The Perfect TX Closure - Part 2

Sunday morning, I woke up early and got ready for church so I could go to ward choir practice. Erin told me that the choir was singing on Sunday and that I should come join them. I asked Jen if I could practice and sing with them and she excitedly agreed. It felt as though I hadn't left. After practice and before church I got to go around and say hi to people. Then I got to sit with Lola Peterson, who is an elderly widowed lady that I had wanted to sit with many times when we were there but never did because of the kids, though she would have loved our kids sitting with her. Lola was the 1st counselor in the RS Presidency when I was called as the 2nd counselor. Serving with people helps you get to know each of them.

 I enjoyed being in the Bryan 1st Ward again. In Relief Society, they needed someone to lead the music so I jumped on the chance to volunteer. On the last Sunday I was there, I lead the music and cried thinking that I was leaving but I just enjoyed being up there and looking around at the ward this time. After church I got to go and visit Becky Collet. I didn't get to really say goodbye previously so I was determined to get back to visit her. I just love Becky and was so fun to get to talk to her. Then I got to go to visit Lola Peterson in her home and had a great visit with her. Then I headed to my home that night at Scott and Julianne Hoose's house. It was so great to be back in their home. I felt so comfortable there and like nothing had changed....except I didn't have a husband and kids with me this time. They are such a fun family. I loved being in their home. Julianne and I were den leaders for a couple years together. I could not have asked for a better den leader to work with. She is the best and if I ever serve in that calling again it will be a hard position for my other den leader to fill. It was so fun to be with them.

 Monday morning I woke up early and headed out to go play basketball at 6am at the church. We had 5 of us show up at first and then a sixth came a little later. I am so out of shape but I did get pretty lucky the first game and looked like I actually had some basketball skills, but that went away after the first game:) We played for an hour and a half. I was SO tired. I actually had to leave or they probably would have kept playing. I was suppose to be at Kimberlee Miles' house so we could leave.

 I got to Kimberlee's house and we got her daughter Murphy in the car and took her to school and then we went to Aerofit off of Villa Maria and did an hour of Zumba. I really enjoy Zumba and so it was fun to go do it with her. Though I thought of my friend, Allison, while I was there since that was "her" gym:) (Allison, I looked for your older friend but I didn't see her.) After I was completely dead from doing that we went back to Kimberlee's house and got ready for the day and had homemade blueberry pie before heading out. It was fun to visit with Kimberlee again. I would not have gotten to know her as well had it not been that I served in the RS Presidency with her. I was asking her questions about RS and she said, "yeah, you will be RS President soon." Ummmm.....NOT HAPPENING!! :) But she did give me a good laugh.

 I went to Babs Young's house, another lady I used to visit teach. It is funny because Heather Glade and I used to visit Babs every month and we always went on Monday. We usually we catch her at church and either ask her if we could come visit the next day or remind her that we were coming to visit the next day, so at church on Sunday, I asked her if I could come visit her tomorrow. She actually had the thought, I wonder if Steph is going to bring a lesson. She is in the RS presidency and because they needed VT to visit other ladies she didn't have VTers. However, she would often wonder on Mondays if her VTers were coming. I guess that means we were pretty regular:) It was so fun to talk with Babs and then she took me out to lunch. I can't even tell you where we went because it was a different, ethnic place that I can't even remember nor say the name. It was good and interesting all at the same time. It was so fun talking to her. Then I got to go visit Jamie Young. It was so fun to catch up with her and laugh and see her daughter. We had a great visit and she is so sweet.

 Then I went to my home that night, Heather and Michael Glade's. Michael got called as the Bishop of the ward just last September. He was only 33 when he was called. Holy Cow, young Bishop. It was so good for me to see a young Bishop and our friend called. It is still kind of crazy. I like to tease Heather and Michael about it but they are a great Bishop and I think Heather is such a good Bishop's wife. Chris and I really got to know them them the last couple years were were there so it was so good to stay with them that night. We had a great conversation and it was fun to hear what all has happened with them and the ward, within the last year.

