PIF Giveaway

I was alerted to this really great PIF (pay it forward) on Barb's blog. I wanted to participate but didn't, then kept checking back in to see if she had 3 takers. Finally, I decided if the 3rd person wasn't smart enough to play the PIF game, I was. So I now need to PIF.

Like Barb, I do knit but not anywhere to the extent that she does. I can...I just don't. And when I do knit, I always knit and give the stuff away. But whatever, I love PIFing....I participated in the SCS PIF and unloaded and stocked up on wonderful stamp sets.

You need to have a blog.

Ravelry has a group participating in a "Pay it Forward" with handmade items. So here's the deal. The first three people who leave a comment on this post will receive a handmade item made by me. It may be anything...and I will attempt to match the contestants with the item. I am going to ask that this PIF stays local(that means you have to live within driving distance of me, please)in case I decide to bake (so my apologies to those of you outside the Zion area). But there's a catch - there's always a catch isn't there?? If you comment that you would like to receive an item, you need to PIF to three more people. Just announce this PIF on your own blog. Be sure to send me your email and snail address. Perhaps something you might like to have/do/be. It's summer...it's a great time to play.

THE FEAST OF FAT THINGS

My plan worked...we booked our flights, Jordan booked his.
We arranged for Sophia and Doug Corbridge to pick us up Friday night (October 19) and we could play with them for almost a day.  Cody would pick us up the next afternoon in Layton, UT and take us to the Days.  Jordan arrived and it was an amazing few days.  We 3 flew to our homes on Tuesday, being filled with the spirit and love of these fine people.

That's a summary of the events...now for the details.

Initially it was difficult fixing a date. With so many of us and so many families it took some doing. The Days were going to St George the week we had planned but when they heard we actually were coming and their Montana family was arriving for Elder Day's 85th birthday they cancelled that plan and it all worked out.

We flew into SLC and Sophia and Doug picked us up at the airport.  How do we not see each other for like 30 years and it seem like we've never been apart?   It was delightful.

Quayd  and ZJ are amazing kids and I am so glad we got to be with them.  SO glad to see their personalities and their joy in family.  They are part of an amazing family and I hope they always remember this.


Even when they lived here we always knew Doug and Robert to do the correct thing at all times, even if it meant hauling out some naive missionaries from this one bimbo's apartment.  We learned so many things together.  Corbridges had come out to sell Bosch Kitchen machines and Magic Mills/Air, etc. They were only here in The Ohio for 18 months but the ties have stayed for decades.

They don't use this front room barely at all but it was my favorite room. So very Sophia.  So light and cheery with the light streaming in from the sun.  I grabbed a pillow from their couch that expressed my emotions.


I didn't get enough pictures of ZJ cuz she had to go to work.  You can see how willing Quayd was for Robert's silliness.



Here's the view down Sophia and Doug's home:


Here's the only picture I got of ZJ.  Sophia had making us a wonderful waffle breakfast and ZJ had made Buttermilk Syrup which Robert calls Butt Syrup.  The kids thought that was hysterical.  While dishes were being done, I went to take a picture but Sophia insisted I had only taken picture of the ugliest part of her lovely home.  That's not exactly true since I didn't find any ugly room.  Every thing is so Sophia...Just as she was in 1981 and mores.    You can see Q was willing to join in the 'denial' but Z was laughing.  And of course their cute dog was included.



At some point Doug took Robert down to stretch out on this amazing Teeter machine.  I tried it too and it was great.
 



We put as much into these few hours that we could. We drove through the mountains, looked at homes, made two trips to DeseretBook Store. Bought Hillary and Dawn a temple sweater and Robert had me buy a new dress.  I was able to say goodbye to Quayd before we left.  ZJ was working and Q was going to go to work, I think, but I had to tease him about getting a date going with Lucy.  Every girl in the valley ought to be seeking a date with Quayd.


