JUNE 2025 - Family, 50th Wedding Anniversary, Reunions and Friends

 

What an AMAZING month!  It was filled with so many memorable experiences with friends and family.

We began the month with a Senior Missionary Reunion from the Alpine German Speaking mission.  It is always a great time when we gather with these people who we served with on our mission.  A few have served other missions and it was so good to hear about their service and new experiences.  There is a special bond with each other as we share in our experiences serving together.  

We were blessed to have Pres. and Sister Brown with us.  They made each of our experiences as Senior Missionaries the very best.  They loved and respected us and trusted us to do the work we were asked to do.  They encouraged us to see the beauty of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and to spend time with the people.  Our Mission Senior Conferences were the best R&R we could ever have.  It helped us develop friendships with other couples and gave us the instruction and Spirit to do the work.  Grateful to our wonderful leaders.  

On June 5th we met up with John and Carol Homer and Mike and Sharon Lloyd (former Senior Missionaries) at the Roy Community Center for a patriotic concert.  Sharon is a Cellist in the Davis County Community Orchestra and this was their Summer Concert.  It was a beautiful evening filled with delightful music.

It was the perfect way to start the Summer - good music and great people.  We ended the evening at my favorite Ice Cream Shop - Handel's.  They did not have my favorite Cinnamon but the Caramel Green Apple was delicious!

Three days after we arrived home from our Alaska Cruise I got really sick.  I was completely down and could not eat or drink for 3 days.  I finally was able to start sipping liquids and then I made some homemade chicken stock.  It took about 10 days to get my energy back and we had so much to do to get ready for family and our 50th Wedding Anniversary Party.  I knew I needed to slow down and get better so we canceled our trip to Minnesota for our grandson Zach's graduation.  

So grateful for the technology we have today - we were able to watch the graduation live - it was wonderful.  Zach is our #6 grandchild and has grown into a wonderful young man.  He is a gentle giant - very quiet; artistic and a master gamer.  We understand he is more outgoing at school and enjoys his friends.  We are so proud of him and look forward to what the future holds for him.  

I was really impressed with the speeches given at the graduation.  Superintendent Berg shared five things:

1.  Mistakes DO NOT Define You

2.  It is OK if everything is not figured out in your life today

3.  You are NOT Alone

4.  Being Kind will Always be Cool

5.  You are made for a purpose - You have Unique Gifts

Principal Jason Kriegel shared:

This is not an end today - A Beginning!

Don't wait for Life to hand you a Script - Write your own!

What you Should Do - What you Could Do

Where you Go - Carry with you Two Things:

                        Choices                                         Character

Superpower - How you respond.             Matters - Not a Test Score

My Hope for YOU -

Have BOLD Curiosity

Don't accept the world now as it is - Make it Better

Chase what Lights you Up Inside

You are the author of your future

Believe and Love Yourself

Go Write Something Unforgettable!

GRANDCHILDREN HAPPENINGS

It's that time of year again - OREM DAYS PARADE

Preslee marched with her Timberwolves Cheer Team.  This is a festive parade that is held in the evening - a little cooler and lots of candy for the kids.

Nora (Brian and Beth's daughter) came from Wichita, KS to attend a BYU soccer camp.  Brian and Nora stayed with us for the week and it was filled every day with activities.  

We began their stay on Sunday evening going to the Utah Premiere Brass Band in Provo.  They put one a free Community Concert every Sunday evening in June.  We have loved spending our Sunday evenings listening to fantastic music.  This Sunday was the music from Bluey.  I had never watched the show but when we got home we watched three episodes.  The music is classic - it is more than a cartoon- great message.

Nora marched with the audience with the 1941 March music.  They get the audience involved and it was a fun evening for all of us.  

Monday morning she was off to  BYU.  I think Brian enjoyed it as much as Nora.  We went Tues - Thursday afternoons and watched the scrimmages.  We have a rising Star in Nora and she loved her week with the BYU women soccer team and the new friends she met.  

Nora on BYU soccer field

JUNE means back on the Murdock Trail for our morning bike rides.  We ride about 10 miles per day and love the beauty and majesty of the Mountain.  This barn is very old and starting to be in disrepair.  This Spring the original owners son began a renovation of the property.  The barn is repaired and painted and looks so nice.  We stop just beyond the Barn for our drink break and to turn around and return home.  I love this view.  

This month also brought stunning sunsets and gorgeous moons.  

These pictures are from our back yard just as the Moon was coming over the Mountain.  It was about midnight before it came over the mountain.  It was so beautiful being outside in the quiet of the night and seeing the moon through our trees.  June is a wonderful month to enjoy the great outdoors.

We will be hosting our Anniversary Party on June 21 and so we continued our preparations and yard work.  We wanted a new sign for our entrance and so we created this metal sign so people will know that our home is on the side entrance.  It turned out really nice and looks nice with our new improved Flag Pole.  The sign says:  Welcome - Grimmett Home - Where memories are made and worries are few

I baked about 250 cookies for the party.  Preslee helped by scoop the dough and that was a fun afternoon with her.  We made chocolate krinkles, lemon drop, chocolate chip, snicker doodles, and thumbprint filled with apricot and strawberry jam.  The countdown begins for family to arrive.

