Late August 2021--Neal & Daniel to AZ, Back to School, Lillian-Amelia 10th Bday, Manti Temple Trip

Brandon, Daniel, and Neal watched the Diamondbacks play the Padres in their major league stadium.  

Daniel loves baseball.  They stayed with Brandon and Melody's family over the weekend.  

Katrina and Anna stayed in West Jordan with the grandparents and had a doctor appointment.  Keith came to visit and played musical toys with her.  

Desi's father Rich  was in the West for a missionary homecoming for a granddaughter and a baptism for a grandson.  They ate  at Karen's favorite place.  

Rich, Mike, and Desi attended the Denver Temple.  

Keith's family 

Kim

Amelia and Lillian turned 10 and had a birthday party with 20 of their friends at Hidden Grove Pavilion in Sugarhouse Park. 

The party was from 11 to 2 and everyone wore masks.  There was a lot of free play because this was the first time these school children had seen one another all summer.   

Pizza, drinks, cupcakes, favors and cotton candy made it fun.  

The parachute is always fun.  

Hidden Grove Pavillion

The cupcake cake.  

The creek was very low because of the severe drought.  

John and Kathryn began their work in the Jordan River Temple as ordinance workers.  

We work Wednesday and Thursday afternoon shifts.  

We loved our work as missionaries from February 2009 to July 2021.  Things have certainly changed.  

 

The training lab in the JSMB in 2009

Kathryn Ann and John  at beginning of their mission.  

The TZ trainers in 2009

Online Zoom Training with the trainers in 2021.  

  

Happy first birthday to Spencer and Sarah!  

John and Kathryn Ann went to Sanpete County on August 31 to celebrate their 51st anniversary.  The temple across from UVU is coming along well. 

Kathryn's grandparents' home is beautifully kept by the new owners in Mayfield.  

View of the Manti Temple from Soren Christoffersen's grave in the Manti Cemetery.  Soren is Kathryn's great-grandfather.  

John and Kathryn were married in the Manti Temple in 1970.  Her parents and maternal grandparents were also married here.  John's parents worked here for 4 years and his father memorized all of the male speaking parts.  

John and Kathryn attended a live endowment session then saw the spiral staircases.  This temple will be closed for renovation in October and another temple will be built in Ephraim.  I'm so grateful the beautiful pioneer craftsmanship will be preserved.  We had a wonderful day there with kind, helpful people.  

Early August 2021-- Ethan's baptism, Julie-Jason to TX, Mike's family to UT

Ethan was baptized on August 7, 2021 in Orem with all four of his grandparents and many uncles, aunts, and cousins in attendance.  

Uncle Mike's family came from Colorado.  

 Back:  Jason, Keith, Mike, Mordecai with Ethan and John in front.  

Jason with Sarah and Spencer in West Jordan

Grandpa and Grandma, and Mike's and Keith's family went to Temple Square.

In the Church History Museum there is a new children's temple area.  

Mordecai, Ruby, Milly, Ivy (in teal), Talisa, Kira, and Emily at replica of Conference Center podium.  

On Sunday, August 8, 2021, we had 26 out of our 35 family members in our home!

Ivy is very flexible.  

Lydia and Milly will begin full day Kindergarten this month.  

Emily and Talisa will be in Tenth Grade.  

Mordecai played the piano for us.  Many of the grandchildren play the piano well.  

The front porch is a great place to eat. 

Jason leads the group in a game.  

Keith plays with Sarah and Spencer.  

The grandchildren take a break from playing Ghosts in the Graveyard.  

Back row:  James, Grant, Mordecai, Emily Talisa, Ruby, and Amelia

Front row:  Milly, John, Ethan, Lydia, Lillian, and Ivy

James, Grant and Mordecai

Grandpa, Jason, Julie holding Spencer, Keith, Mike, Kristilyn, and Desi.  Mark and Kim had to leave earlier.  

Spencer and Kira

Extra hugs for Grandma from Spencer and Sarah.  

Salt Lake Airport farewell.  The air was very smoky and polluted because of the the smoke from the California fires.  

Julie and Jason's new home in Texas 

Sarah and Spencer watching the movers from a safe distance inside Jason's office.  

Mike and his family stayed with Keith and his family during their visit.  

Desi and Kim, my beautiful daughters-in-love.  

Desi took us to Arctic Circle for a walk down memory lane.  Mordecai tried out the saddle seats just like his aunts and uncles did when they were young.  

Talisa, Ruby, Kira, Mordecai, and Emily with Ivy and Milly in front.  

Milly

Desi took their children to Lagoon.

Mordecai and Mike on their hike during the Aaronic Priesthood Campout in Colorado.

View of Utah and Salt Lake Valleys from the summit of Mount Olympus

Mike and Keith climbed nearly seven miles to the summit of Mount Olympus.  They hadn't made that hike since Mike was married.  

Mike and Keith at the top of Mount Olympus