Betsy's Family Blog: Salt Lake City

Showing posts with label Salt Lake City. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Monday - Salt Lake City / This Is the Place / Thai Food with Ken

On Monday we had to be out of the Lodge by 10:00 - on our way out we had breakfast in Garden City with the family. Most everyone had already gone because they had long drives back to AZ, CA, etc, but we were just going to Utah.

Bear Lake is a lake that goes into two states, so we drove up to Idaho just so we could say we'd been there.

Leaving Bear Lake we drove through Logan, UT and stopped at the temple - see other post.

From Logan we drove to Heritage Place, "This is the Place" This place is where a monument was built to honor those that were pioneers and traveled so far to Utah. This is where Bringham Young declared they would stop their journey and live here. Seeing all that Salt Lake City has become from that time where there was nothing but the Great Salt Lake is amazing!

Mark and Devon talking

Our kids favorite activity - climbing trees

We were able to go into Heritage Place for just 30 minutes because they were closing early for the day. It was the only day we could come, so they were nice and let us in. We had to stay just on the main street - but that was enough for now.

John Gardner's Cabin

Robert walking on stilts

Betsy at the Huntman Hotel

From Heritage Place we drove down to Salt Lake City and did our usual routine. We parked on the back side of the Conference Center, toured the outside of the Conference Center before touring Temple Square.

Love this!

Temple Square was beautiful. All the flowers were in full bloom. We had a wonderful time. It was fun to see the changes in our children over the years. The first time we came Robert was only 3 years old.

Mark and Marissa in front on the temple

A view of the temple

Today we were able to walk around the open side to the temple. Robert and Devon were on "immediate investigation" mode. They went exploring.

Mark, Marissa and I were introduced to the cousin of the Osmonds. We talked to him for a while (too long).

Betsy, Mark and Marissa (fingers of the Osmond missionary)

Marissa has always wanted her photo taken here - ever since Jessica had her's taken here.

This is in front of the Church office building. We went into the church office building and were reminded that Mark's cousin, Steven Lowe works there in finance. He came down and we had a wonderful visit with him. Most of his children are married and starting families of their own. Their youngest is about 2 years older than Jessica.

Our family at the Salt Lake Temple

From there we went to Ken Cramer's house. We had a great visit with his family. We had all sorts of different Thai foods for dinner since Ken and Mark served their missions together in Thailand. Ken had just recently been on a mission trip to Thailand with their second son, Nicholas. Their oldest son, Tyler is serving a mission too. It was a great visit.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

AMI National Convention in Salt Lake City

On Thursday, April 28, 2011 I flew out early in the morning bound for Salt Lake City to attend the 76th annual National American Mothers, Inc. Convention. I really enjoy attending these conventions and feel so inspired to come back and be a better mom. I also serve on the National Board so I had to be there for business meetings.

On the first night, the whole group boarded buses that took us on a tour of SLC and then up to Heritage Place where we experienced first hand what it would have been like to be an early settler in Utah. Here is the monument entitled "This is the Right Place," which are the words Bringham Young proclaimed upon seeing the Salt Lake Valley below. We had a lovely pulled pork barbecue dinner, a train tour of the early settlements and good old fashion line dancing and singing entertainment this first night.

Betsy with Vivian Dibb and Karla Cox

Betsy with Kimberley Shelton and Rene Donifon

Sara Cunningham, YM 2010 from Utah lead us in the Country Line Dance. She is very dear to my heart!!!

Kathy DeLone, Betsy Lowe and Lisa Phillips

The next morning at the Tapestry Breakfast, I am treated to the biggest surprise of the convention, Lisa Phillips the NC Mother of Young Children and the 1996 National Mother of Young Children (my year) was there at the tapestry breakfast. Oh My Gosh!!! I was so excited to see her. We've kept in touch through email and Christmas letters, but the distance has kept us from seeing each other. Lisa was the mother of 6 back then, and now is the mother of 8 including a beautiful 1 year old baby. She is amazing. I was also so blessed to see my other "long time" good friend from AMI, Kathy DeLone from Arkansas. She was named the 1997 National Young Mother - the year following Lisa. I was in Arizona at the National Convention when she was named Young Mother. I'm so glad we've stayed strong and true to this organization. There is no better job than that of a mother, and no better organization to stand up for the roll of motherhood in society!

