Toppenish, WA Trip

We went to Toppenish, Washington, which is about 20 miles south of Yakima. We went there for a wedding. Marge's granddaughter Rose was married in the traditional Yakima tribal ceremony followed by a Hopi ceremony and then followed by a Navajo ceremony. Rose's father is Joseph Sekaquaptewa, Marge's son. This is a picture of the "sisters." Laura, Sarah, Irene, Marge, June, and Marlene Sekaquaptewa. Laura and June are Aunt Florence's daughters. Marlene is Marge's sister in law (Ed's sister).


We (Robb and I) left on Saturday morning and traveled to Washington. We enjoyed a nice drive. Irene and Dennis were in Seattle where Irene did a presentationn at a conference. Merrill and Cori were in Seattle so Merrill could help Irene in the presentation. They drove down on Saturday afternoon to Toppenish and we stayed overnight at the Best Western. Saturday night, Joseph (Father of the bride) arrived. On Sunday, we got up and attended the wedding and the dinner after the ceremonies. We then stayed for a "give away" which is where the family of the groom give gifts to the attendees. Irene and Marge got Pendleton blankets. I got two Pendleton pillows. Then they wanted the educators to come to the front so they could receive a gift. Irene and I went up and got shawls - like the kind women wear at the Pow Wows. Irene's is red and black and mine is turquoise and lime green. How appropriate, huh. Robb and I left Toppenish at about 5:00 and drove home. We arrived home at 12:30. Long drive home because I was super tired.

This is the bride and Groom.



On Monday, I stayed home and cleaned our bedroom. Believe it or not, you can see the bedroom floor!!! Monday afternoon, we switched from Dish network to DirecTV. We also have the highest speed internet now available in our neighborhood. Robbie says it is FAST!!

I had to go back to work today and it was tiring. Then to top it off, I got my flu shot. I usually have some reaction, aches and pains. Well, I better get to bed.

Here is my Honey. :)

and here is the Richland, WA temple:

Delayed Post

Hello everyone. I just read the last post and realized that it was written the last of August. It is now the sixth of October. Since August, we have had Bobbie come to live with us, move out to her own apartment and had Robbie and Tracy move in with us. In the meantime, Tonie came home for conference week-end. We had a house full. We were only missing Cyn and Kyle for our family to have been complete. I went to Austin Texas for a conference that lasted five days. It was really fun, I learned, I was again approached to work for the Native American Mediators things involving Environmental concerns, but as usual, I declined. I was also invited to mediate with inter-tribal disputes with a person from Colorado who has contracts to do this. I told her that if I had time, I would like to join in this. Then, I was asked to join with the director of the mediation association for Texas to present at a conference two years from now for ACR. The possibilities are fun to dream about. Leslie Goddard, the Commission Director, told me that she is retiring. She is leaving December 5, 2008. I will be applying for the position of director for the commission to see if I get hired. I do not know if the commissioners will be putting out a call for applications. I just wish I would be asked to become the director. Oh well, if I have to go through the application process, I will. I just returned Friday evening from Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene. I mediated a case, which settled. :) I then had to do an on-sight in Sandpoint to see some parking lots for accessibility. I went up to Schweitzer Ski resort and while coming back down, I took a couple of pictures. I wish I could take better pictures. The large one when blown up show the steeple of an LDS church down in Sandpoint. from Schweitzer ski resort down to Sandpoint. It is nine miles up to the top of the mountain to get to the ski resort. We watched conference over the week-end. It was really nice. We recorded it and chuckled when the new temples were announced. We had a good laugh!! It is so exciting that temples are being built everywhere. I am having a craft day for Relief Society this Saturday. I am excited because of some of the crafts that I can make. I also will have a table for humanitarian efforts. Things such as yarn to make booties, materials for making bibs, painting blocks, making quilt blocks and anything else I can think of to do. Well, I better go to bed.