Iowa/Illinois

I had to spend two weeks in Coralville, Iowa for work, but it conveniently worked out that one of my best friends from my senior year of High School lives IN Coralville! Small, small world. She headed out there for school a few years ago, met her husband, and they have been there ever since. Luckily her husband Traegan is just about to finish up his residency for Dental School, so they will be coming back to Utah in a few short months. Anyways, I would have never survived two weeks out there if it weren't for her! SO happy we were able to have such a fun reunion!!

This beautiful addition is new! (well, nine months new..)

Kim, Lindy and me going to the State football game.

 (for some reason we thought it was normal and cool to dress up like this...? #donthate)

Throwing it back to 2006-- WOW.

love this little thing!

Sweet Little Hensleigh is already on track to be  just like her Mamma (soccer extraordinarie)

I was able to experience the Mid-West's famous "Walking Taco" at our company pot-luck on thelast day I was there. I first saw the Walking Taco on a menu at a small, local cafe--  didn't ask questions (clearly I was ignorant, and didn't bother to question it's validity.) So here you see, the brilliance of Walking Taco. Basically a taco salad made inside of a bag of Doritos. On point.

Here is the Vivint team. What an incredible group of people. My friend Teresa (to my right, in the orange shirt) knitted me that gorgeous scarf! I was amazed at the kindness they showed to me!

 DAY-TRIP: NAUVOO

Since I wasn't able to make it home for the weekend, I made sure I made the most of my time there. I drove 2 hours to visit Nauvoo, Illinois. This is a very special location for my religion. Most of you know that I'm Mormon. The actual name of the church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is actually the exact same church that Christ Himself established when He lived on the earth about 2,000 years ago. It's easy to see that today there are thousands of different religions out there. In essence all of the different religions out there are split off's of Christ's original church.  In 1820 a boy named Joseph Smith was really confused about why there were so many different religions. Makes sense right?  He prayed to God just that he would be able to know which church he should join. He had a vision where he saw God and his son Jesus Christ. They told him he was to be the next prophet (jsut like prophets in the Bible) and he would be responsible to RESTORE back to the earth, the original church of Jesus Christ. Shortly thereafter, the authority that God had given to previous prophets (just like prophets in the Bible) was also restored. All of this occured in New York, but because the early church members were severely persecuted, they were forced to leave and re-locate. Nauvoo was one of those places. I am very grateful for the sacrifices that Joseph Smith and all of the early church members made on my behalf. The church of Jesus Christ and the knowledge and perspective on life that it gives me has provided me with so much peace in my life. I would love for ALL of my amazing friends to learn more about what has made me so happy in my life! (click here to learn more about what I believe)

Above is a temple that they built in the 1840's. It sits atop a gorgeous bluff that overlooks the Mississippi river. The temple that is currently standing is a reproduction of the original temple which was built in 1848.

This is a statue of Joseph Smith (prophet) and his younger brother Hyrum. The statue is supposed to replicate their last moments in Nauvoo. Before they even finished the temple, they were forced to leave and go further West. There you go....That is why there are so many Mormons in Utah! Hopefully this is all making some sense to you now :)

Eventually Joseph Smith was martyred when he was falsely accused and put in the building you see above (Carthage Jail).