In Utah

Visiting Grandma Johnson in St. George

Following graduation, on Saturday morning, after assuring Nicole that we would not take the Cove Fort tour again (she asserts she has memorized the script), we headed south on I-15 toward St. George. We were pleased to see Grandma feeling perky and in good spirits. On Sunday we attended the branch sacrament meeting at her residence facility (an easy commute -- down the hall and around the corner) and enjoyed a home-cooked Sunday dinner prepared in Uncle Don's and RoseMery's kitchen and transported to the private dining room at the residence.

Grandma does not let her 92 years or her infirmities stop her from sharing the gospel. When she learned that another resident was from Santa Rosa, California (where Grandma served as a senior missionary) and was a member of the Church but not attending meetings, she invited her to come to sacrament meeting. When Grandma saw the lady was not present five minutes before the meeting started, she wheeled her chair down the hall, knocked on the lady's door, and persuaded her to come. Would that we all will endure as faithfully as Grandma!

Wedding Bells

It's official! Ashley has accepted Ryan Smith's proposal of marriage and they have set the date for 27 December 2008 in the Washington, D.C. temple. When Ashley arrived with her parents at the Salt Lake City airport thinking that she would meet Ryan in Provo, she heard her name paged with a request to go to the Southwest ticket counter. There Ryan appeared and spirited her off to a romantic dinner, a drive to the foothills, and a traditional bended-knee proposal. An eight-dollar WalMart ring (soon to be replaced) sealed the engagement.

Sara and her fiance Ian are also firming up their plans. They are looking to a destination wedding in Puerto Rico on February 24, 2009.

Education Week -- Our August Tradition

Along with Wendy, Steve, and Ashley, Mom, Dad, and Nicole had another stimulating vacation at BYU Education Week. After learning that a two-bedroom suite at the Residence Inn costs only a few dollars more than a one bedroom, we had the pleasure of being together more while lowering our vacation costs.

Happily, we found Aunt Jane and Uncle Jay among the 20,000 or so in attendance and were pleased to share some classes with them and to enjoy enchiladas together with them at Los Hermanos.

After Education Week, Wendy and Steve returned to Maryland. We checked out of the Residence Inn and moved up to the Spring Hill Suites at Thanksgiving Point where Ashley and Nicole were thrilled to share a real bed rather than share the living room sofabed. On Saturday, while Nicole was at her former roommate Janelle's wedding reception in Bountiful, Mom and Dad paid their respects at Grandpa Johnson's and Aunt Marilyn's gravesites in the cemetery there. We drove to South Jordan to visit Aunt Maurine, walked through Temple Square, and had a inspiring hour watching the Joseph Smith film.

On Sunday we went to Church with Dan and Nadine Olsen who are Holly's in-laws. We were delighted to see them and even more pleased to see how well Dan is doing. Then we had a nice dinner and visit with Maurine and her family.

Home Sweet Home Again

Holly (who seems to have become our official airport transporter) picked us at BWI on Monday evening. Ken Bowler, our stake patriarch, was also on the flight and accepted our offer of a ride home. We had the sweet surprise to find Sadie snoozing in car seat in the back. Our tired little girl managed a sleepy smile before drifting off again.

Except for the wild party that the deer had in our yard and garden reveling in the green beans, peppers, and hosta, we found all well at home and are happy to be back refreshed and assuming our familiar routines.

A Story of Love and Service

Levi Savage possessed great love. When the Willie and Martin handcart companies were discussing whether to leave for the Salt Lake Valley late in the year of 1856 or wait until the next year, Elder Savage tried to persuade these anxious saints to wait because he feared that bad weather would be encountered. He said, "What I have said I know to be true; but seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you; will help all I can; will work with you, will rest with you, will suffer with you and if necessary will die with you.

May God in his mercy bless and preserve us."