In Which We Recap 2022

2022 was a pretty darn good year for me! I visited a number of Holy Places as well as some beautiful state and national parks, I got a raise and promotion at work, and got to spend some time with friends and family I haven't gotten to see in a while.

I certainly can't go over it ALL, but here are some of my favorite highlights of 2022.

I got to start the year off with a visit to Arizona and New Mexico, including a fun couple of days with @sjarvie5 during which she took me to visit a fantastic Chihuly exhibit!

While in her area, I also visited several LDS temples including Mesa, Gilbert, and Phoenix.

Phoenix, Arizona, temple

In Scottsdale, I captured St. Bernadette Church, which was recently beautified to paint and gild the ceiling as well as add other rich details to the previously plain white interior.

In Tucson, I visited the LDS Temple, as well as the more ancient San Xavier del Bac Mission.

Continuing my travels to New Mexico, I stopped in Albuquerque first, capturing the LDS temple there, as well as the Buddhist temple, Wat Prathat Doi Suthep.

In Santa Fe, it was St. Francis of Assisi, the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, and a visit to the famous Loretto Chapel with its "miraculous staircase."

In April, we traveled across the country to revisit our old stomping grounds in Orlando -- and this time, we got to go with one of our best friends, her husband, and their four kids. It was all to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disney World.

Not long afterwards, we went to Vegas hunting for Holy Places there, including a number of Buddhist monasteries, and a modern Christian church that is pretty much right on the Strip and I'd never known it!

The Chaiya Meditation Monastery...

...Wat Lao Khandhidramaram...

...Bhodhiyana Meditation Center...

...and the Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer.

We also got to visit the Siegfried and Roy white tigers at the Mirage's Secret Garden and Habitat.

I visited San Antonio briefly, and captured several churches. My favorites were the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Little Flower Basilica.

Our vacation with my husband's family was up in Yellowstone, a park I've only previously been to one time.

While on the way up, my husband and I hit three Idaho temples, including one I had not yet visited, the Pocatello temple.

While in Yellowstone itself, I went a little nuts capturing the geysers and thermal pools. Morning Glory Pool was a particular favorite, but all the colors in the various pools, as well as the textures and shapes, made my little heart go wild.

I discovered a new favorite waterfall there as well, Rustic Falls.

And I FINALLY got to trek up to the viewpoint for the Grand Prismatic Spring and see that amazing showstopper in all its glory!

Closer to home, I visited Diamond Fork Hot Springs -- once in the spring and again in the fall.

I looked for butterflies at Thanksgiving Point's new biosphere.

I experienced Van Gogh in massive 3D at the immersive "Van Gogh Experience" in Salt Lake.

I visited the Bonneville Salt Flats for the first time in years.

And I even captured a double rainbow at the Mount Timpanogos Temple in American Fork!

These were just highlights, the year was just FULL of fun. And I'm hoping to make 2023 even better! I plan on visiting at least 20-30 more Holy Places, and I'm turning more of my attention this year to nature and landscapes, maybe even dabble in some wildlife photography to improve that currently lacking skill. Looking forward to sharing all that with you this year!