Beginning With a Prayer

On Saturday in Florida, we woke up to this amazing sunrise, and we got to spend the day at Hollywood Studios!!!

There is so much to share about this day because it was SO fun! But what I want to record right now was a sweet experience we had this morning with prayer. :)

My sister in law Laura is the queen of vacation planning, and knew all of the in's and out's of what we needed to do and know to have all of the fun experiences we could have at every park. 

She told me the night before that she would need my help getting our entire group into a virtual queue that would allow us all to go on the Rise of the Resistance Star Wars ride that is the greatest and most epic of all the ride adventures we would have the chance to go on.

So, we woke up early knowing that the queue would open promptly at 7 am.

We pulled up a world clock that counted down with a second hand where we could begin trying our luck getting onto the ride EXACTLY at 7:00 am and 0 seconds.

About 5 minutes before 7 I told Laura, 

"I think we should say a prayer too! I know it may sound silly, but I know that if something is important to us, it is also important to Heavenly Father, and I think we could use all the help we can get. ;)"

So, I said the prayer, and then at 5 seconds before 7:00, we began our teamwork countdown, and successfully joined our ENTIRE group as the 33rd group of the day that would get to go on the Rise of the Resistance!!!

(About 2 seconds later ALL of the spots for the day were filled.)

As we saw the confirmation that we had made it in, we started screaming and jumping around hysterically!!!

We began jumping on the bed and hitting each other with the pillows, and then we threw the pillows at everyone else that was still asleep...and then we went next door and started hitting everyone else with pillows too..;)  ;)  ;)

It was so fun.

We were so happy that we were able to get in to that most awesome ride where we would have the most memorable experience...but we were also strengthened that day in the power of prayer.

We both then knelt down and said a prayer of thanks because we were just SO grateful!!! :)

And then Laura shared a story with me about how much she loved my testimony of prayer. She told me of a story a few Christmases ago when I had shared that I had prayed about what to get Ginger for Christmas, because I really wanted to get her something that would make her feel loved and special.

She said that she had never really thought about praying for those kinds of things before, but that when I had shared that, it really left an impact on her. She shared that story in a talk she just recently gave in sacrament meeting and said that it also touched her bishop who "needed that simple reminder."

Laura told me and everyone else at the hotel, 

"If you ever want something to happen, just ask Susette to pray for it and it will." ;)

I know that it isn't just my prayers that Heavenly Father hears, but all of His children. But I also know that where there is great faith, miracles happen, and prayers are heard and answered, even if they are seemingly small, and really don't matter to anyone but you. :)

I'm really grateful for that small and sweet experience that I had with Laura because both of our testimonies grew, I feel that our bond of sisterhood was strengthened, AND we got to go on the most awesome Rise of the Resistance ride, which made our day at Hollywood Studios just perfect!

 

Happy 18th Birthday Dallin!

 

How magical can an 18th birthday be when you are spending it in one of the happiest places on earth???

Pretty happy. :)

And that's exactly how it was for this special kid right here!

Dallin spent March 26th, 2021 (his 18th birthday) with me, and some awesome Trickett cousins, aunts, and grandparents in Florida at Disney World!!!

Everyone saw his Happy Birthday pin and wished him a happy birthday ALL DAY LONG!!!

(In fact, he wore that pin every day after that and so he got the "Happy Birthday" wishes all WEEK long! :)

The park was only filled to 35% capacity because of the pandemic, and THAT was awesome! We went on all the rides...

Our favorite ride there was Space Mountain, but it was definitely fun to be able to not have to stand in long lines and go on ALL the rides!!!

We ate Dole Whips with cake pops in them which tasted SO good!!!

(And eating food was a highlight for everyone because the food is so fun and yummy, AND we could take off our masks to eat. ;)

This trip was actually planned by the Trickett side, and we were invited. It was a "senior trip" for all of the Trickett cousins, (which is why we bought the Mickey Ears Graduation cap, and it was just a bonus for Dallin that the trip actually fell over spring break AND his 18th birthday!

Happy Birthday to you my sweet Dallin!!!

I am such a lucky mom because God gave me you for a son!

And although Dallin was not with the rest of our family on his birthday, we had a card signed by everyone for him with a bunch of cash...(which I'm pretty sure all 18 year old's love...;)

But Dallin, we really hope you know how much you are loved and how blessed we feel to get to share this mortal journey with you in our family!!!

You are such a joy and a blessing and we love you SO much!!!

Happy Birthday Dallin!

Off to Orlando!

Guess where Dallin and I are???

We are in Orlando Florida to celebrate Dallin's 18th birthday and his senior year!

We arrived at the Salt Lake Airport early this morning where we met up with family,  including Grandpa Trickett,  one of Dallin's very favorite people. 🥰

After flying all day we made it safely to our hotel,  and we are ready for a big day of Disney World tomorrow!

I can't believe my baby is going to be an adult tomorrow! What an awesome 18 years it has been!

 

The Best Birthday Ever!

For Carew's 22nd birthday, he was spoiled rotten and had the best day EVER!

