Utah!

I have finally taken a trip to Utah. It was wonderful. Seth picked me up from the airport and we immediately drove to downtown Salt Lake. His school is two blocks away from Temple Square! He showed me around his school and then we took the tram the took blocks to Temple Square. It is absolutely gorgeous there. Since we were literally to the only ones walking around, the sister missionaries bombarded us, asking for names of people to teach. I loved seeing all the sisters from so many different countries. Seth knows a little bit of Japanese and was talking with one of the sisters. After walking around and peeking inside all the buildings Seth and I crossed the street to the Conference Center. That thing doesn't look that big, but it is HUGE inside! We took a short tour and the rest of our group were nonmembers. I learned that all but two pieces of artwork are the originals and that there is no religious symbolism in the building due to complaints from (I presume) nonmembers, the stage the choir sits on is literally held up by car jacks and it is divided into 4-6 seat sections so it can be easily removed to make a full stage, and that from any seat in the conference room you will get the same quality of sound. So after the tour we walked to the Joseph Smith building were there is a restaurant located on the top floor with a spectacular view of the temple. After dinner we drove to Orem and watched the movie Avatar in 3D. It is a much see for those of you who haven't. Kelly, while Seth and I were waiting for the movie (we had a hour before the next showing) we walked around in the mall across the parking lot and guess who we saw there? Nathan, Jelaire and Avery! But I didn't stop to say hi because 1.) Nathan might not recognize me and 2.) they were talking with a salesperson. It was just a funny coincidence. Saturday Seth and I had lunch with a return sister missionary from his mission. Lisa was hilarious! She is currently teaching at the MTC and going to BYU. Then Seth took me to see his Dad's work at BYU. His dad is a TA in the physics dept. We walked all over campus and then headed to the BYU Creamery. Yum! We exchaged Christmas gifts at his house and I ate dinner with his family at the Cracker Barrel. Man, they have some good food there! Sunday Seth and I attended both the family ward and a singles ward. I got to meet his friend Nate who he baptized. The evening we drove to Spanish Fork to have dinner with an old ward mission leader. Seth lived in their house his last transfer. They have a huge basement with bedrooms, a bathroom and kitchen. We walked in and three little girls start yelling "Elder Blakley! Elder Blakley!" And the dinner was A-Mazing! Something with shredded boiled chicken with bread crumbs wrapped in crescent rolls topped with some kind of peanut or cashew, then you top it all off with some cream of chicken soup. I really want that recipe, and I dont think my explanation does it justice. Then Monday morning I had to fly back to Oregon. I almost missed my flight because they changed the gate after I printed my boarding pass. I finally figured it out and as I am speed walking to the desk the lady says "Devon, we've been waiting for you!" But I was not the last one to be seated, which spared me some embarrassment. Overall it was an excellent trip, but I am sorry to say I only took one picture the entire time. My camera was always in the car.