CHERYL'S SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY

Dear Family,

I guess we are now into a patten of surprise birthday parties which are also secret underground mini-reunions. They did it for my 70th (in Munich). We surprised Mom on her 70th when most of the family showed up in Salt Lake. We just surprised Roy on his 50th and now this.

Here is a picture that Cathy took the minute Cheryl and Paul walked into the Restruant where family and friends were gathered to surprise Cheryl.

Paul did a great job of keeping this one quiet. Cheryl was mooping around grumbling that probably no one would remember the birthday or even plan something.

I found out about it the day before when Gemina called and said she was coming. On Friday, I answered the door and could not see anyone through the peep hole, opened th door and there was Mary who squeaked in her "little Mary" voice, "Hi Dad".

A hard balance between secrecy and advance notice to plan is difficult to achieve. I learned that Rick was flying up that aternoon, Suzanne was maybe driving up from Phoenix picking up Becca in St. George on the way. We were not sure if Jeff cold come down.

Gemina decorated the flowers and hung the garlands, Mary helped as well and Paul organized a large private room in a great Italian Restaurant down town.

We missed the grand surprise because we were at the Huntsman Education Award night but left early. Here is Cheryl and Dad.

The best picture that Cathy took was this shot of Mary greeting Cheryl at the moment of surprise. There were tears of joy at this reunion.

Our daughters are so connected and we all simply love to be together. They are constantly in touch, trade clothes and are almost connected at the hip.

Here is a picture of Mom with Cheryl Becca and Suz who drove all the way from Phoenix. As we visited, Jeff showed up from Spokane.

Mike and Rayanne, Emily an John came up from Mapleton and all participated.

Here are the brothers who came; Rick, Jeff, Doug and Mike. All had nice memories of growing up with Cheryl.

Paul organized this great program where everyone talked about a certain phase of Cheryl's life as a young girl, teenager, college student etc. Paul talked about their courtship in Jerusalem during a study abroad program. Actually there it was not a formal courtship but just "hanging out".

There were many there from Paul's family as well, many of Cheryl's friends and there was such a good spirit there. It was a grand happy occasion. Oh Paul put on a five course dinner for everyone and that was scrumptious.

It was one of those moments when we experienced joy and rejoicing in our posterity in fulfillment of scripture. Happy birthday Cheryl and we will not forget that one!

Love, Mom and Dad

REORGANIZATION OF SINGLE STAKES, I THINK I STILL HAVE A CALLING

Dear Family,

There has been a monumental reorganization in the church for young single adults. It has affected 90,000 LDS single adults in Davis and Salt Lake County and has been in the works for two years.

I attended a meeting in the Tabernacle for all leaders in the valley and it was packed. All University stakes were dissolved (also at BYU) and all current leaders were released.

The creation of twelve new stakes in Davis and Salt Lake County was announced withe the boundaries projected on a screen. Here is a shot of Elder Ballard giving a talk at the tabernacle. There were three such meetings in the Tabernacle to accommodate all the leaders in various areas.

There were then meetings announced for each stake and two weeks ago 12 stakes were organized simultaneously in Davis and Salt Lake Counties. There were General Authorities running all over the place.

I went to a meeting for the new Riverton Stake where the President I worked with was sustained as the new stake president. It was held in the institute building in West Jordan and I'll bet there were about two thousand young adults there. There were no seats and standing room only in the chapel and in the halls.

The new stake was created by flashing the boundaries on a screen and voted on. The new stake presidency was sustained. Then there were 11 wards created. The boundaries for one ward was splashed on the screen and then those who lived within those boundaries stood and met and sustained their new Bishop. This went on and on. There is even a Tongan single adult ward with a Tongan Bishop created. The new Stake Presidency spoke and that was it. So now there has been a great scrambling to staff and make leadership calls of all kinds to flesh out the wards and stakes.

I was wondering what would happen to my call as the University Stake was dissolved and we were all released. Pres. Plumb said I would go with him to the new stake and I have not heard anything since until last night when we were invited to speak in one of the new Singles wards, the Riverton first ward as the Stake Patriarch. So Mom and I will be going there in June when we get back from Arizona where Alexandra will be baptized.

