I am finally sharing some photos on our blog to bring up to date some of our activities since returning home January 23rd from our travels to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. I have selected photos from this trip which we can continue to enjoy in my latest published Shutterfly book. (Prior to this trip, I finished the Shutterfly book for our Year in Review for 2015.)
January 2016
Sam and I enjoyed touring the new Provo City Center Temple
on January 25th.
on January 25th.
Tours for the public were available January 15 through March 5, 2016.
We watched the dedication March 20th,
which was televised in our stake building.
It is a beautiful temple and incorporates materials and designs from the
Utah Stake Tabernacle that caught fire in 2010.
(This photo was taken at the end of our tour.)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
to see the "Ice Castles" in Midway.
(Sam and Narene)
Hal and Christy; Narene and Sam
A view inside the "Ice Castles."
February 2016
We slowed down a bit in February with both Sam and I having caught colds at the end of January that hung on with a persistent cough, which lasted about three weeks. However, we were blessed to be able to serve in the temple by sucking on cough lozenges to keep from coughing and spreading germs during our regular shift on Tuesdays. Sam did go to the doctor with his deep cough and was diagnosed with bronchitis and given a prescription.
March 2016
* * * * * * * * * * * *
February 2016
We slowed down a bit in February with both Sam and I having caught colds at the end of January that hung on with a persistent cough, which lasted about three weeks. However, we were blessed to be able to serve in the temple by sucking on cough lozenges to keep from coughing and spreading germs during our regular shift on Tuesdays. Sam did go to the doctor with his deep cough and was diagnosed with bronchitis and given a prescription.
March 2016
Jeff came from Arkansas on March 10th to go snowboarding with Doug; and we
celebrated family March birthdays in our home Saturday, March 12th,
with Jeff; Doug and Shannon's family; Todd and Beth's family;
Ryan, Tani, and Marisa;
Derek and Sarah's family; Trevor and Megan;
Maggie and her fiance, Taylor Kuta;
and Trent and Jessica Smyth.
Maggie and her fiance, Taylor Kuta;
and Trent and Jessica Smyth.
(Jeff, Doug, Brynlee, Jessica, and Narene were the ones with March birthdays.)
Photos will be included in my next post entry.
Photos will be included in my next post entry.
The day before (Friday, March 11th), we had a high priests social in our home;
so it was a busy, but fun weekend.
Jeff flew home on March 13th.
Paul and Corban, cute buddies
having fun in the sports court.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Presidential Candidates
Glenn Beck at the Ted Cruz Rally in Provo
March 19, 2016
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Grandchildren Engaged
Jessica Smyth engaged to Trent.
They will be sealed in the Preston England Temple May 31st
following the country of Ireland's required civil marriage on May 30th.
We will be going to the wedding!
Maggie engaged to Taylor Kuta.
They will be married June 24th in the Payson Temple.
We will be going to their wedding, too, which
will be in the temple where we serve each Tuesday.
We had a combined bridal shower for Maggie and Jessica
on Friday, March 25th, at our home.
Scott and Kristine were here from Denver to join the Utah families,
having arrived the evening before with plans to be in Utah to celebrate Easter.
The males watched television and visited downstairs during the shower,
but joined the ladies for the refreshments.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Ina's Funeral
We went to the funeral for my sister-in-law, Ina Nelson,
on Saturday, March 26 (12:30 p.m.).
Greg and Chris Shepard had come for a visit from Dallas, Texas,
the day before; so they were in our home along with
the grandchildren who were not traveling with their parents and us
to the funeral in Saint George.
Those of our family attending the funeral with Sam and me were
Scott and Kristine, Ryan and Tani, Beth, and Doug and Shannon (and Corban).
Ina Shepherd Nelson
1926 - 2016
Married to K. LeRoi Nelson, my brother.
Mother to Marlene and Alan LeRoi, deceased at birth;
Ronald and Harold also deceased;
Karalee (married to David Metcalf); and David LeRoi Nelson (married to Kayleen).
Following the funeral services, Ina's ten grandchildren spread rose petals
along the path before the casket being carried to the hearse.
Photos taken on the day of the funeral will be in the next post entry.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Easter - March 27th
We had choir practice in our home at 10:00 a.m. and sang in our 1:00 sacrament meeting.
Chris and Greg went with us to sacrament meeting and then they
went to Salt Lake City. Doug and Shannon's family, Beth and Todd's family, Sarah and Derek's family, and Trevor and Megan came to our home to share a ham dinner at 5:30 following the Easter egg hunt in the back yard for the children.
Photos taken on Easter will be in a separate blog posting.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Visit with Friends and Russion Mission Reunion
It was a special treat to have Greg and Chris come for a visit. They arrived on March 25th and spent part of their time with us and part of their visit with their son's family in Salt Lake City.
We had lunch at The Garden Restaurant in the
Joseph Smith Memorial Building with the
Shepards and Prices, dear friends we first met on our mission in Russia.
March 28th.
(Sam, Narene, Greg, Chris, Barbara, and Al)
The view of the Salt Lake Temple from the 10th floor
of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
(Canvas covering temporary construction in the foreground
is visible at the right in the photo.)
Visiting the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum
in Salt Lake City - March 30.
