farewell 97.

(Bishop signing the gratitude wall I put up in our apartment last November)

Well, it's official! This past weekend Nicole and I signed a contract for our new place--we're leaving the 97th ward. We both feel really good about it, although, I admit it's going to be sad for me to leave the ward I called home for three years! With both my cohorts graduating, and Bishop Cardullo most likely getting released in the coming weeks though, it just feels like it's time.

Nicole & I visited the ward that we're moving into and on our walk back, we couldn't help but feel really excited about the changes that will be coming this fall! Everything has fallen into place so wonderfully (much like it did when I first moved into Hampstead) that I'm so sure really great things are coming our way. 

There's still a full summer to enjoy everything the 97th ward has to offer! It's sort of an emotion akin to what I mentioned in a previous post--the closing of a really REALLY great chapter of my life. I have been shaped in so many ways by the people I have met here, they've been an integral part of my refining process. 

I love that there's this extremely strong bond between all of us. I have run into several fellow 97th ward members all over Utah in the past month, and just as with mission reunions, the scripture from when Alma runs into the brothers of Mosiah comes to mind, 

"...therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men [& women!] of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God." (Alma 17:2)

L: I ran into a former ward member on campus, and got this great text shortly after our encounter; R: Russell found this gem on his phone from last year and sent it my way. I have two tiny scars on my right hand from this night. haha!<3

I'm not a HUGE fan of the "typical" visiting teaching visit, so instead I asked Audge if she'd be up with going to the dollar theatre for our visits. It was all fun & games till the dollar theater up & closed on us! We went the day before closing (we saw Arrival) and documented our entire visit for posterity's sake, naturally.

Of course our last showing would be in theater 8! My favorite number!! <tears emoji>

No explanation needed.

From the ward opening social, a pool party at Audrey's house. :)

This is sort of a worlds colliding photo. Ray & I attended our good friend Abby's wedding. I know Abby from Law School,  Ray knows Abby from high school. I know Ray from the ward, but also he's now in law school--it's a web. Abby's reception was in her backyard, and there was such a community feel to it, I loved it! It's funny because as we were walking in, Ray said, "I probably won't recognize anyone here..." Needless to say, he had a whole high school friend crew there, it was fun to observe, and made me want to see my high school friends ASAP!

*cough, cough, Misden come visit me in Utah!!*

😭😭😭😭