Monday, September 29, 2014

august + temples

Our august was full of temples!
Just how we like our months to be.
We got to go through the Ogden temple open house, and then the next week we got to volunteer for the open house! It was such a huge blessing to serve in the temple. I got to put the white booties on shoes on their way in to the temple, and handsome ended up getting to just be inside the temple during our shift! We were the last shift, so once all the visitors had gone through we got to clean the temple. It was so amazing to be there after hours in the quiet, getting to see and pay attention to lots of areas we normally wouldn't. We got to learn alot of neat things from the cleaning crew and some of the guys that actually built the temple. This temple is amazing. I'm so glad it's open and ready for service. How lucky are we to have so many temples so close?
Dallin and I spoke in sacrament meeting for the first time since being married (we flew under the radar pretty well for so long!) and we were asked to speak on the blessings of the temple! My favorite topic ever. I was nervous (obviously) and dallin did SO well (obviously).



Open house day

Waiting in line for booty duty hahaha

We got to stay in the temple so late!

August 15th was kind of a hard day for me. It was one year since sweet gram passed away. I went out to the cemetery by myself to bring her the most beautiful flowers I could find. It was nice to think of her in the peace and quiet. I sure miss her.

Which leads me to this wonderful man. My grandpa has taught us a lot over the years, but I think the biggest thing I've seen learned from him is everlasting, unconditional love. He is so loving to his God, children, and grandchildren, and he loves my gram the more than anything. He has shown us time and time again how much he cares for her and misses her. Watching him be alone is maybe the hardest part of her being gone. She left a big hole. But I'm so thankful for the time we all got with her, and the loving man she left behind to teach us and lead our family. 

I am so thankful for my other grandparents too! They celebrated their 52nd anniversary this august, and they have so much love to give and teach us with. They are wonderful examples. I'm so grateful for all my grandparents, and all of dallin's grandparents! We are truly spoiled in that department.

Sister Aguilar is back!!!! So so happy to reunite with nay finally! She served an honorable mission to Hong Kong that felt like forever, but she was amazing and such a good example to me. It was so good to get all caught up with her. 

Handsome and I started a new institute class this semester. We have the BEST teacher. She is incredible. Plus she sometimes has pictures of Harry potter in her slide shows, so that rocks.

Missing my Parisian friend!! Good thing she comes home in January 



August has treated us well :)


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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Aguilar Family Trip

August 2-9


Saturday

Fifteen passenger vans!! And #momsfirstselfie

Ready to go!

Our view. Hours and hours 

Stopped in Moab for dinner at Pasta Jay's

My manicotti

The boys' pizza

Huckleberry ice cream


Sunday
We stayed overnight in Cortez, Colorado. Sunday morning we went to church and got right on the road to Santa Fe!


After church


Monday
Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico 




  
The whole plaza was adorable








The Loretto chapel is famous for this beautiful staircase. The congregation had been using a ladder to get up to the choir loft, until a man traveling through town stopped and offered to build this staircase. He soaked and shaped the wood for this staircase. They don't know the name of the staircase builder, so they think of him as an angel.

Gorgeous stained glass


Tree in the courtyard



 
i'm in love with the art and culture in New Mexico


My first souvenir of the trip!! Definitely not my last







Super fun lady dancing her heart out 

Look who we found!! So so glad to see my girl and her little one

Funk r & b band playing in the plaza





Seriously going at it


And the most epic picture of all.
#selfieswithfriends




Fajitas from this stand




\
The Cathedral Bisilica of St. Francis of Assisi




 
St Francis 





The most amazing Mexican food in Santa Fe 



Tuesday
Tuesday was a driving day, driving back to Colorado. The clouds every day were incredible




Wednesday 
Durango and Silverton narrow gauge railroad

A welcome sign just for us!















Phone quality picture, but the view was incredible







Hahaha





Four hour ride from Durango to Silverton, some time spent in Silverton then a four hour ride back down the mountain to Durango! 





Thursday
Mesa Verde!


Cliff palace


Tour guide Byron 






















 

Bobby the ranch hand





Addy needs her own horse



Haha baby

Lining up to get on their horses!











My trusty steed Freeway














We rode through their land for an hour and Perry had made us a chuck wagon steak dinner



Live music from our hosts



 


Friday
Four corners and driving day


Kissing in all four states!





 


 


This is as close to delicate arch as we got 



There's all kinds in Moab :)







We spent the night in Moab and then drove home Saturday afternoon!! 



We are all so grateful to Grandpa Bob for taking us on this amazing trip to show us where we come from! 


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