Our Family Reunion

Our family gathered for a wonderful, fun, and very memorable family reunion in Paradise, Utah, and I felt like I was truly in Paradise. We had stayed at the Bear River Resort before, but it was not fixed up so nicely by new owners that made the whole experience just great. We try to have our immediate family reunion at least once every two years. It's a sacrifice for everyone to come, especially Dallin & Janelle, and now Meredith & Bryan's family as they live on the east coast, and we usually have our reunions in Utah. 

We deeply missed Meredith's family this year as they had just moved from Hawaii to Maryland. Hopefully, they can be with us next time. 

Dad and I starting driving to Utah on Thursday, July 26 and arrived on Friday afternoon. We arrived in time for Gary & Alice-Anne to take Kenna to a production of "Newsies" for her birthday. We loved the chance to be with our cute Johns grandchildren.

It was a busy few days preparing for the reunion. We were glad we could be there to give some assistance. Dad especially helped Kenna on her "Relative Race" project for the reunion. It was based off the BYU-TV by the same name. She assigned each family to research a family member from a particular line of ancestors. They sent in their stories, along with a picture and then Crismon formatted them and had them printed. He helped Kenna make the huge wall display of all the ancestors that would be talked about in the Relative Race. It was a huge project for Kenna, fulfilling one of her personal progress projects.

Monday-July 30

We headed to Logan around noon and met Geoff at Roger's Mac Store to leave Dad's computer that needed attention. Geoff & Peggy let us borrow their Instant Pot and 5-gallon water jug. He offered to bring out their popup tent, which was a huge blessing for Crismon & Danielle that were going to have to camp in a tent. When he showed up several hours later, Geoff also brought his bouncy house and his golf cart for me to ride around instead of having to walk so much. It was a hit with the grandchildren, and those two items added lots of fun for the children.

Alice-Anne & Gary put on the first meal that evening. It was delightful to see the families begin to gather and lots of hugs and laughter began. I was especially happy to see Dallin & Janelle's family as we hadn't seen them for a year.

Austin's family joined us for dinner and for the baby blessing of Dallin Glen. We love the Doutre family and we were happy that both families could be represented for this special occasion. He received a beautiful blessing from his father. Standing in the circle were the two grandpa's, Julia's brothers, and Austin's brothers. It was a sweet FHE. Angela Doutre and myself both shared a few thoughts and our testimony. Julia also shared her feelings. It was a tender, teary time as we have all been fasting and praying daily for years for this precious one to join their family. Little Dallin seems to have a calm, sweetness about him. Not surprising as his parents are that way, too.

We closed the evening with lots of flavors of of Aggie ice cream. Then Jackson gave our scripture devotional. After the children were settled, the adults joined back in the lodge for the FRED talks (Family, Religion, Education, Development) where Gary Vance gave some good advice on "How to have Crucial Conversations." On the spur of the moment I volunteered to do mine on "Energy Medicine," by showing them the tapping and other exercises I do each day.

Tuesday - July 31

I did a scripture study with all the family after breakfast. I wanted to keep the children engaged, so we read some scriptures on unity and then I did a demonstration. I had Ruby come up and try to crush a sturdy paper cup. She had no problem doing it. Then I had 12 paper cups lined up in a block form and placed a cookie sheet on top. This time we had some of the boys step on it and it held well, showing the strength that comes when we work together and support each other. We then gathered in a big circle and we tossed a ball of yarn back and forth expressing something we loved about that person. Each time the yarn connected us to each other and it formed a web, a symbol of looking for the good in others so we can stay connected.

Kenna's Relative Race was next. It was a huge success. It was so cute to have Spencer make an announcement before we started, "Just so you know, Kenna has worked so hard on this." What a supportive, good brother. With the cute rhymed clues that Gary had put together for us to go on a hunt for our packet and instructions, it kept everyone very engaged and trying hard to figure it all out. The activities we did at each station were fun. Reading the stories of our ancestors was inspiring and touching. A great idea so well planned out. Definitely a highlight of the reunion.

I wanted to include what Emily shared on her blog about Relative Race activity:

"This event was by far my favorite - the clues were often riddles that took time to decode - and it was so fun that everyone got involved to solve them, even the kids. As we took turns reading about our ancestors, I read the summary of my grandma Phyllis Cook Smith, my mom's mother. Halfway through, I was overcome with emotion and paused as I tried to gain my composure. My sweet nephew Isaac, 7, who was sitting on the other side of the table than me, didn't know why I had stopped, and said, "uh aunt Emily you are right here," pointing to where I left off. It was too cute. I learned stories about my grandparents, and great grandparents I had never heard before and made me even more grateful for my family heritage I come from."

