Farewell to Dallas

It all started Thursday night at our church building when I was set apart as

Sister LeSueur

We all gathered together in President Alleman's office at 7:30. The whole gang was there plus Brother Bowman who Lance home taught with my Dad once.

Group Shot!

After the 'setting apart', Audrey {who was so cute} was just too happy to get out of her dress!

Dessert was a cake that looked like a missionary name tag. Cam and Kevin are too creative!


Friday was my going-away party. It was so much fun to see all those I love there to wish me well!

The Floyds were there... I've known them since forever!

...and so were the Thrashers. I love these two!

The Prosper Relief Society was in attendance-- What wonderful ladies!

Linda Higbee and I are kindred spirits... One of the little girls kept giving her necklaces :)

I love these little ones!

I made snowman cake pops to match my 'winter wonderland' theme...

They turned out pretty cute!

We also served:

• Chicken cordon-bleu
• Chicken-salad croissants
• Mini quiche
• Spinach-artichoke dip with toasted bread rounds
• A veggie tray

After the party, Trevor and Kaylee came home and helped finish off the food.

...bread-bowl and all!

Audrey was just so tired after entertaining all night!

so we rock-a-byed!

Trevor and his new main-squeeze

Since I was set apart, Daddy ensured Lance and I kept the proper distance after the party ;)

Nancy Vrska and Carla Scott quilted me this beautiful quilt with wool batting. In the corner it says,

Chelsea LeSueur
Ohio Columbus Mission
2010 - 2011
"I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord"

...I LOVE it!

We've had a really fun couple of days!

My bracelet

My charm bracelet is one of my favorite things in this world! So, knowing this, my wonderful family got me a couple of charms to have with me when I'm away from them!

It's getting full... I love it!

Lance gave me this puzzle piece charm for two reasons.
1) I "complete him" haha
2) I'm worried I'm going to get Alzheimers when I'm older because I hate puzzles, sudoku, crosswords, etc. which are all the things you're supposed to do to keep your mind fresh-- so, he said he would help me out with them and get me to love them!

Cam, Kevin, and Audrey gave me the Dutch snowflake charm. It's to help me remember that underneath the snow, are the flowers that will eventually come up, because winter always gives way to spring :)

And Mom, Dad, and Trevor gave me this Texas charm, because my heart does, and always will belong to Texas!

I just LOVE these charms, and I'm so thankful to have such thoughtful people who love me!

A is fot Audrey...

...That's good enough for me!

Here we were at Joann, doing a little bit of auntie/niece shopping for some baskets.

I just LOVE being an aunt!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow!

As long as I remember, Grandma Jones has always had some sort of animal in the fenced in yard behind her house... on our last day in Arizona, we introduced Audrey to the Washburn's livestock!

There were moo-cows

And horses!

These equines were so great at posing for this photo-op!

Then we went to Tick-Tock's to pack up the trailer and everything at her house! Audrey was in fine form--- she was so excited when she figured out she could fit this ball IN her mouth!

Pretty blue eyes!

Here she is again, playing with the only other blue-eyed member of our family

While Daddy was on the roof fixing Grandma's solar panel, Kevin was in charge of getting the trailer all packed and road-ready!

The REAL reason we took said trailer up with us to Arizona is to bring these bad boys home. Dad's weight set dates back to his high school days... He's been wanting to bring them home for years--
Mission accomplished!

We so enjoyed Arizona this Christmas... There were a lot of wonderful memories made, I feel like I made a new friend out of my cousin Kari, Audrey learned how awesome Pine is, Mom learned how convenient a cement turkey pit is, Cam and Kevin added a lot of humor to the trip, Trevor was pleasant the whole time, Daddy got creative and MADE shadow boxes for mom's Christmas gift and decided to become a scrapbooker! Life is so good :)

A Fairytale of Humble Proportions

Once Upon a Time, in a land not so far away called Pine, Arizona, a beautiful maiden named Cheryl and a handsome young man named Kent, decided to build a darling little cabin. It was hard work, and while the cabin was under construction, this is where the young couple lived:

It was a humble little lodge in Strawberry, Arizona where light shone through the logs when the sun was up. It was cold in the winter, and hot in the summer-- so they were ecstatic when at long last, their cabin was finished!



And who wouldn't be thrilled? It was a beautiful cabin that was finished just in time for them to welcome their beautiful bouncing baby girl, Chelsea, into the world!

Here's the 'young maiden' with her granddaughter on her inaugural trip to the family cabin!

Trevor was in such a great mood our whole Arizona trip... He even helped mama do the dishes!

After we had Tacos Sunday night, Mom, Cam, Kevin, Trevor, and I played a rousing game of Scrabble...

Trevor looked so scholarly looking through the dictionary! He was on my team... We did great!

Mom's so good at this game, she was able to be on a team with herself!
Cam and Kevin played together, and they kind of cheated a lot-- We'll have to put them on separate teams next time! ;)

This wood-burning stove is awesome! It radiates so much heat-- just don't open the door when the flames are going at full blast! Trev learned that the hard way!

We had lunch (because we missed breakfast) here Sunday morning, and breakfast (because we missed it the day before) Monday! I think this is one of Daddy's favorite places in the whole world!

It was so nice to spend some time up here with the people I love before I leave for a year and a half... We definitely made some great memories, and I can't wait to bring my own family up here one day!

"You're Never Lost When You Can See The Temple"

Christmas Lights on the Mesa Temple grounds are quite a sight. In a place with such beautiful lights and scenes depicting Christ and other events from the New Testament, you can't help but feel the spirit.








Saturday morning, Mom, Dad, the grandmas and me went to the Mesa temple. I have grown up admiring Mesa temple's lovely simplicity and beauty, and I finally was able to go in! It's even prettier on the inside!

Mesa's temple is on LeSueur street... How awesome is that!? :)

Group shot sans Daddy-- he was getting the car cuz it was super cold outside!

"You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the “mist of darkness.” It is the house of the Lord. It is a place where covenants are made and eternal ordinances are performed."

-Elder Gary E. Stevenson