A New Calling for Phillip

Today, on this Hurricane-Irene morning, Mom, Mike Gibbs, and I attended sacrament meeting at the Provo Peaks 2nd Ward where Phillip was sustained as second counselor to Bishop Kevin Santiago. Phillip made very nice remarks and bore his testimony in the meeting. Afterward we met in the bishop's office where I ordained Phillip to the office of High Priest prior to his being set apart. Meagan hosted a lunch at their home for family members. Phillip was unable to attend because he was doing recommend interviews and counting tithing: in at the deep end. It was a nice day.

Phillip and Bishop Santiago

David Arthur and Phillip David

The Gibbs who are here reinstalling Chelsea at BYU were concerned about Graham and their home on the Long Island Sound, but all went well. I had a similar report from Anna in Virginia this morning. Things were calm enough after the storm in the night that she and Rob were out walking when I called. All is well, but that's all for now.

OXO

D.

Beatrice Mae

Yesterday after supper at Emily's, as we were pulling into the neighborhood, we saw the Soelbergs unloading their car, so we popped in for a quick look at young Beatrice. She is very cute with lots of brown hair, born August 22, weighing 8 pounds 3 ounces, and measuring 20"; she's a keeper. Millie is doing well.

The new mom

Millie and Beatrice

Beatrice Mae Soelberg

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Because Maren Asked

In my last post, I mentioned that Meagan is readying her room at the new school for her next crop of students. I popped in this afternoon to see how the process is going and take a few photos as Maren requested. As a humorous side note, Meg and Ollie were alone in the classroom when I entered (Meagan was helping next door). They were trying to free three gummy toys from the ceiling tiles without success. They were STUCK! Somehow there was a phenomenal unbreakable bond between the tile surface with the gummy material. With patience, perseverance, a chair, and a long stick, I was able to remove the evidence before Meagan returned. Well anyway, here without delay are the photos, Maryleborn.

Provo Peaks Elementary six days
from kickoff

Mrs. Taylor standing at the door to her world

The fabric panels are the ones
Phillip and I hung

Teacher's desk

Ready and waiting

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Heber Valley

Yesterday evening we picked up Rod and Vicki and headed to Heber Valley for supper and a scenic drive. We had dinner at The Hub and then proceeded north through Heber and beyond to River Road that travels along the Provo River below the Jordanelle back into Midway. The light was perfect, the scenery wonderful, and the company excellent. It was a great late-summer outing

The back side of Timpanogos from Deer Creek

Delightful diner dining

Kris, Rod, and Vick

We have no wild and crazy plans, but will be kicking back until school starts again in week or so. Provo City schools start next week and Phillip, Meagan, and the kids arrive back later this morning. Meagan will be busy getting settled into her new classroom at the brand-new Provo Peaks Elementary. We will keep you informed about anything exciting that happens. This, however, is all for now.

OXO

D.

Pioneer Day and More

Pioneer Day was on Sunday this year, but the holiday/day off was on Monday, 25 July. The day was filled with preparations, shopping for food and fireworks, swimming, grilling, fireworks, RAIN (AGAIN!!), honoring ancestors, and general good fun. We sprang for some really good aerials (fireworks) and shot them of after dark in a gentle rain storm.

Poppers are always a favorite

Katy, Zoe, and Kris with the ancestral flag

Smoke bombs make the troops very happy

Yesterday, Wednesday, 26 July was the Hastings last full day in Utah. Hank and Colette invited us all up for lunch at their great cabin. Rain from the previous night made for an extremely reluctant fire, but we eventually were able to get the wienies properly roasted. Everyone had a great time -- it was kind of H&C to invite us.

