Good People All Around

So we start the week with a nod to Finland.

And move on to a new visiting ministry for me.  Shelley is my new partner and we visit Heidi now.  We also took birthday goodies to my former partner Patricia Steadman, and another sister we minister to, Raelene Dewitt. 

I also picked up a chicken dinner for Dad to take to Trevor and Nell's kids on his way to his barbershop Practice in SLC that afternoon.  He also spent a half an hour with the girls. 

On Tuesday we headed to Logan with the Mosida missionaries, where we were fed a lovely lunch by stake leaders from the Mendon Stake who had trekked with us last summer. 

This gal has Norwegian heritage and rarely finds anyone on Relatives Around Me, I told her I was sure we would be related, and we were.  It's like for me, when I rarely find anyone on my Dad's side. 

Here Dad visits with Elder Marvin, who is also a returned Finnish Missionary.

Paul Willie tells us stories of his Grandfather James G. Willie, who built this home that he, Paul, later bought and restored. He spent years restoring it, and now volunteers to share it with visitors like us. 

Here's the whole group from Mosida, Sister Pittman, Gurrs, Lathrops, Newmans, Marvins, Crumps, Brimhalls, Hardmans and Perkins.

Paul Willie also showed us videos of members of the Willie Handcart Company.  This is a later picture of James G. Willie.

Here we are watching them. 

The Marvins stand on the porch of the house after our visit. 

LaVern took this nice picture of the restored house. 

Next, we went a few blocks to see his grave. 

We stop to see the girls on the way home ... Penny is where her crochet loop as a crown, she's always so fun. 

Here's Eleanor doing some schoolwork. 

We also grabbed other pics of people we love on line, Cam and baby Parks.

Parks with his parents. 

On Wednesday I headed off to work, and Dad went to the basement to work on his spa room. You see all the notches he had to cut as he frames the ceiling.  This room was the original kitchen in the house.  The bathroom off the kitchen upstairs originally was a staircase that went down into this room. Our current kitchen was the dining room. 

Dad thinks the black ceiling is the result of the cooking that went on in this room.

And back in Tennessee is Kai on his hike.  

So beautiful and he is making so many friends. 

This village sponsors support for hikers.  I loved the post below from Brittany telling about the support from the locals that these hikers get. 

And yes, we're coming into fleaology season.  You can tell by the piles of goods I have stacked everywhere.  I spent much of Wednesday and Thursday reorganizing booth space and making plans. 

I'm getting rid of my 'man' booth at treasures and will be sending all the stock to fleaology.  Except, for these two lovely duck decoys, that I brought home to grace the Carriage House Lodge. 

I worked at The Grove on Friday, which is always fun, then Dad and I went to dinner and to see One Life.  It was so interesting, but honestly, most of the movie is actually either shown or hinted at in the preview.  Still, we loved it, and as always are thrilled to be able to celebrate the acts of good people. 

On Saturday Dad and I divided and conquered.  Here he is with Chuck Fratcher at Sharon's funeral.  We had originally had it worked out for me to make a quick pass at Kylie Moe's bridal shower in Saratoga Springs, and then I would meet Dad at Sharon Fratcher's funeral in Orem.  Then we would switch vehicles and Dad would head to SLC for another barbershop practice, while I took the van home. 

Then the chorus leader asked Dad to pick up a young man for the practice who lives in Provo.  That meant no funeral for me, but then I got to stay as long as I wanted at the shower.

Here's Dad with Nate, who was Ben's best friend growing up. 

Nate with his family.

The three youngest Fratcher boys.  Robert, Nate and Aaron.  When Chuck and Sharon joined the church, they had four kids and Sharon had had her tubes tied.  After joining the church they decided to have more children.  She had a reversal and was told that she had a 5% chance of having more children.  We're so glad they did.  If it weren't for this family's boys, I doubt Ben would have ever become a reader, which made all the difference to his life.  (This super intelligent family got him hooked on the likes of Robert Jordan)

Here is Dad at his chorus practice.  The young man he picked up, Henry Curtis is second from the right on the front row.  Of course, Dad was thrilled to discover that his Grandfather served with Dad in Finland on his first mission, he was even in the group of 24 missionaries that Dad went to the LTM (Language Training Mission) in Idaho. 

The practice was part of the chorus' program to introduce Barbershop style singing to the next generation. 

Meanwhile on the other side of the lake, I was meeting up with Robin at Barb's for Kylie's wedding shower. 

Everything was adorable, like the balloon arch, and the toast bar that Kylie, an avowed foodie, imagined. 

What a cutie.

I think there were about 30 some odd in attendance.  I got to visit with John's mother, and she was lovely. 

Kylie Ann, Brandon's wife won in the scratch off event!! 

And here Krista's oldest shares some lip stick with her littlest. 

Since Barb and I were matching I thought we needed a picture too. 

Dad took this picture of the roof this morning to show our springtime snow from the balcony.

Here is Alex with his other grandmother. 

Today we went to the farewell of the Parkers, who were the directors of Mosida our first year.  While there we ran into Jenger Terry the mother of one of our covid missionaries in Finland. 

Here we are with Elder Cole who also served during our first year at Mosida. 

Here we are afterwards at the Parker's home for lunch after the farewell.

We laughed at the speed limit in their Eagle Mountain neighborhood on the way home. 

And last, but not least is Trevor in a picture taken this week in New Zealand as Trevor prepares to bungee jump. He is pointing to the bridge he jumped from.

and there he goes. 

Dad was also asked to talk in stake conference on April 21st to talk about our mission to Mosida and encouraging seniors to go on missions.