JUNE~MORE OF MOM'S 3RD GREAT GRANDPARENTS

IRA MORRIS INMAN AND LUCINDA THOMAS INMAN

~Grandpa Hiatt's great great grandfather and grandmother~

The Inmans were medieval innkeepers from Yorkshire England. They were direct descendants from the kings and queens of England, but the law of the firstborn inheriting everything forced younger sons to pursue mercantile and other occupations.  During the 17th century the Inmans joined with the Quaker sect and because of religious persecution were forced to flee to the Americas.  John Inman came in 1619 to Jamestown, Virginia and his descendendants mostly settled in Virginia and North Carolina.  

Ira Morris Inman ("Morrie") was born in 1799 or 1790 in either Pittsylvania County or Bedford County, depending on which source is correct. In spite of source discrepancy, we know he was born in Virginia.  He was a Quaker like his ancestors.  His parents were William Wakefield Inman Jr. (1772-1816) and Nancy Morris (1772-1865).  Ira was the first of at least four children.  Interestingly, each of their children was given "Morris" as their middle name.  This is a not completely uncommon practice in the South.  Grandpa Hiatt's parents gave his mother's maiden name, "Puckett" to four of their eleven children.  Ira married Lucinda Thomas on November 23, 1819, in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Lucinda was born in 1883 in Surry County (probably Mt. Airy) to William A. Thomas (1762-1842) and Anne Campbell (1764-1805).  She lived in Mt. Airy until she was 91 years old and died in 1883.  Her husband had died in 1870.  They were the parents of eight children, our grandfather, John Wesley Inman, being the oldest.  John Wesley was the father of Grandpa Hiatt's grandmother, Nancy Anne Inman (for whom our Nancy Anne was named.)  Another interesting sidelight is that Ira Morris Inman is also Andy Griffith's great great grandfather as well as Grandpa Hiatt's.

JACOB HUFFAKER AND MARGARET BODKIN HUFFAKER

~Grandma Hiatt's great great grandfather and grandmother~

Jacob Montgomery Huffaker was born in Saltville, Washington County, Virginia in 1771.  His parents were Michael Huffaker (1730-1815) and Catherine Kegele [Cakley or sometimes Kistsby](1736-1812).  Catherine was born in Germany and emigrated to America with her parents when she was a child.  Jacob was the eleventh of thirteen children.  He married Margaret (Peggy) Lee Bodkin on February 4th, 1793, in Knoxville Tennessee.  They lived in Kentucky for a time then moved to Morgan County Illinois.  Margaret was born in Bull Pasture (now Augusta) Virginia, on October 15, 1770.    Her parents were Hugh Bodkin (1736-1801) and Hester Larimer Farmer (1740-1801)  Margaret was the 8th of 15 children.  She and Jacob had twelve children.  Simpson David Huffaker, Grandma's great grandfather, was their 11th.  They also had a daughter whom they named Mary Polly Huffaker, and you may remember that Grandpa Hiatt had a great great grandmother named Mary Polly Taylor.  So, Mary and Polly, your names are family names on both Grandpa and Grandma Hiatt's lines.  Margaret died April 13, 1854 in Pendleton, Virginia.  Jacob remarried a woman named Louisa and promptly died the next year.  His death date is April 17, 1855 in Jacksonville, Illinois.  It's interesting that both Grandma's and Grandpa's great great grandparents were born in Virginia.  Grandpa Hiatt's ancestors ended up in North Carolina as well as  Virginia and Grandma Hiatt's ancestors ended up in the West, mainly Arizona, Utah and Idaho, having traveled with the Saints.  Before that, they were in Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania.   

These pictures are pretty scary, but it is mainly because it took so long for the film to be exposed that the subject had to sit for a long time without moving.  They couldn't hold a smile that long, and consequently people in those days always look grouchy.

     Jacob Montgomery Huffaker  

This was taken when he was about 60                                        Margaret Lee Bodkin

                                                                                              She was 90 when this was taken

Gravestone for Jacob Huffaker

Thankfully, cameras are better now and people can smile.  Our June birthdays look beautiful and sweet and pleasant and very smiley.

Aila LOV turned 3 on June 1st

Nathan and Shauna celebrated their 31st anniversary on the 3rd.

Hayden turned 17 on the 4th.

Porter's birthday was the 5th.

