Walking in a Beautiful Place

This trail is 3 minutes from our house and it winds up the hill and around to Ensign Peak.  The prairie grass is tall and green right now and it is a beautiful place to walk.  You can see across the valley passed Tooele to the west and past Centerville to the north.  On my first venture along the trail I heard crickets, frogs and birds - getting a little exercise in such a beautiful place is very nice.

Friends once again

I was invited to go to lunch with some dear friends from San Jose:  Linda Browne, Linda Larsen, Karen Anderson, Judy Barton and Judy Love.  We sat at Mimi's for 3 hours and laughed and cried.  We went around the table and each had an opportunity to catch us up on where they were, what they had been doing, where all of their children were, how many grandchildren they had, etc.  What a wonderful afternoon.  We vowed to meet as often as possible.

Bill and Scarlett Holman came on the day that we arrived with our furniture to help us move boxes around and get some things put away.  I was grateful to Scarlett who helped me put the bed together so I could sleep there that night.  Bruce and I discovered that we did not know where the iron was or really anything else in the house so he went back to the Hosting Center to sleep and I stayed in our new house.  It turned out to be a good thing as I woke up at 4am and could not go back to sleep.  I got up and worked putting things away for and hour or two and then went back to bed.  The street is quiet but since we have no blinds on the windows yet the lights from the city were very bright.  I also heard train whistles which kept me awake.  Now I don't notice the lights or the trains.

Bob and Linda Browne came for dinner this week.  It was as though no time had passed for us as we caught up on Bob's health and the status of their mission.  We promised each other that we would get together soon.

A family from Cuernavaca has moved to Bountiful.  We were invited to the Demer's for Family Home Evening.  Bruce misunderstood the invitation and thought it was for dinner also and we felt a little funny as we sat at the kitchen table and ate while the others played outside.  They had invited another Mexican family who lives here also to come for FHE and treats.  It was wonderful to see this little family that we love and to speak a little Spanish.

We have done some new things

Graduation was held in the Tabernacle.  Bruce had told me to sit by Sister Richards until she was called to the stand to sit by President Richards.  We found a wonderful seat just passed the aisle-way where I would be able to see perfectly when the commencement began.  I enjoyed seeing the families of the graduates come into this beautiful and historic building - mothers, fathers, spouses, and children.   

Just before the procession was to begin, a cute little  lady came to get Sister Richards and escort her to the stand.  She turned to me and asked that I come too.  I replied that I was to sit here which was perfect for me.  "No," she said and added that I was to follow her, receive an orchid corsage and then sit in the chair next to where my husband would be sitting.  I found myself sitting in a big, red chair on the stand just next to the podium.  I know I was sitting in a place where apostles had once sat.  I was profoundly grateful and humbled.

As the ceremony drew to a close President Richards asked several questions of the graduates; how many were married, how many were returned missionaries, how many were from other countries, and then the question that brought tears to my eyes - how many were the first person in their family to graduate from college.  I estimate 1/3 of the graduates stood when this question was asked.  How amazing and wonderful to be part of this great work.

We had an open house for any returned missionaries who could attend.  It was so good to see them but the best part was how they greeted and embraced each other. There were a few spouses and sweethearts too.  I loved this evening.

We attended a Sacrament Meeting in Providence where Elder Brent Beckert reported.  He had suffered from PTSD so badly in Mexico that he was reassigned to Texas to serve the last year of his mission.  It was wonderful to see him and hear his powerful testimony. 

We're Getting Settled

During the first few weeks of Utah life we had some adventures we had not planned on. The sewer problem involved our neighbor's line as well so more work was done in our front yard as well as digging up part of the street.  We now have a correctly connected sewer line and new asphalt.  Now all we need is a new sidewalk but here are some pictures of the equipment that they used - it was fascinating to watch:

Arches National Park and a Half Marathon

In March before we moved to Utah we met Aaron and Matt and Adrienne along with their kids in Moab.  The boys ran the half marathon and Ade and the little boys were there at the finish line to cheer them on.  After the race we ate lunch together and then we went off to see Arches National Park.  What a beautiful and amazing place.

This is a hill just outside of Moab where the boys could run up and then back down.  They are such a good time.

Just outside one of the little store in town all three boys minted there own Moab pennies.

Below you can see Bruce as he came by and gave us all high fives, then all of the runners at the end of the race.

Aaron was hungry so we went to get something to eat.  You can see how delighted Alex was while he ate the whipped cream off the top of his shake.  

Clayton, Andrew and Alex enjoyed their shakes and burgers.

After we ate, the Hintons headed back to Arizona and Aaron, Bruce and I went exploring in Arches National Park.  The landscape is incredible and we expressed our gratitude to God for giving us such a beautiful place.  Here are some of the things that we saw:

The snow capped mountains in the distance made a very sharp contrast to the red stone.  It was stunning as the sun went down.

 

We are super glad that Adrienne turned 40!

For Adrienne's 40th birthday she invited the girls to spend a few days in Mexico.  Jen and I flew to Phoenix and Ade picked us up at the airport.  She had arranged for a condo at a resort where they had stayed before.  It was about 5 hours to Puerto Panasco, Mexico and we enjoyed laughing and talking in the car.  We lounged on the beach and read our books, walked on the beach looking for sea shells, got up late, walked around the little town, ate really good food and of course visited an OXXO store.  As soon as we crossed the border I felt at home in my beloved Mexico.  It was a wonderful weekend to renew our love for each other and to celebrate Adrienne.  Here are some pictures of the condo, beach and town:

You can see the little town in the distance - just a 5 minute or so drive.

 

 

We called him Charlie because as the three of us walked down the street he said, "Now here comes Charlie's Angels." We really laughed and he was so nice that we bought some things from him.  While we were looking in his store a little old lady passed by.  He gave her some money and she gave him a piece of gum.  He told us that he always gives her some pesos and when she has it, she give his a little treat too.  How nice.

I contrast Charlie with the man below.  He wanted Adrienne to buy a t-shirt so bad that he chased us down the street.  He was funny but a little creepy at the same time.

In the little store at the resort we found these cookies - I loved them in Mexico when we lived there and I was able to let the girls try all three.  They tasted just as good!

We ate the restaurant at the resort on our first night there.  The food was so good and an old hippie took this picture for us.

 

We saw Oxxos of course along with Pemex gas stations and many pharmacies.  I felt right at home.

 

Here is the border coming back into the United States.

 

It was  a very fun week, especially to be with Adrienne and Jen. 

Rexburg Missionaries

We wanted to see all of our missionaries that were attending BYU-Idaho so we invited them over for some food and laughs.  It was so good to see them and to catch up on what was happening in their lives.