What a Wonderful Week!

The week started off on Tuesday with a trip to West Yellowstone. We spend two fabulous days riding in a snow coach in Yellowstone Park. Oh how beautiful it is in the snow and ice. Wednesday we saw Old Faithful erupt, walked around mud pots and hot springs, visited with others on the coach and got to know them. Tuesday we rode in the coach over to Canyon. We had a different guide who took us down to Hayden Valley to see if we could see any animals. There were many bison and a few coyotes. The fun part was we saw about 10 otters in two bunches. The large bunch had 7. It was very interesting to see how they play and share their food. We also watched a pack of 13 wolves for about 45 minutes. They were a very long way from the road, but with the help of binoculars we were able to see them. We stopped three different places on the canyon rim to see the falls. I can't even describe how different the park looks in the winter.

Today, Saturday, we went to Ogden to do temple work for a Russian family. Eugene's oldest brother lives and works in Russia. His wife has been serving as the Family Search consultant in their small branch there. As soon as she was called, a man went to her and asked if she would take his family's names and do their work for them in the states at the temple. She said she would be honored. Because there were 7 of them, we were invited to help. In the 1930's there was a horrible famine in the Ukraine caused by Stalin. All 7 of the children in the family died in the same year. Later the parents had two more daughters. The youngest of them joined the church when it was first allowed in Russia. Her son is the man who asked to have the work done. Today we met in the temple with 13 other members of Eugene's family to get their temple work done. Taking turns, we started about 7 a.m. with baptisms and finished about 11:30 in the sealing room. What an honor it was to be a part of this gift to that Russian family.

Merry Christmas!!

All my Christmas sewing is finished!!! Oh happy day! I shipped packages on Thursday. I have two more gifts to pay for and I'm ready for Christmas. What a great feeling!

We are going to Yellowstone with Eugene's brother and his wife. We will be riding a heated snow coach into the park two days. I'm so looking forward to the trip and getting away for a few days. Hopefully I will return ready to jump back on the speed train of life!

Happy Holidays!!!