Old ladies can still speed

I have to tell you. Last Saturday when I went up to Monmouth to watch Berkeley run the 5000 (he PRed, by the way) I was a little late so once I got past Adair Village I started to speed. The Adair Village policeman caught me on his radar, pulled me over and gave me a ticket! I haven't gotten a speeding ticket for at least 30 years, maybe 40. I was doing 70 in a 55 mph zone. Should have put on my cruise control!  It was a wake-up call--$190 worth.

I'm actually glad he was doing his job. I could have caused a wreck. There was bumper to bumper traffic crawling the other direction going to the OSU football game. I was intrigued by that. How could there be that many people heading to one place, enduring the traffic, the parking problems, and the very rainy day just to watch some guys in tights kick around a football.

What I was heading to watch makes a lot more sense--guys in shorts running through the mud and rain to see who can go the fastest! Hurrah for Berkeley.

Brenda, Gideon, Neil, Katie and Esther running at Camp Alpine

Running is a GOOD sport. First of all it's healthy. (How healthy is football?) It doesn't require a lot of expensive gear or a fancy stadium. Your running mates are clean cut people who aren't afraid to work hard to accomplish a goal. You get an emotional high when you run, or so I've heard. Much cheaper than anti depression pills. To all the runners in the family (and future runners) --my hat's off to you.

PS That same day Neil took 4th in an ultramarathon, the Pine to Palm, through forested country from Williams, Oregon (near the border of California) to Ashland. He did it in 22 hours and 24 minutes. There were 131 starters and 72 finishers. May we all be finishers!

Neil, me, and Ken on the day Neil won the Mac Forest Run

Jessica

Emily

Sydney showing medals from the Turkey Trot

Trevor's 14th Birthday

We hosted a family dinner for 20 people in order to honor Trevor Dodge on his 14th birthday. It was great to have everyone here. Sheryl brought fixings for salmon (or chicken) burritos and Jessica made yummy cake balls for the dessert.

End of an Era

We sold the van today to a nice older couple from Hood River. They had to get rid of their bigger one because he has Parkinsons and couldn't get into it very easily.

We've had some good times these past 5 years with that van--took some great trips. We saw some beautiful country, especially going to Alaska and western Canada and this year to San Diego. But it was time. We feel a few tons lighter!

Wonderful reunion in Utah

Laura turned 6!

We had a pre-reunion gathering at Carl and Velvet's. We celebrated Laura's and Velvet's birthdays.

On the roof of the conference center

We toured the conference center, temple square, and the church history museum.

Laura and Sydney at the nursery

Curtis in the bunk of a sailing ship

Sheryl and I got to do a sealing session at the Oquirrh Mountain temple, which was a special experience.

The last reunion of the descendants of Neil and Ruby Fugal was held at the Heber Valley Camp where Don and Lois are missionaries. Everyone came except their missionary grandson and our granddaughter, Stephanie's family.

I am sure Neil and Ruby were pleased we got together--that they are aware of our doings and are nudging us on in the right direction.

Thanks to Lois' organization, there was a lot of good food. We ate at a large pavilion. There was only one flaw. Gail got sick and had to go home part way through. But her family stayed!

We slept in cabins. We sighted moose several times.

We had firesides both nights. Eldon opened with "The Cremation of Sam McGee." There were songs and skits and "The Schoop Scovil" by Ken. Brenda sang a beautiful song to close. Alan read a clever poem he had written. Jo's dad gave a presentation about the spirit of the mountain.

The confidence courses were popular. There was a large swing and a zip line.

Robin on the swing

Pam encouraging Erik

Maia

Sydney

Laura flying

Curtis climbing to the zipline

Jonathan zipping

Emily climbing

There were low courses too that were fun and took cooperation.

Each confidence course had a sand box for the little kids to play in.

Kate

We also spent some time at the lake.

Jessica and her parents

It was an amazing get-together. We felt re-united! I love it that my kids and grand kids all get along so well.

Sam and Robin getting the stickers out

Our last day in San Diego

We went to the world famous zoo. We rode on the buses and sky rail to minimize the walking. We saw koalas, pandas, camels, elephants, bears, giraffes, hippos, rhinoceros and much much more.  It's an amazing zoo.

In the evening we went to supper at the Dixons. Craig was Eldon's counselor. He met his future wife, Yolanda, when he was serving a mission in Mexico.  He was a mathematics teacher in high school. When Elder Robbins met them he was impressed, particularly with her missionary spirit and Spanish background. He told Eldon to recommend him as a mission president. Eldon dragged his feet on that worried that interrupting his teaching career would be a hardship. But finally Elder Robbins insisted so we did the paper work for recommending him. We were happy to learn that even though his contract was discontinued while he was gone, when he got home he was re-hired! There were many miracles while they were in Mexico of meeting people he'd baptized on his first mission, and meeting people his son had baptized. 

Sunny Sunday in San Diego

I'd forgotten how sunny it is here. We went to church in the Santee 1st Ward because it was closest to the campground. Many recognized us. In Sunday School Eldon introduced us as past missionaries but someone spoke up and said "past mission president!" They asked him to bear his testimony in Priesthood. Sister Littlefield who worked in the office was there. She started working there as a new widow and it helped give her purpose in life. She's still volunteering there!

We drove up to the temple which is closed. They are refinishing the exterior. It didn't look like itself!

The new Mormon Battalion visitors center

It was worth the trip! The improvements are wonderful. All the missionaries dress in period costume. There are photos that come alive (like in Harry Potter) in the first room and they tell you their story as you progress from room to room. It's an all new movie. At the end you can look up your ancestor who was there and they will take your picture. Then out in the courtyard you can pan for gold. It's fascinating for all ages. It's all new but made to look old.

Then we had lunch at our favorite Mexican place up on the hill and then went to Balboa Park. We walked through the botanical building and the art museum.