Old News But Good News

I am more than a little late with this post. Let's just say the past few weeks have not been my best with recovery from some allergic reaction followed by a nasty virus. I am glad to feel among the living again!
We did enjoy our family trip with all of our children and their spouses (except Conrad who had law school midterms and couldn't go). Two of our grandchildren - Treygan and Kyra also travelled with us and they had a great time. We missed Conrad - he always livens things up - but we loved having Hailey with us. She was a good sport and came without Conrad. We loved being together and eating great food and seeing new places. Tricia has beautifully chronicled this trip on her blog so I will just share a few pictures and memories.



Enjoying a formal night dinner on board the Norwegian Star



Return from the snorkeling trip - the highlights for Hal and I included seeing a whale on the way over and a giant turtle on the way back.



Two of fourteen 4 Wheeling Banditos ( if you saw the dust and dirt we encountered on the trip you would know why we were dressed as we were!) The ride was dusty and wild and my favorite part was the brief ride on the beach!

Sister Time and working on personal histories

Last week I traveled to St. George to spend time with Kay and Pam. We enjoyed lunch together and had a great visit. Of course we made some time for a little shopping after lunch!


Loving the Ahi Tuna Salad almost as much as the company!




Pam and I worked together to organize, scan and save old photos and slides that we will use in our personal histories. We compared memories of our Hawaii, Louisiana and Virginia years growing up. it was fun to talk about and remember our childhood and prepare to begin the writing process. Roger was a good sport and without his help we couldn't have accomplished all the computer work. (Pam and I both know just enough about computers to be a little dangerous - but with Roger's help we got a lot done!)




Of course we made time for some great meals!

Memory Lane

I am working on my Personal History and living a bit in the past. It is fun to go down memory lane and remember all the past good times. These pictures should bring back memories for some of you as well.


Happy Family Reunion Time in Caldwell - even looking at the red brick 2016 Idaho Street home brings back memories! Let me know if you can put a year on this picture.



This happy reunion is was I refer to as "The Uncle Tom's Cabin" Reunion! We had a great time in Island Park that year. If you know the year this reunion took place - let me know!

Some of my favorite people were born in February!

Lots of important people in my life were born in February.

Our Adam celebrates his birthday on Ground Hog Day February 2nd.


Whitney celebrated her 24th birthday this year on February 3rd!


Kelly's birthday is February 13th and always comes during Red Mountain's busiest time of the year.


Gigi was born February 19th and is now 1 year old!!




Mom's birthday was February 5th and Dad's was February 18th which was also Mom and Dad's anniversary date. This photo was taken in Hawaii in 1950. My thoughts have been of days past as I am working on my Personal History and going through all of the old photos. I love this picture of Mom and Dad!


Pam's birthday is February 14th - Valentine's Day. I enjoy all the pictures from our Hawaii years - what a wonderful time in our lives living in paradise!

I know that there are many more important people who call February their birthday month and I didn't mean to leave anyone out but I am sure you can see why February is such an important Birthday month for me!

PS
I am learning of other family members with February birthdays - Mindy, Stacy and Tom's son Jake (both on February 18th) - if you know of other family members with February birthdays help me build the list!!

Renewed Friendships and Fond Farewells

MTC Branch 10 - Russian Speaking - February 13, 2011


This past Sunday we said our "goodbyes" to a wonderful group of missionaries that are in our MTC Branch. Among those leaving for the mission field were two young men that we knew while serving our missions in Russia. It was a joyous reunion when Elder Sergey Antamanov came to the MTC to prepare for his mission to the Ukraine. We first met Sergey on our first mission when he came to the Youth Conference we had prepared. He was an outstanding young man and we knew that he was capable of doing great things to build the church in his home city of Krasnoyarsk. We continued our friendship with Sergey on our second mission as we watched him grow and mature into a fine young man. He will be a wonderful missionary to the people of the Donesk Ukraine Mission and such a strength to his own branch when he returns from this mission! Likewise, we were thrilled to greet Elder Kirill Tsirkov from Novokuznetsk. Kirill was baptized shortly before we returned home from our second mission and we were privileged to attend his baptism. As a member of another church, Kirill had studied the Bible in depth before meeting the missionaries. When taught by the elders, he read and studied the Book of Mormon with an enthusiasm and diligence rarely seen. He then went on to read every church book he could get before making his decision to join the church. He is truly a "gospel scholar". He will also be a great missionary as he serves in the Russia Saint Petersburg Mission. He will be much needed in his own tiny branch (15 members) when he completes this mission and returns home to Novokuznetsk. We love serving at the MTC and we especially love it when we have the priceless opportunity to renew friendships with members - now missionaries!!


Elder Sergey Antamanov from Krasnoyarsk going to serve in the Donesk Ukraine Mission




Elder Kirill Tsirkov from Novokuznetsk going to serve in the St. Petersburg Russia Mission


Kirill Tsirkov's baptism - May 2009 - Today he is missionary!

Second Time Around

Joan came to visit this past weekend. She came to help Whitney celebrate her birthday. I met Joan and Whitney at the Museum of Art at BYU and we enjoyed lunch together at the MOA Cafe and then visited the "The Master's Hand" art exhibit. This was my second time to see this wonderful display and I must say that I enjoyed it as much the second time as I did the first time! It is incredibly inspiring. A couple of weeks ago the Mormon Tabernacle Choir centered their "Music and the Spoken Word" around Carl Bloch and this artwork display and this rekindled a desire to go back for a second look. I wasn't disappointed. It was great to see Whitney and Joan again and to spend time with them! It was a wonderful weekend!

Precious Family

This past weekend was a happy and sad time for me. Happy because I was able to see ALL of my siblings and their spouses and spend a short but wonderful time with them as well as see all but one of my Gabrielsen Cousins! Sad because what brought us together was Uncle Alvin's viewing and graveside service.

The viewing in Ogden was truly like a joyous family reunion as we hugged and spoke with all aunts, uncles and cousins. Then, after the viewing all my siblings and spouses gathered for a quick bite to eat and a short meeting together.

Saturday morning found us at the Logan Cemetery to pay our last respects to Uncle Alvin. It was a short but tender service with military honors and an outstanding talk by my cousin Ellen and dedication of the grave by my cousin Evan. What a wonderful family I am privileged to be a part of! They are truly precious to me!

ALL siblings and spouses!


The Gabrielsen Cousins with Uncle Ronald, Aunt Grace & Aunt Nedra



Kay, Pam & Patty at Mom & Dad's Graves