The bulk of our main day in Charleston included Magnolia plantation just outside of Charleston along the St. Lawrence River. It was a rice plantation before and during the Civil war, but after the war, when they could no longer keep slaves, the owner turned it into a beautifully landscaped garden of sorts for his wife and let visitors pay to ride the river boat up to its shore and tour the plantation. We wandered through the gardens and over the bridges and ponds and then took a tour of the “Big” house and a tour of the slave quarters.

Here was the long beautiful drive into the plantation.

I knew that we might get to see some alligators in the swampy ponds and marshes on the plantation and no sooner had we stepped onto the first bridge when we saw one. I would have walked right by him if it hadn’t been for two ladies who pointed him out to me.

As we wondered along the garden paths we came across this wonderful little sitting place. Apparently the owner of the plantation, who was also a minister, would sit here in this spot to commune with God and write his sermons.

They actually have a plaque there with a picture of the same spot from the 1800’s taken of the owner and his daughter.

Alligator #2 Can you see him?

We came across this beautiful crane hunting for food. It was mesmerizing to watch how still and quiet he was. I understand now why Eastern philosophy uses the crane so much to embody stillness and peace.

Alligator #3 Can you see him?

I never really got a great picture of the house. And they wouldn’t let us take pictures inside it. So here’s an internet picture of the front.

The last thing we did on the plantation was take a tour of the slave quarters. We had a fabulous guide who was more story teller than tour guide. She captivated us with the history of slavery on a rice plantation. Even after the slaves were freed, one family stayed on and worked the gardens for generations. Here’s a picture of an original slave hut.

As time went by, the huts became much more liveable. They have four there on the plantation, each one showing the progression over time.

We woke up at 5 the next morning to catch a 7:30 flight home. Everything was going fine until we’d been sitting on the airplane for about 10 minutes and the captain came on the intercom to tell us that he saw hydrolic fluid leaking from the airplane and he was going to keep us there for a bit longer to get some mechanics in to fix it. Thirty minutes later he came back on to say that because we were at a small airport with only contracted mechanics, he hadn’t been able to get anyone to come fix the problem. He wasn’t ready to cancel the flight yet, but told us we could remain on board or get off the plane if we needed to. Thirty minutes after that, he got on and told us that it had been an hour which meant he had to cancel the flight and that we all had to get off and find new flights home. Thus began our 2 hour wait in line to find a new flight home. When we finally made it to the counter there were no more flights to Boise. So we decided to get a flight home the next morning and stay one more night in Charleston, courtesy of United Airlines. We got a shuttle to the hotel and headed out for another night on the town!

We went to Riverfront Park, home to the Charleston Naval Base Memorial and the beautifully restored historic homes once occupied by naval officers. My pictures again don’t do this park justice, but here are a few.

We had dinner at a restaurant along the river and ate dinner while watching the huge cargo ships passing by on the Cooper River.

We got ice cream for dessert and then walked back to our hotel. And THAT was the end of our trip. The next day the flight went as planned and we arrived home to the still as yet winter brown hills and bare trees of Boise and I was a little sad. I loved the lush green and romantic history of the South and was a little jealous of those people who call it home.

After dinner at Halls (who, by the way, sent us a thank you card written by our waiter) we wandered around the historic district. We wandered around the next morning as well, before meeting Sam, who lives in Charleston, for lunch. We walked through the City Market, first built in 1788 and used as a public market in varying forms ever since. Charleston is called the Holy City because there are so many churches in it. Saint Michael’s had some REALLY old gravestones in it’s cemetery and I love old gravestones!

A few of my favorite things about Charleston were the doors and alleyways. There were so many enchanting little alleyways between the houses with beautiful ivy, wrought iron gates and ancient red bricks. Between our wanderings and Sam’s tour that evening we saw some beautiful parts of the city. I took so many pictures that Sam, the photographer, complained.

We didn’t have time to go all the way over to Fort Sumter, but we went to the spot where the first shots of the Civil War were fired from, which in my opinion, is actually cooler. Sam gave us our own private tour of the city. He showed us some of the coolest houses and several places he’d taken engagement or wedding photos for people. We saw one of the most famous slave auction spots and a dungeon used in the revolutionary war. He’s read the tour guide books and once upon a time considered being a tour guide. So glad we got to spend some time with him while we were there!

