Three Sappington's drive to Branson, MO

Linda thought it was Charlene’s idea …. Charlene attributed the decision to Ed … while Ed thought he had no say in the matter because he had been bushwhacked by these two women who had the crazy notion to drive from Phoenix, AZ to Branson, MO … and back again! 

 

We had been home just 36 hours from a 1470-mile roundtrip between St. George and Anaconda, MT for Thoryn’s baptism when on Saturday, October 25 we loaded up the car again and drove 850 miles to our sister-in-law Charlene’s new home in Sun City, AZ outside of Phoenix.  Two days later we hopped into her 2-week-old Hundai (kingsize SUV version) and headed east on I-40 (aka Route 66) to Branson … another 1437 miles … stopping along the way in Enid, OK where Charlene and her brother caught up on the 20 years since they had seen each other face-to-face!

Two nights in motels and lots and lots of conversation and reminiscing among the three of us, brought us to our 2-bedroom timeshare on the evening of Halloween 2022.

The best of the shows and activities we enjoyed on Branson stages (not in any particular order) were SIX (six of ten brothers in a very talented family) where our seats were literally in the absolute center of the first row for this amazing show; a remarkable tribute to Kenny Rogers (“I’m not trying to imitate Kenny … I just love to sing his songs,” said the performer Shonn V.); and our third favorite show was Yakov Smirnoff, a hilarious comedian and immigrant from Russia who recently earned a doctorate degree in his field of laughter.  All three shows were so entertaining and fun.

We were excited to be able to take Charlene to “Top of the Rock” and this time we were also able to add “Dogwood Canyon” to our outdoor adventures in the Ozarks.  If you’ve been to this part of Missiouri but not to either of these two FABULOUS reserves, you’ve missed the best part of Branson.  These two nature preserves were created by billionaire Johnny Morris, CEO of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s.  Don’t go to Branson without going to Top of the Rock and Dogwood Canyon!!!  

By the time we got home on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 we had driven more than 6100 miles in 24 days through 10 states, including Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas … and in the words of Yakov Smirnoff … “what a country!”

Rest in peace, dear Sister Junko

Our delightful friend Junko Shimizu, with whom we shared our Brentwood Ward experiences in the late 60's, passed away at the age of 88 at her home in Salt Lake City, UT on Sunday, July 17, 2022.

This petite little woman excelled academically as a teen and young adult living in Japan and was a natural born leader where in Sugiyama Girls High School she was appointed as student body president.

She valued education highly and was willing to commute to school from the countryside into the big city of Nagura by bicycle, bus and street trolley followed by a long walk each day rain or shine, in the bitter cold or stiflingly humid Japanese heat. She loved music and acting and had a beautiful soprano voice. She enjoyed participating in various choirs and acting troops throughout her adolescent and young adult life.

She met the missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while still in Japan and soon after her baptism she moved to the U.S. to further her education. During her time in Los Angeles she was known as Grace Idehara and attended Los Angeles City College before transferring to UCLA where she earned a bachelor's degree in Geography in 1964. Although she came to the U.S. as an adult she had near native English pronunciation.

Junko married the very tall, handsome Masaru Tom Shimizu in the Los Angeles, California Temple in 1964 and brought 4 sons - Tim, Scot, Mark and Joshua - into the world!  Tim and Kelly were very close in age when we moved into the Brentwood Ward, but Scot and (I think) Mark came along later, both with a long, thick shock of black hair from the minute of their arrival on earth.  

Junko and I would frequently arrange time together - often with other young mothers and kiddos - for a walk and time spent with the kids in a neighborhood park.  It was a wonderful time of getting better acquainted and sharing Mom stories.

A few months ago, Tom and Junko were traveling through St. George on their way to SoCal and stopped for a gathering of a few Brentwood friends for lunch at the Pizza Factory.  She was my usual happy, friendly sister, so I was totally shocked to hear of her passing.  

Junko (we knew her as Grace) led a life of service devoted to God, family, her community and many people who were her friends.

She served 2-years as a proselytizing missionary in Yokohama and Sapporo, Japan (1957-1959); 3 years as Supervisor in the Japan Central Mission Relief Society, Young Women and Children's Organizations during her husband's tenure as mission president (1971-1974); 2 years as Companion to the President of the Japan Missionary Training Center (1996-1998) with a 3-month interlude as Companion to the Interim Mission President in the Sapporo Japan Mission (1996).  

