THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING...

Last Sunday (19APRIL2009), SBJ and I made a spur-of-the moment, late Saturday night decision and accepted Garth & Brit's invitation to join them in Rigby. The reason...Rigby East Stake Conference featuring the first Russian General Authority to speak on American soil by none other than Garth's  first baptism while on his mission in Moscow before being transfered to Siberia.  Garth was invited to attend as a special guest, along with Brit and the kids.  He was also the subject (introduced and asked to stand) of this history-making conference talk on missionary work and conversion.

The presiding authority was Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander of the First Quorum of Seventy. He served as the area president over the Balkans and Russia while Garth was a missionary. Elder N.  had his second  assignment as a new General Authority, accompanying Elder Faust to the Kimberly Idaho Stake while I served in the Stake Presidency.  Mom and I had some very special experiences with those two wonderful Brethren.  So it was easy to rekindle our friendship with the Neuenschwanders.

ELDER N., ALONG WITH JONI AND US


Within two weeks of being baptized by Garth, Elder Dimitry V. Marchenko (Dima) was serving as a counselor in the Branch Presidency. When Garth & Brit went to Moscow to teach English (for Cheryl and her husband) after his mission and  marriage, Garth served as Dima's Counselor in the same Moscow Branch.

DIMA AND SVETA, ALONG WITH CHERYL


Dima and Sveta were married at that time.  They lived 3 floors underneath G & B, along with their new little daughter. Now you see that both families have big kids.  Life has a way of moving on, yet special friendships are timeless...priceless...lasting forever.

THE QUIGLEY AND MARCHENKO FAMILIES


Garth and Brit, with the help of Aunt Becky, Uncle Ron and your Angel Mother, prepared a wonderful meal in honor of the Marchenkos after Sunday's session of Stake Conference. Garth and Brit were gracious hosts.  The food was unbelievably yummy and a fantastic time was enjoyed by all.

DESSERT TIME  ~ HOME-CANNED PEACHES AND BROWNIES


It meant so much to your Mother and to me to experience such a unusual and special event such as this. We are all very blessed throughout our lives in unexpected ways when we always endeavor to do the right things. We are also more lucky than we know to have such a wonderful family, both immediate and extended (like Beck 'n Ron, and all the rest) who care enough to happily help these types of experiences happen.

DA RHEADS - RON & BECK



 

SWEET MEMORIES OF AN HISTORIC MOMENT



This is what life is all about!   luv...pops

new address

Here is our new address:

12307 Greenwich Drive
Glen Allen, VA 23059

I expect lots of packages and letters now. :-)

Claire Cutietat

Jordan and I really need to work on our baby talk. It gets really bad whenever we see our nieces and nephews. I hope that we get over it once our kids come into the picture. I took this video the night after Convocation. Claire was totally jamming out to Jordan's guitar playing. Please excuse my insanely high-pitched baby voice...it couldn't be helped. She is just so cute!

video of claire and jordan

WHAT THE!!!

Almost five inches of this stuff this morning!  What the!!!  It's April 15th for goodness sakes.....pops

EASTER DINNER 2009

One of the most quiet (in terms of decibel levels) Easter Dinners in history!

Got together with R&L and the Folks over in Gooding after late Church.  The girls really put on a feed.  Dinner featured spinach salad with Mandarin oranges, cranberries, apples and caramelized walnuts; a delightful tossed salad with home-made dressing; asparagus; SBJ's world-famous scalloped potatoes; ham; SBJ's whole wheat hot rolls and jelly as the main course.

Then the dessert ~ strawberry short cake, along with other various and sundry goodies (including malt eggs!).  The table was lovely, complete with appropriate decor and fresh flowers.  A great gastronomical time was had by all.  Of course, we talked about all you kids and missed you tons!  luv...pops

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REESE - THE GRADUATE!

Sharese Lorene Quigley Clark officially graduated From Brigham Young University Idaho on Friday, 10April2009, Magna Cum Laude! Receiving a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in University Studies, da Rooster did a masterful job in presenting the student's remarks at her Convocation Thursday evening. What a job well done!!

SBJ and I couldn't be more proud and commend each of you, our 16 children who have graduated, or who are in the process of graduating in your chosen areas of learning. We also encourage each of you grandchildren to save for college and graduate as well. Any effort and dollar spent on education usually pays very large dividends.

Mom and I feel so very blessed and treasure you all, our wonderful posterity and dear ones. Today, more than ever, obtaining the greatest amount of applicable education is essential, even critical to thriving in our rapidly-changing world. Reese's outstanding Convocation talk centered around being a life-time learner. Couldn't agree more with this important concept. It was a sweet feeling of accomplishment and celebration. Atta' Baby, Reese!!! luv...pops

CONVOCATION - THURSDAY EVENING

Pixs of Reese's speech, walking, the diploma, the doting parents, da sistas, the nieces and nephews, Jordino - da adoring husband, "I'm Free" sunset, project and fashion show-and-tell, a blue foot boobie at BYU-I book review. Whew!!!

GRADUATION DAY - FRIDAY

Jordino - ya, that's my hotie wife way down there ready to graduate, way way down there, celebration after the official stuff, Amy - my bud, pretty much the best looking lady on campus, da sibling's special present, what is it? is it really, oh my goodness, is this for real, this is freeking cool! ya, I'm one happy graduated chick!!

CONGRATS REESE - YA DONE GOOD!!!

Question: What bear is best?

That's a ridiculous question. False. Black bear.

Fact. Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

Real question: Do you care if extended family members are added as readers?

I got a request from Lorisa to add her as a reader to this blog. I absolutely don't care, but right before I pressed "add reader" I thought I had better ask you all.

Please respond.

(me)