On our way out of Logan, we stopped by the Logan Temple for a quick picture.  This was the hardest thing I've done, leaving Doug and Sophia after only 1 day.  But the trip was dedicated to Elder and Sister Day.  We turned down every invitation to come and say "hello" knowing that "hello" would lead to hours of reuniting with friends. But that was not the agenda.  I was of one mind and determined to remain there until our trip had ended.



From the temple, we drove on with a running narrative of people and homes and history.  It was wonderful. Doug and Robert sat in the back seat and talked, even shy Doug talked which is surprising since he had commented that he was so shy when he was younger that he wouldn't even talk to himself.   Sophia drove us to Layton Mall and immediately Cody drove in and picked us up.  What a nearly 24-hour trip this was with Sophia and Doug.  But I promise we will make this trip again for them but they are always encouraged to come back east to The Ohio.

It was a delight to be with Cody in Utah.  He's enjoying his time at BYU and that's as it should be. I think he's got a great head on his shoulder, probably enhanced by his mission to Tarwara, Kiribati.

We drove to Provo and were blessed that the lines of stalled traffic was going north and not south.

Cody drove us to the Days home and there were cars everywhere.  AND THUS BEGAN THE FAST OF FAT THINGS!  Isaiah 25:6 says:  King James Version
And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

This feast that is spread by the LORD is a rich one indeed for those who have been given a taste for it but it is totally undesirable for those whose mind and heart is stayed upon the things of this world. The LORD told HIS disciples “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” (John 4:32). In this same fashion and according to this same principle the LORD has given HIS people a hunger and appetite for spiritual food that the world in general knows nothing of.  Isaiah says that this feast is spread in “this mountain”. He first makes allusion to this “mountain” in chapter 2 saying, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isa 2:2) He mentions it again in chapter 11, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa 11:9)  

AND THAT'S WHAT WE PARTOOK OF WITH THE DAYS TIL WE LEFT ON TUESDAY.

I tugged Cody and had him walk in front of us.  The Days would immediately recognize Cody and then know that we'd be walking with him.  It's been since 1972 that we last were with this royal couple at our sealing in the Manti Temple and let's be honest, as thrilled as I was that they were there (AND I WAS), I really was dealing with so much, too much.  I had graduated from BYU the day before, my parents were sealed the day before that, and now I was getting married and had a whole other family to learn about.  So this was The Moment.

Sister Day turned first and saw Cody, and quickly looked toward me/us.  Then Elder Day turned around and quickly got up and ran to us.  Suddenly it was one huge hug filled with tears and sobs and disbelief.  But oh, it was so welcome and warm.  I was so happy I was brave enough to get on that plane and come to this wonderful family.

  

Even the sun shining on the tops of the mountains seemed to declare this a golden day.  This is the Days' view out their front door. Amazing, isn't it?  

The backyard was filled with all their family in all their generations.  Everyone sat at tables. We were invited to grab some delicious food and then suddenly Elder Day  arranged chairs up front for an impromptu program.  Besides the three of us and then Elder Day, also on the 'podium' was Joe Felix.  

  Joe is not pictured here but he is above, on the far left.  The 4 men on the right are 4 of the 5 remaining Day boys -- the California son wasn't able to come but I have a sense that oldest son Richard as well as my family were all present, just sight unseen.  But there was a special feeling there, something not often felt.  A fullness, if you will.  A completion of the event.  A stamp of approval and joy from above.

I have to add that the Days absorb everyone in their family and treat them as if they were family. And they have such rich history with so many of the people we met.

Elder Day talked first and introduced us all.  Joe talked about how he met Elder Day when he was in the Marines and didn't want to be there.  He had joined up when his twin brother had left for his mission.  He wasn't prepared to go on a mission and chose the military instead, maybe in a pique of anger or frustration.  Elder Day was in the bishopric that served the base in California.  Joe was sure he couldn't continue as a Marine. Elder Day said there was nothing he could do to get Joe out.  But he could give Joe a blessing. Turns out the blessing he gave Joe reiterated the same words that Joe's own dad had pronounces before he left home.  That was enough of a confirmation for Joe.  He did go one to serve several tours overseas and survived well.  But it was that blessing from Elder Day that Joe says saved his life.

