When we found out Mark's moving dates for his internship at Sandia in Albuquerque, we decided that we would come down to help him move in as well as see our friends the Carlsons. John then found out that he had Continuing Medical Education (CME) money that was going to expire in June so he looked for a medical conference. Unbelievably, there was one the week before Mark was set to arrive and since John is not working at the moment, he signed up for it. Then, just two weeks before we were set to depart, we received an invitation to the sealing of our friend, Shawn Clark, in the Provo City Center temple at the end of the medical conference. And Hannah is in Provo for the summer. Seriously, with all the planning machinations I have done over my many years, nothing has come together as easily as this trip!
One of the best parts of it all, so far, is that the Carlsons have really stepped in as dear friends. In fact, Nancy tried to convince us to stay at their house each night during the conference (not knowing that the resort where the conference is being held is paid for), not to save us money, but because she genuinely wanted to see us. Do you know how rare that is for us? Our families never want to see us or ask us to come visit. Even John expressed how blessed we feel, having that feeling expressed to us. Since we weren't staying with them, she insisted that we take their extra car to avoid rental car expenses. We are so used to having to pay for everything in our lives, and even in the lives of others, that it was really nice to feel taken care of.
So after being picked up at the airport by Nance, she brought us home and Dave was already there waiting to go to dinner. They took us to the most ghetto place in Albuquerque. Nance joked that we would see drug addicts, but little did I think she was telling the truth! The place is like a college hole-in-the-wall, but it's huge, and we hear the line usually extends around the place. Thankfully, there was no line for us, but security DID have to come in when a guy who had bought food started coughing super loud. Turns out, he was high on something (not life) and he had to lay down on the floor with the gloved security guy controlling his every move.
That night, we drove to the resort, and I kid you not, it was heaven.
I know that we should do a lot more than we do when we go on these conference (we usually just dive), but there's something really nice about not planning anything. The following morning, I woke up and headed out to go walking.
I love the New Mexican southwest. I know that I lived with my divorced father (and his parents) for several months when I was five, but unfortunately, I have no memories of that time. My mother grew up in Albuquerque, and my granddad still lives there. I don't know what the connection is, but I seem to find myself returning there frequently, and I just really love it.
The Hyatt Regency at Santa Ana Pueblo is literally in the middle of nowhere. It's like the little kids who pick out the middle of the fresh-made bread because it's the softest--it's like someone picked a random spot in the middle of the Sandia desert and decided to build a resort there. But it's so beautiful, and it was the perfect resort for John's "mindfulness" conference. Yes, that's right--one of the choices for an OB/Gyn conference was one centered on mindfulness. Yoga, meditation, non-traditional medical practices.
Well when I stepped out the door the next morning and saw and felt what I did, it was like hitting reset on the computer. I took a deep breath, looked at the beauty around me, and just started walking, because if there's nothing else around the resort, there are miles and miles of walking paths. Some go through a cottonwood area down by the river, some head out into the plains. I honestly didn't care where I was going--I just wanted to clear my head and be reminded of the beauty of the earth.
In fact, I turned on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir album "Deep As A River" which has a bunch of songs about the beauty of the earth (including "All Things Bright and Beautiful". Oh goodness, it was so lovely, and I was reminded that my Savior does love me. I mean, he could have put us on a really ugly, but functioning planet, but instead he decided to surround me with really beautiful places. I felt incredibly grateful for all of my blessings, and it was nice to offer a prayer of sole gratitude.
And each morning was like that. Just head out and walk and think about my blessings.
One fun thing about the resort was that they had hummingbird feeders set out randomly around. The feeders would have no fewer than ten birds on one at one time. It was so fun to watch them! I tried to catch a good photo for Glo, my hummingbird aficionado, but it was tricky!
We didn't do much else except go out to eat once a day. And both days, we ended up eating at the same place because we loved it so much the first night. John found a restaurant nearby called The Fr8 House. It was opened by a chef who worked at the Hyatt, and the food reflected it. It wasn't a fancy restaurant, but it was very trendy, and in true Southwest fashion, the wait staff was crazy friendly.
I ended up ordering virgin mojitos and the biggest buffalo burger I've ever eaten (move over Sleder's), but there was so much more on the menu that I wanted to try. So the next night we invited the Carlsons to come with us, and I had the country fried steak that rivaled my grandfather's for pure tastiness. We then sat at the table talking to the Carlsons for another two hours.
It's been amazing to see how Heavenly Father has put a lot of really important friends in John's life at this very stressful and horrific time.
