Sunday, June 14, 2009

The 3rd Annual Sister's Sweet Retreat-2009


In case you don't know, every year my sister's and I get together for a few days and call it a Sister's Sweet Retreat. You can read about the previous retreats on this site but today I'll tell you about the 3rd annual retreat.
This year we made reservations at the World Mark Resort in St. George, Utah. It was close enough to get to quickly and still somewhere new for us. Some family members have stayed there before and it came highly recommended. We booked the 2 bedroom, deluxe suite. Then we got the sad news that Penny wouldn't be able to be with us this year. Although we totally understand, we were also very sad.
Margie was with some of her children in southern Utah for a grandchild's baptism so on Monday morning Peggy and I drove down together from American Fork. We had such a nice visit going that I was really glad I had decided to drive and not fly down. In St. George we met up with Margie and headed to the resort where we got our things unpacked and ourselves situated. Peggy surprised us with gifts that she had brought with her and we love the bags and scarf. Thank you Peggy! You are so sweet! She had also send one to Penny. You might also recognize the pillows that were gifts from the 1st and 2nd Sister's Sweet Retreats. Later that evening we headed out for some dinner and ended up at a Mexican resturant. We took our dinners outside and enjoyed a wonderful summer thunderstorm. Most of the people on the patio left. I wonder if it had anything to do with the metal tables and chairs we were sitting on? After that we went to the store and bought some groceries for the week. We found several books to share and lots of yummy food to eat. (Most of which we were trying to get rid off before we left the resort). *See Root Beer floats for breakfast on Thursday morning. We stayed up late and visited and visited. That's what you do most on a sister's retreat. Come to find out on Tuesday morning, Peggy had been sick most of the night and was in no shape to get up early in the morning. No pictures needed!!! Margie rested, too since she had been up with Peggy most of the night and because I was in another room and had slept through it all, I was up and at the pool first thing in the morning. I was aching for some of that hot summer sun. I read my book while I sat until Margie came to join me. We decided to stay close to the resort that day and let Peggy regain some of her strength. So, Margie and I went back to the store and got her some soups and ice cream (for root beer floats) and things we thought she'd enjoy. Mostly we sat and visited. On Wednesday morning we decided to venture out and find Zion's National Park. I can't even begin to tell you how beautiful everything was. I'll include some pictures but... wow! We drove into a little town just outside the park and then took the tram to the entrance. From there we took a park tram and visited several of the stops along the way up the canyon.
At the end of the tram ride we found a shady place to have our picnic lunch and then we hiked the last trail of the park. It was called the River Walk Trail and it was very refreshing to walk along the waterfront. We stopped and played in the waterand a squirrel actually got inside my bag and grabbed a "Dove" candy. I looked at him and he looked at me and I decided he deserved it. He had to eat the foil wrapper before he ever got to the chocolate. So sad!! I wonder if he had any fillings? We loved the park, the walk and all the beautiful sights but decided to leave a bit early so we could make the trip to Overton before it was dark. It had been about 13 years since I had been there and since both our Harmon Granparents are buried in Overton, I really wanted to visit and put some flowers on their grave sites. We always do that on Memorial Day for the sites in Idaho but seldom do we get to do it for Granma and Granpa Harmon (Sam and Veva). It turned out to be a highlight of the trip because we were able to call Aunt Lorraine (Sam and Veva's youngest daughter) who lives in Logandale, right next to Overton. She met us at the cemetery where we pulled a few weeks and and placed our flowers on Granpa and Granma's graves. We visited with Aunt Lorraine and enjoyed a beautiful sunset on top of the plateau where the cemetery is. After a bit we went to Aunt Lorraine's home to visit with Uncle Gail. They had just gotten home from their LV Temple shift by they took us to dinner at a resturant in Overton. We got to drive by the "old" house and up and down the streets. I had spent several summers as a young girl in Overton with Granma and Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Ruel's family and I have the most wonderful memories of being there. What a amazing treat to spend some time there again with Aunt Lorraine, Uncle Gail, Peggy and Margie!!!!
We headed back to St. George around 9:30 and had a very peaceful ride back.
On Thursday morning we got dressed in our Sunday clothes and went to do a session at the St. George Temple. Again, I remember stopping at the temple on my way to and from Provo as a college student and I remember thinking it was so beautiful. It was wonderful to enter the doors with 2 of my sisters. We enjoyed the session and took pictures afterwards.
Margie took us to the Bear's Claw for a bit to eat before we headed home. The food was good and the company - the best.
We had a nice ride home that afternoon and got to see Margie's beautiful yards and home when we dropped her off in Delta. I wish I had a camera handy then but I'll always remember the flowers that bordered her yard, her rose garden, large vegetable garden, columbins and irises. It was like a piece of heaven on earth.
Peggy and I finished out the trip in American Fork where her husband and sweet granddaughers were all outside waiting for her. And, although I spent the night in Provo with Gracie, I was ready to come back home the next day. If you haven't read my www.thetallandtheshortofitall.blogspot.com site this is what I found when I got home. These are the first flowers of the summer from our yards and Dan had a bouquet all ready for me on my dresser. A wonderful end to a wonderful Sister's Sweet Retreat. Until next year... love you girls!!