PIERRE, or PIER

September 16th we drove through Fargo, SD to finish missionary apartment inspections in that zone and then drove on to Pierre, SD where we had a weekend district conference to attend. Pierre is the smallest state capital in the nation. It is spelled Pierre but if you say it that way, South Dakotans may look at you with a blank face. They pronounce it like the place you tie your ship when you dock it: Pier. Say it in one and a half syllables and you've got it. 

With the apartment visits, the drive was 9-10 hours, but we loved it.  

The Great Plains are ripening toward harvest time and it is beautiful. Our particular favorite fields are the giant sunflowers. They are past their peak now, Their big heads are heavy and drooping and the yellow flowers starting to wilt, but occasionally you still find some hanging on to the glory. 

Loretta finally got a new phone a month ago, an iPhone 6. It has a great camera ("For a phone" points out Darrell) and she is discovering the joy of taking pictures, even to the point of doing her own 'selfies.'

See below: 

Resulting in: 

We have been quite excited for this district conference because our kid brother Rulon and his wife Linda were scheduled to be there. Rulon was assigned to be the first member of the 70 to visit a Pierre District Conference. Also, since we would be cutting 8+ hours out of the drive to get Loretta's car to us, Megan and Kevin agreed to drive it to Pier, uhh, Pierre. Also, since Rulon and Darrell would be together Dad wanted to ride out with the kids.

The Utahns drove all night and arrived in
Pierre in time to have breakfast with us. 

Conference was outstanding. There was a great spirit there and it was really enjoyable to watch Rulon preside at a conference. He's still Rulon with the sense of humor and personality, but there was more. When he was speaking or running a leadership meeting the mantle of his calling was there and he was magnified by his calling in a way that was inspiring and testimony building. 

If he reads this he will blush, but we're kinda
proud of Rulon and glad to be his big sibs.  

Loretta with Kevin and Megan. Picture taken by
Linda at a park next to the Missouri River in Pierre.
They had a picnic lunch here while waiting for
Darrell and Rulon who both had some interviews
to perform and a meeting to attend after conference.   

Following conference activities, Megan and Kevin, had to fly home from the Pierre airport since neither of them could get Monday off. Dad drove to Minneapolis with Rulon and Linda to spend a little more time with them before flying home from there.

Yes, there is an airport in Pierre. It has security too. 

We drove back in separate cars and obviously didn't quite enjoy the drive to Bemidji as much as the drive to Pierre. We spent Sunday night at a motel in Jamestown, ND and when we got into Bemidji Monday, it felt like home.