FATHER'S DAY

I used to wonder about Father's Day. It was always low key which I think it should be compared to Mother' s Day which is a celebration. There was not very much in Church about it. In the not too distant past, Mother's Day was a big celebration with flowers for all mothers. In our ward in Bloomfield Hills, MI they even had prizes for various categories; youngest mother, mother with lots of kids; there was always some balking at the "Oldest Mother". But there was always a great Primary Program with songs and little talks by the kids.

Father's Day was always a little more low key which is appropriate, The Primary still gets up and sings, "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home" and that brings a smile.

Yesterday, I was with Cheryl and her family. The photo shows Cheryl, little Johnny, Annabelle, Paul, Mary Clare, Madeline (who is now driving), Opa with Emily Eva and Olivia, Paul and Loren. It reminded me of days past with our little kids on our laps. It was a great time with Cheryl's gang.

I remember my Father who did more to shape my life and its direction. I used to carry his Doctor bag around when I was two and there was never much doubt in what direction I would plan a career. We had psychiatric interviews when I went t Harvard Med School and we discussed our parents. He said, "You identify with your Father a lot!" I asked, "Is there anyone else better I should identify with?"

Sons do not always agree with Fathers but I always wanted to be like my Father. He was always a great example and rock solid. He loved his Church callings and did volunteer work as well while he was in practice. I am not sure he understood how much he influenced my life but at these low key Father's Days, I do remember my Father and all he tried to teach me.

Well we are getting more excited by the minute as we get ready for the reunion. Mom had the upstairs painted. It looks great! Emily and her kids came up and helped Mom organize the downstairs. People will start arriving next week. Activities will include a get together at Cheryl's on Thursday night. More people will be coming in. Friday morning is free but Mom will get the final word out. Friday Afternoon there is a Temple Session in the Salt Lake Temple and Friday early evening is the Parents Dinner for the immediate family with spouses at the Lion House. Am not sure about Saturday but there will be a big Park activity at Bywater Park behnd Doug's house, crowned with a dinner for the entire family (104) at the Joseph Smith building that Rob and everyone has been carefully planning. There will be a family photo there as well at 5:00 PM in the Empire room. Sunday for those who are still here will be Church, Dinner and FHE at our house. I'll crank up the smoker! Monday some of us will go up to Bear Lake. We are so excited to see everyone together again.

Love, Dad

THE BLESSING OF MOISTURE

Dear Family,

We went up to Bear Lake again this weekend. It has always seemed to be an ordeal to drive up there but maybe because it was. We always went up in the big red pickup with the big diesel engine always pulling a double axle trailer hauling up cars, washers, driers, supplies, bikes and a lot of stuff. This time Mom and I decided to drive up in a car by ourselves , without a trailer, and it was pretty easy.

We got there and it was really overcast. The picture is a double rainbow at Bear Lake when we went up with Mike. There was no rainbow this time as there was no sun. It started to sprinkle.

They do not talk of rain up in Southern Idaho; they talk of "moisture". When there is a draught and things are very dry, the members of the Montpelier Stake are told to fast and pray for "The Blessing of Moisture". This is then discussed in Sacrament Meeting. Water is such an important thing in this usually arid climate, the person who regulates the time and amount of irrigation water is called the Water Master.

I heard a talk once in the St. Charles ward given by a High Councilman on "Why People do not Like Coming to Church". (I love those meetings). Reason #1, he said, was "Because they hate the Bishop!" and then went on to say that "That makes as much sense as saying you would not take water (for your fields) because you dislike the Water Master!" I thought that was pretty good!

Well it was totally clouded over, the wind was blowing and it was 39 degrees. I got the John Deere riding mower going and started on the front lawn which was high and thick. It came out in windrows and I could have baled it. Got pretty wet and went into the house. The repairman assured me that they had summer for at least a month at Bear Lake.

I put on my Carehart bib overalls, my oilskin Australian drover slicker and my cowboy hat that had never seen a drop of water and attacked the back lawn in the rain. Got pretty wet and when I learned that the next day was to be worse we packed up and drove back home in the pouring rain all in the same day.

As we drove we noticed how the wide open spaces of Wyoming desert was so green. It was like there had been a shift in longitude as this was something we saw in Germany, New England and the lush climate of Michigan. Here the foothills are green and the Wasatch mountains are green with snow still in the tops. It looks like the Bavarian Alps. The farmers should had a great hay crop this year and everywhere we drove, we marvelled of the "Blessing of Moisture"

Get ready for the reunion, love, Dad

LAID BACK MEMORIAL WEEKEND

Dear Family,

We had a great Memorial Day weekend. It was less laborious than the days when we had the farm in South Lyon, Michigan. That was the day when the entire family, without exception, went to the farm for the planting of our huge garden. We planted everything and all helped. It is interesting now to see most of the kids doing their own garden including Cheryl who has put in raised garden beds on her new home.

Mom and I rode up with Mike and his kids, Joseph, Caroline, Emma and Michael and Emily's boy Jake to Bear Lake. Here is a photo of Mike and the gang picking up fallen cotton wood branches on our place in St. Charles Idaho. That's Bear Lake in the background. I got all the toys registered in Idaho. Mike got on the Internet and figured out how to repair the valves on the tub, showers and sink. He went down to Home Depot in Logan and bought the parts and tools and did this plumbing repair. Mom was constantly working as well. The place is shaping up for the reunion. We drove back on Saturday morning.

Monday, Mom did some gardening at home and then we went to Cheryl and Paul who were up at Paul's parents home up the street from us. It was pool time and Mom took a siesta at poolside (with her Chinese hat purchased at the Great Wall of China) while I watched Johnny poolside. We went over to Paul's sister, Christina D. for a great barbecue and more poolside.

Mom and I then visited the graves of our parents and left flowers. It is always a moment of reflection and appreciation for all they had done for us.

We found the grave of my Great Grandmother, Anna Hirschi who was the first of our family to join the church in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1863 and invited her boyfriend, Leopold Wirthlin, to come to church after which he joined the church as well.

they were pioneers who walked across the plains to Salt Lake where they were married. Iwould have loved to have known her. Their sacrifice and steadfastness in difficult times is an example to all generations that follow.

Mom and all are gearing up for the 50th wedding celebration and Reunion. There are some secret emails going around that we have not read but it is a sign everyone is getting into the spirit of the occasion.

We love you all...alles Gute, Mom and Dad