New House & A 10th Birthday in Boise

A long-awaited day finally arrived for our Missy and family.

After selling their last home to the first people who went through it on the weekend they put it on the market, 

then seven long months in a rental home,

the Smiths recently moved into their newly-built home they designed.

Roger and I left for Boise on Monday, March 14, to help them unpack/set up/hang things, 
after completing our church assignments on Sunday. 

The INSTA-CHOIR sang, I Know That My Redeemer Lives! with great vigor, despite, 

or maybe because of the fact that the violinist was not able to come.

We found out that we are for real, without the show of the violin.
It sounded beautiful and I was so proud of them!

Hopefully, that vigor and confidence will be present next month when we sing for Stake Conference.

Lois treated us to a meal Monday evening when we arrived in Ogden and we had a good visit with her.

We have all been battling the flu and are each now on the mend.

We left for Boise on Tuesday morning, and when we drove up to their new home, 

Princess Claire was standing on their front porch, waiting for us.

She insisted on putting on her princess dress, her tutu and all of her jewels to greet us!

If you ever need any handyman projects done, 

Roger is your man!

The kids all love to have us visit so their dad can catch them up on whatever little job needs to be done.

Roger can fix anything!

So we helped unpack, ran errands, tended kids, hung, measured and hammered things, shopped and cooked 

and loved being with the kids!

What a delightful family they are!

And what a lovely new home they have!

The night before St. Patrick's Day, a sneaky little leprechaun visited and tipped over chairs 

and dyed the toilet water and the milk green.

After the big kids went to school,

we got a pic of her with the littles.

We had a real treat that morning when we went to watch Claire dance in her tap and ballet class.

Oh, my, we have a future star on our hands!

Claire absolutely loves to dance!

We took Missy and Claire to lunch at my favorite sushi place.

So good!

We also got to go to the middle school's history club presentation about ancient Egypt the night before. 

 Sam did an excellent job with his presentation, talking off his notes in an engaging and interesting manner.

He's a natural!

Jared, who is now in high school, was one of three founders of the club, 

which chooses different topics in history, then each member researches and presents their info 

with visual charts, posters and power points on their electronic devices.

We were really impressed with the program.

A huge bonus to going to Boise was getting to be there on Ellie's birthday 

when she turned 10 years old!

On Friday night, she had a pajama party at their new home for 12 girls,

some from each of the three places they have lived in Boise.

Ellie is a sweetheart and has lots of nice friends!

The party was a dance and playing games in the dark in their family room, which has a disco ball, 

and in the sports court downstairs.

There were lots of glow in the dark things:

balloons, balls, necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc. 

The kids ate pizza, veggies and dip, chips . . .

. . . candy, cotton candy and, instead of a cake, Ellie's favorite, Krispy Kremes! 

We made Italian sodas for each girl and there was also Ellie's favorite, root beer.

Make a wish, Ellie!

On Saturday, before we left for Ogden, we took Ellie shopping for her present, 

then the whole family headed to Chick fil-A, for lunch.

We stayed with Lois overnight, watching some of the NCAA March Madness that evening.

Lois is a big sports fan!

 We went to the special telecast dedicatory church service 

for the new Provo City Center Temple 

in her ward with her the next morning.

She prepared a real feast for us before we left:

roast pork, candied yams, her special carrots, sauced baked potatoes, green salad and rolls 

and for dessert, apple cake with homemade caramel sauce and ice cream.

At 90 years old, she claims that she can't cook anymore.

 We beg to differ!

It was another great trip to Boise and Up North!

"Fire & Ice," Provo City Center Temple and Forever Families

The 12th Annual Fire & Ice, a fund-raising dinner, silent and live auction 

benefiting needs-based scholarships to Dixie State University

was held February 26, and Roger and I were invited to attend and sit at NAI's table.

Roger dusted off his tux from Murdock Travel days.

He still fit in it nicely, don't you think?

We enjoyed a fun evening together, running into friends from the branch and the community.

And speaking of fire and ice,

this historic Provo Tabernacle, constructed from 1883-1898,

was severely burned in a four-alarm fire on a cold December 17, 2010.

The First Presidency determined to restore it to become a temple,

so the entire structure was raised up and rebuilt.

The original intricately-carved pulpit was found intact,

and is one of the few original furnishings.

And the Church has been meticulous in documenting every detail 
 used to restore this truly lovely and beloved building.

The architecture and design motifs of the new building pay homage 

to the tabernacle's legacy. 

From the hinges on the doors to the intricacies of the woodwork,

 the temple gives a glimpse of a time long passed.

There are exquisite chandeliers and stained-lass windows, beautiful art, rich murals, 
millwork and furniture and carpets and decorations of all kinds.

The Open House before its dedication is soon to be over. 

Roger got tickets for us to go through the Open House on Tuesday morning, March 1, 

so we headed north on Monday afternoon and stayed with Mindy and Jeff Monday night.

We both experienced strong spiritual feelings in this lovely representative of the past,

especially when we entered the Celestial Room.

What a marvelous old/new House of the Lord,

where we can go to be sealed to our families forever!

After visiting Grandma and getting my hair done, we stopped by to visit Rick, Jodie and Kids.
  His knee is healing up nicely.
  We stayed another night with the Linds 
and caught up with Mindy and Jeff, Jack, Addie, Charlie and Fiona, who is walking everywhere - so cute! 
Kind of random, but along the lines of family happiness, 
I took a pic of this wisdom that is on Marilyn and Serge Woodruff's wall. 
Marilyn is one of my visiting teaching ladies.

And this special limited edition pastel of Christ with the little children is also there.

I think they are both rather fitting on the subject of eternal families.

It was a quick and fruitful trip Up North.