Companion has arrived!!!

Yesterday I arose at 6am so I could exercise before heading out to pick up my companion at the MTC.  My plan was to leave by 7am so I would have time to get lost or stuck in traffic and still arrived by 10am.  Well, it was 7:30am when I was walking out the door.  Getting started in the mornings is a challenge for me.  As luck would have it, I arrived at the MTC by 9:30am.  I am confusing Bay area travel issues with Salt Lake City travel issues.  They have their problems, but still have a way to go before they can match the Bay area.  As a result, it took me only two hours instead of three.  To my daughters, I stayed within the speed limit all the way.  

in the Mission Office

When I walked into the lobby, I saw a lady sitting in a chair busy with her iPod.  The only other people there were behind the counter, so I walked over and sure enough her badge said "Sister Bews."  Elder Lloyd came through about the time we were gathering Sister Bews' things, so we got to say goodbye to him and his wife, again.  He found information about "This is the Place" we could visit it in Salt Lake on our way out.  As we were heading north on I-15 in the HOV lane (since there was two of us we could use it), we decided that we just wanted to get to Ogden without any stops along the way.

With the Mission President and his wife.

The first time I was in Ogden President Olsen was transitioning out and President Hiers had not arrived yet.  This time President Hiers and his wife were there and available to meet with us.  What a wonderful couple they are.  I really wanted to meet with them because I wanted clarification about what Senior Missionaries can do.  (My personality needs some guidelines.)  He said it was pretty much up to us to follow the spirit in deciding what we can do.  If we felt a movie was okay, then we could go to it.  If we needed to take a break from each other, it was okay; we don't have to stay within sight of each other.  If we want to watch TV or swim, it was our decision.  He encouraged us to go out with sister missionaries if we have time and attend baptisms.  We are welcomed to join them at zone conference in our area and the dinners they have with senior missionaries in various areas.  It is nice to feel accepted and included.

We ate lunch at the Greenery Restaurant at Rainbow Gardens which is located at the mouth of Ogden Canyon.  It had started out as a mineral springs resort in 1895, but had its ups and downs.  At one time, there was a huge ballroom, indoor and outdoor pool, and 18 bowling lanes.  I was told the old indoor swimming pool is a sunken gift shop and solarium, but we didn't make it there.  The food was good and reasonably prices.  

We arrived back in town in time to stop off at the employment center so Becky and Paul could meet Sister Bews.  

I've been experimenting with my Cannon settings.  Finally a sunset picture that I like.  I still need to do some more practicing.  Maybe I should read the instruction book.  Now were did I put it???????

Next blog I promise to give more details about what my work entails at the LDS Employment Center.  Hint:  I haven't strayed too far from my previous occupation.

Holiday and such

July 1st

We have had a few fires here in Utah, one not too far from my apartment complex but rather small in comparison to the other battles that have been raging.

This was near Millville just south of me.  You can see the carport cover in the picture to the left.  The fire department had it under control in 24 hours and out about 48-72 hours later.

July 3rd

 

Logan didn't cancel it's fireworks show, but they had them on the 3rd instead of on the 4th.  The pyrotechnics have a busy schedule this time of year.  One of the Sister's I work with has a nephew who does the Logan show and several others.  I guess it takes about three or four 12 hour days to get everything ready.  They had done a show in Idaho on June 30th so they were hussling to set up Logan.  It was a spectacular show.

I experimented with my camera taking lots of  shots of the program.

 I put my camera on a tripod to keep things a little more steady.










  


  These are some of the better shots.  

This clip is the finale.

July 4th

For the Fourth, I visited Willow Park Zoo.  It is small zoo they have here in town.  It is so small that they have a post at the entrance that has a slot in it for you to drop a recommended donation in.  

 Remember Night at the Museum, well this is a Capuchin monkey.

 This is actually a baby emu.

 Loving his watermelon on a hot day!

Would you believe this is an albino porcupine.  He looked kind of cute sleeping with his head on his paw and his paw on the branch.