 Then in my true, Steph, fashion, I had a Girls Night Out at Yogurtland for my last HOOZAAHHH in Aggieland. It was really loud and fun:) So I am going to try to say everybody that was there:

Julianne Hoose, Kari Patty, Jennifer Samuelson, Sadie Goddard, Allison Torres, Heather Glade, Jamie Young, Kimberlee Miles, Alfreda Williams, Becky Collet (and she brought Kirsten), Cindy Olsen (and she brought Kaylee), and Erin Hill (and she brought Graham and Annie). It was a great group of ladies. I wasn't sure if anybody would show up except Heather since we were riding together. It made me feel loved. Our cheeks hurt because we were laughing so hard and so much.

 Tuesday morning I got up and got going because I still had people I wanted to visit before going to the airport. I drove to my friend and previous co-worker, Carolyn Mayes, other job and thankfully she gets there at 7am so I was able to visit with her before leaving. It was fun to see her and catch up. Then I went to my old work, Bryan Adult Learning Center and saw Becky again but I saw Angie Kaldro and talked to her a bit before I had to get going. Then from there I went to McConnells and said goodbye. They are a great family and it was fun to around all of their kids and just feel included. Then I had to hurry and get the car filled up with gas and get to the airport. I still had to figure out how I was going to get everything I bought on the plane with me. There was a lot of stuffing and wearing more then I person usually does but I didn't have an option. It was bulging but it was able to fit up and that is all that mattered:)

 I made it to the airport with all that I needed. I was looking forward to going back to VA and being home. I was excited to see my family again. I got to read and sleep on the plane and my layover in Dallas.

 Some of the things I thought of while being there:

I really enjoyed talking about myself....until Monday, then it started getting old and I was done saying the same thing over and over.

I was ready to be with my family again.

I enjoyed TX but it would never be the same.

My life was in VA now and I had friends there already.

This was the PERFECT closure that I needed.

I was So glad to go back and get this closure.

I feel like I can close that chapter and move on, and it is OK.

I am thankful for all the time and memories we had in TX.

I stayed up late too much and talked too much. I didn't have a much of a voice when I got home.

I was SO fun to be by myself and do WHATEVER I wanted WHENEVER!!!
I felt SO welcomed and SOOOO LOVED by everybody. It made me feel so special:)

I am happy:)

I am not usually gone much so to see the kids running towards me when I got out of the security part of the airport was such an amazing and wonderful feeling. I loved being reunited with my family.

THIS IS HOME:)

P.S. I don't like the way that I look and I didn't want to have a bunch of pictures I hated so I didn't take any pictures while I was there. Now, I am thinking I should have but it is too late now.

The Perfect TX Closure - Part 1

Last November Chris and I were able to go to Mobile, Alabama for a conference that he was presenting a paper. His school was paying for everything for him and so we got the crazy idea to try to find someone to watch the kids so I could go with him and sort of celebrate our 10 anniversary that was coming up a week later. Grandma and Grandpa McConnell were able to watch the kids as well as many other friends for the four days we are able to be away. It was SOOO great.

The Sunday we were flying back they needed somebody to give up their seat and so we finally had Chris stay behind. We got a voucher to be used within a year but it had some restrictions on it.

Fast forward a year and we are in VA and hadn't used this voucher. Since there were some other restrictions on it we weren't able to use it for other things that we had thought of. We found out that Grandma and Grandpa McConnell's son was getting married in September. It was Jacob who was kind of like a younger brother for me. It worked out so perfect that the voucher would allow me to fly back to TX. Since Allison is in school now, it worked that Chris would be able to get the kids on the bus, go to work and then after his last class head straight to the bus and get them off of the bus. I don't really think it could have worked out more perfectly.

We got the kids on the bus on Wednesday, and then we headed to Chris' work. He taught his 8am class and then as soon as he got done he drove me to the airport, dropped me off and headed back to his next class to teach. I was all alone......

