PROVO CITY CENTER TEMPLE OPEN HOUSE

We had such a great Family Night last night! Our friends got us tickets to the Provo Temple Open House and we got to tour the whole, beautiful masterpiece. It is amazing to see what they've done with it. I was so very impressed and so happy we were able to attend. 

My happy mini family.

After the open house (and photos) we went to eat Indian food at Bombay House in Provo. I really like Indian food if I don't eat it too often and I hadn't had it in a long time, so I was thrilled! Seriously, sooo yummy! My kids had never had it and C Man is now a fan. Princess P? No, but that's no surprise. She doesn't like much. Big C hadn't had it since his mission (20+ years ago) and enjoyed it too. A great cultural night all the way around.

Happy Family Home Evening!

MOTHER/DAUGHTER DATE

On the day I had to go pick up my print collection from the print exchange, I ended up having a fun day with just Princess P and I. We made a day out of it. I had to go all the way to Salt Lake, so after picked up the prints, we went to a Christmas Festival, went out to lunch at The Cheesecake Factory (for the first time), to the Church Museum and, of course, Temple Square. It was SO MUCH FUN! I sure love this girl of mine!

A selfie while waiting for a table at The Cheesecake Factory.

I entered a work of art (the same one that is in the Springville Museum) into the Church's International Art Show. It made it through the first jury, but not the final cut. I still wanted to see the show, so we went to the museum and looked at it. I am happy to say that mine is just as good as some of the work there, so I don't feel too bad.

Princess P by a Walter Rane painting in the International Art Show.

We also checked out a little bit of the history part of the museum too, before it closed.

Princess P with the Angel Moroni.

The Salt Lake Temple!

We walked through Temple Square kind of quickly. It was cold and windy and Princess P didn't have a very warm coat on. It was still fun and we got some hot chocolate from the Joseph Smith Building, so that helped. We just love to go there during Christmas to see all the lights. I don't care how crowded it is. It's got a lovely spirit and makes me happy!

Another selfie with the lights.

PAYSON TEMPLE OPEN HOUSE

C Man, Princess P and I got to go to the Payson Temple Open House yesterday! It was beautiful inside and out and so fun to be there together. I wish the rest of the family could have come, but work takes precedence. 

Nice crooked photo taken by a kind stranger.

 Every temple I've ever been in is beautiful in it's own way, but there were some things about this one that were pretty amazing. Stained glass (even on the ceiling!), dark wood trim with bold, floral and stripe patterns on the furniture, and the baptismal font was amazing.

The first time they've been to a temple open house.

If you want to see inside, watch this video...

VISITING TEMPLE SQUARE

This was my favorite pre-Christmas activity we did this year! I LOVE Temple Square and at Christmas time it is the BEST! The lights are gorgeous, the spirit is strong and the crowds didn't even bother me (that much).

Family inside the Conference Center.

Family on top of the Conference Center.

Family with the lights and the temple.

We went to eat dinner at The Lion House with Big C's brother and his family. It was VERY yummy! I had never been there.

The kiddos with the lights! Sister S, Awesome A, Cousin L, and Little C.

After dinner we wandered around and looked at all the nativities and the lights, went through the Tabernacle, and tried not to freeze. There was no snow but it was a windy, chilly night. 

Cousins in the Tabernacle. Princess P, Miss G, Little L and Miss A.

 Right before we left the sister missionaries asked us to come sing I Am a Child of God with them. Princess P and Miss G wouldn't do it alone, so my SIL and I went with them.

Sister missionaries with Me, Princess P, Miss G and SIL J.

Cousins with the temple.

Our group. What a great Family Night!

ELDER GORDON UPDATE

Elder Gordon is doing an amazing job on his mission. He stays so motivated when he's had so many disappointments. I am so proud of him I can hardly stand it. He's doing a fabulous job! This photo is of him with ALL of his companions so far. 

In order left to right.

Here he is at the Preston temple. They get to go to a session when they go to Preston for conferences and meetings.  

