Conference 09...Day Three...Saturday Sessions

I didn't realize how much I missed the USA until we were back. It is just so beautiful. Especially Utah...it's a pretty gorgeous state, I must say. What I found most striking were the buildings. We have lots of pretty greenery on Okinawa...and lovely hills and beaches...but for the most part the buildings are completely uninteresting. They are built to resist typhoons, not to win any aesthetic contests. I didn't realize how their drabness was such a stark contrast to most buildings in the US.

Anyway, it felt great to be here. It was WAY colder than we were used to...Utah fall is generally more mild in October...but we had only a short walk from our hotel to the Conference Center, so it wasn't bad.

Cliff took Jacob to the Saturday morning session while Coree and I watched on TV...then we went down to the hotel deli, bought lunch and walked to the Conference Center to meet them when the session ended. The choir was singing the closing hymn when we got there (Come, Come Ye Saints) and this is what we saw:


They were filming the little stream for one of the shots while the choir was singing.



Then I had to snap this shot of the temple across the street.



This was just after the closing prayer...just a few people milling about. We knew we'd be waiting awhile for the boys since they'd be sitting down front, and it takes some time to empty a venue of 22,000.



Getting thicker...



They should be here any minute now.



We were enjoying our turkey sandwiches when I spotted these beautiful sisters from Africa and had to ask them for a photo.



Seeing this pic makes me miss Troy and Patrick...it just wasn't the same without them.



Jake and I said goodbye to Dad and Coree and made our way back to the hotel to watch the afternoon session on TV. These Segways were something new this year. Wondering what advantage they give?



As wonderful as it is to be in that Conference Center, there is something to be said for having a front row seat AND a comfy place to rest.




Especially after lunch.

That evening Cliff went to the Priesthood session while Coree, Jake and I headed back to the Gateway mall to meet up with some other Chaplain wives. I turned the kids loose with some money and the ladies sat down to enjoy some Thai food. And for a special treat...when we were done, Grandma Garrie met us back at the hotel to take the kiddos back to her place. Anything we had to offer couldn't possibly compare to Grandpa's house!

Conference 09...Day Two...Sleeping, Shopping, and Eating

We got out of bed around noon on Friday. That time zone difference is a killer! First on our "to do" list (just like last year, oddly enough) was to go buy shoes for kids. And go to Build A Bear (where I bought a Turkey I named Stuffing, over whom I am giddy). And just wandered around worshiping at the alter of consumerism in general. It was pretty sweet.




Then that night, we attended the opening banquet of Chaplains' Conference on the 26th floor of the Church office building. It's always SO much fun, and this year was no different. This is where we get to reconnect and count who is here this year. I forgot to take pics at the banquet...but I did remember to snap this one of this most handsome (Lt.)Commander of my Heart as we were waiting for the hotel elevator.

Flashback Friday...The Making of a Friendship

circa 2004

You know how some people you are just comfortable being with? You don't need to be guarded or uptight...you don't need to explain certain things, because you have the same background, interests, experiences and desires? I think as I'm getting older...and also after having moved around so much...I appreciate more and more what a special gift that is. It's this sentiment that brings me to today's Flashback Friday (Is it just me, or did that paragraph sound just like the opening segway to an episode of "This American Life"?) Anyhoo...

Man, how time flies. We've been coming to Chaplains' Conference and General Conference with the Whitakers since 2001. Well, Cliff came in 1999 while he was "investigating" the Chaplaincy...that's when he met them, then Cliff was in Chaplain School during 2000 so we both missed...but the very next year, the stars aligned and the heavens opened and all was right.

The Whitakers arrived at Camp Pendleton right after we left there in 2001, so we have some of the same church friends, too. It would have been fun to be there at the same time...but I think that much awesomeness in one congregation might have ripped a hole in the space time continuum.

Isn't it funny how some close friendships kind of sneak up on you? We've only been stationed in close proximity to each other a handful of years that we've known them (and by close, I mean within an hour or two's drive). We see each other at least once a year at Conference...and spending time with them is always at the top of our list. We laugh SO much...that's something you can count on every year...your stomach will ache from the laughter.

