Family Ties July 15 - August 5, 2007

Dear Family,
After a two month leave from our assignment at the Provo Temple, we resumed our duties last week (July 28). This past three weeks have been a great month for babies in our family. Today we attended the blessing of Mason Spencer Hymas. He was given a beautiful blessing by his father, Steven, and his mother, Liz, bore a sweet testimony. Following the blessing they hosted the families to an ice cream social in their new home at 361 West Applewood Drive in Bountiful. This was our first opportunity to see their new townhouse home and we were impressed. Maybe some of you are unaware that Steve is actively engaged in the Highway Patrol with his own patrol vehicle liscense number 553. One week ago, a shower was given for Jennie who expects her baby girl on the 21st of September. We are anxiously looking forward to this baby, as well as, Melissa and Julie's sons to be born in early fall.
Speaking of babies, they do grow up and we were thrilled to attend the Jr. Miss Pageant in Highland where Christine was voted Highland Jr. Miss. She was awarded a scholarship with opportunity to compete for Utah Jr. Miss next March. She competed against eleven other talented young women and her winning first place made all of us proud of her efforts. The following morning, (Aug. 4), we attended the "Highland Fling", an annual community event, for breakfast prior to our service in the temple. David and Jan assisted in the serving of breakfast and Christine was featured in the parade.
All of David's family spent the holiday week-end at the cabin and celebrated his fifty-eighth birthday. We stayed in Highland and surpised the family by painting their deck and trimming their bushes. Your father also had the opportunity of taking David to lunch for their annual PPI and happy to report an encouraging outlook on both business and health.
Several years have gone by since we attended a 24th of July parade in person. After parking, we came upon Lisa with Adam and Anna in the company of Lisa's in-laws. Lisa and Trevor are here for three weeks - Trevor in and out on business. We walked down the trade route to a spot selected by Ed and his children who had stayed over-night to secure a prime viewing place. One of the finer floats in the parade was the one Mike & Melissa were chairmen of for it's construction. It was fun for us to share the parade with the family and the weather was perfect for a parade.
Part of Lisa's experience was a Friday & Saturday get-a-way at the cabin along with her children, parents and siblings. Adam loved the Orbitor and wished Anna would have shared his feelings but all said they had a great time.
For the information of our journal, we visited three special friends. Bruce Ericksen, our High Priest Group Leader and important board member of the Timberlake Association, and a personal friend, was injured critically when his four wheel recreation vehicle tipped over on him and left him paralyzed. We visited him in the Holy Cross hospital, on the 24th, after the parade. His recovery, if by some miracle, will take a long time. Another friend, Jeannie Hansen, had knee replacements in both legs. She reported of the horrible pain and would never do that again, but is coming along fine now. A special visit made today, was with our friend, Lorraine Russell Hatch, who has ben a close friend of your mothers since they were small children. We were privileged to meet one of her children, Russell, and his lovely wife Becky. They have promised to bring Lorraine to the cabin one day, which we will look forward to. Did you know, Dan, that your middle name comes from Lorraine's last name, Russell?
Family and Friends bring us joy each and ever day. We are strengthened by you!