This re-organisation will be a good thing for all those singles, the point of which is that they have opportunity to meet a potential spouse So great. I guess we will still be in business.

Love, Dad and Mom

OPENING BEAR LAKE, SECURITY TRIP

Dear Family,

Doug and his boys, Nate, Spence, Tom Tom and little 2 year old Izzzy, Mom and I drove up to St. Charles, ID to open our little farm next to Bear Lake for the coming season.When we arrived, the gate was open, (we never locked it) and as we drove into the driveway at 11:PM Doug said, "Hey the trailer is gone!"

Someone recently drove in there and stole our 16 foot covered trailer that had been sitting there for 10 years. It was full of recreational stuff that we stored there; the beach toys, boat accessories, Doug's chain saws etc. I suppose I should have secured it better but after all this is St. Charles Idaho where things are pretty safe. We called the police in Paris Idaho and they came down. They said with this economic turn down, they are experiencing more such activity up and down Highway 89 and around.

We got our "rock climbing mudder", the built 1975 Toyota FJ40 out of the garage and secured it to a stout tree with chains. Doug dug a hole in the front and we installed a huge post and a lock and chain for the front gate and changed the locks on the garage. See the picture of Spence and Nate in the tree with the chained down "Induna" vehicle.

Here is the spot where the trailer stood but I must say we have a better view of the beach.

There was a lot of fixing; the Propane people came and checked out the tank and made sure it was filled. We hung some trophy heads in the house, Mom never stopped cleaning (I guess we did not do such a great job when we closed last fall). We had a loud screeching apparatus which was successful in keeping the mice at bay during the winter.

We of course managed to have a blast with the kids and the ATV's. The back gates were open and we rode down to the edge of Bear Lake. The water was low, the beach sandy and solid and we scooted up and down the lake on the ATV's without any interference and of course it was too cold for Mosquitoes. Here is Doug, Izzy with the large helmet and Tom Tom at the beach.

We of course had the shooting chore at the end and set up targets for the kids and 22 rifles. Doug broke in my new muzzle loader and we indeed had a blast. It was fun to be there, sad that the place was violated but we had a great time and it is more secure. We hope as many of you will be able to enjoy the place this summer. We hope to plant some raspberry bushes along the north fence the next time up.

Love, Dad

OLIVIA'S BAPTISM

Dear Family,

We are currently having a lot of baptisms with the grand children and it was Olivia's turn last week. Here is a picture of Opa and Oma, Paul, Cheryl and little Olivia.

Can't believe she is eight already. When I was assigned to the Student Wards in Church, my assignment was the ward that Paul was the Bishop and we used to sit in the front and i could always watch Cheryl with her eight kids down in the first row. One time Olivia, then about three, coes arching up to the front, stood in front of me and said, "I be good in Church". She has been a doll all the time.

They had a Ward baptism in the Holladay ward on a Sunday. There were about five other kids and their families but each event was limited to the family and friends of the person being baptized. Paul's family with his Mom and Dad and many of his siblings with their children were there. Then there was our group with Paul H and kids, Emily and John and their kids. Rayanne and kids came up and there was Doug and his family. When they accounced it was Olivia's turn, most of the chapel got up and went to the baptistry.

Paul did the baptism, his Dad the confirmation and Mom and I said a few words. I commented that Olivia had over 120 first cousins and many were there. It was a sweet event and after we all went over to Cheryl and Paul where Chryl put on a good spread, It was a great get together.

Well I think that Spring has finally arrived. It stopped snowing last week. The very heavy snow in the mountains is beginning to melt and [people are afraid of flooding.

This is a view from our doorstep looking west. We are starting to plant things; we planted three grape vines where we had a bush and put up the support for the for when they grow.

Here is a view to the east fro our doorstep looking into the Wasatch range just up the street. It will be nice and green for a while. I can look up there in the evening and watch the deer feed. Some reflexes do not die. It is a gorgeous time of the year.

We go back to Michigan for a week for David's and Niko's baptism. So great!

We love you all...Mom and Dad