July Journey's

Following our family reunion the last week of June, we moved into a relaxing, yet busy new month of July. The morning, as families were leaving, the painters arrived to begin painting the entire inside of our home. As soon as that was completed 10 days later, the carpet layers came the next day to install all new carpet. While those projects were in progress, we also had new vinyl put in our Master Bath, and Bryan (Meredith’s husband) spent several days painting over dated wallpaper in our bathroom, and completely transforming the look.

Finally, on July 16th we could begin moving into our home. On Saturday a good team of ward men came to help, along with Meredith & Bryan’s family, Julia & Austin, Vivi, and Seth and his boys. The Vances were in Idaho for a family reunion, but we managed well by moving in all the furniture and boxes from the garage in just 30 minutes. We especially appreciated a brother from the ward who stayed and helped with a number of handyman projects. We were so grateful for everyone’s help, with the Williams’ and the Doutre's working into the evening, before finally heading home. We couldn’t have done it without everyone’s great effort.

We had a great time celebrating the 4th of July at the Williams home along with the Doutre's. During the first two weeks of the month when we were “homeless,” we were grateful to stay several days with Julia & Austin near Olympia, and then Meredith & Bryan’s home in Graham, near Tacoma. While there, I loved seeing my sister Kathi, who was staying with her daughter, Amy Beam, just an hour away. The last week before moving in we stayed with the Vances. Family support is the best!

We are enjoying our new ward and getting acquainted with many as we have begun serving as ward missionaries, focusing on the less-actives. We loved having a discussion in our home for a man from China.

Crismon was called as a sealer. Ondalynn & Gary and Vivi went with us to the temple for Crismon to be set apart as a sealer by Pres. David Garner. I was also called to serve again in the temple as an ordinance worker. I was also set apart by Pres. Garner as a temple worker. He gave me an incredible blessing regarding my health. We both love serving in the temple, It was a sweet experience being in the temple with Ondalynn & Gary, and Vivi while the temple was basically empty because of COVID. Later we were so happy to finally attend an endowment session. It’s difficult to schedule for temple work as the slots to reserve online fill up so quickly. But that is a great thing!

We find ourselves returning occasionally to the Mount Hood Stake for important events, like a 90th Birthday Open House for a dear friend, Utahna Kerr and also attending the funeral of another longtime stake member. It gives us the opportunity to reconnect with wonderful friends in the stake where we lived for more than 30 years,

We are thankful for many blessings of living close to family, like celebrating grandson Paxton’s 9th birthday. We constantly see the Lord’s hand in our lives and the lives of our loved ones as there have been some serious health issues with some immediate and extended family. We love the gospel!

A Joyful June

This has been a landmark month for our family. On June 4th we closed on our home in Gresham. On June 9th we noted that it had been 32 years since we moved from Phoenix to Gresham. Then on June 11th we closed on our new home in Vancouver. We were not going to be able to move in until July 1, but we were so thankful for the blessing that the owner and his family were able to make the home available to us earlier than expected and we started moving in on Tues. June 15th. We were having a family reunion beginning on June 26th, so we were so grateful that we had a home to host our family, along with the Vance’s home for people to stay. We were able to save on a month of storage and a week long stay at an Airbnb.

Other important events were attending Sydney’s orchestra and choir concerts in person. We were thankful they could perform at least one time during this pandemic year of restrictions. Then, Seminary graduation in-person for Sydney (Ondalynn), and the next week for Jackson (Seth) in Eugene. We watched virtually their high school graduations. Attending a graduation party for Sydney one evening, provided the opportunity of meeting some of our neighbors and members of our new ward. On June 17th Meredith flew in early from Maryland with her 3 youngest children, as the moving van with all their belongings was arriving sooner than expected at their new home in Graham, WA (near Tacoma). This made it possible for her to help us get settled in our home, and for us to watch her children for several days while she unpacked their new home without the family.

Crismon & Danielle came several days before our reunion to spend some one-on-one time with us. We loved relaxing and visiting with them as we drove to Gresham for Crismon to see one last time his childhood home, and other meaningful sites. One day we went to the famous estate in Portland, the Pittock Mansion. Amazingly, after 32 years in the Portland area, a first time for us! By Saturday evening the 26th everyone had arrived.