Stephanie's birthday was the 6th.

Grandpa Rudge would have been 94 on the 9th.

June's first birthday was the 14th.

Nathan's birthday was the 17th.

Stetson's birthday was the 17th.

Joshua's birthday was the 18th.

We celebrated our 55th anniversary on the 19th.

Papa Ellis would have been 117 on the 24th.

Jori's birthday was the 30th.

~OUR JUNE~

June is always CRAZY!  I remember when we had a young family, I thought it was crazy then.  Our anniversary was in June; both of our fathers had birthdays in June; Fathers' Day was in June; our first baby was born in June; and Dad's sister, Raelene's birthday was in June.  And it used to be the beginning of summer break.  I even wrote a verse about "The Slow Easy Days of June."

The Slow Easy Days of June

I remember last May, I could hardly wait

For the slow, easy days of June;

With time to relax in the summer sun

And dream by the summer moon.

My family would surely grow closer this summer,

By spending more time together.

We would picnic, play ping pong, make popcorn and punch

And enjoy the bright summer weather.

We’d read to each other instead of watching TV,

We’d each try to learn a new skill.

We’d clean out the storeroom, and as a reward,

We’d cook hamburgers out on the grill.

You’d think that I’d learn that it’s never that way,

My children have plans of their own;

Some go to camp, and others to work,

And some spend their time on the phone.

I drive the little ones to learn to swim,

The middle ones to classes.

The older ones run off to jobs

Mowing other people’s grasses.

My summer’s more hectic than last winter or fall;

At least, from what I remember.

While I drive my kids here and pick them up there,

How I long for the days of September!

But that seems mild compared to 2019 June.  Look at all the amazing people who chose June to come to earth.  And at least one other wedding anniversary, not even including the grandchildren who got married in June.  All happy reasons to look forward to June, even when it's crazy.  

June, 2019 has been crazier than usual, though.  We've had some happy experiences and some anxious ones.  A wedding, Fathers' Day, anniversaries, a baby blessing, camps, trips and vacations, but also surgeries and sicknesses, including Dad's toothache and a black eye, Rachel's surgery and Isabel's sickness, not to mention a snake and a dead coyote! And most of those hard things were with Rachel!  Like I said...CRAZY!

Summer flowers...These gladioli are from Mary's garden.  

Grandma Hiatt had glads in her bridal bouquet.

Flowers around our pool and house.

A magnolia blossom from the Temple

Plumbego by the pool

From the bird whisperer...the mama cardinal cracking a sunflower seed in our window feed box.

~OUR JUNE~

Our pool is being well used.  I'm so glad.  We love having everyone come over.  My problem is that I just can't help but take pictures and really, I have enough pictures of kids playing in the pool 😎🏊

Esther and Harrison and Marlie and Soren and Brody came for Isabel's wedding and played with us.

Reygan and Ellie also came.  It was fun to have everyone.  Stephanie and her boys came to the wedding too, so we were well represented.

More pool pics! Ha Ha!

It just seems last week or so when these three were our newest babies.

On June 12, Isabel Mary Alder and Logan Steele Sherwood were married by Logan's Bishop, Bishop Dennis Jacob.  It was so lovely, beautifully decorated, but especially, beautiful bride and groom, so much in love and happy.   And family and friends celebrated with them.

Everyone pitched in and helped them get ready.  Here, Reygan and Marlie are making signs, cheered on by Ellie, Lindsay and Brynlie and Camille.

Mary also made a sign, and then several people went to Sherwood's hay field to set up and decorate. Jenn and I contributed by keeping kids.   I have more pictures that I had to spread around to other sections.  I tried to get a picture of everyone in the family, so if you don't see a picture of someone here, check their section.

They all came back, red in the face, and on the verge of heat stroke...Mary too.  She was taking the picture.  See Rebecca in the background?

And then, just before the wedding, people were still setting things up.

It's a good thing we had men there.

So many people came!  I only took pictures of our family, but there were so many more...standing room only.

And her cousins helped serve.

Marlie played and sang as people were arriving.  So beautiful.  She added to the country/home atmosphere.  They also served sodas and had donuts and cookies and tacos.

Then Maya and Brea, the cutest flower girls you ever saw, and a darling ring bearer, a nephew of Logan, preceded the bride and her father down the aisle.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen, waiting for the bride.  Notice Logan's twin sisters interspersed between Isabel's twin sisters.

