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