Tom and Debbie's Mission Blog: July 2025

We hold a family reunion every three years. We recently finished our 2025 Bear Lake Family Reunion in what we consider to be a big success. We had 57 family members, including 33 grandchildren, staying overnight. One more came during the day on Tuesday. Our diverse family chose the theme "Strongest Together" for our reunion and we were blessed to see this fulfilled before our eyes. There were challenges for individual families to attend, but challenges were overcome by the hand of the Lord. A good time was had by all, but our favorite part was watching new relationships being developed between family members while others were strengthened. Those who are new to our family or who had not been to previous reunions felt accepted and edified. That was our goal. Thanks to the efforts of all, it was accomplished. We are Strongest Together!

Fifty Seven Family Members, including Tina (photo inserted) who took the picture on Tuesday night

We loved seeing these shirts with "Strongest Together"on the back everywhere we looked

The last few days before the reunion, we seemed to have obstacles for some family members to prevent their participation. This included Jared, who just started a new job, who could not take time off. However, his wife and kids still came. Rick had bronchitis, so Pollyanna came with her five children, without him. Beckie's dog was sick and unable stay at a kennel, so we got special permission for the dog to be outside, which worked out. Jacob had his car break down the night before in Idaho, but with help from his in-laws he was able get it fixed and he arrived as planned. These all seemed to be overcome in the best way possible. Many family members helped Pollyanna with her five children. The dog became a positive factor in the reunion. Jacob arrived in time to cook dinner on Monday and Jared's kids strengthened amazing relationships with their cousins. Others were hesitant to take on this much family all at once, but their courage was rewarded with amazing interactions. Two of our families drove across the country from Pennsylvania and North Dakota to be with us.

Accommodations and Meals:

We had rented a lodge with 16 bedrooms, a sofa sleeper and an overflow futon room for teenage boys in Fish Haven, Idaho. Every bedroom was filled, including additional beds and futons in many of the bedrooms. Each of the twelve families in attendance was responsible help in the preparation of one meal. Oma and Opa provided night time treats, Som'ores, Root Beer floats, and all you can eat ice cream.

Floor Plan of Lodge, 16 bedrooms, other accommodations, game room, dining hall, breakfast room, living room, great room and a kitchen that doubled as a hall way

There was even space for all of the cars in the field across the creek

Main Course of Monday night - Tacos

Many eating dinner in the "dining room" the first night

Serving Lunch at the Beach on Tuesday, photo after most had eaten

19 pizzas for Tuesday night

300 Brazilian Pão de Queijo was part of our last breakfast

Marshmellow roasting around the campfire on Monday night

Oma putting the Som'ores together for each marshmallow

More than 40 large cups to wash. All used before the Root Beer Floats ran out

Opa serving 9 half gallons of ice cream on Wednesday night

Long lines for the ice cream, but everyone got all that they wanted

Many eating their ice cream while watching a movie together

Getting to Know You:

Since our last reunion, we have had three weddings and a few new relationships with children and grandchildren. Our families that live outside of Utah have limited interaction with the others. Another of our families had never been to one of our reunions. We, as grandparents, know them all very well, but many had a fire hose experience with so many people to get to know.

Monday night we chose to have activities for cousins, aunts, and uncles to get to know each other better. Dan and Amy, Beckie and Eric took over this activity. They divided the adults (14 and over) into two groups and played getting to know you games, while the younger children had other activities in the dining hall. These activities worked very well as we all answered questions in different settings. The last round included "non sensitive" and "sensitive" questions which became some of the favorite topics. Our teenagers really got involved with their aunts and uncles. The activity went so well, that the adults were not ready to quit until the under 14 group crashed our activity singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star as loud as they could. This worked out so well.

One of the adult, teenager break out activities

The other break out group

Some of the kids in the dining room

The next night Beckie had planned another get to know you activity a little after our family photo. She ran to the store and as she came back into the lodge, she saw what I (Tom) had just noticed. We had groups of family everywhere having fun together. We decided that the family was getting to know each other naturally and didn’t need any additional help. This all happened after a day together at Bear Lake with similar interactions.

