Parks From Sugar Grove to Sugar House

Here we are in Virginia all ready to go up into the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia to What Joy Farm.  Joyce and I had decided to wear our "sort of matching" outfits, but Scott showing up in his matching shirt too, was a happy bonus. I thought my heart sweater was perfect for Virginia's state slogan too.  Virginia is for lovers.  Did you know that the slogan was originally 'Virginia is for History Lovers', it was shortened shortly afterwards to fit a license plate.   Besides being the birthplace of the nation, 8 of our presidents were born there, including 4 of our last 5. 

Scott took the copilot's seat and chatted to his aunties in the back. The views were beautiful as we drove through the Shenendoah Valley near the Shenendoah National Park. 

This is the historic home of Dr. Bowers, who headed the predominate family in Sugar Grove.  Surprisingly, the house on the National Historic registry in four years newer than our house. Scott pointed out all the businesses in town that were Bower's this and that.

After 3 hours we arrived at What Joy Farm.  It was interesting to find out that the largest antique mall in the USA was just a half hour off our course.  There was no way I had time to shop it, but plan to visit when we go back in June to help Scott clear out the cabin.  I love that he has decided to keep the farm and plans to retire there himself. 

Here I am next to the bridge.

He told us that the last time he came out to the farm, he had been held up a day by the stream rising and covering the bridge, just outside Julie's door. As in, 'I'll be there, God willing, and the creek don't rise'.  In the flood waters he found these nice clean potatoes.  He theorized that some plants that were too close to the stream had been washed away, as the potatoes had stayed together.  I joked that it's nice to know we can get fish from a stream, but how cool is it to fish out the makings for fish and chips!

I love the stonework and the mossy stones and steps.  The shingles you see on the cabin are from our mother's roof in Bountiful.  The boys reroofed it during mother's last summer there, and since Julie was there helping out with mom, she got them bundled and took them home.  It's kind of cool when you realize that Dad put those shake shingles on the house originally back in the mid 1950's.

It all has so much character, it's hard to believe it's just 25 years old.

We got back to Maryland in time for us to visit Julie one last time.

Here I am having my last few minutes with Julie.  She definitely knew me and favored us with a picture of her sticking her tongue out.  You who knew her growing up will recall she was famous for that. 

I took the opportunity to sing her just a line from one of her favorite songs, Scarlet Ribbons.  I so wish I had pulled it up and sung the whole thing.  When I was a little girl, 3 or 4, one night she sat at my bedside and sang it to me.  I thought scarlet was blue, because it sounded like sky.  She was 'singing me to sleep', but as my eyes started to droop, I said, "I'm sorry, your song is so beautiful, but I am so sleepy."  She laughed about that for years.

 Oh, how Joyce and I both looked up to our beautiful teenage sister who moved away when we were 3 and 5. 

This is how she looked when she was approximately my age now.  Still beautiful. Joyce wishes she had her adorable nose, but I wish I had the Norwegian cheek bones ... alas ... At least I managed to carry the genes for the cute nose, and was able to give it to Brittany, who also has similar eyebrows. 

The next morning, we were off early, awakening at 3:00 A.M., to fly out of Dulles at 6:30.  Here we are having lunch at the Dallas airport.  Friday's is always good for memories, as many of our kids worked there at one time or another ... Brittany, Ashley, Darby, Ben and even Mike (Brittany's eventual husband.) 

But it took me a minute to understand our silverware ... hahaha.

I loved this floor mural. 

Back at work on Wednesday, I managed to add a few more pastel items to my Easter display. 

I got off work an hour early so that we could make it out to Mosida for our Farewell dinner and program.  Here we see our young service missionary, Elder Marrott, as he receives a beautiful quilt commemorating many things about our pioneer trek mission with him. 

He brought his mom along as his date. 

Here are the ladies who contributed, except me.  I was only there one day when they worked on it, and it happened without me. 

Sisters Gurr, Marvin, Crump, Smith, (Elder Hardman) Sisters Hardman, Lathrop, Perkins, Newman, and Brimhall. 

Then we were presented with a huge bag of LaVern's famously delicious caramels. 

Next, we received a bike chain rusty heart because I had admired Sister Smith's Daughter's heart made by her Dad.  Elder Smith had sworn to never make another ... but in the end made this one for me.  We so, so love these adorable people we have worked with this year. 

Here are the men who worked with us last year ...

Elders Smith, Perkins, Newman, Marvin, Marrott, Hardman, Brimhall, Crump, Lathrop, and Gurr.

We then had an opportunity to present the Crumps with this Mormon Pioneer Trail woven Afghan, which depicts The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail (US National Parks Systems)

as well as the books that I had made as the historian of the year 2023, which all the missionaries received. I had never done one, and my friend Barb Moe, who's a pro at them, helped me A LOT!  It was also fun to meet up with the two new couples who have been added to the staff for 2024., 

On Thursday I went to a new little shop here in Payson called Hobnob Antiques.  I ran into my friend Tiffany in the middle and the shop owner Audrey is shown on the left. 

