Idaho/Utah

Andy hadn't seen a dentist in years and we found out recently that he needed quite a bit of dental work, more than we could afford. Luckily I have a cousin in Idaho whose a dentist and gives very nice family discounts on top of the already cheaper prices for dental work in Idaho compared to La Grande. Scheduling appointments there in Preston, gave us a great opportunity to go visit and stay with my Aunt Jeannine and Uncle Johnny. They have always been more like grandparents to me since Jeannine was 17 when my dad was born and then I can at the latter end of his kids. My Grandma Pack passed on when I was very young so I have a lot more memories of Jeannine. I stole this picture of Facebook from one of their kids since I didn't take any while we were there visiting, but I wanted a picture to go with my thoughts. Aunt Jeannine and Uncle Johnny help everyone feel loved. They are encouraging and challenged me to work and be better as a kid. I remember Jeannine sending us out to help with the cows or asking us to help with dinner regularly. It made an impression on me that even though we were visiting her, she still required us to help and work. My kids felt very special and loved visiting the mas well. She spent one on one time with each of my kids and told them nice things about themselves that helped them feel close to her and feel comfortable there. We really appreciate their hospitality and love in letting us stay there and look forward to when we'll get to see them again.

After Andy's dental work was finished, we decided to take the weekend and head down to Salt Lake to show our kids BYU where we met and then take them to temple square and the "This is the Place" monument. It was special to show them temple square and talk more to them about the sacrifices the pioneers and their ancestors made to come to the Salt Lake valley and to build the temple there. I really liked that it was so close in time to when we went to Nauvoo since the saints journey to Salt Lake completes the story of what they were working for and how they found safety and a place to grow the gospel in Utah valley. It was nice to be able to tie it all together for them since the trip to Nauvoo is still fresh in their minds. In the next picture Sydney is standing by a replica of the inside of the Salt Lake temple and we got to teach her about the different rooms inside and she could picture better what they looked like. I was really impressed with this display and have never seen anything like it before. We also took them to walk around BYU campus and to a BYU basketball game and they had fun. We were all exhausted but had fun and were glad we got home just before the winter storms hit again and the roads closed! 

John Pack is the last one in line riding the horses above at the "This is the Place" monument where the LDS pioneers trek came to an end. He is my great, great, great grandpa!