The Cousins Come to Visit

What is more wonderful than a visit from our loved ones from Atlanta. This is my Granddaughter, Gabrielle. I can't believe how she's grown. What a lovely young woman.
Spencer and Sarah, cousins, were off to "Especially for Youth" at BYU. Sorry Spencer, I caught you with a funny face. You are adorable anyway. They both said that they had the greatest week ever. The enthusiasm expressed as they told the stories of the week was off the charts. We laughed and laughed at the retelling of all the adventures. What a great opportunity they had.

Carrie and I talk on the phone several times a week. I caught this out side Cafe Rio in Draper where we met John and Alison for lunch the day before the Krogh family went back to Atlanta. Cafe Rio is a must when they visit Utah.

John and David and Carrie at Cafe Rio. We all loved our lunch! Yummy! Below are Lindsay, Carrie and Alison.
Eliza Jane, age 5, Christiana, age 9, Katherine, age 11, Spencer, age 15. These are some of the greatest kids on earth!
Eliza and Abby are 2 months apart but Abby is sure to tell you that she is 6 and Eliza is 5. These little cousins had a great time together; 2 sleepovers, a trip to the kids museum, the zoo, etc, etc. Thanks, Uncle John for all the time you spent entertaining everyone.
This was a day of great excitement. Christopher invited us to his pool for a swim. The children were all over Uncle Chris constantly. He threw them up, pulled them around like a train, took them on his shoulders etc. They were in heaven. Everyone was especially happy because he was going to "pop the question" to Megan that night. They were all way into it because of the funny stories he had told them about it all day. That night everybody prayed for him. 2009 post note: Sadly this engagement was short lived. All I can say is that it is good to spend lots of time together so you know.

These cousins had a great time. Gabrielle stayed with Analisa for a few days. They wished they had more time to sleep and talk but these teens were constantly on the go. Thanks Aunt Claudia and Uncle Brett.

Christiana went to Sarah's High School Musical Dance Camp for a week. This happy girl loved every minute of it. Sarah was a great teacher. This was taken just after the final day's performance.

Below: This just goes to show what a great time the adults had together as well as the kids. John and Alison had us for dinner and guitar hero and board games. Alison's face reflects how everybody had fun.
Lindsay's boyfriend, Chris, Katherine, Claudia, Lindsay and part of Megan. Sorry Lindsay and Megan that I didn't get the best of you two, but we all know how beautiful you are in and out!
The visit was short but great. We love when they come to our house. We all wish they lived here!

What is she thinking? I just had to add this one. Someone give me a good caption.

An Observation at the Salt Lake City Cemetery

One beautiful fall morning while walking through the Salt Lake City Cemetery I came upon a woman about my age at the grave of a loved one. These were my thoughts.

She came alone with sadness all about her.
She had done her best;
Her untiring efforts recorded upon her face and body.

She approached the flower laden resting place of her parent.
She paused reflecting, eyes fixed upon the mound,
And stooped to select a remembrance.

A long stemmed rose she chose
And straightened with it tenderly;
A lonely last token of a loved one lost.

It was the way of things; the coming and going;
The heavy heart, the mind’s replay, the hope.
She stayed not long, then turned and left alone
With sorrow all about her. It was done.

Judith Kay Brown Nielson
October 2007