19 November 2023 Week #60: Is there anything better than being with family?
Dear Family and Friends,
We have had a wonderful week with Taffy, Tony, Mylie, Mariah, Brady, and Lewis. It was sad to see them go, but wonderful to see them arrive. If this experience doesn’t make me want to be with my family forever, I don’t know what will. We are so grateful for the sealing power of the priesthood, for the grace of Jesus Christ, this great plan of salvation and exaltation, for the wonderful families we were born into, our parents and siblings, and for the wonderful children born to us, and for the wonderful grandchildren that keep coming. We are truly blessed. Let us all strive to be obedient, go to the temple as often as we can, and keep our covenants so we can be with Tillie and Clyde again. This gospel plan is true!
On Monday we were up and headed to the temple grounds at 5:30 where we exercised. Some of us walked and others played basketball. We dropped off laundry as we also visited the office and had a short visit with Jeff and Aaron. Later we visited the Mabuhay Deseret Foundation. It was an enjoyable visit with Taffy’s family learning about what Mabuhay does and then getting to put their handprints on the wall. In the evening we had dinner at Italiannis. We also got to be in on the family call with Connor serving in Chile on his mission. That was a boatload of fun. He is doing so well. We love his weekly letters. His testimony is strong, and he is involved in a lot of good things. It was a wonderful day!
We headed out on Tuesday at 5:00 a.m. for an adventure canyoneering. We went to Kawasan Falls. It started with a packed truck ride up the mountain, then motorbike rides higher up the mountain. Now we headed down on a 1km zip line. What a thrill. For many of us it was the first time. Then a hike down into the canyon. Then we spent a lot of time in the water swimming, and many jumps off of cliffs into pools. It was 3-4 hours of fun. Then a Filipino meal and then the 3–4-hour ride back to Cebu. A wonderful adventure day!
On Wednesday we caught a ferry to Bohol. We stayed at the Amarela Resort on the beach. It was a very nice facility. I did some work on my computer and did some watching as the rest of them had a great time. It was so fun to hear about all the fun things they were doing, playing volleyball, swimming in the ocean and swimming pool, canoeing, and snorkeling. They had a great time! Clyda was so attentive and thrilled to be with them. She is amazing!
On Thursday we took a 3-hour drive from the resort on the southern part of Bohol up the coast to the northern point of Bohol to the port at Ubay. All eight of us boarded a pumpboat with President Avenido and the boat operator. It was crowded. We had a nice smooth 30-minute ride to Tres Reyes Elementary where they got to see our solar power system project for that school. We were there for about 45 minutes. Then we hiked back down the muddy path to the boat. We waded out into the ocean and boarded the pumpboat for the ride back. About halfway back the waves were getting pretty big. We headed for a cove by a little island. After a 45-minute wait and seeing no letup in the storm it was decided to leave four people on the island and take four of us to the port, then come back for the other four. So, we left the Professor, Gilligan, Ginger, and Mary Ann, on the isle. It was quite a ride back. Then we prayed that they would be successful on getting back to the island and returning with Tony, Brady, Taffy, and Mylie to meet Mariah, Lewis, Clyda and myself on the mainland.
Then to Carmen, in the middle of the island, to see Elder Bradshaw and take a suitcase full of items from his mother back in Lyman. It was so good to see this 6’7” Elder with his 5’7” Filipino companion. We met them at the 7-11 for ice cream. Then, we took them to their apartment. He emptied the suitcase and partially filled it back up with gifts for his family back home. Even though he is from Lyman, the rival school to Mt. View, it was great to see this young man serving the Lord. He and Mylie know each other quite well as he has been a little sweet on Mylie’s best friend this past year. All of the family know him and realize what a great young man he is. For those who don’t know, he is the son of Jolene Buckley (Bradshaw). I was privileged to teach her in 3rd grade, and then coach her in high school in basketball and track. One of the saddest days of my life was one summer day after Jolene’s junior year, where she was an all-state basketball player and state record holder in both hurdle events, and she came to the weight room to work out after having spent two hours already changing pipe, and she informed me that they would be moving to Mt. View. She spent her senior year there and set state records in track in 3A Mt. View. She went on to run for Ricks College and took 6th in the nation in Jr. College in the 100 Hurdles and 4th in the nation in the 400 Hurdles. And as good as an athlete as she was, she was an even better person. It is no doubt that she has raised a wonderful son. After crying for the rest of the summer I got my act together in time to coach football and get back after life. It was a wonderful brief visit with Elder Bradshaw.
