Don't mess with the Ava
Saturday, August 7, 2010
August 2010 - Executive office of Ken Woodward
Dear family,
As I began to write this I recalled that 63 years ago today (August 1) I arrived in Sacramento on a greyhound bus from Franklin. It was my first real introduction to California and I had little or no knowledge of what I was getting into (I had passed through Sacramento on a troop train twice during the middle of the night in traveling to and from the Big One in the 1940’s but all I remember seeing was the Western Pacific railroad station on 19th street).
I was carrying all my earthly possessions in a bag which would meet the carry-on luggage limitation on any airline. It was the hottest day of the year and I must have still been wearing my red flannels. I don’t recall now.. A helpful lady at the Chamber of Commerce directed me to a home on 34th & J street where I rented a room from an elderly widow named Jessie Binkerd where I lived for 3-1/2 months until I could find a house and Corene and Susan could join me.
And talking about past events, in two weeks our stake will hold its semi-annual stake conference. Forty years ago at this August conference I was installed as stake president. And if you don’t think that was a long time ago, just remember--that’s the same length of time it took to build the Salt Lake temple..Kevin was 12 and later in the week the two of us climbed Mt. Whitney with the ward scout troop. When you relate that to the temple building time frame, Kevin must be getting along in years himself.
After extensive negotiations with Big Nick, I handed off Joshua and Zachari to him at high noon on July 31 at McDonald’s on Lathrop Road in Manteca. Nick agreed to buy lunch for the three of us as a concession. If he had known that each boy would order three double cheeseburgers merely as appetizers, he may have held out for more favorable terms. Nevertheless the exchange went remarkably well. House arrest is now lifted until August 9 when I’ll reclaim them at the same time and place. As we left for the trip southward Zack said, “it’s going to be hard to leave this house for a week.” Even the trip Nick plans for them to Disneyland and Knottsberry farm didn’t particularly excitement them. They said to me, “why do we have to go to Disneyland and Knottsberry farm? We went there last year.”
During this 8-day hiatus from the boys I’m going to Hawaii and visit my friend Jim Beatty and his new wife. They each wrote separate letters and invited me to come. When I said I would she told me to make a list of the things I would like to see and do. First on my list is to have her show me how to process a pineapple. As an 88 year old native she must be a professional by now.
The boys and I enjoyed the overnight visit of Carol and Mel on July23-24 and Susan joined us for a stake “ 24th of July” breakfast at a local park. Mel claimed he had business elsewhere so he left early in the morning and didn’t reappear until time for he and Carol to start home. While we were later eating lunch at the Dairy Queen he was probably having prime rib at the Hyatt Regency.
School starts on August 23 so the joy of summer is well along. O joy!
I’m looking forward to hearing from each of you through this newswire. I hope Aaron can get off that surf board long enough to write. I’ve had little to criticize of late, and it’s getting real frustrating.
Love,
Dad
As I began to write this I recalled that 63 years ago today (August 1) I arrived in Sacramento on a greyhound bus from Franklin. It was my first real introduction to California and I had little or no knowledge of what I was getting into (I had passed through Sacramento on a troop train twice during the middle of the night in traveling to and from the Big One in the 1940’s but all I remember seeing was the Western Pacific railroad station on 19th street).
I was carrying all my earthly possessions in a bag which would meet the carry-on luggage limitation on any airline. It was the hottest day of the year and I must have still been wearing my red flannels. I don’t recall now.. A helpful lady at the Chamber of Commerce directed me to a home on 34th & J street where I rented a room from an elderly widow named Jessie Binkerd where I lived for 3-1/2 months until I could find a house and Corene and Susan could join me.
And talking about past events, in two weeks our stake will hold its semi-annual stake conference. Forty years ago at this August conference I was installed as stake president. And if you don’t think that was a long time ago, just remember--that’s the same length of time it took to build the Salt Lake temple..Kevin was 12 and later in the week the two of us climbed Mt. Whitney with the ward scout troop. When you relate that to the temple building time frame, Kevin must be getting along in years himself.