We had a wonderful 6 days together. The most exciting moment of the reunion was when Alice-Anne surprised us and flew in with her precious (“our miracle grandbaby”) Oliver that I hadn’t seen yet (photo). Because he was in the NICU for the first month of his life, I didn’t get to see or hold him when I was there helping Alice-Anne for two weeks soon after his birth in March. I can’t express how amazing it was to have her come. Ondalynn and Seth’s families had been in Utah the previous week and they brought 3 of the Johns children home with them. Gary, and son, Spencer, arrived a few days later to make Alice-Anne’s family complete. While in Utah, the Vances, the Johns, and Seth’s family were able to attend the Annual Smith Swim Party. It was wonderful for them to see many of our Smith family. Bryan (Williams) had to stay in Maryland until the end of the month. Gratefully he was able to leave a few days early. He drove across the entire USA with their two older children in record time. As a doctor, he is used to working 24 hour shifts, and he pushed through, arriving in time for the last day of our reunion. This meant that we were ALL together as a family for the first time! It was incredible to have everyone—all 47 of us—there!

We began with a Sunday Devotional and a memory video by Emily about the home we just left in Gresham (where everyone grew up). The first few days of our reunion we were experiencing record heat for the Northwest of 109 degrees, then 115, and 116 degrees! This was a once in a millennium event! We escaped the heat by going to the Oregon coast where it was 60 degrees cooler. We spent two days (at separate times) at a beautiful lake north of Vancouver where everyone loved paddle boarding, blueberry picking, and one day the families participated in a service project helping us with needed fixup, planting flowers, and putting in pavers in our backyard. We were so grateful for their tremendous help. That evening we had a BBQ and terrific time at the Gee’s backyard (Tiffany’s parents) where there was a fun slip-and-slide, and a zipline that kept the grandchildren going nonstop. The Gees moved from Dallas to Camas last August, and we love that we are now in the same stake with them, just 12 minutes away. What a treat for Seth’s family to have both grandparents so close to each other.

One of the greatest blessings of this year was when we received the joyous news that Crismon Jr. and Danielle are expecting a baby. We are so grateful for the medical advancements that have led to this mjracle. They return to NYC to continue his studies at Columbia in August. She has an early January due date.

Earlier in June, Alice-Anne, Seth & Ondalynn's families were all able to be at the Smith Swim Party which was a fun time for them to see their Smith cousins.

May, a Month of Moves and Miracles

May has been a month of moves and miracles. We are grateful for the many blessings that have flowed into our family this past month.

On May 2 we had a fun family dinner with cousin Logan Lewis visiting friends in Portland. He is the life of a party! The cousins loved him, and the next morning Daisy said, “I wish Mom’s cousin would come back.”

Mother’s Day was joyous to have all our Northwest families (Ondalynn, Seth, Vivi, and Julia) gather in our Gresham home (one last time before we move). I was delighted to video chat with the other families, a sweet time to share memories.

Four families moving

Of course, May marked big changes in residences. No fewer than four of our families are impacted by moves in May and June!

Meredith & Bryan closed on their home in Graham, WA (near Tacoma). They will move from Maryland the first of July. We are so thrilled they will be within a few hours drive from us. Bryan has been assigned to the NICU at the Madigan Medical Center at Fort Lewis.

The Vances’ backyard neighbor, as a favor to them, gave us first offer on the home next to him where his (now deceased) parents’ had lived. He had been touched by the Vances’ neighborliness and wanted them to have the blessing of having aging parents nearby, as he had had. What a tender mercy! Had it gone on the market we would have been in a bidding war in this crazy market. Within a day we were under contract. We feel so blessed! We take possession on July 1. We will be a stone’s throw away from the Vances—a dream come true to be so close to family in our empty-nester years! I'm including a photo of what the house liked like on the inside when we walked through it. The rooms were packed to the brim with stuff! We're grateful the yard is much more manageable. I also included some photos of our beautiful yard in Gresham. Crismon worked so hard to keep it looking lovely.

Also in May we were joined by some of Ondalynn and Vivi’s families to help Julia and Austin Doutre move into their lovely new rental home in Olympia, WA. Again, another tender mercy for them to secure this home and for Austin to be able work from home (thanks Covid!). There are now less than two hours from us.