The Elders in his flat. Elder Gordon is in the yellow tie.

MISSIONARY NOTES

My two missionaries are doing amazing!! I love Mondays and getting their emails! It brightens my whole week! Here is an update...

Elder Gordon has been transferred all the way from up by the Scottish border down to Wales. He is actually loving the weather down in the south much better and is working with quite a few investigators.

His Welsh name tag.

He said he doesn't have to learn Welsh, but they do have Welsh name tags. I thought that was interesting...

He and his companion on 'Sports Day.'

His companion is a Brit (from Kent, I think) and they have worked well together. They have really gotten things moving in the area and are thrilled to have investigators to teach. 

Here he is on splits with the District Leader.

Britain is a hard mission (from what I've heard, all of Europe is), but he is doing really well and learning to love the people and his mission. That has been one of my favorite things about my kids being out there, is seeing the growth and the changes and the way they are handling the challenges they face. It is amazing!

Hermana Gordon is still in Miami. She has spent most of her mission there in a YSA area and is really loving it. She said she speaks fluent Spanglish and adores the people- the heat, on the other hand, not so much...

Hermana Gordon and an alligator.

One of the most exciting things that has happened recently is that she got put back together with one of her best friends that is in the same mission. They have known each other since they were 14 and ended up as companions in the MTC too. They work amazingly well together and are SOOO excited to be companions again.

The photo I got the week they got put back together. (How do they keep the boys away?)

Another exciting thing that is happening to her is her part in the Ft. Lauderdale Temple open house. She gets to take tours and answer questions. She said that people drive by and are prompted to stop and come see the temple and are asking to be baptized. It has been an amazing experience for her. Needless to say, she does not want to come home in July. haha

Hermanas Gordon and Johnson with some converts.

This was my birthday present. She had the guy in the photo text it to me. It was a wonderful present! What more could I want? 3 John 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

YOUTH CONFERENCE AT TEMPLE SQUARE

We went up to Temple Square (click for link) for our Youth Conference this year and I could not have been more happy. We chose the 1 day option and had a very carefree, interesting, spiritual day.  There weren't as many of the kids that could attend as I would have liked, but the ones that came had a great time!

Our group. More girls than boys...

 Our schedule included a quick tour of the Assembly Hall and get-to-know-you activities with the sister missionaries. We had a speaker come talk to us and then went over to the Plaza for a yummy box lunch. 

The lunches were good and there was plenty to eat.

 While we were sitting there eating, a couple came by in their wedding finery for photos. The young women were enthralled by the white dress, the complete joy on the faces of the couple and the ring, of course. It was actually a great experience for all the kids.

I love O's face!

After lunch we went over the the Church History Museum, Family History Center, had cooking lessons from one of the chefs at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, toured the Conference Center, and did a scavenger hunt in Deseret Book. We went everywhere!

Desert Book flagship store.

We then, went back over to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for dinner and testimony meeting. We shared that with a few other wards and then called it a day. Over all, it was such a wonderful day and I would definitely recommend it to everyone. There's just such a great spirit in Temple Square. You can't beat that.

10 DAYS IN EUROPE- STILL PACKING

The big debate for me this trip has been whether to check my suitcase or just do a carry-on. Well, the decision has been made. I put all of my clothing to take into my carry-on yesterday and there's no room for anything else! 

I have nice, medium-sized suitcase, but S took it on her mission so I went and borrowed one from a friend this morning. I think I am going to feel a whole lot better about everything just checking a bag. I will be able to fit what I need and not feel pressure to pick and choose what I need to leave behind so much.

Last Thursday we realized that D needed to go through the temple tonight if I wanted to be able to go with him because we have a niece getting married in Manti this Saturday and he wants to be there.  That has really complicated life and increased my list of everything that needs to get done, but it is SO worth it. We just ran over to the distribution center this morning and bought all his white clothing. The pants needed to be hemmed and as I was sewing and ironing, I got really teary thinking about what an amazing life I live and what wonderful children I've been blessed with. I love those 'Mom Moments!' I couldn't ask for a better 22nd anniversary present than going through the temple with my second child and helping him get ready to serve the Lord. I love my life and my family so much! How did I get so blessed? (I'm still bawling)!

