Casablancas and the MTC

Yesterday was a day filled with the spirit of missionary work as I have not felt in such a long time. What a treat!! Pictured above are the Casablancas (Sister Lucy Casablanca in the white jacket with the name badge and her husband President Justo Casablanca at my side), Bro. and Sister Seda in front, the Gonzalez's, and I'm so sorry but I can't remember the name of the brother and his wife closest to us (but he's a professor at BYU and they have 12 children), plus Frances (the classy lady in green) and Hank (a top exec w/Wells Fargo). They were all wonderful. Anyway, Rafael taught Justo on his mission in Puerto Rico and Bro. Seda (then the branch president) baptized Bro. Casablanca--fast forward all these years and Lucy and Justo are now headed to preside over the Columbia Bogata South Mission. They were allowed to invite eight people. They have been serving for the past two years teaching welfare principles in Argentina, Paraguay and Uraguay, then he was called to be the executive secretary to the area presidency in that part of the world, then was interviewed and called by President Uchdorf for this latest mission.

Here's a picture with Elder Todd Christopherson and Elder Marino (who will be serving in the area presidency where the Casablancas will be serving). We also saw Elder Hinckley and Elder Oaks. Incidentally, these general authorities were still giving hugs and shaking hands, although the other MTC personnel were doing the "virtual handshake." Utah has been hard hit with the swine flu, perhaps more so than any other state?? In fact, we have it in our neighborhood. A lady just a handful of houses from mine tested positive this past Sunday and is quarantined to her room. Two new deaths occurred this past week here in the valley. The MTC has been very diligent in separating the missionaries so as to prevent the spread of the virus. In fact, these new mission presidents are in an entirely separate area from the missionaries, eat separately and will not be mingling at all so as to keep them healthy. They entered yesterday, Wednesday, and will depart for their missions on Monday. The Casablancas took us all for an early dinner where we all chatted. What fun.

R and I slipped down the hall and took a quick picture in front of the big map that is well known to all missionaries who have passed through the halls of the MTC.

A Return to the Past

Yesterday, after lots of painting, R and I headed off to the temple. Turns out our local temple was closed, so drove to SL in pouring rain. Am really embarrassed to admit that it has been maybe 15 years since I've been in the SL Temple for a session (marriages, yes). After all it's so far away!! Anyway, what what a sweet experience. Was reminded of the beauty and significance of this temple. Maybe because of the rain outside, there were not that many in the 7 p.m. session, perhaps 30, but surprisingly the Jensens from our ward and their soon-to-enter-MTC son walked in after us. In the Celestial Room was an adorable couple, small (very small) with dark skin. R thought his tag said Merida, so struck up a conversation. Turns out they're from Guatemala, visiting a son and daughter-in-law, have 12 mission-serving, temple-attending children. They were so sweet and she gave me a hug and a Latin kiss on the cheek. It was sweet.

Then I took R to my favorite downtown restaurant, Settebello, which opened a couple years ago, is a true Napolitano pizzeria. The brick oven, all ingredients and even the head pizza maker are imported from Naples. Naples is the birthplace of pizza and trust me Italian pizza is totally different from the pizzas we know and love.

A full, but very good day.

The White is Blinding

Yesterday R and I spent the day (almost literally) downstairs priming all the surfaces. Went through 15 gallons and probably should have put on a heavier coat, oh well. We ended up putting up the doors and very carefully giving them a priming coat. I took a picture of V vacuuming in getting ready for the painting job, but he promised to lynch me if I posted his picture 'cause real men don't vacuum. Okay, have it your way--I'll just text that REAL MEN DO VACUUM. We had use of a spray gun, otherwise we'd still be down there.

Stopped for lunch, plus we needed to go buy another bucket of paint. Even though we wore protective gear over the hair, safety glasses over the eyes (or glasses in R's case) and dust masks, we were still covered in paint.

Moroni is Black?