Thanks mostly to his beautiful fiancé Kara. :)

She started his day with a yummy homemade breakfast, and then took him on a hike to Doughnut Falls. 

They went out to lunch and played mini golf, went to Gavin's tennis match at the high school, and then we all sat down together to Carew's favorite dinner...chicken pillows!

He opened his gifts and got this awesome blanket from Kara...

(I layed it out on the table so you could see the whole thing. It's SO cute!

Kara also made him this beautiful and yummy Reese's peanut butter cup cake! I was SO impressed! :)

And not only was it beautiful, but it tasted as good as it looked!

We also had a little surprise for Carew later in the evening and had rented out the movie theater and had some of his very favorite people show up to surprise him!

I think he was surprised. :)

We watched the movie Spider Man Far From Home, which is one of Carew's favorites!

(Which was also super fun for Clint and I because we felt like we were having a mini flashback trip to when we visited Venice and the Rialto Bridge!)

 It was so romantic...;)

I think everyone enjoyed the movie, their popcorn and drinks, and just getting to be together with Carew on his special day!

And after all of the fun was over, we went home where Carew finally got to blow out his candle and make a wish...

And Carew, we really do hope all of your most beautiful hopes and dreams come true for you this year!!!

I believe they will. ;)

I love you so much Carew!!!

Happy Birthday sweet Buddy!

 

Our Own "Pot of Gold"

Last Sunday we spent the day with family, and I loved it!

We attended sacrament meeting, Clint and I taught Dallin and Gavin's priest class about marriage, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Trickett's house for a St. Patrick's Day party, and then ended up at Tiffany and Colby's house where we taught our 4th temple prep class to them and Dallin. 

There is SO much good going on in our family right now, that the "end of the rainbow" is right in our home and our "Pot of Gold" is overflowing with blessings!!!

 

Happy Birthday Carew!

Happy Birthday to this handsome guy right here!

Carew is 22 today!

Last Friday I woke everyone up early and headed to Midway to celebrate Carew's birthday a little early. (Since his birthday falls on a Tuesday and I knew a birthday breakfast would be hard to pull off with everyone in school!)

So, even though his birthday is today, we started the celebration last week. :)

All 8 of us fit into an Alpenglobe at Café Galleria!

We had some yummy hot chocolate to warm us up!

We also had some yummy crepes, and if you were super spoiled, like Kesslyn, you also had ice-cream on your crepes! For Breakfast!!!

Others had French toast or eggs and bacon...

But all of us had a fun morning together celebrating Carew!

Happy Birthday Carew!

I can't believe you're 22!

 

Sports, Primary, and Temple & Mission Prep!

Here we are in the middle of March ALREADY!!!

We have just finished up Kambriella's basketball season and are getting ready to begin soccer.

Way to try something new Kambriella!

Kambriella's team didn't win too many games, but they did improve a lot over the season, and had a fun time playing together. Kambriella's coach bribed every girl with a $20 bill for everyone that made a shot during their last game...

Needless to say, Kambriella ended up with a $20 bill. :)

After her game, we took her and Mya out for ice cream at Freddy's. :)

We also received some really exciting news that we would begin having virtual primary class on Sunday's now!!!

We are so excited for Kesslyn who has always been the only one not attending any class of her own on Sundays since we have been in this pandemic. Here we are one year later and FINALLY able to have Primary!!!

Soooo Happy!!!

Her primary teachers left a coloring page on the door for her which she colored and prepared to share over zoom on Sunday. She loved it and was so happy to see so many of her little friends on the computer screen. :)

Yesterday was her second week of primary now and she colored and cut out a paper "crown of righteousness" and learned about the ordinances of baptism, going to the temple, and partaking of the sacrament.

I love watching her and her excitement to sing and interact. The music leaders are the BEST!

Our Sundays lately have also included Clint and I teaching temple prep classes to Dallin, Tiffany, and Colby. Dallin is preparing for his mission, and Tiffany and Colby are preparing to take out their own endowments and be sealed in the temple someday.

We have been going to their home for these lessons, and also spending some quality time having dinner, playing games, and just hanging out together. It's been a fun time and I have loved the spirit that we have all been feeling together. We already love each other, but this has really been a blessing, and I feel is bringing us even closer. :)

Another exciting thing that has been happening is that Dallin has been working on filling out his mission papers!!!

Aaaaahhhhh!!!!!!

I am so excited for this incredible young man to go out into the world to share the gospel! With his awesome testimony and personality he is going to be one amazing missionary!

He has his dentist and physical appointments this Wednesday, and then after that, the only thing left to do is to GET A HAIRCUT  for his mission picture to submit!

I am in shock and a little bit of denial that this is all happening...My children are so sweet and I love them all so much, but they all keep leaving me!!!

(Breathe...Everything will be OK. :) ;)  ;)  ;)

 

Fun Times!

We are in such a fun time of life with the family right now...fun and busy!

With Kara and Carew's wedding coming up, we went ahead and went suit shopping for Carew!

After some looking, and fitting, and sizing, we ended up ordering just what Carew wanted.

And although this is NOT the suit  Carew is getting, it was fun to watch him try things on and go through the process! :)  He will be SO handsome! :)