The girls love setting up their little "spots" filled with paper and markers and activity books. They are free to come and go, and this year they pretty much stayed the whole time, until the last hour or so. I snapped a little picture of their deserted space toward the end...
Saturday evening while Geoff is at the Priesthood session we make Pumpkin Cornmeal Donuts. They are so delicious, and we had enough to share so we took them to some neighbors. One couple on the floor above us have a little doorbell ditching tradition with the girls. Our girls doorbell ditch cookies, muffins, notes, chocolates, etc., and they ditch peaches and pineapples and other goodies. There are some great people in this building.
Sunday morning we had our traditional brunch with quiche, salad and usually cinnamon rolls. The local gluten-free bakery was sold out by the time I got there on Saturday so I made a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting instead. Geoff's sister Brittany and her husband Jacob came for brunch and the morning session.
Another fall conference tradition that is Adele's favorite is brie cheese, salami and crackers. I think she loves the idea of food being out that she can munch on whenever hunger strikes.
Saturday after the afternoon session we took a walk up City Creek canyon with Nikki. On the way we saw a small group with loads of news cameras covering their rally. We went to listen and found they were active Mormon women who want the Priesthood. They were rallying just before going to the conference center to try to get in to the Priesthood Session. From what I could understand they want the prophet to inquire if women can hold the Priesthood. I was impressed with the respect and dignity with which these women pursued their cause. It led to some great discussions with the girls about how many revelations in the church came by asking questions, about the divine roles of men and women, and whether or not priesthood power is available to women even if they don't have the authority. We all perked up when Elder Anderson addressed this very issue on Sunday afternoon.
Sunday after the afternoon session we headed up Immigration Canyon with Jacob and Brittany on a drive to see the colorful leaves. It was a little disappointing in that respect, but the rolling hills and open spaces were still appreciated by our little family of city dwellers.
Before we left we saw the Undie Run go past our apartment on the way up towards the Capitol. It is just as it sounds, everyone in the race runs in their undies. I continually marvel at the strong counter-culture here in Salt Lake, especially downtown. In an effort to make sure others know they are NOT Mormons in any way, people go to some pretty interesting extremes. The Undie Run is not unique to Utah, but scheduling it right after conference was not coincidental, and as the raucous runners passed the temple they all posted in their mostly naked attire and took pictures in a mocking way. Isn't it interesting that these same kinds of people demand respect and tolerance for their ways of living, but aren't willing to show that same respect and tolerance for religious people and their beliefs and ways of living?
No comments:
Post a Comment