Then Elder Day introduced us and mentioned my grandparents and turned the time over to me.  I wasn't sure what I should say. And I am not sure exactly what I did say.  I do remember saying that if it wasn't for Elder Day coming to The Ohio in 1955, knocking on my grandparents door that cold Christmas that I had no idea what my life would be like.  I know for sure that I wouldn't be sitting with Robert as my eternal husband nor with Cody as my grandson in the same way that I sat there that night.

There was a large poster for people to write their birthday greetings. Cody knew one for the Day's grandsons and then met someone else, another relative, who lived where Cody lives now.  Cody wrote the sweetest note to Elder Day:

Next came the cake and the singing. Elder Day 85 years young and he will fill us with stories that would change my life and affirm my faith.

  Elder Day said the cake was provided by Sister Costco ;)

And when the sun started to go down one of the daughters-in-law got busy directing everyone as to what they needed to do because 'if we don't do it, these two (the  Days) will attempt to do it all'.  How wonderful was that.  Knowing what needed to be done and getting everyone to do it. Yet I get the idea everyone has been used to doing all this all along...just needed a little prodding.  And sure enough, the backyard was cleared in minutes.  I talked with Sister Day's sister Caroline who I had also met in 1962.  We had bought our first maternity insurance from her husband Gary.  So finally Caroline and I were done talking, she needed to leave, and when I walked inside the whole party had been cleaned up, put away, and kids were playing board games with the Days.  Can't get any better than this!

Oh yes it could and yes it did.

Sister Day showed us to our room and it was lovely.  And so inviting and welcoming.  Their home is amazing and filled with a lifetime of Scouting and family and stamp collecting, doll collecting etc.  So many skills these two have developed over their life time.  Hanging on the wall down the stairs were vintage quilts that belonged to them as well as the previous generation of parents.  But these quilts didn't just hand on rods.  Oh no, they hung on wood bows that Elder Day had made!  So lovely.

  And throughout this home were other items that Elder Day had either created, built, refinished.  Including his own childhood desk.

Sleep was welcome that night even thought my heart was so filled that it was hard to turn off the day. Each passing moment meant I'd be closer to having to leave.  I put that thought off much and as often as I could.

Sunday dawned bright and pretty.  We drove to church and Elder Day conducted the hymns during Sacrament Meeting, using a baton that was over 100 years old and it was the one used by his own mom.  Yes, I was disobedient and snapped a picture with my iPad ad no one knew.  I wasn't going to tell them but of course I did, prefacing it with how bad I had been during church.  They agreed but laughed along with me.  I wanted all the memories I could have to bring home with me.  I also attempted to record as many of the stories this wonderful couple me about their lives, their ancestors, their experiences.


   

 Attending their Provo ward was truly a different experience that what we experience  in our own ward.  There are all kinds of people that make up the Restored Gospel for sure.  But being in a ward where people think and study and learn and share was really a treat.  There were no side jokes, silliness in conducting.  The lessons were taught by people who had really searched out their topics and came so totally prepared and expected to get some rich participation.  But maybe that could get boring every Sunday but for us, it was a treat.

Sure there's a problem when intelligence outweighs the spirit. But learning and intelligence is not a bad thing when had in the correct spirit. Do you see those 2 young girls in front of Elder Day in the picture above?  Those girls are respectively daughters of the RS president and the YW president.  And it was obvious from what they referenced that they were will taught in their home.  The one comment attributed as a favorite and oft repeated one of the YW President mom was, "Love is a verb, not an emotion".  Both had prepared talks that were not read but glanced at periodically.  The experiences they shared were ones that they fully had immersed themselves in.  OR maybe they just are good at fooling us.  I doubt that, tho.  You can barely see the woman in the picture above but I asked Sister Day to get a copy of her talk.  The rich experiences she shared as a child when she followed her mom to the Family History Center could enrich anyone who listened.  She's a single woman and one who had always dreamed of being married and having children.

