I’m a Tempe Goin Gal

On January 19, 2013, I had the opportunity to receive my endowment and make new and sacred covenants with my Heavenly Father in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.

It was such a beautiful day with my eternal family.

Since this day, I have attended the Las Vegas, Provo, Timpanogas, and Bountiful temples.

It might be on my bucket list to attend every temple in the world. Dream big folks.

Say hello to Tessa Michelle

“Only an aunt can give hugs like a mother, keep secrets like a sister and share love like a friend.”

– Spanish Proverb

Fall

The leaves change and all of a sudden my life has never seemed so wonderful!

Caitlin, Trevor and I had a picnic up the canyon one Sunday when the season was turning. Sometimes I feel that the spirit is strongest when I’m surrounded by nature and family. Probably was the best way I could have spent a Sunday in October…

“Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need.”

- Elder Richard G. Scott

Someday

This is my brother in-law when he saw my sister in her wedding dress for the first time:

I can’t get over it.

Tante Risa

I've had the privilege to be called "Aunt Marisa" almost all summer. I've been so blessed to spend so much time with my nieces and nephews. I love them so much.

I loved spending time at the wedding with these lovely flower girls

Then I got to take care of Liesl's kids for a few days.

Topher loved the pool. He would barely dip his toe in when we first got there and had me carry him everywhere. By the time we were ready to leave he was diving into the water and begging us to stay.

Ty was less enthusiastic about the pool but he let me bring him around the lazy river a few times.

                      Whitney's favorite part was going down the big slide. She was so independent.

Carrie brought her boys to Cedar last week and I was tickled to spend so much time with them. I adore my newest nephew Tanner. I'm glad Carrie let me hold him so often. Tanner was really into the fireworks at the Opening Ceremonies at the Utah Summer Games

                      And of course we took another trip to the pool. These boys love new adventures. My nephew, Hayden, knows German and he calls me Tante Risa. I wonder if I can get all my nieces and nephews to call me that.

Through the Years…

My sister Caitlin is getting married tomorrow!! We’re very, very close and so this is a little bit more bittersweet than when my other sisters got married. Caitlin has been my life-long buddy. She has always been my biggest example.  Although we’ve always been pretty different, I’ve always wanted to be just like her. Just look at all the adventures we’ve had together!

Ugly Christmas Sweaters

What happens when you get some of my siblings together at Christmas time?

Ugly Christmas sweaters!!!

Like Aunt Like Niece

Okay since my sisters keep bringing this up on their blogs…. I thought I would post this.

Apparently my my niece Addilyn and I are twins… thoughts?

 

Marisa, 1st Grade

Addilyn, 2nd Grade

I Climbed The Great Wall!

I consider this to be one of my greatest achievements in life! That was hard work!

Here are pictures (to prove it) and some interesting facts:

The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups.

The Great Wall of China is one the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World.

The Great Wall of China is 25 feet high in some places and ranges from 15-30 feet wide.

During its construction, the Great Wall was called “the longest cemetery on earth” because so many people died building it. It cost the lives of more than one million people.

The main wall is around 2,145 miles long with an extra 1,770 miles of branches and spurs.

The manpower to build the Great Wall came from frontier guards, peasants, unemployed intellectuals, disgraced noblemen, and convicts.

Signal towers were built upon hill tops or other high points along the wall for their visibility.

Facts taken from http://facts.randomhistory.com/2009/04/18_great-wall.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Wall_of_China