The Year 2015 - In Review....

Highlights for the Year Past - 2015 was full of memories. Here's a few.

We took a cruise to the Caribbean with Brian & Ruth and Bruce & Annette in February. We were able to tour a Mayan ruin in Belize that made us more aware of the blessing that the Book of Mormon is in our lives. Being in other countries helped us to appreciate the inspiration that formed our great nation. We went to church in Houston before going back to Dallas to visit with Jon & Jenna and their 3 children, and Elizabeth & Austin and their 4 children. It was such a wonderful trip and a delight to be with family and explore new places. 

Climbing a Mayan ruin in Belize. You could see Guatemala from the top.

Getting started on the cruise.

Beautiful place to snorkel.

 
 Honduras, Mexico and Belize were all of the itinerary.

The food is great...mainly because I didn't have to cook it... ;-)

Before we left for the cruise out of Houston, Stephen helped put in a larger patio at
Jonathan's house. Of course, Austin was a big help.

Of course we had to bring back some shirts for the grandkids....  What's more fun than seeing kids and grandkids and then going on a cruise with your true love. Can't think of a better way to start off the New Year.

In April we were back in Provo to celebrate with Jessica as she graduated from BYU. The weather was wonderful and we loved spending time with her, Juan and Hadlie. Her accomplishment was celebrated by several siblings that were able to make it for the special occasion. We took Sarah back to BYU to start her Master’s program in Speech Therapy. 

 Walking at the Marriot Center for her diploma.

Both sides of Jessica's family were there to congratulate her on her achievement

 Jessica met Cory Brighton for the first time.  Susan met him at the first of the year at a Single Adult party in Seattle.

A major accomplishment!

Having fun with the BYU cougar and sharing the thrill with Sarah who missed out on her graduation due to going on her mission the day she was to walk at BYU. What is sister love for????

A surprise party at the house.

The Graduate!

July was our stake’s Youth Trek and Stephen participated in the whole week and played his harmonica in a special performance that included his famous “handless” rendition and his “nasal” performance.  The kids and adults both raved about his harmonica playing after Trek. They were impressed. Samuel also enjoyed his first Trek experience as he participated as the Company Bugler. He wasn’t too thrilled about all the walking but he made it.

August was a Scouting High Adventure in Canada on kayaks in the ocean, where Samuel and Stephen got a close-up view of breaching humpback whales. They enjoyed the trip, the food (they came back with a love of pita bread sandwiches), and the beautiful Pacific Ocean. 

The whale is at the top of the waterline in the picture.

Doesn't he look like he's having fun....

Stephen and Samuel paddled a 2 man kayak.

Stephen and Kathleen also celebrated their 35^th wedding anniversary with a day in Paradise, a local ski resort that has some beautiful scenery and a tram that takes you up to a restaurant on top of the mountain.  

View of Mt. Rainer from the top of the tram.

Kathleen spent much of August in Provo enjoying time with Sarah, Jessica & Juan and Hadlie waiting for baby Christian Gregory to arrive. He made his entrance on the 20th and has been a delight and joy to his parents. Kathleen flew back to Seattle to start teaching early morning Seminary for a week before driving back to Provo with Stephen and Samuel to visit with Christian again for the Labor Day weekend.

Growing family. Juan and Jessica with Hadlie and Christian Gregory Salcedo. 

Sarah became officially engaged to Michael Andrew Gordon on September 19, 2015.

 October, Kathleen flew to Dallas to help with the arrival of Joshua Garret Ralph on the 5^th. He was nice enough to wait until all of General Conference was over and to come right on his due date. Jon & Jenna did a great job and are now pros in the labor and delivery dept. as they add the 13^th grandchild to the family tree.

Jenna with her midwife, Jon and Grandma. Joshua
is busy getting warm.

Another growing family...Jonathan and Jenna with Katelyn, Nathan, Gracie and Joshua Garett.