Sunday School was taught by a VP of BYU. Just a casual presentation that included everyone. The brother didn't act like he knew all the history of the topic but led us on an exploration of things we had experienced and how it related to the scripture topic.

RS was taught in a way that I had never seen and it was amazing.  Not one point was lost or skipped over and yet nothing was read by the teacher.  And this manner invoked all participation even if the sisters didn't read the lesson ahead of time.  Actually, there was no way they could have read all the things we heard.

Here's the view of Timp from their ward parking lot.  I am not too fond of the Rocky Mountains but I always loved the story of the 2 lovers from different tribes who were not allowed to wed and so jumped to their death.  Here is Timpanogas lying as she fell, her hair becoming Bridal Veil Falls in the canyon.  
There were days when I was a student at BYU and looked to that mountain just for it's majesty and beauty.  Some days there would be a cloud that was just below the outline of her body and make it appear that she slept for all time on a soft bed.  And usually on those days I'd be brought to tears.  When I was at BYU every class was about marriage and dating no matter the subject.  And so there were days when I feared I would never get married...but hey, I did and all turned out superbly.

We returned to the Day's lovely home which borders the Provo River.  Here I am with Sister Day on her back patio.

Sunday was perfectly lovely.  We had a quick lunch and awaited Jordan's arrival.  Cody came by and along with another Day Grandson who came to do his laundry, we had an impromptu concert.  Elder Day played the ukulele and then Cody did. Cody had just returned from a wedding in California and had written a song in honor of the newlyweds and he performed that.  The grandson is an excellent pianist and played a couple of songs for us, including Moonlight Sonata, one of Grampa Holman's favorites.

 
I  waited to give our gift to the Days til Jordan arrived.  I had made a table runner comprising of 5 Ohio Star Quilt squares to denote the 5 generations of active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since Elder Day arrived in Ohio to bring the gospel to hearts that were ready.  Holmans, Centers, me, our children (and all 4 of the sons-in-law have served missions)  and our 21 grandchildren, 3 of them have served missions or are serving and more waiting in the wings for their time to serve.  I am sure the Days loved the gift but they also loved the embroidered symbolism I had added.

\

On the left end border is this rising sun, denoting Elder Day as well as the hymn "The Day Dawn is Breaking the World is Awaking (52) the clouds of night's darkness are fleeing away." Altho this is actually a millennial hymn, to me it's a constant reminder of Elder Day who gave up 2 years and came to find us.  The chorus is perfect:  "Beautiful day of peace and rest, Bright by thy dawn from east to west  Hail to thine earliest welcome ray, Beautiful, bright millennial day."  Exactly how my family looks forward to that day.

 Then on the right end, again in the border so it's not noticeable unless you look, is the symbol for infinity or eternity.  I sure hope there are many more generations of faithful Saints from our family.

 Here we are with Elder Day at the head where he's always been.

And here are the Hatches. Truly we are so grateful to be a family and that Jordan could join us.  Having Cody here, who started this whole trip by finding our Days in the home of the address I somehow had in an old phone book.  His sister Ella wrote this week:  With all the updates from you about Elder Day I have been feeling seriously blessed to have been born into this family.



More stories were told and recorded.  I plan to transcribe them off someday soon...maybe when winter really strikes and we are stuck indoors.  I will always keep the recordings however so I can repeated listen to the voices of the Days.