Then off to the Chocolate Hills. It was fun for the family to see this unique place. It makes me marvel at how creative the Lord is in his creation of this incredible Earth. Then back to the Amarela for more fun.
The next day was spent having more fun at the resort. We checked out at 12:00 and were shuttled to the ferry for a 2:00 ferry ride back to Cebu. We arrived in Cebu at 4:00 and then had a long(time) short(distance) ride back to our apartment. We got back about 5:30 p.m. Then we headed to the mall for dinner and to go give gifts at the Light the World Giving Machines. It took over an hour to get there. Friday nights the streets are packed in Cebu. Then we stayed up late, not wanting this to end.
Saturday morning Elder and Sister Koyle came to help us shuttle to the airport. It was a sad goodbye. But we were so grateful they came. We wish the other members of our family could have come also, but we understand that no one else was in a position to come. We are grateful they have the wisdom to recognize that fact and are content to stay home. We will see them soon enough.
We are so grateful for the continued improvement of Tami and Tyson after their surgeries. They seem to be doing great. Tyson is especially doing great. He hasn’t felt this good in a long time. Tami is recovering but still not back to normal yet. She continues to improve. We are grateful for her willingness and thoughtfulness. She has always been that kind of a gal! She has a lot of Charity, unlike her father, but like her mother.
It has been teary, but we will survive. We have plenty to do and we will get it done. We have some Holy Habits and Righteous Routines, and we will Lift Where We Stand.
Week #60 11/13-11/19
We have had a wonderful week with Taffy, Tony, Mylie, Mariah, Brady, and Lewis. It was sad to see them go, but wonderful to see them arrive. If this experience doesn’t make me want to be with my family forever, I don’t know what will. We are so grateful for the sealing power of the priesthood, for the grace of Jesus Christ, this great plan of salvation and exaltation, for the wonderful families we were born into, our parents and siblings, and for the wonderful children born to us, and for the wonderful grandchildren that keep coming. We are truly blessed. Let us all strive to be obedient, go to the temple as often as we can, and keep our covenants so we can be with Tillie and Clyde again. This gospel plan is true!
On Monday we were up and headed to the temple grounds at 5:30 where we exercised. Some of us walked and others played basketball. We dropped off laundry as we also visited the office and had a short visit with Jeff and Aaron. Later we visited the Mabuhay Deseret Foundation. It was an enjoyable visit with Taffy’s family learning about what Mabuhay does and then getting to put their handprints on the wall. In the evening we had dinner at Italiannis. We also got to be in on the family call with Connor serving in Chile on his mission. That was a boatload of fun. He is doing so well. We love his weekly letters. His testimony is strong, and he is involved in a lot of good things. It was a wonderful day!
We headed out on Tuesday at 5:00 a.m. for an adventure canyoneering. We went to Kawasan Falls. It started with a packed truck ride up the mountain, then motorbike rides higher up the mountain. Now we headed down on a 1km zip line. What a thrill. For many of us it was the first time. Then a hike down into the canyon. Then we spent a lot of time in the water swimming, and many jumps off of cliffs into pools. It was 3-4 hours of fun. Then a Filipino meal and then the 3–4-hour ride back to Cebu. A wonderful adventure day!
On Wednesday we caught a ferry to Bohol. We stayed at the Amarela Resort on the beach. It was a very nice facility. I did some work on my computer and did some watching as the rest of them had a great time. It was so fun to hear about all the fun things they were doing, playing volleyball, swimming in the ocean and swimming pool, canoeing, and snorkeling. They had a great time! Clyda was so attentive and thrilled to be with them. She is amazing!