In 1998, she served 6 months as Companion to the Interim Mission President in the Nagoya Japan Mission in (1998); and, 18 months as Companion to the Public Affairs Director in Japan (2001-2003).

She also served the women of her church as a member of the Relief Society General Board from 1974 to 1984. In addition, she served in many ward and stake callings.

She was active in civics and politics on various boards and committees such as the Women's State Legislative Council, Japanese American Citizens League, YWCA, Women's Republican Club, Salt Lake Council of Women, etc. and was a tireless advocate for her husband's campaigns for Salt Lake County and U.S. Congressional offices.

She was a patriotic American citizen and was especially proud of being co-chair of the Days of '47 Parade float "Britain Honors The Constitution" that won first place in the historical float division in 1987.

Her public affairs mission was an exciting and fulfilling time as it coincided with the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. She helped answer questions from national media outlets about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as questions about Utah in general.

Her general board assignments took her to various places throughout the U.S. and East Asia to train and teach local leaders. One life she touched on her travels was a man who approached her after she spoke at a meeting.  He told her how he had struggled to let go of the hate he felt towards the Japanese people for decades since World War II but after he heard her speak, the hate finally left him and he was able to feel at peace.

Junko loved the people she served and with whom she served. She looked forward to reunions and visits when people came in from out of town. Family trips were packed with visits to former mission companions, church members, friends and family including distant relatives as she enjoyed family history work. As part of her genealogical work, she would go beyond just finding data but would search out stories and living descendants in order to deepen and broaden family ties.

Junko is survived by her husband Masaru Tom Shimizu, sons Timothy (Valentina), Scot (Cara), Mark and Joshua, granddaughters Naomi, Elisabeth, Christiana and Sofia, and brothers Hidetoshi (Kieko), Tetsuo (Noriko) and Masatake (Michiko). 

You will be missed forever, dear Sister Junko!

Having a blast in Tennessee!

At what we believed to be the end of the coronavirus pandemic, I encouraged Ed to find somewhere to go since both of us had a serious case of “cabin fever.” When he told me there were very few options - probably because the entire rest of the world also had "cabin fever" - and all he could find was Pigeon Forge, TN, I said, “well, since I’ve never been to Tennessee, let’s go!”

On Saturday, October 16, we traveled to McCarren Airport in Las Vegas for a non-stop flight to Nashville with our friends Jim and Mary Andrus.  It was a lovely flight – smooth as glass – with Mary and I sharing the very back row of the plane with Brett Arthur Rigby, lead singer in the BAR Band, from Las Vegas.  A very nice young man who was happy to share his contact information in case we needed a country band for an event in St. George.

 

We arrived late in the afternoon in Nashville, so the first order of business was to find a motel … NOT!!!  It seems October in the ENTIRE state of Tennessee is Octoberfest … and there was not a single available room to be found ANYWHERE!  We called at least 30 motels within a 100 miles between Nashville and Pigeon Forge to no avail.  We finally stopped at a “Bates Motel” kind of gas station where they gave us permission to sleep in their parking lot.  It was NOT a restful night – and “sleep” would be a stretch - but Sunday morning dawned clear and blue … and even in our less-than-appropriate-church-attire, we made the decision to attend the Pigeon Forge Ward where we were warmly received and pleasantly surprised to find ourselves as part of the audience for their Primary program.

 

The following day – our first in Pigeon Forge – we traveled about 12 miles to nearby Gatlinburg.  It was very commercial – and extremely congested - but, we had a fun day exploring this busy little community.

 

On Day #3 of our getaway, we spent a glorious day in Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Spectacular, green and relaxing … and said to be the most visited national park in the U.S. … and perhaps the only one without an entry fee.

 

Day #4 found us at the 46^th annual Pigeon Forge Rotary Craft Fair, which raises $125,000 every year for their club’s service projects.  I got some great ideas which might become MY Rotary club’s signature project.  Then we went to Margaritaville (“It’s 5 o’clock somewhere”) / aka The Island where we explored and rode the ferris wheel which provided a spectacular view of the city.  From there, we drove back to Knoxville – 22 miles – to see the replica of Christopher Columbus’s sailing ship, the Pinta.  Back in Pigeon Forge, we attended the Dolly Parton Stampede.