Then Vivi and her children were approved for a nice apartment in Vancouver. They will be just five minutes away from us and the Vances. They will be in the neighboring ward, meeting in the same building.

And at the end of the month, we signed on our home now preparing for our move on June 18 to Vancouver.

A Month of Miracles

Recently while working in the garage, I tripped and fell hard onto the concrete floor, my knees and hands taking the brunt of the fall. I thought for sure I had broken some bones. Crismon and I were speaking in church the next day. After a priesthood blessing, I had what I consider a miraculous recovery. It was almost like it didn’t happen as I was able to go through Sunday without pain or soreness. I’m so grateful for the Lord’s healing power.

Also in May, Alice-Anne’s baby Oliver (photo), whose vocal folds were paralyzed at birth, were found to be moving—not 100% of the time, but at least they were moving a sign they would heal completely. It was a miracle as they were told not to expect this for at least a year. They were able to permanently remove his nose feeding tube and he can feed from a bottle. We are deeply grateful for this wonderful blessing for Oliver and all the Johns family.

We also received the joyous news that Crismon Jr. and Danielle are expecting a baby. We are so grateful for the medical advancements that have led to this miracle. They return to NYC to continue his studies at Columbia in August and she has a January due date.

Our good friends, Kevin & Nancy Jones invited us to their home for dinner. He served with Crismon in the YSA Bishopric, and Nancy has always been an inspiration to me.

We rejoice in the Lord’s generous blessings to our family this month.

April on the East Coast and More

April came and went in a whirlwind. Each day has been full with preparing our home to go on the market, as well as spending nine days in Maryland and Virginia visiting Meredith and Dallin’s families.

We were so thankful grandchild #28 Oliver Gary Johns finally came home after a month in the Primary Children’s Hospital NICU due to a paralysis of the vocal cords. So many family and friends prayed for him. The past month has been incredibly hard for Alice-Anne and Gary. They were uplifted and strengthened by the faith and prayers of many who were pleading for this precious baby.

General Conference brought the spiritual uplift and strength we all need. Because of Covid, members could still not attend the Conference Center. How grateful we are for our prophet and the apostles who speak to us from God's direction to His children in our day. This world desperately needs their counsel.

Crismon and I had our 1st and 2nd dose of the Moderna vaccine for Covid. Gratefully we had no reaction.

We gathered at the Vance's on Sunday, April 4, for dinner to honor this special day and celebrate Gary's birthday and mine.

On Tuesday, April 6th, we flew to Washington DC. Dallin picked us up at the airport and we drove directly to their home in Lexington, VA to spend five-fun-filled days with their beautiful family. We enjoyed a drive and short hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains, along with visiting the Natural Bridge just 15 minutes from their home (photo). We delighted in playing games with their four girls, listening to them perform on the piano, and having them show us their amazing lego creations.

Sunday, April 11, we gathered at the Williams’ home in Kensington, MD for dinner. The cousins were having so much fun playing together that Dallin’s girls stayed an extra day. What a group with all nine cousins together.

We visited Mt. Vernon with Meredith, Christian, and Ivan. It was so fascinating! What a great experience to be there and hear so many interesting facts about George Washington, and his life there. Also, we enjoyed playing games with our William's grandchildren.

On Saturday, April 17, many from our ward, along with the Vance's, Seth's family, and Vivi's children, worked very hard helping us get ready to begin staging our home for sale. It was quite a work project as they helped us move most of our belongings into the garage. They cleaned on the inside, worked in the yard and garden, and hauled off a lot of wood and other debris. I believe there were about 40 there!

Friday. April 23, our home went on the market. It’s a wild market. We had 24 showings over 4 days resulting in multiple offers. We accepted an offer from a family of 6 children from Austin, MN. We hope to close on June 4.

Meredith & Bryan bought a home in Graham WA (near Tacoma). We are so excited to have them in the Northwest. We drove to attend the inspection, later driving to Kenmore for a fun overnight visit with Julia, Austin, and nearly 3-year-old Dallin.

We’re now looking for a place to buy or rent hopefully close to the Vances where we can have the benefit of being near family and residing in a one-level home on flat terrain.