Dallin's Mission Preparations. . .

The last two weeks have been "interesting!"  Difficult, realizing that Dallin will be leaving for his mission soon, and that he will be gone for TWO YEARS!!   It did NOT help having Natalee move to Mapleton, Utah all at the same time, however she has a really good job in Provo working at Nexus Paincare.

Last year, after some mother/son "discussion" and not seeing everything eye-to-eye, we came to the agreement that it would be very beneficial to BOTH of us, for Dallin to give me a hug every 20 minutes to help ease some of the hurt and frustration I was feeling as he was exerting his independence.  He was very gracious about it all and would jokingly ask, "Do you need a '20 minute' hug?"  His friends thought it a bit weird, but Dallin always gave me great hugs before he left for BYU.  And those hugs have been even MORE important now.  He has been very accommodating of my needs.  I think it has helped him a bit, too!

 One of the mornings Rod and I picked a lot of tomatoes from our garden...just in time, too!  We had just opened out last jar of homemade salsa from last year!  And Dallin has always been good about helping make salsa . . . even though I did have to wake him up to come help!  What a good sport!!



More mission prep stuff. . .

One of the FUN things Dallin got to do was get some booster shots.  He was just SOOOO thrilled!

 We went to Salt Lake City for the Henry Grow Family Reunion being held on Temple Square the end of July.  We also went to the Jordan River Temple and did a session there.  The reunion was VERY cool!  There were 3,000 in attendance out of 9000 descendants.  It was pretty amazing to know that nearly everyone we passed was a "cousin!"




It was amazing for Rod and I to sing in the "Grow Tabernacle Choir" . . .  probably the closest thing we'll ever get to singing with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir!!  And it was fun to have some of the kids there with us, too!  We enjoyed dinner in the Conference Center "lobby"...feeding over 1200 people in a very short amount of time.  Brandon, Tannya and Nikki, plus Kristy were there with us.  Also, Linda, Monty, Cambria, Josh and Lynlee; Dan and Janet, Cory, Jessica, Deanna, Rebecca and Kyle were also there!  And then we headed back to the Tabernacle for the Grow Fireside.  But the highlight of the evening for ME was getting to play the Tabernacle organ after the fireside!!  TRULY Amazing experience!!  (Thanks, Ken Udy!)