ARIZONA TRIP -- BEACH 70TH ANNIVERSARY
APRIL 11-20, 2015
I flew on American Airlines from Shanghai to LA to Phoenix. Grandma Richardson picked me up but we were a bit delayed because they airline had lost both of my suitcases. One was later brought to Grandma's house on Sunday and the other I was able to have them send to Arkansas. That was nice and it saved me some hauling of it around.
 |
| Grandma Richardson in the Easter Pageant |
 |
| Grandpa and Grandma Beach's write up in the Church News |
 |
Polly picked me up Sunday and I stayed with her that night then
we picked up our rental car and drove to Lakeside, AZ/ |
 |
I had to take a picture of this because it is what
Brother Weber's factory makes in China! |
Monday we checked into the condo at World Mark Resort in Pinetop. It was such an amazing sight to see a washer and dryer again!!! Heaven!! Most mornings, Polly and I would get up early and go walking. The cool, crisp and CLEAN air was so refreshing! It was nice to be able to take DEEP breaths and not worry about the pollution invading my lungs. The pine trees in the mountains are beautiful and I have decided that we need to plant a bunch back at our home in Arkansas. Being back in the USA has made me even more “homesick” and more excited to get back home to our beautiful seasons in Arkansas, our home, our kitchen where I can cook and make bread, and all sorts of things like that. Once I get back to China, we will have just 7 weeks until we go home. It will go fast.
 |
| It snowed one morning while we were there! |
Tuesday, April 14th, was Grandpa and Grandma’s 70th Anniversary! It is totally amazing! Not many people in our world history reach that milestone. What a legacy to give our family. It is such an inspiration to see the love, care, respect and kindness that they still have towards each other. That in itself is rare in our world today and is a great example to ALL of their posterity. We celebrated their anniversary with lunch at El Rancho. Amy had been telling me about the “stuffed sopapilla” --- how do you spell “sopapilla?” It was good but boy was I stuffed!!! All this “American food” and sugar and processed food has about killed my insides! It was fun to visit and to celebrate “Roy and Clea.”
One morning we went to the bakery and bought a bunch of different things to try! Delicious but oh so bad for you! It made my insides hurt!
Wednesday and Thursday, we spent all day working to organize, pack up and rearrange the 2 bedrooms at Grandma and Grandpa’s house so that the “sewing room” could become the “guest room” and the “guest room” could become Jane’s room. Grandpa and Grandma need someone there at nights just for security so Jane has offered to stay there and care for them. I am so grateful for all Jane has done to care for our parents. Joel and Janell also do so much to help them. We were glad to have this project completed and are glad to know that Jane has a place to sleep and keep her things while she is caring for Dad and Mom.
 |
| A needle work piece made by Grandma Rebecca Dixon Beach |
 |
A satin quilt top made by Grandma Rebecca Dixon Beach
and Grandma Minnie Hubbard Dixon |
 |
| Grandma's apron from her days of work at the schools |
 |
Look what we found! Grandpa's old gardening
books and notes! It was pretty cool to see! |
 |
| Vernon surprised me by sending flowers! |
Friday was spent making preparations for Grandpa and Grandma’s open house on Saturday. Jane and Polly both made brownies (chocolate and lemon). Janell and Krystal both came up and Jane and I also went to the chiropractor. It was a busy but good day. Friday night, we did a little project for the summer Beach reunion in July. Grandma had a couple of buckets of “stuff” and tidbits and so we pulled that all out and wrapped Christmas gifts for each grandchild. She also had chapsticks and pencils that we put together for the great grandchildren. We had a fun time as we thought of each child and wrapped gifts and put a Christmas card in each an envelope with G&G anniversary picture. We will have a little “Christmas in July” at the reunion.
 |
| We wrapped presents for all the grandkids for the July reunion |
Another treat on Friday was that the Carter sisters came up for the open house and they came to visit for a couple of hours. The Carter girls are the daughters of Aunt Verna Cluff Carter who is Grandma Clea Cluff Beach’s older sister. Clea Cluff is the youngest of 5 girls in the Vernon Howard and Pearl Cluff family. I am much younger that almost all of the Cluff cousins. I knew who Teri was and I know Marlene because she would always come to visit Grandma Pearl Cluff when I was young. I always heard about Carol and Linda and their families but didn’t ever really know them. It was such a treat for me to get to see them and visit with them and get to know them a bit.
I remember hearing about “George and Linda” and their 12 children and all that they were doing. I remember thinking as a young girl that it would be so awesome to have a family like that!
