July 4th and beyond

We got home from our trip on July 2nd and July 3rd was spent catching up with laundry and emails and more emails.  Being the UDSF President has tripled my emails on most days.  It is busy.  However July 4th, 5th and 6th seemed open and so we decided to tackle Jena's room.  We had decided to paint it early in the year but time didn't ever seem open enough for that type of project.  We spent the 4th cleaning out her room and moving everything except her bed, desk, and dresser to the dining room....

where it is still sitting.  The cliché "The best laid plans of mice and men..." applied as July 5th, I woke up feeling okay but within an hour or so became sick with a stomach bug which lasted for 3-4 days.  No fun.  The unfortunate thing was those were the days that were open for painting.  Since then life has been way too busy so everything is still in the dining room.  Hopefully the painting will start tomorrow (July 24th) but I can't make any promises.  Life happens as it does on most days.

We did see an amazing display of fireworks in the nearby Bluff Ridge Park.  Some families in the neighborhood invited everyone to come watch the display and seriously it was great.  It lasted about an hour and include some really fun and big fireworks.  From where we were sitting we could also enjoy fireworks in every direction including the Clearfield City fireworks in the distance.  It was fun to enjoy that with many of our neighbors.  We guess there were about 150 people there.  There will be another great display as Theron Watson (our friend and neighbor) sets off a big display on Friday night at the same place.  Theron runs a firework stand and lights off everything he has left two days after July 24th.  We are looking forward to that as well.

So the next week was busy with--
Monday--laying around being sick
Tuesday--rushing around getting Jena ready for girls camp before I headed to a Webinar in Salt Lake about Down syndrome which we sponsored (UDSF).
Wednesday through Saturday-Jena at Girls Camp   (which once again she loved)
Wednesday--I had a meeting at BYU broadcasting about a brief segment they are doing about UDSF then I joined several of my friends from Hong Kong for a luncheon down in Mapleton.  Then Sandy Lai and I went to Provo to spend time with our good friend Eileen Bradford.  A sweet day visiting beloved friends.
Thursday--I spent the day in an all day conference which was training for my new responsibilities on the Utah Special Education Advisory Board.  I am so excited about that as there are so many great people involved on this board who I will learn so much from.  We will meet four times during the year and develop policy recommendations for the Special Education Board of Utah.  I am excited about that.  Gary spent the day at Webelos camp with 10 boys, a mom and another leader.  They had a wonderful time.  This is supposed to be Gary's last official act as the Webelos Leader although he has not been released yet (nor has he been officially released as the Stake Employment Specialist although that is suppose to happen soon as well.)  I will miss the boys coming each week as I loved them from serving in the Primary.  Gary will really miss that although I think he is enjoying being the Ward clerk as well.  It is a new challenge for him and that is good for everyone.
Friday--Ran around like a crazy person trying to catch up from being sick and being gone.
Saturday--Jena came home in time to go with us to West Point Park for the 2nd annual Hall Extended Family Reunion.  It was very nice and one of Gary's cousins talked about the history of their Grandfather Jick.  He was the first generation who joined the Church.

His aunt had made these nice photo box for each of the granddaughters.  It had a picture of their grandparents and a small braid lock of their grandmother's hair.  Grandmother Hall had long white hair which she wore in a braid wrapped around her head.  Many of the older grandchildren can remember her brushing her hair out at night.  Here is a picture of his grandparents.

Jick and Ruby Hall
If you look closely you can see her braids.

I only met her once and by that time, she was very elderly and suffering from dementia.  I believe Gary's grandfather died when Gary was quite young.  Rudy was 50 years old when she gave birth to Gary's dad, Wayne and then had another daughter when she was 55.  I can't imagine.  I feel old to have a 16 year old.  I can't imagine how it would be like with a 3 year old.  She had 7 children who survive, I think.  It was fun to be around the Hall extended family and to see them share stories and enjoy being together.  Gary brought the fun, as usual.  This year it was water balloons which kids and adults liked.

By Sunday we were ready for a break.  I had a quiet day but Gary was busy with doing ward clerk stuff and handling the financial clerk stuff as he has been out of town for 3 weeks in July.  Gary will be glad for Brian to get back.

However the rest didn't last long.  Sunday night we began to pack our motorhome for our next adventure!