Wednesday, August 27, 2014

New School, New Year, New Companions!


After 7 straight years and a one-year break from having a child in high school, we're back in the saddle at Woods Cross High School.  We FINALLY get the bus and the bus stop is close by.  I'm making Grayson ride until he gets his license in a few months and he texted me on the first day that he WAS THE ONLY ONE RIDING THE BUS--good thing he's too cool for that "social suicide" stigma :)


Grayson has a pretty good schedule but says he's totally lost in the school and waits to see someone he knows to ask where his classroom is.  He'll be a pro by next week--we've done this before.

I was SO excited to see Elder Garrett Tebbs in a FB photo on the Aguascalientes Mission page.  He looks healthy and happy and OLDER!

With 3 remaining months as a missionary, Elder Tebbs left the office as an Assistant and went back out in the field to train a new missionary from Brazil.  He is SO excited to end his mission training!

I was equally excited to receive a text from my cousin Jessica in Tennessee with these cute pictures of Sister Tebbs!  Jessica was setting up for cub scout pack meeting at her church building and in walked Sister Tebbs for her mission transfer meeting.

Sister Tebbs will be serving with a new companion since her previous one completed her mission.  Lucky girl--after 3 months in the field she is already on her 3rd companion!  

This is the cutest video Sister Tebbs sent us of an 11-year-old investigator who's getting baptized soon and she's doing a happy dance because she likes going to church so much. (The BEST thing about this video is hearing Sister Tebbs' laugh in the background...)

Last but certainly not least--HAPPY NATIONAL DOG DAY to this stud, Cooper Scott Ron Paul Tebbs.  He is truly a member of our family and we celebrate that fact all year!


Sunday, August 10, 2014

Alaskan Cruise 2014

Wow! What an amazing trip!! If I'd known what Alaska was like, I would've gone long before now...  Cruising is definitely the way to travel.  Unpack once for a week and arrive in a different port almost every day.  We left from Seattle on Saturday, August 2 and returned Saturday, August 9.  We sailed on the Norwegian Jewel and found many fun activities on board to keep us busy.





We went with a group that had a couple of great speakers--John Bytheway and Jack Welch.  We heard John Bytheway speak 6 different times throughout the week which made an amazing cruise even better!
 

We were welcomed back to our cabin each night to a variety of towel animals sitting or hanging all over the room.
 


First stop--Ketchikan, Alaska.  Lumberjack show, Totem Bight State Park, Duck Tour and THE most amazing popcorn I've ever had!













Next port--Juneau, Alaska.  Salmon hatchery and Mendenhall Glacier.
 







We traveled through Tracy Arm to see Sawyer Glacier.  Temps were in upper 50s, low 60s the days we were in Alaska.








Last Alaskan port--Skagway.  Zip lining, panning for gold, Iditarod dogs/sleds/PUPPIES and the 40-degree below chamber to feel what it's like during the Iditarod race--crazy cold!!
 










Final port--Victoria, British Columbia.  Butchart Gardens and downtown Victoria.
 





 
 
Early Saturday morning arrival in Seattle with a few hours to spare... Visited Pike Place Market, the famous gum wall (yuck!), monorail to the Space Needle and John's Street.
 





An amazing and memorable trip of a lifetime--even if we didn't see any bears...