Happenings During the Past Couple of Weeks

As most of you know, Billy's and Amy's wedding is drawing near, April 26th. Jenny hosted a shower for Amy on March 20th. Some of Amy's relatives came, along with some of our relatives also. She got some nice gift cards and also presents, that were shipped to Billy's apartment.

Here are Ali, Amy, Shelby (Amy's sister), and Jenny. Jenny did a great job organizing and delegating food assignments and putting together games. It was really fun to see some of Amy's relatives (the Hopkinsons), who Jenny and I knew from Jenny's clogging days.

Three days later, Dick and I flew to Kansas to see Scott and Amy and their children. The first day we were there, we attended Sam's soccer practice and the temperature was 70 degrees. But it didn't stay that way for long. As a matter of fact, the weather turned out to be cold, rainy and blustery for several days. We seem to attract the cold weather.

Here Dick and Amy swing Ashlynn in a blanket at the soccer field.

Sam practiced many drills with his teammates and even played a little scrimmage game.

The kids were in school, so Amy, Bob Kimball, Dick and I went for a tour of Leavenworth, Kansas, which is currently a military base. In the past, it has been a prison and was where the Santa Fe and Oregon trails met. Bob Kimball knows the history of Kansas backwards and forwards. He's very knowledegable. He and Dick are looking at the sign that tells about the two trails. Mormon pioneers came from New Orleans to Leavenworth to join the Oregon Trail.

Amy stands in front of an Episcopal Church at Leavenworth.

The next day, we went to visit the place where Scott works. I didn't get a picture of it. We were able look around his work and have lunch with him. Afterwards, we visited the Nelson Art Gallery in Kansas City.

We probably had the yummiest keylime pie I've ever had in the restaurant of the art gallery. We saw some artifacts (Chinese) that dated back to 300-500 AD. Afterwards, we went out on the steps and took a couple of pictures.


Dick and Amy.

This picture was taken from the steps out onto the lawn. Notice the giant birdies. You'd have to have a big badmitton racket to play with those. Also, notice the statue of "The Thinker" off to the right.

That night, we went to Sam's pack meeting, which was set up like an airplane with rows and aisles and even plastic bags with flight magazines in them. They even had a flight attendant who moved a food cart around and gave drinks and peanuts to the audience. Sam received his Arrow of Light. Scott is his eleven-year-old scout leader. I think Sam is pleased with that and that Scott is also.

The next day, we took another trip to see the temple site for the Kansas City Temple. It is in Clay County, Missouri. There were tons of tractors there (about 20 or so), but the clay dirt was too wet for them to do much. Apparently, there will be a ground breaking this spring sometime. Right now, all it looks like they are doing is moving clay.

Liberty, Missoui, is a couple of miles away from the temple site, so we went through Liberty Jail and listened to Sister Nelson tell us about the events that took place there. She did a very nice job and the spirit was strong. Bob Kimball is a really good listener and a good sport to go with us to several Mormon sites. For those of you who don't know, Bob is a Presbyterian, sort of.

This is a depiction of how it was when Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and three others were in prison there. Joseph Smith is on the far left with a feather pen in his hand. They lived in terrible conditions in the jail. It was dirty, the food was very bad, and the sanitation was awful.

But, within these walls, some of the most profound sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were received: 121, 122, etc. "All things shall give thee experience." What inspiring men they were.

Saturday, March 27th, was Elle's baptism. She was the only child getting baptized. She asked Dick if he would give the talk on baptism and asked me if I would give the talk on the Holy Ghost. Sam said the opening prayer. Ashlynn led the singing of the opening and closing hymns. Some of Elle's friends and family sang the song: "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," and Bob Kimball gave the closing prayer. He did a great job! It was a very nice baptism. Scott baptized Elle and confirmed her. He gave her such a beautiful confirmation that was very appropriate for Elle
Elle and Ashlynn

Elle and Scot
The children who sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me"

Group picture of our family and Bob Kimball. It really was a nice event.

Dick and Bob visiting after the baptism.

I think, besides the baptism, my favorite part of the whole trip was sitting with Ashlynn and Amy at the General Young Women's Broadcast and watching Ashlynn laugh at President Uchtdof's talk. Ashlynn is such a sweet young woman. She is still trying to fit in with everyone, and his talk was so good for her to hear.

I don't think we stopped for very long the whole time we were there, but we had a great visit.