After extensive negotiations with Big Nick, I handed off Joshua and Zachari to him at high noon on July 31 at McDonald’s on Lathrop Road in Manteca. Nick agreed to buy lunch for the three of us as a concession. If he had known that each boy would order three double cheeseburgers merely as appetizers, he may have held out for more favorable terms. Nevertheless the exchange went remarkably well. House arrest is now lifted until August 9 when I’ll reclaim them at the same time and place. As we left for the trip southward Zack said, “it’s going to be hard to leave this house for a week.” Even the trip Nick plans for them to Disneyland and Knottsberry farm didn’t particularly excitement them. They said to me, “why do we have to go to Disneyland and Knottsberry farm? We went there last year.”
During this 8-day hiatus from the boys I’m going to Hawaii and visit my friend Jim Beatty and his new wife. They each wrote separate letters and invited me to come. When I said I would she told me to make a list of the things I would like to see and do. First on my list is to have her show me how to process a pineapple. As an 88 year old native she must be a professional by now.
The boys and I enjoyed the overnight visit of Carol and Mel on July23-24 and Susan joined us for a stake “ 24th of July” breakfast at a local park. Mel claimed he had business elsewhere so he left early in the morning and didn’t reappear until time for he and Carol to start home. While we were later eating lunch at the Dairy Queen he was probably having prime rib at the Hyatt Regency.
School starts on August 23 so the joy of summer is well along. O joy!
I’m looking forward to hearing from each of you through this newswire. I hope Aaron can get off that surf board long enough to write. I’ve had little to criticize of late, and it’s getting real frustrating.
Love,
Dad
August 2010 - Bos, Rick & Kristy
This month's report is short and sweet. Kristy has completed teaching her last Summer Session class at BYU and doesn't start again until August 31 (Rick and my 2nd wedding Anniversary.) Work for Rick is the same; stress, stress, stress (this happens with a Start-up Company.)
I am planning to spend a week in Sacramento in August with Dad (Grandpa,) Susan, et al. Todd, Sarah, and Katelyn are letting me tag along with them on their drive as they are spending a vacation there as well. Tracy, Craig, Todd, I, and our assorted families are looking forward to Kelly and Jilina's visit in August.
We also look forward to seeing Kevin and Tammy when they come back to Provo in August for Alexis's graduation. The cat is still alive and the pool is still 92 degrees.
Kristy and Rick Bos
I am planning to spend a week in Sacramento in August with Dad (Grandpa,) Susan, et al. Todd, Sarah, and Katelyn are letting me tag along with them on their drive as they are spending a vacation there as well. Tracy, Craig, Todd, I, and our assorted families are looking forward to Kelly and Jilina's visit in August.
We also look forward to seeing Kevin and Tammy when they come back to Provo in August for Alexis's graduation. The cat is still alive and the pool is still 92 degrees.
Kristy and Rick Bos
August 2010 - Cannon, Adam & Erica & Family
The Cannon, Adam family.
Not much to talk about this month. Summer vacation, so that means the girls go to swim, play, get dirty and make a mess alot. Other than that, we are all doing well.
Adam, Erica, Maja, Annika, Ava and Lilah Cannon
The pic is of Ava. Don't mess with the Ava. ( see pic of the month)
Not much to talk about this month. Summer vacation, so that means the girls go to swim, play, get dirty and make a mess alot. Other than that, we are all doing well.
Adam, Erica, Maja, Annika, Ava and Lilah Cannon
The pic is of Ava. Don't mess with the Ava. ( see pic of the month)
August 2010 - Ekins, Justin & Emily
Justin and I came to DC for the summer and it has evolved into us staying here through December. I'm interning for the Cato Institute. I LOVE it! I'm working with one scholar on monetary policy, another on financial regulation, and another couple on the evolution of the tea parties. I'm meeting lots of great people and working toward finishing my dissertation prospectus. Justin is having a good time in DC as well. We have two roommates this summer; two girls I work with. They are phenomenal and we're really enjoying having roommates, we talk all the time so Justin doesn't have to always be chatting with me.
August 2010 - Haupt, Levi & Torrie & Family
This past July has been the hottest month on record for the commonwealth of Virginia. This goes to Torrie’s conspiracy theory that bad weather follows us wherever we go. The 4-month blizzard of Upstate NY in the winter of 2008-09, then the rainiest summer NY saw in 2009. Once we moved to Virginia the 4-month Blizzard of 2009-10 and now the hottest summer on record. To cope with our “interesting “ luck we’ve done a lot of swimming, our fair-skinned, German-descendant husband and father is a little put out that he doesn’t have the tan, that the rest of us have been blessed with, that’s what he gets for being a geek with an office job.
