My Amazing Summer In Virginia

Well, It has been a crazy, fun filled summer for me out East in The Nation's Capitol. I have spent the last three months living with my Amazing Aunt Mary Lynne in Virginia. I have had many cool experiences, but the great thing about my time here is spending time with my aunt and her family and learning from her. I think I have learned most from her about being Charitable and Kind even when it can be extremely difficult. It has been entertaining as well as we both are entering the dating world after some time. Her 20 + years, me just 1.5 years but nonetheless it can be quite challenging. We have many dating talks and we also laugh together at the "Awkward" moments of liking a guy or not liking a guy who likes you. Through it all I've gained a great friend and for that I'm grateful. She has done so much for me and helped me to have amazing experiences. I'm so blessed to have such amazing family. Well, besides the everyday work and play and running kids around, we have had some good times! When I first got here it was off to the Lake and A theme Park. Lake Anna is where we go boating here. My Aunt's boat is stored down there and we have a friend who has a lake house there. He has a big deck off of his boat house that is excellent for jumping into the water. I recently learned how to do a front flip and a back flip off the top of it. It was so fun!! I also love wakeboarding and tubing. I still can't jump the wake or really hardly jump at all, but I am working on it.

Carson on The Wakeboard At Lake Anna
Directly behind is the Boat house we Jump off of.

Me and Hannah At Kings Dominion about to Ride her Favorite Ride, Scooby Doo

We are Drama Queens while waiting for Everyone at the Water Park

Me and My Adopted Little Brother Justin At Kings

Mississippi
We Also Took a Trip down to Mississippi to visit my Uncle's Parents and Visit David's Grave for Father's Day. It has been interesting being here this summer after I spent the Summer here before my mission helping my uncle while he was sick. It has been hard, because he is greatly missed. He was an amazing man and Father. He was one of the most adventurous, brave, courageous, and faithful men I have ever met. I am so blessed to have had him in my life as an uncle but even more so as a father figure. Each day brings it's different challenges for my aunt missing him or the kids missing him. On the way to Mississippi Sweet Hannah asked when is daddy coming back? Me and Mary Lynne both were silent for awhile thinking about him and we both broke down crying. Props and prayers for my great aunt who answers so well to the questions of a sweet little child about their daddy who has passed away. It was a tender moment visiting his grave. Thank Goodness for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation!

At Dave's Grave in Mississippi

Riding on the Pontoon Boat with the Alligators in the Water All around us!

On the Boat
We Also took the Boat out on the Potomac River to see the Monuments lit up at night on the Water. We took a lot of time loading the boat at the busy dock just to be in the water for a short time before having to get out again because of a big thunderstorm. However, while it lasted it was beautiful!!!

The sunset over the Potomac River

My friend Trent who came with us

The Fourth of July
It was an awesome fourth of July. The Guy from church that I work with hooked us up. His wife's dad is Senator Harry Reid who is the Majority Leader for the Democratic party. He has a big office in the Capitol building. So, we were invited to watch the fireworks from the Balcony of the Capitol building. I had done this before with their family, but it was still amazing this time as well. It is so fun to be in a city filled with so much history. The fireworks were also beautiful.

Hannah and Her friend and me on The Balcony

Waiting for the Show to Begin

The Firework Show above the Washington Monument

Palmyra, NY
We Decided on a Whim to go up to see the Pageant in Palmyra. It was such a great experience to be up there and stand in the place where the prophet had seen God the Father and Jesus Christ. It was very peaceful. Since I'm so recently returned from my mission it was exciting to see the sister missionaries and I envied them just a little bit, that they got to be teaching people about the gospel all the time. But, overall it was a great experience and fun to go again now that I'm older and can really appreciate these places more. The Pageant was amazing and beautiful. It was a fun two day trip that we took which consisted mostly of driving but I'm glad we did It. I was also a good time for my aunt and I to talk more and For me to learn from her.

The Kids and Me outside the Temple in Palmyra, NY

By the Fields just outside the Smith's Log home


The Sacred Grove..It was Beautiful!



I was Very appreciative For the Book of Mormon that came about from this Moment in Church History, because of one boy's humble prayer the Gospel of Jesus Christ was Restored! I feel so blessed to know this!

Funny Story; I ran into an Elder from my mission at the Sacred Grove! I was like I think I know him but thought for sure it couldn't be but finally my cousin Carson convinced me to ask him and sure it enough it was him. It was pretty crazy. He had only been home for like a week.

All of Us out at The Whitmer Farm

Nationals Game's
So, I have gone to two Nationals Games and they were both pretty disappointing as far as winning goes. The first one was for Family Home Evening for the Singles Ward and of course we didn't have very good seats, but it was still fun just being with my friends. I think the score was like 7-0. I think the most entertaining part about this night was riding the metro home. The second time we had amazing seats! We were only like 5 rows back from the Nat's Dug out. I could actually see their faces it was awesome. Unfortunately it was a complete blowout. The score was 12-0 in the 7th inning so we decided to leave!

Me and Julie from the Ward, the first Nationals Game


Some of the Crew at the Game

2nd Game..Up Close and Personal Baby

Probably A Strike


Visits and Random Moments
I was Really lucky that I got to have my mom and Sister visit while I was here. While they were here we mostly shopped and went to DC to see my office and see some of the sites. It was a lot of fun to have just a girls weekend out.

Emily, my Mom, And Me on the Roof of the Building I work at in DC

Adding Molly My little Cousin

In Front of a Fountain through the Sculpture Gardens of D.C.


Molly and Mary Lynne


A typical Me and Hannah Pose-We spend a lot of time together...I love it!


At the DC temple for a Piano Performance at the Visitors Center on one of Shari's Visits
Me and Shari, from the mission, who came to Visit Here we are at Great Falls Park in Virginia, it's Awesome! I love having Shari come visit me so we could talk and get updates on each other's lives.

Me and My new sweet friend Natalie At the waterfalls

Trent and Jordan
Jordan, my other adopted Brother, but also dear friend!

I guess that pretty much concludes my summer, except for the week and a half I have left here in which we plan on going to New York and maybe a few other exciting places so I guess I shall see. I am getting excited to get back to school, but I will really miss the good relaxed times of the summer with a job and money.