Fathers Day, Flowers, Farwells, and Friends

This has been a week of ups and downs.  Many good things are happening and yet some tough things too.  Our mission president, Jerry Fenn is leaving the end of this month, and many of the missionaries who we have gotten close to are leaving also.  Laura Christensen, who has run our game nights and is one of our great teachers in the training zone, ended her mission on the 19th.  We will miss her.  We had a mission devotional Wednesday with President and Sister Fenn.  Of course all of this is by way of WebEx so we don't get to actually be together in person.  There were over 300 missionaries on line for the devotional.  We also loose all our young Elders on June 30.  Many changes are coming!

Bob and I are walking with Dave and Sandy Briggs, our fellow missionaries, Monday Wednesday, and Friday.  We do 3-4 mile walks through City Creek Canyon up Memory Grove to the Capitol and then down the hills.  It has been very good for both Bob and I.  For the first time in MANY years I can now wear a size 8 pant.  That's amazing for me.

Walking toward the capitol on one of our morning walks.  It was a cool morning, 55 degrees

We continue to do our classes each day on line with more and more fellow missionaries joining in.  We have over 100 in every class.  Bob and I did 45-50 emails yesterday informing the outgoing missionaries of how Capstone (our baby) will be handled going forward until COVID is over.  On Friday June 19 (Juneteenth?  I had never heard of it until this year) we had an in-service WebEx with Bob Taylor and Bob Ives.  The are the creators and directors of The Family History Guide.  It was so good.  I had no idea what all is in FHG.  I will definitely spend more time there, and have now added my Amazon charity donation to be Family History Guide.  It is a great site to learn about everything Family History.  It is not part of the church, but has amazing information.

The construction, or should I say demolition continues full steam ahead.  In the midst of the construction site the flowers continue to bloom!

Looking West.  This is the building attached to the north side of the temple.

This is where the recommend desk used to be.

All the tall spires are loosing their points.

Some of the stones they are removing from the spires.

Close up of the removed stones.  The crane is delivering another load.

Close up of spires.

Looking North. You can see some of the lockers inside.  So much rebar.

North west side of the temple.  They have removed 12-16 feet of stone.

Beautiful flowers around Temple Square.  They have lilies of every color, I especially love the orange ones.

We continue to love our game nights with family, friends, and missionaries.  Thank goodness for technology.  Qwirkle has become a new favorite game for Bob and I.

Zoom games and family time.

The demonstrations continue in Salt Lake and since we are in the very middle of it all, we stay in when they are going on.  They actually send the missionaries and workers (not the construction workers) home and close off the plaza and temple square while they are happening.  It is a crazy world.  COVID-19 continues to rage and all the consequences of it.

Today is Fathers Day and what a great blessing both of us have of having great Fathers and having Warren too.

Clyde Taylor Higginson gang.  

Blayne Barton, Bob's Dad in heaven

Warren Steffey with Evelyn and Heidi, our other Dad.

Kyen had her Gymnastics banquet and was awarded best floor exercise for 2020 and hardest worker voted by her teammates.  She is amazing as well as are all of my super grand children..I love them all twice as much as the last thing they ever say!

Kyen Mayhew with her awards and her new Invisalign braces!

Mesa to Salt Lake-Back to Square One

We are back in Salt Lake in our "quarantined" apartment.  We are to avoid people for 2 weeks but I can say we have seen a few people.  Thank goodness for internet.  It really is a luxury to have in your own home.  It was nice to go to the church but is much easier to get it right where you are.
Alas, Valerie's surgery was postponed again and she has now been referred to a specialist in Scottsdale.  Her appointment is on the 18 of June so we will see when her surgery will be. They did not want to do the surgery in Show Low?  Did they not know that three times ago?  David did get his surgery in Phoenix so that is good to have behind us.  He is doing well.  We brought Valerie to Mesa for a rest and to be able to visit with her.  We did lots of puzzles, bike rides, walks, swimming, and just visiting. I sure love all my family!

Valerie with our first fun completed puzzle

Heather, Val, Debra, Heidi two completed puzzles 

I spent a full day at Heidi's home with her and Heather painting their family room and kitchen.  It was a job as we were covering dark brown, and a mustard color.  It is very bright and cheery now with the popular color "assessable beige".  I think we will do some of it when we get home.

It was nice to have a few barbecues with Wynn doing his amazing smoking.  We had Brisket and Pulled Pork and Salmon.  Yumm!  I guess it will be November before we get more. The best was having Sacrament with the family and discussing Come Follow Me each Sunday and Jacob and Heather's home.

Brisket BBQ!  Front: Weston, Kyen, Shaylin  Middle: Brenan, Heather, Jacob  Back:  Bob Debra, Kaye, Evelyn, Heidi and the mighty smoker Wynn.

Mom and Warren are doing well, and we are so grateful for DaNell, Kaye, and Jo helping them out through the rough time.  I also got the chance to visit our dear friend Sue Bunker.  We served together in Nauvoo and she lived in the 46th ward until November.  We were also able to get together with our MT Nesters for dinner and a great time.  Bob also went kayaking with the "Boys" Tom Larsen, Jerry Bodine, and Steve Stuart.

Debra and Sue Bunker

These are the shirts the young Elders are going home with at the end of this month.  We can relate to them.  Wish I had one.

Young Elders shirts.  It about covers it all!

Also we found this fun choir suit on an email.  It will be nice to get back to choir.

We drove back to Salt Lake on June 9.  Bob was sleeping while I drove so I took a detour so we could go to Horseshoe Bend.  It is in Page and is a beautiful view of the Colorado river from high above.  The weather was perfect for the mile hike in and out.  I was in sandals but it was still good to get out of the car and move!

Looking north to the Vermillion Cliffs Arizona.

Horseshoe Bend

Bob and Debra at Horseshoe Bend near Page Arizona June 9, 2020

I love the desert!  It is so beautiful!

My birthday was the next day and our friends Sandy and Dave Briggs had decorated our door and gave us a new game to play.  "Qwirkle"  We love games and they accommodate us in our game playing.  Alea also joined us for lunch and games between our classes.  It is so nice to have her close by.

Alea for my birthday.  The temple scaffolding.

My 68th birthday.  Where have the years gone.  So cute.

The temple has changed a lot in the three weeks we were away.  The Angel Moroni is now down and the tops of the spires are off and flat.  A lot has happened on the north side.  The summer flowers are all planted and getting a good start.  The grounds are always so beautiful.

A beautiful bush by the Relief Society Building.

North Temple June 10, 2020.  Pile Driver

Looking East.  Church Office in the background.

Looking East, before the wall came down.