Uriona Thanksgiving 2018

We always feel so fortunate to be invited to the Uriona Thanksgiving each year, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Such good food and especially good people to love and enjoy. 

Lauren & Eric's Wedding

All in all I must say Lauren's wedding day was in a lovely setting, with wonderful people celebrating her becoming Mrs. Pompa. It was so nice to have so many travel long distances to show their love for her and Eric. I just wish I could have spent more time with Chantel and her family and with Lyndsey and Francesco. I really like Eric's mom, and his dad was super thoughtful of Julie, bringing her a little gift of a culinary delight.  The Pompa family members came up from San Antonio. It is interesting to me that Julie was born in San Antonio, Lauren was born in San Antonio, and now Lauren has married a man from San Antonio.  Go Texas!

A gold star goes to Julie, Tom, Kim and Chantel with an extra gold star to Jeff for all the long hours of hard work they did to make Noles Nursery a beautiful wedding venue.  Michelle Brooks did an awesome job with all the flowers. I love our family. So many people did so much and Lauren is beautiful, fun, excited and appreciative. 

I wish Eric and Lauren much happiness. 

Summer Solstice Celebration

Melissa and Jeff have started the tradition of celebrating the Summer Solstice and they make it magical.

They not only invite family, but also so many of their friends and their children. The craft activities and the yoga are only surpassed by the ribs, salads, s'mores and other delicious foods. For me the best part is watching everyone be so happy and just chatting. 

Well, Douglas J. Has Remarried

The best part was talking with his family, including his children. Craig was in Albuquerque.

It's a BOY!

Luke and Katelyn had a gender reveal party and it was fun. I love any time I can spend with the St. Johns and the Maesers are incredibly nice.  Katelyn & Luke will be marvelous parents. Lucky boy.

Julie Retires

When Julie was 19 years old and was looking for a job, she came to my office and asked me how she could go about finding a job she would enjoy.  Julie was the Bountiful High School Sterling Scholar in Business and had been attending BYU.  We both knew she could be an excellent secretary if someone would hire her.  I asked her where she would like to work and who she would like to work for.  She told me, so I told her that she should start there. Go ask people in that office if there were any openings and that she wanted a job.  She did. And lo and behold, Stan Neeleman, a well-respected, senior attorney hired her and said he would hold the job open until she was available.  A true miracle.  Mr. Neeleman taught her everything she needed to know, she was a quick study and a valuable employee until she moved to Virginia. Julie, Stan and Melissa later moved to San Antonio, Texas. 

In 1991, Julie moved back to Utah and needed a job.  By this time Doug Parry had started his own law firm with Kevin Murray so we hired her.  She worked part time.  Julie worked for various other firms over the years.  But she has worked for Kevin R. Murray for 27 years, moving with him from law firm to law firm getting good raises along the way. 

I don't know how she has done it, but she has always had her Fridays off so she could spend more time with her children - even after her children were raised and out of the home. 

So much has changed from the time she first started and definitely from the time I worked as a legal secretary and as an office manager.  Certainly technology has changed and the attorneys have changed.  When I started I used my shorthand all the time, then we moved to dictation equipment, then we did a lot of revisions when the attorneys would draft their own briefs on computer. Now the attorneys are so adept at computers, they do it all themselves.  I had a tremendous amount of client contact and was deeply involved in every case, learning something new every day. It was interesting, challenging and exciting.  All that has changed.  Julie is truly bored and does not feel fulfilled.  It is a blessing that she can now retire.  

She now leaves Holland & Hart with its amazing views and modern offices.

 I know she loves Salt Lake City as much as I do and will miss being downtown, but she has great plans for the future.  She has been approved by the Davis County School District to be a substitute teacher, she will have time to do her cycling, etc., but most of all she is looking forward to spending time with her eleven adorable grandchildren, perhaps even helping in their schools.

Lauren's Bridal Shower

A spectacularly beautiful bridal shower was given for Lauren by her Mom and her sister.  Julie always makes things lovely and Melissa knows how to make everything special.  Many friends and loved ones came and Lauren was so incredibly fun to watch open her gifts as she was animated and showed great appreciation.  It just made you want to give her more and more.

Kim and Chantel made the mighty effort to come from Henderson and St. George, respectively. I loved having them here and they helped.  As Wayne said, "It makes me so happy to see how much our girls care for each other."

It was terrific how much Ellie and Madi helped. They loved doing so.

Lauren got eight place settings of her rare, discontinued china. Amazing!

Eric's Mom flew up from Texas. Lynn is incredibly nice and easy to be with. 

Another Royal Wedding

I know it's crazy but I am totally smitten with the Royals of the United Kingdom.  I took lots of photos of my TV as the wedding of Harry and Meghan was broadcast.  Such a fun, beautiful, and impressive event! I was moved by the portrayal of the seriousness of the marriage covenant.

Dorene Parker

Steven's mother, Dorene Lovie Eliza Moesser Parker, died on May 5th and we attended her funeral on May 14th.  She was an amazing woman of great faith and strength. She had 10 incredible children, did hard physical labor on the farm, and taught elementary school with love and delight.  She worked hard all her life and spent her leisure time making exquisite quilts. I can see much of her in Steven. Her funeral was enlightening.  I especially loved the violin solo by Lyndsey and the time we had with Kim and Steven's family.












No matter how difficult her life became (she suffered with cancer for many, many years) when asked how she was doing, she always replied, "I'm fine."  She was beautiful to the end.

Lyndsey played "Abide With Me" accompanied by one of her favorite Parker cousins, Katie Buchanan, at the funeral which was held in West Haven, Utah. I was so pleased to hear her.

