Turkey Sightseeing

When my parents told me we were going to Istanbul for two weeks I thought to myself...

"What is there to possible do in Istanbul for two weeks? There can't be that much to do."

Boy was I wrong.

Our two weeks were spent exploring this great city and seeing sight after sight.

Self explanatory.. Turkish and Islamic Art museum

Sultanahmet Camii (a.k.a. The Blue Mosque)

Topkapi Palace

Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent 

Grand Bazaar

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Underground Cistern

Beautiful Mosaics at the Chora Church

Greek Orthodox Church

Taksim Square

Istiklal Street

Turkish Shopping Mall

Bosphorus Cruise

Spice Bazaar

Gold Shops

Istanbul Archeological Museum

Gulhane Park

Pera Palas Hotel

Pera Museum

Rumeli Fortress

Dolmanche Palace

Suada Club

Asian side of the city

Overall, it was an amazing trip!

P.S. I got 4 stamps in my brand new passport!

Cats, Mosques, Rick Steves and more cats.

Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque)

I'm currently in Istanbul, Turkey.... yeah, pretty random. 

But actually my dad has a meeting here in Istanbul which is why we came here. 

He will be attending the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) meeting next week.

A few years ago when my family was in Rome we came across a Rick Steves' book and fell in love. His books are fun, informational and very easy to follow. 

When my dad found out there was a Rick Steves' tour the week we were planning to come he decided we'd give it a try. 

This past week we went on the Rick Steves' Istanbul in 7 days tour.

It was so nice to have a local guide who was born and raised in Istanbul. 

She was so helpful and so willing to answer any ignorant question I had.

She loves her city so much and now I know why.

Istanbul is such a fun and unique city.

There are 17 million people, 4,000 mosques and about a hundred stray cats on every corner.

I'm not kidding.

And I hate cats.... A LOT!!!!!

I have not enjoyed sitting at a nice restaurant and having a cat sneak up under my chair. 

Besides that and the heat, Istanbul is wonderful.

The food is delicious.

My sister may not agree but I am loving the chicken shish kebabs, lamb, eggplant, tomatoes and baklava.

These are the typical dishes and there are many variations and recipes for each.

One interesting thing about Istanbul is the shop keepers. 

The men are very friendly but aggressive and will use any tactic to get you into there shop.

When walking through the Grand Bazaar with over 4,000 shops the constant request and badgering for your attention can get quite annoying. 

The men also get very creative. 

"Come lose your money in my shop."

"Sir, I need your money."

"You the father?

Ladies have your father spend his money here."

"Oh, God has sent me two beautiful angels. Come into my shop."

"When I'm not showing carpets I take pictures for people. I also shoot people."

"Why you always walk by and not buy?"

"You are my favorite lady. Sweetheart, you come into my shop."

"Where are you from?.... I have a cousin that lived there."

"Are you lost? Just come into my shop."

Hagia Sophia

What an adventure this trip has been so far!

Church History Tour

When I told my parents I wanted to serve a mission, my mom said she wanted to take me on a church history tour. We thought we'd rent a car a do it all by ourselves but we found a tour through Morris Murdock Travel and figured this would be much easier ...and it was!

Earlier this June my mom, sister and I all embarked on a 9 day church history tour throughout Palmyra, Niagara Falls, Kirtland, Independence, Far West and Nauvoo. It was such an amazing experience and I learned so much. It was inspiring to see the places that I have heard stories about my whole life. 

What a neat experience it was to spend my Sunday morning in the Sacred Grove. Since our tour group was the only ones there that early in the morning it was very quiet and peaceful. 

What made the tour even more interesting for me is that we followed the same chronological path that the saints did. We started in Palmyra and ended in Nauvoo then flew home to Salt Lake.

Our tour guide was incredible. His name is Joel Judd. He is such an inspiring man that is full of  knowledge and the spirit! 

***And for all my london friends... The Judd's went to Israel with The Seely's for a year! We had a long chat about how much we love the Seely's.***

For more pictures check out my Facebook Album!

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to visit these places as preparation for my mission. The trip definitely strengthened my testimony! 

The church is TRUE!!!!

Proud Aunt

Today has been a VERY big and exciting day!

I'm currently in Charlotte, North Carolina visiting my brother's family. We came for my niece Jenna's baptism. 

Today was her last day of school. It was also her eighth birthday and baptism into 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I am so proud of her and the decisions she has made in her life that have led her to this point. 

We also got to decorate the big rock outside her elementary school!!

Congratulations Jenna :)

Road Trip

This past week, two of my close friends and I went to California for a few days. This was the first of seven consecutive weeks in a row that I will be out of town or on vacation!!!

We spent a few days in Palm Springs where we lounged, swam, tanned, watched movies, ate, ate some more and shopped. It was WONDERFUL!

We then headed to LA to stay at Brit's house. We ate, shopped, watched movies, and went to the beach,  aquarium and the LA temple. Overall it was an amazing trip until I came home and started peeling because I got burned so badly :(

Redondo Beach

 Long Beach Aquarium

 LA temple

 Venice Beach

My Someday

Since before I can remember, just about every church lesson has been focused on the temple and the importance of staying worthy for that someday  when you could attend the temple.
Well my someday came!!!
 This past Thursday I had the wonderful opportunity to go through the Salt Lake Temple.

Just in case you didn't see it on Facebook, Twitter and instagram I thought I'd put it on my blog as well : )

It was an amazing afternoon spent with a lot of people that I love.

My parents, 

Aunt Nancy, 

Uncle Wayne, 

Cousins Anne and Jim, 

my sisters Jamie and Jenn, 

brother-in-law Spencer and 

two of my best friends from high school Karli and Emily  

all joined me in the temple. 
I am truly blest to have such a great family and amazing friends!

The temple is truly is the House of the Lord.
 I can not wait to attend the temple again and again. 

In my preparations for attending the temple I read a lot of great quotes and thought I'd share a few of my favorites with all of you.

"Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father."

—Brigham Young

"When you come to the temple you will love your family with a deeper love than you have ever felt before. The temple is about families."

—Richard H. Winkel

"What a glorious thing it is for us to have the privilege of going to the temple for our own blessings. Then after going to the temple for our own blessings, what a glorious privilege to do the work for those who have gone on before us."

—Howard W. Hunter

"The temple is the house of the Lord. The basis for every temple ordinance and covenant…is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Every activity, every lesson, all we do in the Church, point to the Lord and His holy house."

—Russell M. Nelson

"I know your lives are busy. I know that you have much to do. But I make you a promise that if you will go to the house of the Lord, you will be blessed; life will be better for you."

—Gordon B. Hinckley

"It is in the ordinances of the temple that we are placed under covenant to Him….[If] we will enter into our covenants without reservation or apology, the Lord will protect us. We will receive inspiration sufficient for the challenges of life."

—Boyd K. Packer

"At the temple the dust of distraction seems to settle out, the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can 'see' things that we were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known."

—Boyd K. Packer

"I urge all who have not yet received these greatest of all blessings within the walls of the temple to do whatever may be necessary to qualify to receive them."

—James E. Faust

My parents and I 

My sisters and I (Jamie, Me, Jenn, and Raye Ann)

Everyone at The Garden Restaurant

Karli, Me and Emily

St. Geezy

Last week a few friends and I headed for a short vacation to St George. 

We hiked, 

ate, 

lounged,

watched movies, 

swam,

and just had fun. 

Natural Water Slide

Bear Paw Diner

Just sitting at an antique Coca-Cola table drinking some cold coke

Though I was only gone a few days and it was only St. George, 

it was the perfect little getaway before having to start my summer job.