MTC

We dropped off Andrew at the MTC in Provo yesterday. An emotional day for me. But a very happy one as well. I just kept thinking what a long time two years is. I do know that it was a very tender mercy from a loving Heavenly Father that he and Alex got to spend five days together rather than have to wait 4 years to see each other. For anyone interested in following the blog I have set up for him, it can be found at

http://roosmission.blogspot.com

Andrew gets "set-apart".

Andrew's last night at home was a busy one. Friends came over to say good-bye. Then we went to the church, where Andrew was "set apart as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" by our stake president, President Keller.

President Keller had those of us attending this special event each tell Andrew of our feelings and testimonies. It was a very spiritual evening culminating with the blessing by President Keller.

It has been a very tender mercy by a loving Heavenly Father that Alex and Andrew got to see each other for 5 days. Otherwise, it would have been 4 years before they could be together again.

Olivia got to stay up late that night. She was the only

Settling In

Back in a t-shirt and shorts, Alex is slowly getting back to post-mission life. He is job hunting, looking at school options and working on his goals - one of which is to improve his guitar skills. We took a little drive up Ogden canyon to see the leaves.

On Sunday, thanks to hook-ups from Elaine, we were able to attend the morning session of conference. Alex had arranged for us to meet with two of his former mission companions. They got home from Korea the same day that he did - Elder Christensen and Elder Heung.

He's back!

Hogel Zoo

This was the first time I have been to the zoo in the Autumn. We all really enjoyed it. Holly, her three kids, Ash, her two kids and I all crammed into Holly's Tahoe and headed down the SLC on Friday morning. Lunch.

Lily had to show me what the giraffe was doing with its long, black tongue.

We stopped at Dairy Queen for ice cream afterwards.

I would recommend the zoo in the Fall if you haven't tried it. The weather was pleasant and all of the animals seemed more alert than they do in the heat of the summer.