I’m in the phase now of doing "Things for the Last Time". Yesterday was my last day as an ordinance worker at the Denver Temple. The next time I’m in that temple (which will be this coming Thursday), I’ll be a normal patron and am not even supposed to know about things like Instruction Rooms, Study Rooms, Worker Locker Rooms, closets with Voban and towels, what’s in the bureau drawers, and all that sort of stuff. We had a new worker start yesterday. He’s the High Priest Group Leader in our ward, former Bishop, former High Councilor, and an all around good man. He was quite surprised at all the work and organization that goes on behind the scene so that Temple patrons can have a good, fulfilling experience at the temple. Nina still has two more shifts to work, so she’s not yet to her "Last Day as an Ordinance Worker in the Denver Temple". On the way home we decided that our main purpose for being in Colorado Springs was to work at the Denver Temple and become thoroughly acquainted with that critically important part of the Church. What will be our purpose in Pocatello, Idaho? Maybe when we’ve been there as long as we’ve been here that’ll start to become clear.

I’ve also been to my last Tuesday night Mutual activity. This coming week I’ll be in Milpitas, California, on Tuesday night for a going-away dinner sponsored by my boss. Next Sunday I’ll be released as Young Men’s President and won’t have that set of responsibility any more. I’ve only been in this calling for a little more than six months, but it has been a good experience for me. I’ve come to know a few of the young men quite well — and I now know all of their names. We’ve some very good young men in the ward who love the Lord and are figuring out their worth and relationship with our Savior. I’ll miss them and the opportunity to be more of an influence in their lives.

As I go places, I’ve started thinking,"Will I ever drive down this street again?" or, "Is this the last time I’ll be in this store?" In most cases it’s probably true, but certainly not life altering. However, a week from tomorrow, I’ll drive to my current office for the last time, never to be there again. On the other hand, I’ve still got the back end of my car full of junk computer stuff. There was supposed to have been a recycle day last Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. I drove over to be there right a 9 a.m. since we needed to leave at 10:15 to drive to Denver. Several other cars pulled up as I got there, but the doors were closed. Finally after about 20 minutes of waiting with no activity, I called Nina and got the phone number from the advertisement. The recorded message said that the activity had been called off due to bad weather. Thursday’s weather was bad, much of Friday’s was bad, but Friday afternoon was a lovely day and Saturday was a near perfect day. The recycle event hasn’t been rescheduled, so now I’ve got to figure out what to do with all this stuff. I’d think the weather would have to be absolutely miserable to call off such an event!

I’ve attended my last Sunday morning Leadership Meeting in this ward. This weekend was Ward Conference with sessions last night and this morning. We have a very spiritually engaged Stake Presidency and Bishopric and the conference was one of the best I’ve attended in many years. The theme of the conference was The Lord’s Love and we were well taught out of the scriptures and through testimony. In the general session this morning, the Stake President called up a number of people to bear their testimony. All of a sudden, Nina’s name was called. She sure was surprised! She bore a wonderful testimony that was referred to several times as the Stake President spoke later in the meeting. What an awesome woman!

We’re just about ready to list the house. We’ve a few minor things to do, some touch-up painting to get done, and some more stuff to bring up from the basement to go to the trash. The window washers are coming on Monday and the carpet cleaners will be here on Tuesday. We’ll sign the paperwork to list the house tomorrow and it’ll be on the market starting Wednesday. That’s another major milestone! We’re hoping that we’ve got it priced well so that it’ll move quickly. I think this is a good time to be selling a house. Hopefully it’ll be a good time to buy a house in Pocatello. We’re both thinking that there probably isn’t as much demand for housing in Pocatello as there is here in Colorado Springs.

Two weeks from today I’ll be settled into a campground in Pocatello getting ready to report for work at a new job. This coming week will be almost a whirlwind of activity followed by another week of wrap-up. Lots of "Things for the Last Time" over the next ten days. The mood is one of nostalgia coupled with a quiet excitement.