So blessed with friends, family and opportunities!
I couldn't resist including this fun photo in these current two weeks of celebration. Madrid, New Year's Eve 2013, with Scott and Beverly Zimmerman and Celine Rol. 11 years ago already? Time flies!
Stephanie Collette hosted us for our monthly Cocoa Chat (2nd right)
This is probably my all-time favorite concert: Spanish classical guitar by an incredible artist. If you ever have the opportunity, don't miss it. I listen to his CD over and over of all my favorite guitar pieces.
My guest from Taiwan, David, after we watched the BYU Young Ambassadors, attended a second time in one week.
My daughter Emily Taylor hosted a delightful party for my 80th (!) birthday with about 30 of the many friends who have blessed my life. She asked them to share how we came to know each other. I was overwhelmed by their kind reflections! I wish my California and other friends and siblings could have been there too!
Hacks, Gilmans, Paces, Collettes, Taylors, Welches, and my son Marc
Unbeknownst to me, Matt and Laurie King (left) in my Provo ward, met my fellow missionaries and travel companions in Madrid, Spain, Beverly and Scott Zimmerman, became friends on an Africa trip! My daughters: Emily Taylor, Anne de Schweinitz and Julie Carlston
David Wang, one of the 3 teachers for a group of 35 Taiwanese teenagers, stayed with me again this year for 2 weeks . The kids are so polite and very excited to spend time as shadow students and to visit local sites. They all want to stay forever! Photo of another teacher, UCAS principal, Jennifer Mangelson (program director, trained by Susan Gong who started Mandarin immersion classes in Utah, wife of Elder Gerrit Gong) and David at farewell ceremony. We wish every child in the world could have a similar chance to make friends in other countries. The world would be a much better place!
They enjoyed Utah state Capitol and hearing the Tabernacle Choir practice, Antelope Island, Jazz game, BYU
My children, minus Peter, who had to do a zoom presentation at the same time, celebrated my birthday at wonderful Skewered Thai restaurant in SLC on my actual birthday, February 5th Nice luncheon at Debi Reading's (2nd left) with Dorothy Zackrison and Patti Miner
Some of my English students (Aracely, Rocio, Manuela, Julia, Brad (assistant) and Bertha) brought cake and sang to me
And the celebrating continued with more friends, hosted by Ramona at her club: Ramona, Jana Parkin, Kristin Rose, Marty Evans, Stephanie and Jason Collette, Gae Rose (who just celebrated 92!
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Today was a special day: the very moving funeral in Palo Alto, of dear friend, Jean Fung Char Gong, with whom I celebrated many many birthdays. She passed away January 31, just 5 days short of her 98th birthday. She was an educator, mentor, friend and example to so many. Thanks to technology, I was able to watch via zoom.
Jean Fung Char Gong, (February 5, 1926-January 31, 2024) a remarkable woman, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, arriving alone in the California as a young adult. Jean was the first Asian teacher in Palo Alto, where she taught and loved young children for 32 years. It is thanks to wonderful people like Jean, that we see valuable cultural values transmitted for generations, loyalty to family at its best, and a deep faith in God implanted in her family and associates. I am so grateful for lessons she taught and love she gave so freely to all. It's an appropriate day as we celebrate the Lunar New Year. My Taiwanese friends went home to celebrate with their families, as Jean has gone to celebrate a joyful eternal reunion with her beloved husband and our dear friend Walter Gong, who died over 20 years ago. We will never forget either one.
At my birthday lunch my daughter Julie cited Billy Collins "The Lanyard," an interesting tribute to mothers, which expresses motherhood and how I feel about Jean, who was a terrific mother and teacher
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50975/the-lanyard
My grandson Elder de Schweinitz just found out that the good young man he and his companion had taught before he moved to Chicago, was baptized. Great news!
