Week of December 20, 2015

Monday one of the teachers who was scheduled to teach on Tuesday called to say she wouldn’t make it. I was asked if I was prepared to teach one of the three hours. It was a class I have been preparing to teach in a week so I agreed. I was actually pretty excited. Because we are changing curriculum in January, only the first hour of this class will be taught in the future. So I had the opportunity to teach my first class. I spent most of the evening revising my notes to make sure I had the proper examples and instructions. On Tuesday when I taught the teacher for the second hour went over her time and only left me with about half an hour. It turned out to be just the right amount of time and I felt like it went well. I am going to enjoy this.

Salt Lake in the snow

Heather and Scott were in town so after class we hurried to the food court at City Creek to meet Heather and the children. I was afraid they wouldn’t be able to come because our morning rain had turned to snow and it was much heavier in Utah Valley. We enjoyed the time with them and got back to the teaching lab in time to help with the last class of the day.

Utah State Capitol Building

Sidewalk Street Sign by Capitol Building -- Oops!

Thursday the library was closed. We went for a walk in the afternoon, climbing some pretty steep hills. We ended at the capitol building but we saw some beautiful old homes along the way, most of which are converted into apartments or bed and breakfasts and several of which are Utah Historical Sites. We were able to go inside to the capitol building. It is a beautiful building with lots of marble on the walls and floors. We were able to find the statue of Philo Farnsworth who is credited with inventing the television. He is a cousin of my mom so we took a picture. 

Philo Taylor Farnsworth, Father of Television

After we returned home we drove to Orem to be with my sister Sue Flick and family for their Christmas Eve. We had a yummy meal then a fun program. Each family had a talent number and shared a memory of Sue and Roger. I was very touched by the things they did with their family. One of their grandsons, Steven Mitchell , is on a mission in Philadelphia. His brother had a video of him playing the piano and singing “Nearer My God to Thee”, partly in English and partly in Spanish. (Of note, he did not play the piano when he left home.) It was very touching and a surprise to everyone.

When it was time to leave we discovered it had started snowing. It was a little scary on the roads when we couldn’t see the lanes. We had a prayer for protection then forged ahead, thinking the freeway would be better—it was not. We went 30-40 mph most of the way, trying to follow in the tracks of vehicles in front of us. The snow was falling fairly heavily although it was small flakes. Somewhere in the area of the Point of the Mountain we began to lose traction. The car slid a bit to the left then to the right; we turned about 90 degrees to the left and then back to the right. We started turning in a full circle to the left—a donut. All of this was with a fair amount of traffic in the vicinity--it was a wonder we were not hit. When we had gone nearly the entire circle, we headed straight toward the concrete barriers at the side of the road. I was sure we would hit them although I do remember thinking the rear of the car would catch the hit. I also remember thinking we were for sure going to hit the barriers fairly hard. As we neared the concrete, somehow the car straightened itself and came to a stop about 12 inches away from the concrete blocks, facing the right direction. I was so scared I was in tears, but immediately I had the thought that the Lord had protected us. I was so touched by this blessing and this evidence of God’s hand in our lives. (Ironically, as we got a short distance into the Salt Lake Valley, the snow slowed, the roads cleared, and the snow stopped completely. The roads were dry like there had been no snow at all.)

Friday, Christmas morning, I woke fairly early and lay in bed reflecting on our experience Christmas Eve. I felt an overwhelming sense of Heavenly Father’s love for me and I felt a great testimony of the reality of God’s hand in our lives and the love and protection He gives us. I pondered this as I drifted in and out of sleep, but each time I thought about the events of our drive Christmas Eve I had a new impression that this was evidence of God’s love and His support in my life. I am so grateful for this tremendous event and the impressions I received. It brought me great peace.

Christmas Brunch--Sisters from (back) England, India, Tasmania, (Ted), visitor, Ireland; (front) France, Australia

As I post this Christmas message, I would like to wish all a very merry Christmas and encourage all to take the time to reflect on the great blessing we have because of Our Savior Jesus Christ and His love for us. While we could have had serious physical damage if our car had crashed, we would be subject to greater spiritual anguish without the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He has made it possible for all of us to return to be with Him and Our Father in Heaven. I am eternally grateful for that and indebted to Him for all He does to bless our lives. Merry Christmas!