Sara's Wedding, Nicole's Recital, Shower, Fire

Congratualtions to Sara and Ian!
Sara and Ian are married! We are so happy to welcome Ian to our family. We had a wonderful time in Fajardo, Puerto Rico meeting Ian's family and celebrating the wedding. Sara did a fantastic job in finding a beautiful site, arranging a great reception, coordinating countless details to make such a memorable occasion.

We loved being together as a family to be with Sara and Ian. We managed a little sight-seeing, too. This iguana is posing on the walls of the old San Juan fort.

Holly and Wendy pose by a collection of cannonballs.


We drove up, up and over the mountain over interminable switchbacks and spectacular vistas to reach the El Yunque rain forest. We hoped our trek through the rain forest would be worth the lurching we felt in our stomachs from our dizzying drive! With Brett as our guide, we hiked the trails to the beautiful falls -- a fantastic experience we will never forget. Here are Wendy, Lindsay, and Dad.

Here we see Brett and Wendy at the pool at the bottom on the falls.


The day after the wedding, we spent the day at 7 Seas beach in Fajardo. Mom and Dad rested in lounge chairs under the palms and watched the younger generation enjoy, as Jane Austin would say, some "sea bathing."

Watching Lindsay was so much fun! Here she models a seaweed hairdo.


What a contrast! One day we were basking in soft tropical breezes and then we returned home to the biggest snow of the season. March roared in like a lion!

Nicole's Recital

We were home just a few days and then we were off to Utah to be with Nicole for her senior piano recital. Nicole's performance was fantastic -- as her teacher said in congratulating her, "Phenomenal!" Nicole played an hour long program: Piano Sonata No. 3 from Dello Joio, French Suite No. 6 from Bach, Chopin's Scherzo No. 4, Sonata in D Major by Mozart. Ashley joined her for the final number, Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos by Rachmaninoff. We could not have been prouder of Nicole and Ashley. We were happy to see the family members who were able to come to the recital: Percy and Clara, Larry and Judy Payne, cousins Doug, Brent, and Christine Johnson. We thank Doug for taking these pictures afterward. Here we see a very happy Nicole and Jeff.

Ashley and Nicole, who have been playing together since they were five years old.


The next day we devoted to wedding preparations. The morning activity was a trip to the bridal shop for the fitting of Nicole's wedding gown. That afternoon Jeff took us to meet his grandparents -- a sweet and memorable occasion for us. Then it was on to Centerville where Jeff's Aunt Pam was hosting a bridal shower for Nicole. The theme of the shower was a "wedding gone wrong" that the the guests were invited to correct. Here we see Jeff's Aunt Gayle, Aunt Pam, and Grandmother Packer as Nicole models a gown from the 1980's (compliments of Deseret Industries).


This is the "wedding buffet" (aka the shower refreshments) prepared by the guests.


Nicole models her updated gown.



Of course, opening presents is a very fun part of a shower! Nicole is opening Ashley's and Wendy's gift here.


A Sobering Day in Our Neighborhood
The morning after we returned from Utah, Mom had just finished a phone call when she heard sirens, and noticed smoke drifting by the window. Our neighbor's house behind us was in flames. Mom ran outside and stood with our neighbors as we all watched in sober fascination as the fire consumed the house. At first, flames could be seen through the first floor windows but in a matter of moments the fire raced through the second floor and through the roof. High winds fanned the blaze and the air was thick with smoke. Fortunately, all the family members had left for work and no one was hurt but the contents of the house were totally destroyed. We later read in the local paper that estimated damage was over $700,000.



Only a few seconds elapsed between these two photos.



A Word from Dad:

One of the most precious gifts I possess is the gift of knowing that God is my Father and He is your Father. I know that he is my Father. I know that we knew Him before we were born and that after we die, we will be surprised when we look upon His face to see how familiar He is to us. I know that.

In the scriptures we learn that our faith will grow if we nourish it. It is best nourished by reading the scriptures and by prayer. We also learn that our faith will wither if it is not nourished. As I study the word of the Lord and as I speak to Him in prayer, my faith and understanding have grown and continue to grow.

I know that God lives. I know that He knows us and that He loves us.