An interesting occurence happened over the weekend. Our newest temple close to the house, The Oquirrh Temple, was hit by lightning (we've had some really strong thunderstorms roll through the area of late). Turns out this is a good thing. There is a lightning rod built into Moroni that attracts any electrical activity during a storm and conduits it safely to the ground, thus protecting the temple and keeping it from burning. So Moroni not only is a relgious symbol to we Mormons, Moroni is also a physical protection. Interesting, huh?

April Showers Bring May Flowers--Except It's June!!

I was heading outside to plant some herbs, but then it started to sprinkle, which it has been doing off and on for many days, and then started to really pour and finally turned to hail. My poor baby plants that I put in yesterday, ohh. They're like totally submerged under water and a layer of hail.

I took two movies on the camera, but I don't know how to get the movies from my camera to the computer and then to this blog site. Hmmm??

A Road Trip for the Graduate

Tony left on a road trip with his friends, Haley and Derek, this past Monday early, try 4:30 a.m. I was up at 4 to work, so of course I had to run outside and snap a picture and hand off a bag of homemade cookies. I was relieved when Tony called at 4 p.m. to say that they were checking in. Derek's grandfather rented a condo for him for the week as a graduation gift. I just talked to Tony (Wednesday afternoon). They were at Sea World and had just finished the Shamu show. They're having a good time, spent yesterday at the beach and will probably go back to the beach this evening. I told him that I love him and to take lots of pictures.

A Successful Game

The end of the game, the end of the season and almost the end of J's soccer career. Jared likes the socialization of Saturday soccer, but....anyway mom and dad weren't too eager to sign him up again and so didn't, but then when he found out that his friend from another team was moving over, plus the coach came over and told Jared that he'd miss him and there was still a spot on the roster, well...let's just say that Jared will be back in the fall.

Jared made the first goal of the game, one of two. I think the score was 2-1. It was a cloudy and chilly day, as it has been for the past almost 10 days. We've had rain almost daily, sometimes pouring. I was going to go outside and plant a few herbs, but it started to rain again, so I'm waiting out the storm and thought I'd do a little blog posting.

Let's "Rock"

The full-term vernacular is sheetrocking, but I've been around the men talking and evidently to put up the sheetrock is to "rock." Here's a pile, one of many, of some sheetrock that was hand carried to the basement, some as long as 12 feet, by a crew of three. It took them 2-1/2 hours. It was not for a weakling, each man carrying by himself one to two sheets--very physical work. I told my boys to stay in school. "You do not want to have to do that job on a day-to-day basis."
The actual "rocking" was done in a little over a day by a crew of three Hispanics. The boss spoke English. They worked really hard. Because of a slow economy, they're happy to be working, even if it's only a day or two each week.

We're coming to the end of the mudding and sanding portion done by Lee and his partner. They come in for a couple hours at the end of the day (they've been working on a big house up in Park City during the day) and sand then put on an add'l coat of mud. It won't be long before it will be time to start painting.

Sunday, Time to Catch Up

No pics today, just the written word.

Have I mentioned how wonderful this spring has been? No? Well, let me tell you that I'm absolutely gushing about the periodic rains and cooler temperatures. My boys: "This summer sucks." That's when I remind them that it's not officially summer until the 21st. Victor looked at the weather forecast in the paper today and whined about the week. I looked at the cloudy forecast and 70-degree temperatures and shouted hooray!! Right now it's in the mid 60s, which is the high for the day. I actually turned on the oven and baked cookies. I try really hard not to use the oven during the "warmer" months.

Work: Overloaded. I had to tell my super (via messenger) a couple days ago when I got dumped on that I simply will not be able to keep TAT (turnaround turn), not when I have graduations, etc., and get 3+ hours of dictation in a day. Got home from graduation and noticed that 40 jobs had been pulled. That helped a lot. I thought that I had communicated to her to permanently take one of the docs and give him to someone who wanted more work, but I see that Friday's dictation from this particular doc didn't get moved. I got off Friday night w/only 31 minutes. Yeah, but then yesterday checked and there were 2 hours and 45 minutes (late Friday night dictation). I wanted to scream. I still worked outside for a couple hours in the morning and went to soccer in the afternoon, then I worked yesterday evening for at least four hours and will need to get at it early tomorrow morning. I don't work on Sunday and that has been my firm rule like forever. I think I'll have to give Holly a call and state my case.