Loved the cute Easter table setting.

I knew that I had to work on Friday and Dad, when he got home from the temple, got a call that he was needed in Sugar House to take over the care of Brittney and Spencer's kids. They had gone to the hospital to have their new baby.  Britt's mom, who had been watching the kids, needed to go to a funeral in Washington.  He left to go up and take over first thing Friday morning.

Also, that day Britt and Kai flew into Georgia so that Kai could hike the Appalachian National Trail ...  They took a hike up to this waterfall together, then she left him to begin his solitary hike of 2,200 miles ... to compare, the Mormon Pioneer trail is just 1,600.  Whoa, what a man. 

How amazing is this!

Here's the new baby brother, born on March 7th, Thursday evening at 9:05 pm. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. and he is 20 1/2 " long.  He has been named Parks in reference to their time in Utah, and its 5 national parks.  Only two states have more, Alaska and California, but Utah's 5 are closer in proximately to each other, than any other 5 in the USA. Their oldest, Van was named for Vancouver where they spent their mission years, and Campbell was named for Cambodia, where they lived for the first 5 months of their married life. 

I just love his name. the alliteration is amazing, Parks Perkins. Brittney grew up in Cody Wyoming, on the outskirts of Yellowstone National Park, and I know her mother went there regularly to Kayak, besides the rest of the time the family spent there.  Then when I think of all the fun our kids have had taking their kids to National Parks, it makes me so happy that they are not only enjoying nature but are also living such a healthy lifestyle. 

Papa at home with the other Okada-Perkins kids. 

Their first view of their new brother.

Another Ute, born at the U of U hospital, just like his Dad, who was born at the same hospital, and returned to get his master's degree, as did his wife.

Then it's off to see their new brother at the hospital, when Van got home from school on Friday.

Before seeing the baby Dad ran into Bruce and Dianne's daughter Rachel, who works at the University Hospital. 

A new big sister.

Happy Pappy. (with his red eye)

Papa's boy.

Brothers.

The nurse came in to give him his first bath.

Here are Natalie and John with their son Peter, as he prepares for a piano solo in SLC in Friday night.

Here he is...

His piano playing cousin was at the Sugar House DI, buying his own piano to fix up on Saturday when I drove up to see the new baby.  The proud new owner is the oldest of Phil and Nicole's boys, shown on the left. 

The kids were singing a funny song, as I arrive at the house early Saturday afternoon with Pizza.

I just love Brittney and Sencer's wedding picture here.

and the fun grouping of family photos on the fridge.

Then Mom and Dad arrived with baby Parks,

Parks Susumu Okada Perkins.  His two middle names are after his grandpa Peter. 

The kids just love him so much.

He is so very tiny and sweet. 

Cam had asked for a birthday cake to celebrate the baby's arrival.

Such a cute family, as they sing happy birthday to Parks.

Even Moose seems to approve of the addition to the family.

We left them all eating cake and headed down to Provo where a celebration of life was being held for Alexa/Axel Walker who had passed away last month, from complications of heart issues.

Here we are with her older brother Andrew, who was such good friends with Spencer before we moved to Payson.  He is shown with his wife, the mother of his two cute little boys. 

Ann had seen the info online about the event, and I am so grateful she let me know about it.  

Sherry Scott, Ann Shumway, Jenn Walker, Kim Dicou and me. All members of our Orem ward.

Here we are with a spattering of husbands.

Becca came too and was disappointed that Chelsea was unable to make the trip.  She brought Mac along.

It was an open mike, and I just love the photos from the continuous loop of pictures of Alexis, looking over the shoulders of the presenters. I hope she was there to hear all the kind things that were said.

Andrea Draught was Alexis' best friend from infancy, as their mothers were friends too. 

I loved her animation as she talked about her beloved friend.

Becca posted professional pictures that were taken at the conference she and Brady went to last week, when we watched their kids. 

In this one I didn't recognize Becca, thinking it was Brady posing with someone famous person who was at the conference.  I finally recognized her by her hair line.  How funny is that?

Brittany and Charley drove down from Idaho just to see the baby. 

Here is Charley with her little cousin...

And Aunt Brittany

Aunt Becca made it to the hospital.

Uncle Brady is beaming as he holds his new nephew.

Maddi gets her turn.

Reagan and Mac check out their youngest cousin.

Brittany also sent door-dash with some sushi for their dinner.  She stayed at Becca's and here are some pictures of them all with the baby. 

What an amazing week, and what an expanse of experiences for Scott and I ... we went from east to west, we came to the end of our two-year mission, we visited my sister as she prepares to pass, we visited with friends and celebrated Alexis' life and spent time with our new baby grandson.

We even received a call to teach the Valiant 6/7 class in Primary today to help keep us young!

Love makes all things bearable.