 

Day #5 dawned cold with rain in the forecast. We debated about going to Dollywood, but decided to chance it, and after a serious downpour which had everyone scrambling for cover, we had a delightful day.  Dollywood is not as high tech as Disneyland – or anywhere near as expensive – but it was charming, fun and delightfully decorated for Halloween.  Part of Dollywood are lots of booths which, we were told, “Dolly provides free to charge to allow people from her hometown to earn a living in her theme park.”  Throughout the day we enjoyed great country music by a 5-member band called “Jct. 441” and another – larger  and probably better known group called “Shenandoah” - but the absolute high point of the day was a loaf of hot-out-of-the-oven cinnamon bread. It was AMAZINGLY, MEMORABLY delicious!!!  I'm not sure what I expected of Dollywood, but it was a sweet experience, and given the chance, I'd go back! 

 

On our way home from Tennessee, we took a few side trips in Nashville to see the Grand Ole Opry and the Nashville LDS Temple - both hallowed ground by my estimation.  It gave me an absolute chill to be at the Opry - the same place where Patsy, Loretta, Reba, Deanna Carter, Kerry Underwood, Brad Pasley, Garth Brooks ... I could go on and on ... got the time in the limelight.  Wow!  Just wow!!!

 

The temple was one of the small ones, but beautiful and on a Saturday busy with brides and grooms surrounded by happy families.  Ed served a mission in his youth which included Tullahoma, TN so he was delighted to meet a beautiful, black convert who told us her family is very unhappy about her decision to join the Church but she is so happy and is "working on them."  Ed was also tickled to find two missionaries - one from Orem and the other from Bunkerville, NV both serving in Tullahoma. 

 

First impressions of Tennessee are of God, country, ‘shine, trees, pancake houses, all things orange – especially on “game” day, -ville as in Nashville, Knoxville, Smithville, Gordonville, Sevierville … and of course, anything and everything Dolly!  We had a delightful time and got better acquainted with the Andrus's!  

 

It was a lovely and relaxing week with good friends, good food (we found a small local restaurant with amazing BBQ ribs and went there twice) and found the wonderful 46^th annual craft show, a Rotary fundraiser which raises about $125,000 each year to fund college scholarships for low-income students and lots of other community needs in Pigeon Forge.

 

And, of course, Ed took probably 500 pictures I am quite certain he would be willing to show you if you ask him.

 

Next, we're on to Halchita … Tucson … Anaconda and maybe a few other places in 2022!

Kirstin is the newest Sappington!

 

 

On Monday, January 3, Jessica’s oldest daughter kicked off New Year 2022 by becoming Kirstin Sappington before a judge in a simple Zoom ceremony.   

 

Being Michael’s daughter has been something she has wanted almost since her mom married our son. We are so pleased to officially welcome our beautiful new 17-year-old granddaughter to the Sappington family. 

Josh's Christmas Gift is Life-saving!

Our son-in-law Josh Postma was first diagnosed with kidney failure sometime in 2017 and by the time a live donor was found his kidney function had dropped to 19%.  Less than one-week after his surgery on December 17, 2021 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, his kidney function is 54%!!!  Our daughter Kaytee is over-the-moon excited, and we can’t blame her.  It has been a very long time watching her husband’s health decline and to see him coming back to full health is amazing … nay, miraculous. 

We are so grateful to a loving and omnipotent Heavenly Father who knew these kinds of medical advances would one day be available … and gave us all a second kidney as a spare-to-share when needed by someone we love or a total stranger

What we have learned in the process of watching and waiting for a kidney donor: 

·     1.  Only one kidney is needed for a person to function and be healthy.

·      2.  The most commonly transplanted organ is a kidney.  Second is a life-saving piece of a human liver from a matching donor. 

3. In 2020, about 20,000 people in extreme kidney failure received a transplant from either a live donor or a cadaver

·      4.  Only 1/3 (about 5700) of all kidney transplants in the U. S. are from living donors.

·      5. There are currently more than 107,000 Americans waiting for a kidney donation.  About 17 of them die each day after waiting an average of 3.6 years (Josh waited about 4 years).

·      6.  Every 9 minutes another name is added to the wait list.

This has been a particularly unique Christmas holiday season and he will need to remain close to the UofU until mid-January.