I think Jen and I are the only 2 Navy wives that have come every year since we met. I wonder if it is because we are just that spiritual, or we are just that desperate for time alone with our husbands? At any rate, we've also shared deployments, birthday parties, holidays and dinners...and even a very interesting road trip (which I will save for a separate "my most embarrassing moment ever" posting...maybe sometime in the future...if I'm ever injured and given good narcotics for the pain). We've also discovered Dan's competitive side when it comes to card games, but we all have our shortcomings, right?

When we think of the Whitakers, it's always with the best, most sentimental feelings (and admittedly selfishness, too...as we've wanted them to live wherever we live). Even if that isn't always (or ever) possible...one thing is for sure, we will be part of each others' lives forever (whether they like it or not) and whenever we do manage to end up in the same town...whether it's for a few hours or days...there will be lots and lots of laughter.

Thanks for your friendship, Whitakers...and may God bless you in everything you do!

Conference Trip 09...Day One...Times Two

We left Okinawa early afternoon on October 1st, and after 23 hours of flights and layovers, arrived in Salt Lake City in the evening...on October 1st. And I guess I should mention, we only took the youngest 2 children with us. High school is a drag...WAY too hard to extract any children from for 2 weeks, let alone football playing, cross-country-running, AP class-taking, not-good-at-playing-catch-up children. (Another awesome benefit of home school).

Here's the rundown of the journey:



We got to the airport in plenty of time (thanks to Brenda Jones) and had some time to shop/fool around before our flight left.



Our first stop was Osaka. Hadn't been there since arriving in Japan last Christmas.


This looks an awful lot like Okinawa, actually.




Then we had to take a tram to the international terminal.






Friend John LaBanc happened to be on our flights through San Francisco.

Once in the international terminal, we had tons of time to kill before our flight boarded.



Jake chose to use his time wisely.



Then we had a long, horrific, heinous, harrowing, homicidally-justifiable flight to San Francisco. It was jam packed, sardine-style...and the rude man in front of Coree and I was about 7 feet tall and kept his seat reclined the entire time...even while he ate, so we had zero room.

When we got to San Francisco, we were exhausted and cranky...with another long layover.



What soothes crankiness better than chowder?



That's what I thought.

And no, there are no pictures...we were too hungry and cranky for photographs by the time the food arrived.

We arrived in SLC, got our rental car, checked into the hotel and crashed hard for the night.

The End...

Returning to Mecca

It's that time of year again...General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...and the LDS Chaplains' Conference! Only this time, there is one small difference for us. For the past 8 years, we've traveled the short distance from Southern California to Salt Lake City, Utah mostly by car...occasionally by air.

This year, it will involve an international flight. I need this conference like oxygen for the coming year, so I know that it will be worth the journey.

Stay tuned and I'll try to give you the play by play!

A Spider the Size of Your Face

Jake spotted the hugest spider I've ever seen at the base of Habu Hill. I guess it's a pretty common spider, but I hadn't seen one in real life before.



Can you spot it up in the trees above Jake?



Probably not...so I'd better zoom in for you.



Trouble is, from this view point, you really can't appreciate the size of it. What do you have to measure the scale?



Let me help you with that. If you can't judge it's size against the branches of the tree, imagine your face right behind the web. Now imagine the legs wrapping around your chin and extending to your forehead. Yep...it's that big. I will NEVER enter Habu hill in darkness. EVER!

Flashback Friday...Camping

After Field Medical School in 1993, I swore I'd never again go camping, if I could help it.

I mean, once you've lived through the misery of sleeping in your clothes for days, in the dirt, and eating cold spaghetti out of a foil pouch at 4 AM...WHY would you do this for FUN?

Well, evidently I softened up a bit, because our family has had MANY fun times while tent camping*. Here's just a couple:


April 2001



May 2005

*Air mattress for mom required.