Then, Tony and Isabel walked down the aisle, through the hay field, to her eager groom.

Bishop Dennis Jacob pronounced them husband and wife and gave them some good advice about preparing for the temple.  Then after he asked them to kiss, he laughed and said, "not so long!"

They exchanged rings and walked back down he aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood.

After the rings he invited them to kiss again...which they did.

After the ceremony, families lined up to take pictures with the bride and groom.

They cut their wedding cake, threw Isabel's bouquet and then everyone danced!

The bride and her father; the groom and his mother

We used to dance together a lot...when we were dating...but not so much anymore.  We spent a lot of time at the Mezona, a dance hall in Mesa for LDS kids, although kids from all over the state danced and courted there.  It was nice to dance again so close to our 55th anniversary.  June is a good anniversary month.  Grandma and Grandpa Brinton's anniversary is also June 12th, just like Isabel and Logan's.

It was a great party and as we were leaving, we saw all the people who had been there the whole day, setting up and serving, staying late to help clean up. Loving service from her brothers, sisters and cousins.

On the following Saturday, we went to Safford's Block Party to hear Brianna sing in a teen competition.  She sang beautifully, but sadly didn't win, although of course, she was clearly the best.

The next day, Carol and Russ Barney, who were longtime neighbors and friends, and who moved away from Safford several years ago, attended church in our ward.  I invited them to dinner and they came.  It was so good to catch up with each other's families.  They live in Gilbert.

It was Fathers' Day, and Dad asked for spaghetti.  So we had a spaghetti supper to which we invited all the Safford kids, as well as the Barneys.  Only Thomas' family and mary's family were able to come, however.  But we enjoyed it with them.  I think Dad had a good day, with visits (Rebecca, Scott, Polly and DeWitt, as well as Rachel, Brynlie and Camille, all came by for ice cream later) and calls from the out-of-town kids.  I made peach ice cream just for him.  Of course, he shared with everyone.

Rebecca posted this for our 55th anniversary on the 19th.  I even had comments from people in the temple.  How young and cute we look! I can't remember getting old. It's actually embarrassing that we looked so good because I feel like people are thinking, "Goodness gracious!  What ever happened to them!"

This is how we spent our anniversary.  Dad had a black eye and I had a sore toe.  He had pulled his eyelid down a little too vigorously to put drops in his eye and I had surgery on my toe to remove a bad toenail.  

Lindsay and Mary came by after Alex's t-ball game to bring a sugar free medicinal snowcone.

Dad was in his element, removing my bandage.

Dad getting potatoes and zucchini from his raised garden.

On the 21st, Rachel went to Gilbert to have surgery.  We went the next day to see her and she had a smile on her face even though she still felt really miserable.  She had a lot of support from Tony and her sisters, though, especially Erika, as a health care professional as well as a sister, and I know that helped a lot.

The next day, Sunday, we went to Joel and Stephanie's ward to hear them bear their testimonies after Joel's release from being Bishop.  They both did so well and bore sweet, fervent testimonies that touched my heart.  We missed hearing Thomas in Safford and Marlie in her ward, but we heard a recording Jenn made of Thomas and we heard Marlie give hers to us at home.  They were both really good talks too.  

We ate a delicious dinner at Joel and Stephanie's house after church.

That evening we went by Esther and Shad's where we heard Marlie's talk and visited with them.  Polly also went over.  I got a picture of Harrison with his missionary tag.  He said that most of the time he wears exactly that same uniform, or a similar shirt, to work at the school for his service.

When we got home on Monday, Rachel had just been home one day, so we took her a medicinal strawberry milkshake so she could really start getting well.

She really didn't have time to get well, however, because the next day, Isabel started experiencing pain in her abdomen and they were worried about appendicitis.  Rachel had an emergency appendectomy when she was pregnant with Isabel, so it really was a concern for all of us.  After a night in the Safford ER, she was sent to Banner Gateway where they outruled appendicitis, eventually, but kept her in the hospital for 3 days, trying to find out what was causing her pain and nausea.  Tony and Logan were in Gilbert with Isabel, and Rachel was at home convalescing from her own surgery, trying to gather enough strength to go as soon as she got word about whether or not Isabel would need surgery.

