EXCITEMENT IS MOUNTING!!

Our class is well underway as you can see. Prior to class last week we had a pizza party. This is most of our group. The man in the beige shorts and the lady whose arm and shoulder you can see are the Young Single Adult leaders for The Dalles Stake. On the very back row you can barely see the head of a wonderful non-member lady who is attending our class. She says she's totally lost, since we're studying the book of Revelation, but she's loving every minute of being lost. She told me how amazed she is with the concept of bearing one's testimony!! She's never been in a situation, she explained, where she's listened to so many very personal testimonies. The young man in the maroon shorts is Matt Hodges who is mentally challenged, and he loves the fellowship and friendship of class. The young man in black is awaiting a mission call, although he has to be realistic. He has an attention-deficit disorder which may prevent a call. Almost everyone else in the room is going off to college in the fall.

Isn't this a gorgeous picture? I was looking for pictures to update my family picture bookcases downstairs and realized that I didn't have a good picture of Kevin and Debbie. In desperation, I typed in a Google search for Kevin Gibson Saudi Arabia and found this. It speaks volumes, doesn't it??

You're looking toward the bathrooms and the Park Center at the park!! Because of a broken city well, we have a ban on outdoor watering, and the park has a yellow carpet.

We're gearing up for the reunion!! Here's an updated schedule which is very flexible.

MONDAY, JULY 21: Check-in time is 2:00. We've designated the lower level for Mark's family, since they're the largest group. There are plenty of beds for everyone!! After 2, we'll be at the lodge, so give us a call for directions to the lodge. Basically, you're taking the exit to Government Camp. (Instead of turning left for White Salmon, you're turning right.) When you see the sign for Panorama Point, make the turn to Panorama Point. Once you pass Panorama Point, start looking for signs for Panorama Lodge. I haven't seen the parking area for the lodge, so you may have to ask about that. Nicole, Tom, Dad, and I are preparing a spaghetti dinner for everyone. We have a menu for meat lovers and vegie lovers. Let's plan for dinner at 5 at the Lodge. Let's plan Monday evening to just chill, rest up, settle in.

TUESDAY, JULY 22: BREMERTON. You cannot believe the manuvering and convincing we've gone through to help Grandma understand that we want to come to Bremerton and honor her on this day!! She's very excited about having everyone there, but she's worried about everything!! Bless her heart. We've now settled on: Illahee State Park in Bremerton. This is the park where we've had other reunions. We have reserved Spot #9 which is near the water and the bathrooms. Everyone can make his own way to Bremerton. One fun way is the Seattle Ferry; be warned that prices have gone way, way up. We will plan for lunch at 12. (All times for this reunion are negotiable.) Dad and I will leave early and take the pickup. We'll purchase some KFC, chips, drinks, vegie trays, etc. in Bremerton. If you'd like to purchase something to contribute to the meal, please feel free.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 HOOD RIVER --Pancakes, waffles, French toast, etc. breakfast prepared by Mom and Dad; dinner--an old-fashioned barbeque-- prepared by the Mark Kennedy family. This will be a day to relax all day--sleep as late as you want, go wherever, chill, etc. Hood River Fair opens that evening. Dad and I will be teaching our class in The Dalles in the evening. Tom and Nicole have offered to take an excursion to the sand bar on the Columbia. The Hood River pool is an indoor pool, etc., etc. I plan to set up a crafts table at the lodge. I'd like everyone to paint a rock!!!

THURSDAY, JULY 24 HOOD RIVER Scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, etc. breakfast prepared by Mom and Dad; dinner--taco salad-- prepared by Darla, Susan, and Steve families. We'd like to spend the day at the house working on Aunt Annie's garden. We're purchasing rose bushes for each year of Annie's life had she lived, beauty bark, flowers and shrubs and we want everyone to find a special place for his painted rock in her garden. There are lots of projects to do. I had envisioned having the little ones play in the grass and run through the sprinklers, but, unfortunately, the watering ban will prevent that. I will have the crafts table set up. (By the way, did we tell you that we have air conditioning now?) We'd like to have a Family Home Evening so we can get pictures, share talents, etc.

FRIDAY, JULY 25 HOOD RIVER Continental breakfast--other meals on your own. Check-out time is 11am. We can adjourn to our house for the day. Another day to chill, etc. If you're feeling especially adventurous, the WS Ward 24th of July campout is Friday and Saturday.

We're excited to see everyone. Love, Mom