1998 doings

After such a wonderful trip it was back to everyday living, taking care of my Mom and such. Leon was still playing in the Utah Valley Symphony and Leon, Mom, and I would drive up every Wednesday evening for the rehearsal in the Senior Citizen Center in Provo. Sometimes, in the winter, there would be storms and deer in the road but mostly it was o.k. for our drive. We would get home just before 11:00 p.m.
Our grandson David Barlow married Elann Romney in the Salt Lake Temple in June of 1998. Afterwards, a luncheon was held in a church that was close by. It is the one with the large stained glass window depicting the first vision. Lots of family were present.
Leon and I built a patio roof over the cement slab in the back yard. It was fun doing it together. We had a salesperson at a hardware store help with the plans and ordered the materials which were delivered in a large trailer. It was nice to have a covered area in back.
Leon and I had Nina, a woman in Sylvia’s ward, come stay with Mom. She had helped out many times before. We drove up into Idaho to see where Leon had lived when he was young. We visited the rock house his great grandfather, Franklin Alexander Hales had built. It is a beautiful old home. During WW II, Leon’s Dad had added indoor plumbing to the house and other amenities. Leon and his Mom, sister and brother lived there part of the time while his father was away in the army. Old neighbors, the Spauldings, had bought the home and kept it up.
We then drove to Challis, ID, where the Honeys had lived when Leon’s father was young. Bill Honey graduated from high school there. We saw a lot of old buildings and, at the court house, they let us look through old records and we were able to get copies of old photos.
Another 4th of July parade with the Honey Band. Leon, Sylvia, David B., Chris, Becky, Brent, Peggy, Doug, Alan, Rob and Lauren were the band. The grandkids rode in the back of a pickup. It was a lot of fun and the people enjoyed seeing and hearing them. I think this is the last time we did it.
Another trip! This time we visited Manhattan, KS where Leon had lived during the war. We looked up the home where he had lived. There are a lot of very nice old homes with lots of trees. We also saw the school where he attended 7th grade. We also saw the swimming pool where he learned to swim. We also visited Ft. Riley, where Leon’s Dad was stationed.
We then went to St. Louis to visit Mark and Sharon. Jenny Barlow was also living with them as she was an apprentice at the St. Louis Botanical Gardens. It was fun to see the grandkids, Richard, Jessica, Rachel and Nathan, the baby.
Tricia and Alan and family came for Christmas and we had a great family party at the Barlows. Such a lot of grandchildren! All gems!