Thursday, July 25, 2019

Jaxon at High Adventure and Youth Conference

The next morning, after arriving home from SLC, Jaxon was off to scout camp at 
Camp Daniel Boone in North Carolina. 

The send off photo. Jaxon probably should have taken off his neck pillow for the photo!
Jaxon would separate from his troop to attend the High Adventure portion for 4 days doing rock climbing.
A beautiful camp


Jaxon came home the following Saturday evening and then the next Monday he was off again to youth conference. The stake youth would be driving to Kirtland and then Palmyra on 3 chartered buses. I did not get any pictures but this is one of the entire group. 
Jaxon had a great time! 



Utah/California road trip

Well, well, well...this was a very hectic couple of weeks. The day after all of our company left, we got up EARLY to catch our flight to Utah. Aaron had already left the 
day before on a work trip to California. After some delays, we finally arrived to SLC. John and Dalynn met us at the airport, gave us the car we bought Darby, took our big luggage, and then we started driving south. Yeah, we don't rest much!

After stopping in Cedar City at a hotel, the next morning we met up with the Jennings for breakfast in St. George. They were the Visitor Center Directors while Darby was serving in Kirtland.
We finished our road trip in Santa Ana, California where Aaron was staying.  We were able to kidnap Kayla so she could stay a night with us in the hotel and then visit with her family the following evening.
Walking around Newport Beach

Jaxon and Tyler were friends in Malaysia.


The Running Family was one of our favorites in Penang.
Such a sweet and wonderful family!

The following day we headed down to San Diego. We spent a little time at the Mormon Battalion
Visitor Center while waiting to collect Mom at the airport.



Took a photo with these cute sisters.
After getting mom and checking into our hotel,
we met up with the rest of the family for dinner.
On this day, Mom entered the temple for her first time to receive her own endowments.
 It was a most perfect and heart warming day. I love my family!








We drove back to SLC and this time the focus is all on Melynn as she prepares to enter the MTC.
Due to us changing our flight plans so we could attend the temple with mom, it required that Melynn be set
apart at the MTC instead of back in Jacksonville. We had an appointment the morning of the big day
and met with a member of theMTC presidency so he could set Melynn apart as a missionary.


After a yummy lunch at Cubby's, it was time for goodbyes. 



Melynn never even looked back as another sister collected her and walked away together. Karen told me that
(she had heard this said before) this is like how it is when we leave our Heavenly Parents. We are so excited to
venture out to our earthly experience that we probably never even looked back. But we know that this life is
hard and thankfully we have the knowledge of our loving brother, Jesus Christ,
who has made it possible for us to return some day.
Now let's not forget Darby...we had to help her move her stuff into her apartment and help her take care of a little business. For one, she got her own Costco card! ha ha ha
Good luck on adulthood Darbs!

Melynn's mission farewell


On this day, Melynn gave her farewell talk in sacrament meeting. She did an absolutely 
wonderful job. I have every confidence that she will be a 
hard working and dedicated missionary. 

I was so happy that Ashtyn, Will, Charles,
Melissa, London, Henry and Cooper could also join us on this special day. 



Melynn, we love you so much!!!

Groesbeck's and Gray's visit!


Ashtyn and Wil flew in with Charles so that we could watch little guy while Mom and 
Dad went on a little vacation before baby Marion's arrival. We were thrilled to 
have Charles with us!  Melissa and the kids also flew in on the same day. 
It was a full house but we enjoyed the company. 
We went bowling since the weather wasn't great that day.
Charles LOVES to hang out with Cooper!

A fun day at Mikler's Beach


We walked around in Old St. Augustine and took a tour of Flagler College.

This college was originally a fancy hotel.

Ice cream on a hot day is always a good idea!

Charles loves to paint and hang out with his Aunts and Uncles...
But Poppa is his favorite!