Salt Lake

We took the opportunity to take a few days with our little family in Salt Lake, as we traveled down that way for my cousin’s funeral this last weekend. The boys were so excited for their little ‘bay-cation’. Anymore, they are such good little travelers. They were so excited to see the temple. We were blessed with perfection in terms of weather and there were gorgeous fall colors everywhere we turned. The temple grounds are always kept so immaculate and beautiful, anyway. We really enjoyed our afternoon there. The boys loved the big fountain and walking (running/skipping/jumping) around. Morgan was so excited to be able to touch the doors and stone walls of the temple. We stayed on the East courtyard for a long time and I was in total awe at the detail of the East facing doors, which Jared reminded me are built with each temple, as they will all open when Christ returns. I found this so physically comforting, and a tangible reminder that this really will one day happen.

We took Morgan to see the North Vistor’s Center with the Christus statue and the huge mural of space. He, of course, loved it, and named all the planets, too. We also took them to the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial building and showed them the church office building. Danny thought we were going to see the prophet. I told Mr. Keller I would settle for Dieter (my love). Neither sighting happened. Oh well!

After we left Salt Lake, we drove to Thanksgiving Point where we were staying. We ate dinner, checked in, took the boys swimming (which they were most excited for!), and went to bed. The next morning, we ate breakfast and got ready to travel to Provo for the funeral. It was nothing short of amazing. With Kulesa being Samoan, her services were full of Samoan tradition, dress, flowers, leis, songs, the order which everything took place. They had Mexican lace draped over her casket and a beautiful woven blanket that they wrapped the casket in before it was lowered. They released beautiful white doves and sang such beautiful, comforting songs. The entire stake center was full, and there was standing room-only in the back. They had a beautiful Polynesian women’s choir that took the entire stand. They all wore white and sang so beautifully. There was so much love there, and so much peace, which was something I wasn’t expecting. And when we sang the songs she had chosen, there was so much power. It was enveloping. She is so loved. I keep thinking about what a unique blessing it was for her to be given those two weeks with her family. And for her, and those around her to be able to prepare to say goodbye. Everyone who spoke talked about how much at peace she was and that she knew she was going home. I’m so thankful I had the chance to be there. It will be something I will remember and treasure forever.

After we went to the cemetery, we said goodbye and drove back to Thanksgiving Point where we stayed another night. We took the boys to the ever-famous Dinosaur museum. It was really like the coolest place we’ve ever been to. Morgan was in heaven. There were planets and stars and life-size skeletons of dinosaurs and sand mounds with water that they can play in and sand pits where they can dig for fossils and an entire gift shop with everything you can imagine in Dinosaur theme. They really thought of everything! I’m so so so glad we went. The boys won’t ever forget it. It was awesome! After we were done playing there, Mr. Keller was ever so kind and allowed me to hit Ikea! We ate dinner after that, and then headed to the hotel pool one last time before turning in for the night. We drove home Sunday and both boys were asleep before 7pm. Home again, home again, jiggity jig!