Fremont Surprises

I was getting ready for my day when the doorbell rang.  That is unusual.  No one rings our doorbell except the UPS delivery man.  But as I approached the door I could see that there was a figure on the porch, not just a package plopped on the mat.  I opened the door and was greeted by two lovely women I have known for many years.  There they stood, Susie Barnes and her mom, Norma Pittson, from Fremont, California.  Out of context, it took me a moment to take it in. What were these two doing here, in Idaho, on my porch!  It is so good to confront people that I actually know.  It seems that they were here for a family reunion and decided to see if we were home.  What fun it was to reconnect with them and hear the news from home.  It was a brief but happy visit.

Susan Barnes and her mom, Norma Pittson

Another Fremont family came to our attention this week as well.  Many years ago, when we first settled in Fremont, Layne was called into a bishopric, with James Glen as bishop.  They were a dynamic trio, James Glenn and his counselors, Jay Clark and Layne.  Their friendship has lasted through the years.  James Glen died this past week.  Although he lived in Utah, he was buried in Twin Falls.  So we made the drive there on Saturday.  It was sweet to reconnect with a family that has meant a lot to us for a very long time.

James Glenn

On our drive back home we passed a collection of wildfires that we hadn't noticed on the way over.  Perhaps they had spread.  The mountains in the distance were filled with smoke with clouds gathered above them.  Layne says that fire makes its own climate.  We could see that very dramatically.  Idaho is battling a number of wildfires at the moment, most of which began with lightening.  Our sunrises and sunsets are now filtered by smoke, making for very colorful skies.  Lovely but troublesome too.

Wildfires in Idaho.  Note the smoke and the clouds that gathered above.

My nephew Bryan Berrett and his family spent the night with us on Saturday.  What a lovely family they are.  They are just beginning a family vacation and we happened to be on their route.  Lucky for us.

Bryan and Jessica Berrett and their children, Reese, James and Maggie.

And so, twice this week, we have had houseguests that were passing through.  What a happy surprise to discover that Boise is a "passing through" place.  I like it.