Besides watching my children feel the Spirit while being in such sacred places one of the best parts of participating in the Hill Cumorah Pageant this year was seeing so many old friends who were either cast members before with me or who came to watch the show. It was an added blessing that I hadn't anticipated.
The Malcarnes were old timers when I first started going at 16 yrs old. Joseph, Mary and Jane were in it now with their families. Joseph actually was on Work Crew with Marc. Such nice people and so fun to see our kids become friends.
It was awesome to be apart of taking the next generation to the Pageant.
THE BOONES!!
It's a good thing for Facebook because I found out that Adam and Taylor Boone would be coming to see the show. I searched them out in the crowd and we had a grand reunion. So many awesome memories with the Boone family! Someone commented, "the Boones, a Matheson and the Pageant! What a memorable threesome.
It's a good thing for Facebook because I found out that Adam and Taylor Boone would be coming to see the show. I searched them out in the crowd and we had a grand reunion. So many awesome memories with the Boone family! Someone commented, "the Boones, a Matheson and the Pageant! What a memorable threesome.
Sister Mylroie.
We've had many years together with the Mylroies in the Pageant. Love her kids.
We've had many years together with the Mylroies in the Pageant. Love her kids.
Marty's next door neighbors came to see the show all the way from Orem, UT. These 2 girls got to be friends when we lived with Marty for 8 months.
I was in the costume shop fixing Kaden's ripped pants when Gayle Argetsinger walked in. Most of the ladies stayed where they were and didn't even look up not knowing who she was. I ran over to hug her knowing that a Pageant Icon had just walked in. She is amazing! I knew my mom would have wanted a hug from her too. We talked for a few minutes before taking a selfie and she had to rush off. I felt bad for the ladies who were still sitting at their sewing machines not knowing who they had just seen. She is such a woman of grace and beauty and amazing talent. She designed the most divine costumes in the earlier years of the Pageant and has miraculous stories to share about it all.
Bob and Tanya Smith came to see the show. Been friends with them since I was in the 2nd grade.
On the afternoon of our very first run-through I got a text from Matt saying he was driving through Palmyra for a work trip. What the? I was so surprised. He was able to stay and hang out the whole afternoon, watch the first run through and even video tape it for me. Fun to see a cousin!
Emmy with some besties!
The York's came to watch the show too.
Maryn with Lincoln and Jaron... two of the many...
I was SO surprised when out from behind me stepped Jennifer Coleman! She and her hubby came on a church history tour. It was SO unexpected and so wonderful to see her! Growing up in the same ward then she came out to be in the Pageant with my family when we were youngins'.
Ady hanging out with friends during the show waiting for their scene.
Koni's son was on Work Crew. She figured since they were in the "area" (North Carolina) they would swing by and surprise Nathan on their way home to Utah. I was in on the secret and excited to see her too. Love my memories of Koni being in the Pageant as teenagers and so many other things we've done together since.
Kaden and our friend, Lyla waiting for a scene rehearsal.
She made us laugh.
The work crew and the sister missionaries.
more on them later...
more on them later...
Ady and her best sista', Heidi.
The last day it made my heart hurt and happy to watch Emmy cry that one-kind-of-cry when you have to say good-by. As she hugged everyone she had tears pouring down her face. She soaked everything in during these 2 weeks and LOVED everyone with her whole being.
And one of the treasures of being part of this is that friendships know no age.
EVERYONE was friends and Emmy needed that.
And one of the treasures of being part of this is that friendships know no age.
EVERYONE was friends and Emmy needed that.
Maryn had the best cast team leaders who "got her." They loved to tease her and put her in her place... the sticky on the back is a perfect example. Stephanie and her hubby.
She was in the Pageant as a teenager too with me but this year they were the perfect leaders for Maryn.
Ady and Lynn... they were King Noah buddies together. I was so grateful for her because she helped Ady learn to love her scene.
Look at Emmy there having dinner with the sister missionaries. These sisters were a big part of our experience and Emmy felt a love and connection to them. She wrote them letters, ate dinner with them, helped them do stuff and just loved to talk with them and hug them. I was so grateful for these 6 awesome sisters who made a big impact on Emmy's experience.
I don't know what it is about this picture of my 3 girls that I love so much. Is it their backpacks, their matching Pageant sweatshirts, their fresh hairdos? Maybe because I love seeing that they are almost all the same size, growing up and walking together, calmly and happily off to have another spiritual, wonderful day on the Hill Cumorah.
Chillin' out on the grass.
These 2 friends were always together.
These 2 friends were always together.
A lighted up stage means excitement in the air.
It was fun to see Craig Blomquist and his wife Melinda Eatough. We all grew up in the same stake and were in Provo High choir together. I had no idea they got married amd were part of Pageant. Craig helps with some of the tech stuff in the office.
