Completion of 2010 Service Project

It was very special for all of the grandchildren to be able to deliver the food bags to school children of an inner city school.  The students there are from 20 different countries learning English as a second language and adjusting to a new culture and way of life.  We were able to make 100 bags of food for the children.

Happy Birthday to Bob--70 Years Young

We all enjoyed Bob's birthday. Each person told some experience they shared with Bob that had made a lasting impression on their life. Bob just beamed and "purred" as each child told some memory with him. It was a wonderful birthday.



Christmas 2010 Service Project

The kids did a real fun service project this year for Christmas.  They put together 100 food bags for kids from an inner city school that would not have food to eat during the holidays.  When school is in session they eat at school but during holidays they often go hungry.  It was fun to be able to have all the grandkids assemble the food kits.



More photos of Asia

Bob, Emme and Yu shopping on Ladies street--the most congested pedestrian street in the world.

Note the girls ankles--the latest show rage-bling on ankles.

This is how we earn our keep!

Typical bonzai garden in Glover Gardens, Nagasaki Japan

Bob's favorite Opera--Madame Butterfly and Pucini monument in Glover Gardens.

Such a touching monument at Nagasaki Peace Memorial on the site of the A-Bomb.  A mother protecting her child.

Another monument to the children who died in the A-Bombing.

Such a typical way to haul things in China.

Walking Nanjing Street at night when it had cooled down somewhat.  Shanghai's walking street.

Chinese street sweeper in Background--so typical.

Emme and I at the Peninsula Hotel--Hong Kong

Asia Cruise

To celebrate our 46^th anniversary Bob and I signed up as enrichment speakers for RCCL cruise ship, Legend.  We left early so that we could visit our former students in Tianjin.  Steven met us at the airport in Beijing and took us to our hotel room.  HE spent the next day with us and then put us on the train to

Tianjin to meet Richard and Jasmine.

Our first stop was Shanghai.  A typhoon was on its way to Seoul Korea so the captain changed course to miss it and we spent an extra day in Shanghai.We visited several temples, museums, shopping streets, etc. IT was extremely hot and humid. It was very crowded due to the World Expo being held there.

Our next stop was Nagasaki.  Bob gave an excellent lecture about the A-bombing there.  We visited the Peace Memorial and Museum.  This is Peter Tam and Bob
A crowd had gathered along the pier and as we sailed away, they waved and the orchestra played, “We Are the World”.  They hung a huge banner that said ‘See you again in Nagasaki.”  All the ship decks were lined by passengers waving back and clapping for their performance.  It brought tears to our eyes.  Imagine—just 65 years ago, they were our enemies.  This was very moving to us. 

We next visited Okinawa's Peace Park which was huge and beautiful.  The museum was outstanding.




Taipai 101-Worlds second tallest building.  We went up 88 floors in 37 seconds!  Bob loved it--NOT!






We also saw very tall apartment buildings in Hong Kong.  It is a very crowded island with millions of people and huge commercial businesses.  There are more millionaires in HK than anywhere else in the world.  And it operates in the black--no debt!









The Hotel Peninsula is a very expensive hotel that picks up it's guest by Rolls Royce.  Their buffet at High Tea is $400/plate.  We enjoyed looking!

Yu and Emme took us on the world's largest cable car ride.  It had a plexiglass bottom which Bob never looked down at.  We went from Hong Kong Island to Lantau Island to see the 100 Ft Buddha that sits on top of the highest peak.

Note the Buddha and Monestary which we visited after our cable ride to the top. 

The highlight of this trip was the beginning and the ending—spending time with our students. They were so happy that we had come back. They saw us off at the airport and we arrived safe and sound 20 hours later.  We were exhausted and so glad to be home.  But we are so glad we got to see Steven, Richard, Jasmine, Emme and Yu.  They will visit us someday, we are sure of that!We enjoyed the cruise but it was too hot. Our lectures went very well. Crowds of 75-100 people came from every country. But the highlight was meeting the other speakers—Peter and Beverly Tam. We toured with them, ate meals with them, and shared thoughts and background.  The Lord guided, protected and blessed us. We are so grateful. But it is sooooo nice to come home! And we got China out of our system. We are just too old for the heat and long flight..



Gaston's visit to our home

Sunday after going to hear the Tabernacle Choir live broadcast and attending church where President Eyring shared his testimony at his granddaughters mission farewell, we had the family come over to meet the Gastons and had a great visit and BBQ.  We watched the kids shoot the bottle rocket and have a water fight!  Great fun and wonderful memories.

OH, WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SUMMERTIME?

We enjoy Mother's and Father's day with the kids.  We love their help with all our projects that beautify our home.

They were such a great help

Such happy helpers!

Our project this year was the back yard.  The garden area was too shady now and had to be taken out, so the kids removed railroad ties, cleaned, raked, roto-tilled, leveled and laid sod for Mother's Day and Father's Day 2010