Friday morning Dad and Mom picked Jen and I and dropped us off at the airport. While waiting for our plane mom read us her journal and put her feet up.
We could find 3 seats all together. So mom sat by herself across the way. Jen and I had a great time catching up and talked the whole flight.
We stayed at the Marriott downtown Salt Lake City. We put our bags in our room and walked to the conference center. That is where Katie's salt lake express bus dropped her off. We were all crying and excited to see Katie. We were laughing afterward thinking about when she was a baby and all three of us took her to the doctor for that horrible PKU heal prick and her first shots. I don't know who cried more... Katie or the three of us. They were not much support to me, we were all hysterical seeing our sweet baby suffer. Now she is 18 and in college. Time goes way to fast!
I have missed Katie. We did so much and are so close. It felt so good to be with her again.
At the Temple we asked this cute lady to take our picture. We asked if she could try to get the temple in the background. Before we knew it she was on the ground taking our picture. She held the camera so still for so long. Wanting to be very still and take the best picture she could possibly take. After the picture I offered my hand to help her off the ground. She was so sweet. She did great getting the temple in the background. (Maybe we should expect all the people we ask to get on the ground)
Time out for Women was held at the Salt Palace, 5000 woman, all together. It was amazing. Sheri Dew spoke, she was amazing. Actually all the speakers and music was terrific. The theme was "to become"... I felt feed and I wanted to be a better person.
This is my mom in the purple. She is the oldest of 7 children. 5 girls in the family. Monte is sister #2. She is taking care of Grandma Powell and sacrificing so much to make life easier for Grandma. We love and appreciate all she has and is doing.
All the sisters and most of their daughters were able to make it.
It was cold outside luckily our hotel was just across the street from the conference center. We bundled grandma up. Thought this was a classic, fun picture. Grandma has stage for 4 cancer. She is very sick! She wanted to have all her girls around her one last time before she passed away. We did think she would have the strength to attend the conference, but to our suprise our little grandma didn't want to miss out on any of the fun. She came to all the sessions. I know it was a sacrifice because she is so sick, but it was perfect for all of us to see her one last time and for her to feel our love for her.
Katie is taking a clothing construction class at BYU-I. This yellow shirt was her 3rd sewing project. I was impressed. I have been sewing my whole adult/married life and I dont know if I could sew a woman's shirt so good. Her pleats, button holes, puff sleeves all looked so great. Of course she would never wear the shirt, so she says. But I thought it looked cute on her.
Outside the Lion House.
We ate lunch at the Lion House Restaurant. Another family tradition.We share a piece of coconut cream pie in memory of Grant. That is his favorite pie. Plus I sent him a phone picture of Katie holding the pie. Just to make him a little jealous. Bad me!
Katie on the phone with her dad.
This is my aunt Lila May. She is a sweetheart! In a couple of weeks she has tough times. She has thyroid cancer. She has radiation and chemo plus isolation. We threw her a little party! Everyone gave her a small gift! We gave her this warm soft robe to wear over her PJ's when it gets cold outside.
Grandma Dayley, Grandma Powell, Me, Katie, Jennifer Dayley
Katie was named after her 2 grandmas... Linda Kathryn (Grandma Dayley), Lucy Powell (Grandma Powell). Katies given name is Kathryn Lucy Coon. So these are the 2 women she is named after! Glad we were able to get this picture.
We had a group picture taken of all the girls. Front row: Debra Archibald, Vicky Powell, Beth Thomas, Kristi Thomas, Grandma Powell, Florence Thomas. Back row: Lila May, Alicia Ballard, Jill Coon. Katie Coon, Jennifer Shumway, Linda Dayley, Brynn Archibald, Tonya Laing, Monte Laing, Amy May plus her 2 week old baby, Claire.
The morning we left we took my mom for her birthday to the Little America brunch. It is amazing food and another tradition of our family. Happy Birthday Mom.
Not only was there snow but also the trees leaves were so beautiful red and yellow. It was cold.
Sunday morning we went to Temple Square to see the Tabernacle Choir and the spoken word. That was a treat! It was so fun being back in the historic tabernacle. The Choir sang beautiful music. But my favorite song was the closing song, "Come thou fount" with a full orchestra. The was absolutely beautiful.
Jennifer and Mom
Katie and Me.
The last picture is a picture of the four generations. Lucy Powell, Linda Dayley, Jill Coon, and Katie Coon.
