An Award of Merit !!

The Annual Black Hill District Scout dinner was held on May 29th. After we had enjoyed a nice meal Jim gave the "State of the District" speech. Awards were made and I was the recipient of the District Award of Merit. This is the highest award given in the District and it is a great honor to receive it. When my name was called I was astounded and walked to receive it in a daze. A few slides were shown one of which showed me in my true colors sticking my tongue out !! A short biography was read and everyone stood and applauded as I was handed the plaque as well as a medallion and a knot to wear on my uniform. I also received a plant of small yellow roses. I felt very special.

Click here for more photos.

83!! Yippee!

No, not Jim!!! -- His dad! Earlier in the year, Jim's dad ended up in ICU with pneumonia. From there he went to a Rehab Center until recently we checked him in to a lovely assisted living facility. He has now been there 2 months and is doing well. As he turned 83 last month his friend Charlie and I decided to throw him a surprise birthday party. Invitations were sent over the air by Charlie, and about 20 of his ham radio friends came to help him celebrate. When grandpa came into the room, we all sang happy birthday and he even got to blow out his candles without spitting all over the cake! He was overcome and "mind-boggled" by the amount of friends and buds that showed.

Click here for more photos.

Hermana Alison Ivy Smith

On January 16th 2008, Ben, Rachel, Mooey and I too Ali to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) to begin her mission. She would be serving for 18 months in the Chile Santiago West mission with 2 months of that spent in the MTC learning Spanish.

As of this date she has been on her mission for just over 4 months and is loving it. She has met some interesting people whom we hear about each week when she emails us. She is excited and doing great. She eats a lot of beans and rice with a little chicken. One downside is that they don't have Root Beer or Dr. Pepper but she doesn't mind the sacrifice !! She has not been too a Subway or McDonald's for 4 months and I believe is having withdrawals..ha ha.

We really enjoyed talking to her for Mother's Day, one of the two times she can call home during the year. Her excitement and chatter made us realize that she is still our Ali and that she will always be grateful that she served a mission.

Click here for more photos.

I'm a Grandma...Baby Amelia!

How can this be, I'm not old enough!!! Ben and Rachel gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on May 5th. So far we have only seen photos on the computer but more will follow after our visit in June.










Click here for more photos.

I'm proud to be an American...

This is a day I had waited for for a number of years. Jim, Mooey, her friend Susie and I went to Baltimore Maryland and there I was sworn in as an American Citizen along with 58 other people. Making sure all the paperwork was in order took longer than the actual swearing in but as I went up to get my certificate I realized that now I was one of "them"!

That evening I had planned a party for myself sending out invitations to this major event in my life. Friends and neighbors came for cake and ice cream and to say congratulations. It was fun to share this with people that I knew...some for years and some for just a while. Even though I can now vote I still have my British accent and roots set firm in English soil.

Click here for more photos.

Full House...

Because everyone was home for Christmas we were able to do some fun things as a family. Although Ben and Ali were sick on Christmas day they played a good part but slowly faded into the sunset as the day went on.
We went to the Kennedy Center in DC for an informal brass concert which didn't turn out to be all that it was cracked up to be but made a nice outing in a beautiful building and setting (by the Potomac river).
We also went to the Holocaust Museum which neither Ben, Rachel or Ali had been to before. This was a far more sobering journey which we will remember and reflect on from time to time.
We were able to attend the Temple with Ali before she takes off for her mission to Chile next month.
We had a few "old" friends over who we had not seen for a long time and they were able to renew their friendships with the "kids".
New Years Eve found us in Leesburg, Virginia for "First Night". This is an evening spent being able to see and hear different programs in the buildings in the town. We saw clog dancers, a barbershop quartet, a flute ensemble, a magician and 3 old guys in Hawaiian shirts singing olaha songs. It was fun but we came home to welcome in the New Year by watching the ball fall in Time Square.

Click here for more photos.