The photo below was taken of Austin and Jacob as they were listening to Lyndsey practice.  I was so happy that Francesco came to the funeral, but I wondered what he thought of this quintessentially Mormon funeral.

I stole the following photos from Instagram as we did not attend the burial in Wellsville.

Hayley

Lyndsey (with Jordan jacket on) and Jordan

Lyndsey

Her family honored her with dignity, love and respect. She will be deeply missed by all of them.

Lauren and Eric Engagement Photos

I don't really know when they had these photos taken, but they just make me happy.

Surprise 50th for Chantel

Ciera and Dave pulled it off! A surprise early birthday party for Chantel (her birthday is on May 25th). It was so fun because the food was great, so many friends came, and Julie and Tom were there as well as all her boys except Mason who could not get the time off.  Ciera went to a lot of trouble to make it a memorable 50th Birthday celebration.  Good times!

Ty and Lizzy Uriona Baptism

I love this beautiful photo of these eight-year-olds of T.J. and Jill's.  I can't believe how fast time goes by.  They are lovely children being raised on a farm with animals and love.

Oops! They became ill and the baptism was rescheduled:

Mason Craig Paxman Graduates from the University of Utah

Graduating from college is a marvelous achievement that pays great dividends for years to come, whether you work in the field you studied or not. It broadens a person and opens opportunities that you may not imagine at the time.  It shows that you have set a goal and through thick and thin, you achieved it.  So proud of MASON!

While we were gathered on Hayden's 20th Birthday, we celebrated him too. 

Jordan's 12th Birthday and Ordination

I was so glad we were able to go to Henderson to Kim & Steven's new home and celebrate Jordan's birthday.  Julie rode with us so that made the trip even more enjoyable. It made me so happy that Chantel, Dave, and Tanner came down on Sunday to attend Church and Jordan's ordination to the Aaronic Priesthood as a Deacon.

Jordan's friends were so nice and well behaved. We were able to watch Jordan play soccer on Saturday before the swim party with pizza that afternoon. It was especially nice that Hayley came from Virginia and that Jacob was able to be there before he starts his summer job in Oklahoma.

Truly, Kim's puppy, Ollie, was a huge hit.

Everyone loves him and he was so cuddly with all of us.

Sunday was tremendous. It was so nice to have Lyndsey and Francesco make a special effort to attend.  In addition to the beautiful blessing Steven gave Jordan at the ordination, Steven, as the bishop of the ward, had conducted an incredible 5th Sunday meeting discussing the new ministering program replacing Home and Visiting Teaching.  He really helped me with good ideas and had members of the class give examples that had blessed their lives. A man stood and related how Steve Scow had ministered to him when he had been out of the Church for 20 years.  Steve did the things a good friend would do and it touched this man who is now active in the Church.  The man is a direct descendant of Joseph Smith.  It was one of the best Sunday's I've experienced, especially the Sunday School class and the combined Priesthood/Relief Society/YW-YM meeting led by Steven.

It was so good to see Taylor and Austin. Taylor is one of the nicest people ever and I love Austin. Kim had prepared a taco dinner with everything you would ever want.  Later we ate her delicious homemade bundt chocolate cake and made s'mores. Indeed a happy day.  

Sunday afternoon and evening were delightful. The weather was perfect and having so many of us together meant a lot. I also really like Kim & Steven's friends, Steve & Miriam Scow.  

St. George Hike with Chantel, Dave and the Dogs

It was exciting to discover this home in a cave. I had no idea it was there, and so close.

Creekside Park Grand Opening

I am so excited to have this better-than-expected park within walking distance of our home.  So fun!  I even saw lots of our neighbors of all ages when I visited.

Third Sunday Dinner at Chantel's

Because we were in St. George for my Turner Family Cousins Reunion, Chantel invited us to her 3rd Sunday Dinner - a wonderful tradition she has picked up from Julie.  It is always great to see her family.  She even let us stay the night.

Turner Cousins Reunion

Greg Turner and Marilyn Morrell organized and beautifully carried out a reunion of the Turner cousins in southern Utah.  

Karl rented an AirBnB, the Adams White House, located against the red cliffs on the hill in St. George above St. George Blvd. for him, Shawna, Dick & Carole and us.  It was a lovely home with lots of room and it was a pleasant experience to be together.  

Friday evening we all met at the Golden Corral Restaurant for dinner and conversation.  Saturday morning Greg and Jodi served breakfast at their home in Toquerville.  Pancakes, waffles, bacon, sausage and lots of time to visit.  Their home is awesome and the weather was perfect.  We took some photos and Sharon Turner Jackson read to us about Uncle Mark's World War II experiences.  

We then went to the Toquerville Cemetery where Greg gave us a history of Elizabeth Uren Ould Theobald while we were standing by her grave.  She was a remarkable woman.  

Next we went to Duncan's Retreat, the place the Theobalds first settled in southern Utah after being sent there by Brigham Young.  The Virgin River flooded them out two or three years in a row so they moved to Toquerville.  The pictures in the second panel above, middle row, far left and far right are at Duncan's Retreat.  

We went on to Springdale, Utah to Arizona Al's Restaurant and enjoyed a wonderful buffet and more opportunities to talk with one another.  Part of the group went to Grafton and part of us went back to St. George as others left for home.  

We have a great family and the reunion was a great success, extremely well attended, and well organized.  

Greg, Ramona, Becky Marilyn Pat, Karl, Claudia, Tammy, Shawna, Dick, Claudine, Gloria, Cindy, Randy Linda, Dennis, Jamie, Karleen, Rosalie