RuthAnn Sullivan and Betsy

After the tapestry breakfast we were treated to hear the Young Mother speeches. RuthAnn Sullivan is the Kentucky Young Mother. She is a dear friend (and my previous Visiting Teacher). She was blessed to have her whole family here to see and hear her do such an outstanding job sharing her thoughts! RuthAnn was so composed and shared such a powerful message.

Following the Young Mother
speeches we immediately went into the ballroom for the Awards Luncheon.

Betsy Lowe, National Literacy Chairperson, Connell Branan, 1st VP and President Elect, Irene Costilow, Area 5 Coordinator, and Sheri Calstrom 2010 National Young Mother

Betsy and Sheri Carlstrom at the head table

Dianne Calister, Sheri Carlstrom and I sat at the head table along with (not seen) Judith Joe and Ellen Ralph. It was my pleasure to announce the winners of the National 5th Grade Essay contest. 1st place - Andrea Perez of Oklahoma, 2nd place - Morgan Jemtrud of Kentucky, and 3rd place - Brynne Stevens of Utah.

Betsy presenting the National 5th Grade Essay Awards

Just before the luncheon began, I introduced myself to the 3rd place winners family, Brynne Stevens. Since they were from Utah they were able to be in attendance. It was to my huge surprise and delight to find out that the mother of the essay contestant was once a young women in the Dulles Branch back in Virginia, where Mark and I served a 23 month mission in a Southeast Asian branch. Choa was a Laurel and heading off to college the first year we started serving in that branch. What a thrill and joy to, not only see her as a grown women and mother, but to be able to honor her for her daughter's essay. WOW!!!

Betsy with Choa, Brynne and Willie Stevens of Utah
Brynne is the 3rd place winner in the 5th Grade Essay Contest

Betsy Lowe with Susan Hill

After the luncheon we were so blessed to hear the Mother of the Year speeches. People that don't even attend the convention come to hear these speeches. Mrs. Susan Hill of Louisville represented Kentucky, and gave such a heartfelt touching talk. She, like RuthAnn had her husband and one of their children, John in the audience. How wonderful to have their support. John has just graduated from BYU and will be heading to Boston soon. What a treat for him to see his mother honored as the Kentucky Mother of the Year!

The Keynote speaker for the evening was Dr. John Gray, author of "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus". I was in stitches laughing at some of his comments - mainly because they were so true. It was hilarious. Following his remarks we had a beautiful performance from the Academy of Dance. These girls were amazing!

to be continued ...

That night Shawnalee Eyre Pothier of Arizona was named National Young Mother of the Year. I didn't realize it until that evening, but it was her parents' (Linda and Richard Eyre) books Teaching Children Joy, Teaching Children Responsibility and Teaching Children Charity that have made a huge impact on my mothering. I loved reading their stories.

Betsy with Joan Braitch from Washington DC. Joan and I roomed together at the Waldorf Astoria. We had a wonderful time together.

The next day started with the Honors and Memorial Breakfast, a quick National Board meeting followed by the General Business Meeting and morning workshops. We had a lovely lunch in which our Keynote speaker was John Bytheway. He gave an inspiring presentation P.A.R.E.N.T.S.

Betsy with Lila Shoemaker, Jean Pryor and Sondra Anderson.
All whom she met serving over the years on the National Board

Betsy with John Bytheway

After the luncheon we had more workshops and time to relax and prepare for the Big Event … the Mother of the Year Gala. I love going to the Gala and applauding all the amazing women that are such shining examples of motherhood. Each will say, "no, not me" but it's true - they are all so amazing!!! I also love the chance I have to be with friends - friends I only have the chance to see 1-4 times a year.