We spent the 4th of July with some families from the ward and had a BBQ and a mini fireworks show. It was a lot of fun although Torrie missed the huge fireworks show like the one at the Canyons Resort in Park City, UT that she enjoyed years ago. We found out Charlotte is a “pyro” and enjoyed the sparklers a little too much. No injuries though, what a blessing.
Later that week, Levi had the unique opportunity to go to Newport News, VA and tour an aircraft carrier and a submarine. He got a pretty extensive look at the inner workings, while the girls and I enjoyed some outdoor fountains. ( see video)
We’ve had lots of friends over to enjoy our pool with us and finally got up the courage to go night swimming and see the pool’s changing colors.
We’re looking forward to August and the beginning of the change to the best season on the east coast…. FALL!!!!!
Until next month
Love,
The Haupts
We spent the 4th of July with some families from the ward and had a BBQ and a mini fireworks show. It was a lot of fun although Torrie missed the huge fireworks show like the one at the Canyons Resort in Park City, UT that she enjoyed years ago. We found out Charlotte is a “pyro” and enjoyed the sparklers a little too much. No injuries though, what a blessing.
Later that week, Levi had the unique opportunity to go to Newport News, VA and tour an aircraft carrier and a submarine. He got a pretty extensive look at the inner workings, while the girls and I enjoyed some outdoor fountains. ( see video)
We’ve had lots of friends over to enjoy our pool with us and finally got up the courage to go night swimming and see the pool’s changing colors.
We’re looking forward to August and the beginning of the change to the best season on the east coast…. FALL!!!!!
Until next month
Love,
The Haupts
August 2010 - McClintock, Robert & Susan
Dear family,
This past July Aunt Susan had a most disturbing experience.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Council organizes an event that takes place once a month called Second Saturday. Local artists can display their artistic work for the public to view after normal business hours. Because most local artists do not have a storefront to display their work many local businesses agree to let the artists use the local business as a display venue. The local business hopes the public will remember them or their goodwill and return to patronize the business, while the artist hopes the viewing public will seek out the artist for the work or talent they display.
Uncle Bob brought a number of his photographs to display at an auto body shop and then he and Aunt Susan decided to see what some of the other businesses had to show. By degrees, they walked into the most spiritually hideous place Aunt Susan had ever experienced. Rowdy people were milling around on the fringes but as one got further into the mass of revelers, those living spiritually empty lives congregated in greater numbers using the cover of the "mob" to sink lower into depravity with lewd dancing, contorting, and giving themselves over to the "moment". It was quite frightening. One could taste and most definitely feel the evil that reigned there. The Holy Spirit left us and the true nature and danger of the situation became quite apparent.
There is most certainly safety in the counsel of the Prophets to be in harmony with the spirit in order to heed his warnings. Had Aunt Susan been more alert to the spirit and less concerned about pleasing her companion's interests she might have been spared the experience. One might fall back on the old adage “Live and Learn" but that doesn’t cut it in better circles.
On a lighter note....the joint garden that Aunt Susan is tending is doing great! The vegetables that have been harvested and eaten are delicious! The weather has been agreeable most days and the Pioneer Day celebrations were great fun...because family was around and the children were having.
Grandma Anna is still slipping but she wakes every morning with determination to have the best day she possibly can.
Love to all,
The McClintocks
This past July Aunt Susan had a most disturbing experience.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Council organizes an event that takes place once a month called Second Saturday. Local artists can display their artistic work for the public to view after normal business hours. Because most local artists do not have a storefront to display their work many local businesses agree to let the artists use the local business as a display venue. The local business hopes the public will remember them or their goodwill and return to patronize the business, while the artist hopes the viewing public will seek out the artist for the work or talent they display.
Uncle Bob brought a number of his photographs to display at an auto body shop and then he and Aunt Susan decided to see what some of the other businesses had to show. By degrees, they walked into the most spiritually hideous place Aunt Susan had ever experienced. Rowdy people were milling around on the fringes but as one got further into the mass of revelers, those living spiritually empty lives congregated in greater numbers using the cover of the "mob" to sink lower into depravity with lewd dancing, contorting, and giving themselves over to the "moment". It was quite frightening. One could taste and most definitely feel the evil that reigned there. The Holy Spirit left us and the true nature and danger of the situation became quite apparent.
