So Long - Farewell!

Recently my brother-in-law, Silila, accepted a new job in Houston, Texas.  While we are thrilled for their family and the opportunities that they are having, some of us (mostly myself) are a bit weepy at the prospect of the family moving so far away.  Our own little family has pretty much lived close to Stephanie's family our entire marriage and I have held each one of her five kiddos on the day that they were born.  I can't imagine not being able to see them on a regular basis and watch my nieces and nephew grow up.  Some of us were able to get together this past weekend to have one last family shin dig before they take off from Oregon.  Pictured is our family, Stephanie's family, Jonathan's family, and Gramma and Grampa.

Ashynne and Myah are teenagers now.  While most teenagers don't care much for anybody but friends, these two girls are so great.  They love their parents, their aunts and uncles, and take care of all their younger cousins.  They are smart, funny, athletic, super friendly, and, of course, very beautiful. :)

Christian, Kennidy, and Camryn are adorable!  They are sweet and loving kids.  Emma and Sam will probably miss them the most since they are pretty much the same age and play so well together. 

 We had lots of tears and hugs and kisses when we said good-bye.  We love them all so much!

We wish them the best in Houston and we hope to see the Perez Family again very soon!

Present

There is a nice gentleman in our ward who Mark home teaches.  Jerry lives in a care facility and isn't able to get out or come to church very often because of health problems.  But Mark sees him every month and sometimes takes Emma and Samantha with him since he doesn't have a home teaching companion.  Jerry is also an artist and sells his artwork professionally.  He does all kinds of art - painting, drawing, oils, etc.  Yesterday he asked us to come to his apartment because he had a surprise for us.  Previously Mark had commented to Jerry about how much we loved a painting that he had done of the Teton Mountains.  So Jerry did a mountain painting for us that is just absolutely gorgeous!

We were so impressed and touched that Jerry thought enough of our family to give us such a special gift - especially when his art sells for several hundred dollars.  Apparently he has had it done for a couple of weeks and has shown it around the care facility.  As we were leaving, one of the workers saw us carrying out the painting and remarked, "Oh YOU are the ones who get the painting - we're all so jealous!"

We came home and promptly hung it up in our living room.  We love it!