Well, I took way too many pictures of cool doorways so stay tuned for the last installment from our trip to the South; Magnolia Plantation and our bonus day courtesy of United Airlines.

We drove the scenic way up to Charleston by way of Hilton Head Island, the Angel Oak Tree and Sheldon, an old church ruin. Hilton Head was beautiful, as expected. White sandy beaches, huge ocean front mansions and resorts. We just stopped at one beach to walk a bit in the sand and surf and then hit the road again.

Our next stop was Old Sheldon Church-a church ruin originally built in the 1740’s and burned by the British in 1779 during the Revolution. It was rebuilt only to be burned again by General Sherman in the Civil War. The ruins are surrounded by ancient oaks and graves scattered in and around the churchyard. It had such a sacred and reverent spirit. I’m so glad we stopped to see it.

Friends,
who have come into our church yard
Please
treat these sacred ruins, the graves and grounds that surround them, with the respectful reverence they deserve.
Let us
leave feeling Old Sheldon is not worse but better for our presence.

Isn’t that how we should treat all of life? Both people and places-Better for our presence and not worse.

Our next stop was just as sacred, though not a man made structure built for worship. I have wanted to see this 400 year old Angel Oak Tree, just outside of Charleston, for years. It did not disappoint. I thought my pictures couldn’t do the size justice, and so when writing this post, I looked for a better one, but it turns out, no one’s camera does the size justice, so here are mine.

One way or another, all of nature-man or otherwise, reaches for the Sun/Son.

We arrived in Charleston just in time for our early dinner reservation at Hall’s Chophouse.

This was probably the best dining experience we’ve ever had. There were so many men in suits running the place, it felt like we’d stepped into a mafia den. The waiter spent 20 minutes telling us about this meat platter and all the millions of different cuts and ways of cooking that we could choose.

And it was the best steak I’ve ever had in my life! Perfectly crispy on the outside and cooked to perfection on the inside with about a 1/4 cup of truffle butter melting on top. The waiter asked us to cut into our meat to make sure it was cooked the way we wanted! The bread was divine, the mashed potatoes unreal. Seriously, I would pay plane ticket prices to fly back to Charleston someday just to eat here again. I will be dreaming about that meal for years. Rock will be dreaming about the pepperjack creamed corn. lol.

Stay tuned for downtown Charleston and Magnolia Plantation…and our bonus extra day!

I love Civil War history. I’ve read Gone with the Wind and it’s sequel many times, and of course I’ve watched the movie countless times. In fact, Rock and I watched it on our 3rd date, where he also held my hand for the first time. I also love the movie Glory; when the other kids in my high school history class were asleep on their desks, I was riveted. But Rock is not as big a history buff, so I was rather surprised when he suggested that for our getaway this year, we go to Savannah, GA. No trip to the South would have been complete for me without seeing a plantation and since there are some good ones outside of Charleston, we did Charleston, NC too. To avoid the humidity and mosquitos of a southern summer, we went in April. It was beautiful and warm and green-unlike the never ending winter we’ve had here in Idaho.

Savannah is made up of beautiful squares that make the whole city feel like a park. You walk from one square to the next passing historical homes built in the 17 and 1800’s. The trees in the south were my very favorite. Live Oaks are evergreen and breathtaking. My camera could never quite do them justice. Savannah, as well as Charleston, were covered in azalea bushes that unfortunately had already bloomed (mine at home had just barely turned green again!), but I will go back someday in March to see the South on fire with azaleas.

Before heading on our walk through the city we ate a yummy southern breakfast. Best fried chicken ever!

That evening we wondered down to River Street to shop for souvenirs and get some dinner.

Huge container ships go up and down this river all the time. It’s shocking to be so close to something that big that is moving.

The next morning we ate breakfast at an adorable bed and breakfast across from this amazing Catholic Church before driving up to Charleston.

Stay tuned for more from our trip….

We lost my wonderful Aunt Karla and Rock’s sweet Grandma Hymas in January. Both women had a profound affect on my life and I will miss them enough, both women had a way of making you feel like you were their best friend. All the people who stood to share stories of both women, at both funerals said that. It was totally true.

