The Getaway

Last weekend we decided to go on a getaway.  Now personally I don't like to travel far especially if it's only for a couple of days. I'd rather spend the time away not getting away. Well Jeff came up with the plan and kind of surprised me right before.  It is someplace we have never been, on a getaway that is.  

 We first drove to Swan Valley and got a square ice-cream cone.  It is such a beautiful drive.  Our destination was Star Valley.  We ended up staying in this cabin suite.  It was so awesome, king size bed, hot tub, fireplace, dining area, 4 head shower.  It was great.  My favorite thing about traveling is someone cleaning my room and eating out with no dishes, small pleasures.  So it's pretty much going to be great no matter what.  The beauty of this place is  really amazing and you know how I feel about the beauties of the earth.
We went out to the local recommended Mexican restaurant that lived up to it's reputation.  It was packed and delicious.  Then we relaxed in our new home.


The next day we got up late and went to the Star Valley Temple.  It was small and lovely.  They only had three sessions that day.  We had to schedule and come 1/2 hour early to get in line for a dressing stall.  I loved it and it was so great being together.

Our next stop was for lunch at a local hamburger joint that was full of a traveling football team and their coaches.  I felt a little outnumbered being the only girl customer.  

We walked up to Intermittent or Periodic Springs.  It was kind of cold, but hiking helped a lot.  So this spring will periodically stop every 18 minutes.  Then it starts up and gushes, not with a trickle.  It was really cool, but the best part was hiking with Jeff and being in the mountains.  Here is when it is starting to slow down on our walk up.

It completely stopped and we waited.

 Here are our rock sculptures we created waiting for the spring to start.

 Now it's really going!

Heading back.












 It was really hard to leave the mountains, so we found another spot by the river and sat and talked.

 That night we ate at another local restaurant that was filled with ambience and classy seasonal decor. Every single things served their was gourmet. It was delectable and I want to go back.

The next morning we took it easy and I forgot to mention that they served a breakfast, pumpkins waffles.  We checked out, but we still had one more thing to do.  We went to Glacier Hot Springs which runs into a super warm outside pool.  The warmest part is right out of the spring in the corner that we are covering in the picture.  It is still cold outside mind you, but that is the fun of it.  We met many people from all over, Minnesota, Spain by BYUI, locals, California, Washington.  It was fun.

It was finally time to come home and we made it a slow drive stopping to eat one more time.

What a lovely weekend.  I could do this a little more often and I can definitely see the Star Valley charm.  

Katelyn's Mission Summary

July 2014 through February 2016

MTC (Provo, UT) – July to August

Sister Caparas

Sister Waterford

I started off in a trio and remember thinking there is no way you could find two sisters more different then these two. It was a bit of a struggle but as I spent one on one time with each of them I found that they had incredible strengths and had experienced hard things that had brought them to this point. They were examples of faith to me and in the end we figured out how to teach a cohesive lesson! They went to Washington D.C.

Amanda Brower from my home ward.

Sister Storms

Sister Housley

Visitor’s Center Training! Being with these two was like a dream! So easy and wonderful and we got to study the sites and visit temple square! It was like a princess week and made me so excited to go out to my area. I was also excited because Sister Storms went to NY with me. We basically did everything together once we got there and I loved having her with me through it all!

Waterloo – August to November

Sister Sharp 

Highlight:

I lived at the Peter Whitmer Farm where the church was first organized. It was an incredible place and out in the middle of nowhere. Every morning we went running or riding our bikes out on the roads between the cornfields. I learned how to work hard and how to take a second each day to have fun. One time we ran through an entire corn field and for Halloween we dressed up as the two of the Whitmer daughters.

 

Newark – November to February, Sister Hirschi

I had no idea what I was doing when I first got here. My first day, we got lost driving to the new area and went in the wrong direction for an hour. I was horrified and felt so bad misleading a new missionary. But, it all turned out and we even survived a car running into the front of our house. We lived in the houses right next to the Sacred Grove for a week and would walk through it every morning. I loved the people in Newark and felt like they really were my family. We spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with those wonderful people!

Brighton – February to May

Sister Goates

Winter in Rochester: literally, record in the books as the coldest month in the history of Rochester. The average temperature was 11 degrees and it did not reach above freezing the entire month. So that made for an adventure. We taught Darlene and Victoria; two incredibly faithful women. During this time we didn’t always get to be out in our area but I was amazed to see the blessings that Heavenly Father provided for us.

Sister Barlow
I was pretty shocked when I heard that we were trio training. It was a giant adventure! We had a grand time! Trio’s are always fun because you have enough people to have a party at any time! I was so grateful to have Sister Barlow come. The three of us were different enough that there didn’t have to be issues between us. The Rochester ward is incredible and definitely one of the most missionary focused. I was always inspired by the members.

Palmyra – May to August

Sister Petersen

We honestly told President that if he kept us together the rest of our mission we would hit the baptism goal just from our companionship. We had such a grand time in such a wonderful place. Every morning started with a jog down Temple Road and then past the Smith Farm. We were getting ready for the pageant and making all kinds of changes at the sites. It was an incredible experience of giving up all those things we hold back and letting God change us. Our district was dedicated and incredible. work took place as we gave our hearts to God.

 

Sister Stoddard

Cue Pageant!  ! We were constantly at the sites morning to night and talking to hundred and hundreds of people. Then in our off time we were running around the area getting the work done. One week a lady in the ward had her basement flood. The two of use moved out the entire basement (which was basically food storage). It was a wet adventure. We went to bed delightfully exhausted and I remember at least a few times throwing a pillow at Sister Stoddard to wake her up from her mid-prayer/nap.

– August to November

Sister Johnson

 

Sister Barlow

Take two with Sister Barlow! We seriously felt spoiled to have another transfer together. We worked so hard and had so many adventures. We loved serving in the YSA ward and were able to make great friendships and help to encourage missionary work. We spent time scrubbing mold off walls together and after a friend of the members came over and when we were introduced said, “These are the sister missionaries… they don’t always look like this!” It was truly a glorious 

adventure there.

Canandaigua – November to February

Sister Oliva
I don’t think there was a shorter sister in the mission! I loved my Philippine companion. She was so determined to do her best and she constantly strove to get better. In our new area we had some quality time tracking and walking. The other sisters hit a deer with the car so we were sharing and often we would just walk a whole day. It made us feel like the real missionaries of the early church days. We celebrated Thanksgiving together, her first, and a Philippino Christmas Party (my first).

Sister Davis

We called this brief time Christmas Vacation. We were companions for a few weeks as we waited for our new companions to come and we covered both areas. It was a gift. We spent so much time teaching and were able to celebrate the holiday season with so many members. It truly was blissful

Sister Barrett

Right at the end of my mission I got the energetic, excited, spiritual, talented Sister Barrett! I loved being with a new missionary again and we grew together as we found new ways to serve and help those in our area. We spent time in the darling town of Naples helping out in the library and trying their grape pie. I remember sitting in a members house that looked out on the lake in the snow and just feeling so blessed to be a servant of God in this beautiful land with these incredible people. I also remember organizing donated clothing in a little underground store and thinking, “How in the world did I get here??”

I loved every single second of my mission!