Sunday Maddie really wanted to play on my phone during sacrament meeting. I don't usually allow my kids on the phone but she outsmarted me by asking to read the scriptures. Then when I showed her how to write in the Gospel Library she was hooked. Here is her emoji testimony:
MADDIE Thornton 11/27/2016💴✉💲📧💹💳💳✉💶📧
The weekend before Thanksgiving Derek and I were able to take a trip by ourselves to Salt Lake. My grandfather's favorite yearly event is a Boy Scout Auction. I hadn't been for 13 years and had always thought that someday I would go. Derek was sweet and said we could go and that if I didn't I would regret it some day. Some friends of ours stayed with our kids and we left early Friday morning and returned late Sunday night. (thank heavens for direct flights)
We had a delightful time. When we went to rent our car they asked Derek if they could give him a truck instead. He got a huge smile on his face. I said that they had just made his weekend. We stayed at the Little America and were so blessed to be able to check in early and get a good nap before our evening activities. We went to a reception for my cousin Brandon and his new wife Sarah. It was one of the few receptions for one of my cousins I had ever been to. We were able to see lots of family. When my cute nieces saw me they called out "Lexi" and came and gave me a big hug; but they wouldn't even give Derek a fist bump. It was endearing.
Derek and I then left and went to the Roof Restaurant on the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. It looks out over the Temple. It is beautiful and always holds a special place in my heart. I went a couple of times as a teenager and then Grandpa Christensen treated us all to dinner the night before our wedding. Derek had requested we go as his birthday present. It was delightful. Derek is such a joy. He spoke to me about how much he enjoys being my husband and how grateful he is for me. Tears welled up in his eyes and in mine as he spoke. It was my favorite part of our trip.
The next morning we went on a hike up to Ensign Peak. I had never been there before. As we approached the beginning of the trail I was reading the history of the peak when all of the sudden a snow ball hit me. I hadn't even noticed the snow but Derek had found some and we had a great snowball fight. We did a lot of laughing and flirting on that hike. We laughed about snow, jackets that don't fit, having to take breaks every few feet because we were "adjusting to the altitude," mud between my 5 finger toe shoes, and just the joy of being together.
That evening we went to the Auction. It was so nice to be with family. I was able to see all my siblings. My sweet brother Heber had flown to New Mexico so he could drive Annelise up for the weekend. He is such a wonderful man. Jake and Karissa had organized donations from family members to send to Mom and Dad so they could pass them out to the refugees in Iraq. They left the auction with bags and bags of stuff to send. Christina and Chris loaded up on toys for the kids. It was fun to see them all.
I relished in the love of my grandparents and family. We bought a few things and then went to Grandpa's where he held the "Great Give Away" and gave everyone in the family stuff he and grandma had bought that evening. It was very fun.
Sunday we went to church with Grandma and Grandpa. We visited with Aunt Rachel and Uncle Jerry and saw their new home. They made us feel loved and welcome. We ate dinner with Grandma and Grandpa and just enjoyed their company. I felt so loved.
We then got on our plane and went home. It was a perfect weekend.
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