Roasters at the ready

A fun picnic on the deck

Those who participated

That evening we went to Smash Burger for supper. When we left Provo it was raining and when we left Orem to return home, it was raining. By the time we reached our old house on 1200 East, it was pouring buckets! The storm drains couldn't even begin to handle the runoff and the manhole covers were gushing like geysers. (Katy Kathryn would have loved it.) As we rounded the corner we could see dumpsters moving freely down the street as if they were boats. Phillip and Ann waded in and kept them from floating to Springville. Scouty's birthday party, scheduled to be held in the park, moved indoors to Katy Kathleen's. After the party, the kids (and their mom and Aunt Courtney) wanted one last canal walk. Everywhere along the way we could see evidence of the massive storm which had passed and left us a beautiful evening. At the finish, Auntie Courtney regaled the kids with ice cream from the Creamery.

The binkers enjoying the flood

Phillip pulled the dumpsters from harms way

Colton's post-party bubbles were an attractive
distraction from our canal walk

A new post-storm lake on 800 North near the Botany Pond

One last adventure on (in) the canal

The Hastings on their last evening in Provo

Today around 11:00 AM, the Hastings set off on a return cross-country road trip to Virginia. Courtney will be copilot on this flight. We have LOVED having them and we are experiencing empty-house syndrome this afternoon. We are drowning our sorrows in the washing machine, as we expect the Boynton girls from Gilbert later today. The Happiness Hotel will be full once more.

Goodbye geese (or is it gooses?)

Headed up the road that leads eventually to Virginia

We are excited to have these great kids nearer -- let's say just over the mountains, a short drive from here. Short is, of course, a relative term, but we are chuffed nonetheless.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Timpanogos Cave

Today was Rob's last day in Utah; he is flying back to Virginia and the crushing heat tonight. So we headed out early for Timpanogos Cave. It was a beautiful morning and we were early enough to avoid the heat. On the way up, the trail was well-shaded and the everyone did great, including Clara and Holden who plodded right along. Only I suffered from fear of heights: there are some scary cliffs along the way and we climbed over 1,100 feet. After the hike, a picnic lunch by the creek was a welcome treat.

American Fork Canyon from low on the trail

The little guys were good hikers

Another switchback

Near the half-way mark

A higher perspective

Waiting outside the cave for our entry time

The door to an underground adventure

An underground pool in the Hansen Cave

The Great Heart of Timpanogos: the largest
stalactite in the cave

Some of our crew with the ranger/guide

Utah Valley from the trail down

Lunch by the creek

Breaking camp and heading home

We will miss Rob, but will enjoy a few more days with the rest of the Hastings clan.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

LeConte-Stewart Outing

Yesterday I saw a video on ksl.com about a new joint exhibition of work by LeConte Stewart at the Utah Museum of Fine Art and the Church Museum of History and Art in Salt Lake City. I suggested to Anna that we should go, and the rest, as they say, is history. We started at the UFMA and enjoyed their part of the exhibit very much. I explained that we had a connection: LeConte had stayed with my Grandma Hansen and she had one of his paintings. It was at the Church Museum, however, that the connection became clear.

Emily, having read some of the supplementary materials in the display, told me that Stewart's mother, like my Grandma Hansen, was a Hepler. I moseyed over to the display and had a look for myself while Emily made a quick visit to FamilySearch on her iPhone. I was gobsmacked to see the photo of LeConte's mother, Anna Hepler Stewart, who looks very much like Amelia Hepler Hansen, my grandmother. Emily's search revealed that Anna and Millie were, indeed, sisters; LeConte and my mother were first cousins! I don't know how that important bit of information had escaped me these many years.

Anna Hepler Stewart

Amelia Hepler Hansen

LeConte Stewart by Alvin Gittins

The crew at UFMA

Headed to the Church Museum of Art from our
parking spot on 2nd Avenue in SLC

Lucy Jane freezing for my available-light,
no-flash photo

A purloined photo of a piece that I liked very much

He captures the spirit of the Utah of my youth

Clara chose the pose as we headed back to the car

This was a great outing, made even better by the discovery of a significant bit of family history.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.