The Stecherbush Abroad

Being able to go to the Temple multiple times was such a blessing. I miss it so much and feel determined to find a way to go regularly. I will say it was really difficult to unwind and focus. That made me a little bit sad. My sister Ashley was also a huge blessing. She took my kids bowling, out for ice cream and much more so that I COULD be in the Temple and go to Dr.'s appointments etc. I felt so privileged to be able to have lunch with our friends who were passing through Provo. Probably the last time I'll get to see Mo who apparently committed marriage immigration fraud and is back in Egypt. This is one of the most heart-breaking things.   Post-Temple trip creamery food. We learned a little late that 2 scoops looks much different from the creamery.  I sure love these kids. My kids appreciated the time with their cousins so much! I loved taking them to the Temple.   

Brigham finally got to attend BYU's swim camp. I've wanted him to go for a couple of years and he was really looking forward to it. We had a little campus tour together and then I dropped him off at the Tanner building for his orientation.  After I dropped him off, I grabbed some lunch and set off to find my sister's grave which I had never visited. I needed some guidance from Ashley but I was amazed at how the memories flooded me from her funeral. i didn't feel like my memories of her were as clear so I sat there and read what texts and emails I had from her. It did bring back some memories.  Tuesday it was the girl's turn for sports camp. They were so excited for gymnastics camp but Sennia really seemed to feel nervous and out of place every single day. Elise on the other hand, hadn't wanted to go but she actually seemed perfectly comfortable after her first day and soooo excited. The girls got out of camp 4 hrs before Brigham did so we had lunch, ran errands,...

  Another airport, another destination. This time we headed to Utah. There were some tricky unknowns like getting to our car from the airport. Flight was easy-thankfully since I was very tired after having to sleep with Elise in a bed-actually no sleeping really happened. She had some asthma suddenly the night before and didn't sleep well until I gave her a breathing treatment around 2:30am and it was too late for me. We had a 7:40am flight so a 4:30am wake up and for some reason I was really nervous about missing it. This photo Elise snapped is probably par for the course. I was tired, I was anxious, I was missing my home in Oman.  The flight wasn't the best sitting next to an Indian Grandma who clearly wasn't wanting to spend ANY time entertaining or comforting her grandson who was leaving his parents. He cried and she gave him a screen or shushed him. If he'd been sitting next to me instead of her I would've helped with the problem. I probably should've anywa...

Alena is trying not to laugh. . . She's voting on cheesecakes, And more silly games. She flew to Washington state to see my family. She ended up babysitting for Dorothy and having this fun FHE. Unfortunately she didn't stay long enough for this little one. She did arrive in Utah just in time to help with Ethne's performance in Matilda.  She was included in a bustling social life of the Frys and she loved it. She had the spare room completely with a lovely queen-sized bed and slept in until she wanted to get up every day. We're so thankful for my family hosting her.