We had a few friends who contacted us and said they would not be able to come to our Party.  

Steve and Betty Anderson - Russ's former Boss at American Airlines in Texas invited us to lunch to celebrate with us.  They treated us to Magleby's in Springville - what a special time with longtime friends.  They have always been good to us and we really enjoyed our time together catching up on life and our families.  

Jaime arrived from Minnesota and it was so nice that she could fly into the Provo airport.  It has been three years since she has been home and we were so glad she could come.  

Childhood friends are so memorable and from a time that forms and shapes the rest of our lives.  A few months ago we reconnected with The Crockett family who also now live in Utah.   They called and asked if they could come over on Friday evening as they would be at a family reunion at Bear Lake on Saturday.  My sisters, Pam and Brooke came and we had the most wonderful reunion.  They were our next door neighbors for 12 years from the time I was born until I was 12.  Those were the best years of my childhood.  We lived in Twin Falls, ID. in a neighborhood called Lynwood and were in the Twin Falls 5th Ward for Church.  That was our life.  Valene Crockett the matriarch of the family continued to live in their home until last year.  68 years in the same home and she then moved to Utah last year. She will be 97 this year.   She continued to be a dear friend of my parents and will always be a special lady to me.  She was the Primary President when I was 11 years old and I will never forget sitting in her living room and reciting the 13 Articles of Faith for memory to graduate from Primary.  She worked with me to be able to memorize them and they have stayed with me all of these years.  Four of the Five Crockett children came to our home for the evening.  WHAT A REUNION!  We laughed and cried and laughed some more as we reminisced our life in Lynwood.  Over 50 years since we had all been together and it seemed like yesterday we were kids playing in the backyard.  John asked, "Do you remember playing kick the can?"  we said, Of course - one of our favorite Summer games.  John said,  "we don't - we had to watch you play from our bedroom windows!"  We  didn't start till it got dark and they had to be in the house at dark.  Oh, the memories.  It was so much better that meeting at a funeral and just saying Hello.  It was the highlight of our weekend.  We look forward to another gathering.  

50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

June 20, 1975 we were married in the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We had a Reception in Idaho Falls that evening at the Grimmett home.  Russ's parents had a beautiful yard lined with Lilac Bushes and flowers.  It was going to be so beautiful with a garden reception.  We had checked with the weather service for the past 50 years history of weather on that day and it showed it to be good June weather - so plans were made for an outside reception.  That afternoon the wind started to blow - that's Idaho - and then just as the reception was to start the rain came.  Russ's mother had an immaculate yard - but her garage was clean enough to have family dinners.  So, the family hurried and moved all of the tables from the yard into the garage and his brothers got umbrellas and escorted people in from their cars.  It was an eventful evening and so fun.  We didn't care that it ended up in the garage - the people who came made                                          the event special and we were married - that was all that mattered!

The next night we had our Reception in Twin Falls, ID at my parents home.  We could not have had a more beautiful evening.  It rained hard the night before just like Idaho Falls and then the next day it was all blown over and everything was fresh and a beautiful first day of Summer Day.  My sister, Pam was the Bridal Buyer for Weinstock's in Sacramento California and she arranged for the Tuxedo that Russ wore - Baby Blue with white shoes - he was so stylish.  We had a 6 layer wedding cake with three different flavors, skewered fruit and little sandwiches and can't forget the cream cheese mints and nuts.

We decided to start the day this year by attending the Mount Timpanogos  Temple.  Brian and Beth arrived on Thursday evening and they joined us at the Temple.  It was so wonderful being together in the Temple.  

We had The Crockett family over that evening as mentioned above and then Joshua and Julie arrived from Portland, OR.  All of our kids were now home.  We have not been together for 7 years and that was for my Father's funeral.  Not all of the grandchildren were able to come but we had 4 out of the 12.  

Saturday was a busy day getting ready for our Celebration.  We began the day picking up the chairs and tables from the Rental company and then getting the yard set up.  Everyone was busy working together and getting it done.  We then went to Los Hermanos - a Mexican Restaurant - for lunch.  It was a close to Texas food as we could get in Utah and we had a really enjoyable time talking and everyone catching up with each other.  This was one of the highlights of the day watching everyone enjoying the food and visiting with each other.

I cooked a Beef Brisket, beans, coleslaw, salad, and rolls for Dinner before the party began.  

Josh brought fresh Cherries from his neighbors Cherry Tree and made a fresh Cherry pie for everyone.  It was so good - reminded me of all the Cherry pies my mom made for me - I always had a Cherry Pie for my birthday instead of a cake.  

