Mary's senior trip to NYC

Hi sweetie,

I’m writing from our hotel room in New York City. Dad and I brought Mary for her senior trip. We have had a lovely few days despite the heat. It was 95 degrees today but it felt even warmer because of the humidity. For sure the Stepan’s don’t let that stop us though. For example, Dad’s alarm went off at 6:00am yesterday morning. We were at breakfast in our hotel lobby at 7:00am and at the 9/11 memorial by 8:00. We were able to take some pictures and enjoy some quiet time at the memorial pools before the crowds came. We entered the museum right at 9:00 when it opened. We couldn’t believe the crowds at the pools after our museum visit. I’ll never complain about Dad’s alarm on vacation again. It’s worth it to get a good start on the day. 9/11 museum is a special place. I cried as I thought about the lives that were lost and the terror that was experienced by so many. As terrible as it was however, there were also tender mercies. For example, the retaining wall held back the Hudson. If that wall would’ve been breached it would have been so much worse. 

We had a unique experience attending church today. Since the Manhattan temple is under construction, our church is sharing a building with the United Church of Christ. It is Bailey and Crawford’s ward but they are in Salt Lake. They told us that the church pays $50,000/month in rent. In any case, it is a special friendship between our church and theirs. It was neat to see our hymnal next to theirs along with the Bible.

I was sustained as a ward organist in our ward today along with Anna Loveland and Alicia Taylor. I feel humbled because I’m not that good but I have already witnessed that the Lord will help me and make up for what I lack. Truth is- I’ve always wanted to learn to play the organ and I love it! It is so powerful to blast the hymns. My goal is to help others feel the spirit through music.

Cheesecake! We found a New York cheesecake place called Juniors. Yummy! Dad got a brownie cheesecake and Mary and I got strawberry. So tasty!

Wicked! We saw wicked yesterday and it was amazing. The singing, dancing, costumes… all of it! I didn’t want it to end.

John’s pizza and stage door deli are still incredible.

Empire State Building was really fun. Dad was scared but he did ok.

Hope you have a great week! We will call the UofU about your hold.
Love you forever and ever,
Mom

Sunday dinner in our hotel room

Mom and Dad in Chicago

Hi sweetie,

We had a good time celebrating dad for Father's Day today. It was wonderful to talk to you again and Dad loved the video we made for him.

Dad and I had a great time in Chicago this week for the Savage Leadership Forum. We are excited to learn that next year the Forum will be in Kansas City which will be fun as well. Dad and I arrived in Chicago on Monday and our Forum didn’t start until Wednesday so we spent two days together exploring which was really nice. Dad and I don’t get a lot of time together with his work and stake president calling so it was great to be together for a couple of days. We went on a riverboat architecture tour- our tour guide is a high school architecture teacher and he was full of interesting facts about Chicago and the buildings. Dad braved the 103 floors of the Willis tower and he even stepped out on the glass ledge for a picture. We ate Chicago dogs and deep dish pizza. Yum! We visited the Chicago aquarium too which was cool. We did a segway tour of Chicago which was really fun as well but maybe my favorite part was being able to visit the art institute of Chicago. I found a new favorite Renoir called two sisters that literally made me cry. It reminds me of Mary and Sara and I love it! I also saw so many vangough's, monet’s, and surat’s. Amazing! I can’t wait to take you to Chicago one day.

Luke was at YM camp in Idaho and Sara was at girls camp in American Fork canyon while we were in Chicago. Thankfully, Mary was at home to take care of Nana and Demetrius. Both Mary and Luke had a great time at their camps. 

I played the organ for the second time today and it went better than the first time. I felt a little less nervous. After church Dad and I met with Brian Watson and he officially called me to serve as a ward organist. I am excited because I love music and I feel like the Lord has prepared me. Over a year ago I had the empresion to practice the piano regularly and I have been practicing at least 15 minutes per day ever since. Now I know why. A couple people commented after sacrament meeting that they couldn’t believe I was even able to use the organ pedals but I don’t. In fact, because I was out of town this week, I even played the hymns from the simplified hymn book but no one could tell. I know that the Lord is making up for my lack so that the spirit can be felt in the meeting. That is my whole goal is to help people feel the spirit through music. I liked sitting on the stand too. I think it might help me feel more comfortable speaking one day too. In addition, Brian said there will be other ward organists, so I won’t need to play every week which is nice. Sometimes at the end of the week, my hands hurt from practicing. It will be nice to have more than one week to prepare my hymns. I’m still primary secretary too.

