SmithsAfricanAdventures

 September 8 and 9 we attended my 60th year reunion from Jordan High School.  Sure wish Derrell could have been with me.  My friends usually say - Hi Dianne, did Derrell come?!! Carol Page Marriott, Kathy Birth Damjonovich, me!  We all spoke at our Graduation.  Kathy went on the United Nations trip with me when we were 16 years old!  70+ years ago.   Dick Payne married a girl from Sue's grade - Gloria Pagett - her older sister was one of my best friends. Tommy Marriott and I were Students of the Week at Mt. Jordan Junior High School !! Jean Sailisbury Goff, Susan Greenwood ?  very good friends. Both of their husbands have passed away. Susan wanted to tell me that I should have been Drama Student of the year 1963 - I didn't even know it existed and didn't care if I wasn't chosen - she was!!  Identical twins, Jeanie and Janie Hall ?  They had younger sisters, also identical twins - Tamela and Pamela, then identical twin boys, but only one survived. Harold brought a book a

  Harold and I were asked to accept a stake responsibility to be over the Day of Service.  The stake leaders decided on a Food Drive.  This is the flyer we made and posted in each Ward building. We had a good turnout and helped stock the local food bank - We fed the sheep! Our good friends, Mike and Debbie Goodson.  They served as auditors in South Africa.  We came to St. George to see them give their homecoming talks in church - great as usual.  Lovely people - we are happy to be friends with them.  Mike has a you tube channel with his songs and guitar! We also saw Joel and his roommate in their house - it was very clean!  He is enjoying his classes. Our good friend from North Hills CA - Laurel Leavitt.  She invited us to stay with her our second night in St. George.  We wanted to stay until Monday and attend the temple open house.  Love her! St. George temple open house was awesome!  Such pretty colors and patterns.  

  Millie was baptized on September 2, 2023 - the whole Fairbanks family was very happy - especially Millie!! Parents and Grandparents - all love Millie!   Sister Georgia and cousin Briella - Beautiful Millie - such a happy smile!   

  Thia and Alta, her cousin, playing on the stage of the Old Church.  We sure enjoy the second weekend of August each year - we missed it when we were in Africa.   Silas was laughing so hard at Georgia helping him blow bubbles!!! The wonderful Hewson families are so welcoming of the Smith family at Dam Jam.  Here is a great circle of musicians, led by Julie on guitar - holding Silas on her lap!  Love Bluegrass music! Silas being sung to sleep!   Harold sitting on one of the wooden benches our family made during our 2015 Family Reunion.  They look good and work!!! 

  Sundance Outdoor Theater had the Sound of Music this summer - on my birthday!  Polly got tickets and we thought about all going out to dinner - but decided we'd have dinner at Heather's house instead.  She got me this delicious mint chocolate cake!  Worth turning 78 years old for!  What a beautiful venue for this show!  Polly, Kate, Heather and Lindsey came with all granddaughters who live in Utah but Olivia - she was at a church youth camp.  We all loved everything about this wonderful night. Beautiful granddaughters - Anna, Millie, Sadie, Briella and Georgia. Beautiful daughters in a beautiful setting.  We hiked up the hill - some went ahead to claim our spot on the mountain.  There really wasn't a bad seat in the house - on the hill! "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" After this picture it got too dark to really take any more - LOVED the show, the setting and most of all the company!!! Thanks so much Polly, Kate, Heather, Lindsey and granddaughters for

  My cousin Stanley Poole, singing with grandchildren at the funeral of his son Ben.  Ben died of drugs and lived in AK , owned a fishing boat.  Becky and Sue and I made his family one of the Northern Lights quilts that we did for Derrell and LaNore - they loved it!   The Springville Art Museum had this exhibit of Fairbanks art!  Jennie sent these beautiful flowers for my birthday - love her and them!!   Cute sign Lindsey and grandchildren made for me!  Love them and the balloons!!  Elder and Sister Walston - come home from South Africa - they served as Humanitarian couple and we enjoyed taking them to Zulu Grill!  We visited with Joel at Payson Lakes.  He was working with a Hyrum neighbor to dredge the lake - good money but isolated  socially! Pretty scenery - He even gets to fish in the lake!!  Erica Pack Whitmore was one of Jennie's college roommates and good friend.  This is at her daughter's wedding reception up Provo Canyon - Aug. 17th.  Erica was so pleased that we could

 We were married July 15, 1966.  Our celebration this year was so great.  On the Saturday of our anniversary the Beach Boys gave a concert at the outdoor amphitheater in Park City.  We had good tickets and took beach chairs and blankets and had a great time. Here we are - 58 years  of marriage. Not sure why the picture is cut off - It was a very fun concert.  There are two of the original Beach Boys left that are still performing.  Another one retired and one died! There were all ages in  the audience - singing along and clapping and dancing!  

  Most mornings Harold gets up and goes out and works in the huge yard!  Sometimes I help out but he is much more skilled at yard work than I am.  It will take a couple years to make this yard look good!  The landlord told us it was pictures in Better Homes and Gardens in the 1950's!!   This stone bench was covered in weeds when we moved in.  Didn't Harold make it inviting?   Harold made this path to the street for deliveries and to check our mail box across the street. Pruning rose bushes can be hazardous!!  The yard is looking so much better!  Lots of hard work, mostly by Harold!! Millie and Georgia helping me bake - love it and them! Sue and Derrell both donated over 1,000 dollars to our mission.  I brought this African fabric home and make them laptop quilts for a small thank you!   Picking apricots at my cousin Carol Lee's house in Provo.  Keenyn and Briella helping us! Georgia and Millie also helped - we made jam and fruit leather from the fruit - delicious! Kate, Ben