Setting Apart

This morning at 7:30 Glenn and I met with President Peterson who formally released us from our stake callings. This evening we gathered at our stake center in the high council room to be set apart. It was just wonderful to have so many of our family there to support us. Cindy, Bret, Spencer, Taylor, Dallin, Hunter, Danny, Ashley, Ellie, Mike, Kristen, John, Matthew, Meagan, Shea, Sherry, Jason, Madelyn, Jaxon, and nephew Greg Schern with Melanie, Jaisa, and Camden were all there. President Smith asked each one to introduce himself. In this stake the policy is for only the Stake Presidency to be in the circle to set apart. Glenn was set apart first. He received a beautiful blessing including the gift of communication and improved health. I was also given a beautiful blessing and told that my family would be all right in my absence. So now we are officially Elder and Sister Smith.

I feel

I can't believe I've gotten sick. I'm sure it's the flu. Fever of 102, swollen glands, sore throat, cough, aches all over, exhaustion, sinus infection, ugh. Glenn has given me two priesthood blessings. I know the adversary will do whatever he can to prevent us from leaving on our mission on time. This is really slowing me down. Tomorrow is supposed to be our last day in our home ward, and we're praying that I'll be well enough to go.

A New Home

All of the church residences are full, so finding a place to live on such short notice has been rather hectic. We will be on the 7th floor of The Belvedere, an apartment building built in 1919-20. It is very quaint, New York-esque, U-shaped with green awnings. You can find it and check out the "hood" by going to Google maps. It is one bdrm. one bath with living room and small kitchen. It is on a corner with city and mountain views and a red brick building view from the bedroom. It has the original hardwood floors that are kept nice and polished. New cut berber carpet is going in the rest of it. It has radiant heat and central air. The rent ($795 - ugh! actually a screaming deal, the locals tell us) includes high-speed Internet and heat, no small item in Salt Lake in the winter. The landlady was going shopping with her mother (who lives on the 3rd floor) today to find new furniture for it. It is kitty-corner from the Beehive House, Brigham Young's house and just a stone's throw from the big Eaglegate that spans State St. at the intersection of Main. We can walk to everything, and catch the trax just a block away. We're going to be real citified people. I think we will love it.

I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go

We never expected to receive our mission call on a Saturday. We were so busy all day and never checked the mail. After going out tonight to see Christmas lights, we stopped by the mailbox. AND THERE IT WAS!!! We had wanted to open it with all the kids, but instead we had to rely on phones. With three phones going at the same time, Glenn opened the envelope. We are called to serve at Church Headquarters in the Family and Church History Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Glenn laughed and I cried. This is really what we were hoping for, although we would have willingly gone wherever the Lord sent us. We are so excited! How are we ever going to be ready to report in two weeks on Jan. 5th?!

While We Were Waiting

We had such a wonderful time going with the whole family to ride the Polar Express to the North Pole in Williams, AZ! Just to see our darling grandkids having such fun and being filled with such excitement was worth it. We missed Ben and Jean who were not able to get here from California early enough to go. All of us were in matching pajamas. We braved the ice and snow and had a memorable time. Little did we know that this would be our last hurrah before leaving for our mission so soon.