Three Years

Three years ago today I was in a state of complete shock. After eighteen months of living a sheltered, scheduled life I was suddenly thrown back into the real world: I was home from my mission!

My mission was one of the greatest times of my life. I met some absolutely AMAZING people and my testimony of the Savior was strengthened in ways I never could have imagined.
I fell in love with Heather Bray and her family the first time I met them. I had been out in the mission field just one week when the bishop sent my companion and I over to meet them. Her husband, Loren, was at work when I took my parents to meet them. The reason both of our faces are red is because we had been crying at saying goodbye.
Adam was one of the most amazing miracles I experienced as a missionary. My companion and I had been praying for someone to teach when he called and said, "I would like to be baptized. Can you teach me everything I need to know so I can be baptized in two weeks?" The experience truly taught me that the Lord ABSOLUTELY answers the prayers of the faithful.
The McCormick boys - Ivan, Krys, and Donnie - were the last people who were baptized before I returned home. The boys had had a tough life, but they were resilient. Krys (in the blue and white shirt) had the sweetest spirit and such a desire to learn the gospel; Ivan (in the green shirt) was incredibly intelligent and had a great understanding of everything we taught; Donnie resisted the gospel at first, but deep within he truly had a desire obey the Lord's will. All of the Elders serving in the Lafayette Ward, along with a member of the bishopric whose name I've forgotten, were there to support the baptism.
All the missionaries in my "Go-Home" group got to attend the temple the night before we were released. It was a great way to finish!

I will always be grateful for the experiences I had on my mission, it was an eighteen months I wouldn't trade for anything. On the other hand, the past three years have been amazing. In three years I've had the opportunity to complete my school work, make amazing friends, work at a law firm (and decide against law school), and start writing a book. I truly believe that all these experiences were enhanced by or happened because of my mission. I can't wait to see what five or ten more years will bring!

The Sundial

Growing up in the suburb of Alpharetta, my family rarely ventured downtown. We would go downtown for Braves Games or once in a great while to attend the Fox Theater, but we would go straight to our event and then leave immediately after. If we went out to eat before one of these events, we ate at in Alpharetta at places we frequented like Olive Garden or Red Robin, that's kind of the suburban family lifestyle.

The mid-twenties single lifestyle, however, is totally different. It is fun to branch out and try fancy and funky restaurants with my friends - restaurants that are one of a kind and have actual chefs. I don't splurge at expensive restaurants too often, but Tuesday night I REALLY splurged at The Sun Dial.

For those of you not from Atlanta, The Sun Dial is located on the top three floors of the Westin Peachtree Plaza, the tallest hotel in the western hemisphere. The tables sit on a conveyor belt of sorts that rotates along the outside edge of the circular restaurant, allowing diners a 360 degree view of the city. To get to the restaurant, diners ride an exterior glass elevator (my friend KayLa did not know this and she does not do well with heights) and the view is exquisite! When we first stepped into the elevator, all we could see was the hotel across the street. After a few stories, the hotel across the street disappeared but there were several skyscrapers still blocking the horizon. Just a for more seconds, however, and all of a sudden all of the other buildings disappeared and we could see EVERYTHING!

Not a great picture, but this is when the elevator was about halfway up.

Once we arrived at the restaurant, the view was unbelievable! I have always loved how green Atlanta is and from the top Atlanta was like a sea of trees with just a small smattering of buildings and trees. We could see all the Atlanta landmarks and into the suburbs. The funniest thing, though, was the fact that there was a grasshopper clinging to the outside of one of the windows. A grasshopper, how do you think he got there?

The lump in the background is Stone Mountain
Turner Stadium looks so small.

The view was not the only thing that made the night enjoyable, the company was great and the food was DIVINE. Two of my friends from the ward, Ben and Tina, moved to Atlanta in May or June and Ben left today to return to BYU-I and Tina is going to Ukraine for a semester abroad. They each had a goal of truly experiencing Atlanta, so we went to the Sun Dial as a final adventure before they left.

Tina, Sara, Ben, and myself waiting in the lounge before we were seated (Mira took the picture and KayLa had not arrived yet)

Mira has more pictures of the food, I will post them when I get them, but it was beautiful and delicious.
We did not order a full meal, that would have set us back about $75 or more a person. We ordered appetizers (as entrees) and dessert. It was a difficult choice, but I ordered shrimp cakes (above) with fried green tomatoes and watermelon salsa. Sometimes seafood cakes can be too dry, but these were perfectly moist and the flavor of cilantro and onion mixed with the watermelon was unexpectedly mouthwatering.

If you are ever in Atlanta a want to go out for a fancy desserts, the desserts are well worth the $8 and you don't have to have a reservation for a table, you can order them in the lounge. Between the six of us we had four desserts and we all tasted each others. Mira and I shared the Chocolate Royal which was a layered chocolate mousse with vanilla streusel and dark chocolate ganache. We were a little worried it would be too heavy, but it was fluffy and melted in my mouth. Of the four desserts we ordered, Tina's Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee was probably the best (I still liked mine best though, if that makes sense, because I am fully committed to chocolate over vanilla). Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

It was practically a perfect night with friends and a great way to say goodbye to Ben and Tina before each sets off on a new adventure. So, if you are looking for someplace chic and unique to eat in Atlanta, I highly recommend the Sun Dial (please don't judge me for my stupid pun, I couldn't resist)!