We had a great time with Ty and Taylor this week. I picked them up at the SLC Airport on Sunday morning. The first thing Ty said to me when he came out to the car was, "Someone picked up Taylor's suitcase. We're tracking it down." It seems that when all the bags were picked up, there was only one left and although it looked exactly like Taylor's bag, it wasn't. Which means that someone picked up Taylor's bag thinking it was his. Delta was able to reach this other guy by cell phone and, since he was only about 20 minutes away from the airport, he came back and swapped bags with Taylor.
The first thing Taylor said to me when he got in the car was, "Turn off your radio...I've been set apart." I turned it off. I asked him if he planned on keeping all the commandments and he said, "Yes, everyone of them."
We drove directly to my church and got there in time for Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting. After church, we just hung out and talked while Karen and I fixed dinner for our regular Sunday Family Dinner.
Taylor and Ty fit right in. We had a great time visiting with them during dinner and then afterwards during dessert. They also joined us when 3 couples came over for our Sunday Evening Make Fun of the Members Dessert Gala.
On Monday, Ty, Taylor, and I went to the Missionary Mall where Taylor picked out two identical, matching, bookend, solid black suits. No pinstripe. No faint lines. No nothing. Just black!! I thought he was nuts, but he looked great in them. He is, indeed, a Man in Black.
We dinked around on Monday, eating lunch and Jared and Joni's place...The Smokehouse. Taylor ate a sandwich that was about the size of one of Ty's legs.
We went up to the MTC and had Jenna take some photos of Ty and Taylor hanging at the MTC. Since the new policy is to dump off the bags and the Elder and just drive off, we wanted to have some time for them to see the MTC. Here's a photo of the 3 of us in the main building.
On Tuesday, we went up to SLC to go to the Temple. However, it was closed for repairs and cleaning. The entire Temple Square was torn up. They're doing some major remodeling. We were able to visit both Visitor's Centers (North and South) as well as the Tabernacle, and the Conference Center.
After that, we went to the top of the Joseph Smith Building and had lunch at the Garden Restaurant, overlooking the SLC Temple. The food was great, as were the sights.
We hung out in the Family History Center, waiting for Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration film to start. While there, Taylor was able to meet and talk to a Sister Missionary from Sweden. She was, dare I say, beautiful. If she's an example of what the Swedish women look like, Taylor better keep his eyes in his Book of Mormon.
We enjoyed the film, then drove south to the Timpanogos Temple, where the 3 of us participated in a temple session. What a beautiful edifice.
On Wednesday, we just hung out and eventually took Taylor to the MTC, where we unceremoniously dumped his bags and him and drove off.
Karen and I, as well as our local family, really enjoyed having Ty and Taylor visit us and were thrilled to be their hosts while they were here.
We now have two more family members that we know better and love.
Good luck, Elder Taylor Scott Walraven.