Basement: Hey, now that's moving along just fine. The first coat of mud went on yesterday. I think the guy said that there will be five coats (?), but throughout the week there will be sanding, mudding, sanding....

Church: Wish I had more time to give to my calling. I try to be efficient in delegating and planning, but I do wish that I could spend more time doing compassionate service and visiting ladies, particularly those I know need a little TLC or a personal visit. I didn't do visits today, but do most every Sunday. I'm going out w/my secretary Tuesday night. We take a RS birthday item (a cute stamped and painted image on a small tile that says I'm a Child of God w/a magnet on the back tucked inside a birthday cardstock) to each sister, on Sunday or during the week depending on the sister and whether that sister will be more amenable to the "church ladies" in Sunday dress or the "church ladies" in Levis and flip-flops. I gave the presidency message today. I loved prep'g it--was from the last General Conference...Sacred Temples, Sacred Homes. Gave me much to think about, plus now I have the basis for my FHE lesson tonight.

Okay, I'd better go. It's close to FHE time.

Tony Graduates

Yesterday, June 4, Tony graduated from high school. Here's a picture of him at the beginning of the program. Each student had a flower to give to his/her family in appreciation. The other shots taken during the program weren't that good due to poor lighting and distance. Oh well. The graduation ceremony was great, so much better than the local Riverton High School--much shorter and more intimate.

Tony and his friends, Derek and Haley, with the Thanksgiving Barn in the background.

Happened to pull alongside Tony on the way home from the restaurant.

Tony shows his appreciation when he got a golf certificate to one of the area's most prestigious courses.

Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple

The California Gonzalez Family (one of them) came to Utah a few days ago to officially bid Erica adieu as she heads to the MTC for her New York South Spanish-speaking Mission. Last night we all joined in dinner (including a family from our ward because Derek, their son, will also be going to the same mission here shortly) and then we went to the temple open house, just its second day, yesterday. Good timing!!

On October 1, 2005, the First Presidency announced construction. President Hinckley conducted the groundbreaking on December 16, 2006. This is the 130th temple and the 13th in Utah. The name Oquirrh was taken from a Goshute Indian word meaning "wooded mountain," which is also the name of the western mountains in the Salt Lake Valley. This temple will serve approximately 83,000 members (ironically not us, as we live on the east side of Bangerter Freeway, even though this temple is really close to us). And here are those handsome young "Sons of Helaman" in the intro tent for a movie about temple worship.

Like mother, like daughter--both missionaries, then and now. Amy and Erica.

Rafael, Jake, Jared, Margaret, Erica, Ethan, Amy, Jaime, Aaron, Victor, Tony Gonzalez.

The reception tent after the tour for a refreshment, beautifully decorated with furnishings and pictures--basically a portable visitors' center.

Jared, Tony, Victor

Just a bunch of teenagers, very good teenagers.

From the front of the temple overlooking the southwest quadrant of the valley. Look closely and you can see the lights of the Draper Temple shining back. I read (or heard) that this land was donated to the church when the area was opened up for development. It is beautifully perched on a knoll and if I walk up the road a block from my house, I can see it. Dang--wouldn't it be cool to actually look out one's window and see the lights of the temple at night?? Oh well, I guess I'll just have to spiritually direct my tent opening to the temple.

Pizza Marguerita at Settebello

Friday I met up w/my dear, dear MTC companion Shawna and her hubby Dan, visiting from California (their daughter, Carrie, has been at EFY BYU for the past week) and Shawna's companion Kathy, who married Shawna's cousin, Kevin. Keeping that all straight? We had AUTHENTIC (oven, all ingredients and cook imported from Naples) Napolitano pizza, insalata and ummmmmmm gelato. So, so good. Let me say that again. Soooooooo good.