We had a lovely week in Utah for Thanksgiving.

The drive to Utah started out gorgeous, and incredibly foggy, for most of the way…

When we got to Utah, we spent time with family, and had enormous amounts of food, and fun. We played a lot of silly games, arm-wrestled, and just enjoyed each other’s good company.

While in Utah, we were able to see Daniel perform in The Secret Garden musical at BYU. We surprised him by having Sammi and Nico come to his show, too. They were not going to make it in time, but schedules, miraculously, changed. Before the show, Dan just happened to be coming out to his car, to get his water bottle, and he ran into us as we were walking in the front door of the auditorium. He freaked out when he saw Sammi. He was a little confused when he saw her… but then he was super happy. It was such a fun family moment.

The Secret Garden was a beautiful show, though it had me sobbing and feeling very deeply. The story had so much to do with grief, it was very heart-triggering for me, and my family. But it was a good way to feel those familiar grief-feelings, and allow them to be set free to the surface, through tear-stained cheeks. The show was very powerful, and filled with The Spirit. The hair was standing up on my arms, it was almost ethereal at times.

Dan had to play a complex character, and he was able to pull from some of his “interesting” and traumatic life experiences, to create the emotion needed for his character. He did a wonderful job, along with the rest of the amazing cast.

We also went to Luminaria with John and Mindy’s family. It was such a magical experience. We were lucky to have some of the Secret Garden crew come with us, and then they sang for us, at John and Mindy’s house. It was so wonderful to have music fill the home, and our hearts. I miss music in my home. Sammi and Daniel were/are so involved in music… I miss having their melodic influence in our home. But I loved all the music while it happened. Everyone gathered around Sammi at the piano, and sang their little hearts out. It was a real treat. It was a night full of LIGHT.

I will share a few videos below… there was so much more music, and some performances felt too intimate to record, like one of Sammi’s gorgeous songs. But now, I wish I had recorded them. Next time.

I took my children to the Orem Temple Open House. It was a lovely experience, and afterwards, we went to the Dinosaur Museum. It was a fun day out, with just my kiddos.

I watched a few movies while at John and Mindy’s… Thoroughly Modern Millie, Go West (Studio C), Les Miserables 25th Anniversary. I watched Modern Millie by myself late at night, Go West was with everyone, and Les Miserables was with my mom, Dan, and Noah. It was fun to discuss the details of these movies with others.

Thanksgiving was full of food… lots of food. And lots of family. I am grateful to have such a welcoming and loving family. This does not mean we always agree on everything… but, hopefully, we can have grace for our disagreements, and wrap those differences in the blanket of family love, where being different and unique makes way for warm hugs and everyone being welcome.

The drive home to Washington was extremely beautiful. Once we got to Idaho, towards McCall, there were so many cars and trucks with Christmas trees tied to the top. We counted over a hundred. I don’t know where they were going to get the trees, but it was so fun to see SO many, while driving through the canyon. It gave us something to count as the pine-covered cars whooshed by.

As it got dark, the full moon came out to guide our way through the dark and twisty canyons. It felt like a little light from Heaven, making sure we were safe in the night. The moon glistened on the river water, that followed us through the canyon. The moon-lit river was sparkling like liquid-flowing-magic. There is just something about light twinkling on dark water. It felt like a dream.

All along the dark roads, we would pass farm towns that were lit with Christmas lights adorned on the homes, in the yards, and even the tractors were decorated. We had Christmas music playing in the van, and it felt like we were driving through a Hallmark movie, especially as we passed through a small town with Christmas window displays, all down the main street. I started happy-freaking-out at that moment. There was even a Hallmark store that we passed by.

The drive home was strangely beautiful and magical, even with half of the trip being in the dark, because it gets dark so early. The darkness made it more magical and full of holiday wonderment. William drove the whole way. He enjoys driving, and I enjoy riding, and so it works out nicely. My children travel in the car so well. I am so grateful for that.

When we got home in the late evening, it was such a relief, after being in the car from early morning to late night.

Home.

My happy place.

There is something really special about coming home after being gone.

I love my home.

I love my family.

I am so grateful for the beautiful memories that were made this week.

I will add the week to my magical holiday memories.