HOME AND AWAY

In the previous post there were pictures of the hot air balloons being blown up and taking off in the early morning of the Prosser balloon festival. After dinner we went to the high school stadium where some of the balloons were lit up in the dark for an evening light show.  This is me with my handsome son at the restaurant.  Below are the lighted balloons.

Next day we began our trip down to Utah stopping at Twin Falls, ID to see the Shoshone Falls and dam.  It is higher earlier in the spring and is at various levels throughout the year.  Very interesting. 

Twin Falls has a new temple in town...always a beautiful sight.

We stopped in the Salt Lake area to pick up Gary's surprise of a year's supply of apple beer concentrate.

On to American Fork to visit with Carol and Sandra...two old friends from my youth.  What a great time we had reminiscing.  We stayed with Sandra...a marvelous hostess.

We took a look at the BYU campus to see how much it has changed since we each went to school there eons ago.  I was overwhelmed and even intimidated by the new buildings and complete change of the layout of the campus.  Our old dorms are gone and I didn't even recognize the quad.  But there's the old Brigham Young statue...a familiar landmark.

We did go into the art museum and check out some of the displays.

The bell tower

 
                                                                 Lavell Edwards Stadium

                                              
                                                           The Provo temple

Then we drove on down to Southern Utah which has a completely different climate.  Was I ever excited when we saw palm trees...my absolute favorite. 
                                                 

Much of the beauty of southern Utah is natural but there were a few man-made creations that attracted the eye...


...the Saint George temple being one of the most beautiful.  I guess you could say that man and God created this together.

The spiral staircase in the St. George tabernacle...a thing of beauty...

                          
                  ...and the podium where every prophet in the Church has stood except Joseph Smith who had been martyrd by the time it was built.

Here we are outside the tabernacle...

...along with Jay and Shirley Hamblin with whom we visited, partied, and spent the night in their beautiful home.

Recognize Aladdin, Jasmine, and the Genie?  We attended a play in an outdoor amphitheater in the most beautiful weather and surroundings.

In a little town called Santa Clara there was a cow in almost every yard...we snapped just a few.

Just outside Santa Clara was the home of Jacob Hamblin...early settler and friend to the Indians...Jay's great uncle.

On our way back from visiting Jacob Hamblin's home we took a shot of Brigham Young's winter home...it's right down town.

Jay's putting green...wonder how Jacob or Brigham would have liked one of these?

                                 ...and their beautiful backyard waterfall.  Gary was drooling at both things.

Back up to Provo for our Korean mission reunion.  Here's just a few old missionary friends.  We had a great time.

A long day's drive and we were back home in time to see Tori leave for her Homecoming date.

Caitlin (clever little gal) made herself a hat to go with the rest or her Richland Bomber outfit.

We watched General Conference with the family which was a welcome treat since our home was a mess, our car was a mess, we had 6 loads of laundry. I was not in the mood to clean anything until Monday, then only because I had to.


This is the Conference that everyone will remember when they announced that Elders could serve missions at the age of 18 and Sisters at 19...quite a change form 19 and 21.  This Church runs on inspiration.  Ron's girls followed Facebook and Twitter with dozens of young people's excited reactions over this announcement.  We will see an influx in the service of missionaries now and more young women will go than ever before.



It was a great week and turned out even better than we'd anticipated.  We've decided that there is much to see and do in Utah and we plan to go back often.