Return to Rexburg

On our way to Jackson Hole, we made a stop in Rexburg to pay tribute to my Alma Mater, Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho). I haven't been back since all the changes that came with Ricks becoming a university, so the temple, conference center, and all the other big changes (including the rebuilt Spori Building, which burned down when I was on my mission) that have happened since my college years were quite a surprise! I was worried that with all the growth, the "Spirit of Ricks" would fade away and the school would be different, but just walking on campus, I felt that same powerful feeling that I felt there as a student and as I reflect on my Ricks experience. I honestly teared up just walking around and trying to explain to Grant how special that place is and how much I treasure the opportunities I had there. Happy to see that the Ricks Spirit is still there and that even more students now have the opportunity to experience it.

At the Taylor Building with my kiddos. This was the newest building on campus when I was there. It's the religion building and where I attended church.

Here I am in front of a BYU-Idaho sign in front of the amazing new conference center. It is seriously a not-so-mini version of the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. I was blown away by the auditorium. A building the campus and students can truly be proud of, for sure! BYU-Provo has nothing like this!

At the rebuilt Spori Building. The old one was where I spent most of my time while I was at Ricks, since it housed the Communications Department and the Ricks College Scroll offices. I was an editor on the newspaper staff and proud to be a "Scrollie." I visited the Scroll offices (where my friend Melissa is now one of the advisors -- so awesome!) and of course picked up a copy of the latest edition!

My homes away from home. Left -- Dorm 5, where I lived my freshman year (now boys dorms ... glad I didn't go waltzing through the gate!), and #304 of Birch Plaza my second year. The door was open, and I was tempted to go up and ask to walk through (but I got too shy ...)!

And, in honor of the place where I learned to run (and like it!), we of course had to stop at the water tower up on the hill (where I used to run and feel my lungs burn from the frigid air!) and the track at the football stadium, right across from Birch Plaza, where my roommates Corie, Brooke, and I used to jog laps at night (and often, when I was running stairs, got passed up by President Bednar!).

One of the highlights of our stops in Idaho was seeing my mission companion, Jill Ryner (now Loera). She and I were companions for almost 8 months. She was a rockstar, and I loved serving with her! Over 12 years and six babes later (including her angel, Noah, who died in a tragic accident a few years ago), here we are, meeting up again in Idaho Falls! It was such a treat to visit with her and reminisce about mission memories.

The Idaho Falls Visitors Center was so neat and had a beautiful display of artwork. The boys were less than reverent the majority of our visit, so this picture is a little deceiving ...

The Idaho Falls Temple. Grant had never been here before, and he and the boys especially loved seeing the breathtaking falls on the west side (sorry, no pics!).

That night we ate at Fong's, my favorite Chinese place in Rexburg, since I learned that my #1 choice, Craigo's pizza, no longer serves up the mouth-watering cheesy breadsticks I used to adore (sigh). On a happy note, I was giddy to discover that Rexburg has acquired a Nielsen's Frozen Custard (I worked at the old one in Orem in high school). I met up with my friend Melissa from Church Magazines (now teaching at BYU-I) and definitely ordered a coconut cookie dough concrete! 

 And, ugh, were the boys naughty in the hotel!! It was a sleeping farce!  Zach really hasn't traveled since he was a newborn and has never slept anywhere by hospitals and Grandma's house, so he was the biggest stinker about sleeping and would only "sleep" if Grant or I slept in the bed with him. Even then, he would play with Grant's face and make sounds across the room to Eliot. They played a "shh!" echo game that I swear lasted an hour, despite our whispered threats. Oy, yoy, yoy.

The next morning, we visited the Rexburg temple. It is so gorgeous, surrounded by wheat fields, which were all golden and ready to harvest when we were there. A unique beauty that suits the farming community perfectly. I wasn't able to get any good photos that showed the details up close, but the "wheat" theme is depicted in the windows (and apparently in the interior decor, I'm told).

 

What a beautiful temple and huge blessing to the area!

 

I'm so happy we made the effort to stop in Idaho! It was such a meaningful addition to our family vacation. I was able to catch up with dear friends and visit places that hold a special place in my heart. It was a collision of many worlds, which was strange but sweet. It was so neat to share my memories with my family and tell Grant and the boys about "the good old days!" I really think that Ricks College played a key role in making me who I am and putting me on the path to so many of the good choices I've made in life. I thrived in my niche as a journalist, made wonderful friends with roommates and colleagues, and I treasure the blessing I had of being taught by Elder Bednar in his first two years there as College President. I love Rexburg and am so thrilled to see it growing and blessing lives while at the same time feeling and looking so much the same!