The Surprise Visitors

Late Saturday afternoon,

we got a call from my niece, Connie.

What would you think?

Someone from whom you never hear.

Her folks are precarious,

like all old people.

Happily,

she was driving down from Idaho

with her siblings and

they just wanted to stop by and visit.

Whew!

Eddy says Uncle DeLoy sure has cute daughters.

 Carl flew in from Oregon, Connie from Texas, Keri & Reo from Florida.

They came to bury their Aunt Berniece, their mother's sister, in Ashton, Idaho.

What a lovely visit.

We haven't seen these kids since . . .

Keri before she was married?

Wait - she and Reo lived in Provo 

between Dubai and Iceland or some such thing.

Connie before she went on her mission--
sign language mission to Chicago?
We've probably seen her since then.

Carl when he and Lindi moved to Oregon?
We sent Carl on his mission to Pararguay too.
He wouldn't buy one thing until he got here
to the one and only true missionary store - Mr. Mac.

How many years ago?

Except for DeLoy's family,

all the grandchildren were raised in Utah and Malad, Idaho,

and we congregated for Christmas and holidays parties.

Well, come to think of it,

Carol's family lived in Florida, Georgia, England--where Melissa was born--

Norway, South Africa and Japan.

They have been here enough years now that we only remember

the times together.

 DeRay, Jeanette, Mama and her new husband whom we called Uncle Ed out of respect (we were on their honeymoon) visiting Grace and DeLoy.

Newly married, DeLoy working for the Forest Service and running this motel.
Cedarville, Ca, in Surprise Valley in Modoc County.

We visited them again when Keri was a baby.
Quincy, CA, in Plumas County

The Triplet Cousins:  Carl was born in March, Tena in April and Brent in May, Nephi 1963

Brent's concert on Temple Square - May 24, 1986
Carl - Tena - Brent

Lucy-Lawrence/Amy-Lynn Esplin Reunion at Liddys Canyon. 1989
The Triplet Cousins: Brent, Tena, Carl.

Thanksgiving 1965. DeRay, Jeanette, DeLoy, Mama (Amy Esplin)

Grace and her dad and step-mother, Jean.

Brent, Keri, Carl.
Laufman Ranger Station near Milford CA in Lassen County.
Wintertime, DeLoy would put chains on and take chains off
halfway up or down the mountain
every time he went to town to church.
In those days - Priesthood - Sunday School - Sacrament Meeting.

Keri, Carl, DeLoy, Brent, DeRay and Frosty!

Connie was just a happy baby.

 Keenan, Carl, Brent, Keri, Jeanne. Concord, CA, 1968

 Grandma Esplin with most of her grandchildren - (two unborn, Tara & Amy Lyn)

Effie holding Melissa, Cindy, Amy J. J. Lynn, Nellie holding Devin, Jayson, Calvin, Karla, Stanley, Keenan, Todd, Tim holding Tamber.

Connie, Jeanne, Grandma holding Eddy, Keri.

Boyd, Carl, Tena holding Brooke, Brent, David,

Lee, Bryan, Robert. (Jolene, Bryant, Lynn Charles missing)
Thanksgiving, Kaysville, UT, 1973

Cousin Bridal Shower for Keri. 1983

Effie, Reo, Keri, Nellie, Brent, Jan, J. Lynn, Jayson, Jody, Todd on couch.

Cindy, Jolene, Tara.

Jeanne, Brooke, Devin, Bryan.

679 North Fairfield Rd, Kaysville, Utah

 This is what the guys do during a bridal shower - the guys and Tamber!

 Esplin campout reunion on our property near Kaysville 1984. Keri at piano.

 Cousins enjoying the pool.

Check out that garden.

 Grace leading the singing. Daddy's best friend, Willard (Son) Meeks, shared his memories of Daddy with us. Daddy died in 1947, long before any grandchildren were born.

Campfires and tents.

These are the flashbacks

that came to me

as we visited

with DeLoy and Grace's kids

who are now grandparents themselves

on Saturday evening.

Thank you for stopping by.

Families Are Forever.

Carl, Lindi, & Eddy jumping on tramp. 1992