A Fun Evening!

Suzie and Jeff planned a fun evening with their family while we were there. We went to downtown Wichita to a park complex for a picnic and lots activities. Here are some scenes from the park that night.



















Near a bridge spanning the Arkansas River is this statue by Indian artist, Blackbear Bosin, called "Keeper of the Plains." I liked what it said at the base: To the Indian "everything around him is holy."


We hiked over to it and then had fun climbing on the rocks around it and crossing the bridge.












The end to a perfect evening is always some ice cream!

More Delay!

Courtney came home from the hospital Wednesday night.  Then came some busy days with Heidi and Charles trying to work on getting the insulin doses right and building up Courtney's strength.  I was all set to go home on Saturday taking in a couple of soccer games before I left.

Courtney woke up with a horrible headache and then she started throwing up.  Off to the emergency room where they gave her an IV.  But even after a couple of hours she was not perking up. They admitted her to the hospital and ran some tests.   Hmmmm?  The doctor was puzzled. 

I heard from Heidi this morning.  Courtney is feeling much better.  They think it was a migraine headache.  Those are all the classic symptoms.  So they should be able to come home sometime today.   Here is a photo Heidi sent me. 
She does look better!  

What's The Delay?

Where are all the wonderful photos from the baptism and our other fun times in Kansas? There will be a short delay as we had an emergency. Courtney was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with Type1 Diabetes! She is receiving good care. Here she is with her crafts and Rufus the Diabetes bear. We hope she will be home soon.



We are thankful for modern medicine, smart and alert parents, and all of your prayers!

A Warm Welcome!

We flew to Wichita tonight via Denver arriving around 11:30 p.m. at our hotel. What a fun surprise to receive this "Welcome to our Baptism" note and photo!! We are excited to be here for the big event, Elizabeth and Sam!



And thank you to Sarah for this beautiful picture!


It's going to be a great weekend!

Summer 2011!

Since it is almost officially fall, I thought I would do a blog post of  some things I wanted to remember from this past summer that I didn't already blog about--just some random stuff.

Dan has spent a good part of the summer releasing and setting apart full time missionaries. 

One evening a senior couple came to our house to be set apart for their mission to Uganda in Africa!  They wanted a picture with their stake president afterwards.   They are already having lots of adventures!

I continue to serve as an ordinance worker in the Sacramento Temple.   I am finally starting to feel more comfortable with all the things you have to memorize.   I'm not the new kid on the block anymore either.  We have had 3 more people added to our shift since I started.  We attended a backyard barbecue with about half of the workers and their spouses one Saturday afternoon.  

I really enjoyed reading this book! 

We know a lot about Martha Washington and Abigail Adams but this was about the wives of Hamilton, Burr, John Quincy Adams, Madison, and Monroe. 

Really, really interesting!

We got a new mission president for the Sacramento mission.  They live in our stake, so one evening we went to visit them and welcome them with some goodies.  They were very personable and we like them a lot!

One Saturday evening we went to the temple to do some family sealings from Dan's Brazilian family.  After we finished a man came in who knew the sealer and asked if there was time to do one more sealing--a son to his parents.  The man wanted to act as proxy for the son.  Would Dan and I be the parents?  Wow, was I surprised when I was proxy for a woman whose name was Cleopatra!  She was sealed to her native American husband, Chief Powhowton or something like that. 

I have gotten to love BYU TV!  So fun to watch it on the laptop, picking whatever show I am in the mood for.    I've watched all the episodes of The Generations Project and The Story Trek, but I'm especially enjoying The Joseph Smith Papers.

And it hasn't rained since the McClellans left because this is still on my driveway!  Thanks, Elizabeth!!

Two Special Places!

It's nice visiting family in Virginia and we always like to take some time to see the wonderful sites back there.  On Monday we were able to visit two places that I have read a lot about and hoped I might visit sometime!

Who would imagine this peaceful field was the site of two major battles

in the Civil War!

We were able to spend a little time at the Manassas National Battlefield Park

(also known as Bull Run).

This was the first time that the divided nation clashed with both sides enthusiastic and confident on July 21, 1861.  In fact this is the battle that citizens gathered with picnic baskets to watch what they thought would be an entertaining few minutes.    By day's end both sides knew that the outcome would not be decided quickly.

In August of 1862 another 3-day battle was fought here with another

victory for the South.

The First Manassas was also where General Thomas J. Jackson got his famous

nickname: Stonewall Jackson.

Even though it was cloudy and threatening we continued on to another place I have read a lot about: Shenandoah National Park!

Shenandoah is famous for its 105 mile long Skyline Drive with many

scenic overlooks.

It was beautiful and and almost haunting because of the weather!

Here are two of the scenic overlooks we stopped at!

I bet in the fall on a clear day we might see something like this:

Oh well. Maybe another time!  We did get some teaser glimpses!

Do you see that short stone wall Dan is standing on that is also in the above photo?

It was built in the 1930's by the CCC.  As Dan pointed out:  Men were out of work.  The government gave them money but expected them to work for it while they looked for permanent jobs.  Now men are out of work and the government gives them money.  The end.

(Just a little political comment.)

Even though it was cloudy and overcast in the distance, we did see many beautiful areas.

But the biggest thrill of all for me was this!  Any guesses?

It's the Appalachian Trail! 

I've read a lot about the trail and dreamed I might see part of it one day.  It's a 2,181 mile hiking trail from Georgia to Maine.  That's right, it crosses through 14 states!!  It takes "thru hikers" 5-7 months to hike the entire trail!  I can't believe I actually got to hike on it!!

The entire trail is marked occasionally by "blazes" which are 2" X 6" painted white marks on the trees.

Here is one we got to see.  

(For my own info here are the states it crosses through: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.)

You've Come All Long Way, Baby!

April 2011

September 2011

Aubrey's Special Day!

Aubrey Janis Harrison was blessed today by her proud father, John, in the Alexandria First Ward, Mount Vernon Stake.

This was a big event for her family considering how long it has taken to get to this point.  She will be 6 months old tomorrow!

Her life is truly a miracle!!

Mom and Grandma LaVaun are making sure everything is perfect.

 Just about ready!

 Last minute instructions from Mom:

 Pose for a family photo:

Hurray!!  I love my family!!