Memorable March Moments

March is another big birthday month for our family starting out with Zack's on the 3rd, followed by Jeff's on the 6th, mine on the 10th, Doug's on the 24th, Brynlee's on the 27th, and Kristine's on the 29th.  

I was pleased when Beth called on my birthday to say she and her family would be bringing food over for dinner that evening.  When she brought in the huge pot of alfredo sauce, I thought we would be having a lot left and didn't know she had actually more food waiting in the car to bring in later in order to keep me from guessing what was ahead.  Then when Sarah, Derek, and Anna came, I thought how nice Beth invited them, too, since they live in Spanish Fork; but I probably should have been tipped off when I saw the large pot of marinara sauce Sarah brought.  By the time Ryan's family started to arrive, I realized this was a bigger event than I had been told.  What a nice surprise it was to have family members come to help me celebrate my birthday.

Opening the gift from Tani,

which is a box full of very nice greeting cards she made.

 How fun to have the college grandchildren

come for the party along with Ryan's and Beth's families.

While the adults enjoyed visiting after the delicious meal, 

the younger grandchildren opted to have fun in the sport court or play downstairs.

(Shown in the photo above are Ryan, Rebecca, Anna, Derek, Judd, Ami, Kyle, Koryn,

Maggie, Trevor, Maggie, Tani, Jared, Sam, Todd, and Narene.)

Carson and Maria missed being in the

picture above, so they joined Sam and me for a birthday photo.

Rebecca and Anna liked sitting on Ryan's lap.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 We were delighted to have our good friend, 

Valentina Demina,

join our Empty Nesters group Monday, March 17,

to talk about her life in Russia.

As a bonus, Valentina volunteered to make Russian blini

for the group as part of our refreshments.

We became friends with Valentina while

serving our mission in Moscow where we served with her

in the Service Center.  She was in the finance department.

Valentina later moved to Idaho Falls to be near her married daughter

and then returned to serve a mission in Rostov where Vlad Nechiporov

was the mission president.  Following Valentina's mission,

she was hired by the church to work in the finance department

in Salt Lake City doing similar work as she had done in Moscow.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Maggie (Curtis and Marla's) is excited to be called to serve

a Spanish-speaking mission in Florida

and will first go to the MTC in Mexico,
leaving May 28th.

What a special occasion for us to be with Maggie in the temple

Friday, March 21.

(Maggie above with her siblings, Trevor and Sarah,

 after being in the temple with Maggie.)

 It was such a memorable time being in the Provo Temple

with Maggie and those who love her and were able to be there.

(Grampa Sam, Gramma Narene, Trevor, Maggie, Sarah, Derek,

Doug, Tani, Shannon, and Beth - Ryan took the picture.)

After leaving the temple, we went for hamburgers

and fries at JCW in Provo; and Marisa and her roommate joined us.

(Marisa's roommate, Marisa, Maggie, Sam, Narene, Trevor,

Shannon, and Doug)

In good company at JCW.

(Shannon, Doug, Derek, Sarah, Ryan, Tani,

Beth, Maggie, Sam, Narene, and Trevor)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our grandson Brady (facing forward), Ryan and Tani's son,

received his mission call on March 19th.

He will be serving in the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission
and entering the MTC on June 11th.

We appreciated watching him open his mission letter via iChat.

(Tani, Kyle, Brady, and Koryn;
photo taken at my birthday party.)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

On March 29th, we attended Brynlee's baptism in Layton (Doug and Shannon's daughter).

After the baptism, Shannon had prepared a nice luncheon

at their home.  

We are pleased we could share this special day with Brynlee.
(Grampa Sam, Brynlee, and Gramma Narene)
March 29, 2014