10-09 Baptism, Blessing and farewell in Virginia

We made a too brief weekend trip to Virginia to attend a granddaughter's baptism and another granddaughter's baby blessing . . . and to bid farewell for 18 long months while we go to Scotland on our mission. Hard goodbyes but a great weekend!


We took a sight-seeing tour to Arlington Cemetery with both families.

The eternal flame at the Kennedy gravesites: John and Jackie
It has burned continually since Pres. Kennedy's assassination in November of 1963.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guarded around the clock by crack Marines. The tomb holds the remains of an unknown solder from WWI, WWII, and the Korean War, but commemorates all of the lost and unidentified soldiers from all wars. The Marines were given the option of leaving their post at the tomb when a hurricane came to DC about five years ago but refused to go and stayed at their post throughout the storm. The soldiers silently count twenty-one paces and pause for a count of twenty-one, turn and repeat this throughout their hour-long shifts.

Changing of the guard at the Tomb. Impressive precision ceremony.

Iwo Jima in the rain

Next we're off to Iwo Jima.

With the drizzles from the sky, the vehicles made good pavillions for lunch.

Three generations in the rain . . . one newborn and one soon-to-be born (January).

The intricacies of this monument were particularly impressive to Ned. The M-1 carbines the soldiers have on their backs are identical to the one his father brought back from New Guinea after WWII ended.

Megan's Baptism and Natalie's Blessing

October 10th has arrived...it's Baptism and Blessing Day.


Family group following Megan's baptism. Way to go Megan!

Now it is Natalie's turn. She was wide awake and quiet through the blessing.

Prescious Moments!!

After the blessing and baptism . . .

After Megan's baptism and Natalie's baby blessing, it was party time in Katie and Mike's wonderful new backyard. We felt like we were really camping while we roasted hot dogs and marshmellows and watched the fire. In the country yet so close to the city!

Check out this awesome cozy fire!

Moving for a quick overnight stay to Kara's in this mini weekend visit, we heard the beginning efforts of our only family trombone player. Nate is learning to play in a school music program and is also still pursuing the piano at home. Brooke is learning to play the violin through her school program and she and Megan and Morgan are also learning to play the piano. Someday perhaps we'll have a family orchestra. While the grandkids practice their instruments, Grandpa is learning to play his MP3 player!

No one can go to bed until we read some Halloween stories together!

Saying goodbye to family for 18 long months was not a fun way to end this short visit. We will have said goodbye to our children and grandchildren in six different locations and even with all of our practice, it only gets harder!

Sierra's Birthday Present & Fall

For Sierra's birthday we gave her a trip to Salt Lake on the Front Runner - a first for both Sierra and her grandmother! A day on the Town!!





And what did she want to do?? Would you believe she wanted to go to "Build a Bear." (Who has more stuffed animals than Sierra?) And what type of Bear did she want? Well, a HORSE! Here she is naming it (the newborn is Starlight), and I am holding her. Yes she is a her. And who is going to clean up after her? Well, we shall see.

Besides Front Runner, we also did Trax. That baby horse is getting a ride courtesy of her new owner. (That box doubles as a stall.)

First dusting of snow down to about 5,500 Foreground is the future access road to our new freeway interchange near home. Construction has begun on the interchange!! It should be done when we return from our mission.

This punkin' patch is on the walking trail we take most mornings. Aren't we lucky to live so close to country. The picture doesn't do justice to the size of the future Jack-O-Lanterns. BIG