We surprisingly only made it out to the Chill and Grill twice. But, oh my... it was SO GOOD!
These girls.
Scott Nielsen on staff now with his wife and kids. Oh, the Nielsen family and the Mathesons go way back with the Pageant. (not to mention his dad being one of my favorite teachers at Provo High.)
I was changing in the costume shop when a friend came and told me that they had been proselyting in the audience and someone asked her if they knew the Slichtas. It was Steve Hughes and his kids, our great friends from Schaumburg, IL. He had no idea that I was in the Pageant but knew that we used to be so thought he'd ask around for us. Miraculously after the show a midst all the crowd I found Steve. It also happened to be on a night when Jeff was there visiting. It was SO great to see him nearly 14 years later. Maryn and Jacob, tall cute boy in the hat were best buddies when they were little.
Emmy and some friends on that one night when we snuck into Zion's campground (and got kicked out and I cried because I felt like I belonged there. Not fair!)
Ady and some buds having dinner together.
Baxter Bruner and Maryn were friends when they were little in Naperville, IL. His parents are the greatest and now he's a missionary in Rochester. So fun to see him!!
Ady and Heidi always together.
Emmy having dinner with more friends.
Maryn's cast team in costumes.
Brother and Sister Campbell.
It was SO great to be with them. So many great memories with them and their family in the past.
The Campbell's daughter, Lindsee or Evie. I called her both because her family called her one thing and her friends called her another. We had a great time getting to know each other. She was recently divorced and so we had much in common.
Maryn and her best sister, Ashley.
Me with the Campbells. Julie came to surprise everyone for their dad's birthday which made it fun to spend time with her too.
Kaden and a work crew boy.
One of the last days when we got hot dogs from the food tent and could hang out with friends.
This was a fun and surprising friendship.
I knew the minute that I saw Becky Nielsen in my cast team that she was related to my friend Kim Spataro from Sammamish, WA. Indeed they were sisters. I loved getting to know Becky. She first told me that her husband was cast as a heavenly angel, but after chatting realized her husband had past away over a year earlier. We talked about loss and life together. She is a spunky go-getter kind a lady with a great Spirit about her and I liked her a lot! Although our trials were different we had a lot in common.
I knew the minute that I saw Becky Nielsen in my cast team that she was related to my friend Kim Spataro from Sammamish, WA. Indeed they were sisters. I loved getting to know Becky. She first told me that her husband was cast as a heavenly angel, but after chatting realized her husband had past away over a year earlier. We talked about loss and life together. She is a spunky go-getter kind a lady with a great Spirit about her and I liked her a lot! Although our trials were different we had a lot in common.
We found the Wests from Schaumburg, IL.
Oh we did so much together when we lived close, mostly helping each other babysit our babies.
Oh we did so much together when we lived close, mostly helping each other babysit our babies.
Maryn and Jacob were just toddlers who played together nearly every day. Jacob was always a gigantic little guy, way bigger than Maryn... and it was crazy to see that not much had changed with them.
Kaden waiting behind the scenes with his friends.
So awesome to see Sister Lane and her husband. I loved being a "Matheson" during this time and having friends remember my family and the "good ol days." Sister Lane was the costume mistress and told it like it was. Not much has changed but the years that have passed.
I finally got a chance to hold the youngest cast member.
Oh I know that part of my Pageant experience was to get to know Lluvia Campbell, Michael's wife. She was SO amazing. I found her delightful, smart, funny, talented and she didn't let anything bother her that she couldn't brush it off with a funny joke. I hope we can stay friends for a very long time.
Kaden thought the York's were our cousins and so were especially happy when they came to see us in the Pageant.
Brother Ward Wright blowing a kiss to my parents through the camera lense.
Kaden and some buddies.
After the show each night if we had an ounce of energy left we would make popcorn and hang outside our trailer to visit with some of the other families at the campground. These boys were dying for campfire 'smores but had to settle for 'smores over the stovetop.
All the Campbells together in costume.
Final thoughts:
#1- It might feel like you're looking at a million pictures but just imagine the million that I'm not posting.
#2- Each time I saw a friend in the audience I knew that Heavenly Father had conducted things so we could find each other. Most of the time I didn't know those people were coming but HE knew and allowed us to meet. It really is miraculous since THOUSANDS of people come to see the show each night. He loves me that much!
#3- As I am writing all of this I am filled with gratitude at the life that I have had. Growing up I was so blessed for so many experiences that enriched my life; for wonderful parents who gave us opportunity. While being married and raising children I was extremely blessed for living in so many places and having such a variety of amazing friends who blessed my life then and fill it up again now.
#4- Heavenly Father is aware of me and my children.
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