Here's Pictures of Grandma Sarah and Grandpa Russell Hebdon when they were young, with their family, and then their mission pictures...

These pictures of my ancestors, truly treasures!! The Sessions' side:
My Grandma Hebdon's parents Ivan and Corilla Bone Session; Great Great Grandpa Keplar Sessions; 3 Greats Grandpa Perrigrine Sessions; 4 Greats Grandpa Patty Bartlett Sessions

These are the only pictures that I could find of my Grandpa Hebdon's family. His mother, Ellen May Auger...


His father, Edward Hebdon with his son's Keith and my grandpa...



These are pictures of Chesterfield, where my family has lived for generations...

Thanksgiving Point

In August, Stephanie and the kids invited me to go with them to the Thanksgiving Point Gardens. I absolutely love going!! It is so incredibly beautiful, and there are multiple themes throughout the property.

One of the kids' favorite spots was the waterfall...

And hidden within the grounds is the Secret Garden. I think that this is another favorite spot for the kids....



My favorite is always the Italian garden. It is so elegant and perfect. I love how each level flows down to the next...



And of course, I had to join the kids and dip our feet into the nice cool water...



My second favorite spot is the Monet garden. I have always loved his paintings, especially the water lilies...




We ended the day by playing in the children's garden. They have a Noah's Ark statue with various animals that spay water. There was no way that I was going to let only the kids have all the fun....so I grabbed Jenna's hand and we went for it!! All of the kids had so much fun...



This pic is of Aimee...



It was such a fun time!! Thanks, again for inviting me!! I loved it.

Shakespearean Festival...

The main reason why I planned this trip was to go to the Shakespearean festival in Cedar City. This was my fourth time being there, and it's always a blast. We went to a comedy "As You Like It" and had so much fun. This was Andrea's first Shakespeare play. They have a theatre designed after the Adam's Theatre that Shakespeare used in London...



The stage...


Outside, they have workers who offer chocolates, tarts, and other kinds of goodies. They were so fun and clever on their advertisements =0)



It was such a fun trip!! I am so glad that Andrea and Kimball was able to go with me. Thank you!!

Bryce Canyon...

Wednesday, we headed up to Bryce Canyon. I was so excited to visit!! I have never been able to go before, and so you can just imagine how happy I was. First of all, it had a beautiful drive...



This is one of the bridges you drive through...


When we finally got there, we were a bit clueless!! However, now we are pros ;0) The first viewpoint we stopped at was Bryce Point. It started to rain when we got there...





The second one was Inspiration Point...




And then we stopped at Fairy's Landing, which gave a closer view of the hoodoos. Hoodoos are the pillars that have been carved by the wind from the fins, or separated cliffs...

Zions Canyon...

Tuesday, we went to Zion's Canyon. I have been there 3 times now, and I still could go again and again!! I was in heaven. I can't tell you how much I love the red rocks with the deep green, weeping rocks, ferns growing out of the cracks!! It is just absolutely gorgeous!?! But it was incredibly hot... Again I will have to plan better and come in the spring =0)

One of the first places you see up the canyon is The Court of the Patriarchs...listed right to left: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...


Along the trail to the Emerald Pools...


Andrea and Kimball at The Lower Emerald Pool...


One of the waterfalls at the Emerald Pools...imagine what it would look like in the spring...


Andrea, Kimball and I at The Weeping Rock...


Along the drive in Zions National Park...



The Temple of Simewava...


Our little hiking fella...