THE PARTY

After Lunch with the family we returned home to get all of the final preparations made for THE PARTY.  Everyone had an assignment.  Emily put together all of the Decorations, Brian made the Video, Beth put together the Memory Book, Josh and Brian installed the sound system and put up the outdoor screen for the video, I arranged all of the food and Russ and Jaime helped everywhere they were needed.  Russ was in charge of the punch fountain - he cleaned it and had it working three days before the party.  He was ready!  When he set it up plugged in the pump and filled it with Lemonade the pump would not work.  We had a new pump ready to go but the tubing was not the right size for the new pump.  Josh to the rescue.  He figured out how to make it work and the fountain was saved - just in time as the guests started arriving.  I loved how everyone pulled together and made it happen.  

Guests were welcomed by our Wedding Invitation blown up to a large banner that covered our Garage door.  The hydrangeas bloomed just in time at the front of our walkway.  

Emily really did a nice display of photos and memories from our wedding.  We had pictures from my Grandma and Grandpa Walton's 50th Celebration, My Parents, George and Ruth Haney and Russ's Parents, Earl and Emma Rose Grimmett on their 50th Anniversaries.  

Our back yard was so beautiful and the weather was really nice.

Emily had my Bridal Portrait blown up and displayed with my Wedding Dress.  It has yellowed over the years, but is still in really good condition.  

Wedding Picture and Current Picture

The Refreshment Table

We served cookies, lemonade and then had an Ice 'Cream Bar.  Preslee and Nora did all of the dipping and had so much fun together.  We had vanilla, coconut, strawberry and mango ice cream bars.  They were then dipped in luscious dark chocolate and then you picked the toppings you wanted it dipped in:

crushed Oreo's, almonds, pretzels, Andes mints, mini M&M's, Reeses Peanut Butter cups, Butterfingers, coconut, gold sprinkles or fruity Pebbles.  It was so fun and guests could have as many as they wanted.  

Ice Cream Bar

We had a program where a video of our lives was played with pictures from our childhoods, our dating, wedding and family through the years.  We have 21 years of pictures with our family on Christmas Eve with Santa Claus at Max and Sally Johnsons home in Arlington Texas.  It was great to see the changes in our family during that span of years.  The song Through the Years by Neil Diamond  was the background music.

After the Video, each of our Children shared a memory of us.  It was so special and very touching.  Wow!  they really came through.  People laughed that it sounded like our funeral - I said that is why I wanted to have them share their memories while I was alive so I could be a part of it.  So fun!  They then had us play a game to see how well we know each other.  We did pretty good - I think we got 8 out of 10 questions.  We missed, "What is your favorite trip together?"  Too many memorable trips.

Family pictures warms this motherheart.  The last picture we have with this group was 9 years ago on my 60th Birthday.  These will always be special to me.  We are only missing Jaime's husband Andy in these pictures.  He was not able to make the trip and was missed.  

The Picture with the grandkids is a rare photo with Logan actually smiling.  He was great to cooperate - He does not like photos.  Logan and Preslee and William and Nora are in the picture.  

Grimmett Family 2025

The first hour was absolutely wonderful.  We are so grateful for the friends and family who came to Celebrate with us.  My Sister Pam came and helped just like on our wedding day.  She is the best big Sister and continues to always support and bless my life.  We had Texas friends, some we had not seen in 20 years, Mission friends, Cumorah friends and neighbors.  We are truly blessed by the people in our life.  This Party was really all about being with the people we love and sharing our happiness and joy.  

So, as we started on June 20, 1975 the weather decided to change and the winds came up and with the help of everyone at the party we quickly moved everything inside.  Our large swimming pool was blown into the neighbors yard, our new flag pole was severed off at the base and the Winds were about 55 mph.  For the past three years on June 21-23 we have had the same winds.  We need to stop planning parties on those dates!  Even with the winds the evening was so memorable and enjoyed by all who came.  

The pool was dismantled and returned to our yard, the flag pole has been repaired, tree limbs and branches have been picked up and life continues on.  So many adventures every day.  

Homemade Chocolate Dip (a.k.a. Magic Shell) Recipe

250 g (1/2 pound) dark chocolate, 66% to 72%, finely chopped

200 g (1 cup) Refined coconut oil (Not unrefined or virgin)

125 g (6 Tbl.) light corn syrup

Directions:

Combine chocolate, oil and corn syrup in a microwave-safe fowl.  Microwave on half power in 15 second bursts, stirring with a spoon in between, 3-4 times, until chocolate is completely melted.  If heated too much, the chocolate may break, forming harmless brown speckles in the sauce, blend in a blender on high speed for 30 seconds to re-emulsify the sauce.

Transfer chocolate dip to a tall container (wide mouth quart jar worked great) and store at room temperature, stirring with a spoon if it separates.  Dip ice cream bar into chocolate and immediately into desired toppings.  Chocolate will harden within 30 seconds.  

Store your chocolate dip at room temperature.  It keeps for several months but will separate over time, so stir or shake before each use or briefly warm up in a hot water bath or microwave until all ingredients re-combine.  

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It is Summer and if your travel plans bring you to Utah or if you come to Lindon we would love to have you stop by and say Hello.  We might even have some Ice Cream to dip!

With Love,

Russ and Linda