Education Week, August 2016

We almost didn't go to Education Week this year, thinking that three years in a row may not be as exciting. But we were wrong, and kept saying that we sure are glad we decided to go. 

We enjoyed well known speakers such as Susan Easton Black, John Byetheway, Michael Ballam, and others we had never heard of before. One of the most delightful was a retired chemistry professor, Dr. John Lamb.  His presentations on"Religion and Science",  showing the connection between true religion and science, were very interesting as well as humorous.

Dr. Lamb put on his wizard's hat when doing an experiment.

During the evenings, we had dinner at the Cannon Center Cafeteria and attended the musical "South Pacific"and a concert by the Nashville Tribute band.

When we were in New York on our mission, the missionaries loved religious music recorded by this band. 

Each year at Education Week, there is a devotional featuring an apostle. We were treated to the inspirational message of Elder Jeffrey Holland, who spoke about the troubling rise of secularism. Forty years ago, Elder Neal Maxwell predicted open hostility against religion. This is troubling because no society can have a moral life without religion. Religion binds people together in charitable causes. The root word for religion is "ligature", means tying together what was separated, and mending that which was torn.  The shift away from respect for religious belief is caused by a greater preoccupation with the circumstances of this world, versus the next life. Secularism can't answer questions of the soul or sustain us in difficult times.  It doesn't give meaning to life. Sadly, religion is moving into the margins of society, instead of being at the center. Religious faith is the most powerful and enduring force in human history. Religion matters!

When we go to Education Week, we are doubly blessed, because we get to see our son Andy, his wife kaylynn, and our two darling Utah grandchildren,  Emmett and his baby sister Addie, who were two years old, and 6 months old at the time of our visit in August.

Andy is always drawing. He makes his living as a professional artist. 

 Nothing makes my heart happier than being with these grandkids again!

Sweet Addie is always smiling.

Happy times at the local playgrounds

Addie and I hung out in the shade while the others splashed around at Seven Peaks Water Park.

Three generations of men enjoying the mountain stream at Bridal Veil Falls

I loved Emmett's enthusiastic popping of bubbles at the end of nursery time at church.


All too soon, it was time to fly back to Houston. A tradition is to get a final photo with the kids. Even though Emmett wasn't in the mood for photos, I love this one!

Another tradition is that we buy the kids a BYU t-shirt each time when we come out for Education Week. They are wearing their new shirts here.  Addie's shirt says "my first BYU t-shirt.

Two new additions to the family!

Two precious grandbabies recently arrived, just one month apart from each other.  Hugh Joseph, the first son of Jeremy and Nicole, and grandchild 18, was born on August 3.

Jeremy took this photo right after Hugh was born.

While Nicole and baby Hugh were in the hospital and for the first few days they were home, we stayed with them to help out a bit until Jeremy could get some time off work to stay at home.

Hugh is exceptionally sweet natured and laid back, just like his Daddy was when he was a baby.

Rae was so excited to see us. When we picked her up from the babysitter, she ran to me and jumped into my arms.  This sweet girl always brings smiles to our faces!

Here is Hugh on his blessing day, a month later. He is a big baby, and wearing 6 month size clothes at one month old.

I love being a Grammy!

Almost exactly a month later, on September 2, Emily and Brian's sixth child, and our 19th grandbaby, Evelyn Camille came into the world. Like her cousin Hugh, Evelyn is exceptionally sweet and very laid back. Another angel from heaven!  We were lucky to have Emily and baby in our home for a week, as we took care of them right after the birth. A few days after the birth, they had to make the trip to Texas Children's Hospital for testing to make sure Evelyn is free from the serious heart defect that caused Dahlia to need a heart transplant.  Evelyn proved to be in perfect health.  Texas Children's is fairly close to our home, so Brian dropped them off at our house since he had to go back to work. The Ochoa grandparents took care of the other kids.

This was taken in the hospital, right after Evelyn was born.

 Auntie Lauren came over to do a newborn photo shoot.

 Kyla enjoyed meeting her new cousin. 

After Hugh was born, we took off for our annual trip to Utah for BYU Education Week, and after taking care of Emily and Evelyn for a week, we took off for a week in Hawaii.  My next two blog posts will be about those trips.

Sand, Sun and Surf

The last week of July, we rented a beach house on Bolivar Penninsula, for a few days of Relaxation. 

The cousins love any chance to spend time together. 

                                                                                                                                                                          

The men tried their hand at fishing, even buying fresh bait. Grandpa looked pretty impressive as the "Old Man and the Sea".  Some guys, who used a drone to cast their line way out there, caught an enormous red fish. We had our frying pan ready for a similar catch, but no luck-- Dan was the only one to catch a fish. He spent about an hour filleting it, and we were too lazy to cook it up. So much for a fish fry!

We are going to do this every summer, at the end of July. Jeremy and Nicole couldn't join us, with their new baby due any day. We missed our Utah and Minnesota kids and grandkids, as we do any time we get together in Texas. 

Looking forward to the  time that we will all be together jumping for joy on the beach.

Beautiful Minnesota! July 2016 visit

Was it ever a treat spending time with these Minnesota grandkids,  our oldest son Mark, and his lovely wife Courtney. An added bonus was the break from the Houston heat.

When we attended Colby's baseball game, we had to wear sweaters and jackets.

It was fun to watch Saige at her gymnastics class.

Luke, not wanting to be out done by the older kids, showed off his gymnastics skills!

We adore this little guy. Just a year and 10 months old, he thinks he is a "big"

Kid, and is so funny trying to be involved in everything.

By the end of the week. The weather warmed up enough to spend a lovely day on Lake Itasca.

After docking the boat, we got to walk across the Mississippi River. This is the place where the mighty river originates as a small stream.

Beauty abounds here, and there's plenty to do and see, even in Mark's small town of Bemidji. Besides attending a local art show, we had fun at a local science museum, after which we took the traditional photo by the Paul Bunyan statue.

Here we are hanging out by Lake Bemidji after seeing the art show.

Hanging out with snakes at the science museum

Paul Bunyan and his blue ox are landmarks on Lake Bemidji.

Mark's neighborhood and his home are lovely and relaxing places to be.

I especially enjoyed eating on Mark's

deck, overlooking their spacious backyard and the lovely field behind the house. The raspberries from Courtney's garden were delicious and plentiful.

The kids enjoy an after dinner bike ride around the neighborhood and back home.

Other fun activities in Mark and Courtney's back yard--

The last day there, we went to Colby's soccer game and visited the clinic where Mark enjoys being a dentist for American Indian Health Services.

This clinic serves members of the Ojibwa, or Chippewa tribe.

Parting is such sweet sorrow. We always come away with so many good memories and our hearts bursting with love for these grandchildren. Grandpa especially cherishes the goodbye hug Luke gave him as he came running into his arms (not pictured).