Sealing Day

Saturday was a very busy, but very enjoyable day. I posted these photos in the reverse order of events--we were all at the temple first for the sealing, then we went to Dustin and Nichelle's for a barbeque. You'll notice something missing--there is no photo of Dustin and Nichelle on their special day. I hope someone was more attentive to that than I was. In any event, we all had fun and waaay too much to eat.

A Trip To Bountiful

We drove to Bountiful for Linda Jones' funeral on Thursday evening. The funeral and its circumstances were sad, but getting together with old friends was wonderful.

Greg, Talonna and Aubrey Rodeback


Mom and Talonna at the Rodeback's

The Bountiful 12th Ward Bishopric, 18 years later...

...and a good portion of the old neighborhood. Gaylen and Iva Croshaw, the Olsons, Wayne and Julie Eckman, Paul and Carol Malmstrom, Chris Hadley, and Rodger and Mary Ann Moyes.

Swing Dancin' With YM/YW

We didn't get to rest for very long... On Wednesday, we taught a swing dance class for the YM/YW. We have so few YM in the ward that the Young Women invited their fathers as dance partners. Everybody seems to have had a pretty good time--even the guy taking the pictures!


This poor young lady got so twisted into knots that Mom had to untangle her!

Fathers danced with daughters and brothers even danced with their sisters.

Max Sparhawk did pretty well for a 12-year old. He was really more excited than he looks.

Our new Bishop, Bryan Taylor, stuck his head in to see what was going on and ended up swingin' with his daughter Sydney.

Kate Dittman's older sisters are our newest Young Women, but she was determined not to miss out on the fun.

David and Jadelyn Bowman put even the instructors to shame.

Some of our prize-winning dancers...

The guy on the right is the reason this event was billed as Dancing With The Klutzes.

I remember as a boy hearing people talk about how difficult it is being a bishop in the church and how much it takes out of a man. I my friends and I used to observe our bishops and track how how quickly their hair either fell out or turned gray as a measure of how difficult the calling must really be. In my case, we never took any "before" photos, but these "after" pics will testify that I am both bald and gray, but not too much the worse for wear. It was a wonderful experience...


...made possible by the support of those who love me. Thanks!

Tyler's Birthday Party

Tyler's birthday party was held at Ice World with a bunch of her friends. Everyone ate pizza, watched her open about a million gifts, then went skating.


While the kids partied and ate and skated, Dustin and Nichelle and Brad and Vanessa herded them around the facility while Grandma Olson entertained Trace, Brad and Vanessa's baby.

Lots of inexperienced skaters made for an interesting evening (not everyone in this picture was with Tyler's party--just most of them). Needless to say, Dustin's head got cold...

The Long-Awaited, Much-Belated Christmas Post

Every Christmas should have its angel. We just happened to be a little short on angels this year.



OK, this is a bit more like it. Nichelle was, of course, angelic. Where does she get all that hair?

Tyler and Tanner discover and enjoy the wonders of Flarp! They laughed for hours...

They did show up in their usual Christmas attire--what great looking kids!

Dustin was thrilled with his Litttle Monsters DVD. It was, for him, a welcome return to childhood (and a very short trip, at that).

And Kirsten was mesmerized by the variety of her gifts.

Just a photo today of a gift that the Great Sky Ward Young Women gave to Bishop Olson and Sister Olson at the November fireside. It is a bowlful of "Warm and Fuzzies", each added to the collection as one of the girls completed an act of service or kindness. The pink strips are notes where they named things and people for which they are thankful. I am thankful for the great young people in our ward...