A few thoughts on MOVING.

They say a picture's worth a thousand word,  so I just composed a 23,000 word digest of a at leas a couple of years worth of Parker action. It's not complete, and never will be, but it's a big bite sized addition. I'm still about 18 months behind on the blog posts so it will have to be abbreviated to be sure. We have moved way too much for what it's worth.. The best thing about moving is meeting so many more good, GOOD people. It's not easy, learning all new names and families and where to find what, and whose who, new friends, doctors, schools, and so on. But people are good everywhere we go. It makes it hard to move too, since we just get to know people and start to feel like a part of the neighborhood, ward, and community then we leave. We miss friends, family and acquaintances where ever we have lived. We are back in our "home" territory. Back ion familiar ground, but still it's new neighbors, ward, and friends too. Closer to a lot of our family, further from some. Ive decided there is no perfect place to live, no matter where we call home, there are people and things we miss about somewhere else we've lived. The worst part of moving in my experience and opinion is packing and the physical MOVING job..work, grind! and unpacking and finding a home for our treasures we haul back and forth or just forth.. Simplicity is so illusive, for me anyway. I want to be simple, but I am sentimental, so it's not practical really, now is it? There's good and not as good in everything.
It's nice though to be near more family, and we've been fortunate to host a bunch of family old and new hear in our current home in St George. We love company and visiting with friends and family near and far and welcome any visitors who would drop by.  This move was very timely as we were close by to spend more time with and help out also with Kelly's mother.  failure in the end. She passed away in early December.  It was good to be around for her and family too.
Still, as I have more and more birthdays, I'm less inclined to wanting to move. I love adventure,  love having new friends -along with the long timer and more recently collected friends, but moving is moving and packing is for the professionals. Even then, there are always casualties of the move. So I would advise staying put for awhile. Until we sink our roots in deep with a mortgage nothing is permanent so I'll just cross my fingers, and hope to die before I have to pack it all up again. 😬😬😬

The view off our deck, so beautiful

What we get wake up to every morning. 

Especially wonderful when it rains in the desert, yes? 

Surprise, surprise.. miracles do happen.
Richard Merrill and Connie (mom) Stewart plan a wedding
Mom has been single for over 30 years, unsuspecting of
Richards courting, he had taken her on a date or two before
he had to explain that they were dates not just, come along I have an extra ticket
LOL

We hiked with Dustin and family just before our move to Donut Falls
I recommend it, if you're near SLC. UT 

So grateful for the pool! 

Chase worked a stint in Construction called himself a worker bee

Aiden so happy standing and cruising along the furniture.

Meagan and her family moved from West Jordan to Stansbury Park (about 40 min. North)

Chase and Bryce spent the summers in the Eastern US one year and Hawaii the next,
working installing alarms, but taking time to see and enjoy adventures of the areas. 

We were now in the Mesa Temple District, LOVE this Temple!

Grandma Connie, getting nails done, just after Bridal get together
the end of June, Richard came a courting and by August Wedding plans were underway.
It all came together so fast that a civil wedding were in order and the temple sealing would follow in 1 year

It's official, the happy couple Richard & Connie, (Mom, Grandma)Merrill
September 9, 2016

Merrill Siblings: Lto R, Belinda, Lanette, Jerry, David, Alan, Deloy, Rick Nadine Casaandra
Richard & Connie

Parker Family All gathered in St George 

Stewart Side of the Merrill/Stewart Union There was a Big Group picture taken, (I don't know where it is)

 Just prior to our Big Move to Mesa, Nephew Parker married Christee in Bountiful

 And, Dustin's Family grew with the addition of Grand-daughter Haven here with her adoring siblings

 Also, worth mentioning is the Parker family had relocated from Colorado to Midvale, Utah while we were in Draper..  In June, they moved South to Lehi. and Meag's family moved in March to Stansbury Park up by Tooele and the South shore of the Great Salt Lake. Beautiful but kind of in the North 40... farther away from convenient. The Kids love their schools and so that's huge!

 Uncle Blake with Haven

 Baby Haven, Asher and Grandma 

Uncle Keanan's turn to enjoy the cute little girl. Good Hair day, eh? 

On the Move to Arizona this time July, 2016

 Moving to Az was extra special since we were finally near our Lemon/Wingate family, so excited!

 Our new North East Mesa Home, in Thunder Mountain Ward, quiet neighborhood near shopping, and between two Temples, Ikea within 30 minutes, schools, hiking, and the final deal maker amenity

                                                                     A POOL!!!

New Digs in Draper

New Digs on Molasses Mill 

Home Sweet Home

The Family that Prays Together Stays Together

     So the family has migrated North and West. We are all in the Salt Lake Valley together again. It's probably an ongoing migratory process but amazingly we are all here together for now. Meag and Mike have been in West Jordan, and just moved Northward to Stansbury up on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. It's farther for us to get together but the good news is, it is still in the Salt Lake Valley and we're all still within reach less than an hours drive.. so that's good! They also welcomed new little baby Aiden to the family in November. So they've had a busy few months getting accustomed to baby, holidays and packing and moving. Woo hoo!!

