The Great Surprise

I was asked to fly to Utah and attend a training at Layton corporate office in Sandy.   It's fun to take these little trips back home every now again to connect with old friends and family.  This trip I met up with Andy Lange and Steve Lutes for lunch.  We ended up at the lunch spot for 3+ hours reminiscing, laughing, crying, and reconnecting.  There were smiles as we talked about our teenage years and tears as we talked of recent losses, such as the death of Andy's father.  It was so rejuvenating being with these two again.  

I also enjoyed spending some one-on-one time with Cory/Kristen family.  They are always such terrific hosts and make you feel like the most important priority while you are there.

While Cory was visiting Kauai the month before, waiting for his new job to start, we began making plans to surprise Mom and Dad at their mission in Cove Fort.   Our plans became larger when we worked to get all the siblings together for the surprise.  This meant Ryan flying in from Washington, and Scott and Angela working things out with their busy schedules.   Although there were lots of obstacles that worked to prevent this from happening, it was looking good.  All the siblings met up in Orem on Thursday, April 14, late afternoon and made the 2 hour drive to Cove Fort.  Mom and Dad were expecting Cory because he had made previous arrangements to visit them.  Cory pulled in and parked while Scott, Angela, Ryan, and I lay hidden in the back of Cory’s car.  

As Mom, Dad, and Cory came to the back to unload some things we popped out!  The surprise was epic!  It was all captured on video.  Mom and Dad stood in disbelief with tear filled eyes.  The siblings jumped around giving high fives.

We tried to remember the last time it was just the 7 of us under the same roof and determined it was likely more than 25 years ago.  We had less than 24 hours, but our time together was amazing!  After arriving at Cove Fort around 8 pm we all ended up staying up until 2:30 am!  We sat around the kitchen table in the same positions as we did growing up.  We laughed, we cried, we shared our joys and our struggles. 

For some reason Cory talked to us into this pore cleanser procedure at 2 am in the morning!

The next morning we got a little later start to our day.  We first drove 30 min to the Fremont Indian museum and hieroglyphics walk.  After a short outdoor walk we went back to Cove Fort for a picnic lunch.  

Our last adventure together was to some lava tubes outside of Fillmore.   I was impressed--they were fascinating and none of us had ever known they were there.  We explored and threw rocks until Scott had to head back home.  The six of us then explored a little more around Cove Fort and went to Beaver for dinner. 

The wild flowers did not disappoint!

We love to make fun of how Edwards sleep!

This trip for me was nothing short of miraculous.  I had been intensely looking forward to our surprise and our time together as a family.  I’m on my return flight now feeling uplifted and fulfilled.  I return with a stockpile of sweet memories which will never be forgotten.  I felt our short time together as a family core represented my childhood—love, laughs, belonging, joy, and a glimpse of our eternal family.