More distant cousins

A few months back, I posted on a distant Maynes cousin and his recent call to be mission president in Denver South. I am a 3rd cousin with him. This picture shows his daughter and her family. So this mother is a 4th cousin with Laura. The kids are just over 2 and about 6 months. The picture comes from a blog they recently started, titled 'I love Claire too'. Their oldest daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in the beginning of July. The blog records the fear and faith that they are experiencing.

One comment from an early post(July 10th):
Since the diagnosis, praying has become more of an open dialogue rather than an event, and I called out to Heavenly Father and asked why an innocent two-year old has to suffer through so much that she can't even understand. I wasn't angry, I just didn't get it. I still don't, but the response made me feel like I don't have to. A distinct impression came to me... "She's my daughter too". That was all I was told, but it was enough. Thinking about it, I realized she was his daughter first, and He loves her at least as much as I do...


Reading it brought back a lot of memories for me from the time my family was dealing with chemotherapy. Very different because it was an adult patient, yet in many ways very similar as the fear of the unknown future was relieved by prayer and the power of Priesthood blessings to reassure that all would be well. Also similar were the many people who supported us through that time with dinners and help. It is so great to be part of the household of faith to be able to help out in situations like this and to have that help and concern extended. I encourage you to read though their stories and to include them in your thoughts and prayers.

Will's 1st birthday

Happy Birthday Will. You have a great smile!

Family Reunion Activities

Here are some pictures from the reunion. Cousins playing with Cousins was the most important part for me.



Getting Family Groupings photographed was also a big part. Cherry and her family (Linda) were our hosts and the sponsors this year.



Bob and Rachel trying to get a serious photo.



But this is what they were looking at.



The activity for the reunion was a trip to Crater Lake. Incredible blue color.
We could have spent a few more hours there.



Without knowing, you might think this is looking up BUT instead, it's looking down to the lake.

Family Reunion excitement

From a note on my facebook.

So miracles happen every day. Are they only miracles when things turn out the way we want? I know some who reject most miracles because not everyone gets the miracle that they want. Myself, I look for the hand of God and have no trouble seeing it where ever I glance. I pray for my own kids that they can have experiences that open their eyes to the power around us.

...
So the whole family was traveling yesterday to reach a reunion in Oregon. I had talked with Heidi at around 9:30 am and then decided to call at 1pm to see how they were progressing. They had slept in Winnemucca and started out around 9am. This time, my Dad answered the phone and asked if 'we'd heard about what happened'. No. so what happened? Apparently 3 hours into the drive, Dad had gone off the road down the embankment. No one was injured and they were back on the road with just some damage to a car door.
Bob and Rachel were driving ahead of them, saw the cloud of dust and then turned back to see what happened. The car was stuck at the bottom of the embankment but Bob was able to get it out and back to the road. Some Oregon State Patrol men stopped by and noted the incident and that there were no injuries. Heidi is doing the driving for the rest of the day.

As Bob described it, near the bottom of the slope, they hit a concrete culvert (that caused the door damage) which caused the car to quit sliding (and tipping) sideways and turned its motion back in line with the wheels so they could roll to a stop. Mom said it was very scary and she expected it to roll over at anytime but that they were calm during the time it was happening. After they stopped, the kids started screaming and the reality of the close call set in.

The day started with a prayer for protection. So were they unprotected because they went off the road? ... or from the eyes of a believer were they protected as they went off the road such that the car didn't rollover and no one was hurt.


Myself, I look for the hand of God and have no trouble seeing it where ever I glance including yesterday.

ThirtySomething

Happy B-Day

Andy in Alabama

Andy at a mission leadership conference.

See the mission blog.

Pick and Flower of England

James Sabine and Jane Holder [GreatGreatGrandparents] with their son and daughter would have emigrated to America in a company similar to the one illustrated in this clip. Jane Holder Sabine joined the Church in 1859. They emigrated in 1866. I earlier posted about Jane Holder Sabine's Bible.