I got there about two hours earlier then my flight was leaving. The security gates weren't even open yet. I was kind of stumped as to what I do with myself. I was able to get some work done on my computer and start reading a book. The security gates opened and I got on the plane. I continued reading my book. I actually can't remember the last book that I have read. It was good, but it also put me to sleep on the plane. When I stop I tend to go right to sleep. I got to read and sleep on the plane.

I had a two hour layover in Dallas but it went by super fast just doing what I wanted and not having to worry about anything.

I flew into College Station, TX at 6pm and as we were landing and I recognized things I had tears in my eyes. I felt like I had finally made it home again. I was staying with my friend Brittany that night and she was going to be at a Cub Scout Pack Meeting, so I headed right to the church. When I walked into the gym and saw many of my friends there I started crying. It was so wonderful to see familiar faces again. I loved seeing people and the new Cubmaster said that they had a guest that night and invited me up to the front. I wasn't expecting that but I had been their den leader just 9 months ago.

I was able to see people that were there for mutual and Activity days and enjoyed saying hi to people. I got to stay with Brittany Bland that night and had a wonderful time catching up with her.

I got up with the kids in the morning and I got ready and was off to visit. I got to go see a close friend, whom I met through visiting teaching. I don't think I would have ever met her had it not been through visiting teaching and I got to visit her every month for about 5 years, until she moved to Idaho. She just moved back to TX in August which I was so excited to visit her. We had just a great talk. Then I went to my old job, Aggieland Carpet One. Claudia Smith always loves to see me and makes me feel so welcome. After that I had heard the previous night at the church that a lady from the ward was in the hospital so I stopped by visited another friend, Sandy Teegarden and Mari Ayn O'Neal. After that I was able to get something to eat and then go visit Kristin Lowe. I had the privilege of being her visiting teacher before I moved. I tend to take treats when I go visiting teaching sometimes and when she told her 6 year old son that Sister Thomas was coming over to visit, he asked, "Is she going to bring some yummy cookies?" Kristin said, "well, no, I don't think she is. She doesn't have a kitchen to cook in while she is here in TX." Jonah responded with, "can she come and make yummy cookies in OUR kitchen?" Too sweet:) I had a lovely visit with Kristin and then after that it was off to Sadie Goddard's house. I had a fun talk with her and then I stopped by H.E.B. (local grocery store which is super awesome) before heading to my house I was staying at that night. I got to go to Erin Hill's house Thursday night and had a great time with her. I took her out to The Lemon Wedge which is a very classy restaurant and we had really good soup and salad that just hit the spot. I wish I could make soup and salad that good. I really enjoyed talking and catching up with her.

It rained Thursday night. Continued all Friday also. I thought I was going to get away from the rain but I guess I took it to TX with me. Apparently they really needed it. I didn't enjoy it but they did. I did not enjoy driving in the down pour though.

Friday morning I got up early and I headed off to Houston to go to the wedding. I can't always remember how to get to the Houston Temple but it seemed like that time was the quickest and easiest time I had ever had. I got the the Temple earlier then anticipated but I enjoyed the Temple walls and peacefulness. A little while later, Janice and Mike McConnell came in and it was so good to see them. They had taken us under their wing and adopted our little family while we were in TX. All of their five children were able to make the wedding. It was really fun to actually meet, one of their daughters that I had heard so much about but had never met before. It was great to be there for the wedding.

Since I was in Houston I tried to contact our good friends that lived there, close to the Temple, David and Jami Hansen. I couldn't get them on the phone but I drove to their house anyways. They unfortunately weren't there so I headed back to Bryan/College Station.

 I went back to Aggieland and visited ,Leanna Prosser, a lady I used to visit teach who has been battling cancer. She found out she had cancer when she was about 4 months pregnant. She started going through chemo-therapy and then they had her deliver her baby early so they could do radiation. She asked me to come visit teach her during one of her chemo-therapy sessions. That was a completely new experience for me. I left right before she had her baby. It was so fun to see her and get to hold her baby. Visiting teaching is such a great and inspired program. I would not have been able to get to know her as well if it were not for visiting teaching. After I visited her, I got to visit a friend, Amy Martin, that we started our little two year olds in our own preschool together. I haven't seen her in years and we had a great visit. I was so glad that I was able to visit her. Then I headed to Allison and Paul Torres' house for the night. They were so nice and welcoming. We had fun together and we ate ice cream and talked. It was a great night.