DEDICATION & A SUNDAY DRIVE

This Sunday we were asked to attend a session of the Brigham City temple dedication instead of our regular church meetings. We went to the 9 am session and were all able to go since Princess P was even old enough. It was a nice meeting and we were done by 10:30...

The beautiful, new Brigham City temple.

..so we decided to go on a Sunday drive. Some of the other Gordons wanted to come too. We all rode in the same truck so we could visit and be together. Grandpa and Grandma rode in the back with the kids. It was padded out with mattresses and quilts.

That's a load of Gordons!

It was a beautiful ride! The leaves are changing and there was every color of autumn leaf you can imagine! I LOVE IT! 

Boys are always boys, even if they're men.

We drove up Ephraim Canyon and out Skyline Drive to the Horseshoes. It was freezing by then! All the guys found boulders to roll down the cliffs and watch them bounce forever. I am amazed at how long this activity enraptured them. I think we'd still be up there throwing and watching rocks roll down the mountain if it was up to them!

Me with Big C and the Sanpete Valley.

The view is gorgeous from up there! We live in such a beautiful world! How truly blessed we are.

REUNION, GORDON STYLE

First day of the annual Gordon Family Reunion was last night. We had a great time getting reacquainted with everyone and being together again.

We had family come from Idaho and New Mexico. For some reason when the Gordons leave town, they move far away.

Here are Princesses P and G enjoying their time together.

Grandpa and Grandma, the master BBQers. We had yummy burgers!

We went to the Pageant that night. The mosquitoes were bad, but luckily we brought our bug spray!

We didn't last through the whole thing. I looked around about half way through and everyone of my family was asleep but me, so we went home early.

FOR TIME & ALL ETERNITY

My sister and her fiance waited 7 months, but it finally happened! They were sealed yesterday in the Manti temple. I am so happy that they are so happy!

Here they are at the dinner. This is my new brother-in-law. It is so exciting, especially after everything they've been through. Yay for them!

It was an amazing ceremony and the family dinner afterward went off without a hitch, as well. We got to see lots of friends and family and that is always fun!

My camera was the only downer of the day. I had it on a tri-pod so that I could take a timed photo and be in it, and the wind blew it over. The screen is now cracked and doesn't work, but it does still take photos. What a freak thing...

19 YEARS AND COUNTING

My oldest daughter, S, turns the big one- nine today. I just have to say how impressed I am with her and the way she lives her life. She is growing up into an amazingly competent, self-reliant woman. What more can parents ask for?

(This is a photo I took of her last week, I love it!)

She went with some of her friends to see the Grand Canyon for her birthday this weekend. I called her this morning to wish her happy birthday and she was in church. It made me so happy that she has such a strong testimony that she will go to church in a strange place where she knows no one and while she's on her own.

She is also a very talented artist. She is loving studying art and I am so proud of her and her work. This is a photo she took of the Manti temple to give my husband and I as a Christmas gift. I'll have to put some of her other art work on here sometime as well.

DAY 1- TRAVEL DAY

It was supposed to be very stormy, so we left a day early for our vacation and drove to Mesquite for the night. (Cheap motel rooms).

I am not sure why, but I love Joshua Trees. I think it's because they remind me of vacation! (palm trees too).

The next morning we drove down to Vegas for church. We found this unique Stake Center. They call it the 'Taco Bell Church' and it is obvious why they do. It even had southwest decor in the chapel.

After church we drove a few blocks to the Las Vegas temple and did a quick walk around. It was FREEZING! I thought Las Vegas was supposed to be warm!

Outside Vegas we hit MAJOR TRAFFIC! There is nothing like being out in the middle of nowhere in bumper to bumper traffic. Never again will we try to drive to California on a Sunday! BOO! *NOTE: This isn't my photo. I had ample opportunity to take one, but I guess I wasn't amused enough.