The last week of October Stephen, Kathleen and Rebekah flew to Hawaii to spend a week on the Big Island. What a lovely experience it was. It was fun to see the different flora and fauna on the tropical island and watch the ocean waves and try to snorkel. Rebekah earned the trip as her award for filling out the correct brackets in her work’s March Madness tournament, and blessed her parents with a trip full of wonderful memories.

Sunset on the beach. A very beautiful Hawaiian night.

Visiting Mt. Mauna Loa which is a huge caldron crater that is
still active with smoke and at times lava.

The sulfur walls up the caldron walls. It still smokes and belches sulfur.

Going into a Lava tube cave near Mauna Loa.

Climbing a side vent of Mauna Loa. Surrounded by lava pebbles.

The Black Sand beach where the sea turtles
come to rest.

The southern most tip of the United States.

The ocean waves were very violent and the wind was strong at the south
end of the island.

On the north end there were lots of waterfalls.

More of the North side of the Big Island.

Visiting the northwest side of the of the island.

The Botanical gardens on the northeast side of the Island.

Another famous falls.

On top of Mauna Kea is several observation stations. We made it most of the way to where the public could use the telescopes. Unfortunately the full moon didn't give us much hope of seeing stars.

The very north side of the Island was very green and lush.

The middle of the island was grazing land with Mauna Kea in the distance.

A cocoa pod where the cocoa bean comes from. We visited a chocolate factory where they grow, harvest and produce cocoa in various forms. It was delicious.

Samuel tried out and made the freshman basketball team for his High School. He now proudly sports a team jacket and black vest on game days. He has actually played in some games but mostly cheers on his team. We are so proud of him for trying out and doing his best. He is an example of courage and determination. He is a blessing for us.
November 16^th was Stephen’s last day with Boeing. He was laid off after 26 years and views it as a retirement test, which has turned out to be a blessing as he can help out with all the happenings during the last months of the year. He has been so helpful that Kathleen can’t imagine him going to work for anyone else….  ;-) 

Katherine Jestes made it to the wedding.

Mary Kozy, Melissa Kozy and son James came too.

Photo Bomb....

On November 21^st Susan was married to Cory Steven Brighton in the Boise, Idaho temple. Grandpa Ralph was able to perform the sealing ceremony which made it extra special. The next day we drove back to Kent with Grandma and Grandpa where Samuel received his Patriarchal Blessing from Grandpa Ralph that Monday.

On the day after Thanksgiving, Benjamin became engaged to his friend from before his mission, Carli Treu. They are planning an April wedding in the SLC temple.

On December 29^th Sarah and Michael Gordon were married in the SLC temple. The weather was clear and very cold. It was a white wedding, inside and out. With Susan, Sarah and Benjamin getting married within 5 months we have/will have added 3 very special members to the family. The Family tree continues to branch out and blossom.

Adding the newest member of the Stephen Lowell Ralph Family.... Michael Andrew Gordon and Sarah Mickele Ralph were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on December 29, 2015.

Lots of Bridesmaids were there to welcome Michael into the family tree.

After the beautiful sealing by Grandpa Lowell Ralph we had pictures outside in the very cold weather. Hand warmers were helpful but not enough to keep the bride from getting chilled. We were late to the reception that evening in Alpine, Utah due to traffic congestion, but it was a lovely affair for the bride and groom and all those that attended.

Cutting the cake in Alpine

We left the next day to return to Kent and prepare for a reception here. The roads were clear and dry so we made good time. There were so many people to help with decorating and with the food prep and serving. It was wonderful but also very hectic.

Cutting the cake in Kent.

 

We had a wonderful time. Lisa Clement and Sarah's old roommate from BYU helped with the decor and did a beautiful job. Stephen rigged a flashlight from the basketball standard in a up position to shine on the food table. We used goblets upside down with candles to make them look elegant. There was way too much food from Baja Fresh but it was better than running out.
Sarah and Michael have made it back to Provo. School was 2 hours late today with no Seminary so I have a little more time to prepare for the week.
We are so very blessed. The past year has been eventful and full of memories and blessings. We are looking forward to the start of an even better year to come!