My Aunt Karla was beautiful and funny. She was the life of the party wherever she went. She and my uncle Rich were my family’s guardian angels growing up. When money was tight, my Aunt Karla took my siblings and I on what can only be termed a shopping spree to buy school clothes. To a 4th grade girl it was the best day of my life! I will never forget it. She and my Uncle opened their home to my family when I was a senior in high school and we lived with them for a year. Their generosity really knew no bounds. Her amazing home and parties were the stuff of legend and she is the standard in my mind and heart of hospitality. I miss her but am so grateful she was a part of my life. The earth got dimmer the day she left it, but heaven, brighter.

I have always wanted to go back to Long Lake Park in the neighborhood where I grew up but they put a gate up years and years ago so I never could. This time I decided to wait for someone to come by who lived in the neighborhood and beg them to let me in. We didn’t have to wait long. A nice lady walking her dog let us in. I have so many memories of this park, playing and walking through the trails and swimming. It was wonderful to see it again.

I will dearly miss Amy Hymas, Rock’s sweet grandma. I’ve written about her before, but her positivity and love knew no bounds. She was faithful and stalwart and dedicated to the gospel and to her family. “Isn’t it wonderful?!” was one of her favorite phrases and really showed how she saw the world and everything in it, good or bad. We are trying to use that phrase more now at our house. Loved this little lady who loved me as her own, but I’m so glad she can be with Grandpa again. She passed peacefully in her sleep after a long life well lived. We will miss you, Grandma!

Levi tried lots of new things this month. He was in a boy band, learned cross country skiing, and blessed the sacrament for the first time.

First the Boy Band. His friends in choir convinced him to perform in a group for a high school version of “The Voice”. They looked awesome and were all so cute up there that they won the competition even though their mics and music didn’t work that great. Girls love a boy band. He learned a ton and had a blast. They named themselves Wrong Direction and are making big plans for their future fame. The recording below is from a second performance a few weeks later when the sound worked better.

Also this month he decided to try the high school Cross Country ski team. Even as a novice he did awesome and placed 3rd and then 2nd.

No pictures of the sacrament but it was really awesome to have all three of my handsome boys up there blessing the sacrament together.

Liberty had her ballet recital and we love seeing how much she has improved over the years. She gets more beautiful and graceful with every year.

I continued with skiing in January. I get a little better every time, but I’m still a slow learner. Libby has passed me up, now and I’m back to being the slowest Hymas on the hill.

It was a fairly low key December this year. We celebrated Levi’s 15th birthday and he has begun the traditional whine that all my kids will whine, “All my friends are taking driver’s ed, why can’t I?” And I answer with my traditional answer, “Because even though we live in Idaho and the driving age is 14, you do NOT drive a tractor or work on a farm and do not need to be driving a car at 14 or even 15.” They have to wait until all of the non farming states allow drivers ed which is 15.5. He decided he wanted boxing gloves and even though he could still give himself or another brain damage, I opted for the lesser of two evils.

Cade gave Levi his old airpods-but just the airpods-not the charging case. For that, Levi had to wait until Christmas. Cade thought he was pretty clever for coming up with that idea.

We made our traditional Christmas goodies.

Reagan even helped with the peppermint bark this year.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

I got an air fryer that we have used almost every day since!

Christmas would apparently not be Christmas without Legos so Rock got each of them a small Lego set too. It’s all about tradition!

Due to damaged shipping, the kids didn’t get their biggest gift this year on Christmas. Instead they got Cue Stick Chalk.

In other words, they got a pool table, that now, thanks to two damaged shippings, they still do not have. Maybe they’ll get their Christmas present by Valentines Day.

We took the younger two down to see Cade perform in the BYU Christmas concert this last weekend. On the drive down we stopped to get dinner in Sandy and saw this beautiful tree!!

On Saturday we took them around campus and regaled them with stories of when we were at BYU.

The building on the left is the HFAC-Harris Fine Arts Center where generations of Hymas and Wesel family members spent much of their time at BYU. They will be tearing it down soon and Cade’s concert was the last concert ever performed there.

On our tour of campus we stopped at the BYU bookstore and Rock showed the kids where he basically got arrested for shop lifting. It’s a good story-ask him about it sometime. He certainly looks the part of a criminal in this picture for sure. While in the library he told them about the time he kissed a girl (not me) in the stacks. They were begging him for stories the whole trip after those two.

