Oh, Idaho

We had the opportunity this last weekend to head to Lava Hot Springs with Richie's family. It's been a year since we've been in Idaho and I don't know if we realized how much we missed it until we saw that first, beautiful potato field. :) I think I might have shed a few tears. The further north you drive up I-15 there are less billboards about liposuction, breast augmentation, and new furniture; There are less buildings,less mountains, less lanes, less traffic and less people. However the further north up I-15 you drive, there are more green fields, more space, and way more beautiful sunsets than in Utah. It was like I could feel my head clearing.
Lava Hot Springs is actually a town, a very small town, that has actual hot springs. People probably used to come and sit in the warm river and "heal" themselves with the mineral water. Now, it's mostly just a giant pool, or pools I should say, with water slides. I imagine the town of about 500 people makes most of it's revenue from tourists. We stayed in 2 old houses that have been renovated to rent out to visitors. We got there Thursday night and left Saturday afternoon. It was a blast! Beautiful weather, a relaxed itinerary, plenty of time at the pool, and wonderful people to be with.


On Friday, Richie's family drove home but we decided to make our way to Rexburg, about 2 hours north of Lava Hot Springs, to visit our old home and old friends. We spent some time just driving through town saying things like "Remember this?" and "Remember that?" and "That's new! When did they put that in?" We love our new home, but I think there was still a physical hurt when we drove past 244 W 1st south #8. Is that possible? Our wonderful friends (more like family) the Christensen's let us stay at their home Saturday night. It was like we hadn't missed a beat. Richie went fishing with Michael, we stayed up late and laughed until our faces hurt, and ate obscene amounts of cookies. The next day we went to church with Paul and Lahni and I got the biggest kick out of everyone calling me Lahni's daughter-in-law and asking if Miles and Gwen were her grandchildren. After a while, I stopped explaining and just said "Yes!" It was hard to leave Rexburg, even Miles kept wailing, "I wanna live in Rexburg, Idaho!!"
(Can't believe these are the only pictures I got!)

The thing that helped soften the blow was knowing that my parents were waiting for us at home in Riverton. My mom participated in the Logan Art Festival this last week (Go Mom!) and then made a pit-stop at our house to break up the trip. It was really only enough time to say "hi" and "bye", but I'll take it!