It has been really fun coming back to Utah. I had such a wonderful time with my family touring and celebrating graduation. It was great to see Mom and Dad, Anne la banane, Jared and Kristina and my 5 month old nephew William, who was 4 months at the time. We went to Nauvoo first and camped in my parents new tent, the weather was so nice we barely needed a blanket. We toured the temple visitors center and did a quick drive by of all the buildings we had previously visited 6 years ago. Then we headed out toward Martin's Cove to pull a handcart. The weather was hurricane like and so we stayed in hotel that evening, oh how fun! When we arrived in Martin's Cove we had the opportunity to stay at a campground again, the wind blew really hard and mom took some really funny video, it is great, when Mom starts laughing, she cannot stop!!! That morning Lynda was supposed to call us with her mission call but unfortunately we had no reception. She did record it and put it on Utube if you would like to go see it. So a wonderful missionary lent us his phone to call Montreal, but we were too late and had to wait anxiously for the evening. We pulled a handcart for about half an hour. Jared and I at the helm, Kristina and William in the cart and Mom and Dad tumbling after. To Dad and Mom's disappointment we did not have enough time to walk and see the new monument that had been placed to honour the three young men who helped the handcart companies across the river, but once we returned to the visitor's center, it came to us that we could ask to be driven there. That was a humbling and grand experience. We were fortunate to stop at a little cottage where a woman told her story of the amazing trek. We are so blessed, that was a very spiritual experience for all of us. Then we set off to join Anne in Utah. Yeah! Mom and Dad had plenty of time to go to the Family History Center and took time to weed our poor lawn and flower beds...they are amazing! Graduation was a surreal experience and I realized I was not ready to leave BYU quite yet.
Now we are back. I have painted a couple more rooms and am loving my classes. Geology is bringing us on many hikes to hidden places in the Wasatch mountains. This week I went swimming in a crater in 97 degree water! Lynda, my other sister was able to come along for the ride but unfortunately was not able to swim because she was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Oh, yes, and where did she go? Japan, Sapporo mission, the furthest north island in Japan, brrr. Justin and I had the marvelous opportunity so see her off in the MTC yesterday, Wednesday Sept 26, also my mother in laws birthday. Oh so neat and she was asked to say the closing prayer for the meeting. We will truly miss her.
And that is another day in the life of the Butlers two.