I always remember being in “AWE” of Teri. She was older than me and I always looked up to her. For awhile, Teri played in the women’s PGA and toured. That was pretty cool. Now I STILL am in “awe” of Teri because she has a big motorhome and she travels around and I think that is awesome! She has taken her sisters on some trips and they just seem to have such a fun time!! I told her of my little dream to spend Dad’s next sabbatical in a motorhome traveling around the USA. J It was fun to reconnect with these cousins.
 |
| A fun visit with the Carter sisters |
70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Saturday morning, Roland, Carla and Doeshann came up for the open house. We picked up balloons, flowers, corsage, boutonniere, set up tables, arranged pictures, hung up their memory quilt, etc. The open house was from 2-4pm and it all went well. Grandma has only one sister left, Aunt Cleora Cluff Colvin. Unfortunately, her mind is not well and she doesn’t recognize people or places most of the time. She sat in her wheelchair next to Grandma most of the time and it was sweet to see my mom hold her hand. Six of the 8 children in our family were there. Krystal and Doeshann were there to help and Joelyn & Craig came up as well from the grandchild group. We encouraged the grandchildren to wait and come to the party in July. Of the Cluff nieces and nephews, Nedra came (Aunt Glenna’s daughter), the Carter girls (Aunt Verna’s daughters), and Brenda Colvin (Aunt Cleora’s daughter). On the Beach side, Kay Merrill came who is the daughter of Velma and Rusty Merrill. Velma Beach Merrill is a sister to Oba Beach, who is Grandpa Roy Beach’s father. There were about 12-15 people from their ward that came – including neighbors and their bishop. The big surprise was that Jeanne and Randi Payne brought their father Nevin Payne up from the valley just for the open house. Nevin Payne was in the Mesa 13th ward all the years Grandpa and Grandma lived there and raised their family. Nevin was executive secretary to Grandpa when Grandpa Beach was bishop. Nevin Payne was later Bishop Payne and he was my bishop for many years while I was a youth. He always was so kind and so interested in me as an individual. When Dad and I were married, Nevin Payne played trumpet with his band for the music for our wedding reception. It was so fun to see these friends.
 |
| SISTERS -- Clea and Cleora Beach |
The HUGEST surprise was that Matthew Kear came! Polly, his mother, did not even know he was coming. Matt has been working in the Pine/Strawberry area for work and no one knew that because he is on assignment to solve some major problems there. He drove over and surprised everyone and put his mom and sister, Krystal, in tears. Matthew and his family live in Twin Falls, Idaho and he is currently serving as bishop there. It was fun to visit with him.
 |
| Matthew surprised Polly and showed up for the open house |
 |
| Nedra & husband, Teri Carter, Ross Beach, Craig Viscusi |
 |
| It was chilly! |
 |
Teri, Carol, Marlene and Linda "Carter"
Roy & Clea Cluff Beach, Cleora Cluff Colvin |
 |
| Aunt Karen Cluff added to the group |
 |
| 3 Cluff daughters: Karen (Gale's wife), Clea, Cleora |
We had a surprise visit from Nevin Payne, who was once our bishop and who is a longtime friend of Grandma and Grandpa Beach. Our family lived in the same home ward as the Payne family for many, many years. What a joy it was for Grandpa and Grandma to see Nevin Payne again.
 |
Merrill Cousins -- daughter of Rusty and Velma Merrill
Velma is Oba Beach's sister; Grandpa Roy Beach's aunt |
 |
Jeanne, Nevin and Randy Payne
Roy and Clea Beach |
 |
Bishop Payne was my bishop when I was a teenage girl.
He and his band also played at our wedding reception |
 |
Nedra Foote and her husband.
Nedra is Glenna Foote's daughter and Glenna
is Clea Cluff Beach's oldest sister |
Sunday was stake conference for the whole are up there so Polly and I chose to watch conference for our church meeting today. We watched the Priesthood Session and it was absolutely amazing! Every talk I have heard from conference has been power packed! I have definitely seen a theme calling to parents to teach raise the bar in our teaching at home AND to do it by example! This call should guide our goals for the next year. After “church”, Polly and I packed up and we headed to Grandpa and Grandma’s house. It was nice to visit with them and we had some really good talks. The Carter girls came by again and Janell and Joel were there. Jane had stayed with us at the condo for the most of the week, but chose to stay in Taylor last night. After we arrived at Grandpa & Grandma’s, Polly showed me that we had forgotten to put the corsage and boutonniere on them yesterday! Ughhhh! We pulled them out and pinned them on and took pictures. They wore them all afternoon. J About 4pm, Polly and I said our goodbyes and headed on down to her home in Gilbert. It was so very difficult to say goodbye and I really had to work to not break into sobs. As Aunt Polly and I were driving along and chatting away, Polly said “Connie, did you turn left back there a ways?” Uhhhh….. I had missed the turn to go to Payson. Even worse, we both remember stopping at that stop light and I remember noticing the colorful house on the corner but we went on through and at that point we were halfway to the Salt River Canyon. We just kept on. I love Polly’s faith as she replied, “Oh well, there must be some reason we weren’t supposed to go that way today.” Our drive went well and was smooth in our slick little black car that Krystal got for us … yes that is another “thank you plug” for Krystal! We made good time and arrived at Polly’s home about 7:30pm.
 |
We forgot to put on the corsage and boutonniere on for the open house!
They wore them on Sunday instead! |
No comments:
Post a Comment