We had the fun treat of stopping for a three-hour layover in Phoenix on our way to Salt Lake. Actually making a direct flight would've been great, but since Southwest doesn't fly direct anymore from Portland to Salt Lake, we had a three-hour layover. Bryan and Meredith brought their cute kids to the airport and picked us up. Then we went to a nearby park to visit and play with the children. What a delightful time we had with them! I had just been there the week before helping Meredith with new baby Jocelyn. This made it so fun for dad to meet little Jocelyn before they moved to Hawaii.
As we were flying to Salt Lake I was getting hungry and was tempted to eat a granola bar, but then I began to think about Alice-Anne's good homemade bread, and figured that there would probably be some there. We were welcomed to five loaves of homemade bread thanks to Gary. He had gotten up early that morning and made the bread before going to work so we would have it. What a great guy!
We had so much fun seeing their cute family again. All the children seemed like their legs grew so long!
Later, Dad and I took the children to the park and to Arctic Circle for dinner. We sent Alice-Anne and Gary on a date. Emily came that evening, and although not much time left, the two of us headed to the mall for a little shopping. I enjoyed time to visit with Emily that evening.
Saturday morning, April 4th was my 63rd birthday. We are often in Salt Lake for April conference, consequently, the Johns are always making my birthday extra special for me with delicious whole-wheat pancakes, strawberries, and whipped cream!
The conference messages were so wonderful. What an inspiration to hear from our leaders. Although they were so good the first time I heard them, they seem to get even better as I have listen to them again. It reminds me kind of like a big pot of soup, it taste good the first time, but by the next day, it seems to get better with time. We enjoyed watching the morning session with the Johns and then Emily and the two of us hurried to Salt Lake to secure good seats for the afternoon session.
We enjoyed meeting Bronson's family after the afternoon session. They are such good people.
Since Crismon didn't have any sons to go to the priesthood session with him, he gave his tickets to my brother, Randy, and his son, Corbin, who had just turned 12-years-old the week before and had been ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. It was a treat for Corbin to be in the conference center for his first priesthood meeting.
Emily stayed with the Gardener's that afternoon and evening, and Dad came back with me to West Jordan and he attended the priesthood session with Gary.
We were so glad that Kenna could go with us on Sunday afternoon. She is delightful! We had very good seats in the second row behind the VIP section on the Plaza level. It was nice to be closer to the Brethren and enjoy another terrific conference session.
Emily and Bronson came with us to Alice-Anne's for a very nice Sunday dinner. Each year they make my favorite homemade carrot cake for dessert. Thank you, Alice-Anne and Gary! You always do so much to make it special for me.
Monday, the weather turned cold. Saturday and Sunday had been bright, sunny, and beautiful. We took the children to a nice park to give Alice-Anne time to do some projects on our own.
Crismon had appointments in Bountiful with Reliv customers. Then that evening we had been invited to dinner at the Solomon's home. He works for the church in the temple department over all the Recorders. They invited us to their home to enjoy Indian food. They are very loving good people with some amazing stories to share. We connected through sharing Reliv with them. They invited all of the Johns' family, too, so it was a fun evening together. The children were polite and ate the different food.
It was sad to say goodbye to our fun Utah family. They go out of their way to make it a lovely weekend for us. We sure appreciate all of their hospitality. The children are always so loving and keep us smiling. There was lots of wrestling time with Grandpa too. The children were at the beginning of their three-week break from school. They are on year-round school, and it worked out nicely to have them home while we were there. Friends would come to play, and Kenna reminded me of Alice-Anne by organizing all the children in skits that they performed for us.
They were cute to write thank you notes and sneak them in my purse before I left. How we enjoy the sweet children!
