Week 44

9 June

On our way into eastern Arizona, we visited the Painted Deseret and Petrified Forest. The petrified wood is harder than steel and can be quite striking in colors and design.

10 June

One of our favorite places at our family reunion in Snowflake, Arizona, was this Smith Memorial Home; Jesse Nathaniel Smith, my great-grandfather died about the time it was completed, but there is a room dedicated to each of his five wives. Dad is flanked here by his eight children in order of age, left to right.

11 June

We were so eager to be back home after our weeks away that we got up early and drove straight home. It was great to see Lora and Jennifer and their children again. We’ve been able to see all our children and grandchildren in the past couple of months.

12 June

We had piles of mail to catch up on after our sojourn away from home (and this doesn’t include the many books Stephen opened).

13 June

Tupperware home parties—does that ring a bell? Well, years ago I purchased a couple of sets of bell tumblers in the basic colors of bright red, blue, yellow, and green. Somewhere along the way I also acquired a purple one. The famous Tupperware lifetime warranty is that items can be replaced if they are chipped or cracked, so look what I got in replacement for some of my old tumblers!

14 June

You may not recognize this area—this is the botany/duck pond on BYU’s south campus minus the ducks. The entire southern area has been renovated with waterfalls and beautiful walks. I think the ducks will find their way back when the construction is finished.

15 June

Lora was so kind as to prepare this family tree for our heritage family reunion in Arizona. I believe this represents all my ancestors on this line for whom we have a picture. Lynette and I have spent the past year or so collecting great stories about them. The moral is that if we want our posterity to know about us, we need to write about ourselves.