We went to visit Isabel in the hospital and brought her a medicinal milkshake, which she didn't even want...Logan appreciated it, though.

On Saturday, the 29th, we had a steak fry at Esther's house.  Nathan and Shauna had come from Omaha to do some business and to see Bethany's family (basically, to see Jovie) so we wanted to get all the kids together who could come.  Nathan, Shauna, Bethany, Palmer and Jovie were there, as well as Joel, Stephanie, Levi, Crew, Stetson, Lindsay and Junie.  Jovie and Junie seemed to enjoy playing together.  Jeremy, Erika, Reygan, Tayte, Hayden and Ellie also came, as did Thomas and Jenn.  Esther and Shad and Harrison, Marlie, Bridger, Soren and Brody were also there, of course.

The next day, June 30th, was the blessing of Victoria Ann Biggs.  Daynen gave her a beautiful, sweet blessing, assisted by Dad, Tayte, Jori's dad and Grandpa and some brothers and brothers-in-law.

 ~Waiting outside the church while Erika took pictures of the Daynen's family.

Erika made Victoria's beautiful blessing dress.  Heirloom quality, for sure.

After the blessing, we went to Jori's parents' house for lunch and I got to hold her. What a precious sweetheart.

That night, Joel's and Esther's families came to Lydia to hang out with us.  It made Lydia really seem like home to have our kids come for a Sunday night visit.

~NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY~

*NATHAN AND SHAUNA*

Joshua made a trip to Boston and fell in love with Boston architecture.

Palmer and Jovie on Fathers' Day

Nathan and Shauna had her parents and Hannah and Seth over to celebrate Fathers' Day

Hannah, preparing Nathan's favorite meatballs for Fathers' Day dinner.

At a restaurant in Omaha for Nathan's 53rd birthday.  He looks really good for 53, doesn't he? I think Shauna is taking this picture.

And, I assume that Nathan is taking this picture of Hannah, Shauna and Joshua on Josh's birthday the next day.

We loved having Nathan and Shauna come for a visit.  It was also a good excuse to have a Biggs family steak fry.  I remember going to those at Grandmother's house by the car wash.  The 4th of July was always a reason to cook steaks, as well as our birthdays in November, and any time someone came to visit.

Jovie and Junie enjoyed playing legos together

*JOEL AND STEPHANIE*

June is always Joel and Jeremy's big D Day commemoration in France.  This year, they, plus Shad, and other members of their team went to stage the 75th anniversary of that pivotal WWII event.

Here, Joel and Jeremy are with their team and then Joel with a veteran and his family.

~In France.  Mont St. Michel in the background.  Even French food needs a blessing; Joel conducting the proceedings.

Some of the bands and choirs that participated.

The church at St. Mere Eglise where the parachute was hung up, actually saving the man's life during the invasion on D Day.

A parade through the village.  Lots of people watching.

Then they all went to Paris to perform.   They also visited London.

While they were gone, it was Stephanie's birthday...June 6...D Day.  Her mom and sisters took her to Las Vegas to celebrate.  They saw Donny and Marie.

Her boys went with her too, and they hung out around town and at the Hoover 

Dam while their mom and aunts did Las Vegas.

They also came to Isabel and Logan's wedding while their dad was out of town.

Junie celebrated her 1st birthday on the 14th.  She really knew how to dig into that chocolate cake!  Check the Smiles section to see the ultimate 1st birthday cake picture.  It's the one we all hope to capture with our one-year-olds.

Lindsay always goes all out in decorating for special occasions.  Stetson celebrated his birthday in June...the 17th...same as Nathan's.  And then she posted the next picture of Stetson and Junie for Fathers' Day.  Contrary to all appearances, he is really busy studying to take the Bar.

 

~After Joel's release as Bishop, with President and Sister Barker, their stake president; and then with us and their family.

Junie is just starting to walk and is doing a great job.  She even walked on the grass at the church; Crew received a special award at their Priests' super activity, a grueling hike in the mountains.  His Priest Quorum leader is the new Bishop...Bishop Roner.

They bought a little A-frame cabin that borders their property in Pine, so they have the land to the creek and to the Lo Mia boundary.  It's a cute little place.  "Very clean," Stephanie says.

