Revisiting The Past...Literally!

We were able to take a literal trip down memory lane a couple weeks ago and my heart and soul are FULL of gratitude that we were able to do that! Ever since we left Naperville Illinois 6+ years ago, I have ached to go back and visit with the people that made such a dramatic difference in our lives.

We went on a family vacation to Minnesota and Illinois and I want to focus on our time in Illinois first.

Naperville Illinois 2007:

We had just gotten back from our trip in Ecuador where I had volunteered the last three months. Justin flew to Chicago (where he was going to work for a pest control company) and I flew home to Utah. At this time we were still trying to figure out wedding plans. Justin ended up getting death bed sick and was in the hospital. I don't remember who called his mom and I, but they basically said that we needed to get there because Justin was in pretty bad shape and they were not sure if he was going to make it or not (yes...he was THAT sick). I booked a plane as fast as possible and was on my way. Long story short...I only bought a one way ticket because I knew that if he made it that we'd be getting married shortly thereafter.

Justin recovered, thanks to a miraculous priesthood blessing on Sunday and was out of the hospital on Monday. He literally went from basically dead to up and alive the next day. Deeply thankful for the power of priesthood blessings!!! (He was taken to the hospital on Tuesday by his roommates that he'd just met, and got out on Monday). 

On Tuesday we bought a car. Wednesday we got an apartment (that we couldn't move into until Monday) and on Thursday night at 8 PM we were married. It was just three people (other than ourselves) that were there, the Bishop, his wife and a witness. It was kind of a sad moment, to be quite honest. I was wearing a black dress (the only one I had in my suitcase at the time) and I ached for family and friends to be there, but I knew that it was the right thing to go ahead and just get married due to our circumstances (that's a whole other story that ya'll don't need to know about.) ;-) 

Got married in this church building. 

Our first year of marriage was H.A.R.D. but at the same time...it was beautiful and to this day one of my most favorite years of marriage. I don't know how an experience can be so bitter and yet so sweet at the same time. We attended the LDS Addiction Recovery Group every Wednesday for a year. 

This couple, Bill and Kathy Hall, will forever hold a special place in our hearts. They were the facilitators at the Addiction Recovery Meetings and helped Justin and I tremendously. I once received a priesthood blessing saying that I would receive help from angels seen and unseen, and looking back, the Halls were definitely my angels! No words can adequately express the love that I have for them. While we were in Naperville visiting, they took us out to dinner to Paneara Bread. It did my heart and soul so good to sit and catch up with them...as best as we could with three active kids (don't blame them...we had just been in the car for 5 hours and they were a bit stir crazy). 

(Kyra took this picture^^)

After dinner with the Halls, we then went and stayed the night at the Stake Presidents house. President Peterson was another angel in our life while living in Naperville. He took us under his wing and loved us. Usually one doesn't have a close relationship with the Stake President (at least that has been the case in my life) but President Peterson became a close and dear friend of ours. His personal phone number was on speed dial. ;) Justin and I were two completely broken people that needed a lot of Divine help, and I am so thankful that Heavenly Father put these specific people in our lives. I want them to be our next door neighbors in Heaven. 

We were blessed enough to even catch Bishop Brim and his wife, Jill. They were having a yard sale that day and told us to come on by. They were selling a double stroller and I was thrilled to the bones! I have been in NEED of a double stroller ever since we left GA *huge blessing*. Seeing them was so surreal! It's hard to believe 7+ years had passed since he married us. I'll forever be thankful to Jill for asking me to come along with her and a big group of women for an over night stay in Nauvoo IL (4 hours away). So so deeply thankful and I am excited for a time in life when I can pay it forward and be a Light to others!