Showers of blessings--and rain

Jimmy's baptism
All there!  All smiling? 

The rain showers keep coming.  Seattle or Salt Lake? The hills are brilliant green, the wild grasses four feet tall.  Temple Square is awash with color—purple, red, yellow, orange, white. Wonderful!  It only took about three days to “flip” the beds from the spring bulbs and pansies to the summer annuals.  We learned on the Garden Tour today that there are twenty-five professional gardeners who design the gardens, then hundreds of volunteers come and implement the design.     
            The rain splashed down in Kansas, too, while we were there last week for Jimmy’s baptism and for Noel and Darrin’s marriage celebration for their Kansas friends.   Thankfully, the evening of the celebration was beautiful even if the strong breezes did make us scrap our plans to use table cloths at the outdoor venue.  It was nice to see Olathe friends again, mid-mission.  We were glad to be there to help with the set-up, clean-up, and kabob making.  The kids did not complain about eating leftover kabobs and cupcakes.
            The baptism was a sweet experience and made me think back to my own, remembering my dad guiding me down the steps into the font, just as Michael did Jimmy.  I felt the love of not only those in the room, but those whom we couldn’t see.  Michael and Autumn gave Jimmy his own set of scriptures.  He kept them close by no matter what he was doing and was proud to read from them at family scripture time. 
            It was hard leaving our Kansas kids, getting on the plane and coming back to the mission.  But, still, I am grateful that we had the opportunity to be with them and make some binding memories.
            Life at the Library is a bit unsettled with some changes in the works, but we just keep trying and smiling.  Three Mitchell cousins came and spent about three hours with me the day after we returned from Kansas.  We tried to find out more about the other side of their family.  Some success, but we will have to keep searching.   I like cousin-patrons😊  
            Music and the Spoken Word today was a Memorial Day Tribute--such stirring patriotic  music. Of course, I cried.  It was especially joyful for us because our granddaughter, Challis, drove up from Provo to go with us.  At first, it looked like we were too late to get a seat--full house!  But instead of heading to the Visitors' Center to watch on the big screen, we waited by the door of the Tabernacle.  An usher soon waved us in--to some great seats.  Thank you!   Afterwards, Challis went on the Garden Tour with us.  Sunny girl and sunny skies on a Sunday morning.  


           


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