At the steak fry at Esther's

Junie and Jovie

*DANIEL AND CONNIE*

Alta is crafting Aila's Little Mermaid cake.  She has learned from the best and is making her own "Amazing Alta" cakes.

Aila's birthday was the 1st of June.  You can tell she loves her cake.

Alta, you need to paint this picture!

Aila and her dad celebrated their birthdays almost together.  Porter's is on the 5th.

He got an "Amazing Alta" cake too.  See the submarine sandwich he loves.

Syrina, Raymond and Alonzo participated in their school's Fun Run.

Devynne and Brock enjoy taking their kids to all the fun places in and around St. Louis.

Devynne posted the picture of Brock and Theo for Fathers' Day, and I paired it with the 2nd one because of what she wrote about her feeling on being a mother.

Poor Shannyn had her wisdom teeth pulled.  She actually looks better than most people do after that surgery.

Some more "Amazing Connie Cakes" that Shannyn has posted.

Making s'mores when Shadrach and Hannah were there.

Raymond is playing Little League.

They are making a lot of progress on their huge barn.

Daniel and Shadrach in front of the rising barn; Syrina's promotion from elementary school to middle school; bowling night with Shadrach and Alonzo. 

Parker has a new job with the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park as a tour guide, while still finishing his Walmart job until the end of the month.  Busy man.  He posted the picture on the right as the view he sees every day at his job.  This is a dream job for Parker and I know he is the right man for the job.

Shannyn posted this picture from Girls' camp.  She went as a YCL this year.  I assume Analynn and Emma also went to camp.

Shadrach has been given a new assignment at the MTC.  Wow! what an opportunity.

At a park in Aspen right on the Roaring Fork River.

Alonzo and Aila enjoyed rolling down the hill.

They rode in the hospital float/pickup for the Strawberry Days festival in Glenwood.

*REBECCA AND SCOTT*

Polly with one of their boarders, making pets out of the bunnies.

At Lydia when they were in Gilbert with Rachel's family.

They attended Patrick Eady's wedding in the Phoenix Temple.  Patrick, whose mother died when he was a baby, asked Rebecca to sit in the groom's mother's place in the sealing room.  She has really been a substitute mother to him all his life.

Rebecca and Scott went to Esther's ward the next day and helped her with singing time.

Then that afternoon, they were able to be at Esther's for Harrison's setting apart as a missionary.  Scott had the opportunity to assist in the blessing.

Sara posted these Yardsale advertisements.  I had to laugh.  Some of them I don't get, though.   Maybe I should have put them in the Smile section, but I already have too many there.

Dallin and Parley playing in the playground.  It looks like NY is finally warming up.

They went to Montreal to see the sights.  Dallin is as captivated by beautiful architecture as Josh.

They are spending time with friends before their move to West Virginia.  Note Sara singing karaoke.  She posted a video of it.  She was really good!

Rebecca, DeWitt and Polly all helped clean and set up Isabel and Logan's apartment.

And Rebecca and Polly helped Brynlie and Camille make delicious shortbread cookies for the wedding.

After Isabel's wedding.

Lilllian's post

After the wedding, Rebecca, Scott, DeWitt and Polly went to Pinetop in their motor home and enjoyed some cool weather and great fishing.

They participated in a tennis tournament in Mesa and really enjoyed getting back on the courts.  It was during the time of Rachel's surgery, so Rebecca was able to go to the hospital to see her.

Allison posted this darling picture of Lucy.  I don't know what the flowers were for, but she looks like she loves holding them.   She's a colorful little flower, herself.

Allison and Taylor are remodeling their new home.  Some before and after pictures.  Wow! What a difference.

Lillian and Kelin, celebrating their move from their barn.  They got another apartment in Cedar City.

*JEREMY AND ERIKA*

Jori was a bridesmaid for her friend.

Tayte and Hayden also went to France to perform at the D Day celebration as part of a national show choir with which they sing.  It was especially nice for Jeremy to be with him.

I would love to have heard Tayte sing that solo.  I saw a video of them, dancing.  I must say, Hayden really has some moves 😉

They also went to Paris and London.

Going and coming.

I love that Reygan is painting as well as drawing.  She is so talented.  Dad wanted me to show her some portraits I have been making of grandchildren, but I said, "absolutely not.  I am in no way even in her league." I actually showed her some when we were at dinner at Jori's parents' house, and she gave me some tips that I really appreciated.  She's amazing.

She and Ellie came to help make signs for Isabel's wedding.

After they came, Reygan was showing me something on her phone.  Can you guess what it was?  No, you are wrong.  Not a boyfriend.  It was some of her artwork.

All ready to go to the wedding.  Poor Ellie was sick while she was here, and we didn't even know it.  She was trying to be a trooper, but I could tell she didn't feel well.

Little Queen Victoria went swimming for the first time.

From Jori's Fathers' Day post.  Love the Teddy bear.

At Esther's for the steak fry.

Erika and Victoria having a very interesting conversation.

Beautiful baby in the heirloom blessing dress her grandmother made for her.

~After the blessing in their ward.  Daynen gave such a sweet father's blessing.  He really seems all grown up now.

Jeremy is loving being a grandpa.  He said to Daynen "Just look at her and think how much you love her and then think how much more you're going to love her daughter."

With Aunt Reygan

Aunt Ellie

Uncle Hayden

Blessing day, June 30, was also Jori's 21st birthday.

*RACHEL AND TONY*

Luke has started driving...and dreaming...

Rachel got busy and transformed Isabel and Logan's apartment into a lovely home.

Everyone worked hard to move them in and do Rachel's bidding.

Looks really sweet.  Perfect for young lovebirds.

At Lydia and Esther's

Rachel's front porch is truly an adventure porch.  One day, the barking dogs warned them of a snake, which Luke and Isabel dispatched with a shovel, cutting it in half.

Then another day, they brought a dead coyote pup as an offering.  They were so proud.

Getting ready for the wedding.  Marlie polishing Isabel's nails; getting her hair and makeup done; and fixing Luke's boutonniere.

The refreshment table and the helpers.

The lovely bride

With her mother

Brynlie and Camille

Rylie and Brandon and Tony with his mom and brother.

Parents of the bride

Rachel looks young and pretty enough to be the bride herself.

An elegant hayfield!

They had just a couple of days together before Logan was called up on a fire.  There is a major fire going on in the Superstitions just behind Globe and that is where he is stationed.  We can even see the smoke from Safford as well as from Gilbert.  Rachel took a video of it and these are screenshots.

Brynlie sent me this picture of her bulletin board.  I'm so impressed and touched that she would save all these cards over the years.

Luke and Bridger at EFY.  Crew and Hayden also went but they were in another group.

Isabel swimming with her new Sherwood family.

When Rachel went to Gilbert to have surgery, she stayed at Lydia and redecorated one of the bedrooms the day before she went to the hospital.  Beautiful!

She had a lot of support from her family and sisters.  Harrison even gave her a magic voodoo-type doll to take all the frustration and pain.

Flowers from her parents and sisters.

We brought her a medicinal milkshake...strawberry, of course...to speed her along her way to recovery.

Rebecca brought dinner her first night home.

Then before Rachel even had time to get well, she was at the ER with Isabel, who was experiencing abdominal pain that suggested appendicitis!  They had Thomas check her and he felt fairly sure that her symptoms indicated that it could be.  Rachel had appendicitis when she was expecting Isabel! Grandpa operated on her and she and the baby were fine, but she had Grandpa.  And poor Tony, after spending a week standing around Rachel's hospital room, hardly even got to rest up before he was standing around Isabel's hospital room.

With Dr. Hargis and the ultra sound tech in Safford ER

Thomas and Jenn brought dinner that night, and so much more...read Rachel's text.

They picked up Logan in Miami on their way to Gilbert because the hospital here told them that even if she needed surgery they wouldn't operate on a pregnant girl.

While they were in Gilbert, Esther brought food for the starving men...Isabel wasn't allowed to eat for two whole days!  Then they finally just allowed liquids.  Marlie knew just what she needed in place of food: a little fixing up and cousin care.

Meanwhile back at the ranch...the kids were pitching in and helping around the house...

Luke, doing dishes, buying groceries, etc.

And Mary brought dinner on Thursday night, then again after Isabel and Tony got home. Meals were arranged into the first week in July, hoping that Rachel could rest enough to really get well.

We went to the hospital to take her medicinal milkshake, which she gave to Logan.  She was released after 3 days of tests and no conclusive results.  Logan went back to the fire and Tony and Isabel went back to Safford.

Camille and Brynlie, enjoying the summer in the pool.

*ESTHER AND SHAD*

Esther made use of Rebecca and Scott, their newest ward members, in her Primary singing time.

Then that afternoon, with their stake president, when Harrison was set apart for his mission.

The next day, Shad went with Joel and Jeremy to France for the D Day activities.

Rachel and Tony went to their house to visit, along with newly engaged Isabel and Logan.

Marlie and friends...Doesn't Rachel look like she is their age?

Marlie got to babysit June one day.

Marlie and Esther helping to get things ready for Isabel's wedding; the boys getting themselves ready.

Isabel asked Marlie to play and sing background music as people were arriving.  She was so good.

Marlie with Isabel; with Reygan

After the cornfield wedding, Harrison, who already had a cold anyway, suffered some asthma.

Luke, Bridger, Crew and Hayden at EFY.  I put this in Esther's section even though there are four families represented, because she is the one who sent the picture.

Soren and Brody are earning money by painting citrus trees.

Shad's sister's husband had to have surgery on a brain tumor, so she was glad to have a place to leave her five children, including a tiny baby.  They stayed until the morning of the steak fry that we had at Esther's house on the 29th.

Family gathering for steaks and family bonding.

Whenever I do a panoramic photo, I distort someone.  This time, I gave Marlie a gigantic head and cut a couple of inches off the side of Jenn's head.  But I wanted to get everyone in it that was at the table.

*THOMAS AND JENN*

They have been enjoying the pool, and Henry has become a swimmer this summer.

Henry watching the set up at Isabel's wedding

Kirtlyn at Isabel's wedding

Maya was a flower girl, along with Isabel's cousin, Brea Bingham

Jenn's Fathers' Day post

Kirtlyn's Fathers' Day post

Henry went to help his mom get some things at Rachel's free yard sale.  This is what he chose.  Mary was touched that he chose her picture.

As Stake Young Men's President, Thomas took charge of Zion's Camp for the Priesthood age boys in our stake and patterned it on the Safford Stake Girls' Camp which we designed 25 years ago, complete with the Liahona award and the silent hike, and including some of the activities succeeding Young Women's  presidencies have added through the years.  They did more rough and ready adventure type activities, but focused on spiritual development and communication with the Spirit of the Lord in their lives.

At the steak fry

Thomas and Jenn went to the funeral of Jenn's Aunt Eileen.  It was for her that Jenn got her middle name.  She had 6 children and married a widower with 9 children, giving them 15 kids!  But that's not all...they had 4 more children of their own...a real life "Yours Mine and Ours."  All 19 were there for the funeral.

At the grave site. It was 112 degrees.  Because they were at the funeral, they were able to go to the steak fry.  It was nice to have a Safford family representation.

*MARY AND TYSON*

They have also gotten some good use from the pool.

When everyone is scrounging to get goggles, Ethan is happy with the kid-sized sunglasses.

Brianna went to Girls' Camp.  Mary did her hair and it lasted the whole week.

She got to ride horses and repel.

At the youth community theater awards night, the Richins kids came home with awards.  Lindsay added to her best actor oscars.

Brianna got her braces off!  Gorgeous 😃

Mary made a sign for Isabel's wedding; Enjoying the festivities.

Brianna sang in a Safford Block Party youth competition and did beautifully, even standing on a marijuana banner. 😏

Alex is playing t-ball and Tyson and his brother are the coaches.  However, Lindsay is the real coach, deciding the lineup, who needs what bat, helmet, etc., and encourages and advises as they go to bat.

The Richins family went to their Edward Jones Summer Regional family weekend in Tucson at a posh resort in which they had individual casitas to stay.  They played golf (they liked the ride in the golf cart the best).

They performed with the crazy looking magician.

And just enjoyed being together and doing fun things.

*OUR MISSIONARIES*

Some of the yummy food (and not so yummy, unless you like sushi) that Docker eats with his Chinese members and investigators.

Docker served at a blood drive in Boston; proselyting at Dragon Boat festival; at a baptism. 

Albert's Bishop from Fairfield, California.  He came to Colorado and stopped by to meet the family.  They had them over for dinner...wings!  Albert has been transferred to Rohnert Park, California, where he will be serving as a zone leader.

Harrison putting on his missionary tag as he gets ready to go to work at the school for handicapped children as part of his service assignment.

