Celebration Pt. 1

Three Thousand Miles!
On Friday Joseph's odometer on his wheelchair hit 3,000 miles -- that's farther than the distance from Salt Lake to Hawaii, 1 1/2 times the distance from here to New York, and the equivalent of walking from our house to Las Vegas and back 4 1/2 times! Not a bad pace. . . 'Life in the fast lane' even!

Missionary Moments
This week was filled with wonderful moments with the former missionaries of the England Bristol Mission.

Joaquin Torner called from Spain to tell us he and his wife Irene are expecting a baby boy. Joaquin was one of our EBM assistants. He is now serving as Bishop in Sabadell, outside Barcelona. What a joy.

On Friday we spent the evening with Antti Syvänen from Sweden with his wife Linda and their 3 beautiful children. They are on holiday visiting Church History sites across the US. His old EBM companion Jon Brenay drove up from Arizona with his beautiful wife and 2 children to meet them. They came over to visit along with their EBM comp Eric J. Price. We had a great evening together.

Saturday we got a call from Jasmin Ibrahimovic one of our great missionaries and assistants from Zagreb, Croatia. He was in town for a Tahitian Noni Juice conference (he manages the business in Croatia) and wanted to say hi. He had planned on getting together sooner but HIS APPENDIX BURST and he had to have surgery on Wednesday in Provo. His faith (as well as Noni) sped his recovery. What joy to spend a few hours together again.

Taylorsville Dayzz
The City of Taylorsville (named after John Taylor, the original settler) held it's annual Taylorsville Dayzz festivities this weekend. Saturday evening Elizabeth and the kids arrived and we all went down the street to the celebration. With rides for the kids, a free concert and fireworks afterwards it was great fun.

Season for Friends -- Day for Dads

Service Project for Dad Shaffer
In Logan this week neighbors and family joined together to lay sod at Gloria's father's home. He had dug it up and prepared the ground to be planted so he could eliminate problem vegetation growing in the lawn. Instead, everyone gathered together to put down sod. With 30 or more there, they made short work of it. The new lawn is gorgeous. Happy Father's Day.

Elizabeth's Basement Project
After a few days of people buzzing around hanging wallboard and taping, Elizabeth took on the finish work project this week in the basement. While Denny was out of town at a training conference she painted, laid tile then stained the walls. They installed new carpet Friday and Saturday. It looks awesome! There is still lots to do over time but it will be such a blessing to have the basement usable.

Marci Smith's Wedding
Marci Smith and her brother Matt have been Joseph's best friends since childhood. It was a real pleasure to attend Marci's wedding on Friday. The weather was perfect and she looked stunning. Our whole family loves her and are so delighted with her happiness.

Lyle and Tracy Shamo Mission Farewell
Tim and Gloria had the great pleasure of attending the sacrament meeting for Lyle and Tracy Shamo as they leave, called as mission president of the England London South Mission. Tim has worked next to Lyle for over 25 years in Church Education and in AV. They are serving over the south half of the old England Bristol Mission, Tim Gloria and Joseph's area. Lyle served his first mission there in the 60's. They will be so wonderful in their assignment. We share so many feelings as the leave, taking their daughter Megan with them at about the same age Joseph was when our family left for the UK in 1997. We wish them the best (and their missionaries have the best!)

Father's Day
We all went to Cache Valley this afternoon to celebrate Father's Day together at Elizabeth and Denny's home in Nibley. The weather was perfect and the day was a delight. It is wonderful to have family and to be together!

A Blessing

Today we traveled to Tremonton to be with Gloria's niece and family to share in the blessing of their new baby girl Lilia (photo on right). We enjoyed Scott and Jennifer Seegmiller's beautiful home and visiting with the family. We've missed them since they moved from Salt Lake. It's always a treat to start a Fast Sunday with priesthood blessings followed by the sacrament and testimonies then meet together with those you love. A bit of the Celestial Kingdom on Earth. To see more of the Seemiller's baby see their blog: Jen, Scott, and Kalissa: Lilia's First Month.