Day 12: Salt Lake City

Day 10 was a family day in Monticello. Day 11 was driving back up to Salt Lake. We went through Price Canyon and a huge storm, It was hailing so hard the grass was white. We were going to stop at the Clevbeland Lloyd Dinosaur quarry, but they said if it is raining, it is too hard to get there on thoe muddy back roads.  After our adventure in Lake Powell I decided another tow truck was NOT on the agenda.
 We went to Orem and stayed with Charles oldest brother and his family. That night we Played some fun games I have never heard of.

  Day 12, our final full day out west, we took the boys up to Salt Lake City and to Temple square.

We started at The temple and went to the tabernacle and to the visitors center.  We saw a movie in the center about the Plan of Salvation and how the family is a huge cornerstone.  At the end I was bawling like a baby. I was really touched and couldnt help but think of my own family and those I have lost. I am sure those poor sister missionaries didnt know what to do with me. I was a MESS.  We went over to the Joseph Smith Memorial building and ate lunch at the nauvoo cafe. It was delicious.  We headed over to the conference center and did a mini tour.

waterfall on the conference center

original organ in the old tabernacle

Old tabernacle.  We were there for a mini acoustics demonstration.

doorknob on the temple doors.

Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

"His love now surrounds you"

The Angel Moroni on the top of the temple

Gorgeous reflection of the temple in the reflecting pool fountain

Holiness to the Lord

Me and my boys in front of the LDS Salt Lake temple

Statue of Joseph Smith

Lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Joseph Smith memorial building lobby chandelier

"This is the Place"- Brigham Young

Handcart Pioneer statue.  Fitting, as my husbands ancestors crossed the plains with the Willie and Martin Handcart Company.

the original Assembly Hall

COnference Center.

We had an AMAZING 2 weeks out west. I certainly hope my kids appreciate the splendor and majesty of this beautiful country in which they have been blessed to live.  I certainly hope they felt the gentle stirrings of the Spirit whisper to them, giving them a testimony of the love of Jesus Christ.
I hope they appreciate all the time, money, effort and planning that went into this trip, the wonderful experiences and memories they have made.

I am grateful that I was able to give my children this opportunity. I am so blessed to live in a beautiful country, to be able to teach my children the love of Christ, the importance of family and and show them that this life is a time for them to prepare to meet God. I hope they will one day know the love I have of my country, my family and the love I have for my savior, Jesus Christ. I hope they were as touched by the spirit as I was , while in the calm beauty of the temple.

Day9: Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands

Ok, I hve lost count what day we were. Seriously.  We got to the family reunion and had a family day, then like half of something day . So we will call this Day 9.
Most of the kids stayed at the B&B with their cousins etc. Some of the adults took them to an indoor water facility that had waterslides etc.  So some of us older folks got to go out on our own and have fun, sans children.

Charles and I went to Dead Horse Point State Park and then to Canyonlands National Park.  Both are north of Moab UT.  We started with Dead Horse.  This was a beautiful park, very similar to Grand Canyon, just smaller. In fact Thelma and Louise was filmed here.  People think it was the grand Canyon, but it was actually DHPSP.   We hiked a few places, climbed out on some rocks and just kind of toured around the park.

the bright blue water is Potash Evaporation ponds. They flood the underground and put it in shallow pools. The water evaporates and leave behind a potassium salt, which is then harvested and made into fertilizer etc.

Gooseneck of the Colorado river. This is the main focal point of the park.

sitting on a rock at the edge of a cliff, contemplating the fragility of life...im deep like that.

"selfie!" of me an hubbs.

took a picture of hubbs eye through a small hole in a rock...just because I could

hiking down around some of the cliffs.

We then headed over to the upper portion of Canyonlands National Park. 

hubbs, looking all hubby like.

another selfie.

bowls in the rocks that collect water and sprout life.

All in all a fun day. We were out and about most of the morning and afternoon. DHPSP only took us about 2 hours, and Canyonlands NP took about 3. We stopped at the various overlooks and hiking areas etc.
The northern portion of Canyonlands are the place to go for sightseeing and hiking.  The souther portion of the park is more for offroading and camping.

Loved these two parks.  Would definitely head back if I had more time in the future.