And More Farewells!

On March 29, we left our house in the middle of Spring.
Flowers everywhere -- roses, daffodils, tulips-to-come
Ryan and Jennifer Sydenham and their three children
will take good care of everything while we are gone.

We flew into Salt Lake City, where Spring is just beginning.
The mountains are snow-capped, and we are all worried about
floods if there is a quick spring thaw.

First order of business was Birthday Dinner 

for our granddaughter, Megan Mills, who turned

18 on March 30.  She will be going to Southern

Utah University in September, so for her birthday

I gave her the SUU sweatshirt that her mom Rachel

gave me those many years ago when our daughter

Rachel started at SUU.

 And we took a four-generation picture of wonderful women.

Daughter Rachel Dimmick, granddaughter Megan Mills (age 18), 

Mom Mary Jane Knights (age 90), and me, Sue Allen.

On Sunday evening, April 2, our Stake President from Palo Alto, Dow Wilson, came to Sue's Mom's home to set us apart as missionaries.  This is a special blessing that makes us 'official.'  President Wilson was in Salt Lake for the twice-yearly General Conference of the LDS Church, so he set us apart here, instead of in Palo Alto.  We were glad, because it meant Sue's Mom and several of our children and grandchildren could also attend.  We especially appreciated his blessing that our family would be supported and protected while we are so far away.

After the setting apart, many more aunts, uncles and cousins showed up at Mom's house.  We were originally going to have a big family dinner at the home of Sue's niece, but she texted about 2 pm and said that because of the rain she was worried about having so many people at her house.  Usually it's a good place because all the little kids can run around outside.  She said she'd bring the paper plates and plastic forks if we could have the dinner at Grandma's.  Mom is the only person I know where you can say yes to, "Is it OK if we have a party for 35 people at your house in three hours?"  She leaves all the tables and chairs set up in the solarium all the time, so is always ready for a party.  The pot-luck assignments had already been made, so everyone was bringing food.  We had a great time, and the sun came out so the kids could run around outside at Great Grandma's house.

 March 30 is also the birthday of our grandson, Teus Schmalbeck.  He came with his family to the party at Great Grandma's, but slept on the couch the whole time -- with 35 people walking around and talking and lots of other little kids.  When it came time to sing Happy Birthday to him and to Megan, he was still asleep, so we just put the cake next to him on the couch and sang anyway.