More Summer Memories 2008

A few days after graduation, Megan, Spencer and I started off on quite an adventure. We loaded into a 12 passenger van with my sisters family and drove all the way to North Carolina to visit my other sister Becky and her family. There were 11 of us in the van and it was a very long drive, but we were able to stop and see many interesting sites along the way.

Our first stop was in Lincoln, Nebraska and we were able to see Winter Quarters and the temple there. The next day we stopped in Nauvoo, Illinois and went into the temple there. This was probably the highlight of the entire trip. What a beautiful temple it is. There is so much to think about and learn from the sights in Nauvoo. What a blessing it was to be able to go there.

After finally reaching Charlotte, NC after three long days of traveling, we rested for a day and then went on to Ocean Isle Beach. We stayed in a beach house for the entire week and had so much fun playing on the beach and with cousins! Spencer went deep sea fishing with his uncles and grandpa and caught a shark which we ate for dinner that night! We made pull-taffy and swam in the pool, played mini-golf, took in a movie, got ice cream and were mostly spoiled all week long.

The time always comes to say good-bye and this trip was no exception. This was the worst part of our trip. I have never liked goodbyes, in fact, I do what I can to avoid them. I shed a few tears, as did some of the rest of the family, because we just love our Wheatley
cousins and Aunt and Uncle. They are truly good people! Well, we loaded up in the van and headed west. This time we stopped in Branson, Missouri at a beautiful time share. We were able to take in a few shows while we were there and had some really good food as well. It would have been fun to spend more time there, but we had a schedule to keep so it was off to Colorado the following day. We stopped at a hotel in the mountains that night. It was such a breathtaking sight. Such beautiful countryside! We finally made it home the next day. We figured we had been through something like 13 states during our vacation. Not too bad! I was struck by what a wonderful country we live in with some much beauty and majesty. The fact that we have freedom to come and go as we please adds to my gratitude. What a blessing it is to live here!