On Thursday we took a 3-hour drive from the resort on the southern part of Bohol up the coast to the northern point of Bohol to the port at Ubay. All eight of us boarded a pumpboat with President Avenido and the boat operator. It was crowded. We had a nice smooth 30-minute ride to Tres Reyes Elementary where they got to see our solar power system project for that school. We were there for about 45 minutes. Then we hiked back down the muddy path to the boat. We waded out into the ocean and boarded the pumpboat for the ride back. About halfway back the waves were getting pretty big. We headed for a cove by a little island. After a 45-minute wait and seeing no letup in the storm it was decided to leave four people on the island and take four of us to the port, then come back for the other four. So, we left the Professor, Gilligan, Ginger, and Mary Ann, on the isle. It was quite a ride back. Then we prayed that they would be successful on getting back to the island and returning with Tony, Brady, Taffy, and Mylie to meet Mariah, Lewis, Clyda and myself on the mainland.
Then to Carmen, in the middle of the island, to see Elder Bradshaw and take a suitcase full of items from his mother back in Lyman. It was so good to see this 6’7” Elder with his 5’7” Filipino companion. We met them at the 7-11 for ice cream. Then, we took them to their apartment. He emptied the suitcase and partially filled it back up with gifts for his family back home. Even though he is from Lyman, the rival school to Mt. View, it was great to see this young man serving the Lord. He and Mylie know each other quite well as he has been a little sweet on Mylie’s best friend this past year. All of the family know him and realize what a great young man he is. For those who don’t know, he is the son of Jolene Buckley (Bradshaw). I was privileged to teach her in 3rd grade, and then coach her in high school in basketball and track. One of the saddest days of my life was one summer day after Jolene’s junior year, where she was an all-state basketball player and state record holder in both hurdle events, and she came to the weight room to work out after having spent two hours already changing pipe, and she informed me that they would be moving to Mt. View. She spent her senior year there and set state records in track in 3A Mt. View. She went on to run for Ricks College and took 6th in the nation in Jr. College in the 100 Hurdles and 4th in the nation in the 400 Hurdles. And as good as an athlete as she was, she was an even better person. It is no doubt that she has raised a wonderful son. After crying for the rest of the summer I got my act together in time to coach football and get back after life. It was a wonderful brief visit with Elder Bradshaw.
Then off to the Chocolate Hills. It was fun for the family to see this unique place. It makes me marvel at how creative the Lord is in his creation of this incredible Earth. Then back to the Amarela for more fun.
The next day was spent having more fun at the resort. We checked out at 12:00 and were shuttled to the ferry for a 2:00 ferry ride back to Cebu. We arrived in Cebu at 4:00 and then had a long(time) short(distance) ride back to our apartment. We got back about 5:30 p.m. Then we headed to the mall for dinner and to go give gifts at the Light the World Giving Machines. It took over an hour to get there. Friday nights the streets are packed in Cebu. Then we stayed up late, not wanting this to end.
Saturday morning Elder and Sister Koyle came to help us shuttle to the airport. It was a sad goodbye. But we were so grateful they came. We wish the other members of our family could have come also, but we understand that no one else was in a position to come. We are grateful they have the wisdom to recognize that fact and are content to stay home. We will see them soon enough.
We are so grateful for the continued improvement of Tami and Tyson after their surgeries. They seem to be doing great. Tyson is especially doing great. He hasn’t felt this good in a long time. Tami is recovering but still not back to normal yet. She continues to improve. We are grateful for her willingness and thoughtfulness. She has always been that kind of a gal! She has a lot of Charity, unlike her father, but like her mother.
It has been teary, but we will survive. We have plenty to do and we will get it done. We have some Holy Habits and Righteous Routines, and we will Lift Where We Stand.
With love,
Dad and Mom
Grandpa and Grandma
Briant and Clyda
Dad and Mom
Grandpa and Grandma
Briant and Clyda
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