“Sometimes the destination isn’t what makes a trip unforgettable. It’s the people you meet, the things you learn, and the memories you create along the way.”
Introduction
Every once in a while, a trip comes along that reminds you why you love to travel.
This was one of those trips.
While the annual doTERRA Convention was the reason we packed our bags and headed to Salt Lake City, Utah, it quickly became about much more than attending presentations and learning about wellness. It became a week filled with new friendships, plenty of laughter, memorable meals, and discovering one of the most beautiful cities in the Mountain West.
It also marked a first for Tracey.
Although I had attended the convention the previous year and couldn’t wait to go back, convincing him to join me took a little persuasion. While I was excited about the new products, inspiring speakers, and reconnecting with friends, Tracey had his eye on something entirely different.
The science.
If you know Tracey, you know he loves understanding how things work. Last year’s convention featured an entire day devoted to scientific research surrounding essential oils, and this year’s agenda promised even more. That was all the encouragement he needed.
Looking back now, I’m so glad he decided to come.
What began as a convention ended up becoming one of our favorite trips together.
Chapter 1
Wheels Up for Salt Lake City
Packing… At the Last Minute (Again!)
Some traditions never seem to change.
If you’ve followed JourneyFor2 for very long, you’ve probably noticed that no matter how many weeks—or even months—we have to prepare for a trip, we somehow find ourselves packing the night before.
This adventure was no exception.
Laundry was still spinning in the washing machine the evening before our flight.
Suitcases were scattered across the bedroom floor.
The weather forecast for Salt Lake City was considerably cooler than Arizona, leaving me standing in front of the closet asking the same question I ask before every trip:
“What exactly should I pack?”
Somehow, it always comes together.
Eventually.
One Last Stop Before the Airport
Our alarm sounded long before sunrise.
By six o’clock that morning, we had the Jeep loaded and were on our way—but not to the airport.
Our first stop was the ice rink.
Our daughter, Caitlynn, had skating practice before school, and we weren’t about to miss the chance to watch her before leaving town. She had taken a fall the day before while practicing an axel and woke up complaining that her neck was sore, so staying long enough to make sure she was okay seemed far more important than getting to the airport a few minutes earlier.
She looked good on the ice.
Strong.
Confident.
As parents, that’s exactly what we wanted to see.
Her brother Cody met us there so he could take her to school after practice while we continued to the airport. After a few hugs, a quick transfer of backpacks between vehicles, and the usual “be careful” reminders, it was finally time to head out.
No matter how exciting a trip may be, saying goodbye to your kids never gets easier.
Airport Adventures
Thanks to our good friends Robert and Michelle, we had coupons for an off-site airport parking lot.
Finding the place…
Well…
That proved slightly more entertaining than expected.
Between early morning traffic, Google Maps insisting it knew better than we did, and me trying to read tiny print on a parking coupon without my glasses, we eventually found the lot just as the shuttle pulled up.
Sometimes good timing really is everything.
Even before reaching the airport, the trip reminded us how quickly travel connects people.
A woman sitting beside me on the shuttle noticed the doTERRA backpack I was carrying.
“So…are you headed to convention, too?”
Within minutes, we were chatting like old friends.
One backpack.
One simple question.
One more reminder that travel has a way of shrinking the world.
Flying First Class… and Learning Something New
Checking our bags was quick, and we made our way toward security feeling rather pleased with ourselves.
Flying first class certainly has its perks.
Or so we thought.
After standing in the security line for several minutes, a TSA agent looked at our boarding passes and casually mentioned that both of us already had TSA PreCheck.
Oops.
Apparently we’d forgotten one very important detail.
We turned around, worked our way back through the crowd, and found ourselves in the much shorter PreCheck line.
Not having to remove shoes or unpack laptops felt like a luxury.
Unfortunately for Tracey, his experience wasn’t quite as smooth.
While I breezed through security in just moments, I waited…
…and waited…
…and waited.
Eventually, he appeared carrying everything except one very important piece of clothing.
His belt.
“They made you take everything off,” I joked.
“This was worse than regular security,” he laughed as he finished getting dressed again.
Travel has a funny way of keeping us humble.
Breakfast, Friends, and a View Above the Clouds
With security finally behind us, we found seats near our gate and settled in with blueberry muffins and bottled water while watching the controlled chaos of airport life unfold around us.
One of our longtime friends, Jeff, who worked for American Airlines, stopped by to say hello before our flight boarded. As usual, he and Tracey immediately launched into a conversation about hunting, elk tags, and all things outdoors.
I smiled, listened for a while…
…then quietly returned to what I enjoy most in airports.
People watching.
It’s amazing how every traveler seems to have a story.
Before long, boarding began.
To our surprise, our seats were even closer to the front of the aircraft than we expected.
As the plane climbed above the Arizona desert, I quietly said the prayer I pray before every flight.
I always ask God to place His hand beneath the airplane and carry us safely to our destination.
It may seem like a simple tradition.
But it’s one that brings me peace every single time we fly.
A short while later, Tracey glanced out the window and pointed toward the Great Salt Lake below.
Until that moment, I’d never truly appreciated just how enormous it is.
Within minutes, the Wasatch Mountains filled the horizon, and Salt Lake City stretched out beneath us.
Our adventure had officially begun.