In the afternoon the teens and some of the adults went on a hike in the Winds Cave up Logan Canyon. It ended up being a little more difficult than they expected, but a great outing, while the women in the lodge visited and enjoyed baby Dallin.

Emily prepared a very fun Jeopardy game that we did in the evening. Sydney did the scripture thought and prayer that night before Cracker Barrel.

Wednesday - August 1

The day began with Grandpa doing scripture study. He is a master with the scriptures. He shared how he has been learning about how the Savior ministered by carefully going through the four Gospel's, and identifying how the Savior ministered to others. 

In the morning their were classes by age group with Emily teaching the teens about photography and videography. Ondalynn & Gary taught the middle age group how to make pancakes, and Dallin & Janelle taught the younger children how to make paper airplanes. Each group was having so much fun. 

During the afternoon we held an adult meeting where we discussed future family reunions and Dad and I handled our a copy of our love story to each of the couples that Emily compiled and designed earlier that year for our anniversary. Afterwards everyone went swimming, except a few. Amazingly, we were able to get some family pictures taken before the sun completely set while visiting with Uncle Randy & Aunt Norene and Lauren, as well as Uncle Geoff & Aunt Peggy who stopped by to see everyone. Then our friends Wayne & Julie Dymock came by to say hi. They had just returned from serving as Mission Presidents. It was great to see them. The talent show got started late, but it was so fun! They all performed so well. It's amazing all the talent in the family. I loved seeing the grandchildren perform and to have everyone cheer for them. Brett is a great MC, and the Caudle's did a good job organizing this. The night ended with Addison doing the scripture and prayer, popcorn and sweets for Cracker Barrel, and everyone staying up very late. The siblings and spouses, most of them stayed up and played Code Names until 2:50 am. Glad it wasn't me! They had so much fun, with the girls winning 4 of the 5 games!

Thursday - August 2

Grandpa and I prepared breakfast. Thanks to leftovers, cold cereal and Instant Pot steel cut oats, it wasn't too hard. Aunt Meredith came around breakfast to visit with me as we were packing and cleaning up. She was a big help cleaning the kitchen and other areas. Everyone worked really hard getting the lodge, the bathrooms, the kitchen, the cabins and the surroundings in good order. It looked great when it was time to leave. We gathered one more time for Emily to use her drone and capture some more great shots of the beautiful retreat site and our family saying goodbye and all the hugging that was going it. We also got a picture with all the doubles, two Crismon's, two Vivienne's, two Gary's, two Julia's and two Dallin's. What a joy it was to be together and feel of the love for each other. We have the best family! We so appreciated Alice-Anne & Gary putting on such a great reunion. They worked so very hard! After all the cleaning was done that morning and the good-byes, Emily, Dad and I met up with Roger & Andrea, Geoff & Peggy, and Meredith at a restaurant in Logan to visit for lunch. It's always a treat being with my siblings. We were glad to head back to the Johns home as we were exhausted! Having fun can be exhausting but wonderful.

Friday - August 3

Emily made arrangements to use the scanner at the Family History Center at the BYU Library. Thanks to Emily who had started the huge project of scanning our family pictures, she knew just what to do. I had spent weeks prior going through all our photos and organizing them in preparation for this big scanning project. We worked all day scanning the pictures. Before arriving at the campus that morning, we were able to visit Grandma Julia in Orem, and Emily visited with her friends from her previous work. Then in the evening, as we were heading back to the Johns, we stopped and saw Kathi and most of her family. Amy and her children had come down from WA, so they were having a mini-reunion.

Saturday - August 4

Emily stayed over night in Provo and got an early start on more scanning, but we had car trouble just after getting off the freeway. Our tire hit a huge sharp object that came off someone's car in the other lane and popped our tire. Fortunately, Ondalynn & Gary were not far away and they came and rescued us. We brought Kenna down with us, and she was a great help with the scanning. We spent a total of 18 hours and scanned 4,099 photos. It was a huge project! But so grateful for all of Emily's help. It wouldn't have happened without her, and we were so grateful for Kenna's good help. 

Sunday - August 5

Always good to visit the Johns ward. In the afternoon Julia, Austin & baby Dallin came over for dinner. We loved spending more time with them. They were going on to Austin's family reunion. We had a Fast and Testimony meeting as a family. That night Emily taught her "FRED" talk since we didn't have time to get to all of them at the reunion. And she taught how to create family home videos in 2018. 

Monday - August 6

Alice-Anne fed us another yummy breakfast and then Dad, Emily, and the children went on a walk to the nearby middle school to ride bikes, roller blade and play around. We soon packed up, dropped Emily off at the airport, and met niece, Sierra, just off the freeway to pick up Dad's new computer from Roger's Mac store. We drove on to the Boise area and stayed with Ron & Ellen Hansen. They are some of our Reliv customers who we had never met, but they invited to stay with them overnight if we wanted. That was so generous of them. We made our way home the next door, stopping in Arlington to visit John Salley. His wife Connie died a few months previous. He is doing well, serving people all the time. It was so interesting hearing his stories and how the Lord guides him to help people. He is serving in the YM's in the church. He is a rough character, but with a heart of gold. We were so happy to finally be home. We were blessed to go safely without too many problems. What a great reunion we had together.

