What Happened to the Summer?

This has been a VERY exciting summer for our family. The biggest news has to be the wonderful wedding of Christopher and Sommer. Tonya and I are so excited to welcome Sommer into our family, and feel very lucky that she is a part of our family and our future.

The story for Tonya and I hit a high note at Easter time when we invited Sommer to join us in Cancun. Of course we knew at the time that Christopher had his quiet plan, and we were so happy to have a chance to be a small part in that plan.

Chris had been home for about 6-7 weeks, and was like a lost puppy here in Mexico, as he'd grown very close to Sommer over the past semester. Chris tried to teach me, Tonya and Abby some Spanish. He did a great job with Tonya and Abby, but teaching a rock like me is a tough job. That doesn't say anything about his abilities, which I thought were outstanding; unfortunately, it says more about the non-porous nature of my brain. Chris had created some very impressive PowerPoint-based lessons. He spent many hours both preparing and then patiently teaching us. Unfortunately, a small portion of his training has stuck with me.

But I digress ... Chris asked Sommer to marry him on the Eastern shores of Isla Muheres, just off the coast of Cancun on Easter morning as the sun came up. What a kid!!! We are so proud of him. And the really great thing is that Sommer said yes!!!

Tonya, Abby and I enjoyed being there with Chris & Sommer. The beaches were beautiful, the water was warm, and the memories were the best.

As always happen, the vacation was too short. At the end, the kids (Chris & Sommer) headed back to BYU in Rexburg, and Tonya, Abby & I headed back to Mexico City.

Then before we knew it, June was on us, and Abby was graduating from middle school (8th grade) at the American School here in Mexico City. The year was curiously different from the past 4+ years in Hong Kong. As we look back, it is clear now that the kids in Hong Kong were too busy studying to get into trouble. By contrast, the school here seems much more like the US schools that we left behind, where kids focus on image, on teasing, and unfortunately, increasingly on topics that are not good.

Abby dealt this past school year with all kinds of harassment; and when she brought it to the attention of the school officials, she was told that she needed to have thicker skin, that this is just the way it is. We do not accept that boys should make terrible comments about girls, etc. As a result of the "cultural conflict" we have agreed to move Abby from the American School to a British school called Green Gates. The concentration of international students at Green Gates is much higher; whereas the American School is made up of over 80% wealthy Mexican students who refer to the Gringo kids as "Embassy Trash", a reference to the fact that many students from the US that attend the school are there because one or both parents works at the US Embassy here in Mexico City.

At Green Gates, they tell us that there is a large population of Asian kids, most of which are Korean. Abby is excited about the diversity, and the likelihood that kids at Green Gates are more focused on academics that wardrobe. Tomorrow is the first day of school for Abby ... she is starting what we call 9th grade, and what the British refer to as "Form 4". It should be another exciting adventure ... with lots of things to learn!

Again, I digress ... Chris and Sommer were married on July 25th in the Salt Lake Temple. They decided to have their Reception the night before (I'd never heard of that, but it seems that it may be an Idaho thing). The Reception was at Sommer's parent's home just outside of Boise, Idaho. It was a beautifully memorable event. I must say that I was a little tired, as I'd woke up the morning of the Reception in Chicago, where I was attending a conference for work. I boarded the plan, and flew from Chicago to Salt Lake; where I met up with Jenise, Abby, Bre and Steve (niece and nephew), and our plan was to make the five hour drive to Boise for the Reception.

Shortly after getting under way, we got a call from the Peschke's our great friends from California. The message was that Shelby Peschke (Farnsworth), our sweetheart from the Peschke clan had landed in Salt Lake, and had missed the shuttle to Boise. The question was ... would we drive her with us to Boise to join her family at the Reception. The answer was immediate ... OF COURSE! Unfortunately, that meant we had six people stuffed with all the luggage into the five passenger car. I was fine and Jenise (who sat in the front seat was also fine, but unfortunately for the four kids in the back seat it was a smash.

Oh, I forgot to mention that as I returned to the airport to pick up Shelby that I was stopped for speeding! Yep, it is hard to believe, but the speed limit at the Salt Lake airport goes from interstate speeds to 25 in the blink of an eye. As a result, the police are stationed there to improve the city revenues with regularity.

We made it to Boise, but a bit late. There were lots of pictures and a few tears (especially from Tonya, but then what should we expect?). Then a quick night sleep, and we were off the Salt Lake early the next morning. Check out this great pic of my girls ...

Side note ... if you have ever thought you wanted to travel the road between Salt Lake and Boise for its shear beauty and diversity of landscape, I recommend that you stick your head in a bucket of ice cold water. And if that does not cure you, then I recommend that you put at least 24 hours between the round trip as it clearly didn't change from Friday night to Saturday morning ... I can attest to that!!!

We got back to Salt Lake, checked into the hotel, and then took all of the flowers (that had been hauled down from Boise) to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (the site of the Wedding Banquet) after the wedding. It was definitely a rush up to that point.

However, once we entered the temple, things calmed considerably. The rush was gone, as we anticipated the happy time. And then, one after another, we saw our dear friends -- true friends who'd come to share this moment with us. We met up with Walt & Dawn Peschke. It was great to see them again. We promised each other many years ago that we would at least meet up as our children are married; and so far at least one of us has made it to every wedding. We'd been expecting to see them, and it was a real treat to be able to spend time just talking with them about old times and future times together.

As expected as the visit with Walt and Dawn, we had no expectation that we'd get to see Ric & Julie Jensen ... and yet, there they were! We saw them first in the waiting room of the temple. It was so nice to see Ric again. Wow, the number of years that have gone by since we last saw them. Ric & Julie are a very important part of who we are ... you see, shortly after we were married, we moved into apartment 6 at 663 North University Avenue in Provo, Utah. And right next door lived "Ricard" and "Jewels"! We so loved spending time with them. In the evenings we'd get together and play Yahtzee or Chess, or just get together and talk. Some times when I'd be over at Ricard's late in the evening, Tonya would knock on the cinder block wall of the kitchen, to say that it was time to come home. Wow, I'd forgotten all about that until Ric reminded me. And when Cameo was born, Ric nicknamed her "Spitty" because she had a habit of sharing her food with all of us ... in a less than delicate way! The memories just came rushing back when we saw these two beautiful people.

We talked about getting together in Mexico with Ric and Julie, and can't wait for it to happen.

We also saw Tonya's college roomie, Linda and her husband Richard Davies. We enjoyed the time we had with them also. What good memories.

The temple sealing in the tremendous. We had a large room filled with friends and family from all over the country -- and world! Our friend Sandy Lai from Hong Kong was there to "represent"!

Christopher and Sommer were beaming ... so happy! And it was impossible for the rest of us not to be touched by their love. What a wonderful memory! Both Chris and Sommer were very gracious and loving towards everyone who came, giving each person a hug as our time came to an end there.

We then went to the waiting room, and ... waited for the couple. The pictures were fabulous, and many ... too many to post here. But many many pics to enjoy over the years.

Then on to the Banquet. It was so fun to hear from each of the kids as they shared memories of Chris and Sommer. We also heard from special guests like Chris' mission president and many of both of their friends. Each sharing beautiful memories of both "kids", and forming a common testimony of the goodness and greatness of both.

After the banquet was over, we sent the kids off in a horse drawn carriage to circle the temple, and then off to their hotel. The next day they were off to Hawaii for a week in the sun.

Now their back, and the rest of us are too. The summer is over, and we are all gearing up for the months ahead.