Peaks, Perks, and Primary

Saturday morning, we hiked Grandeur Peak, opting for the longer, but less steep trail from Mill Creek Canyon.  It was still plenty steep with a 2500 feet elevation gain in 3 miles. My regular “hikes” up Capitol Hill did not prepare me. My legs are still sore.  Grandeur Peak is just south of the mouth of Parley’s Canyon (I-80) so the westward view is the wide expanse of the city.  The early inhabitants of the valley would surely be amazed.   To the east, there were layers of mountains and canyons in shadow and light.  Near the lower part of the trail, there are beautiful waterfalls.

            Christopher, Melissa, Jaynie and Lindsey joined us for a session in the Salt Lake Temple Saturday evening.  It was good for us to be there together—a spiritual peak.

            We missed the choir broadcast this week in favor of Henley’s Primary Program.  Of course, that made me nostalgic for my Primary chorister days, especially when the children sang, “Holding Hands Around the World.”  Emotional thinking about all “my kids” singing “around the world,” with many on missions now. Henley didn’t hesitate getting up to the mic to speak.  She’s was also good at singing and smiling.

            We topped off Sunday with a family dinner at Naumans' to celebrate Jaynie’s birthday. Pork tacos and cake. And lots of laughing at babies.  

            We enjoyed another “perk” of the mission on Friday evening when we unexpectedly got two free tickets to the Utah Symphony.  The music was “other worldly” with the theme, “The Planets.”  We especially liked John Williams’ “Star Wars.”  It’s nice to walk just two blocks and be at a world class venue, Abarvanel Hall.

            Although our daughter, Lindsey, is not teaching dance at Timp View this year, she is choreographing the musical.  Because she has to attend after school practices, we signed up to tend Luke and Elle for a couple of hours on Thursday.  They were perfect napping angels. 

            Two days, and counting, until the “big merge” at the library.  A lot of the combining on paper has been done through hours of work:  profile pages, pictures, birthday list, email list.  Now we just have to combine the bodies—and learn to put about seventy names with the right faces.  But we do all wear name tags—and we all answer to either “Sister” or “Elder.”  

Mill Creek Canyon

Evening walk around the Temple

Is that all for me?