Dear Family and friends: By now I have probably lost all of you from my blog. Grant and I have been in quite a bubble this past week. First of all, our travel from Cardston Alberta to Salt Lake City couldn't have been under better weather conditions, blue sky, dry roads, and very little traffic. We drove about 8 hours the first day and stayed in a small hamlet called Lima, (rhymes with the lima bean) Montana. The motel was quaint, good bed, warm and comfortable - a "hot spot"during the big game hunting season. As we were only several hours from Salt Lake and since Grant's brother and wife - Deter and LaDonne were out visiting, we took that time to drive to Sandy, Utah and visit with Aunt Jerry. She is a pretty spry 90 year old. Back to Deter's home for visiting.

As luck would have it I had few hours Monday to check our the TJMAX store and pick up a few bargains . Flew to San Jose and were met by David and Thao. We had such a wonderful time with them. ate, ate and ate some more. Played a new Christmas game (trains), some rummyo and more visiting. Brent came over in the afternnon before we left to return home. He reported on his mission to New York for the past two years. He looked mature, handsome and very very tall. It was sooooo good to see him again. We missed a visit the the rest of David's children but look forward to a visit next time.

Back to Salt lake, more eating out, and into the Mission Training Centre on Monday the 4th of January. It is hard to picture 1900 young men and women - all the 19 year old elders in dark suits, white shirts and ties, and the sisters dressed in their sunday best. What an inspiring sight. The main building where the cafeteria, busines offices, computer support and other sundry offices are - has many corridors with photos of the prophets, missionaries and members from all over the world.

The senior couples in our group ( they told us it was a rather small group) about 30 couples - were being sent to Chile, Peru, Cambodia, Uganda, Russia, Germany, Florida, California, Tiawan, Italy,Toronto, Bahamas, and I am sure I missed a few. Four couples are going on medical missions, - 3 nurses and one doctor. Several teaching the gospel, several on humanitarian, and three couples on Welfare and Employment. By the end of today we were all hugging, taking pictures and email addresses. Since there was not room at the MTC centre for all of us - about 6 couples ( we are one of those couples) are being put up in the Super 8 Motel - several blocks away.

It is pretty much overload this week and my shoulders are tired from carrying the books, and my computere back and forth to the technical hospital.

I did purchase Windows 7 last night at the BYU bookstore, everyone tells me it will give me less grief.

Our motel advertises "wireless internet" Well, if we carry our computer down the hall and around the corner from our room we can sign on - so as to avoid holding my computer with one hand and trying the work the mouse with the other, while standing in my house coat in the hall way of the Super 8 Motel ---- Grant and I are in the main foyer of the MTC, plugged into a socket and here we are typing on our laps - hence - lap top computer.

One of our returned missionary trailers is marrying a girl from Nanaimo B.C. (Three cheers for Canada) Rah, rah, rah. Well, we are spent and Grant is packing up his lap top.

We miss our family, our home and of course Canadian ehhhh???

If you email me and I refer you to the blog please understand. This coming Monday we have to be here at the MTC at 6:30a.m. to travel to SLC to the Welfare Square. We are lookin forward to this. Hugs and kisses to my grands Sister Elaine Gehmlich, on the couch in the foyer at the MTC, Provo, Utah. U.S.A.