My blog subscription renewed so it's time to catch up and get some stuff recorded!
I started blogging one year ago this month in an attempt to keep myself busy and record my thoughts/feelings/pictures. I had no idea what was going to happen with our year/life. I needed something to do and this has been a great way for me to remember special memories.
December! This feels like a lifetime away since I'm writing from Oklahoma and we haven't lived in Memphis for almost a month!
My parents flew out to visit us and see where we live! It was soooo fun having them there with us. It felt so surreal and I couldn't stop smiling. I love my parents! I picked Mom up from the airport and we went straight to Justin's game. On the way home, we stopped again at the airport to get Dad (coming from a work trip in Michigan).
We went on a road trip of our own to Birmingham, AL. Justin had some games there and it was only a few hours away. We saw all of the Memphis sights, ate BBQ, walked around the city, and talked and talked.
I'm so grateful they came out! Seriously such a special memory. Blogging about it now made me remember how much I loved those few days.
Before driving out, we visited the Civil Rights museum in Memphis. It was amazing to learn about the history of events that took place in the South (including Alabama), and then come and see where they took place.
The day I met Brother Janke, he told me we had a mutual friend. When Dan lived in Ohio, he was in a stake presidency with my Santaquin stake president, President Wood. Small world! We took this picture to send to President Wood. We've since become close with Dan and his wife Brenda. They've come to lots of Hustle games and we hope to see them again soon!
Proof that I had a job in Tennessee! I worked for a company called Soccer Shots. I got to know the Memphis area very well as I drove to different daycares and schools to coach my little soccer friends. It was a rewarding job and I loved being around the kids.
Beale Street Landing. Justin and I walked this path almost daily. We lived in an apartment about two blocks from the river. I missed having a yard I could just step outside to and sit in the sun. I loooove being outside. This riverwalk became one of my favorite places. On the edge of the city, it was a quiet place I could go when Justin was traveling.
We'd time our second walk of the day to be outside when the sun set.
I love him!
Game night with the McDermotts & cute Evie!
I left for Santaquin the same day Justin went to Vegas for his G League Showcase. He finished his tournament and flew home to Santaquin a couple of days before Christmas. I'm glad he was flying back to UT and not further East because the weather was awful. Lot of flights were delayed but Justin's flight was right on time for Dad & me to go surprise him at the airport.
We got to be home with everyone together for 3 days. Hardly enough time, but we'll take it! Can't wait for May when we'll have weeks and weeks together!
Growing up, the day after Thanksgiving was one of my favorites - chocolate house day. Grandma Rowley would have all of her chocolate house molds ready for her grandkids. We would go to her house with our bags of candy and spend the morning decorating our houses.
Grandpa would make bets with us on how long our houses would last untouched. I miss them and I'm so grateful we get to continue the chocolate house tradition.
One of my besties/cousins! I love Whitney. She's someone I can totally be myself around and one of the people I have the most memories with. We both LOVE Harry Potter. I remember taking road trips with her family when we were younger to St. George and writing in secret codes while watching HP on the minivan TV. :') Now she has cute baby Wesley!!
We made it back to Memphis the 26 of December and welcomed our Bean family to Memphis a few days later. Again, it was the greatest feeling to have family there visiting us where we lived! We missed Ty, Abby and their kids. It was a great few days in the airbnb.
Love you, December! 2022 was good to us. Here we go 2023!