A Guys' Weekend

I had the great opportunity to get reaquainted with some of my favorite people in the world this weekend. Here are the 6 of us who served together in the Washington, DC South mission around 20 years ago. They are (Top L-R) John Manning, Frank Christianson, yours truly and (Bottom L-R) Vance Mellen, Dave Dobbins and Dan Perdue.

John Manning was kind enough to host us in his beautiful home in Henderson for four days of basketball, food, golf and lots of "catching up". Thanks to John and his wife Joanne (hope that is spelled right) for being so gracious in letting us take over their home for the few days we were there. It was so nice to see all of these guys again. Sometimes after a long absence, it can be awkward getting caught up and wondering if you still have anything in common. Not with these guys. They are just good men that made me feel welcome and like it was just last week when we were serving as missionaries together. They are a very disparate group that come from very different backgrounds but I was touched by how all of us had such an incredible respect for one another that allowed us to talk freely, share openly and laugh much.

Thanks, guys for a great time. I am counting down the days until next year. Here are some good pics to laugh at. Vance got way too into discovering the sushi Bar.

On the last day, Dan treated us all to a Sushi Buffet. It was new to me- but was a great treat. Vance took this silly picture, but then with his great skills on the computer "enhanced" his misery and distended belly. Vance still has that warped and unique sense of humor. Kept me laughing the entire weekend.

Finally- here are Dan and Vance with their differing boxing styles.

In all- it was a great weekend. Heard they all made it home safely, so that is always a good thing.

Ashley

Sorry for the sidetrack on posting about the kids. This is Ashley. She is pictured here preparing to go in for her first ever Solo competition at the high school with her clarinet.

We are very proud of the fact that she worked very hard and practiced well. She got a I+, just below the highest score possible. She played a piece called Aria and Scerzo. (I am sure that I spelled that wrong).

Ashley is very focused and works hard at all she does. She is a great student, too. She loves to cook, is our crafty one and also loves to read. She is good at "getting it done"- whatever the "it" may be.

She is our Ashers and we are so happy she is in our family

Haws Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Roots - Family history

We all knew it was true, but here is concrete scientific proof that Ashley is really Eileen, Jr. They are so much alike in many ways. The other kids are pretty close to mixtures between us according to this analysis. You can try it for free by clicking on it. Try it, it is fun

A night with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra

Here are Kayla and Ashley, posing at a private reception after a wonderful concert we were privelaged to attend by the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. The gentleman with them is the Music Director and Conductor of the Symphony, Guillermo Figueroa. He is a very kind man that was very gracious to the girls. He is originally from Puerto Rico.

With him in this Picture with Kayla and Ashley is Melissa Pena, who was a featured soloist on the oboe at the performance. She was magnificent in her rendition of the oboe part in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #2.

We spent most of our time, however getting to know this man, Krzystof Zimowski -the concert master and first chair Violin. He was so good to the girls and we were fascinated with his story. Born in Poland when it was under Soviet Control, he started playing the violin at the age of 6 when he heard musical pieces on an old American made Pioneer radio that was dropped by american forces into his village. He took a job some time later in Mexico City as a violinst for thier national orchestra, and then was not able to get back into Poland to get his wife without the possibility of being stuck there forever. Instead, he stayed in Mexico and worked to get his wife out, who was an opera singer. They then moved to New Mexico and he has been with the Symphony ever since- starting as the 8th chair of the second violins. Now he is the concert master and a wonderful musician. He made us all really appreciate freedoms and privelages that we often take for granted as Americans.

We were very happy to have been able to have this wonderful night together on a Daddy/Daughter date and hope the girls will remember this special evening for a long time.