Science Center/Pops Concert

We had told Andrea that for her birthday that this year she could choose an outing with a friend. She wanted to go to the Baltimore Science Center, so we finally went on Saturday, Jan 26. It was an amazingly mild and pretty day for January!



There were lots of rooms of fun hands-on things, but Andrea's favorite was the Dinosaur room.




When we got back, Erika and Andrea went with us to attend Julia and Daniel's 'Pops Concert' that night. Several tables were set in the school's atrium for the dessert portion where we listened to indiviual students and small groups perform. Daniel was a member of the Men's Chorus that did an awesome song.

Then we moved to the auditorium and heard the musical groups--who had all learned about three songs in the three weeks since Christmas. Daniel and Julia performed in the Concert Choir, and Symphonic Band. In addition Daniel was student director for the Madrigals, who also performed a beautiful piece with the school orchestra. Daniel also performed in the Jazz Band.

Going to their concerts is great entertainment--nothing like the high school band I played in. I moved to a new school in the middle of my Junior year and was told Band was the only available class, and so I joined band for the first time--faking the flute. [I could pretty much put it up and down at the right times, though. :)]

Visitor from Denver in my Kitchen

On Friday, Jan 11, I went down to the kitchen to help Andrea get off to school. Julia and Daniel leave at 7:05, so hearing another voice I thought it was Erika and started asking her if she was getting off early to work. I did a double take--and really was confused for a minute --about how KARA could be in the kitchen. It turns out that her husband Luke had to go to Florida for a week, and on the spur of the moment the day before she decided to come home. She got her ticket, packed and boarded the plane and had Erika come get her at the airport at about 1:00am--so she'd been asleep in the basement and we hadn't even known.

We hang around with her and we all went out to eat at Tomato Palace on Saturday night. We had a live magician, Natan, entertain us at our table.

She found the top layer of her wedding cake (a year-and-a-half old now) that we decided to celebrate with. Sorry to eat it without you, Luke.

She attended church with us Sunday and we played games as a family. (We asked Andrea to bring up a game from the basement for us and somehow she managed to get all this up the stairs.)

Dave and I had lunch with her Monday at Altanta bread.

Monday afternoon she had to leave to start her new job on Tuesday at a preschool. I was happy to have her come--after just sending off James, but I was sad to see her leave.

(Nice scarf, Kara!)

Entering the MTC

James arrived at the airport in SLC on January 8, 2008. He and his dad toured the Temple Square in Salt Lake City. They stopped by my cousin Annie's that evening.

On the 9th, the day he officially begins his mission, James is getting used to dressing in a suit and tie every day.

They had breakfast at Denny's where they found that Wednesday is Free Breakfast Day for new missionaries. That seemed like a warm way to be welcomed--despite 5 new inches of snow.










A little break in his study.






James shows that he has started his letter writing--not that we didn't think he would.
James sees the Provo Temple, across the street from the MTC before entering at 12:30.


























In front of the MTC building.
Signing in











Both Dave and I were in the MTC 28 years ago--a couple months apart. Now Dave passes the torch to the second generation Elder Meiners.
For those who would like to follow Elder Meiners' mission through his letters, you can go to his blog eldermeiners.blogspot.com (or click on it on my sidebar.)

Flying to the MTC

James' last breakfast at home for awhile.














Elder Meiners left Maryland for the MTC on January 8th. We said goodbye to him at the airport at about 6:30 am. He and Dave flew to SLC together and James entered the MTC at 12:30 on the 9th.

When Dave told James after their flight that he looked and acted like a missionary, James said, "I AM a missionary."