Preparations continue

We're working our way through our list of things to take care of before we leave.  This week we finished our immunizations, emptied the freezer, and got clothes ready.  Our daughter gave us this "recipe" to get your white clothes really clean"  1 cup Tide, 1 cup oxy-clean, 1 cup Finish dishwasher detergent.  Mix these together, dissolve in hot water and soak clothes over night.  We tried it on Brent's white shirts and they do look better.

Brent took his suits and our winter coats to the cleaners and we sorted through his ties--some to DI, some stay home and some get to go on the mission.

Nancy put together a mission cookbook of all the random recipes on cards, scraps of paper, clipped from magazines that we love.

Who ever came up with the packaging for men's dress shirts???  It seems that some tree-hugger person would be protesting this copious amount of paper, plastic and metal.  A woman buys a blouse and it's on a hanger (which the store reuses).  A man buys a shirt and it's wrapped as if it were a treasure.

We also visited with the Bishop and Stake President, got new temple recommends, went to the temple, worked at the DI for 3 hours, went to the Ward Christmas Party and took a load of stuff to the DI.  A pretty good week all in all and a little closer to the BIG DAY.

Nancy has been sewing and has made some great finds at thrift stores.  A dress and jacket (Coldwater Creek) for $15 at my Sister's Closet along with a Chico's jacket.  The wool blazer is a DI find for $7.  So, clotheswise we're ready to pack.  Looking forward to marking off some more items this week.

Salt Lake City

Yesterday we got up EARLY and drove to SLC.  Brent needs a doctor to give him his Xolair shot every two weeks and, as luck would have it, he was able to reconnect with Dr. Moffat who he was seeing before we moved to St. George.  Dr. M will be happy to take care of his shot and we'll start there on Jan. 6, hopefully, on our way from the MTC to our orientation at church headquarters at noon that day.

After lunch at Cafe Rio we drove up to see our apartment.  It's on Capitol Blvd above the state capitol.  We're in a walk out basement, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, nice kitchen, small living/dining, covered deck with a view of City Creek Canyon, and a garage for parking the car.  We also have our own laundry room with washer/dryer.  That's huge for me as I don't think I could feel clean using a laundromat.  The furniture is old but we feel like we will be comfortable there and will be above some of the inversion in the downtown.  Also, have sliding glass doors in the living room and master bedroom facing east so will get some light in the morning.  I was going to take a picture but didn't seem appropriate while Sister Prier was showing us around. But we'll get picture later.

We also got a safety deposit box and filled it with stuff.  We don't have much of value but sentimental things that we don't want to lose.  We gathered up all the change in jars and piggy banks and cashed it in--$60.  So, there's no money in the house (Hint to would be thieves).  Also made copies of our patriarchal blessings to take with us--lots of little things to do.  More later. . .