Spring in Washington and Spring in Utah

I recently accompanied my mother (and my sister) to visit my aunts and uncle who live in Utah.  Typically, spring in Washington is well underway and the temperatures are around 60 degrees in the day time. Flowers are blooming and the trees have leaves and blossoms by now.  This year, spring is very late and when we arrived in Salt Lake City, we were delayed in getting to spring as I suspected.  Normally, Utah is at least a month behind us in with spring -- not this year -- we're in the same place.

We arrived at 10 p.m. on Friday night in Salt Lake and went to our hotel near the airport.  The next morning we picked up the rental car and headed up over Parley's summit to Henefer to visit our Fawcett relatives.  We spent a couple of hours visiting with them.  Then we headed down Weber Canyon to Ogden to visit my mother's sister, Aunt Leah.  She is very ill and her health is deteriorating very quickly.  It's hard to see my mother and dad's siblings in declining health.  They are ill and I'm reminded that this life is in actuality, very fleeting.

Saturday afternoon we headed to the hotel where we would be staying for the next 3 days. On Sunday we had a delightful visit with our cousins and aunt in American Fork.We have a great deal in common with them and we have always enjoyed this relationship.  Again, my Aunt Helen's health is declining rapidly. It's fun catching up on the family news.

Monday brought a wonderful treat.  We were able to go to the BYU Museum of Art to see the Carl Bloch exhibit.  What a beautiful experience and what a treat! I didn't want to leave.  We rented the iPads which enriched the experience immensely - allowing us to learn more about Carl Block and the paintings.  I am so moved by such beautiful paintings.  The huge altar pieces are painted on copper. Bloch's ability to capture emotion, detail, and meaning in the paintings is inspired. You could see that he had a deep understanding of Gospel principles (although he never heard the restored Gospel as far as I know) and the capacity to capture the meaning and the significance of the teachings of the Savior. This was the experience of a lifetime.  I feel so privileged to have seen these wonderful paintings. Previously I had seen the painting of the Pool at Bethesda and to see the other paintings and altar pieces was even more amazing.

Words cannot express adequately the feelings I had as I viewed these paintings. I appreciate how these works strengthen my testimony and satisfy my deepest longings and feelings.  Beautiful music and beautiful art is a gift from our Heavenly Father. 

After we left the BYU MOA, we again spent time visiting family.  A quick and successful trip to Tai Pan Trading Company made a complete day.  Tuesday, we went to the Joseph Smith Building (Hotel Utah) and went to the Joseph Smith movie at the Legacy Theater.  We had lunch in the Garden Restaurant and enjoyed the spectacular view of Temple Square and the Salt Lake Temple and then headed to the airport.

We realize how important it is for Mother to visit these relatives and have time with them during their final years on the earth.  I appreciate that we have the capacity and the means to accommodate her.

All in all, a very satisfying and productive trip!