Me and Donny...

I co-wrote a blog entry that went onto my work's blog... I thought it might be a nice addition to mine - since it was all about me... I edited down. If you want to see the whole post or other posts from my work, the address is coveycenter.blogspot.com There are some really good ones!

The "Coolest Dad in the World" award goes to Donny Osmond for flying in yesterday afternoon for 20 minutes to watch his son's sound check for that evening's Mormon Times Showcase Concert Competition and immediately flying back out for a Las Vegas performance. It was the good luck charm that Brandon needed to win the $5,000 grand prize.
During sound check, Donny was the devoted dad and afterward he gave his well wishes to the technical crew. Actually, he came up behind Jenni, our star-struck scheduling coordinator and startled her when he grabbed her shoulders, asking her to take good care of his son. Jenni shook her head and immediately sent out a dozen text messages to a handful of star-obsessed friends and family who enjoy a good laugh: "Donny Osmond touched me!"

Disclaimer: Jenni thrives off of sarcasm and will do anything to make others laugh.

The Blowing Wind...

Something is in the air - the wind is blowing hard... (I wanted this to be separate from my other post because it takes a different turn...) and I am laughing harder...

I woke up this morning to a dust storm outside my bedroom window. (I don't know what is worse, being able to drink the air with the humidity, or eat it with the dust?!) The wind was sure blowing. A good day off in my opinion- perfect for shopping and straightening around the house.
I decided to be lazy this morning. Bryan had my car so he could run errands, so I relaxed and had a good morning. I planned out our day as Bryan too had the day off. We decided to spend time together. (For those that don't know, Bryan is my younger brother - not to confuse anyone - he is NOT my hot boyfriend -- but if you know of anyone who wants to be my hot boyfriend, I am taking applications...!)
So the plan was to go to the restaurant where my roommate is the cook and have lunch then head up to Ikea. Maybe I should explain the reasoning behind the trip to Ikea...
I live in this apartment that is fully furnished and it isn't super nice furniture. It doesn't need to be - rent is cheap and I am not here all that often. I made a comment to my landlady that all this apartment needed was a fresh coat of paint in the living room and kitchen to make it look nicer. I told her that I made plans to cover the couches in the living room (couches that we affectionately called "Christmas on the Reservation" - they were kind of a Native American "Print" that was red and green) as they were showing some wear and were not that great to look at. She told me not to go to all of that trouble because she was looking for new couches for our living room. She hadn't found any in our price range - but she had been looking for about a month. I knew she was coming by either this week or next to drop off some paperwork so I thought - "If I buy the covers for the couch and get them on there before she gets here - maybe I can convince her not to buy new furniture." Although the Christmas on the Reservation couches were not pleasing to look at - they were sure comfortable - perfect for sitting AND napping (not necessarily at the same time, but you get the gist).
So that is why I went to Ikea. I figured that I could buy about 5 twin flat sheets and cover the couches for under $30. I came home from Ikea put the sheets in the washer and dryer. While they were drying I went up to Salt Lake. I left at 7:15 p.m. At 8:54 p.m. I received a text from my roommate, Ashlee, telling me that our landlady was dropping off our new couches. I kid you not. I am driving back with my roommate Aubrey and we are just laughing our heads off. I have tears rolling down my face and Aubrey is trying to get a handle on driving (mind you it is still super windy) while laughing. It could only happen to me. My timing stinks!
Well - not all was lost. These couches as well a bit worn out (its a really long story) so I have prevailed - or should I say the sheets have prevailed and I will definitely be covering them tomorrow! Oh, and the blue rug that I also bought looks great in the living room. I gotta stop shopping at Ikea. Its a good thing that I don't own my own home... I love that store way too much...

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

I had a really cool experience tonight - actually it was more of a string of cool experiences that made for an awesome night. I was invited along with my old roommate by another one of our old roommates to come up to Salt Lake City and go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. You need tickets to get inside - and our friend that lived in Salt Lake had obtained 10 of them and had invited us Utah County people along. It was about a 20 min drive so Aubrey and I carpooled up. When we were about 5 min. away I got a message from our friend saying she got stuck at work and couldn't meet us up there. The problem was that she had the tickets with her... Thank heaven for Blackberries...Each group had to show a piece of paper with the reservation information on it. Using my handy-dandy Blackberry, I was able to get the information that was on the tickets... Well, Aubs and I walked up and when they asked for our paper - I handed the man my phone. "Well, this works - come on in" he told us. That convinced Aubrey right then and there that she too, could not live without a Blackberry!

When you first get to the temple grounds - they escort you into a tent where you watch a video about temples and the history of the area where this particular temple is located. Well, Salt Lake City and the surrounding area (including Provo) has had REALLY AWFUL wind all day. It wasn't much better up on the hills of the Oquirrh Mountains. As we were sitting in the tent waiting for the video to start (and during the video as well) the wind howled around us, shaking the tent. We heard things falling over outside the tent - and I was afraid we were off to Munchkin Land or the Land of Oz very shortly... But we made it through and then walked into the temple in one piece. Once inside the temple - it was still, still and peaceful.

Now to my favorite part of the night. The open house is a way for everyone to see the temple before it is dedicated. Once it is dedicated, only worthy members can enter and walk through the temple. It really is a walking tour of the building and they show you what the temple looks like. You walk through without an escort until the end where you end up at the sealing room. The sealing room is where couples are married, not death do you part, but for time and all eternity and families are linked together forever. It is one of the most wonderful places in the whole building. They have you come into a sealing room and sit down and a married couple explains and shares their testimony about what the temple means to them. When Aubrey and I sat down with our group - the wife was crying. Then she explained her tears... 39 years ago today, she and her husband were married and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Part of group that we were sitting with contained all 6 of their children and their spouses as well as all 21 of their grandchildren... and they didn't even know they were coming! Their children had surprised them with the best gift - (some of their children traveled as far away as Nebraska) the entire family together on their anniversary in the place where families sealed together. How cool is that?! It was very hard to keep back the tears that formed on my eyes.

It was an awesome experience. I love going to the temple and feeling the love that our Heavenly Father has for all of us. That moment in the sealing room will stick with me for a long time. I am very grateful to a friend for making the reservations, and an awesome phone for helping us get in.