Leaving the Philippines and all of the wonderful Senior Couples and amazing Filipino people brought out many tender feelings. We have such a great love for the people that we work along side of .... as well as for those special Filipinos that we were blest to associate with and work hand in hand.
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| Hunter Bell announced his engagement to Sage Rowley ... and we are excited to have her become a part of the Bell Tribe. |
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| Ashley Bell Peterson's Family photo .... Ashley was a true life saver in so many ways to Annie during the past year in Annie's tumultous life. Helped ready and sell the 176 North home, helped her move to our home on 200 West in Brigham City. She helped plan the wedding, and be Annie's surrogate mother while we completed our mission in the Philippines. What a blessing she has been to both Annie, and to Me! |
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| This is our final evening in Manila, Philippines. Dinner with the other Senior Couples in the Area Welfare Department. Love these selfless, amazing Senior Couples. They have shared and lightened our burdens, and brought friendship and joy to our life while we served in the Philippines. |
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| Bishop & Sister Marquez in the Baguio, Pacdal Ward. We traveled so much that we were more often visiting other Wards and Branches throughtout the Philippines. It was nice to feel that Pacdal Ward was our 'Home Base', and could plan on at least 1 meeting a month to be there with them. Strong members, sweet, humble .... doing all they can to keep the commandments and share the light of the Gospel into the lives of others. |
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| This is the Philippines Area Welfare office. L to R in Rear: Elder & Sister Browne, Sister Grimshaw, Elder & Sister Robinson, Elder & Sister Owen, Elder & Sister McIver. L to R in Front: Jairus Perez - Area Welfare Director, Me & Elder Bell, and Mae anne Vicedo. (Elder & Sister Stroud have preceeded us in returning home. Kenneth Lee, Emergency Services & Wheelchair, not available. Willie DaSalla, Finance, not available.) |
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| Last Sunday with Pacdal Ward in Baguio .... very precious and strong saints. Love them dearly! |
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| Our roommate in our Hotel the last few nights before flying out. These little geikos are found throughout the Philippines, and quite often have been our roommates. |
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| Is great to receive a big welcome home and to spend time with our amazing children and grandchildren. Love being with each and every one of them. |
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| Kenzie, Jake, Alexander, Oakley, and MaKai. Best Buddies! |
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| Our precious family in our backyard to be together and celebrate being home. One day to unpack suitcases and then ..... |
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| Preparations and Wedding time for Annie and girls to Bryce Brasher up at our Cabin in the Uinta Mountains. Annie found this special man who loves her and cherishes the 2 little girls. Annie & Bryce are so much alike and love good things, |
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| Matt arranged to bring the family back to Utah, and had done an online application to become a 'minister' so that he could perform the marriage. A little unorthodox, but for now it was perfect. They will be sealed in the Temple when everything is approved and correct to proceed. |
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| This is MaKenzie Jo Ball, Annie's youngest daughter - a look alike of Annie and of me (coloring of hair, skin, and eyes) but a firecracker personality. She has given her mother a 'run for the money' since birth. |
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| This is Oakley Ball ... ready for an 'Outdoors Wedding' for the girls and to be able to be a big part of Annie's & Bryce's Wedding. It was a beautiful day! |
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| Our Annie, Our Amy, and our Ashley .... 3 muskateers! Truly I love these 3 daughters of mine. |
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| Annie and her 'papa'. She has always been 'daddy's little sweetheart'. They have been fishing buddies since she was big enough to walk and hold a fishing pole. |
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| Two Bryces. Bryce Brasher - Annie's new husband and gentle soul willing and wanting to be the instant father of 2 little darling girls; and our Bryce Bell - our eldest son (and Annie's eldest brother) and owner now of Plumbing Professionals, Inc. These 2 Bryces have the exact same birthday (Feb. 19th) but different years, and they both have a passion for hunting, and cowboy music, and adventure. We love both of our Bryce B.s! |
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| Me (Holly) and Jenni Bell (Matt's wife) in a quick moment after the wedding before she and Matt and boys take off to travel to Yellowstone with her family. They flew back to Alexandria Virginia after spending 2 weeks here in Utah with us. |
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| Carter and Grandpa ..... Big passion for fishing. They have been fishing in Mantua Reservoir since being home. This is a 19 inch rainbow trout that Carter caught .... nice fish, great Job, Carter. |
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| Grandma likes to set up the pools in the backyard and let the grandkids romp and play .... they have missed us as much as we missed them. |
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| This is Kole ... Ashley's second son. He is a sweet .... and busy , almost 2 year old boy. It took me 2 days to win him over to grandma.... but boy am I glad that I did! |
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| This is the back seat of the truck. I have vowed to clean out my closet from all of the old clothes that just do not fit anymore, and to attempt to simplify my life a bit. A few trips to the Deseret Industries should allow these 'gently worn' clothes that I do not fit into any more to be utilized by someone else who is smaller than me and could use some usable clothing. I love that we can share those things that we really do not need anymore with others in our communities that could use them. In America, we have so much that we take for granted or expect to have ......... in so many, many other countries the people are poor and are lucky to have enough changes of clothing to last from wash day to wash day. I am humbled and grateful to have been so richly blest to always have everything that I need, and many of the wants of my life. I hope that we can all be more appreciative of what we have ..... and be more willing to share with those who are less fortunate than us. |
