Till We Meet Again

It was Wimmer Reunion week! We flew to Utah and had fun with family.

Eve picked this small bouquet for the dinner we had with the Brewster before we left.

First thing in the morning after we got there, we took a hike up City Creek Canyon. We saw a couple of snakes! One was a long one stretched clear out across the path. We also saw some friendly dogs and hikers, and a grumpy biker.

We all took turns being grumpy. Even Eve, who is usually the sunshine of any picture.

That night we went to the wedding reception for Abby Ward, who we knew in Michigan. She had a terrible fall 50 ft. down a mountain right before she was supposed to enter the MTC and spent a couple of months in a coma trying to recover from her traumatic brain injury about 10 years ago. We prayed and prayed for her. She recovered a lot of function and is now married to a cute man who also has a dramatic survivor story. His motorcycle accident was kind of an Alma the younger experience for him, we heard from a cute senior couple who taught his temple prep class.

I was reminded how Janie Ward’s superpower is making things look awesome. Their yard was such a beautiful wedding venue! 

The next day we made Eve’s dream come true. We had the Fords (except the dad, Chad) over for lunch and swimming at the condo. Those girls were in heaven!

That night we had a tiny Nielson reunion at the condo. Our guests of honor were Azya, Dad and Marj, Eliza, Evan, Juliet, Frank, Wyatt and M’Li. 

Aren’t they all so beautiful?!

This is Dad showing my very late Father’s Day present. He and Marj are lovely and good.

The real party. 

This pic was specifically for Paige. Azya will do it if it’s for her mom.

My darling granddaughter. She reminds me so much of her mom! So much fun like Eliza.

That morning we got a horrifying email from Dick telling us that Bryan had passed away the night before and that none of his family were going to go to Lagoon Day or the Wimmer Reunion. He didn’t give any other details, just giant holes in our hearts. He encouraged us to use the pavillion reservation at Lagoon, so our family did. 

Frank got a hold of my sunglasses and needed a photo. I’m so glad he did!

We got to take Juliet and Frank on some of the kiddie rides, which was just a delight!

That night we met up with a bunch of people we love at the hotel.

Misty fell down on her cute little face right as they were walking in.  Poor little one!

We had a family dinner at the hotel. Doug and Tracy were hosting this year and had awesome pizza and salad and desserts for us. Willa was recording some memories people had with Bryan.

Almost all my boys! Just missing Evan and Alan.

Alan went on a mountain bike ride with Keith and Kort—it was beautiful but ended in a rather brutal crash. He came down hard on both hands, hitting his thigh and his ribs hard on his bike. My non-medical diagnosis is broken ribs and possibly a broken hand. He will get an x-ray tomorrow to see.

While he was doing that, the rest of us were at the Sports Academy. Mariah taught a private High Fitness class to the ones who wanted it. Angi and I babysat adorable granddaughters. Eve and Griff ended up playing in the Kids Klub, probably for the last time. Then I took some adorable people to Caspar’s ice cream in Richmond. They are the ones who make Fat Boys and Casco’s,

That evening we had another family dinner in Logan Canyon. It was beautiful and the food was awesome. We played a fun family trivia game. The weather was perfect and the Kellers even played in some water.

Then a bunch of us went to church together and heard Demi play a beautiful version of “Onward Christian Soldiers” and heard Kort bear testimony of Jesus Christ and of The Book of Mormon as he is leaving for his mission to Norway. Another friend from the neighborhood reported his mission to Newport Beach. Kort’s dad, who is also his bishop, ratified both testimonies and added his own. It was tender and beautiful.

Then we went to the Larsen’s idyllic back yard for a lunch with a great bunch of Kort’s friends and family. One of Angi’s many superpowers is feeding a crowd and making them all feel loved and seen. She makes it seem easy! It was so wonderful to visit with our nephews and their wives, and I got the added bonus of snuggling with brand new Nora Bird Larsen while her mommy ate lunch.

Goodbye for two, Kort Larsen! You will be such an awesome missionary.

It was such a tender weekend of farewells. The whole time I felt the hole left by none of Dick’s family being there. I kept praying for all of them by name and hoping they felt the love and mourning from their family. 

Goodbye Bryan Wayne. I love you Spud! You will always be the sweet little boy who kissed my toes when I was sick at your house. And the big man who always had hugs and kindness for me and my kids and an adorable cat who came with you to Lagoon.