There is most certainly safety in the counsel of the Prophets to be in harmony with the spirit in order to heed his warnings. Had Aunt Susan been more alert to the spirit and less concerned about pleasing her companion's interests she might have been spared the experience. One might fall back on the old adage “Live and Learn" but that doesn’t cut it in better circles.
On a lighter note....the joint garden that Aunt Susan is tending is doing great! The vegetables that have been harvested and eaten are delicious! The weather has been agreeable most days and the Pioneer Day celebrations were great fun...because family was around and the children were having.
Grandma Anna is still slipping but she wakes every morning with determination to have the best day she possibly can.
Love to all,
The McClintocks
August 2010 - Mercier Cesar & Kelly & Family
On the 3rd, Jilina and I are off to CA and then to Utah on the 12th. We are so excited! If any of you are in So Cal or Utah during those times let us know so we can see you! Love to all and happy rest of the summer!
Kelly
Kelly
August 2010 - Scott, Carlon & Kimber & Family
Well it has been a while since I have contributed to the newswire, but I am awake at 4 in the morning so I figured I should do something with my time. The summer kind of feels like it is just beginning for me although it is shortly coming to a close. The whirlwind that was Stake Youth Conference and Stake Girls Camp, that occurred only 2 1/2 months apart was successfully completed and it only took me about 2 weeks to feel completely rested afterward. Although, I complain about the lack of rest that occurred during these events it was definitely worth it. It is always wonderful to see the youth bond and grow spiritually.
I have my 20 year class reunion next Saturday and after 6 weeks of looking for a really great dress, I found it! Now, I am frantically trying to find the proper accessories to go with it. Oh, the trivial worries we women put ourselves through.
Anyway, in September Mimi starts Kindergarten and she is out of her mind, excited about it. I can’t wait, as I won’t have to pay for Pre-school anymore.
We are very excited, as well, as Kelly and Jilina will be visiting us in a few days it is so fun to have them visit us in California. Well, that is all that I can think of for right now. Hope all is well with everyone.
Love,
Kimber, Carlon and Mimi Scott
I have my 20 year class reunion next Saturday and after 6 weeks of looking for a really great dress, I found it! Now, I am frantically trying to find the proper accessories to go with it. Oh, the trivial worries we women put ourselves through.
Anyway, in September Mimi starts Kindergarten and she is out of her mind, excited about it. I can’t wait, as I won’t have to pay for Pre-school anymore.
We are very excited, as well, as Kelly and Jilina will be visiting us in a few days it is so fun to have them visit us in California. Well, that is all that I can think of for right now. Hope all is well with everyone.
Love,
Kimber, Carlon and Mimi Scott
August 2010 - Westover, Mel & Carol
Well, we just walked in the door from Heber, Utah. We just spent a week with Mel's family in Heber, where we had a family reunion. It was really awesome. Tuesday night the whole family got to go in and see Niel get set-apart as a musical missionary (Tabernacle Choir). Thursday, the older kids and some adults (Mel and I included) went to the Jordan Temple and did baptisms. After that we went to the Utah food bank and did a service project. Thursday night we went to Deer Valley and watched the Choir rehearse for the performance for the next night. We sat on the grass directly in front of the choir. It was AWESOME. We even sang along with them (not that they heard us). As usual, lots of activities and singing at night with the Westover clan. A very musical family.
Crystal and Jeff and family visited us July 13. We had a great time with them. We went to the Sequoias, had a bar-be-que at Erica's, again our musical family did a lot of singing and playing of the piano. We also watched some of our old videos of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We got some great laughs out of it.
We also spent a weekend with dad and Susan and the boys in Sacramento, and are planning on going back in about a week. The boys are getting so tall.
Spent Fourth of July with Adam and Erica and the girls. I think Ava spent most of the night running around in circles as she squeeled at the fireworks.
Mel and I are so grateful for all of our blessings. We are especially blessed to have such wonderful talented families, children, and grandchildren.
I have to report to school on August 16, (Cassie's birthday) so I have two weeks left. Still a lot of get done before the summer is over. Everyone have a great August.
Crystal and Jeff and family visited us July 13. We had a great time with them. We went to the Sequoias, had a bar-be-que at Erica's, again our musical family did a lot of singing and playing of the piano. We also watched some of our old videos of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We got some great laughs out of it.
