Visiting Idaho and Utah

After driving through Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons, I drove to Rexburg, ID where I was able to visit my nephew Sean Kendall Russell and his family. It was great to see the farm where they live, and also to see the entire cheese making process that they have undertaken. I even got to sample some of the cheese and it was GREAT! That night we all went out to dinner: Sean, Rachel, Ginny, Margaret and Morgan who had just arrived from Virginia the day before.

The next day I drove to Tremonton, UT and had a great visit with my last and favorite missionary companion, Jack Stickney. It was fun to talk about the great times we had in France more than 35 years ago.

Then I drove to Sandy, UT to stay and visit with my good friend Betty (Pomeroy) Shaw and her wonderful family. We had a couple of great dinners and also went to see the new Harry Potter film.

Saturday I drove down to Provo and spent time with my niece Melanie (Monroe) Burke, her husband Dan and their little girl Maggie. I was surprised to find another niece Charity Monroe there as well. My nephew Michael Monroe completed the fun group. On Sunday, Michael and I attended "Music & the Spoken Word" at the Conference Center on Temple Square. What a marvelous experience to see and hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir & the Orchestra at Temple Square in person.



The following day, I was able to have lunch and a great visit with my former Mission President and his sweet wife, Sidney and Anita Sager. We had such a good visit; it was very difficult to say goodbye. They have become like second parents to me, and now that both my parents have passed on, it is wonderful to be able to visit with President & Sister Sager.

National Parks

Jackson Lake with the Grand Teton Mountains


Me with the mountains of Yosemite (back side) in the background




Yellowstone Lake






Me with Yellowstone Falls in the background









Beautiful Lake McDonald with the mountains of Glacier National Park in the background


I was able to visit four different National Parks during my trip: The Devil's Postpile National Mounument in California(back side of Yosemite National Park), Glacier National Park in Montana, Yellowstone National Park in Montana/Wyoming/Idaho, and Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. These are beautiful places to visit. Because of the bountiful snowfall this past winter, there was still snow on the Mountains and beautiful green hillsides and valleys. This is such a beautiful country - and there are many beautiful places to visit.

My trip - continued

Nancy, Steve, Me, Katie & Sandy


Nancy & Steve




Grandma Monroe






Grandpa Monroe








Grandma Mary











Grandma Anna Maude Serdahl











Grandpa Serdahl














Jan & I at Lake McDonald Lodge

Karen & I

I enjoyed visiting with family and friends along my way. In Kennewick, WA I was able to stay with and visit my sister Karen Russell and her husband Kendall. I also saw my nephews Dan & Matt Russell and their families. In Kalispell, MT, I was able to visit with my niece Laini Gray. I travelled for nearly a week with my sister Jan Gray. When we reached her home in Simms, MT I was able to enjoy a 4 day visit on the ranch and drive into Great Falls, MT where I was born. While in Great Falls I was able to have lunch with my cousins Nancy (Serdahl) Harris, Sandy (Serdahl) Hayes, and Steve Serdahl. I also was able to visit and decorate the graves of all my grandparents who are buried in the same cemetery outside of Great Falls. These grandparents are: Archie Harmon Monroe, Martha Abigail Monroe, Frederick Tideman Serdahl, Anna Maude Serdahl, and Mary Cummings Serdahl. Last time I was in Great Falls I visited the cemetery with my mom, and I felt it a great honor to visit the graves of those who have gone before me.

3 Week Vacation

Sunset from my sister's Ranch, Simms, MT


View of Lake McDonald from our room at the Village Inn

Whitefish Lake, MT in the background

Minaret Falls near Mammoth Lakes, CA

June 29th - the snow on the mountain still at Mammoth Ski Resort, CA

I've been looking forward to this trip for nearly a year. Mom & I were supposed to fly to Montana last September, but had to cancel the trip due to the stroke that she suffered last August. I had fragile items to deliver to both my sisters, so a road trip was in order.

I stopped in the following places: Mammoth Lakes, CA, Winnemucca, NV, Kennewick, WA, Kalispell, MT, Apgar aka Lake McDonald, Glacier Park, MT, Simms, MT, Bozeman, MT, West Yellowstone, MT, Rexburg, ID, Sandy, UT, Cedar City, UT and Las Vegas, NV.

I visited Devil's Postpile National Monument, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the Grand Teton National Park.

Sunset pictures that I have taken!

San Elijo State Beach

Off the coast of Point Loma

From a beach house in Baja California

At my sister's ranch in Montana

More Pictures from our Beach Trip - July 22-24, 2009

Joanna - my second daughter, mom to 3!

Trent - my eldest grandson

Darin & Julia in the water

Hudson in the sand

Lauren romping in the sand

Bruin & Julia


Capri & Trey

Julia, Capri, Bruin & Trent

A Few Days at the Beach !!

Here's Grandpa with 7 of my grandchildren. Back row left to right: Capri, Trey, Trent, Bruin & Julia. Front row left to right: Lauren, Grandpa, & Hudson

What a choice time I had the past 2 days. I decided to start a new tradition with my children and grandchildren: Summer Beach Camping at San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff-by-the-Sea right here near San Diego. This year two of my daughters and the rest of their families were able to join me for two great days of beach weather. The twelve of us had a great time. The weather was great. We had a decent camping site. The bathrooms were nearby. The stairs leading down to the beach were just steps away from our campsite. The water was warm. And everyone had a great time!