A Visitor and Independence Day

A Visitor


We had a visitor for a few days this week. Jeff Bullock, a young man from Colorado came to see Nicole and spent the holiday weekend in our home. Jeff is very, very nice and we like him a lot. Even Dad who is not easily impressed was won over by him and came away very favorably struck by what he observed and heard.

Independence Day

Despite the rain and humidity so thick you could bottle it, we had a great July 4th celebration at Wendy's house. The rain diminished enough for Dad to cook the hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken outside on the grill. Besides the corn on the cob, chips, fruit salad, and potato salad, Wendy baked two pies from the cherries and blueberries she and Ashley picked in their yard. We also loved the homemade vanilla ice cream to go with the pies. It was truly a day to forget diets.

For entertainment, Ryan and his friend Ben Holt set off some great rockets. After dark, Michael and Dave presented our fireworks spectacular and we ended the day with the last of the sparklers. After many patient tries, Holly was to capture a fine photo of Michael writing his name in the air with a sparkler.

The Rest of the Story

Speaking of Michael, our boy wonder's latest interest is reading the business section of the Washington Post each day. How many ten-year-olds do that?

This past week we had the driveway repaved and our cracked and crumbling drive is now covered with pristine asphalt. Fortunately Mom was able to do her bi-weekly Costco shopping trip and carry the groceries and supplies into the house before the crews arrived and we had to park the car across the street.

Dad put in another productive Saturday with outside maintenance and yard work. With some help from Steve, he has fixed the loose gutters. Nicole has been keeping the flower beds tidy.

We were happy to wish Brett a happy birthday this week. We wish we could have had cake and ice cream together but Brett had some fine plans for the day -- out to lunch and the new Pixar movie after work. One of Brett's recent adventures has been a 300 mile bike trip up the California coast.

Here is a good financial post and at the bottom, President J. Reuben Clark is quoted and BYU is mentioned. I thought you might find it interesting.

Here is a thought from President Benson: “The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment."