Saturday, May 4, 2013

Midwest Meanderings!

Dan and I traveled to Iowa to visit Alyssa and attend her Master's Graduation Recital.  What a glorious night filled with beautiful piano music.  We were so pleased with her performance.  She plays with passion and a beautiful heart--and of course so much skill and talent.  She looked beautiful and played beautiful. There were so many who came to support her from school and church.  She filled the hall!  My only regret is that this is the only picture we have that Dan took while she was warming up!  At least we have this one!



Wednesday, the day of the recital, I was able to attend a class there at the U. of Iowa with Alyssa.  Since she was busy teaching and accompanying the next day, Dan and I took off and drove to Nauvoo, Illinois, about 2 hours south.    It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed Nauvoo for the third time. . .hence only one picture of a home with gorgeous purple flowers in the field just in front.  We saw many barns along the way decorated with a quilt block!  




The next day we headed off to Chicago with Alyssa and her boyfriend, Ben Jaderholm.  We had a great time getting to know him and we can see why she is spending lots of time with him!  He is a fine and delightful young man! We also had a special treat havingTyler and Matt and Raquel meet us in Chicago.  Tyler served his mission there and knows the city inside out.  He was our tour guide and he helped us see A LOT in a short amount of time.  We would have been lost without him.  Matt and Raquel also drove from Michigan to meet us.  It was heavenly to have some of our children and 2 grandchildren together for a day and a half!!  





























Nothing better than being with family!  Nothing!