We also spent a weekend with dad and Susan and the boys in Sacramento, and are planning on going back in about a week. The boys are getting so tall.
Spent Fourth of July with Adam and Erica and the girls. I think Ava spent most of the night running around in circles as she squeeled at the fireworks.
Mel and I are so grateful for all of our blessings. We are especially blessed to have such wonderful talented families, children, and grandchildren.
I have to report to school on August 16, (Cassie's birthday) so I have two weeks left. Still a lot of get done before the summer is over. Everyone have a great August.
August 2010 - Wilcox, Todd & Tracy & Family
Dear Family,
By now most, if not all of you know that I am expecting my third child. It has been long overdue, but it really did take me four years to get the courage up again. I am expecting anytime now to stop being scared and start being excited! (No really, we are excited.) It has been a bit rougher this time around. I have been so sick, but thanks to some strong medicine and some tips from Torrie, I think I have it under control now. Alexis wants a girl and Brenton a boy. We'll find out in about 7 more weeks. I am confused about what I could be having because I am so sick (like I was with Alexis), but I am not emotional like (I was with Brenton). So maybe if it is a girl she won't cry at the drop of a hat... one can only hope!
Alexis was baptized this month, which was so exciting. It was very cool to see how excited she was! We had my mom and Todd's mom give the talks, (which were so great!) And the grandpa's were the witnesses. My mom also lead the music and basically ran the show for me! Thanks again mom! I love you! After the event we had every family member in town come over for a belated birthday lunch and baptism celebration.
It has been a good month and we have another exciting month to come. In August Kelly and Jilina are coming to visit! We can't wait!
Love,
Tracy
Tracy
August 2010 - Woodward, Kevin & Tammy & Family
Dear Family:
These past couple of months have been somewhat eventful at the Woodward home. This time of year, much of what we do is centered on the youth of the stake.
Reaching back to May, we enjoyed a dance festival which was presented by 300 of the 535 youth of our stake. The event was featured in the Church News. It was an event that was very successful among our youth. The stake presidency has run into a number of parents and youth from the stake at various places around town who ask when the next Dance Festival will be held. It appears that this may be destined to become a triennual event.
In early June I enjoyed a week of camping in the mountains with the 14 - 18 year-old young men of the stake. This is a high adventure activity we have every other year called Aaron's Camp. The camp itself sits next to beautiful Lake Wellington at about 9,000 ft. One unique thing we do is set our clocks back an hour during the week, allowing it to get light and dark earlier in day. At that elevation at that time of the year, once the sun goes down it can get pretty chilly pretty fast. However, it makes a world of difference getting up in the morning with the sun already up. We typically have about 85 adult leaders for our 200 young men. Not a bad youth/leader ratio. As much as the young man enjoy the camp, I think the adult leaders enjoy it even more. With all of the bishops, young men leaders and stake presidency members in attendance, it becomes a regular venue for offsite training.
At the conclusion of Aaron's Camp, I experienced a great deal of physical discomfort just under the ribs on the right side. This was something I had felt off and on for about six months. I seemed to get it every time I had Italian food. I had told myself "no more Olive Garden or California Pizza Kitchen". Previously I had spoken with the doctor about it, and he told me that it had all of the markings of a gallbladder that would only continue to give me increasingly levels of grief. We had made plans to go to Philmont, NM to attend a week-long LDS Scout Leadership Conference at the end of June. Those plans were simply overcome by events. We scheduled surgery a week after Aaron's Camp. We were at the surgery center for a total of seven hours of which the surgery itself took only two. All went well under the steady hand of the Dr. McCann. Things went even better once I got home under the loving care of Tammy. Within a few days, I was up and slowly back at it. The Oliver Garden and California Pizza Kitchen are back on the radar.
Two weeks after the surgery, Tammy and I went to spend two days and a night with the young women of the stake at their annual Girls Camp. The young women have a brand new camp facility called Camp Joseph, about 80 miles to the southwest of us in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It has a very definite Restoration theme. Each camp area is named after faithful women in church history. A day before the camp, our Area Seventy arranged for a dedication of the facility. We had about the same youth/leader ratio at that camp as we did with Aaron's Camp. Next year we will have the chance to spend the entire week with the young women at Camp Joseph.
The summer is always fabulous in Colorado Springs. That's all I will say.
Lots of love,
The Woodwards
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