Christmas 1985, Williams' trip to South America

Mom Honey was living with Tricia and Alan. They were building a lovely home in the Provo river bottoms, with wide halls with Mom in mind but it was not to be. She passed away in 1984. All of our family were there plus Bill and Kathy and Joan and their families.
More grandchildren were born: Becky Barlow, Salem Honey, Lauren Honey and Daniel Honey. All very precious.
As Christmas time 1985 was approaching, our kids kept telling me "Mom, you are going to love your present, it is what you’ve always dreamed of; a dream come true." Christmas Eve we had a great get together with lots of music. Each family’s kids either sang and/or presented stories. I was handed an envelope as my present. Imagine my surprise to find out it was a brochure on roofing!!! We did have a small leak in the kitchen roof but was that my dream come true? I tried to look grateful but my looked changed to astonished excitement as I opened the brochure and found round-trip tickets to London! What a wonderful, thoughtful present. I was so excited. All the kids had contributed, some a lot more than others.
I spent the first five months of 1986 preparing for our trip. I wrote or called various countries’ U.S. offices and received maps and brochures. Leon and I added to the tickets and planned visiting Europe besides England, returning from Rome. It was a wonderful five months, planning each day’s activities. I bought a travel book "Let’s go Europe" which had sights listed, as well as bed and breakfast places; it was very helpful. More on our trip later.
The temple built in Buenos Aires, Argentina was being dedicated early in 1986. The youth in the South Los Angeles Stake raised money to send my parents to the dedication. My Mom had fallen and hurt her shoulder and couldn’t use her right arm. Since I was going to Europe, Gina went with them to help out. Dad was asked to speak at one of the dedication sessions which was a thrill for him. They visited with member friends and drove by our old home, which was the mission home, on Manzoni 268. It is now a club. They were also able to cross over to Montevideo and visit with more members.
Gina was able to go by our old school, Crandon Institute and take pictures. Since it was summer, it was not open so she couldn’t go inside. They also visited our home, not the mission home any more, I think the Patriarch lives there, and took lots of pictures. They also were able to visit the first house we lived in in Montevideo and were able to go inside and take pictures. On their return to the States they went by Lima, Peru and Gina got to see where the folks had lived and see some of the Inca ruins. It was a wonderful time for my parents to see old friends and places they had lived in for so many years. What a kind thing for the youth to do for my parents!