Shawn, Roxane, Max, Abby and Alia at the Battalion

They arrived Saturday night and Sunday they came to our apartment and had breakfast.  Grandpa fixed his famous waffles with fresh fruit and whipping cream.  Then we went to church at our ward in San Diego.  It is a diverse ward.  There aren't enough deacons to pass the sacrament so we have adults who help.  One is a man who has just received the priesthood and is so excited to be able to pass the Sacrament.  

Max, Abby and Alia dressed up like soldiers and laundresses and panned for gold at the Mormon Battalion.  Five more of our family went on the 2000 mile march with the Mormon Battalion and we went with them.

Panning for Gold

We are so glad they could join us in San Diego.  

Max played in the US Junior Golf World Tournament at Torre Pines

Max played the Rancho Bernardo Course

Abby, Max and Alia waiting to play

Three generations

Mormon Battalion Moments

     July brought a new Mission President, President Clayton.  We spent the Fourth of July at the Battalion.  We watched the fireworks from the tower and sang around the campfire in the campfire room of the Battalion.
     The senior couples go out to dinner each Tuesday to a new San Diego Restaurant.  I'll have to admit that we  have experienced some good San Diego cuisine.

     We feel the blessings of serving in the San Diego Mormon Battalion Historic Site every day.  We have the opportunity to work with 22 amazing sister missionaries and three other couples.  We meet people from all over the world who are friendly and gracious.  Taking them through the Mormon Battalion gives them the opportunity to experience the 2000 mile journey of the Mormon Battalion from Council Bluffs Iowa to San Diego.  It is an interactive adventure of service, sacrifice and faith - and we never grow tired of it.  We love it all and feel blessed to be experiencing it.
 

They're here!

Last Monday Evening Becki and Quinley arrived at the Mormon Battalion Site and we had a great time together.  Becki flew into Long Beach, rented a car and drove down to San Diego to visit us for a few days.  Quinley promptly charmed us all, smiling at everyone, talking up a storm (ok, maybe not quite talking - more like babbling), and making friends with everyone she saw.  The beach was one of Becki and Quinley's favorite places to visit.  Becki loved the tour and was fascinated with the presentation and said it was amazing.  What we found to be amazing was how much Quinley had grown and changed in 5 months and how much we enjoyed visiting with Becki.

Becki and Quinley arrived in June

Quinley discovers sand at the ocean

flowers at the temple

I wonder how it will taste?

Becki,  Quinley and Grandpa

Some of the Snyman family from history

Grandmother Eleanor and her mother Emma

Grandmother Eleanor's father William Hyde

Grandmother's younger brother Herbert

Grandmother Eleanor when she graduated from High School

My Father, Jack Snyman

Catching up on 50 years

    It's hard to believe that it has been 50 years since I have seen my cousin Brian.  We are the only two left in our families.  We talked about family history and tried to figure it all out.  But it will take a lot of time to figure out our interesting Grandmother's life story.  Brian let me have copies of some of my ancestors.  It makes them come to life when we can see what they looked like.  We are working to piece together the lives of some of the Snyman's in our family tree.  It's like putting together a mysterious jigsaw puzzle - and we find it fascinating.  It's especially exciting to reconnect with those who are apart of our family after so many years - and to find how much we still have in common.