Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Wedding Day - Becca and Gary Phillips!

What a beautiful day for a wedding - March 9, 2013!
 "Goin' to the chapel and I'm goin' to get married!!!"
 Sarah, Stephen, Becca, Debbie, and Angi on their way to the rehearsal!
 The Bride's Maids - Meri, Jeannie, Debbie, Angi and Sarah!!!
 The Groom's men - Matt, Stephen, Gray's Friend, Cory, and Darby!
 The rest of Gary's family - Gary and Toni and Donna, Cory's fiance!
And the rest of the wedding party! Roger and Edie and Maddy, Becca's flower girl!
 We headed to the Olive Garden for a beautiful wedding breakfast! Noah is the ring bearer!



Gary and Becca are so cute together! 
What a great match!
 Home to get ready for the big moment! Debbie is on "Hair duty"!
 


Becca, the beautiful bride!!!



Gary, the handsome groom!


"The KISS!"



 Sisters!


Brothers!









 The Parents

Roger and Edie


Gary and Toni

 Let's Party!!!

Good Food and Fun!

 


















Special shout out to Meredith! Thanks for all the extra time spent in the kitchen.
Your GF cupcakes and all the other great GF food was so yummy!!!
 Cute little nieces - Quinn, Lyla, and Molly!
 Love you family! We missed Kyle, Deakon, and Nixon but so grateful 
to be with everyone else!
 Our best wishes go with you Mr. and Mrs. Gary Phillips! We love you!
(How did you manage to marry a Phillips while we were in the Philippines!
And then I wonder why I keep misspelling their name!)


Half-Time Activity - Let the festivities begin!!!

 We, and another Elder, left to come home early March 1st. 
Glad we didn't bring too much luggage with us!

 We arrived in Japan and met up with another Elder who was retuning home from Korea.














Couldn't believe we arrived home just 23 short hours after we had left! What a tender mercy! The first warm day with sunshine that SLC 
had seen for ages!!!
 And then we were home! Meri and Shane arrive just after we did! Juddy and Molly
 loved clinbing all over Papa while Lyla was just happy to be nearby!
We had ice cream with everyone because it was Brent's Birthday!
 Debbie came with the boys. Eli and Lance have grown up so much since we left!
 Sat. we had an unexpected surprise. While we were having lunch with Lee and Verna, 
Monica and the kids walked into Hires! We finally got to meet our baby Kennedy! 
She is darling!!!
 That afternoon we met up with Stephen and went to Mr. Mac's. 
We were able to get him two beautiful suits. some ties and a new shirt. 
He looked so handsome!
John arrived Sat. evening. Little by little we were coming together!
 Sun. we met at Joe and Monica's for dinner. The boys were excited to play together!
 Joe wasn't too excited about anything except that his shoulder surgery was over 
and that he was going to start feeling better!
 We had a great meal and enjoyed visiting!
Grandma and Grandpa even brought some pasalubong to share with the kids!
 BIGGEST News! Sarah and John are going to have a baby!!! Sept. 7th is the date!!!
 Thanks to Dr. Doman and Dr. Sonnenberg for taking such good care of me 
and my root canal!
 We got to see Randy and Carla Bird while we were home! Such good people!
We also had a dinner party with some of our good friends from the neighborhood!
We also got to have lunch with my sisters and Mel and Carol from New Mexico!
 Angi and Quinn arrived from Canada and she found out Sarah's good news!


 Thurs. night several of the family got to go to the Timpanogas Temple. Afterward we went
 out for shakes!



And FINALLY - Becca and Gary arrived Fri. night and we were all together! 
And we got to meet Gary in person! Let the festivities begin!!!
The Phillips family arrived for dinner - Toni, Donna, Cory and Matt.
What a  fun grandpa Gary will be someday! Love this family!
We ended the evening with a "Girl's Night" for Becca.
Stories were great!
Meri gave the best advice!
Thanks girls! Great evening!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Tahanang


President Benigno S. Aquino, III delivered the keynote address at the celebration of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan’s (TWH) fortieth anniversary celebration. Benson Misalucha, Area Welfare Services Manager, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accepted a Certificate of Appreciation for LDS Charities (LDSC). LDSC has partnered with TWH and other NGOs in helping to provide wheelchairs for many in need all over the Philippines.

Tahanang Walang Hagdanan means 'house with no stairs'. TWH is a non-profit and non-government organization that aims to uplift the lives of orthopedically handicapped persons. It was founded by Sister Valeriana Baerts, a Belgian nun who was assigned as a volunteer nurse in the Philippines. The 40th anniversary program was held at their training center in Cainta Rizal.

The theme for this celebration was “Sparkling 40 Years of our Commitment in Enabling Persons with Disability”.  Rondalla On Wheels, a group that has been performing with string instruments for thirty years, entertained the waiting assembly. Children from Brgy. San Juan Elementary School SPED Center, who are part of the Special Education Program, performed the National Anthem and Invocation through music and sign language.  Their sweet young faces set the tone for the celebration.

 Elder and Sister DuPaix with Rondalla on Wheels. We are working on getting a
 wheelchair for one of their members.
             Benson Misalucha and Elder Hadlock wait to receive and award from Tahanang.
Pres. Aquino arrived in the afternoon during the second half of the program. He was first treated to a tour of the TWH facility and then entered the training center hall as the attendees greeted him enthusiastically with applause.  He witnessed the presentation of plaques of recognition given to several Persons With Disability (PWD) Achievers. He then spoke warmly of the achievements of TWH and also to those who had received awards.

Even as the rained poured down during this great event, everyone felt the warmth and light of service glowing from Tahanang Walang Hagdanan as they and their partners celebrated forty years of Christian caring and giving.
This article comes from MormonNewsroom.ph.
 We actually visited there earlier and found that they employ handicap workers there.
 LDS Charities buy many of the chair that they make.
 They also make cute wooden toys there and have school for the children.