The Best is Yet to Be

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Washington DC with Sister Egan

In May we took a quick trip to Washington DC during our Nashville Temple's maintenance shutdown to visit my sister, Kathy Egan, who is serving a full-time mission at the DC Temple. She was a wonderful host--- taking us to all the touristy places (she has already been several times), feeding us yummy meals, and spending time with us in the Washington DC Temple. Everything Kathy makes is delicious, but her homemade coconut ice cream was to die for. Kathy and I went for many walks, as is our practice. And in the evenings we played game after game. Russ and Kathy are very competitive, and I just enjoy watching their rivalry. After all the game playing was done, I think we came out pretty even, each winning a few. I won most the Phase 10 games, Russ won most the Crown games, and Kathy won all the Banana Gram games. Thanks, Kathy, for a fantastic visit.

Beautiful Washington DC Temple

My sister, (Kathy) Sister Egan

The temple glows at dusk

View from the Visitor's Center

Second longest escalator in the world---located in the DC Metro

Kathy & Sharlene

Washington Monument reopens while we are there

WW II Memorial - Russ & Kathy up front

Russ & Sharlene by Tennessee Memorial

Library of Congress

Inside the library

All of the inside of the library was beautiful !

Entrance to the Holocaust Museum. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the museum. We were told as we entered to expect to spend 2 hours inside. But we ended up spending 3 hours and still didn't get to see and read everything. We'll have to return again to see and experience everything. Very humbling experience.

Washington National Cathedral

Azaleas were in full bloom

THANK YOU, KATHY!

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Six Months in Franklin, TN

We moved into our new home in Franklin on October 31, 2013. It's been a wonderful adventure and now at six months----here are some pictures of a few things that have taken place in Franklin

Welcome Flowers from Langfords

Welcome flowers from Smiths

Our very first guests were the Cruzes - all
seven of them - Lori, Scott, Emma, Ben,
Josh, Lydia and Afton - on November 1,
2013, but we didn't get one single
picture, sadly - thanks for coming

Brad Barber sent us our very first
postal mail in Franklin

Calls from our sons and their families
were most welcome.

Our new home

Our First Day at the temple as Temple President and Matron

Our Temple presidency - Allens and Rickards

Sextons visit on December 19, 2013 - Sydney, Tanner, Connor

Outdoor Christmas lights - very humble

Indoor Christmas Decor

Langfords visit December 28, 2013 - Carter, Claire, & Jared

Nativity outside our temple - December, 2013

Doing genealogy

Brunch

We met and enjoy spending time with our second cousin, Susie Brown

It was a cold winter!

All winter Sharlene swept leaves away from the front door

Sharlene's first birthday in Franklin - flowers from Troy and Dan

Birthday cards mark the day

The one tiny snow we had all winter

Celebrating Lisa's birthday in Franklin - David, Lisa, Connor, & Tanner

Love our temple

Mother-Daughters annual Book Club - in Franklin

New place to eat - Wall Street Pizzeria

Found an old favorite in old-town Franklin

Afton, Lydia, Sydney & Claire count money and candy

First-ever Easter Egg Hunt in Franklin - We love these grandchildren - thanks for visiting!!

Table setting for Assistant Recorder and Wives Dinner in our home here in Franklin

We continue to discover new things to do in and around Franklin. Next post, we'll share some links for those places and some more pictures. Meanwhile, the past six months have been grand. Thanks to our Knoxville children and their families for their constant love and support. Such a blessing to serve and such a blessing to have support from our family.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Utah in October

In October we went to Utah to receive three days of training for our new callings as Nashville Temple President and Matron. Our temple president’s seminar took place in the Salt Lake Temple and our meals were all on Temple Square, with our hotel a short walk away.

The seminar was an incredible experience that we will never forget. We were able to receive instruction from each member of the First Presidency, several Apostles, and members of the Seventy and Temple Department. A highlight was going on a temple session with the other 52 new Temple Presidents and Matrons. It was truly a special spiritual experience. We came back to Tennessee feeling better prepared for our new callings.

We spent most our time attending the seminar, but we were able to squeeze in many other things:

--Visit to Syracuse to see Russ’s sisters and various family members

--Cristy Valentine took us on a personal tour of President Monson’s office

--Lunch with Joel and Jenica in downtown Salt Lake City

--Dinner with Sharlene's cousins: Paul and Bonnie Oscarson, Judith Nielsen, Bob and Chris Brown, followed by visiting and dessert at Oscarson’s home

--Taking care of Andrew and Sam while their parents were in Arizona where Brad received his second Regional Emmy.

--Shopping in City Creek and the BYU Bookstore

--Delicious home-made breakfast at Sue and Ramon Sanft’s

--Picnic at Olympic Park with Cara and Will Dahlquist’s family, Randy Thorpe, Zach and Aunalisa Thorpe, Angela Christensen and family, Allie Sexton, Eric and Heidi Thorpe’s family, Joel and Jenica’s family, Brad and Susan’s family. All braved the cold.

--Visiting the Lehi Barbers

--Visiting the Provo Barbers including lunch in the Harris Fine Arts building with Brad

--Visiting an old friend from Knoxville (Mike Gibson)

--Visiting Provo Bakery, the building of the new Provo Temple, BYU campus, etc.

--Celebrated Sam's 4th Birthday