One of the slides of our Wednesday night presentation, interactions after the family photo

The night got better the longer that it lasted

Bear Lake:

Tuesday was our official Bear Lake day with everyone participating. Moroni even came up and spent a few hours with us. Sam, Lamoni, and Gina brought canopies to reserve our spot on the beach. Pollyanna and Aide provided a lunch spread under these canopies, making food and drinks available most of the day. We rented a boat with a banana sled behind it and a jet ski. Family members brought a kayak and several paddle or wake boards. Jacob spent most of the day driving the boat for everyone to enjoy and letting younger ones have a part in the driving with him. Dan was a primary driver of the jet ski so that those under 18 years old could participate as passengers. Most had the opportunities that they wanted in the boat or on the jet ski. Others preferred to spend time in the kayak or on the boards. Several enjoyed building sand castles on the beach. Friendships were developed and strengthened No one got hurt although many got sun burnt. For many of the grandchildren, this time at the lake was their favorite memories of the reunion. Again, many worked together to make this possible for all.

The banana sled with the jet ski behind

Fully loaded banana sled

Paisley with her aunts

Fathers with daughters

Jacob driving he boat . . .

loaded with nieces and his sister, Pollyanna

. . . and Rylee helping Jacob drive the boat

Damian in the water after the banana sled tipped over

Going back and forth from the boat loading

Dan giving jet ski rides to teenagers

On a wake board standing . . .

or sitting down

Building on the sand

Sandcastles built by older cousins and . . .

. . . younger, These three four year-olds are born within 3 days of each other

Building friendships in the water . . .

. . . or on the beach

Or making your own lake

More beach photos of the young and . . .

. .. and a little older

Skylar taking a break from the son and the noise

Wednesday - Minnetonka Cave and Bear Lake again:

On Wednesday, 30 of the group went to the Minnetonka Cave, while others went back to Bear Lake. Still others relaxed at the lodge and in its surroundings. This was a good day for everyone to pick what they wanted to do the most. Throughout the day relationships continued to grow. By nighttime, no one wanted to go to bed, because they didn't want their time together to come to an end.

One of the highlights of the caves was Joshua and his father having time together one last time before Joshua leaves for his mission next month. This was a highlight for each of them. This opportunity to have them together touched our hearts.

Deep in conversation while waiting for our turn at the cave

Together after the cave

We tried to schedule everyone to go to the Minnetonka Cave at the same time. However, after some signed up for noon, it was filled up. Then others signed up for 1:00 pm. Others didn't get registered so we went early and bought 13 more tickets for 12:20. In the end we had four groups in the cave at the same time, 12:00, 12:20, 12:40 and 1:00 pm. All were in the cave at the same time and we saw each other as we passed each other when some were coming back and others were going. The following are a few photos of the groups at the cave:

Dan and Amy and their boys got the noon reservations

The 12:20 group

The 12:20 group at the heart of the cave

The 12:40 group

And passing the 1:00 group

I tried to get a photo of just Ellie and Aria together and was simultaneously photo bombed by Olivia in front and Jacob behind. Kind of a cool photo.

At the lodge:

More games with these two cousins who became inseparable

Even playing lawn games together

Olivia and Addie also renewing their friendship

Aria, Ellie, Olivia, and Addie from the reunion six years ago and again this week. This was a priceless photo.

The piano became a favorite for many. Here is Austin and Grant playing a duet.

Sophia and Grant on the hammock

Edward and Grant in a different position

More fun in the game room

And at the swing set

More games at night, even Oma joined in!

Some spent time enjoying nature. This includes some sightings of a bald eagle and nest of young eaglets, a sighting of a moose, and bird watching. It seems that there was something for everyone.

That bald eagle standing guard of the nest just to his left and down a little. Danny had spotted this bald eagle when he was out earlier in the morning.

Danny showing a bird to his daughter

A moose that wandered near to our lodge on Tuesday when Eric was there watching the dog

Wednesday night we shared a slide show of our grandparents and parents and then our childhood, coming together and blending our families. It seemed to be well received at least by the teenagers and our children.

One of the slides from our presentation, showing young photos of Tom and Debbie from our youth

We finished sharing photos from the reunion and our affirmation that we were in fact "Strongest Together". The only photo of this that we have, came from Giovanna, our exchange student daughter. She posted this on Instagram with such kind words. She is so good to us and is a very big part of our family.

Thursday morning we were having breakfast and getting ready to check out. During these hours the fun still continued. Even after we left, we stopped for raspberry shakes on our way home and found River, Gina, and Giovanna and their families doing the same thing. So our reunion continued in Garden City.

I got to play some pool with Hudson while we were waiting

Joshua spent most of the morning playing with Sophia while her parents were responsible for breakfast and cleaning up after..

