Provo and Salt Lake

 An overnight stop at Tammy and Richard's home in Provo was perfect!  Jackson got to meet more family. 

 He loved playing with the race track and with Tammy's dollhouse.

For so long, Jackson was not a fan of having his picture taken.  I am glad that he finally decided he likes to pose.  These are in Tammy's neighbor's yard.  They really go all out for Halloween.

We made a quick stop at the Bean Museum on the BYU campus.

Jackson explored the 'cave' and even met the scary bear.

And posed with the tall, tall giraffes!

So handy that the museum is close to the Creamery....naturally we had to get some mint brownies for the road!  Delicious!   These were a favorite when we were at BYU and we even had them at our wedding reception.

George headed off to Boise while Mary, Jackson and I visited the Salt Lake Temple construction site.

An amazing project as they renovate this pioneer era temple with all the latest in earthquake protection.

Jackson could have watched all day.

There were lots of cranes moving equipment around.

Elevators taking the construction workers up and down!

Trucks and all kinds of heavy equipment.

Jackson was totally fascinated. 

On our way north to Boise, Mary did a little walk down memory lane as we drove around her alma mater, Weber State University.  I don't think she had been back since she got married in 2000.

A lot had changed!

Then it was 5 hours in the car with Jackson who had been spending multiple hours in the car for about a week.  Lots of songs and games entertained him pretty well.  We only had one melt down!

I have a lot of admiration for Mary.  

3000+ miles by herself driving with Jackson

What a woman!

What a mom!

Woo Pig Sooie!

 

Almost a year ago when it was announced that the Arkansas Razorbacks would be playing Brigham Young University in Provo, we got a call from George's BYU roommate Eric asking if we would like to go to the game.  Of course we did!

Eric and George have been friends since high school (almost 60 years) and were roommates when  George and I were dating.  Eric and I became close friends too.  Eric and his wife Joanne raised their family in California so we did spend quite a bit of time with them when we lived there in 1977-78.  We've only seen each other sporadically since then but you know how it is with close friends, it's like no time has passed since the last time we saw each other. You just step right back into that friendship!

Do I look a little confused?  BYU hat and razorback shirt!  I have been a Razorback fan my whole life but I'm a BYU grad????  No confusion for Eric.  He is a BYU fan through and through.

   While it was overwhelming BYU fans, there were some Razorback fans in the mix.

My plan to cheer for both teams quickly went away as I got caught up in calling the hogs.  I know it might sound weird but it made me feel close to my parents!  They were big Razorback fans.

I loved calling the hogs with the fans that were there but it is much more impressive in the stadium in Fayetteville with close to 80,000 people chanting

Woo Pig Sooie!

Woo Pig Sooie!    Woo Pig Sooie!

Razorbacks! 

Some of my Boyle cousins were also at the game.

Cousin Scott says he cheered for whichever team had the ball!

We had a theological discussion concerning if our parents were able to watch football in heaven.  If they were, then they were calling the hogs.  Or maybe in heaven you do cheer for both teams equally!  One of the mysteries!

Scott's Grandson Will even wore one of the Razorback hats!

And got a photo with Big Red!

Final score BYU 35 - Arkansas 52

I love high scoring games!

What a fun day!

Woo Pig Sooie!

Education Week 2022

When we moved to Boise in 1988, I was blessed with a great group of friends in our church congregation.  We had kids of similar ages and shared many of the same interests.  These women had gone to BYU Education Week for many years and they invited me to join them.  I'm not sure how many times I've gone since then, but I am guessing about 25.  

Education Week is held on the BYU campus during the week between summer classes and the beginning of fall orientation.  From the website "At Education Week you can choose from hundreds of classes on a variety of subjects, including education, religion, marriage and family, finance, health, personal development, family history, communication, and much more. Come enjoy dynamic presenters, evening entertainment, and the Spirit you’ll feel on campus with friends and family."  This year marked the 100th year of this unique program.  I'm not sure there is anything quite like it in the world.  

The theme this year was

100 Years of Instruction and Learning

Of Things Both in Heaven and in the Earth

This year the attendance was abut 16,000 people which is close to pre-pandemic levels.  Prior to the Covid pandemic, the total attendance was closer to 18,000; in 2020 the event wasn't held and last year the attendance was 13,000.  900 classes are held. 53% of the attendees were in the over 63 age group so we felt right at home.  Our group stayed in the dorms but I know people who stay with friends, or rent houses, or stay in hotels.

I'm lucky to have gone with a group of women I've known since 1988.  Even though we don't see each other often like we once did, our friendships pick right back up.  We are instant besties! I truly love these women.  They make living the gospel of Jesus Christ easier.

Here we are about to listen to the devotional in the Marriott Center.  Notice my dress.  Now take a look at the dress that the soloist is wearing. 

Yep, same dress!  The really funny part is that at least 5 women stopped me to say, "Hey you are wearing the same dress as the soloist.  I have it too."  From then on I noticed this dress or others in the same style but with different fabric every where I looked.  Way to market Old Navy!  It was inexpensive, cute, modest and comfortable and even has pockets.  Perfect for summertime!

I attended 38 different classes on a range of subjects from marriage to family history to prayer to church history.  The classes start at 8:30 in the morning and go until 9:25 at night.  I did take a dinner break each day but other than that, I sat through class after class.

Wednesday night we attended an top rate performance entitled 

'Timeless: The Golden Age of Broadway'.  The two excellent vocalist entertained us with some of my favorite songs from the old Broadway shows.  Some Enchanted Evening, Sunrise - Sunset, Edelweiss, To Dream the Impossible Dream, I Could Have Danced All Night .....ending with one of the most beautiful songs ever - Bring Him Home from Les Miserables.  A wonderful evening!

A side benefit of going to Education Week is that I get to see friends from Portland.  Ron and Linda Mathews were driving through on their way home and stopped for dinner.

I just love them and miss them so much.

Friends plus learning plus feeling the Spirit.

New goals set!  Feeling renewed and refreshed!

It is a life changing week.

I hope I get to go many more times.