Valentine's Weekend

I'll be honest. Valentine's last year sort of sucked. I don't blame the poor kid. I'm Justin's first girlfriend and first lots of things... he didn't know that to do anything on V-day you have to plan it far in advance. The year before I was in Telluride so we just texted a lot and sent gifts. This year he made up for it BIG TIME. And yes, we probably spent too much money, but I think that it was a fantastic weekend.

On Saturday night Justin got us reservations to Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar. I got to eat seafood, which is a rarity considering my husband's repulsion of anything from the water. The scallops were delicious. Justin was so cute he whispered across the table, "What's the difference between a Filet Mignon and a New York Sirloin and a Ribeye?" He is definitely more of a Crown Burger and Cafe Rio man than an expensive restaurant eater. Some how the food snob and the meat and potatoes man make it work. :)

After dinner we went to Ballet West's performance of Swan Lake. The best part of the show for Justin? The fact that we snagged a parking spot literally 15 feet from the front door of the Capital Theater. Yup. That was his favorite part. My favorite part? The choreography between the Swan princess and the prince... the lines were beautiful and her arm movements made her look like the grace of a swan... When I think about it I revert back to my childhood of wearing ballerina costumes and jumping around with my sisters with our over-sized jewelry and gaudy makeup we painted on each other.Another interesting part of the ballet was the fact that our seats happened to be right next to our physics TA from last semester. Justin sat down and said, "Hey, Will, can I ask you a physics question?" He looked at Justin and was like, "No way dude."

On our way home I was looking at a street corner and recognized one of Justin's mission companions. I yelled, "Hey! It's Thompson! He looks exactly like Harry Potter!" So he and his girlfriend got in the car and we gave them a ride to their car. Thompson is hilarious. A former stoner, he makes the most ironic looking returned missionary. We always laugh when we're around him.

On Sunday we visited my cute grandparents. My Granddad was finally in a good mood and my Grandma managed to not obsess too much over him. Caroline, Jordan, my Auntie Cathy and cousin Erik and my Dad spent about 2 hours together the McAvoy way... just sitting in chairs and talking. I love my grandparents. :)
On President's Day Justin went up to Solitude with Chris Hardy to ski. It was cold and somewhat of a whiteout so I stayed home and helped my friend, Tali with her high school geometry homework. That night we saw the Blind Side. What an INCREDIBLE movie! We could not get over how amazing the film was. Every aspect of it was beautiful. We were so moved by the compassion of the family, the teachers and the coaches that guided Mike to rise above poverty and give him an education, a family and a fighting chance. Justin was particularly inspired by the teachers in the movie because he is going into secondary education. He said to me, "I'd like to think that someday I could make a difference in someone's life like that." We both would like to.

On Tuesday we skipped our 5:30 class to go nightskiing/boarding at Brighton. Brighton is one of my favorite places to go. Too bad I forgot my coat! Justin let me wear his coat and he skied in a fleece... brrrrr!! But so fun.

Well, it was a fun weekend and hopefully more adventures soon to come. This Saturday we're snowshoeing with our friend Marianna and her boyfriend. In March we're hoping to go to Zion's National Park to hike and bike. Then in April we're planning a mountain biking trip with our friends, the Einfeldts at SlickRock trail in Moab. Hopefully it'll all fall into place!

Goodbye McKay

Last week I attended the funeral of a childhood friend and neighbor. Maybe some of you heard of the missionaries in Romania that died in their apartment from a natural gas leak. That was McKay Burrows and his companion. McKay was about 4 years younger than me. When my family first moved in to my parent's current home in Highland, McKay's family befriended ours. They were the only children in the neighborhood who would play with me and my two little sisters. We ate dinner with their family almost once a month. We had lemonade stands together. We went out on picnics together and museums trips. The Burrows family have been loyal friends of ours throughout the years. In fact, McKay's father taught and baptized my father when I was 11 years old. Ten years later he represented me as my lawyer when I got my annulment from my first marriage. To say that McKay and his family are great people is a huge understatement.

The family had to reserve the Alpine Tabernacle for the funeral because there were so many attendees. A church wouldn't have done the job. The apostle Elder Nelson attended and spoke. I cried for most of the funeral thinking about how such a young man could just disappear so quickly. Elder Nelson said, "When the Lord requires a transfer like this from missionaries, we feel heart broken, but we know he is needed elsewhere."

In all the heartbreak and sadness felt by the hundreds of attendees and family, it's wonderful to know that I can see McKay again. That's the beauty of what McKay taught so enthusiastically in Romania. He taught others that we CAN see each other again. This life isn't the end. We can be together forever... not just some of us, but anyone who chooses to believe. I love this about my religion. It is the most beautiful and comforting principle. That families can be together forever and that our love is eternal.

McKay's little brother, Ashton performed "When You're Dreaming with a Broken Heart" on the piano while he sang. I loved this song before he performed it last week (it's John Mayer) but now it takes on new meaning. Watching McKay's adoring little brother play struck a deep painful chord in my hear. Now I can't listen to the song without crying. Here are the lyrics:

When you're dreaming with a broken heart
Then waking up is the hardest part
You roll outta bed and down on your knees
And for a moment you can hardly breathe
Wondering was she really here?
Is she standing in my room?
No she's not, 'cause she's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone....

When you're dreaming with a broken heart
The giving up is the hardest part
She takes you in with her crying eyes
Then all at once you have to say goodbye
Wondering could you stay my love?
Will you wake up by my side?
No she can't, 'cause she's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone....

Now do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hands
Do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hands?
Do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hands?
Do i have to fall asleep with roses in my , roses in my hands?

Would you get them if i did?
No you won't, 'cause you're gone, gone, gone, gone, gone....

When you're dreaming with a broken heart
The waking up is the hardest part


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at8V7sgIdTg


In the program they printed part of a letter from McKay to his siblings. "I love you guy so so much. I miss you tons too but things are the best the way they are. Enjoy life and high school while you still can. You only get to once. Don't mess it up or let it slip by like I did. BE BOLD!! Love, Elder McKay Burrows"

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