I saw Paisley(Eight years old) playing "Mary had a Little Lamb" and I asked her where she learned to play the song. She said that her cousin Emily (five years old) had taught her.

There were a lot of hugs goodbye and farewells and memories of good times together.

Debbie and River

One more group photo in front of the lodge

When I went to say good-bye to Gina's family, Hudson came out for a hug, then the twins put their arms up for hugs. I couldn't resist.

The meet up at ZIPZ in Garden City

One last farewell photo of Joshua with River and family

Pre-Reunion Visit from Melanie and her family:

Melanie and her six boys drove across the U.S. the week before the reunion and arrived at our house very early on Friday, July 11. We were privileged to have them stay in our home with us until the following Monday. This gave us some really good individual time with most of them, including some game playing and ice cream eating. We even shared some of our candy that is more than 50 years old. On Sunday, Debbie made enough meat balls to feed everyone and still have some left over. No small feat with 6 growing boys. Moroni even came over to finish up the spaghetti and spend some time with Melanie and her family. We are so grateful that this family is doing so well after losing their father and husband last year. Our frequent interactions with them during our mission in Palmyra has helped us have a stronger relationship with each of the boys and of course with Melanie, our daughter.

Sunday dinner, spaghetti and Meatballs for everyone!

Moroni, with his big sister, Melanie

Edward enjoying some of our 50+ year old candy

We found this candy under my mother's house when she moved 11 years ago. It was some of the candy that my father had brought home from S.H. Kress when he was an employee there. Usually he could bring it home when it was too old to sell. S.H. Kress closed their doors at the end of 1973. We figure the candy is at least as old as 1973, if not older. Since it is mostly sugar, it has been preserved fairly well and still has some taste to it.

Other High School Graduations:

We published our last blogpost right at the end of May, right after Joshua graduated from high school. The next week we had two more high school graduations with other grandsons. Thomas graduated from Lehighton High School in Pennsulvania and Isake graduated from City Academy in Salt Lake City. We are proud of each of these grandsons.

Thomas' graduation announcement

We watched the graduation on-line and were able to capture Thomas receiving his diploma

Isake in his graduation gown . . .

. . . we missed the graduation but I made it to his graduation party

and saw Isake for the first time in a couple of years, with his friend Cooper, who once came to our house with Isake. We now have contact with Isake again, which makes our hearts happy.

I also met with our granddaughter, Cherish, at the party, again for the first time in over a year. It was a good night.

Seminary graduation and the temple:

Both Thomas and Joshua graduated from Seminary also. We missed Thomas's graduation in Pennsylvania but were able to attend Joshua's graduation. We are proud of both of these young men for their diligence in attending seminary.

Joshua with his seminary graduation diploma

We took all of our Salt Lake Valley grandchildren to do baptisms for the dead in June before they left for youth activities the next week. I think it is the first time that we had all six together.

Doing baptisms at the Jordan River Temple in early June .

In late June, Josh was ordained an elder by his maternal grandfather. We were privileged to attend. Right before our family reunion, we were able to go with Joshua to the temple as he received his own endowment. I was privileged to be his escort. That gave me a chance to be with him as he received individualized instruction by a member of the temple presidency. That was really special and taught me a few things also.

With Joshua on this special occasion, payback time for grandparents.

In late June we were also invited to attend the sealing ceremony for our friends, Leonardo and Ketlyn. Leonardo was a14 year old teacher when I was his bishop in Brazil. We have been involved with this special couple for the past few years and were honored to be with them on this occasion. Leonardo's parents, Luiz and Rita, were good friends of mine in Brazil and have inspired us as they have served missions in Brazil and in Mozambique. They even brought us a beautiful nativity set from Mozambique. The sealing ceremony was in Portuguese but the spirit was understandable by all. They took photos at the temple before we had arrived. I took Debbie home and as I returned to pick up the gift that Luiz had brought us, I was able to participate in some pictures with them:

Leonardo and Ketlyn

With Luiz and Rita

Birthdays and Baseball:

June and July are months for birthdays for our grandchildren that live in Cache Valley. This also gave us an excuse to watch a few baseball games as 5 of our grandchildren were playing baseball. We scheduled birthday visits around baseball schedules so we could maximize our interactions while making the 3 hour round trip.

First up was Serenity's birthday, June 2, then Ellie on June 11, and Dawson on June 27. In each case we were also able to see baseball games.