Hello from Salt Lake!

We are getting settled in!  Our apartment is really quite nice.  It is right next to the Kimball Apartments and is an older apartment building, which the church leases for it's missionaries.  We have a floor full of young Temple Square Sister missionaries right below us.  Our apartment is on the top (3rd floor) and is at the back of the building.  It is the biggest one on this floor and overlooks a park, which is actually a cemetery where Heber C. Kimball and some of his wives and family and Newel K. Whitney and some of his family are buried.  There is a beautiful, perfect tree right out our east living room window with a large monument honoring those who are buried there.  I want to learn more about Heber C. Kimball and suggest you do the same so that when you come to visit us, you will know all about him.  The flowers in that cemetery, as well as all around Temple Square, the Conference Center and the Plaza are gorgeous.  This really must be what Heaven is like - landscaping-wise.

On Friday, we had a luncheon in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for all the new missionaries.  There were about 30 of us.  This mission has around 1100 missionaries, most of which are church service missionaries.  There are about 350 full time.  I ate all my food at that luncheon like my Dad taught me, and I was miserable the rest of the day.  We met all the trainers and did a little one on one computer work with them.  We each have our own trainer and will start training tomorrow.

Last night we went to a concert in the Assembly Hall.  Sister Linda Margetts (tabernacle choir organist) and her husband and children and grandchildren (who played violins, cellos and the bass fiddle) presented the program.  They were amazing.  Those kids were so good.  Livvy and Maddie, I thought of you and wished you could have been here to see and hear them.  It would have inspired you to keep on practicing and performing!

This morning, we walked across the street to the Conference Center for Music and the Spoken Word.  It was just beautiful.  They introduced the family organization of Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith, who must be here for a reunion.  Some are members of the church; many are not.  They also introduced the family of Dr. Nathan Smith (no relation to Joseph), who performed the surgery on Joseph's leg when he was 7 years old.  That surgery was 100 years ahead of it's time, and if not for that inspired Dr., none of us would be here to enjoy Temple Square and all that transpires here.  I think I might have seen Uncle Var's granddaughter, Catherine, who sings in the choir, but I'm not sure.

We had our meetings in the J.S Building at 1:00 p.m.  They were nice, but I sure miss the different ages.  I miss the wiggly kids and the babies crying, and the young deacons and priests to administer the Sacrament.  I keep looking at all these old people and wonder how I got here?

For those of you who don't know, Daniel just opened his call to the states while waiting for his Visa to Brazil.  Guess where?  PHILADELPHIA!  That's right - Dallin's mission!  I can't wait to here how that all goes!

I also got a call from Shawn and Torrey (who also may get to see Daniel).  They are coming for Christmas, and have a rotation in St. George for the month of January!  So it's party time for us all!

Well, I've rambled on long enough.  Josie and Jeff, I loved your blog entries and pictures and recommend them to all of you.  I even left a comment. (And people think I don't know how to use a computer - hah!)
I'll let you all know how it goes as I start my new adventure tomorrow.

I'd sure like to hear what's going on in your lives.

Love you - Mom/Grandma/Carolyn