Fall colors

I promised you fall color photos, but there wasn't room in the last post, so I'm doing them separately. Wish they were more spectacular.

Like a woman with pms needs chocolate . . .

. . . I need the Tabernacle choir broadcasts, preferably in the Tabernacle itself. The pics are from this morning's broadcast, and we had the added treat of being quite close to Pres. Monson, who snuck in at the end to present an award. In addition to the fantastic music, we enjoy watching the technical things happen, particularly the camera work. We love watching the big boom camera, because of the choreography the cameraman has to go through. The other pictures are just of the gorgeous autumn colors we are seeing right now. Most of the bright red is gone, and I'm sorry I didn't get pictures of it, but it's still pretty breathtaking to come out on our sidewalk and look across the street to the Conference Center. All the gardens have been uprooted and replanted with bulbs, pansies, poppies, and crocuses. I can't wait for tulip season!!

There must be news but I can't think of any right now. I've been having a battle with severe fatigue but I believe it's getting better. I feel like a terrible wimp sometimes. With Christmas coming up there's lots of music on the horizon and it makes me happy -- frustrated, because all of my flute and choir music is in the garage back in Texas -- but happy nevertheless.

Remember how when I was really involved in the Young Women's program all those activities (I'm soo not an activity person) made my ulcer bleed? Someone must have gotten wind of that and wants to bump me off, because Bob and I are on 2 planning committees for branch and mission activities. If I didn't know for a fact that the Lord loves me, I'd wonder if the Lord loved me. Well, yes, I know He loves me because he uncovered a photo of one of my ancestors (I sent it out to my family members) for me, and I've been in touch with the fellow who posted it. We'll be exchanging information; always an exciting prospect.

I never know where the photos are going to turn up on the blog. I don't seem to have any control over them. But wherever they wind up -- here they are, for your viewing pleasure.

Sorry! I forgot to post the pictures!

Life is just one party after another

We had another party yesterday morning. They added a lot of the Wasatch Front temples to the New.FamilySearch program -- a long awaited happening, hence the party. We were all invited out to the lobby of our floor for cinnamon rolls (second time this week!) and hot chocolate. The one picture is Elder Brinkerhof, of the World Wide Support Group, and Elder Redd, one of our favorite YMs. The other one is "Mean" Don Green, our favorite mail man.

They wanted to get as many bugs out of the new program as possible before bringing the Utah temples on board, because they knew what a big load they would be putting on the resources. It's amazing to hear the technological background of these fantastic programs they are developing, and the amount and kind of information that is and shortly will be available for everyone in the world to take advantage of. We feel very privileged to be a small part of this.

The weather is quite a bit warmer today and will continue balmy through the end of the week. I'm taking my sweetie out for "supper" tonight in honor of his birthday, but we've pretty much decided to skip the food and go straight for the ice cream. Leatherby's, here we come!

This is what the fuss was all about

Beautiful, isn't it? We took a bunch of pictures, but I'll just show you three -- the Young Missionaries getting the cart down the hall to our cubicle (16 cartons!); Bob and The Book; and our Mission President's wife, Sister Halverson, whom I dearly love. The labor pains were intense but the result was worth it.

Here's the evidence -

This is what we were looking at today from the lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial building. I was out there resting between Relief Society and Sacrament meeting as I had to conduct the choir and was still feeling awful from this bug I've had. I must say that it looked beautiful coming down, but I was extremely grateful that it stopped before we had to leave for home.

We decided not to go to Gerry and Marilyn's as I not only don't want to expose them to a bug, but tomorow I have to get up extremely early and play the organ for the Devotional tomorrow morning. It will be nice, though, because the Women's Choir is singing one of my arrangements. So I'd better be good!

I admit it, I'm a wimp

Okay, so for the first time we have voluntarily made the decision not to go to the Tab Choir broadcast this morning (the other 2 times we missed were involuntary). Any why did we so choose, you ask? Because it's SNOWING! Urgh! October 12, 2008, still the hot season in California and Texas, we have snow falling. We have to go out once to go to church and that seems like about enough outings for me in my scooter. I think the wind chill puts about minus 79 degrees on my knees, or so it seems. Maybe I'll send my hunter-gatherer out to go kill a buffalo for me and then I'll be nice and warm. Actually, I don't know why I'm whining -- we're going to have a high of 43 today, not even freezing.

On a nicer note, the books will be shipped to our department tomorrow. I'll take a picture and post it. You won't be thrilled by it, but I will.

Speaking of books, I don't know if I've ever shared this nugget with my family: my darling cousin-by-marriage, who lives here in Utah, has written a book which has been accepted and is in the editing process. It's a novel, and she asked me if it was okay if she based her male romantic lead on . . . Deane! I tried to picture his reaction to news like that and could barely stop laughing long enough to give her my permission. I can't wait to read that book! While my family pulls themselves together I will explain to non-family readers that Deane, while I loved him dearly, was NOT a romantic character. 'Nuff said!

Sorry for the delay

I've been having password problems, although I think it was mostly my fault. Plus, I've been too busy and too tired to blog much. We just had a lovely weekend; not only was my daughter Debby here for a visit, but we attended our first live General Conference, and it was really wonderful. Bob, Deb, and I went to both of the morning sessions and Bob attended the Saturday priesthood session. We all tried valiantly to stay awake through the afternoon broadcasts, but didn't have much luck with that. During the evening priesthood session Debby and I went to the Joseph Smith building and looked at a beautiful exhibit of photographs depicting the life of Christ. They were stunning, and I am anxious to obtain a DVD of the making thereof, assuming one is even available. There is a web site about the display, called reflectionsofchrist.org.

I feel so amazed sometimes at the twists and turns my life has taken. I would never have predicted that I would willingly spend a whole year in Salt Lake City, nor would I have chosen to have the things happen in my life that led up to this situation. If the choices had been mine to make I'm sure I would have taken the easy road, and I shudder to think about what I would have missed out on. This has been a wonderful 4 months and the time has flown by. Literally, before we are ready for it we will have to be thinking about re-locating back home and while we really miss our home, our family, and our friends, it will be terribly difficult to leave behind the friends we've made here, whom we love dearly, and the work, which is so satisfying and -- let's be honest -- fun! There is a lot of laughter occuring constantly in the Admin. Zone, but I believe we are light-hearted rather than light-minded (there is a difference!), for we all take this work very seriously. But no one here takes him-or-herself seriously, which makes them all delightful to be around.

I haven't been doing much picture-taking lately, so I only have one to show you. We took this at Leatherby's, where Bob, Deb, and I went on Friday night with some friends from the mission. It illustrates my point perfectly: