Miriam's 78th birthday art show

My brother Matt and his wife Rachel had this great idea, to celebrate our Mother's 78th birthday with a show of her art. So, we looked at several venues, choose the Colonial Hills chapel where her ward is meeting temporarily. Matt and Rachel put out a beautiful invitation to Mom's friends.


















Then Rachel, with some help from Cherie and Melanie put on a great feast for invited guests.







We arranged the pictures in the Cultural Hall (which we now understand why it was named that way).

And we had the show.












Lot's of people came! Family and friends




... What a great time to honor our dear Mother, Grandmother and friend!

Andrew Golden Hale

The pictures from this post are borrowed from Amy and Scott Hale's (his parent's) blog, but I can't help it. I gotta post!

Andrew Golden Hale, was born to Amy and Scott Hale, living in Seattle. He was 9 lbs, 14 oz, and 20 inches. He was born during a heat wave, reported to be the hottest day on record for Seattle. But, here he is!

Uncle Rob mentioned the Beatles song, "Golden Slumbers," which has always been one of my favorites, so I include the second verse.


Golden slumbers fill your eyes
Smiles awake you when you rise
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye

Like me, you might like the verse even better when you sing it.

We feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family and to witness such exciting events, like Andrew's arrival, like that of his cousin Milo earlier this summer. I can't wait to get to know them and see where they are going. Look out world! Another generation is coming! I thank my Heavenly Father for the chance to be around to see them.

July 24

What a great holiday weekend! We started out on a hike in our beloved foothills, confirming Brother Brigham's earlier view, and the proof is in our beautiful city below.






Not wasting a minute, Melanie was on the line touching bases with the kids across the country on the trail.

Later that day we had a breakfast at Emigration Market with the kids that are here, Rachel and Ben, and then, the next day, had a wonderful breakfast up the canyon, but have no pictures. Jacob and Mike were celebrated in the traditional great pancakes cooked on an unpredictable propane stove.





The barn at the ranch is apparently in its last days, so Melanie showed us some of the remains of the pool from the site of the old house, now gone many years, and where the barn may go soon. She rang the dinner bell, and we showed Rachel, Maria, Piper and Lucy how to swing on the porch.


















Sunday night we got to see our friend of many years "Tommy" here to visit from Japan. We compared notes, how we had all aged, and enjoyed pictures of his family. Fun memories!

July 19 Sun Valley and Peru

Sun Valley was fun; while Mike was explaining the benefits of the bank's exchange program, Melanie and Miranda could do some walking around the grounds.








Later there was a barbecue on the lawn where the Kaysville Andersons met the Salt Lake Andersons.




















A quick walk into Ketchum revealed the hitherto lost location of the Dollhouse. We cooled off with a trip to LeRoy's Ice Cream, which we liked so much, we came back the next day again.












Milo, David and Miranda's son was the star of the trip. Here he is when he learned he was too young for Ice Cream at the Ice Cream Social.











Here are Rachel and her friend Piper Morgan (who tended Rachel for us at Sun Valley, along with several of the young crowd at Sun Valley).









Melanie also found a Diamond Anniversary edition of Scrabble, guaranteed to not wear out, although we tried.












A quick side trip to Redfish lake revealed the beauties of the Anderson women, and Mount Heybourn of the Sawtooth Mountains.















No trip to Sun Valley is complete without a trip to Despo's (formerly Desperado's) Mexican restaurant.










Milo later submitted this video report of the trip to Despo's (click on the arrow):





When we returned home, we were happy to find a letter from Sarah, in which she had sent us some pictures in Peru. Here she is with her companion, Sister Flores, and a new member, Victoria.

She also loves to walk through this part of Chiclayo, where she is posted, enjoying the colors. She reports loving the food, the colors, the friendly people. But most of all being impressed at how friendly and open they are to each other and to her. She feels that they have something to teach us about becoming part of one's community, and being true brothers and sisters. She also reports that her Spanish is getting better, and her pensione is wonderful!
Thanks Sarah, for taking the time and the energy to share yourself with us, and the world!

Peruvian news

We received our first pictures from Peru, sent by our dear Sarah, now known as Hna. Anderson. She is serving as a missionary in the Piura Peru mission, now posted to the city of Chiclayo. She has been blessed to have a great experience with her senior companion, Mna. Flores, and have been well received, participating in several baptisms already!

Here are the pictures:

This first one is of (from left to right), Sarah's companion Hna. Flores, Sarah, and Hno. Jose Vega, a mission leader.










This next one is of Hno. Flores, Sarah and Paulo, just after Paulo's baptism.










In a tender mercy blessing for us, two members of our home ward, Mark Nelson and his son Andrew, were in Peru to do some humanitarian work and then do some sight-seeing. They dropped in to attend church at what turned out to be the ward where Sarah serves. Sarah has attended our present home ward only a few times, so it took a while for each to recognize the other. In Sarah's last letter, she mentioned how fun it was to see them, and what a fun surprise it was to have them have them drop in on her ward. Then, today in our meeting, Mark came up and spoke to us, and told about how Sarah gave a talk in Sacrament meeting in Spanish.

We are so pleased with Sarah's courage to go to Peru, learn a language, and take the wonderful news of the gospel to these people, who had been foreign to her, but are now so dear. Here is the picture of the Nelsons with Sarah and Hna. Flores.









It is great to see the smile and dimples on Sarah's face. It was also fun to recognize the style of architecture behind all of the pictures.

And for you animal lovers (of which Sarah is decidedly one), Sarah sends a picture of a dog she came across in her travels.

Melanie, Miranda, Milo & Dave

(All these pictures were shamelessly stolen from Miranda and Dave's blog)


While Mike and Ben were in San Diego, Melanie went back to Virigina to shop, but mostly to see our new grandchild, Milo, in Concord, New Hampshire, where Dave is attending law lchool, and Miranda is doing using her nursing skills teaching diabetics about healthy lifestyles, and, more importantly gave birth to handsome, bright Milo.

Miranda and Dave were moving to a new apartment, so Melanie's considerable skills in the area came in handy. Her hard work was rewarded with some Granite State ice cream, and a trip to Boston.





Milo held up his side of the bargain by being cute and well-behaved.

Kate and Rachel

The lovely sisters-in-law, Kate and Rachel helping us have a good time at the call.

The Mother's Day call

Only Melanie could make a Mother's Day call into a special event. Here is the spread, including Mediterranean food from Mazza and Melanie's homemade specialties. Ryan brought a cake from his aunt. No one has ever eaten better at a phone call.

While we were there, waiting for Sarah's call, we though we would try to patch in the kids who weren't there; Amy, Scott and Susanna in Seattle, Dave and Miranda in Concord, New Hampshire. With the magic of the internet and Spype and our technical wizard Eric, we got to talk and see all of them, at the same time!

Sarah is doing so well. We are proud of her. She has jumped in the Peru mission environment. Years before, the missionaries were all "nortes." But now, she is one of only 2 norte sister missionaries in her mission, and she hasn't seen the other one. So, she has been immersed in the culture and the language, and is learning fast. Her enthusiasm and humility are serving her in dealing with the culture shock. We are so proud of her! Already 2 baptisms. (Good story: after her door approach, a little boy ran to his mother and said "Mommy, Brittany Spears is at the door!") Can't wait for the next call!

Ben and Mike in kinda sunny San Diego

Mike had a conference, and Ben had graduated, so, as a devotee of Socal, Ben came along with Mike to San Diego. We ignored the press about commuter airline pilot training (or the lack thereof) and took Delta/Skywest to San Diego. here is Ben thinking about the sun and the beach, as he boards ....



While Mike was at the conference founfd a local friend, and hung out in Coronado. In the evenings we'd walk around the Gaslamp district. Ate at "La Puerta," geat Mexican food on 4th Avenue.





Then we walked around the waterfront, saw the cruise ships and the Midway.



But Ben did find time to go see a Padres game with Mike. They ate at Tin Fish first.
They felt a little chicken about leaving before the end of the game. But ESPN later said the game went 13 innings.
Skywest took us safely home again. We had a good time!