Saratoga Springs

The Escher's Utah Home

This is the Escher's home in Saratoga Springs Utah. We thought it was a beautiful home and hope they will be happy there when they move next summer!

At The Lake

Monday Ron & Julie were nice enough to take us out on their boat. They took us around the lake and showed us the other areas on the lake. Sadie loved being on the boat. She would just sit and smile as we rode around. She also thought is was cool that Ron & Julie's dog, Bruiser, came with us. She was in hog heaven. We were also able to go on the tube. What a contraption that was. The ones we had been on before let you sit in them and hold on for dear life, but this one you had to sit on your knees with the back open and hold on tight! We used muscles in our arms and legs that we had never used before. The next day I could hardly buckle my seatbelt without a little twinge of pain from sore muscles. I think everyone got to go for a ride. Ron was merciful to Cheryl and I when we were on. We were even able to take Sadie on for a could rides. Aaron and his dad had a blast together! Aaron tried to wake board also, but that didn't go as well. he got up once, but wasn't able to stay up for long. I think he was really tired from being on the tube, and didn't have the strength to try something new. Maybe next time! Thank you so much Ron & Julie for all your hospitality while we visited. You helped make our trip a fun and memorable one!

I Like To Look For Rainbows

We had a delightful day at church on Sunday. Sadie absolutely loved nursery, which was a relief. Sunday School was fabulous, with the best teacher (no offense Daphne).

The weather was really nice in the morning but changed in the afternoon. After a little bit of wind and some moisture, we ended up with two beautiful rainbows!

They were so beautiful and went over the entire lake. What a nice end to the Sabbath.

Temple Square

On Saturday we took Sadie to Temple Square. She loved seeing the Salt Lake Temple. she was enthralled with all the fountains and water.

We went to both Visitor's Centers. She loved going to the South Visitor's Center where they have the large statue of Christ. She said that he was "beautiful". When we tried to take a picture of her in front of him, she freaked and didn't want to get too close. Aaron had to hold her, and even then, it's not the greatest picture since she's hiding her face in Aaron's shoulder.

We took many pictures around the temple and Sadie got very excited about seeing all the sister missionaries everywhere.

While we were in the visitor's center, Aaron started talking to one of the sister missionaries working in there. After talking to her and discussing where he had served, he found that there was a sister serving at the temple who he had known on his mission. She must have been about 10 or so when he knew her family in Reading England. Unfortunately, she was serving the latter leg of her mission in Maryland and was no longer at the temple.

We continued our day by taking a tour of the conference center. What an amazing building! There is no doubt that President Hinckley was truly inspired in his request to develop this building. Everything is so perfect down to the tiny details. I loved all the artwork throughout the center.

We loved the story of the podium and how it came from a tree that was dying in President Hinckley's yard. Who would have know when he planted that tree so many years before that it would serve a great purpose and become part of history.

The top of the conference center is also something to speak of. It's amazing all the plants and trees they have on the roof, yet no soil and no weeds. I was amazed at all the things we learned on the tour. Our tour group was very small. It was us, another couple and a single man. We came to find that other than the guide, we were the only members. It was exciting to see how interested these people were in the history of the church and the conference center.

At one point at the end of the tour, the guide was speaking about the death of Joseph Smith, how he was shot for not denying what he knew and believed to be true. One of the other people on the tour asked her to repeat what she had said. He could not believe that Joseph Smith had been killed for that. It was awesome to find someone with and open mind who found the prophet's martyrdom to be as ridiculous and sad as those of us who have a true love of Joseph Smith.

After the tour, Sadie was wiped and we decided to head home. We hadn't really stopped for lunch, so when we go to the car, we gave her some wheat thins. As you can see in the picture, she fell asleep eating them. Her hand was still in the bag.

Our Trip To Utah

Aaron, Sadie and I all went to Utah Labor Day weekend to help Aaron's parents move some stuff up there and see their new home. It had been more than ten years since either Aaron or I had been to Utah, and it was exciting to be able to take Sadie to see the different temples and fun spots.

Our destination was Saratoga Springs, but our first stop was in St. George. We stopped for breakfast and then to give Aaron's oaretns a head start in the moving tuck, we took Sadie over to see the St. George temple. It was so beautiful, but VERY hot! We were hoping for a relief from the heat, but didn't find it there.

Sadie loved the temple and enjoyed seeing a bride getting her pictures done.

Saratoga Springs was another 4 hours from St. George. Once we got back on the road there was nothing until we hit Provo. We had left at 6 that morning adn had hoped Sadie would sleep part of the way. I know I have a hard time staying awake in the car, but she was relentless. She didn't sleep the entire trip, and finally after a struggle, went to bed at 9. She was a very tired girl!

Did I mention that the air conditioning in the rental van was not functioning the whole trip? We had rented a van so there would be enough room for us all to travel home in together. The van we took from California was brand new, only 15 miles on it when they picked it up. That wasn't any fun, to say the least. Saturday morning after tying to take it to a delaership to have it looked at, we finally had to trade it in with another van in Salt Lake.