Decided that I have had the January blahs along with some other people I know. But here it is the 31st of January and I am glad except that life has ben cancelled for the next couple of days. We are expecting the worst storm in 50 years they say. Today we have had freezing ice and drizzle, but tonight it is supposed to snow and blow and all land on top of that ice out there. Lots of us were told to stay home tomorrow, so we will see what happens. That is the time I would like to go in so that I can get a lot done.

So tomorrow begins February and I have noticed that the days are already lengthening. I love the daylight being extended. Our President asked everyong to read the Book of Mormon in the first 60 days of the new year. I am on my way to completing that goal and have decided that I am going to do it every year. It is just a good way to begin the new year. Dad is just over a bed two week cold and congestion and our names have appeared on the Departure list. Yep, it is coming up.

Love you everyday.

Here is the pic of the missionaries who were in the Christmas program. They got together in the gym after lunch and started singing. Not the songs we had heard in the program, but they really started some with sound effects and a little dancing and the President walked over and said it was time to go into the chapel! They were having a little too much fun.

We had three Zone Conferences and just had larger groups together for each one. It is so great to see the kids come together. There are squeals of joy, tons of hugs and slaps on the back, laughter, sitting knee to knee and talking, just a happy time to see your former companions or others you know in the mission. There are friendships formed out here that will be eternal.

On Sunday night, the 19th of December, we were supposed to be at Liberty Jail for the Presidents fireside, but instead stayed at home to (watch the end of Survivor). I put that in parenthesis to sort of cover it up and maybe you won't really read it! Well, turns out we were so happy we had stayed at home. We are sitting watching Survivor when therewas a knock on the window. We get knocks on the window often so that people can get into the building. Dad went out to open the door and there was no one there. He walked around and over the the front window and saw a note on the window. "ELDER LINDE, a present for you". There was a box sitting on the ground and then from around the side of the house Erin and Mike appeared. Well, then they had to re-enact the entire surprise for me. Dad came and got me and told me to come out and see the package. So I went out and was looking at the note on the window and the package and SURPRISE!, there come Erin and Mike from the side of the building again. Well, all I could do was cry and hug. It certainly was a surprise. Erin had told us to pick her up on Monday night at 9:45 and also had given us a flight numer. And Mike was driving out with his friend who was a truck driver and we didn't know when he was coming. It was just so natural to have them here and to sit and visit that night.

We went to work on Monday and worked until about 11 and then started out sightseeing.

This was the Bingham Wagoner Mansion that we toured. It was all decked out for Christmas and I must say a bit overdone. Any organization can decorate a room, so they put everything they have in one room. But we tried to look beyong the decorations and see the beautiful wood and furniture.

and some of the simple decorations in the kitchen.

This is the underground, I guess it it not underground, but in the side of the mountain Orchid Farm. It is quite fascinating. And we all got to meet the originator, Dave, who started it. Well, you can imagine that he and Erin hit it off. She had lots of questions for him and he talked the language with her.

It is really an amazing place. And no natural light in there. More variety of orchids than I have ever seen. Erin took one home. I hope it made the trip OK. One of the hardy varieties. I guess the Utah desert is not really the place to grow orchids.

They just go on and on.

And who would have known that the Harley Davidson manufacturing plant is in KC, MO. Mike informed us and so we went. This is Mike sitting on his HOG and looking like he is in heaven.

This is Dad looking at a big touring bike that he and I sat on. First time I had ever been on a bike that big. I am sure it was probably double the price of our first home! Everyone was dreaming of driving cross country and then as Dad was getting off he sort of stood up and started to pull his leg across and his forehead went down on the windshield and scraped some skin off. He gets this bloody spot on his forehead and Erin scrapes his skin off the shield and you can imagine the laughter that ensued. And it continued for several hours. We then toured the plant. It is almost secretive. No pics allowed. We all had earphones on so that we could hear the guide and walked in a straight line along the edge. They are held to a very high standard. If there is something done wrong, that bike is put in the cafeteria for all employees to observe and make note of. Very interesting. They are kind of made one at a time and no stockpiling of them. Everyone that is being made is already paid for. And there are several types made. The ones for Europe, Australia, the US of A, and the Republic of California!, as he called it. They have such high emission standards that theirs are different still.

Whoops, I ran out of pics. Have to get some more.