Here's a story, quickly.  See this sugar bowl?  It belonged to the first Day how accepted the gospel after seeing 2 missionaries preach in a park in Gloucestershire, England 1852; they came to dinner and taught about the restored gospel. Even tho the 'greats' grandfather held a very important position in a factory he risked it to join the church. And yes, he was fired because the factory refused to have a Mormon employed. Even their long term neighbors turned on this.  This is a fine piece of English china and it's where this fine couple kept their tithing until they could be near an established church and could pay it.  With no job and no food for 3 days, the husband said to his wife, "Get the sugar bowl.  I'm going to use the tithing money so my children don't go to bed hungry again." Instead the wife picked up the broom and kicked him out of the house saying that this was the Lord's tithing and that's all it would be used for.  The man walked down the street when suddenly a woman neighbor came and said, "I have these 2 loaves of bread which are going to go stale.  Would you take them?"  He put them under his warm and continued to walk.  Another woman, also having turned her back on this family because of their religion, came out and said, "I have this pail of milk that's going to go sour.  We can't drink it all. Please take it." So he did and returned home.

Eventually the family made it to Liverpool and taking advantage of the Perpetual Emigration Fund. The mom and kids came to America first and the father came soon afterward.  Finally they made their way to an established branch/ward of the church and having carefully, and lovingly packed the sugar bowl WITH their tithing still inside, they finally were able to pay their tithing.  And here sat this noble grandson, admiring and loving the sugar bowl as well as the history it held.  Oh, if only we could hold all 'things' of the Lord with such reverence.

Many more stories were shared but finally we needed to sleep.  Monday morning we met up with Cody to attend his religion class. Jordan drove us to campus and after a quick walk around, headed to meet a friend who is not a professor there.

I had told Jordan he needed a picture with Brigham and we grabbed a girl to snag this picture.  

O-H-I-O with Brigham as the I.  Still makes me laugh out loud.

Robert pointed out the Gerrit de Jong Concert Hall. After we were married and attended a family ward, we were in Br. de Jong's ward. It was amazing every Sunday to sit behind him and watch him make musical notation while the organist, a very old sister, played a small solo piece after the Sacrament was finished and before talks began.

  

In the Wilkinson Center was this bench.  I actually decided to pretend something I did not feel but it seemed appropriate.

 It was so fun being with Cody as well as to listen to Hank Smith teach, not just talk to EFY.  Cody is a sweetheart.  I hope he enjoys his time there, has all the fun he wants and then finds someone who will appreciate him.  And love him forever.  Cody had to attend another class and then manage a blood drive so we left him for a few hours.

As we met up later with Jordan and I saw him walking toward me, I snagged this picture and Robert made some comment about sending it out to his peeps and something about how he was transferring his allegiance. Well, that wasn't going to happen but it was a moment.

We gave Jordan a quick tour of moments/places in our time.

 One such place was Campus Plaza where I lived. This is an exaggerated pose of how Robert looked when he returned from his mission and came aknockin'.  It's only slightly exaggerated.



The door in front of him was my apartment.  There was a girl sitting in the kitchen window and I mimed to her, can we come in?  She opened the door, I explained that I had lived there in the early 70s. She gave us a quick tour. WHAT A DUMP!  I was stunned. When I lived there it was lovely.  But everything in the rooms were exactly the same as it had been then.  But ratty.  Even the long mirror was barely a mirrow.  Robert was surprised at how small the front room was but that's how it was. And it's where our tradition of Conference Cake began.  Apparently it's the cheapest place there but the girl said it's the best place to be because everyone is poor and needed a cheap place to live and get an education. That works for me.

The pool is still there and Robert dipped his toe in the water.  It's supposedly going to be renovated soon.



We returned to the Days' home and planned lunch.  Then Elder Day comes into the room with this. He asked me if it looked familiar.  I knew what it was, knew that I'd seen it long, long time ago in our home.  Maybe Daddy Center had one.......?  Unsure. Well, that's what it was. When the Days got engaged and sent out their wedding announcement, my mom and grandmother followed their registry and bought them the dishes they had wanted but then, a week before their marriage, this box came.  Daddy had gone to his home in Kentucky at some point previously, crawled under the house (and let me say it's probably true. I've seen the house.  It was a one room house just built up on what I might call short stilts.  He found this coffee mill and brought it home but didn't clean it up.  He wanted the Days to have it.  Elder Day refinished it and it's all original except for the front of the bottom drawer which had to be replaced. But he kept it as near to the original as he could.  And then he gave it to me.  I started weeping.  I didn't want to take something from them that they'd kept on display in their homes for about 60 years but Elder and Sister Day said that it belonged to me now.  I was afraid I would have a problem getting it on the plane but after calling American Airlines and then TSA, they both assured me there'd be no problem.  And it wasn't. Now it sits with this picture and so many times I've caught Robert just staying at this table ... and remembering.