 Saturday I got up and after breakfast headed out for Aggie attire. This was a great opportunity to not pay shipping fees and get Aggie stuff. I was able to get enough and was hopeful that I had enough room to carry everything back with me. Then I got to go to the park and my wonderful friends, Janine Toole, drove two hours just to come visit me. She said, she didn't think she would be coming to VA anytime soon but driving two hours was doable. I absolutley loved visiting with her. She is so great to be around. One thing that I asked her that really stood out to me was, if she ever wished that she could move back. She has been gone for about two years. She said, "Even if we moved back it would NEVER be the same." Holy Cow that really hit home with me. She was SOOO right. We love the area and the people and we would love to move back, but she was right, it never would be the same as when we left. I think that really flipped a switch with me. While we were there, Kristin was able to come and spend some time with us and then Rebecca Johanson was able to come with her family and we got to visit with her, and hold her baby that was just six weeks old. It was fun talking to her and catching up. I am glad she came to the parks so I could visit with her. She left with her family and then shortly after Janine needed to leave with her girls so they could get back. She is such an amazing friend to drive four hours just to come visit me. Not many of my friends or family put any or much effort in to coming to visit me/us so for her to come four hours just to visit me really made me feel so special and that she really cares about me. We don't have that in our lives so it really means so much to have a friend that actually is willing to come to you to visit you:) Janine is amazing!!!

 After the park I was able to go to Jennifer and Todd Samuelson's house. Todd was our home teacher for about 4 years I think? Ever since they moved into the ward, until we left. We have just gotten along so well with the Samuelsons and so it was great to visit with them. Their kids make me feel so special also. Whenever they see me they get so excited and come and give me a big hug. I got to each yummy dinner with them and then I had to head off to the reception. I enjoyed being at the reception and seeing people like my old Stake President, who is now the stake patriarch and his wife, Keith and Kathy Kutler. It was so great to see them. It was fun to see the McConnell's remodel finishes and to just hang out with everybody. Then I got to go back to the Samuelson's house and they were all so glad that I came back. They were very sweet.

Down Time

I don't even remember what special time this was but it is a cute photo and I love that she has her little doll with her.
 

 

New Scooter

Allison got a PINK scooter for her birthday and she LOVES it. She has so much fun on it and I loves all of her smiles.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friends Party

Allison loves princesses and wanted a princess party with friends.
There are only two girls that Allison really has as friends and they are from different wards. I didn't know how to logistically put it together so I divided and conquered. I decided to do something special with our friends from the Glen Allen ward and then something with the people we have been playing with all summer at the pool, one girl and 5 boys:)
We had a party and I think Allison had fun. I am sure it was way more girly then the boys would have wanted but it was really toned down for the boys.
Here is the castle cake I made for Allison
 

When she saw her cake for the first time

The birthday party

Laura Eliason, Allison, Nathanial Eliason
 

Dallin, Carol, Turner and Matthew Settle and Matthew

Colin Eliason on the end
 

Karen Eliason on the other end

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She had a fun time.

Birthday Party:)

When we got back from swimming, Grandma and Grandpa had the birthday party decorations up.
Allison was so excited to see everything:)
 

 

 

 

 

She even got her finger and toe nails painted on her birthday:)

 

 

Grandma and Grandpa got her this cake for her party!!!
She LOVED it!!!
Everything was edible except the Ariel on top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allison LOVES princesses and her favorite is Ariel, hence the cake.
Grandma Thomas was so excited to have a girl birthday party. She did great making Allison so happy.
Grandma even got Allison a crown for her party which was cute to see Chris putting it on her. He is such a great daddy:)

 

 

 

 

Grandma asked her what she wanted for her birthday dinner and she requested macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. She was one happy girl:)

Then the cake came....
Look at her face:)

 

She was SO excited to have an Ariel cake.