Parallel Universe

I titled this entry Parallel Universe because that is exactly where I felt I was when we took Jacie to COLLEGE! It was shocking when Jordan started college, but when the baby hits that milestone and the realization that your children are ADULTS, it becomes shock and awe!

Jacie started at Snow College. It has been 3 weeks already! We took her down on August 17 as that was move - in day. She is roommates with a friend from school named Sarah. When we got down there we met her other three roommates and I felt such a great relief. They are all such nice girls and none of them thrive on drama. I think Jacie felt a great deal of relief, too. So far they really seem to enjoy each other and Jacie is really enjoying it.

On move - in day, our wonderful friend and neighbor Kai who just got back from his mission, came over to say hi. I think Jacie felt a great sense of relief having a "big brother" figure down there with her. And he is big! About 6'5"! She even had to call upon him last week when some kid followed her from a class they had together into her class. He's not even enrolled in the class but stayed the whole time. It freaked her out a bit, but she texted Kai and he came over after class and walked her back to her dorm. (The kid had taken off by then.) It was comforting for all of us to know Kai had her back!

Jordan is in her Senior year at the University of Utah. I joke around that she really doesn't live at home - she just camps here between school and work. I'm very grateful she still is here or else Cooper and I would be soooo lonely!

I just love these angels and I can't believe how fast the time went by. I still feel like it was yesterday that I was walking Jordan to preschool!

I'm so thankful they have the opportunity and earned scholarships to help them further their education. They are learning and growing and I could not love them more! GO UTES! GO BADGERS!



Jacie outside her dorm!

St. Maarten!

I have had St. Maarten on my bucket list for years. Mostly because of Maho Beach. What is so special about this beach you may ask? Well, it is right by the runway of SXM which is St. Maarten's airport. I mean 50 yards or so behind the runway so when the planes land, they come literally right over your head! Airplane spotter's paradise! Don and I decided to go in April as we could get pretty good rates and it was right after peak travel season.

It did not disappoint. The bigger airlines have flights coming in from about 10:30am until around 3:00, while the commuter airlines come and go earlier and later than that. I'm all about the big airliners so we spent a great deal of time at this beach. I'll post some awesome pictures.

St. Maarten was hit by Hurricane Irma two years ago. There is still a lot of damage that is visible and on some beaches around this bay you can see boats still washed up. We drove around the whole island on Sunday after Church and you can still see damage. Trees broken and gone and makeshift roofs on some places. Even still, it is a cool island. I just loved it.

We went to Church on Sunday and it was great. A very tiny branch. I had been talking to Don and we were talking about two of Jordan's friends who were serving in the Barbados Mission. I was wondering which mission St. Maarten was in. Well, my question was answered when I walked into Church and there was Jordan's friend Peter serving in that branch! It was so cool to see him. I got his mom's phone number and texted her later to tell her that Peter was diligently serving and doing well. It was so fun to see him. I was in the PTA at Centerville Jr. High and Peter was an SBO and so I knew him from that and always thought he was a real nice kid.

Anyway, I'll share some photos of the wonderful view of the planes we saw. I definitely hope to return to St. Maarten and sit on the beautiful beach and watch planes come and go again!



I got really giddy when a "Delta Belly" flew over! 






KLM A330







This time of year Delta flies 757's over and I happen to really love them. So graceful.

On the way home Don had to make a quick trip to New Jersey for a meeting he had so we flew to JFK, drove to Jersey and spent the night and came home the next evening. While at JFK I had so more fun views of some big birds.



Don snapped this picture of me gawking. It's hard to tell but there are three A380's out that window. They are huge and it was fun we got to see a couple come in. It really was a plane spotters delight!

I'm so thankful for this opportunity. I feel very fortunate to do one of my favorite things - fly! It was also special to be with Don. Sure do love him.