I had wanted to take the Days out to dinner but they both said they are too frugal for expensive restaurants but agreed to a picnic in the mountains. Cody met up with us and we went to Bridal Veil Falls and ate Jimmy Johns sandwiches along with the picnic lunch Sister Day had packed for us.

And of course, more pictures were taken and more stories told and more love shared, never to be forgotten.

   

Time for another story.  I'll start with what I knew from my teens.  Back then the Relief Society, as well as the other organizations, had to raise funds to do various activities.  A far cry from how it is today but I think it was a better way in so many instances because we were all able to work together whether it was a bazaar, bake sale, or rummage sale.  Rummage sale is what I start with.  Our ward RS had gathered gently used clothes and other things, rented a store front in a less affluent area of Cleveland and set up a temporary store.  Running the sale were a few sisters from the RS, including my mom, her best friend Sister Inouye and an elderly Sister Rowe who sat in a chair by the door with her heavy cane.  At some point, in comes a scruffy man who started to harangue Sister Inouye who being Japanese obviously offended him.  He had gotten just enough disgusting language out of his mouth that brought Sister Rowe out of her seat and with cane held high she gave him a tongue lashing as she forced him out of the door.

Now for the earlier 'rest of the story'.  This comes again from Elder Day.

As a missionary, Elder Day and his companion decided to go to the Projects in Cleveland (government Housing) which required purchasing a bus transfer.  They climbed the 8th floor and knocked on this one door.  The door opened slightly and they introduced themselves as to what they were.  Smoky air filtered out and the smell of booze hit them.  They offered in a Book of Mormon as well as the pamphlet of Joseph Smith.  Both were taken and the door was closed and the missionary walked off, assuming that was that.  Time passed.  And because Elder Day and his companion had paid the 25 cents for the BM they were determined to reclaim the book.  They went back to that door and no one was living there.  Drats...it looked like they weren't going to get their book back.  A woman on the floor peeked out and said that that woman had been moved to another building. So the elders went to management and found out where that woman moved. They found her in another building and this time, no cigarette smoke and no alcohol smell.  Turns out the woman was Mary Rowe (older lady in the picture below sitting with the elders, the same Sister Rowe from my part of the story.    Mary had read the BM 3 times in the 3 weeks since they came to her door, had cross-referenced it with the Bible and listed questions she had.  Elder Day returned again and again, every 3 days, to present more lessons to Sister Rowe.   And Mary Rowe was baptized and stayed faithful til she died.

It turns out that the first time the Elders knocked on her door, Sister Rowe was going to commit suicide that night. But she had had a dream the night before about 2 men coming to her door and would show her a booklet with a man on the front dressed in vintage older clothes (see Joseph Smith below).  And there was the pamphlet, and the two men, and so Sister Rowe had stopped smoking and drinking immediately and continued to read the BM with cross references.  Every 3rd day that the Elders visited/taught her she always fed them. One day, Elder Day asked her gently how she could afford to feed them (when they knew she had no money). Finally she admitted that she fasted the 2 days in between their visits so that she had the food to serve a meal.  Immediately Elder Day went to see Sister Beth Robinson who was RS president and arranged to have Sister Rowe receive some food.

What a blessed woman Sister Rowe was...til the end.

 

And here's a part of Mary's testimony in her own words with to the Elders.

