Road Trip ~ Surprise!!

For the past several months I have been dealing with... I don't know what you would call it..

Not really personal demons, but events that have taken place in the last couple of years.

Some I have had no control of, others that I believe I should have had control of and even some that I wonder if I had done things different what the out come would be.

Yea, I know I am a bit of a control freak.

All of it had started me on a spiral downwards.

So, I did what I use to do...

I went on a road trip.

I had been planning on going to Southern Utah for a Burgess family reunion.

Kira had said she wanted to go too.

The day before leaving I told Kira she needed to talk to Sergio and decided if she still wanted to go with me because,

I wasn't sure when I was going to come back.

Sergio has been working crazy long hours and he said he didn't mind if she was going to be gone a few days.

Kirk was a little more concerned, because really the last time Kira and I went on a road trip that was only going to be for 2 weeks it ended up being 3 months.

We packed our bags and headed south.

Our first stop was in Brigham City, Utah to go through the new LDS temple that was having its open house.

Hazel was so reverent and sweet while we walked through all the beautiful rooms. Each time she would see a picture of Christ on the walls she would point and  softly say, "Jesus".

It was really warm that day but we enjoyed walking around the grounds and yes, getting refreshed by the water that was given out by the temple volunteers. 

Kira understood that this was not going to be a straight there and back trip.

I was going to stop look and try to heal.

So, we did stop and look a lot.

Finding some interesting things on our drive to St. George, Utah.

Including the Dominguez Escalante Trail (nope never heard of it ether but very interesting, look it up)

When we arrived in St. George, we went for a drive by they St. George LDS Temple.

It is so very pretty.

The next day we headed to Pine Valley, Utah, where the reunion was being held.

Kirk's family has a lot of history here.

It was so fun to hear the different stories and 

walk where I know these noble family members had spent so much time.

The Pine Valley Chapel is so amazing.

I will have to do another post just about it.

The Pine Valley Cemetery has several of the Burgess family members buried there.

I have been to this cemetery before, and can say it still feels like sacred ground.

While driving to see the aprox. location of one of the families saw mills

we saw this pretty little lady hanging out.

At the reunion they had mentioned "Mountain Meadows" and that it was a short distance from Pine Valley.

We stopped at a little store and asked if they could give us directions to it.

It was maybe 10 miles from Pine Valley.

At this place approx. 120 individuals lost their lives in what is called 

"The Mountain Meadows Massacre"

It took place Sept. 11, 1857.

The stones are  pilled  on top of one of the mass graves.

They were placed there in 2007.

Reading the markers, one stated that along with a couple of other families the Burgess family had kept watch over the graves of those murdered, so grave robbers or others could not desecrate them.

That evening we went back to our room at the Chalet Motel in St. George, which I would give 4+ stars. Great price, nice size rooms, clean, fridge, microwaves, cable tv, wi-fi and the owners are very sweet. If you wanting breakfast and extras this is not the place to stay. But, there were tons of places to eat near the motel.

When the day was done,

I was tired yet in a strange way felt a bit of renewal.

The next day we had to decide if we were going to stay another day in St. George, head home or what...

WHAT won.... 

Off we went to 

NYC

not really we just drove down the strip of Las Vegas.

We didn't do any walking because,

well it was just to darn warm.

Our next stop....

Hazel's favorite show in the world right now is Disney's Cars.

So, you know we had to go find Route 66!!

We arrived in Kingman, AZ at the same time a major wind, dust and rain storm was.

But, we still had to have pictures

Miss H was thinking we were as crazy as her hair was during the storm!

If I am in Arizona, even if it is 6 more hours, I am going to see my family.

Can I just say how much I love my siblings... because I do.

yep, another 4 generation picture.

My mom use to make Prickly Pear Jelly.

and while driving through Utah and Arizona I saw plants LOADED with fruit.

So, I called my brother and asked if he wanted to go get Prickly Pears with me.

He said, YES, but that you have to have a permit to pick them now.

I told him ok I would find out where I needed to get it at.

Morris is thinking we will spend the day on the Ranger driving through the desert and pick fruit and have a good time...sounded good to me,

UNTIL... I found a local Wally-world with plants everywhere full of fruit.

While looking to see what I needed to do to get a permit, one of the pages said, if the fruits are located on private property that you just have to have the owners permission.

I quickly made a call to the manager of said store, who said he didn't see any problem with picking the fruits at their location.

and so we did.

Morris was a little bummed there wasn't a road trip but, we did get to hang out and visit.

I still can not believe that I did not get any pictures with my nieces and nephews.

But, I did get one of Miss H and Ham. Oh, how that little girl loves her cousin.

She will just walk up to him and give him a big hug. So, darn cute.

It is monsoon season, and I have forgot what those rain storms can be like.

It was crazy to drive through the one outside of Kingman.

We also got to have a taste of one while in the "Valley of the Sun". 

It poured!

Even the toads were trying to get out of the rain!

Seeing my family was a huge help...

One concern my father, he had just had knee replacement surgery and at first had not done very well. Seeing him and knowing he was ok...not great, but ok helped.

It was time to get back on the road.

First stop...

Montezuma's Castle.

Yes, I have been there before and still think it is one of the coolest places!

Do you know what kind of tree this is?

You would think that it would be rough.

But, it is smooth like silk and beautiful.

More places to stop and look

We drove all day in Arizona looking at different thing.

We spent the night in Knab, Utah at a DIVE of a hotel.

It is called the Royal Inn and Suits.

Trust me when I say there was NOTHING royal about the place.

We could not get out of the place fast enough.

Next day, Canyon Lands!

I think this arch is so darn cool!

I had never been to Bryce Canyon.

very pretty and amazing, but more of a place to go if you are a hiker.

Especially, because the entry fee is $25.00. Hiking or not.

I think Kirk would love this place.

And with my OCD with Cemeteries,

We stopped at a few on our road trip.

We arrived back home 7 days later around midnight.

Feeling better and realizing that I have to do this more often.

Thanks, 

Kira and Miss H for hanging out with me and being such great travel companions.

Josh for letting me steal your car that gets amazing gas millage.

 Sergio for letting me barrow his girls for the week and

Especially to Kirk...

Thanks sweetheart for understanding me and putting up with me.