Second Half of a fun July 2023

It's been hot, but good for tomatoes, and filled with fun activities

Kelly finished her nearly 3 months with me, did her 10 days of home missionary training at my house, and grew closer to many of her little cousins. 

With some of my English students as they received their attendance certificates for the term that ended July 13. Volunteers from the church, in conjunction with the city of Provo, offer service, educational, and recreational activities to help many who come from various countries. I've enjoyed teaching level 2 with my assistant BYU student, Nikki Sapp.

                                                                               

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The Bean Natural History Museum on the BYU campus is lots of fun!

Kelly goes from my house, to the temple, to the MTC, and on to her 18 month mission in Iowa City

She will be missed by her cousins, family and friends, but is excited to share her love for Jesus Christ with others whom she'll soon meet

Provo has a wonderful Saturday market in the summer

And Daybreak (South Jordan) has great weekend shows! "Imagine" does great rendition of Beatles songs and theatrics!

The Taiwanese kids standing behind us were break-dancing

It was fun to attend the wedding reception of Rachel Allen (from Palo Alto, in front in white dress) and Brandon Mills' son Spencer and his bride Amy Chapell.

Rachel's parents Ken and Sue Allen and Rachel's nice step-sons. Keith Allen and his band provided the music.

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Evie stayed with me and played with Lucie while her brother Simon and sister Hannah re-enacted part of the 1840's Mormon pioneer trek (hard work pulling handcarts, so looking forward to showers and  clean beds and phones!)

Evie and I did a puzzle of one of their family's favorite frequent day trips to Frankenmuth, when they lived in Michigan

Meanwhile the Carlston family took a wonderful trip to Boston, Seneca Falls, church historical sites in w. New York,and Niagara Falls.

 Marc and Fernanda (Hannah, Simon, and Evie's parents) spent a few days in NYC

Cordelia and family returned from Alaska in time for her soccer tournament. They won the league championship. Cordelia, as a high scorer holds the trophy.

Her team had the privilege of walking onto the America First field with the home team (Salt Lake Real) 

Cordelia cheers when Real scores a goal (they beat

     Seattle 3-0).Everyone went down on the field to watch the post game fireworks

While watching grand-kids at swimming pools, water parks, museums and other activities, I have managed to read several great books.

I recommend the following:

Demon Copperhead (a modern day Oliver Twist) by B. Kingsolver

Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (long but worth it!)

The Lincoln Hypothesis by Timothy Ballard (Sound of Freedom is his recent film about his fight against sex-trafficking)

My Story by Elizabeth Smart

My Brillant Friend (series by Elena Ferrante)

Today members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate Pioneer Day to commemorate the arrival on July 24, 1847, of the first pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley, then a territory outside the US where those who survived the very arduous trek in handcarts, wagons or on foot from Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, or Europe could establish themselves free of persecution. They have bequeathed to us a legacy of faith in God and co-operation with each other, which helped overcome starvation, illness, extreme exhaustion, and other tragedies. With very little they made the desert bloom and developed today's beautiful, prosperous Utah.

Thank you, pioneers!