Logan Trip and Smith Twins

Today we have Regional Conference via sattelite in lieu of regular Stake Conference. Saturday John and I went to the Logan Temple to do endowment work. Many years ago we went but ended up on different sessions. This time we were certain to be together on the session. Though the autumn colors were past their peak in Sardine Canyon, the drive was beautiful. The fall colors in Logan and Brigham City were magnificent. We were sorry that the Smiths weren't home when we stopped to visit but look forward to seeing them at Thanksgiving.

After the temple session we went to Kevin and Candace Smith's apartment in Logan to see their beautiful twin girls. If they had been full term, they would be just a week old today. Cerrah weighs 6 pounds 9 ounces and Cierra weighs 5 pounds and 9 ounces. They are so healthy and beautiful with no problems from their premature delivery and long time in the ICU. What an incredible blessing. They are reaching for things and can turn over. In fact, now they have to keep them strapped in because one flipped herself out of the bouncer this week. Obviously the twins are loved and well cared for. Candace is staying home with them full time for now and Kevin is taking 1/2 day (time) sick leave for a while to help at home. They have their hands really full and they certainly need more sleep but it is so fun to see them with their babies! The tiny ones remind me so much of the precious days when Grant and James were so little.

Friday was Go Forth and we had a special day in the Salt Lake Temple. John helped Elder Mills with the six young elders. It was Sister Andrea Ruiz' first visit to the Salt Lake Temple and she was so impressed. Because she speaks French, Spanish, Italian, German, Arabic, and English I wasn't a bit surprised that she was assigned to the International Zone. We've done some indexing of French records which she enjoyed. The Salt Lake Temple was very busy on Friday all of the new Temple Presidents and Matrons from all over the world were there for training. It was special to see Kathy Gailey there because she works in the COB and is secretary to the Temple Department. She was getting things arranged for a Devotional presented by the First Preisidency for the new presidents and their wives. Katrina, Sister Horner, your mission president is now the temple president in Taipei. I saw Sister Horner briefly and she asked about you and was excited to know that you were married with two beautiful children. Almost 2/3 of the lockers were reserved for news temple president. The church is growing!

Last Saturday John and I were visiting at DuPaixs and Debbie took this picture of us. Debbie is so happy that she has a half-time teaching contract so that she can be home with cute Luke and also have a job she loves which provides good insurance for the family.

It has been amazing to see how many of the flower beds on Temple Square have had the summer flowers removed and tulips and pansies planted in their places. We followed suit and planted panies in our front flower bed. It is amazing how hardy and how many varieties there are. John also dug up and separated the tulips. Most of the wood is gone from the back of the house. What is left ot too big to send in the regular garbage bin.