     Dustin and his family moved to Midvale from Denver in October 2015.. Yay!!  That was a miracle in and of itself. They are expecting baby #4 in late June, or early July. How fun! Bryce and Chase were in the Eastern US all summer installing alarms. Bryce came home in time to start at UVU in the fall and Chase came home just long enough to pack and get ready to head to Europe for the fall. He had a spectacular tour de France, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Austria, Chech, Belgium and Spain. He has a bunch of pictures on his flickr account. Go Check it out if you want to see some great photography.

Announcing Aiden's Arrival Nov 21st. 

Kelly also has a new j.o.b. working for a Mortgage Co. reviewing appraisals. Blake and Keanan are both at Corner Canyon HS where Blake is a Junior and Keanan a Freshman. We love our neighborhood and location. And the ward is awesome. Kelly and Wendy both teach Primary and Scouts. Kelly 11 year old scouts and Wendy Cubs. We manage to stay busy.

Most Preferred,,, Blake

Birthday fun at work for Kelly (lov'in the goatee)

Asher, Luke, Austin, G'pa Kelly G'ma Wen, Mikaela & Elsie- September 2015

Pretty Pirate (Parker Pa)

Halloween Fun Two-fer! Meag and Dustin

Jedi's (Blake & Serene) along with Ninja (Luke)

Wicked good Witch gram, treating tiny Dorothy

Halloween was fun with everyone together. Actually Chase was in Europe so he was having the most fun of all. But we did our best in his absence to party and keep our spirits up!
One of the best things about the move is having all the grandchildren close by. We have sleepovers get to spend time with each other.

Wesley "Farmboy" Keanan

Bryce at the Leonardo.. in downtown Salt Lake City


Keanan had a good season racing as a freshman on the Mountain Bike Team for the Corner Canyon Chargers He improved over the season and loves to ride the many trails in and around the Draper area. He's gotten better at staying on "his pony".  His final race was in Good Ole St. George, Utah the end of October 2015. It was so warm and sunny and fun to go South for a few days and visit friends and family while there.

Keanan Races for Corner Canyon High Mountain Bike Team

During Chases extended trip through Europe some of the highest highlights were Barcelona Spain, his new favorite city.. Vienna Austria for the authentic Veiner Schnitzel and so much ART along the way, including but not limited to -Van Gogh and Michelangelo!! 

Serious Updating!

 Elder Parker in Minnesota 10/6/12

E Parker P-day tennis, E Brigg's is photographer.

Campbell family in Park City, Mike manages this Apartment complex

Mikaela & Austin during fall fun.. with Parker cousins

Dustin, Serene, and Family living in Lafayette, Colorado

Luke & Asher (The Younger Parker Brothers)

This sadly outdated blog is in serious need of an update, so here's my quickest attempt at it.
So, first of all, we moved. We moved out of necessity not for any other reason. It's not a fun move, it's not a welcomed move.. to be sure it's been a difficult and untimely move for the whole family. But, it is the result of several miracles and we feel as hard as it is, it is most of all a blessing. I'm sure there's much yet to learn from our experiences and we count it all as a blessing, though this fact had not made the transition flawless or painless. But it makes the "big frog" a little easier to swallow. The good news is our home is in the good and capable hands of dear friends who love and appreciate the property and that makes it easier.

The timing of it all was no good, being during the fall semester, with Chase and Wendy in full blown school at Dixie State, and Kelly trying to work enough  to pay the bills in a crummy economy and a job that barely provides enough work to survive even after eliminating lots of fluff already. And, we had to change wards as well. I'm sure we will learn to love the new one but we surely miss the friends and neighbors in the old one. And from past experience we know it's hard to keep up the old ties while moving on and getting caught up in new ones too. But we will never give up trying.

It's nice to know the kids who are married and living outside driving distance for an easy visit, are still interested in each other and making the effort to get together on their own. In September, Dustin and family visited Northern Utah and spent time with Meagan and family in Park City. The young cousins enjoyed each other and are beginning to make their own memories together. (Make's this gramma's heart happy!)

At PF after Mikaela's Birthday #8 She was Baptized the next day!

The Family (minus Bryce and Dustin & family)

One last family gathering on Casper Circle

We gathered at our Home on Casper Circle one last time to Honor Grandpa & Grandma Parker for their 70th Wedding Anniversary and Grandpa's 90th Birthday! We had lots of family help celebrate and missed the ones that couldn't make it. Kelly's brother Jeff and his sister Jill and most of their children and family were able to come. Ylvia, Dennis, Yamira, Jarold and family, Aubrey, Dallin and Brendan. Charity, James, Lori and their boys Ashton, and Gavin. Stacy and Erich and Mom, Connie Stewart. As well as our family, Meag, Mike, Mikaela and Austin and Chase, Blake and Keanan. The hazzard of naming people is leaving someone out.. sorry! Anyway it was a good gathering and Dennis made an awesome video tribute to Roy and Norine.

Bryce, aka Elder Parker is entering his final phase of the mission.. that final 6 month home stretch.. It's hard to believe he's been out already for 18 months, but it's real. If he will remain immersed in his work, it will fly by in a flash! I'm not sure if any of us are ready for the end. We've all felt so blessed as he serves, and he has grown so much as a man, and loves being a missionary. But he will be focused for a few more months and can worry about the rest of his life, school, work, business, and all that good stuff when he returns home. For now, he's being a great teacher and missionary. He loves mail and would love to hear from YOU!! (I would love him to hear from YOU!)