Harrison finally came and posted his mission picture on our mission board.  It's amazing to see all our family's missionaries and how they are covering the world!

*SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE*

Kirtlyn went on her 4th year hike this year.  I don't know whether Analynn has had camp yet, but she's a 4th year too.  A very special year of stretching and learning.

Some funny situations in France...a public toilet! And can't you just see these guys zipping around Paris on these scooters.  It makes me smile just to think about it.

Alonzo loves zebras and giraffes.  I love the way he lines them up according to size and species.

Brianna sang in a teenage competition for "Safford's Block Party."  The business sponsoring the competition was the Natural Remedy Patient Center...a marijuana  business 😉 I had to laugh when I saw this as most of the competitors were sweet young LDS youth who had no idea.  In fact, Dad is the one who recognized it.

So true! 

~Studying...I know this is so familiar to all you RM's.

 Swimming wears Ethan out, but he always                        

likes to have a handful of cookies to go to sleep with.                   

He says, as his eyes are drifting shut, "a lotta lotta lotta                

lotta cookies."                                                                                   

          I can just feel Junie’s absolute joy in life! 

Nothing's better than a chocolate cake

all to herself that she can play in while

she eats it.

Precious Victoria.

Daynen not only gave a beautiful blessing, he remembered to bring the baby!

I loved the picture that goes along with Elder Perry's quote about fathers.

I have been saving these pictures for months.  This father, big and strong as he is, is his child's anchor, protector, playmate and her soft place to land.

*LAST WORDS*

June has been a month of pure joy.  Some thoughts on our anniversary.

My Best Friend

My best friend…

He’s the one I count on

In the good and bad

And glad and sad times;

He’s the one for me.

My best friend…

We have so much fun

We like to do so many things together,

 Never mind the weather

Rain or shine.

A friendship like ours

Gives the world a glow;

A friendship like ours

Lasts forever, and so

We’ll face together

Whatever life demands.

We’ll walk together

Through life’s changing lands.

You’re my best friend.

                                                                                                       I Face Eternity

                                                                                      Kneeling across the altar from you

                                                                                                     I face eternity.

                                                                                      I see the years that lie before us

                                                                                           And rejoice in what I see.

                                                                                      I  look at you and through my tears

                                                                                        My heart swells at what I see;

                                                                              For your eyes are filled with tears like mine

                                                                                       As you lovingly look at me.

                                                                                         Our hands are clasped between us,

                                                                                          Mine is trembling, yours is strong.

                                                                                           And I know that through eternity

                                                                                                Beside you is where I belong.

For Fathers’ Day

A Plea From Heaven 

When I was young and foolish,

I seemed to hear a far off plea

To choose a man for the father

Of those who would come to me.

“Oh hear us, our future mother,

And choose the best you can find;

A man who is wise and loyal,

Who is loving, good and kind.”

I did my best; I chose with care

The man to be their dad;

And as each child has come to earth,

I can tell that they are glad;

For he’s a man who’ll lead the way

In righteousness, you see,

That we might gain eternal life

As a forever family.

The Image of God’s Face 

As I kneel down beside my bed

I visualize inside my head

The image of God’s face;

A face so loving, wise and true,

A face that looks, dear Daddy, like you;

The image of God’s face.

The greatest gift a man can give

To his children on this earth,

Is the knowledge of God’s love for them

And of their royal birth.

 Then when they kneel down every day

The face they picture when they pray

Takes on the aspect, good or bad,

Of the face and features of their dad.

That’s why when I kneel down beside my bed

I visualize inside my head

The image of God’s face;

A face so loving wise and true,

A face that looks, dear Daddy, like you;

The image of God’s face.

A Father’s Tradition

Gazing through eyes of love

The young boy looked at his dad.

“I want to be just like you;

For you are the world’s best dad.”

The father said fondly to his young son,

“When I was just a lad,

I felt the very same way you do

About your Grandpa, my dad.

“I’m thankful for the life he led;

He was an example to me, you see.

Because of him I can say to you

That I’ll be glad if you follow me.”

My life has been so happy and fulfilling and it is because of each of you; but I know that it is also, and first of all, because of Dad.  He has been a loving husband, a gentle and dependable father and is truly an example for all of us.  I pay tribute to him this Fathers’ Day and every day of my life.