Weekend in Modesto

I made the decision to fly home for my cousin's wedding. It was a good excuse to have a quick trip home and see my family and friends. Going home is always complicated for me and never easy. I feel pulled and stretched in every direction between all the family and friends I want to spend time with. This was the first time I went home with my sister and neither of us had our kids. I flew into Sacramento and she picked me up on her way down from Redding. The weekend was full of lots of drama ( my brother, Cody, is having a rough time in life right now) but also so many amazing times. I hardly slept because we packed so much into 3 days! Despite the family drama, it was one of the best trips home I have ever had! 

Snapped a few quick pics at my moms house of all of us. It was hard to see my mom this trip. I don't go home often so I hadn't seen her in over 2 years and her physical state seems to worsen each time I see her. She has had severe stomach/digestion issues and has lost a lot of weight. That combined with her PD makes her look like an entirely different person than the mother I grew up with. But I love her so much and it brings her great joy when she has all of her kids in one room together.

For the first time I stayed at Terry and Micki's house with my sister while I was in town. I love Terry like my own dad since he raised me with my mom from the time I was 4 to 14. When he got home from work we all went to dinner at a new Mexican joint he loves.

I captured the sun setting on the street I grew up on. I have many fond memories of the giant trees and riding my bike frequently around my quiet neighborhood. 

I also had to capture the beautiful Japanese Maple that Terry planted from a seedling. I remember its baby trunk and branches as a little girl. I always loved this tree. Maybe that's why I planted the exact same tree in my own front yard. Many things have changed in our crazy, blended family. Even the exterior of this house looks completely different than when I grew up here, but this tree has always remained. It has grown stronger, bigger and more beautiful over the years. This house was my home for 10 years and I am grateful to be able to still come home to reminisce about this part of my life. 

A highlight for me coming home is seeing Jenifer. My Best Friend Forever! My Best Friend since I was 14. It felt so good to just be together again, laugh and tell our stories. She is one of the few people who know everything about me and loves me without judgement. One of the nights I was in town we swam in her backyard pool for a solid stretch of the night, sharing our hearts and laughter as only best friends of 23 years can. It was just what I needed. 

I also got to be there for Sienna's birthday. Her and Brielle are only a few months apart. I can't believe my own little girl will soon blow out 11 candles on her own cake this year.

The night of my cousins wedding arrived! It was a picturesque summer night in the valley. My sister and I parked our car among the orchards and rode in a golf cart down the dirt road to the ceremony.  My Uncle Don officiated the wedding and did a fabulous job marrying my cousin, Spencer, and his bride, Lindsay. I love my Uncle Don so much! He is the baby on my mom's side of the family. He has always been so kind to me, has the best taste in music, knows how to party and he always makes me laugh! 

I snapped a quick selfie and me and Spencer! He was a busy groom enjoying his happy day! It meant the world to me that it meant the world to him that I came to his wedding. I was able to see his brother, my cousin Ammon, who I hadn't seen since I was a teenager! I also saw my Aunt Karen and Aunt Brenda. It was so much fun!

Cody showed up just as the ceremony ended. We hung at the reception for a while and I danced the night away. Notice I said "I" danced the night away? Apparently my brother and sister aren't big dancers (Clair was 9 months pregnant so ill cut her some slack). That didn't stop me. I met some new friends and partied it up on the dance floor with my Aunt, Uncle and the party of the wedding. It was honestly one of the funnest weddings Ive been to in a long time!

Another highlight of my trip was seeing this beauty! Erin Black! She was my Laurel advisor at church in Young Women's. We stayed close after I graduated high School. She was there for me in a very rough time in my life and I have always held a special place for her in my heart. She was the one who encouraged me to leave Modesto and come to Utah to go to School. She had already graduated BYU at the time and was completing her Masters degree. She told me about the Summer Visiting Program at BYU and told me about how much fun it would be to live at a place called King Henry apartments in Provo. She let me stay in her studio apartment and house sit while she was out of town the summer I graduated high school. It gave me some much needed space away from my tiny house filled with my mom, her new husband and new baby. I could go on and on about how awesome she was and still is, but ill stop there for now. I know without a doubt Heavenly Father was truly aware of my needs in my fragile teenage years and blessed me with Erin.

Jenifer happens to be in her ward! It was so fun to see Sarah too! She is Erin's best friend and was also in Young Women's with us back in the day. 

 My sweet Aunt Debbie had all the Alkire's over to her house to hang out. This was my family for such a huge chunk of my life, and even though my stepdad has been divorced from my mom for over 20 years, they are still my family. I have learned it is not just blood that makes family, it is instead the love and loyalty that build that family bond. I have so many fond memories of the Alkire gatherings. I hadn't seen my Great Aunt Donna in probably 17 years or so! I loved telling childhood stories, laughing, hugging, eating and just being together. 

There are still a few missing. My Uncle Jerry passed away ( My Aunt Sue's husband), My cousin Travis and his family could not make it ( Travis is my Aunt Debbie's son) and a few more were not there. But I cherish this picture with all my heart. I also love the close relationship Terry has always had with his sisters, Aunt Debbie and Aunt Sue.

Deb and her friend were on their way to Reno the morning I flew home. She was able to pick me up on her way and take me to Sacramento. We had a great visit in the car on the way up. She handed me off to my brother Elliot in Sacramento and we took a quick pic! Elliot and I grabbed lunch and he took me back to his house. It was so good to see Courtney, his girlfriend of 10 years, and meet his dog, Boone. He lives about 5 min from the airport so they dropped me off. It was a short and sweet visit!

This visit was so good for my soul. I trick myself into thinking I do not miss my family because I have lived away from them for so long. But I do miss them. And I miss connecting with the life that made me who I am today. We all have a story, and my story started in Modesto with my family and friends. I am grateful to live in Utah with my own family now and have zero desire to return to live in Modesto ever again. But it is always good to get back to your roots and remember where you came from.