(Sam and Narene)
With Chris and Greg enjoying the many nice exhibits at the
Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
On March 31st, it was enjoyable joining others who served in Moscow, Russia
at a Mission Reunion held at the home of Jack and Frances Holmes in Lehi, Utah.
Most of those attending served their mission after we left Russia,
but it was fun to be with those we had served with
and to meet others who also shared this unique mission.
Greg and Chris Shepard,
who had served as the Executive Secretary for
the Europe East Area presidency.
Renee and Clark Mason,
who had served as the Europe East Area auditors.
They came from their home in Idaho
and stayed with us Thursday night after the Mission Reunion.
They left Friday afternoon for home.
Our mission calling was as Area Welfare Specialists, but our
responsibilities were primarily with humanitarian projects
for the countries in the Europe East Area and for Moscow.
(Narene and Sam)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
On Monday, April 4, we arranged an Empty Nesters activity
going to Orem to see the movie,
Singing with Angels,
which we all really enjoyed.
Afterward, the group came back to our home for refreshments.
We hope our friends and family are enjoying 2016, too, and creating happy memories.
having fun in the sports court.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Presidential Candidates
It has been a crazy presidential election year. The seventeen candidates who started out as serious contenders for the GOP nomination have now been whittled down to three: Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich. We had favored Marco Rubio, but he has withdrawn from the race; so on March 19th, we went to Provo to a Ted Cruz rally where we heard Carly Fiorina, Senator Mike Lee, Glenn Beck, and Attorney General Sean Reyes give talks prior to Ted Cruz being the concluding speaker.
We especially enjoyed hearing Carly Fiorina's remarks, but Glenn Beck and Mike Lee also gave good talks. It was an enthusiastic crowd for Ted Cruz, and he later won easily when Utah voters went to their local caucuses. Sam and I went to our precinct caucus, which is how Utah picks their delegates to the state convention and where votes were cast for the presidential candidate, with Ted Cruz winning Utah's vote.
Glenn Beck at the Ted Cruz Rally in Provo
March 19, 2016
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Grandchildren Engaged
Jessica Smyth engaged to Trent.
They will be sealed in the Preston England Temple May 31st
following the country of Ireland's required civil marriage on May 30th.
We will be going to the wedding!
They will be married June 24th in the Payson Temple.
We will be going to their wedding, too, which
will be in the temple where we serve each Tuesday.
We had a combined bridal shower for Maggie and Jessica
on Friday, March 25th, at our home.
Scott and Kristine were here from Denver to join the Utah families,
having arrived the evening before with plans to be in Utah to celebrate Easter.
The males watched television and visited downstairs during the shower,
but joined the ladies for the refreshments.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Ina's Funeral
We went to the funeral for my sister-in-law, Ina Nelson,
on Saturday, March 26 (12:30 p.m.).
Greg and Chris Shepard had come for a visit from Dallas, Texas,
the day before; so they were in our home along with
the grandchildren who were not traveling with their parents and us
to the funeral in Saint George.
Those of our family attending the funeral with Sam and me were
Scott and Kristine, Ryan and Tani, Beth, and Doug and Shannon (and Corban).
1926 - 2016
Married to K. LeRoi Nelson, my brother.
Mother to Marlene and Alan LeRoi, deceased at birth;
Ronald and Harold also deceased;
Karalee (married to David Metcalf); and David LeRoi Nelson (married to Kayleen).
Following the funeral services, Ina's ten grandchildren spread rose petals
along the path before the casket being carried to the hearse.
Photos taken on the day of the funeral will be in the next post entry.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Easter - March 27th
We had choir practice in our home at 10:00 a.m. and sang in our 1:00 sacrament meeting.
Chris and Greg went with us to sacrament meeting and then they
went to Salt Lake City. Doug and Shannon's family, Beth and Todd's family, Sarah and Derek's family, and Trevor and Megan came to our home to share a ham dinner at 5:30 following the Easter egg hunt in the back yard for the children.
Photos taken on Easter will be in a separate blog posting.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Visit with Friends and Russion Mission Reunion
It was a special treat to have Greg and Chris come for a visit. They arrived on March 25th and spent part of their time with us and part of their visit with their son's family in Salt Lake City.
Joseph Smith Memorial Building with the
Shepards and Prices, dear friends we first met on our mission in Russia.
March 28th.
(Sam, Narene, Greg, Chris, Barbara, and Al)
of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
(Canvas covering temporary construction in the foreground
is visible at the right in the photo.)
in Salt Lake City - March 30.
(Sam and Narene)
Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum.
On March 31st, it was enjoyable joining others who served in Moscow, Russia
at a Mission Reunion held at the home of Jack and Frances Holmes in Lehi, Utah.
Most of those attending served their mission after we left Russia,
but it was fun to be with those we had served with
and to meet others who also shared this unique mission.
who had served as the Executive Secretary for
the Europe East Area presidency.
who had served as the Europe East Area auditors.
They came from their home in Idaho
and stayed with us Thursday night after the Mission Reunion.
They left Friday afternoon for home.
responsibilities were primarily with humanitarian projects
for the countries in the Europe East Area and for Moscow.
(Narene and Sam)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
On Monday, April 4, we arranged an Empty Nesters activity
going to Orem to see the movie,
Singing with Angels,
which we all really enjoyed.
Afterward, the group came back to our home for refreshments.
We hope our friends and family are enjoying 2016, too, and creating happy memories.
