Many Firsts, Idaho, Pioneer Day

It has been 2 weeks since our last post and it has flown by.  We taught our first class of full time missionaries the 13-16.  We were in class from 8 AM to 3:00 PM so it made for a long week.  The missionaries had done their MTC training the week before on line.  They got their assignments and are, like us, working from home.  This has certainly not been the kind of mission any of us signed on for, but we have learned way more because of this COVID mess.  We now have to wear masks everywhere and there is COVID in West Temple apartments, Garden apartments, Brigham apartments and in the Church Office Building.  I don't know anyone here in Salt Lake that has it, but the church has really cracked down on restrictions.  I did the handouts for the new missionaries and it was fun to get to know them, even if they were just pictures on the computer. 

The demolition continues on the Temple grounds and everything is mostly down now around the Temple.  They even have every side except the East side dug down about 20-30 feet around the foundation of the temple.  It truly looks like a bombed out war zone.  There is still so much debris to haul off.

North side of the Temple

Chapel gone and piles of rubble to be removed.

Huge beams that are cemented into the ground about 20 feet deep.

Looking West from the plaza.

Notice the back hoe down about 20 feet below ground level.

West side of the temple.

Looking West where the Chapel used to be?

The Summer flowers abloom on the Church grounds.

 Thursday the 16th, right after class, Bob and I went up to Idaho to visit Linda and Josh.  There is a lot of construction along I-15 so it was a long tedious drive.  Sherry was also at Linda's so we had a fun 2 day sisters trip.  Friday the 17th we took Josh to breakfast and then to Linda's so he could play the piano for us.  He is living and working in Menan until school starts in Rexburg. He is such an amazing piano player and you can tell he loves it.  He was getting new tires for his new red GMC truck in Idaho Falls.   It was quite the machine and Bob rode with him.

Joshua Barton with Grandma and Grandpa at Aunt Linda's

Sisters, Debra, Linda, and Sherry at Warm River, Idaho.

Notice the red blanket.  We watched many a fireworks shows by the river on the Fourth of July on this blanket!

Sherry, Linda and I went to Warm River to reminisce and lay on "the red blanket" by the river.  The weather was so nice and we had some good laughs walking down memory lane.  It was so busy with so many people.  I was glad we were not camping.  We went through boxes of amazing letters Dad wrote in 1935-1945.  High School and War letters.  I now have to find a way to get them digitized.  If only the Church Family History Library was open I could do it all there free, but alas.........

We left early Saturday to get back for the matinee showing at Hale Theater of Bright Star.  It was a very cute musical.  We all had to wear masks and distance, but it was worth it.

Bob and audience masked for the performance.

Even the Jester outside the Hale Theater was wearing a mask.

July 20-23 was a regular enrichment week with the exception of a Mission Devotional with President and Sister Randall.  They are so amazing, I am just sorry we will not get to actually work with them. 
Pioneer Day was sad too, no parade, rodeo, or fireworks display.  No concerts, but a rerun on TV of past Tabernacle Choir Pioneer concerts. 

Fires, Family, Fun, and Food

The saying goes that time flies when you are busy and this has been a busy week.  Sunday at about 9:30 PM Bob and I were out on our balcony when we started smelling smoke and seeing it gather and get thicker.  Soon the fire engines were coming like crazy.  There were at least 4 huge trucks and several smaller trucks and police cars.  They were right across the street on West Temple and 2nd North.  A field was on fire right in the middle of apartments and homes.  I didn't know there was any room to even have a field.  They got it out quickly and I can only think they were prepared in case a house or apartments caught fire.  It was a great place to gather (with our masks on, of course) and talk to the other missionaries that came out of our apartments for a little Sunday Night excitement.

Fire trucks above and below the fire putting it out.  They are on West Temple above 2nd North.

A huge ladder truck on 2nd North on the stand by.  Luckily it was not needed.

We did our regular enrichment classes all week, but also prepared for the Full Time Missionaries that we will be training this coming week.  First time on line with WebEx.
Tuesday Night, or should I say Wednesday morning, Heidi, Wynn, Alea, and Weston pulled in at 1:15 AM.  We quickly set them up and crashed for a short nights sleep.  We took a hot walk in City creek Canyon/ Memory Grove after the 1PM class, and loaded their car with boxes they took home for us.  Hopefully we will be able to get the rest of our things in our car in a month when we return to Mesa.  Wednesday we took Alea and her things to Highland and visited a bit more.  It is so good to have our kids come visit us, and of course play games.

Alea cooling her feet in City Creek

Wynn, Debra, Heidi on a bridge in City Creek Canyon.

Our Christensen Family, Weston, Wynn, Heidi, Alea at Memory Grove.

Our walk in City creek Canyon July 8, 2020

Weston rock hopping in City Creek

The construction continues on the temple.  The whole North side ground are pretty much taken down.  It truly looks like a bomb hit Temple Square! It is sad at the same time glad that it is moving so quickly. 

Looking South from North Temple and Main.  

The Chapel and recommend area gone.

A Claw like machine squirting water to keep the dust down, pulling down the annex part of the temple.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights Sherry and Richard stayed with us as they continue to work on the West Valley house. In the evenings if they have any steam left in them, we played games. Bob and I helped a little, but cannot put in the 12 hour days that they seem to do.  Bob put in lights in several rooms and I did blinds, cleaning, and assisting him in his electrical work, and hanging mirrors.  We do make a good team.  Friday July 10, was Lynda's birthday, but try as I might I could not get a hold of her.  It is her 76th birthday.

