Easter, General Conference, and Soccer

It's April.  One day it'll be sunny and 70's warm, and the next it will be windy and raining or snowing.  Regardless of the forecast, April is the start of things - literally and figuratively.  Literally, spring activities start.  People are anxious to get outdoors, put shorts and sandals on, and enjoy the sun, however fleeting it is.  The trees and flowers are showing their newly sprouted faces of vibrant greens and yellows and pinks.  Figuratively, it is a time of spiritual awakening as the Easter holiday and the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated and those of the Latter-Day-Saint faith gather in person or at the closest television screen to watch General Conference, as the leaders of the church, including the Prophet Thomas S. Monson, speak and share inspired messages to those willing to listen.  It is that time of year, and here is how I have been participating in the great awakening of this spring.

1) Easter Sunday:  I love my nieces and nephews.  I spend a lot of time with Mikey, Rori and Sarah because they live up the street from me. I even try to go to church with them, just so I can see them. I don't recall what was said during church on Easter day because, well, as anyone sitting with little kids at church will tell you, it's really hard to hear and focus.  But their sweet faces remain emblazoned in my mind, and I feel the need to be a better person so I can be a better example to them.  Somehow, being with them in the small way that I am feels like doing  a small part of what the Savior's life was all about - loving people, serving, teaching, being an example.

2)  General Conference:  Thanks to an amazing home teacher who snagged us tickets, my friend Lisa and I were able to attend the Saturday morning session of General Conference.  We were there to hear in person the announcement of the Cedar City Temple.  Rumors had been circulating for quite a while, but I refused to believe them until I heard it announced by the Prophet himself.  As he approached the pulpit, my heart started to race and I could feel my eyes welling up even before he said anything.  Then he said that he was pleased to announce two new temples.  "Only two?" I thought.  That doesn't give much leeway!  Then he announced said the words, and I started crying.  Lisa did a double-fisted victory arm pump.  There were audible gasps and shrieks of joy.  It was great. I had to ask where the second announced temple was, I was that overcome. Over the entirety of the four sessions of Conference, the message I came away with was to be committed to the gospel, and to get ready for the temple here, of course.  

This was not part of Conference, but a pleasant side affect.  So was visiting with great friends who live                                  in the Salt Lake area.

3)  Soccer:  My nephew Mikey has started soccer.  After the game I Saturday afternoon, it's debatable if he really likes it or not.  But two weeks ago, he was giddy, especially when his dad showed up.  He is a little timid still; Beth and I were wondering when competitiveness starts in kids.  Some kids playing already seem to get it, but on Mikey's team, the boys seem to still be under the impression that they need to take turn between teams kicking the ball, or that if another kids is winding up to kick it that they need to wait for him to be done.  There were a few minutes when Mikey got in there though.  If he will stick with it, it will be fun to watch him as he evolves athletically.

Getting to First Base in Arizona

A few months back, I visited Flagstaff, AZ to see an SUU football game, but I lamented that I didn't get to see more of Arizona.  When my friends Tiffany and John said they wanted to drive to the Phoenix are to catch some of Spring Training and invited me along, I said I would love to - as long as I could catch a Brewers game.  They happily obliged.

Saguaroooooooo! 

First game was Brewers vs. Rockies.  First stop was food!

Polish with ketchup, mustard and kraut.  It's tradition.

Unfortunately, we missed 1/2 the game - we thought, and timed it for, an hour time difference between Utah and Arizona.  There isn't.  I attribute this oversight to the Brewers loss.  I wasn't there, so...

The lineup

After the game, we checked in to our hotel in Tempe.  We took a nap (we left before it was light outside to make the game, so we were pooped).  We wandered downtown, just off of the ASU campus so really vibrant area, and ate a late dinner at PF Chang's.  Tiffany and I enjoyed the hot tub while John watched some TV.  Because he wasn't there to protect us, we were hit on by one of a pair of  guys on the prowl with probably a few drinks in them.  They looked like they were fresh out of an episode of Jersey Shore.  The conversation went like this:

Him:  What are the chances!  Two guys, two girls!

Us:  (awkward smiles)

Him:  Can we get you ladies anything to drink?

Us: (Ok, mostly Tiff) No thanks, we're good.

Him:  Are you guys sober?

Us:  Yup.

Him:  Like, not a drink at all?

Us:  (sighing) Totally.

Him:  Is that by choice or by religion?

Us:  Both, actually.

Him:  Oh, that's cool! What are you guys?

Us:  LDS

Him:  (Now he decides to get religious to diffuse an increasingly awkward situation, more for himself than for us) Oh, me too.  I grew up Jewish. So I get it.

Us:  That's cool. (Meanwhile, the other friend is standing three yards behind his bolder buddy, smirking shyly the whole time but not saying anything. )

Him:  Well, you ladies have a good time.  We'll catch you later.

Us:   Have fun.  (Shakin' our heads, rolling our eyes)

Day 2 was the Giants against the Royals.  Royals won, which I actually was impressed with.  We were literally 5 rows up - fantastic seats right behind home plate!  More ballpark snacks - peanuts in the shell, a giant soft pretzel, lots of water.  Did I mention it was 80 degrees outside?  Or that it was 80 degrees during the second weekend in March?

I just think these things are so cool!  

Got'cha!

Before the game, we went shopping at a local mall after a huge breakfast.  After the game, we went back to the hotel and took another nap.  I lost my phone, so tried to track it down to no avail.  Tiffany and I sat by the pool as the sun went down.  We found a great local pizza place, ate way too much, and drove around ASU to check out more of the local activity.

On Sunday, we found an LDS ward to go to  for the first hour, and then we drove to the Mesa Temple.  It is such a beautiful  temple, and the grounds were peaceful and covered in various citrus trees (I sampled an obliging kumquat) and cactus varieties.  

Then we headed to the final game of our weekend:  Rangers vs. Mariners.  Tiffany is a Texas native, so this was she and John's must-see game (John and Tiff were getting married in two weeks, so he has become a fan over the course of their relationship).   Philly cheese steak and peanuts in the shell were on the menu.

 This was such a nice, relaxing weekend.  We drove with the convertible-top down, got messy hair, and some sun.  We took naps (um, vacation!) and ate really good food.  My phone was even turned in to the hotel, so the only inconsequential tragedy wasn't a tragedy at all.  Arizona in spring is amazing.  I think I need to do this again next year!