MLK Day & Shenyang in May!

Okay we're sorry. . . last week just kind of dissappeared in activity. Not updating the blog was not intentional, there's too much to do too little time. But the last couple of weeks have been EVENTFUL.

Martin Luther King Day

Monday January 21 was Martin Luther King Day, a holiday in the U.S. We thought you would enjoy the photo of the flags and our house in the snow. We enjoyed the holiday, even got in a few games of Settlers of Catan. Joseph enjoyed playing as well. Elizabeth received The Settlers of Zarahemla (the LDS version) for Christmas. We heard the original had extension packs for more players and tryed it out. There aren't many times, with Joseph and his friends, that a game for just four players will suffice.

The Big News: China in May-June

Friday night Tim and Gloria were at the neighbors enjoying the first course of the Ward High Priest Progressive Dinner when Tim got a call from Joseph. NEWS FROM CHINA: We are on for May 5th through June 25th for the stem cell treatment in Shenyang China. By the time the group came to our place for the main course Joseph was already an expert on the city.

"Shenyang is the capital city of Liaoning province in Northeast China. It is a sub-provincial city with a population of 7.2 million within its administrative area of 12,924 km². The Shenyang metropolitan area is 7400 km² in size and has a population of 5.53 million. Along with its nearby cities, Shenyang is an important industrial center in China, and the transportation and commercial centre of China's Northeastern region."

The image from Google Earth shows the relationship with Beijing (Click to enlarge). The second shows the Liaoning Province. Note the relationship with Inner Mongolia and North Korea. The last photo is Shenyang at night, Wow.

The Hard Part Begins
Now comes the challenge: raising $50k by April 5th. We'll get started immediately. . . stay tuned. Neuroworx is prepared to receive the tax deductabile contributions and Joseph still has open the account in his name for donations at Zion's bank. Some of you have already been in contact. We love you. Joseph is so motivated and excited, suddenly with the date set the reality hits - - -and he is excited. More to come later.

Two Years In and Moving Fast

On the 5th of January it was two years since the accident in Guatemala. To mark the passing of such a monumental point in history, Joseph and the Taggart family --- went quietly on with living. There are great things to celebrate each day. . . somethings are worth noting but without celebration. However here are some things to celebrate since the last blog entry:

A Piece of the Rock

Another piece of Montericco beach from Guatemala emerges from Joseph's ear (see photo). The black Basalt sand was extracted almost exactly TWO YEARS later. How bizarre is that! Google Earth now has high resolution satellite images in that part of Guatemala including the beach (See photos), note the black sand beach and the surf. If you note the coordinates on the bottom of the images you can go the the spot on Google Earth and see for yourself (it's free).

Utah State Capitol Re-dedicated

On the 5th a more appropriate occasion for celebration was the re-dedication of the refurbished State Capitol building. It is beautiful and now more earthquake proof. It's been closed for three years during the work. Tim can see it out of the 22nd floor window of his office at the COB each day. It is a remarkable building. Joseph had the opportunity to take a complete tour on Thursday when he went to his meetings there with his assignment as Chairman of Higher Education with the Legisative Coalition for People with Disabilities. He actually did a review of accesability of portions of the building for the Council and suggested some improvements (on which they say they will act).

To read more about the Capitol re-dedication see: http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695241527,00.html

Classes Begin at University

If you hate school you won't understand the delight with which Joseph views the beginning of the new semester at the University of Utah. His classes include:

-Comparative Politics

-Foundations of Politics in International Economic Relations

-Law and Politics

-Contemporary Issues (Portuguese)

Friends are Amazing

This has been a great season of becoming reaquainted with friends from all over the world. Joseph has really enjoyed Facebook and has many of his friends in it (even has Dad hooked). With the holiday cards and emails each day brings new joys of growing families and "Life Going On".

Welcome 2008

2008! Unbelievable! With great anticipation we welcome the new year. It's a time of renewal . . . for us this week has been a time of renewing friendships and celebrating family ties. We've visited so many by email and phone, but we've especially enjoyed the visits from old friends.

On Friday Gloria, Tim and Elizabeth met Angela (Skinner) Atkinson and her husband downtown and took them to lunch at the Red Iguana. They are from Norwich England just over on holiday. Angela was one of our missionaries in the England Bristol Mission. What a joy to see her again and to meet her wonderful husband.

Saturday memories of days in Bristol continued when the Aldridge family stopped by on their way home from Chirstmas in Disneyland. Bruce and Yvonne and their daughter Lisa were great friends of Tim, Gloria, and Joseph in Bristol during the mission. We all enjoyed visiting before they had to return to Alberta Canada where they are now living.

After a New Year's eve visiting Gloria's parents in Logan we spent the evening with neighborhood friends and welcomed the new year as a family.

Today our homesickness was topped up when Chrissie and Celyn Willicombe from Pontarddulais, Wales (between Swansea and Llanelli, don't you love Chrissie's photo of their street sign) spent the day visiting. Danny Willicombe was our assistant in the mission and we still love and miss him. It was so great to visit with the girls on holiday, though. We had a wonderful time together, it was especially great to meet Celyn with her beautiful bright eyes like her dad. These are two intelligent and lovely ladies. . . and fun too! Chrissie is a terriffic photographer, we include her photo of Temple Square from last night.

Wherever you are, we wish you an eventful and engaging new year--knowing you will be as happy as you choose to be. For us, it will be a GREAT YEAR. Thanks for all your love, prayers and friendship.