Birthdays, Construction, 50 Year Reunion

 This has been a fast and slow two weeks.  COVID 19 continues to keep us cautious and somewhat in isolation.  The work continues to go forward with amazing speed.  The foundation of the temple is now dug down about 20 feet on all sides of the temple and every structure around the temple is now gone.  They are still hauling off truckloads of debris and there is still much more to go. 

Taken from the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building July 28, 2020

July 28, 2020 from the 10th floor.

East side of the temple before they started digging down the foundation.

North side of the temple with just some of the rubble to be removed.

Truck down in the hole they are digging.  Ready to be filled with debris. 

East side of the temple down about 20 feet.

The last structure on the north side gone.  Removing the remnants of what has been removed.

This is a picture in the Lower Lobby of the Joseph Smith Building.  The times and methods have certainly changed.  No wonder it took them 40 years to build the temple.

Kyen broke her left fibula at gym doing a tkatchev, a very advanced move on the bars, and is not too happy about the boot she now has to wear for 6 weeks.

Alea came to dinner and we celebrated hers and Bobs birthday with dinner, games and our family Sunday time on Zoom.  Thank goodness for technology.  Our enrichment classes continue daily and we did our second training with newly called full time missionaries.  Those weeks of full time training are hard.  It is hard to sit in front of a computer 7 hours a day Monday through Friday.  We are now going to start training service missionaries the same way so that will be two weeks a month in addition to the enrichment classes that are going on at the same time.

August 1, 2020 from our balcony.

We did have a beautiful sunset for Aleas birthday.

August 2 Bobs 69th birthday and Aleas 20th birthday (August 1)  So fun to share such a close birthday.  

We had Sherry and Richard Jensen here one night.  They are finished with the house they have been working on with their son Troy.  The open house was Friday and Saturday.  I hope it sells quickly for them.  They have sure worked hard on that project and it shows.  Very beautiful inside and out.

Sherry, Troy, and Richard Jensen at their finished home project. 4058 South 3200 West.

Bob, Debra, Sherry and Richard at their house for sale.  We helped a little.

This last week has been filled with teeth issues in the family.  Jacob, has another implant started, and Nathan and Emily went to the valley to have their wisdom teeth pulled, so there are some sore mouths to go home to.  We continue to get ready for our move back to Mesa next week.  There are more COVID cases in the West Temple Apartments and so we are glad to be heading home.  Elder and Sister Bott are also leaving for Denver next week and that will leave a big hole in the training zone.  They have been our Tech go to missionaries.  I'm sure the Lord will provide.

Yesterday, August 8, we attended Debra's 50th High School Reunion in Pleasant Grove at the Snook Farm. It was so fun seeing friends from the "olden days".  It is hard to believe that it has been 50 years?  We all wore masks (most of the time) but the social distancing was really hard to do.  Some have faired the years better than others, but it was good to see all that were there.

When we go to Pleasant Grove we always visit Mom and Dads graves.  I miss them so.

Jolene Reese (aka Paul), Debbie Smith (aka Ringo), Debra Higginson (aka John),
Marilyn Judd (aka George)  We pantomimed the Beatles in our Junior High days.  It was good to be together again.

Pleasant Grove High School Vikings class of 1970.  50th year reunion.

Debra by Burr Oak tree our class donated and planted at the Pleasant Grove Park.  This is where the old Junior High used to be.

COVID-19 masked class of 1970.