The big journey

This is a picture of us at the Idaho Falls Temple with our friends, Melinda and Gary. We are very glad to have found them. It´s one of those rare combinations where not only the women are friends but where the men also get along very well. Afterwards, we had them over for lunch and we had a good time sitting on the floor and eating off the coffee table. And just last night, Aaron and I were invited to meet Melinda´s family for Melinda´s birthday party! Her brothers are really fun-loving people and we laughed for most of the evening. It was great! They reminded me of the Johnson brothers by their openness, their friendliness and - this may seem strange, but I had a strong impression - their virtue. They emanated a goodness which I have rarely seen in young men.
Two days later, we rented yet another car and took off on our big trip through the West. Our first destination was Manteca, California, to meet with the grandparents Johnson. It took us about 15 hours to get there. The way through northern Nevada was interesting because it was unlike anything I had ever seen. Brown mountains and very few vegetation for hours and hours; and sometimes a little town along the way. I wondered how it must feel to live in the desert of Nevada. Do people miss the green? Or do they just get used to it?
We visited Aaron´s grandparents at their new apartment and spent the whole day together. It felt good to see each other, to talk and to see the place. It´s a beautiful house and the staff was very friendly. Mostly we talked. Grandpa also showed us a slide show (he was a professional photographer). Grandma was doing well. She participated in our conversations. She needs to sit and cannot stand. It isn´t easy to grow old and to know that you can´t do everything yourself anymore. When we watched the slide show, grandma said she would like to see these places again. I understand. We enjoyed our time with them very much and I am glad Aaron had the idea to do it.
On the next day, we left for Bountiful, Utah. Another long drive out of California, through northern Nevada again and into Utah. I drove for two and a half hours and was completely spent afterwards. Aaron had to drive all the rest. I was still exhausted from the past two days. Luckily, Aaron was in great shape. We arrived in Salt Lake City and Bountiful just as the was setting. I got a glimpse at the Salt Lake Temple and then we went up the mountain to stay with our friends, Richard and Mary Cahoon. They live in the most beautiful house I have ever seen and have a gorgeous view over the valley. Several well-known general authorities live in the neighborhood. This is a picture of the view. Anyway, we had a good time with them. They took us out to see a big copper mine. It was very hot, so I wore a hat. I was glad to have it. We had bought it in Manteca. Sister Cahoon inquired after every single one of the former young single adults crowd in Wiesbaden. She really cares about them. We also went to the Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It was very beautiful, of course, and it meant a lot to me that I could visit for the second time. Time passed quickly and then it was 4.30 pm and I was very tired. We went home and I laid down to rest. Three hours later I woke up! It had been wise of Aaron and me not to plan anything big for the night, just to play a game at home and relax. And here I was, waking up at 8 pm. The Cahoons took us for frozen custard (eine Art Eiskrem) and when we returned home, Mary looked through her kitchen cabinets and gave us kitchen utensils that we needed and were planning to buy at Ikea. We got bowls, plates and more from them. On the next day, we said goodbye and headed to Ikea in Draper. We had a plan, we were prepared and we thought it would take three hours at the most. It took us about five and a half hours, even though we were focused on what we needed. We found great furniture that we wanted. We did not find a bed for us. The bed we had chosen turned out to have a grey color and we decided against it. But we found a loveseat and an armchair that we loved! We bought the covers but not the frames because they wouldn´t have fitted in the car. I have a chance to go down to Draper again this weekend, with the Gerratts, and hopefully we will get the frames and bring them home. It might be worth another blog entry. Anyway, we stacked everything in the car and were mightily glad that it fit. The way home was only four hours, we were surprised. It was about 8 pm and Aaron immediately put together the kitchen table and chairs. It is so wonderful to have a table and chairs! Aaron worked hard and had everything assembled by Saturday noon, which was the day after our return. He is really gifted! And he used the screw-driver of his Swiss army knife.