Thank you

Just wanted to throw out a huge "Thank you" to those of you who put David Miller's (Frank's nephew) name in the various temples this past week. I appreciate you being willing to do that for us. His family decided to release him from life support this evening and he passed away shortly after that.
Love you all and know I don't tell you often enough, especially those of you that I only spy on through blogs and facebook.
Patti

New Cousin

Brianna Ruth ...
Born 12 July 2010 ~2pm
6lbs 10 oz.


Congratulations to Josh, Catie and Benjamin

Looking for another Family reunion?

One where you won't know anyone but might get to know some lost cousins? Try this:
2010 Joseph Sr. and Polly Knight Family Reunion
July 30-31, Salt Lake City

Registration RSVP pdf forms attached or visit www.josephknightfamily.org and download form



Friday July 30, 11 a.m., tour Jesse Knight Collection, BYU L. Tom Perry Collections, downstairs Harold B. Lee Library, Provo


Friday July 30, 3-4 p.m., visit Church History Museum and Joseph Knight cane displayed, 45 N. West Temple,
downtown Salt Lake City

Friday July 30, 5-7, registration and dinner, 7-9 fireside, guest speakers: Dr. Larry Porter and William Hartley, historians,
11000 So. 1300 East, Sandy, LDS ward

Saturday, July 31, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., brunch and conference, Historic Wheeler Barn, 6351 South 900 East, Salt Lake City


If I was in Utah that week, I'd go to the Friday Fireside at least. Look at the PDF file. It has some color pictures and a lot more detail.

Our connections: McGee-Elsie Gifford-Alpheus Gifford-Lora Ann Demille-Anna Knight-Joseph Knight

My news!

So, I received my invitation to orientation/training for the US Dept of State Foreign Service today! I am really excited about it, but haven't really had the chance to process what everything means. I've known ever since I took the Russian language test and was bumped from #37 to #5 (yes, it affected my ranking that much!) a couple weeks ago that this was coming. So, that means that I've been preparing in all the ways that I could.
First, I've been trying to get my stuff in order (after all, I came back to Bismarck to go through my stuff, and I succeeded in doing just that!). Next I've been trying to figure out the logistics of moving with my cat, Gizmo. I learned recently that depending on where I go (even to just travel through certain countries on my way to another location) I would need to have an ISO compatible microchip in Gizmo. In addition, I need health vaccinations! I took Gizmo to the vet this morning and got all of that done. When it gets closer to the time to travel I will actually have to get a health certificate to take with me. I got him a microchip which was injected with a large needle (though surprisingly he seemed to feel one of his vaccination shots more than that one). More or less, I have everything in order to travel with Gizmo.
Now comes the more difficult stuff that I couldn't even begin to touch until after I received my invitation. Since I am moving to Washington DC, I have to figure out lodging (though luckily the State Dept has a contract with a company that provides temporary housing so I will not have to pay anything out of pocket for rent/utilities, and the housing is pet-friendly), I have to figure out travel arrangements, including transporting my things, and most difficult, I have to figure out when I'm going to leave Bismarck.
I told my boss today that I got my offer, and she told me that she cried after she got my message. Everyone keeps saying that they're going to miss me, and that makes me feel good and sad at the same time.
My class begins September 13. That gives me just over 2 months to get everything prepared. I don't have a lot of information/specifics on how A-100 goes (that's what they call the training class), but I've heard that it will take about 4 months. Then, depending on where I go, I may have language training that could result in my being in DC for up to a year. That's about all that I know, but I will definitely keep everyone posted when I know more!

Rachel A.

finally got her invitation to start training for the foreign service! DC HERE [she] COME[s]!!!

[Hey Rachel... you are in charge of this blog!...How come we have to find this news on Facebook first?]

Andy's New Mission President

The Mission Presidency changed on July 1st. Andy's new president held meetings with the missionaries on Tuesday. Andy was featured in this photo. The new president is maintaining a blog of their experience where we (and you) can follow along.

One year older & Wiser too...

Happy Birthday to Carla!