Malin & Myreel Lewis Reunion

Crismon, and daughter Vivienne, flew to Las Vegas on Thursday, June 27 to connect with Crismon Jr. & Danielle to drive to Kingman for the Lewis Reunion. I didn't go because it was at the same time that Julia was expecting her baby. Emily met up with Seth's family in Las Vegas and they drove to the Grand Canyon. The Vance's also saw the Grand Canyon and then everyone met in Kingman for the Malin & Myreel Lewis Reunion put on by Delon & Clyde's family. They had such a terrific time.

There was swimming in the two pools. One in the Pease's old home, and one by the new home they were building. They constructed a "Tough Mudder Race" that turned out to be very challenging, but so fun for those who participated. One day the teens were rafting down a river. It was a huge success. Many fun activities for the children and teens, and the adults were watching it all happen. There were 281 in attendance! Probably about two-thirds of them were children in the age of 10!

The Arrival of Baby Dallin

 Our Julia Joy gave birth to a beautiful baby boy June 19, 2018, in Kirtland, WA, at 10:52 am, 8 lbs., 10 oz. 20.5 inches long. We couldn't be happier. This righteous, pure couple has been pleading for a baby for many years, as well as so many in the family. Countless prayers and fasting in behalf of this desire for them to be parents. Our hearts our full of gratitude to our Heavenly Father for blessing them so abundantly. Julia had a good pregnancy, labor and delivery. It's never easy, but to have things go so well is truly a blessing. It was a joy for Dad and I to come up to Kenmore on Monday, June 18th when we heard that Julia was in labor. We arrived about 8:30 pm. I immediately began helping Julia get through her contractions as did Austin. Within a few hours, they were on their way to the hospital, and thankfully they didn't send her home. She labored through the night.

When I arrived about 9:30 am, I walked in to her room and I immediately felt the presence of the spirit. It was evident that heaven was very near. I wish I would have taken a picture, because Julia was glowing. She looked radiant, and there was a calm, peaceful feeling in the room. I was glad I could be there to encourage Julia as she began pushing. It was a team effort with the nurse, Austin, and myself. Julia was amazing, giving it everything she had and more. She pushed for over 2 hours.

I'm so thankful for the amazing blessing of being there to witness the miracle of birth. After having nine babies, it was fascinating to see it all happen without the pain of childbirth. It truly is a miracle!!! Dad was in the waiting area, anxiously awaiting the news. There was so much going on, I hardly had a minute to let him know. But as soon as the word got out to the family, there was a flood of congratulations from everyone. They named him Dallin Glen Doutre. I especially love the name as we named our second son, Dallin. Of course, Dallin was thrilled. His comment: "And thus I achieve immortality." Janelle responded, "HE'S SO CUTE!!!!  And you're probs my Dallin's favorite sibling right now Jules." 

Austin took right to being a Dad. He was smitten, as was Julia and all of us. I love this picture of Dallin looking at his Daddy.

 I loved holding him, and I managed to get this cute picture of him as he laid in my arms.

Because Mom and baby were doing so well, they were able to go home the next day. This was his little going home outfit. He's so big, he'll only be in his newborn clothes for maybe 10 minutes.

 Little Dallin is checking out his new surroundings at home.

 Julia & Austin are so happy to be a family together at home. Quoting from Julia's blog, "I remember when we were in Pocatello living in a tiny studio, we were eating dinner, and I distinctly remember feeling that we were missing a little boy next to us. Well three years later, he's here and we are SO grateful he is."

 Dallin looks so much like his Daddy's baby picture.

 I love the hug he's giving his mommy in this picture. He is three days old here.

 Four days old.

Five days old and wrapped in the cute swaddle blanket from Clementine, that Emily gave her.

He changes every day. He is six days old. Oh, we love this little one so much. I'm so thankful I can be here to help out. It is truly a joy for me.

Family Time

On March 15th, Thursday, Vivi flew to Hawaii, thanks to a generous gift from Ondalynn and Meredith. That was a special break for Vivi who works so hard at home and the school, working in the lunch room. She had so much fun visiting Meredith's family and enjoying beautiful, Hawaii. She returned early in the morning of the 20th. We took care of Clark, Daisy and Kaeley on Friday the 16th because they were out of school. Brett picked them up early that evening. We hurried on to see "Les Miserables" put on by Gresham High School. Ondalynn, Gary, Sydney and Julia joined us, too. It was absolutely incredible! I couldn't believe the acting and singing of these young people. I didn't need to see it done professionally. 

