Monday, September 5, 2016

Summer Fun 2016, Part 2

This summer has seemed to be a continual round of friends and family coming and going. What fun its been seeing everyone and sharing wonderful times together. Shortly after Park City, JaneAnne joined us in between her activities. John and Julie, Joseph and Anna came for a few days prior to Joseph entering the MTC to begin his missionary training and to learn Russian prior to his serving in the Kiev Ukraine mission.
Visiting the Provo City Center Temple w Julie and Joseph

Me, Anna, Kenzie, Joseph, John, Julie at temple before drop off at MTC
What visit to Provo would be complete without a stop at the BYU Creamery. A great thing to do on a warm summer evening.
Me, Berit, Davis, Delaney, Anders, Mike, Merit, Leif, Stuart and JaneAnne
One of our missionaries from the Federal Way Mission, Stephen Giles, was getting married to his sweetheart, Sarah Card. Several of the missionaries who served in the Olympic Branch (Marshallese) came for the occasion including the Branch Mission Leader, Brian Avery and his wife, Robin. Brian used to serve the missionaries breakfast on a weekly basis, so that was the start of our activities together. We gathered at Brianna Peterson's home in Murray, Utah and Brian and some others did the cooking.


Brianna Peterson and Brian Avery
Jasmine Li, Brianna P, Skyler Anderton, Al Tima, Steve G, Robin, Brian, Me and Dan Cairo
Joanne and Carl Byers had also served with the Avery's (just prior to Sister Henderson and I being assigned to the Branch. So, we arranged a dinner with them and even got some game playing in. I was lucky enough to have Brian and Robin stay with me for a few days!
Joanne and Carl playing some Mexican Love Train

Me and Brian (he's thinking hard about his move)
Friday was the wedding day and it was a day-long affair. We visited the beautiful Payson Temple for the sealing and followed with a wedding lunch and reception in American Fork. We re-connected with several people from my mission to Washington.
Robin, Brian, Cory McKendrick, Me

Pres and Sis Eaton, Jordyn (Verhoef) and Josh Dimond (one week married)

Bearing gift on way to wedding reception, in my front yard
Bryants, Milams and Me at reception

Stephen and Sarah Giles and me
The Avery's left on Sunday and the next day, BYU Education Week started. I was able to attend with Joanne and Carl and it was quite a lot of learning in a short amount of time, but it was great. I was fortunate to also be able to provide beds for long-time friends, Pat and Andy Hilverda from Oregon, who came down for a few days of the Education Week. Another friend, Shari Kelly, from Salem came with us and she spent one night with me as well. So  a lot of in and out for the week. I thought I'd see more people I knew at Education Week, but only a few. Of the 17,000 who attended, I ran into Marva Coombs and my mission president and his wife, Reese and Eva Jean Carter, from my Armenia mission.
Me and the Carters! Sure do love them!
I was also able to visit with a long-time friend from Salem, Sue Allen Wynn, who was in Provo to assist her mother for a bit. She even went walking with me and my friends at 5:50 a.m.
Selfie of me and Sue
I also celebrated my birthday with lots of messages and calls. Nothing like good family and friends! Thanks to Maxine for a beautiful bunch of balloons to celebrate the occasion.

Birthday balloons, 74 this year!

Dave and Connie Peterson also made a fun visit. We visited some, enjoyed 9 holes of golf, a great lunch, and I now have a flower in my yard from them to commemorate the occasion. Thank you very much!
Dave and Connie inside the diner

Me in front of the Art City Trolley

A beautiful hydrangea...here's hoping for a green thumb! Thanks Dave & Connie!
The changing of the seasons is almost upon us and before long the leaves will be changing into a rainbow of colors. Each season there is something different to be grateful for, but every season there is nothing like good friends and family! Thank you for being mine!