Well, we will be in New York for Mary’s senior trip when you call next week. I don’t know how we are so blessed to get to do two big cities right in a row but it’s great.

We love you dearly and you are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. Keep up the great work.
Love you forever and ever,
Mom

Summer activities

Hi sweetie,

It was so good to talk to you on Saturday for your p-day. I feel confident that all will work out great with your U of U registration. The Lord will bless you because of your dedication over the last two years. I think you are going to have great opportunities ahead of you. 

Luke went to stud gov camp at USU from Monday to Wednesday this week. He had a great time. Sara went to Oakcrest from Monday to Thursday and she struggled being away from home. Our Sara struggles with anxiety and it isn’t easy for her but she is learning tools to help her cope. Mary went to Lake Powell from Wednesday to Sunday night. She had a great time and was able to surf despite having trouble with her knees before she left. It is Sunday night now and Dad and I are full of gratitude that everything went well as everyone was in different places last week. 

Now we are preparing for this week’s adventures. Luke leaves for YM camp near Bear Lake tomorrow morning at 6:00am until Wednesday. Dad and I are leaving at 6:30am for the Savage retreat in Chicago until Friday night. Sara leaves for girls camp from Tuesday morning until Friday. That leaves Mary here to hold down the fort and take care of Nana and Demetrius. Please say your prayers that we will all be safe and well. Sara’s anxiety is high and to top it off, she was complaining of ear pain so we took her to Todd Yeates and she has an ear infection. He called in a prescription and she started antibiotics tonight. We feel so blessed that he was available and willing to help us out on a Sunday evening. It’s not easy for Dad and I to leave especially when our Sara is struggling. 

I was able to attend the temple twice this week since I won’t be able to go while we are in Chicago. I’m so grateful for the temple and the peace it brings. I read this week in Alma 1:1 about King Mosiah having "warred a good warfare, walking uprightly before God.” It made me think about how this life is about warring against Satan. Everyone is fighting the battle and I want it to be said of me at the end of my life that I warred a good warfare and walked uprightly before God. Honestly, that’s the only way to find happiness in this life is by walking uprightly before God and keeping our covenants.

I love you forever and ever.
Love,
Mom

Mary's graduation

Hi sweetie,

Sorry this email is later than usual. Luke left for gov camp this morning and Sara left for Oakcrest so we were busy getting them ready. Also, Mary graduated from seminary on Sunday (which was lovely). Unfortunately, Mary has had terrible knee pain in both knees since Friday, so I took her to the doctor today where they did blood tests (to rule out an autoimmune disorder) and x-rays on her knees. It’s not how we wanted to start out the summer but Mary is leaving for Lake Powell on Wednesday with friends and we wanted to make sure she is ok. The doctor called back this evening to say that her x-rays came back normal and so far her blood work looks good too. We think maybe she has tendonitis from her previous partially dislocated knee injuries. She will still be able to go to Lake Powell but she will have to take it easy. No surfing or knee boarding.

Mary’s graduation was nice. It was lovely to celebrate her accomplishments. Mary earned cords in Performing Arts and Social Studies. She also earned the Miner Medallion award which is new this year. I still can’t believe we have three graduated children and we will have three college students this fall. Time goes by so quickly. Just yesterday you were little guys! 

Luke finished his sophomore year and Sara finished her 7th grade year. They had yearbook days but of course the highlight of the week was Mary’s graduation. After graduation Mary and her friends went to grad night but it ended at midnight. Some of the Bingham kids were going to the canyons for a bonfire after but we didn’t feel good about that so Mary had a sleepover at our house with a few of her closest friends.  Sara and I made them waffles the next morning. Then the next morning at 4:40am, Luke was kidnapped for stud gov orientation, so we had two nights of less sleep than we like but that’s ok. We’re just grateful that everyone is safe and well.

We love you and you are always in our prayers. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Love you forever and ever, 
Mom