Our last few hours with Mom and Dad were spent with them this morning. A pretty good rain fall had happened at some point in the wee hours. Thankfully, the rain stopped long enough for me to load our luggage and other various and sundry things into the car before starting to fall again. Most of the dirt the car had accumulated during our almost trip to Lake Alice had been washed away and I could see out the back window--an added bonus. Mom had volunteered to participate in a Relief Society service to some local ladies living in a nursing home in Montpelier, Idaho and left before we were able to say good-bye to her. I guess Jennifer was able take this picture beforehand, however. Dad seemed to conveniently hide when Jen mentioned picture taking and wiggled out of getting his picture snapped before we left. :) I guess Mom and Dad will be in Utah tomorrow for doctors appointments. We should get to see them at Joanna's house.
About the time we said good-bye to Dad and piled into the car, the rain began to fall more earnestly. The storm was very large and seemed to follow us all the way to Joanna's house. The rain wouldn't stop until sometime in the late afternoon and would actually leave a dusting of snow along the tops of the mountains. The storm wasn't so bad that driving was made difficult, the rain was steady, not a downpour. Any outside plans we may have thought about had to be put on hold until tomorrow. We didn't call Joanna until we had turned off the freeway and started on the city streets toward her home. By this time, we found out later, she had left briefly to pick up Merritt from his piano lesson. Consequently, no one answered the phone. The trip from the freeway to her house didn't take as long as I had anticipated. Before I knew it, we were pulling up to the curb. The rain was still falling and none of us had packed rain coats.
Since Joanna hadn't answered her phone, I told everyone to stay in the car while I went to the door to see if anyone was home--no sense in all of us getting wet if there wasn't a need for it. I jogged up to the front door and rang the doorbell. The roof overhang afforded me enough cover to keep dry, but I had to squeeze onto the small porch and not move very much to remain water free. I knocked with no immediate response. I was beginning to think Jo had left to run a quick errand and we'd have to sit in the car for a bit, when the door opened and I found myself looking down at her daughter, Grace. "Hi!" I said hopefully. I'm not sure she completely remembered me. She gave me a quizzical look. "Are you here to see my mom?" she asked. "Yes," I replied. "Okay," she said as she shut the door. I waited, thinking Joanna would come to the door momentarily ... nothing. Ever had those moments when minutes seem like hours? I had one of those moments as I stood huddled on the porch wondering if I should knock again or return to the car. I turned toward the car and saw Jennifer looking at me as if to say, "What's going on?" I shrugged. Finally, after what seemed like hours (but was only two minutes tops), I heard the noise of the garage door opening and Joanna's van pulled into the driveway. Saved! I quietly chuckled to myself as I finally figured out why I'd been left on the porch. :)
On previous visits to the Stowell clan, Ben's younger cousins used him as their private jungle gym, but Joanna had warned them to treat Ben nicely. Because of this, Isaac became the focus of rough-housing. I'm not sure he was completely prepared for this up-grade in status, but I think, for the most part, he handled it well. As for Ben, he was introduced to the game "Angry Birds." When Grant and Joseph found out Ben was playing, they left Isaac alone for a time and became Ben's audience. Grant offered a few pointers and some friendly advice to his older cousin from time to time (which was funny to watch). Joseph was just happy to be there. Heather came over at dinner time and we were able to sit and talk a while. Chad is the ward mission leader for his ward, so he and I were able to swap stories and talk about missionary ideas that were working for our respective wards and to talk about things we were doing as member missionaries. Again, much like the time we spent with Mom and Dad, being with family to reminisce or catch up on news was nice. We have some places we'd like to visit tomorrow. It appears the rain storms are finally finished with us (for the most part, a chance of intermittent showers tomorrow), so we'll see what happens.
Since Joanna hadn't answered her phone, I told everyone to stay in the car while I went to the door to see if anyone was home--no sense in all of us getting wet if there wasn't a need for it. I jogged up to the front door and rang the doorbell. The roof overhang afforded me enough cover to keep dry, but I had to squeeze onto the small porch and not move very much to remain water free. I knocked with no immediate response. I was beginning to think Jo had left to run a quick errand and we'd have to sit in the car for a bit, when the door opened and I found myself looking down at her daughter, Grace. "Hi!" I said hopefully. I'm not sure she completely remembered me. She gave me a quizzical look. "Are you here to see my mom?" she asked. "Yes," I replied. "Okay," she said as she shut the door. I waited, thinking Joanna would come to the door momentarily ... nothing. Ever had those moments when minutes seem like hours? I had one of those moments as I stood huddled on the porch wondering if I should knock again or return to the car. I turned toward the car and saw Jennifer looking at me as if to say, "What's going on?" I shrugged. Finally, after what seemed like hours (but was only two minutes tops), I heard the noise of the garage door opening and Joanna's van pulled into the driveway. Saved! I quietly chuckled to myself as I finally figured out why I'd been left on the porch. :)On previous visits to the Stowell clan, Ben's younger cousins used him as their private jungle gym, but Joanna had warned them to treat Ben nicely. Because of this, Isaac became the focus of rough-housing. I'm not sure he was completely prepared for this up-grade in status, but I think, for the most part, he handled it well. As for Ben, he was introduced to the game "Angry Birds." When Grant and Joseph found out Ben was playing, they left Isaac alone for a time and became Ben's audience. Grant offered a few pointers and some friendly advice to his older cousin from time to time (which was funny to watch). Joseph was just happy to be there. Heather came over at dinner time and we were able to sit and talk a while. Chad is the ward mission leader for his ward, so he and I were able to swap stories and talk about missionary ideas that were working for our respective wards and to talk about things we were doing as member missionaries. Again, much like the time we spent with Mom and Dad, being with family to reminisce or catch up on news was nice. We have some places we'd like to visit tomorrow. It appears the rain storms are finally finished with us (for the most part, a chance of intermittent showers tomorrow), so we'll see what happens.
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