After campus, Sarin took the kids to the aquarium for the behind the scenes tour. She knows everything about the aquarium now after working there for a year. While they were at the shark tank a special visitor dropped in to feed the fish.

Rock’s parents drove over from Colorado to see the concert and brought gifts with them!! This is a beautiful “old” 12 string Rock’s dad passed down to Rock and Levi. They’re super excited to play a duet with it.

They also brought us these fantastic antique books!

Before the concert we went to dinner at the Brick Oven for another trip down memory lane where Rock told the kids about the time we went on a double date there together but not with each other. Ironically enough, we went to the HFAC that night too to look at an art exhibit.

Then it was on to the concert. It was all the choirs and the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra. I wish that I didn’t need a tissue when going to these kinds of events but music about the Savior, music of this caliber and music with that many voices-ie REALLY BIG, moves me to tears. I can’t help it. I loved it. It was worth driving 10 hours to hear. I don’t know which was better; Cade’s excitement over the last song, or the last song itself. The First Noel is my favorite Christmas carol and the arrangement they sang was incredible. They blew the roof off. I’m so glad we got to hear it. I’m so grateful Cade has had this chance to make beautiful music with talented people.

Greeting his guests after the concert was fun for Cade, but not as cool as the guest he got to meet after Friday night’s concert! Thank you to the random mom that thought to snap a picture of this!

Sunday morning we attended St. Mark’s Episcopal church in downtown Salt Lake with Monica. It is the 2nd oldest church in SLC! The ornate wood and stained glass windows were beautiful! It was the 2nd Sunday of advent and such a beautiful service. I love seeing the similarities that exist in the different religions of the world-it is thrilling and fascinating. And wonderful to share in the joy and celebration of the Savior’s birth with fellow Christians.

We had a yummy breakfast with everyone and then headed home.

Awesome trip! Wore the kids out.

We had a few new happenings this Thanksgiving, only one of which was eating smoked turkey for the first time. But before I get to Thanksgiving; my trip to Utah.

I went down to Provo to see Cade’s concert and celebrate Sarin’s birthday. It was great to see them. Shopping at IKEA with my sisters is always fun and this time Cade came along. He didn’t find it as enjoyable as we did of course, but he got to eat twelve Swedish meatballs so he didn’t complain.

His concert was awesome! I love the choirs at BYU, they never disappoint.

Also in November I became one of the lucky few who have gone to a Dave Matthew’s concert with Rock. He has been to 5 total. I’m not a big fan, but I like a few of their songs and have lived with their music playing somewhere in my house or car for over 20 years now so it was fun to see them in person.

Thanksgiving

We had just my parents and sisters this Thanksgiving in addition to our family. Cade came home with the girls and Alli brought her boyfriend, Cameron, home as well. It was great to spend more time with him and get to know him better. And it is good to see my sister so happy. But the best part about him coming to Thanksgiving was that he is a Turkey Smoking Expert. He smokes the turkey for his family every year and when his mom found out he was coming here for the holiday she said, “Darn, I have to cook the turkey in the oven.” So we borrowed Derek’s smoker and Cam made us the best turkey we’ve ever had!!! It was crazy to watch him prep it. I’ve never seen someone spatchcock a Turkey and I honestly hope I never do again-it’s pretty gruesome. Think chiropractor meets surgeon.

He did a ton of work that day and to top it all off he did my least favorite part of Thanksgiving-cleaning the meat off the bones. Thank you, Cam, for the best tasting turkey ever.

Liberty and Rock were in charge of the pies this year and they did an awesome job. They started three days early! Apple, pumpkin, key lime and French silk. Rock really got into it.

And possibly my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner was this little guy I picked up at the store. I forgot about him in the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving day, but luckily he tasted just as good on leftovers.

Liberty and Levi got to tag along to go see the Scentsy lights.

This year I’m grateful for smokers (that smoke turkeys.) 😉

Well, this year our Halloween Festivities included only two children. I guess back in 2007 it was only two children too, but growing is different than shrinking. It’s more fun.

So, for tradition’s sake, here’s the 2022 pumpkin patch.

Here’s Halloween. Libby and her cute friends were M & M’s.

Also in October was my 20th anniversary of being a mother and Rock’s of being a father. I couldn’t get him to smile nice for the camera.