Engagement photo

Yet another trip to Zion

Tom and I went to Zion again right before the 4th of July to meet our friends Jake and Kelly who were visiting for a family reunion. We knew them back on Long Island when we all lived there.

We went on the Weeping Rock trail.


So pretty...



Tom, Maria, and Kelly on the bus.



Tom and baby Maria

Salt Lake City, UT

Tom and I went up to SLC a couple weekends ago to meet my friends Bonnie & Nathan and their little boy Tanner. We spent the afternoon together visiting the sights of temple square. Tom had never seen the conference center in person so we took a tour.

Tom and I in front of the reflection pool...


Flowers on temple square...


I wanted to get a picture on the famous circle in front of the temple, but the darn sun was in the way....this is the best we could do...


Bonnie, Nathan, and Tanner...


Tanner....isn't he cute?


Top of the conference center...


Looking down....


Inside the conference center...

Snow Canyon hike

Tom and I went with Kurt and Jenny to try and find some caves that we had heard were pretty fun to go in....we were a little disapointed with what we found....probably because we didn't bring the flash lights. The scenery on the hike to the cave was beautiful none the less. :)

Beautiful scenerary....I love this picture because it has the red rock, lava, and white sandstone...which make up most of Saint George's landscape.


The happy couple


The walls at the opening of the cave...


Kurt and Jenny Walker

"Willy" .... is now "Jerry"

When we got back from NY we decided that our cat Bella was so lonely while we were gone that we needed to get her a friend. So, we went to the animal shelter and got this cute little kitten that we named "Willy"....but then we changed it to "Jerry". Apparently "Willy" has some meaning that I didn't know about...Tom informed me of this and I can never look at my cute kitty the same way again. If you don't know what I am talking about than just ask Tom. I took lots of pictures of Jerry, but then my camera card broke...so this is all I have left. :(

NY Beaches

While we were in NY we went to a few different beaches. That's one thing that St. George doesn't have and I really miss it. :(

Fire Island lighthouse . . . our favorite lighthouse on Long Island


Robert Moses Beach


Isn't it so beautiful here? I absolutely LOVE it!! (Montauk)


Tom making his "It's really bright" face :)


Sarah at Montauk


Tom at Montauk


Montauk lighthouse


Sunken Meadow beach


A beautiful butterfly


Interesting sight at Sunken Meadow beach....I'm not sure what this bird is doing...but he was sitting there like that for about 5 minutes, and then he went in the water ??

New Nephews

This past week Tom and I went to NY to visit the fam. Tom's brother and our sister in-law Denise just had a baby boy named Christopher and they also adopted a baby boy named Nicholas from Guatamala. They are so adorable. It was great to see everyone...especially the newest additions to the Gounaris family. :-)

Uncle Tommy and Aunt Sarah with baby Nicholas


Uncle Tommy and baby Nicholas


Brothers


Uncle Tommy and Christopher


Aunt Sarah and Christopher


Nick, Denise, Baby Nick, and Christopher

BYU Womens Conference

Esther 4:14 ... "Thou Art Come To The Kingdom For Such A Time Is This"
This past weekend I went to BYU Women's Conference with my friend Elizabeth from back home. It was a great experience and I can't wait to go back again. The conference began on Thursday with Wendy Watson Nelson, new wife of Elder Russell M. Nelson, speaking to us about our divine roles and callings in life. She talked about how we are placed in situations to use our talents and strengths to benefit others, and we must pray to the Lord to fulfill our callings. On Thursday evening there was a musical program that included LDS musicians, Alex Boye, John Dyer, Jenny Frogley, Jenny Philips, and Hilary Weeks. On Friday morning a beautiful musical presentation was presented looking into the hearts of women from Old Testament times, the 19th century, and present day. Their stories told of their roles and callings they fulfilled at the time they were sent to the earth and the Kingdom of God. The conference address was closed by Elder Jeffery R. Holland and Sister Patricia Holland. They addressed the theme written above, "Thou art come to the kingdom for such a time is this."

From NM, AZ, and UT...we were all roomates.


Elder Holland and his wife


Lots of women!


While I was there, I ran into Anna (a friend from college). I didn't even know she was going, but it was a pleasent surprise.


The first night we went to a Hawaiian Luau on campus

Exploring

While my mother-in-law was here Tom and I decided to explore some places that we hadn't yet been to in the St. George area. It didn't take us long to discover just how beautiful St. George is. We love it here!

Sand Hollow State Park has this beautiful lake with red snad beaches.





Tom, bathing in the sunlight. (He's just keeping his fingers warm in case you are wondering)

The next place we went exploring at was the Red Cliffs Nature Reserve. This place is SO BEAUTIFUL! Unfortunatly, I wasn't able to get a lot of pictures that actually somewhat capture the beauty because it was getting dark. I will go back and have them on here later.

Happy Birthday Tom

Tom turned the BIG 28 on April 26th. We had a little party for him with his mom. We had chicken parmesian and mint chocolate chip ice cream birthday cake. Yummy!