The next day we went back to Albuquerque (after catching Avengers: Endgame) and had some dinner and played Cover Your Assets with the Carlsons (I skunked everyone for the record). And the following morning, Dave woke up with us at 4:30 a.m. to drive us to the airport (while giving us a tour of the base). As excited as I am to see Hannie and to spend some time in Southern Utah, I'm most excited to get back to the Carlsons and to Markie Boy.
One of the best parts of it all, so far, is that the Carlsons have really stepped in as dear friends. In fact, Nancy tried to convince us to stay at their house each night during the conference (not knowing that the resort where the conference is being held is paid for), not to save us money, but because she genuinely wanted to see us. Do you know how rare that is for us? Our families never want to see us or ask us to come visit. Even John expressed how blessed we feel, having that feeling expressed to us. Since we weren't staying with them, she insisted that we take their extra car to avoid rental car expenses. We are so used to having to pay for everything in our lives, and even in the lives of others, that it was really nice to feel taken care of.
So after being picked up at the airport by Nance, she brought us home and Dave was already there waiting to go to dinner. They took us to the most ghetto place in Albuquerque. Nance joked that we would see drug addicts, but little did I think she was telling the truth! The place is like a college hole-in-the-wall, but it's huge, and we hear the line usually extends around the place. Thankfully, there was no line for us, but security DID have to come in when a guy who had bought food started coughing super loud. Turns out, he was high on something (not life) and he had to lay down on the floor with the gloved security guy controlling his every move.
That night, we drove to the resort, and I kid you not, it was heaven.
I know that we should do a lot more than we do when we go on these conference (we usually just dive), but there's something really nice about not planning anything. The following morning, I woke up and headed out to go walking.
I love the New Mexican southwest. I know that I lived with my divorced father (and his parents) for several months when I was five, but unfortunately, I have no memories of that time. My mother grew up in Albuquerque, and my granddad still lives there. I don't know what the connection is, but I seem to find myself returning there frequently, and I just really love it.
The Hyatt Regency at Santa Ana Pueblo is literally in the middle of nowhere. It's like the little kids who pick out the middle of the fresh-made bread because it's the softest--it's like someone picked a random spot in the middle of the Sandia desert and decided to build a resort there. But it's so beautiful, and it was the perfect resort for John's "mindfulness" conference. Yes, that's right--one of the choices for an OB/Gyn conference was one centered on mindfulness. Yoga, meditation, non-traditional medical practices.
Well when I stepped out the door the next morning and saw and felt what I did, it was like hitting reset on the computer. I took a deep breath, looked at the beauty around me, and just started walking, because if there's nothing else around the resort, there are miles and miles of walking paths. Some go through a cottonwood area down by the river, some head out into the plains. I honestly didn't care where I was going--I just wanted to clear my head and be reminded of the beauty of the earth.
In fact, I turned on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir album "Deep As A River" which has a bunch of songs about the beauty of the earth (including "All Things Bright and Beautiful". Oh goodness, it was so lovely, and I was reminded that my Savior does love me. I mean, he could have put us on a really ugly, but functioning planet, but instead he decided to surround me with really beautiful places. I felt incredibly grateful for all of my blessings, and it was nice to offer a prayer of sole gratitude.
And each morning was like that. Just head out and walk and think about my blessings.
One fun thing about the resort was that they had hummingbird feeders set out randomly around. The feeders would have no fewer than ten birds on one at one time. It was so fun to watch them! I tried to catch a good photo for Glo, my hummingbird aficionado, but it was tricky!
We didn't do much else except go out to eat once a day. And both days, we ended up eating at the same place because we loved it so much the first night. John found a restaurant nearby called The Fr8 House. It was opened by a chef who worked at the Hyatt, and the food reflected it. It wasn't a fancy restaurant, but it was very trendy, and in true Southwest fashion, the wait staff was crazy friendly.I ended up ordering virgin mojitos and the biggest buffalo burger I've ever eaten (move over Sleder's), but there was so much more on the menu that I wanted to try. So the next night we invited the Carlsons to come with us, and I had the country fried steak that rivaled my grandfather's for pure tastiness. We then sat at the table talking to the Carlsons for another two hours.
 |
| This burger was so giant that I wasn't even hungry the next morning! |
It's been amazing to see how Heavenly Father has put a lot of really important friends in John's life at this very stressful and horrific time.
The next day we went back to Albuquerque (after catching Avengers: Endgame) and had some dinner and played Cover Your Assets with the Carlsons (I skunked everyone for the record). And the following morning, Dave woke up with us at 4:30 a.m. to drive us to the airport (while giving us a tour of the base). As excited as I am to see Hannie and to spend some time in Southern Utah, I'm most excited to get back to the Carlsons and to Markie Boy.
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