New First Presidency

We were excited to hear the annoucement of the new First
Presidency that was made today. President Thomas S. Monson,
along with his counselors, Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uctdorf,
held a news conference to make the annoucement and answer
questions. While we will miss President Hinckley, it is good
to know that the Lord's work will go forward in very capable
hands.

The Big Snow

Here is another picture taken Monday afternoon - a bright, sunny day before one remaining storm predicted for this week. We know there is a sidewalk out there - somewhere.

Well, it kept snowing and snowing. . . we think all told it snowed 18 inches at our house. We were all ready to walk to church because our street hadn't been plowed and we didn't think we could get out of our cul-de-sac, when the snowplow came and plowed us out. So we drove over to church and decided we couldn't get INTO the parking lot on the first 2 driveways we came to (too much snow), so we drove around to the 3rd driveway and it looked a little better - we were able to make it into that driveway - after helping a neighbor who got stuck trying to get into that driveway. There were a few people who got stuck trying to get out of their driveways who didn't make it to church, but most everyone made it. This is a picture taken on Monday afternoon looking out from the porch.

We woke up Sunday morning, Feb 3rd, to more snow! We got outside and shoveled about 8 inches off our driveway. Then our neighbor let us use his snowblower to help some of the other neighbors - this is a picture of Curt trying out this super-strength snowblower - it can throw a lot of snow! The picture doesn't do it justice, by the time I got back with the camera, he was doing a driveway that didn't have much on it! But the good thing is, he is now seriously thinking about getting a snowblower - of course, they are all sold out now because of all the snow. Maybe by next snow season. . . . . .

President Hinckley's Viewing

I decided to go to President Hinckley's viewing today. We had about 6 inches of new snow here this morning and Salt Lake had new snow too. I got to the Conference Center about 1 p.m. and had to wait outside for an hour. After going into the Conference Center, they had everyone sit in the auditorium. After 20 minutes or so, they directed us to leave the auditorium and continue the line through the lobby to the escalators that go up to the President's Room. There was a floral arrangement from the GreatGranchildren as you entered the President's room. There were several men standing around the casket - one at each end, and several on each side. It was very touching to walk past the casket and say goodby to this wonderful leader, teacher and friend to all. Music from the Tabernacle Choir was playing in the background. The line then went back into the top balcony of the auditorium, where there were 2 more floral arrangements - one from his children, and one from his grandchildren. (The only other flowers were a few small vases of tulips placed in front of various paintings in the lobby.) Oil paintings of Pres. and Sis. Hinckley were on display on easels - about 14X16 inches. So, it took about 1 hour 45 minutes, and as I'm typing this the news is on and they are reporting that some people waited more than 4 hours and they estimate over 60,000 people came today to pay their last respects. Funeral services will be tomorrow and we are supposed to have a break in the storms, with the next snow coming tomorrow night and Sunday.