Utah, BYU, Conference, Kids Plans Changing

October 8, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

Brian had to work in Utah last week, so a couple of the kids joined him for a variety of activities and a couple of personal events as well.

First on the agenda, The BYU vs. Utah State football game, where Hillary wasn’t sure what shirt to wear, since she has already been accepted to Utah State and has deferred a scholarship there while she is in China…by the way she is leaving way to quickly. We are on a count down.

All three had a great time on the field and for some reason they shot off the “touchdown cannon” so they were on the field most of the game. Noah got a game ball from the coach and a former coach of Brian’s set them up with sweatshirts, hats and t-shirts, including signature Jimmer stuff for Chase. They rolled out the red carpet for him. The kids were stoked….Brian again…..loving life.

For Brian, this is his element and he was in heaven. This whole month he will be in heaven…Next, BYU vs. Notre Dame and then Georgia Tech…..dreamy!

Next day, they headed down to the General Conference of our church where they were able to get tickets from a friend in Pennsylvania. Thanks

Hillary and her friend, Paula were super excited about getting in for the second saturday sessions. For you who don’t know about the conference, it is a major production out of Salt Lake City and the whole state is bustling that weekend. The city center is jammed packed with conference goers.

At BYU they ran into one of our favorite former missionaries from New Hampshire…Elder Gelwix. We love him!

They shopped around Salt Lake City after.

Since Noah turned 12, it was Brian’s dream to take him to the priesthood session on Saturday evening. These photos aren’t the great off the phone but at least we have some.

The best thing about the night was the both grandfathers joined them, making it a special evening for everyone.

We love both set of Grandparents who fed and hosted all weekend. Brian went to the Sunday morning session with Hillary and his parents and then to a big halibut fry at my mom and dads before they flew out.

Obviously the big news out of the conference was the reduction of the age of when youth can serve a full-time mission. Boys can now go at 18 vs. 19 and girls can go at 19 vs. 21. They serve for 2 years (boys) and 1.5 years (girls).

I have children freaking out right now over the mission age. Hillary called me screaming right when it was announced.

Now it seems like she has a million options….Does she go to college? Does she go on a mission?

It was nice to see that it is a recommendation….and not a dead set age. Chase turns 18 before his senior year…so he will be 19…. if not older regardless, he may go one year to college as previously planned.

Hillary will put her papers in at 19 and go at 20….she is so excited. She turns 19 three weeks after she gets home from China…so she might need a little break.

A lot was jammed into a short time period…but it was a
a big huge weekend for these three…I am so happy they got the opportunity to go.

Filed Under: Angela, Brian, BYU Football, Hillary Tagged With: General Conference, Utah Trips

4 Things to Know Today

September 26, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

1. I spoke to my favorite girlfriend from college who lost her husband (an ENT Doc) 4 years ago at the age of 36 to a blood clot.

We talked for hours. I love her. Life brings so many interesting challenges to people and her strength has been remarkable. I don’t think I could be as amazing as she is.

This next month marks 4 years since his death and we are/were planning on meeting her at Notre Dame vs. BYU game where the 4 of us as young college couples went 20 years ago to watch Brian play, also, now the exact date of his death.

We all said back then, “2012 Notre Dame-Let’s do it no matter where we are!”

Except my stupid schedule fouled it up and his young life was taken early.…I am attending a meeting in NYC for LDS Public Affairs, I am sick that it falls on the same weekend and I am already committed.

Brian is attending the game and plans on meeting her there. My boys are going and her children are all going to the game as well.

You just never know what life will throw at you so live life like it is the last day.

2. General Conference for our church is coming up next week. I am so excited to be filled to the brim spiritually and receive guidance for our family! You can watch any part of the two day event here! It will change your life. It happens twice a year and is utterly amazing.

3. This weekend I am tied up doing a variety of things. Saturday is packed with an 4 meetings for LDS Public Affairs. I am meeting with my counterpart from Washington DC who is in town as our guest in the morning, he is training our area authority, stake presidents and public affairs people from CT to Maine in the afternoon. After, I meet with our area authority to hash out a brand new thing emerging called digital mission. Lots of stuff going on here.

On Sunday, I will be with a New Hampshire Public Radio broadcaster/reporter Amanda Loder, who is doing a piece on the LDS church in New England.

This is actually a real fun calling. You meet lots of exciting people from a variety of walks in life.

4. Finally, my personal life is a mess from returning home from vacation. My luggage is not unpacked, my sleeping patterns are crazy, I am eating like a horse because I am fatigued…not a good thing and my house is falling apart. I am trying to get the school, homework and life schedule under control…..

I do have grand plans of organizing clutter when I rebound from living in Europe last month….

Filed Under: Angela, BYU Football, Public Affairs

Public Affairs, BYU Football and St. Augustine

May 18, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Here are 4 things to know about this week-

1. I have spent most of my week working on Public Affairs for the LDS Church in my area. That is my assignment right now and I absolutely love it. We talked about church assignments and why we serve on my old blog here. We are all volunteers in the church.

Part of my job is creative. Currently, we are working on what media pieces we going to produce for the area.

We are going to be putting together as much visual media for our area that we can produce for our upcoming events. We have never gone this direction before in this area and it is so exciting. I loved watching the wheels turn in people’s minds last night.

This is a huge blessing for me because…. since I decided to give up shooting photography for profit on the side (Because it just took up too much family time,) I have felt the blessings of home and family life more abundantly…. but I admit I have missed the creative edge it added to my personal growth!

The talented Paul Vogelzang and Marcus Faust from the Washington DC area have been mentoring me and oh boy, do I appreciate what they are doing. They head up the North America, Northeast Area for Public affairs.

I spoke with Paul yesterday, and wow is he brilliant.

I think that is just one of the most exciting parts of service, you never know who you are going to rub shoulders with and what good part you can learn and take away. Serving others just inspires you and helps you grow.

Paul is a media guy with bundles of talent, that is exactly one of the things I wanted to do this year- create more media.

And I am in the perfect position to do so now all in the name of service. Love it!

The church has a bundle of areas where you can share your creative talents. One is at this site and guess what you don’t even have to be a member to do so!

I met last night with our leaders over this area, it was a huge success. I feel like we are moving into the next generation here and everyone is feeling much more comfortable with where we are headed.

2. I just recently looked at the next six months of my husband travels schedule. Yes being married to an ex-BYU Player, I am not surprised, but I just found it a little odd to learn that he has to be at Notre Dame and Georgia Tech the same weekend as the game for meetings.

What a smart guy my husband is!

I learned that many of his management meetings are now based around the BYU Football schedule Away Games.

“He has to be there,” he said.

Hmmm….. still processing this!

I stumbled upon this classic photo when BYU played Notre Dame in 1995. I think that was the biggest day of Brian’s life

3. We miss our daughter Hillary. Right now she is in St. Augustine, Florida on a one-on-one trip with her Grandmother.
Ahhh, isn’t that sweet. They have travelled together before in the past and really enjoy their time together.

She said one of her favorite spots was the stop at Flagler College. This isn’t a college stop, but the college is part of the cultural landscape.

“St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States.[1] Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United States.

St. Augustine lies in a region of Florida known as “The First Coast”, which extends from Amelia Island in the north to Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast in the south.” (Wikipedia)

Hillary has her own blog where you can follow her adventures.

4. I realize this blog is still empty- I am working on it- Promise! I still have to figure out a few technical skills. My old blog Domestic Lifestyle still has all of my past content.