Autumn Update

Currently, there are 166 dedicated temples in the world.  Sam and I have had the opportunity to visit a few of them; and we have served in the North Dakota Bismarck Temple, the Provo Utah Temple, and currently serve in the Payson Utah Temple.  

Although we have been to other temples since we were married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1959, we had only been back to the temple in Salt Lake City for weddings of friends and family and had not been back for a session there until last month when Beth took us on September 12th.  It was so enjoyable being there and appreciating the beauty of this historic temple.  After leaving the temple, we walked around the grounds and took a few pictures.

Sixty years later, we loved returning

to the Salt Lake Temple

where our marriage began.

The Salt Lake Temple was the 4th temple to be dedicated (April 6, 1893)
and is scheduled for renovation at the end of this year.  
Starting on December 29, 2019, it will close for approximately four years;
and it is planned to reopen in 2024 with an open house to the public.

 #1 - The St. George Utah Temple was dedicated April 6, 1877.  
We were there for Brittney and Matt's wedding April 21, 2012. 

#2 - The Logan Utah Temple was dedicated May 17, 1884.
We attended sessions there while attending Utah State University in 1962.
We were there for Carson's wedding in 2014.

#3 - The Manti Utah Temple was dedicated May 21, 1888.
We had been to Ryan and Tani's wedding there December 17, 1988.
As this temple is one of the historic temples that reportedly
will be closed some time in the future for renovations,
we appreciated Beth's offer to go with us to attend a session,
which we enjoyed very much.

Manti Utah Temple

(Sam and Narene)

More views of the Manti Temple:

Sam and Beth

View looking away from the temple grounds.

Sam bringing us our hamburgers and a chocolate-peanut butter shake

at the Malt Shop

 before leaving Manti to return home.


We have been to two of the four temples dedicated 
in the early 20th century:
#5 - Laie Hawaii Temple
#7 - Mesa Arizona Temple 

Of the five temples dedicated in the 1950s and '60s,
we have been to 
#9 - Bern Switzerland Temple
#12 - London Temple 
(Have visited the temple grounds of the #10 Los Angeles California Temple.)


Here is a partial list of temples we have attended:

#15 - Provo Utah Temple was dedicated 
February 9, 1972
and was our assigned temple when we first moved to Utah.

#20 - Jordan River Utah Temple was dedicated
November 16, 1981
and was our 2nd assigned temple while living in South Dakota;
Salt Lake Temple was our 1st assigned temple.

#40 - Denver Colorado Temple was our 3rd assigned temple,
dedicated October 24, 1986.

#61 - Bismarck North Dakota Temple was our 4th assigned temple,
dedicated  July 29, 1998 by Gordon B. Hinckley;
and we were fortunate to be in the Celestial room with him
for the dedication.


Some temples we have visited of historical interest include: 

#52 - Preston England Temple
by Gordon B. Hinckley


#104 - Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple dedicated
April 22, 2001 by Gordon B. Hinckley

#113 - Nauvoo Illinois Temple dedicated
June 27, 2002 by Gordon B. Hinckley
   
#146 - Payson Utah Temple dedicated
June 7, 2015
We helped with the open house
and were at the dedication by Henry B. Eyring.

#150 - Provo City Center Temple dedicated
March 20, 2016

#162 - Rome Italy Temple dedicated
March 10, 2019 by Russell M. Nelson.

For the list of current temples listed in order of dedication, go to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_temples_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints

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On October 14th, Beth invited us over for her traditional deep-fried spudnut donuts.

 A tradition Beth has adopted from her days growing up
when this was my traditional treat for trick-or-treaters on Halloween.
It works better for Beth to share these treats before
Halloween with all the activity on that holiday,
so the Graham's neighbors received these warm donuts
for Family Home Evening treats.

Amanda is adding the glaze after the donuts have been deep fried.

Megan is cutting out cute notes to attach to the sacks
that will be filled with warm glazed donuts and taken to neighbors
by Rebecca, Joshua, Ethan, and Jared.
Gabe and Alex are helping to get the sacks ready,
and Todd has the list for how many in each family for the donuts.
Yes, there are donuts to award the helpers, too. 

Joshua getting math help from Grampa Sam.


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Brent and Tauna's family made a quick trip to Utah for the funeral 
of Tauna's brother, Neal (June 19, 1975 - October 15, 2019).
The funeral service was very nice and had all of Neal's 11 siblings participating
in the services, and their father giving the closing remarks.

 This is the only photo I have of Tauna's family,
which was taken the day of Tauna's mother's funeral
August 29, 2015.
Ria surely would appreciate the loving tribute for Neal given by the family. 


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Joshua's football team won easily,
and we enjoyed watching his game.
October 22, 2019  


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I love this!
We are excited to hear about #36.

 

 

Colors of October

October 9 - Frost is scheduled for tonight and tomorrow and then the forecast is for nicer fall weather, so our garden is picked and smaller flower pots are brought inside. 

I took some photos of our yard 
before covering the big flower pots by the pergola.

The winter cover is on the pool.

The autumn colors of red, yellow, and also green.

A slightly different view.

Colors on Maple Mountain and our view behind our house.

The marriage tree was originally planted with marigolds,

but somehow purple petunias magically took over.

Come on in for a visit.

These are good witches to greet you.

Colorful gourds from our garden.

Pull up a chair and let's have a chat.


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"Downton Abbey" movie
with Megan, Beth, and Amanda.
I had actually seen the movie a few days earlier with
Sam, Christy, and Hal.
Since I had never watched the television series,
the story and cast were new to me;
and so I actually liked the movie better the second time.
The company was enjoyable both times.

Our Empty Nesters enjoyed being hosted on October 7
in the Baadsgaard's "cabin" at Loafer Mountain.
(back:  Sam, Bob and Jolene, Janene and Ross,
Joanne Hutchens and husband, Sandra and Eugene;
front:  Ellyn and Kim, Lee, Lynn and Karen)


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Sam enjoyed going with Kim Berrett 
on a truss-measuring job in a remote area,
near Fairview - October 2.

Sam has gone with Kim on several of these jobs
and has enjoyed seeing new places as they
travel to measure for trusses. 


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Squally, our last cat, named by Joshua.
This is the second cat we had adopted,
but now he apparently has also used up his nine lives.
No doubt, with more houses being built,
there is more traffic to watch for;
and we never knew where his travels took him.

About two months ago, the cat food began disappearing again.
I faithfully kept the food and water supplied hoping
to catch a glimpse of the visiting cat,
but only caught a glimpse one evening of the light-colored tail 
as he ran off when I opened the door.
Unfortunately, the last of the large bag of cat food is now gone;
so this stray has lost his chance for more free meals,
since he failed to make any overture to be friends.
Apparently, this latest one is a feral cat.