Monday afternoon Jordan went to meet with his friend from his mission and we said goodbye to Cody. Jordan and Cody had a night out eating together and that was special, too.   We went with Sister Day to Seagull Bookstore and looked at their sale tables.  Sister Day bought me a recipe book that she had given to Elder Day and from which he had made us wonderful pumpkin pancakes in the morning and Sister Day had served us these wonderful eggs, presented so artfully.

The best part is that the eggs were soft and covered with cheese and served with the pretty green peppers underneath.  What a presentation.  Jordan took a picture of this.

Elder Day had assembled and sold a cookbook of recipes he had collected and has used. Isn't the title the cutest?  Pickle Juice which he uses in place of alcohol and says it's a perfect substitution.  And he makes great hot chocolate in various forms.  I asked if I could take it to a copy store and make myself a copy.  Wouldn't you know, he had one last copy and gave it to me.  I treasure it.  I have plans to make all these recipes.  But what really thrilled me is Elder Day has recipes for Dutch Oven cooking. Being employed by BSA and having camped all his life, he knows Dutch Oven cooking and this is something I want to learn how to do.

Because we had eaten lunch late, we weren't very hungry for dinner but opted for dessert at the BYU Creamery.  The four us drove past the Provo Temple 

 

and grabbed a couple of pictures and then got eats at the Creamery. This is not the creamery that used to be outside Deseret Towers (now no longer there), it was more like a mini mart.  But Elder and Sister Day and Robert had ice cream.

 I had the famous BYU mint brownies.  I have tried to make these but they never turned out right, and I even have BYU's recipe.  I asked Sister Day about the different in altitude and she told me how to fix that issue!  

And then on the way home, the Days were kind enough to stop right by the Cougar Stadium so Robert could get a picture of himself with the cougar.

Yes, Robert is true to his school and is a cougar through and through.

One more night with the Days.  This truly is bittersweet. A wonderful few days that has changed Robert and I forever in a couple areas.  I sure hope I can become more like Elder and Sister Day.

In the morning Jordan went down to the Provo River in the the Days' backyard to collect a couple rocks to take back with him to his own back yard.  Here are a couple pictures around the Days' home:

The following is a page from Elder Day's personal history.  And it says it all!

We  said our goodbyes and I could barely stop hugging Elder Day and Sister Day is as lovely as the first time I met her.  There's such a sparkle of youth in her eyes/face/personality.  Oh how I need to learn how to do that.

Jordan had rented a car for the weekend so he drove us north to the airport, with a stop at Temple Square.  Here is the odd rainbow that was on the west side of the highway.  Almost like the northern lights:




Visiting Temple Square for Jordan who served his mission and spent a lot of time around the temple must have been very special for him.  He has such a great eye for picture taking.

  

 And for me, who is not a fan of Utah, at last I felt a touching of the spirit. So that was the cherry on the top of this short trip.

  This constellation of the Big Dipper always intrigued me as it is on the temple facade.  It was a constant reminder to me how the constellation encircles the North Star and how the temple must become our North Star as we connect with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Robert specifically wanted pictures taken with these statues, probably for Seminary.  But it's perfect for father/son.

 

The door knobs on the special door of the temple

  

This is where brides often stand with their husbands so naturally we had our turn.

 

I had just read before the trip that the statues of Joseph and his brother Hyrum had originally been placed in this recessed area.  Hence Jordan striking a pose.  The brothers' statues have been relocated elsewhere.



Jordan's former mission companion, Elder Shimiconis, works just over from Temple Square so he was kind enough to stop work and came to say goodbye to Jordan.

 

THEN IT WAS OUR TURN

                                              

And our trip concluded. We drove to the airport and were able to grab something to eat with Jordan whose flight left an hour after hours but got home hours before ours did.

And who knew Pei-Wei is really owned by P.F. Changs?  But I had delicious  chicken wraps and was set for the trip home.

  

Here we are,ready to land in Cleveland.  Grateful for this short weekend in so many ways.