I love to see the children and their families getting together. March 8th Seth was speaking at the University of Utah, and he arranged a visit with Alice-Anne & Gary and their family. I love seeing those happy faces.

The families are taking advantage of having the Williams' in Hawaii to plan their family vacations there. Meredith & Bryan are great hosts, and they are so good to open their home to everyone. Ondalynn & Gary's family had a terrific week there soaking up the sun. The day before they left, the Vance's hosted the family gathering for Easter in their home. Julia & Austin, Seth & Tiffany and the boys, and Vivi and her children all gathered on for General Conference and the Easter dinner. We were in Utah for Conference, but we're so glad they got together. What fun they have.

Friday, April 13th, Vivi didn't have work as school was out for the day. Dad tended Clark, Daisy, and Kaeley at our home and Vivi and I did a temple Endowment session. It was so lovely to be there with her and have lots of time to visit quietly in the celestial room. Then a quick lunch before hurrying home to rescue Dad. He treated the kids to Taco Bell for lunch.

We love having close by to see occasionally. Seth turned 40 this year. Now that's hard to believe! He had meetings in Portland a few days after his birthday, so we were so happy he came and stayed overnight with us. The next morning we all left for the temple early to meet Seth's boys, Jackson, Addison, and Preston at the baptistery for their youth temple trip. It was so wonderful to see them dressed in white, loving this opportunity to be in the temple. Seth and Dad helped with confirmations and witnesses. I hurried on to an Endowment session.

Tiffany and her Dad, Preston Gee stayed with us on Sunday evening, April 22nd and the 23rd. They went skiing together on Monday and then hiked the Gorge on Tuesday. He treated us to breakfast out on Tuesday morning. Monday night we hosted the sister missionaries and Bro. Larry Norr, who's wife, Donna, died the end of December. We enjoyed a delightful visit with Preston and Tiffany.

Seth participated in a panel discussion at the U of O campus in downtown Portland on Friday, May 18th. It was entitled, Freedom of Expression Series: Response and Responsibility in an Age of Technological and Social Disruption. There was a delicious complimentary lunch for those who registered in advance. One of the men on the panel sat at our table. He is an advisory to Pres. Trump for Asian relations. He has his own PR business and travels frequently across the country speaking to various groups. Seth had sent him some of his work in preparation for this panel discussion. He said to us, "Your son is amazingly brilliant." That was nice to hear. Others who knew Seth made similar comments. It was a treat for us to see him in action and see how recognized as a "rock star" (used by the professor introducing him) in his field, the new journalism with social media. He was eloquent in his delivery. Tiffany praised him for that and he said it probably comes from teaching on a regular basis. It was Gary's last day of work with Mill Creek Developers in Portland where he was instrumental in developing high rises in downtown Portland. He started his new job with an estate developer for the IDM company today, May 23rd!

May Highlights & Sydney's musical

Crismon & Danielle plan is to stay in Boulder for this year with the hope of being accepting into a PhD program next year. He’s been accepted to work on campus with the Admissions office for the coming year. He and Danielle are having a life changing experience in Italy for 10 days with her family. Her mother’s family is from a small village in Italy. There were able to plan a reunion with relatives still there, and 35 relatives came from the US for this gathering.

Seth also has been in Europe for 10 days for a conference that he co-chaired in Munich and Prague. Gary Vance has recently switched to another Real Estate Developer IDM. He’s office is just 5 minutes from home. He’s loving not having 7-8 hours or more a week in commuting.

Emily & Bronson arrived in Madison, WI, the end of May where Bronson begins working for Epic Systems Corporation on June 4th. Emily & Bronson visited the Johns family one last time before moving. We are blessed to be close enough to see Sydney perform in her HS musical, 42nd Street. attend other school and church activities with our grandchildren. It’s a joy to serve in our callings, plant a garden, and enjoy this spectacular time of the year with the trees and bushes in bloom. Oregon is especially beautiful in May!

Mother's Day

I'm so blessed to be a mother of nine beautiful, wonderful children. They are the joy of my life. My joy has been increased many fold as we have welcomed 25 (soon to be 26) precious grandchildren to our family. Our daughters are terrific mothers to their children, and we have been blessed with special daughter-in-laws who are amazing mothers, too. We gathered at the Vance's for our Mother's Day dinner. Earlier that day, we attended the Spanish Branch to hear Paul & Linda Johns speak before leaving their mission and heading home the next day. They have been tremendous missionaries and we will miss them greatly. When Alice-Anne saw this picture of us with the Johns, she said, "That explains why Kenna and Spencer are so tall, and why Elliot and Claire are so short.