October 8 Emmett's Baptism
Being in Utah helping with Dad's funeral arrangements, I missed Emmett's baptism. But he was in my thoughts and KR was able to be there on Saturday morning before flying to Utah for the funeral. Congrats Emmett! You have entered the gate.
October 4 Loss of a Father
As the days pass, I contemplate often the temporal death of my father and how complex and wonderful is the relationship of a temporal father and son. The months preceding his passing, and the experiences I had with him then, and the events of that week in October will stay with me forever. It is sad for everyone to be temporarily apart, yet I feel happy for him. He can again do a lot of things he really enjoys (like read a book or do a crossword puzzle) that had been taken away from him as his health failed. The parting is something we can endure. Why? Because I know his spirit lives and he is still with us. I know it. And we will be with him again. It was, for me, a wonderful experience to enjoy a perfect weekend with my extended family. Everyone did so well expressing themselves in word and song, the weather was perfect, and I personally thought the entire weekend was perfectly matched to the man. I am sure there were many that came away from the experience with a renewed vigor to increase their stride. "And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" Revelation 14:13
The Harvest
Between the produce we raised and the fruit we were given by friends, we had a good harvest this year. The two of us did another marathon canning session: 59 quarts of pears, 50 quarts of peaches, and 22 quarts of tomatoes. And our neighbors got to help themselves also as you can see by the picture!
September 25 Ingraham Reunion
KR enjoyed catching up with old friends from high school at the Nile Country Club. It was their 40th Reunion. She doesn't look a day older than the night she invited me to a tolo dance at THE VERY SAME BUILDING in December 1970 when I was home from my freshman year at BYU.
September 24 DAR and More Birthdays
KR and Eunice had a huge DAR activity in Wenatchee called the State Board of Management Meeting. It was the first time in 15 years that it had been held in Wenatchee and everyone thought it was the best BOM2 ever! Way to go ladies! You girls are TNDARM (top notch DAR members). And I am also a pretty good HODAR (husband of DAR member).
The twins had their third birthday party later in the day and, needless to say, there was never a dull moment. Isaac was especially enthralled by the dump truck.
The twins had their third birthday party later in the day and, needless to say, there was never a dull moment. Isaac was especially enthralled by the dump truck.
Being Thankful
We need to be thankful people. I am thankful for many things. I am thankful for 5 good men in the families of our children that work hard to support their families. I am thankful for 5 good women in those families that also help where needed to financially support their families and our grandchildren. I am thankful for the good new jobs that three of them found over the past 12 months that were their first jobs out of school or significant upgrades over their previous employment. Well done!
September 20 The Runaway Vehicle
Clark Dice is a young man of 18 in one of my home teaching families. Some months ago, he managed to run his car into the stairway leading up to the front door of his family home. I arrived home teaching not too long after it happened and as I pulled into the Dice driveway, I noticed a support beam lodged in the windshield of his car. Hhhmmmm! Well, they did get it fixed and painted, so I thought it needed a memorial plaque. Notice the small black object right under the handrail. I had it made at the local trophy store and we held a short christening ceremony for the unveiling. It reads, "Clark Dice Memorial Stairway".
September 17 Garage Sales and Birthdays
We had a full day with the annual Dental Office Garage Sale and Emmett's 8th birthday party. It seems that people are watching out for our sale - KR does such a good job with the items and they are of good quality. We get quite a crowd. I am the accounting manager and Eunice does the change. KR, Marianne, and the other exhibitors keep the goods flowing. What we don't sell we load up in the car and immediately haul it to the Goodwill.
Emmett is growing up TOO fast. He will be baptized in a few weeks. Hard to believe. He wanted a Candyland cake and, well, you know Laurel. She figured it out. It was quite clever.
September 3-10 North to Alaska
Kristi and I enjoyed a wonderful week cruising with the Merrill clan for Monte & Eunice's 60th anniversary\80th birthday celebration - kind of an all-in-one trip. The weather didn't always cooperate, but we had a great time enjoying good company, good scenery, and good food. This Alaska cruise was unique, in that it went up and back, so you were able to skip that expensive air leg. KR got a new hat (she is so cute), got to meet Sara Palin (she is taller than we thought), play game after game of something (KR was in heaven), try on some foxy underwear (Tom), and, thanks to Tom, join the world of major league geocaching. That is Tom hunting for the stash on the Juneau waterfront. We will definitely have to do that again!
August 17-29 Utah
We headed to Utah in mid-August to help with Dad and in Springville with home repairs after the "plumbing incident". On the way through Idaho, KR and I stopped at Bruneau Dunes so she could climb one of them - why do we always pick the hot times of the year (KT and I climbed to the top of this same dune on a very hot day). You can see her progress, the moment of victory, and her burning feet bathing in the cold air from the air conditioning vent. A comment on the picture of her returning through the grass. I was watching her as I was taking pictures and noticed a change in her wariness and speed. As she approached, I made a comment about the huge number of large snakes that bask in the sun in that particular patch of grass. She just smiled. Some things never change. Nor do I want them to change. We were in Springville on Olivia's first day of school and also got to see a double rainbow. Cool.
Envy
In my opinion, a good dictionary ought to have pictures. And right by the word "envy" would be the first picture below (taken at our recent Merrill Reunion). The second picture is added to make sure you don't think we are not fair in the treatment of each of our grandchildren.
August 1-4 Merrill Family Reunion
What a fun time! Almost all of the extended Merrill clan gathered on the Olympic Peninsula at old Fort Worden for a few days of fun under the August sun. The weather held, the food was good, and the bonds of family strengthened. It was a magnificent day on the ride over on the ferry. We also had some low tides to explore the beach and the wandering deer were fun to watch. Fort Worden has some old 1900's-era gun emplacements, much like Fort Casey, to explore. We stayed in the old homes on Officer's Row that have been kept more or less intact over the years. Kudos to Mary for all of the hours she spent planning this event. It was over too quickly.
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