Troy Jensen (nephew) Debra, Sherry, Bob on the ladder installing the kitchen light at the West Valley remolded (or should I say reconstructed) home.

Friday July 10 was our oldest grandchild, Brenan Mayhew, 21st birthday.  They were on their way back to Mesa after a 10 day vacation to Bear Lake, Yellowstone, Snake River.  The Christensen's along with the Mayhew's had a great time.  Brenan chose Sushi for his birthday dinner.  I guess someone has to like it!

Brenan 21 at his favorite sushi place in Provo, Utah.

Saturday, at the last minute, we decided to drive to Promontory Utah to see where the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads met and drove the Golden Spike.  It is out in the middle of nowhere, but we were very lucky to be there on a day and time when the engines were out and running.  They really are beautiful trains and I learned a lot about the history of the building of the two railroads.  The sun was hot and both Bob and I came home with sunburns.  After we stopped in Brigham City to eat a late lunch a Maddox's, a very yummy restaurant.  We drove straight to the West Valley House to see the almost "finished" product.  Now we just hopes it sells quickly for them.

Debra with Union Pacific Engine 119 Golden Spike National Historic Site Utah

Bob with Central Pacific Engine, Jupiter.  July 11, 2020

Bob and Debra at Promontory, Utah.  Site where the two railroads connected.

The boilers getting ready for the journey.  119 fueled by coal, Jupiter fueled by wood.

Debra with the large buffalo statue outside the visitor center at Promontory, Utah July 11, 2020.

  Sherry and Richards boys surprised Richard with an Alaska trip to start today, July 12.  He was very surprised.  Sherry and the boys had made all the arrangements and He is now on his way for a fishing trip with their sons.  We are hoping for some fresh Salmon.

Family, Fourth of July, and Fireworks

Another very hot and busy week in Salt Lake Headquarters mission.  Sunday night President and Sister Fenn did Their farewell "WebEx" devotional.  We still have not met our new Mission President Steven Randall, but we hear great things about him.  We are having a Mission Meet WebEx on Wednesday.  These are certainly interesting times when we serve our missions by way of WebEx!
We helped our good friends Dave and Sandy Briggs pack their trailer and car and leave on Monday.  We already miss them so much.

Dave and Sandy Briggs heading home to Lovell, Wyoming. June 29, 2020.

Sandy and I went the Joseph Smith Building to turn in her paperwork and they had the chandelier lowered for cleaning.  What a site.

Bob and Debra after our farewell to the Briggs.  A walk always makes us feel better.

Valerie had surgery on July 1st after having it cancelled three times and becoming very discouraged.  She drove to the valley with her two daughters, Aubrey and Emily, on Monday.  She had her COVID test and saw her doctor in preparation for the surgery and then was told again, "no surgery".  Tuesday night at 10:30 she got a call from the hospital and was told they were going to go head with the surgery.  Finally she had her hysterectomy and was sent home after 4 hours?  Thankfully Heidi and Heather were there to drive her and help her for at least a couple of days. They had to drop her off and pick her up at the curb.  More COVID19 stuff.   She stayed at our home in Mesa until Saturday and then David took her home to Snowflake.  She is doing OK but hurting more than she expected.  They sure do things differently now than they did 45 years ago when I was involved in nursing.

Valerie masked and ready for surgery. July 1, 2020.

Heather, Jacob and family arrived Thursday morning at 1:15 AM and stayed with us for two nights.  It was so good to see them and visit for a couple of days.  We took a long hike in Memory Grove, City Creek Canyon, and around the Capitol  The hills around here can challenge even youngsters.  HA!

Beautiful view from 11,000 feet at Snowbird where the Mayhew's spent the day on Friday July 3.

Jacob and Heather Mayhew near the spot where he purposed to her 24 years ago.

Bob, Debra, Heather, Shaylin, and Kyen on our walk, with the Utah State Capitol behind us.

Debra, Kyen, Shaylin, Bob outside West Temple Apartments where we live.  This was at the end of our long walk. 3.5 miles.

Heidi, Wynn, and family joined us on Saturday the 4th of July for a nice walk around Temple Square to see the flowers and construction, or should I say destruction.  It looks like a bombsite.

Weston, Wynn, Alea, Heidi, Kyen, Shaylin, Heather, Jacob, Brenan, Bob looking East at the construction.

This is an older picture of what it looked like in January 2020.

This is what it looks like with the chapel portion gone!

Same view missing the chapel, and temple spires.

Workers cleaning the "teeth"of the auger drill.

The drill, it is huge.

Crane moving a HUGE generator.

Building on the north side of the temple being detached for demolition.

Even in the construction there are beautiful flowers all around the square.

Beehive House with the Hollyhocks and wild flowers.

Looking East to the Eagle Gate Apartments.  President Nelson's Apartment is on the top floor on the left side.

We did let our Zone Leader and Mission President know this week that we are going to finish our mission from home and leave Salt Lake August 15.  After much consideration, thoughts, and prayers, we decided to we could do everything from home that we are doing here.  We are going home at a very hot time, but we are going anyway.  I plan to continue the blog till we finish our mission in November.