Heather's Birthday

Heather has been spending every other Friday night with us while she is doing her Executive MBA program at BYU at the Salt Lake Campus. So we made arrangements to meet her for lunch at Carlucci's Bakery before we went to class that day.

And, her birthday falling on a Friday night meant that we were able to host her for a little birthday party.  Fortunately, she didn't stay late at school and was able to join us for dinner.  Bert and Chris were there as well.

Heather has been so challenged since her divorce from John.  But her courage and attitude have been so inspiring to everyone.  She had to go to work full-time with KT Tape  and then began her MBA program last August.  She was the first person accepted to this class and has received some scholarship money as well.  We have been so amazed as she has talked about the things that she has learned and the challenges that going back to school has brought, besides balancing school and the five kids.

She took first place in a speaking presentation back in October where she was Joan of Arc - she practiced with us, and we wish that we had recorded it.  Her fellow students also though that she was the best!  (And her costume made a great one to also wear on Halloween!)

She has worked so hard, getting extra tutoring in math to bring her up-to-speed after being out of school for around 25 years.  Her class mates have been very supportive which has been wonderful as well.

And while interviewing for a new job - she is now with Vital Smarts in Provo as their regional marketing manager- she wrote a great article for Silicon Slopes digital magazine on "Company Culture."

We are so grateful for this amazing daughter and for being able to help her a little while we are out here on our mission.

Missionaries from Georgia That We Serve With

Unlike our earlier mission, we are serving with other missionaries whom we know from back in Georgia (we did serve with the Cornish's in the Caribbean, but he was in the Area Presidency, so it wasn't quite the same)

We have known Linda Remund for nearly 30 years.  She moved into the Snellville Ward after we did, Her oldest son Matt is the same age as Brittany, so they would play together sometimes.  Linda was already serving in our zone in Self-Reliance, so she welcomed us to our new world.  She will go home the end of June.  

The Savoldi's who are from Marietta worked on our temple shift.  They have previously served missions in Albania, Italy, and here on Temple Square.  When they learned where we had been called and to serve in Interpretation, they knew exactly what we would be doing.  So we were very pleased when they were called here in November.

Dave and Linda Ellefson lived in Lawrenceville Ward for a number of years before we moved to Sugar Hill.  They are such great people.  By the way, they joined the Church up in Brittany's area, so we had a double connection with them

And it has been so special to be serving again with the Cornish's who were in the Caribbean when we were there.  Elder Cornish is now the Assistant Church Historian, and they have an apartment just east of the Church Office Building where President Monson, Elder Oaks, and Elder Hales also have homes.  We have been blessed to hear Elder Cornish speak several times in our meetings.  But we only have a photo of Reid, who is able to serve a mission here as well, working in the Church History Library and also in the Temple.  Such a sweet, energetic young man!