Josh’s new kidney wasn’t wrapped up in pretty paper with a brightly colored ribbon but it is most certainly one of the greatest gifts anyone could ever give or receive!  Thanks to Dr. Eddie from Phillipsburg, MT for being unselfishly willing – and able - to share this amazing gift-of-life. 

A little side note:  When Dr. Eddie first decided he could donate a kidney to our 9-fingered man (that's another story) he signed up as "Hope."  Kaytee was excited to hear Hope was found to be a match but neither she nor Josh knew anyone named Hope ... nor did we, so she remained in the dark until an afternoon last last summer when they were invited to dinner at Dr. Eddie's where they met and embraced Hope.  

Perhaps Dr. Eddie’s gift will inspire others to do the same!

"I'm only here for the ... awards!"

 

For those who might be unfamiliar with Rotary, it is divided into clubs, districts and zones.  When the November 2021 Zone Institute in Tucson was first announced I had no intention of going.  Then I received a message from RI informing me District 5420 was going to be recognized with an award … so plans changed (as it turns out, our district's award was recognized with 3 seconds on the jumbo-tron ... hardly worth traveling 22 hours round trip).  

 

The conference was held in Loew’s Verdana Canyon Resort but, we registered late, so the only accommodations we could find was our time share 10 miles away.  Everyday we drove past the small but beautiful Tucson LDS Temple.  My assignment as a member of the DG class of RY2020-21 was decorations which was fun, but I had injured my right leg getting out of bed in our camper on our last day in Halchita so I wasn’t prepared for all the walking.  Still … it was a lovely 5 days with my classmates.

 

Based on RI’s 4-part Action Plan (in place through 2024), District 5420 was recognized – not with one, but for several outstanding achievements during RY2020-21 to (1) increase our impact, (2) expand our reach, (3) enhance participant engagement and (4) increase our ability to adapt, including a brief writeup about our Native American Initiative. 

 

·      For TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS, District 5420 came in at #1 in Zone 27 with $1,845,609.

 

·      For ANNUAL FUND PER CAPITA GIVING, District 5420 was recognized as #1 at $302.62.

 

·      For POLIO PLUS CONTRIBUTIONS, Zone 27 was recognized as #3 IN THE ENTIRE ROTARY WORLD with District 5420 ranking #1 with $1,075,834.

 

·      For OTHER GIVING, District 5420 came in at #1 with $121,752

 

·      For BUILDING THE ENDOWMENT THROUGH PER CAPITA GIVING, District 5420 was recognized as #3 at $351.65.

 

·      For PERCENTAGE OF MEMBERS GIVING TO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION, District 5420 was ranked #2 with 64% of our membership giving as “Every Rotarian, Every Year” ($100 a year)

 

·      For NEW MEMBER RETENTION, at 93.7% District 5420 was one of 13 districts who performed above the Zone’s average.

 

·      RI’s new MEMBERSHIP SOCIETY recognized Brent Parkin (District Youth Chair) with the silver level (30-49 members sponsored) award for sponsoring 36 new Rotarians during his history as a member of the Ogden Rotary Club (he says its more than that, but he was happy to be recognized).

 

·      In the category of forming NEW SATELLITE CLUBS during RY2020-21, District 5420 was also acknowledged for the Rotary Club of Southern Utah Veterans and the Rotary Club of Millcreek Connecting Generations ... but Washington City Rotary Club - after 20 years and 3 attempts to organize - was officially chartered in mid-November.

Ed calls me an over-achiever, but I prefer to think of myself as one who knows how to recruit a great team! 

 

So, now I think I have finished my DG experience.  On to another adventure!

Death Valley with the Christensens

Death Valley, CA in late March 2021 with our friends Bruce and Jan Christensen, was a pleasant long weekend with comparatively cool weather in one of America's national parks known to reach 130 degrees from time-to-time making it the Earth’s highest reliably recorded temperature.  In our 3-days together, we hit all the "high spots" in and around Death Valley and came home with another check mark on our collective bucket list.

Sadly, it will be the last trip we make with the Christensens as a couple because six months later, on September 18, 2021, they were divorced at her request.

Sappingtons are on the move!

“Coincidental" ….  defined as happening or existing at the same time. 

 After many years of family members staying put, we have possibly set some kind of record with 8 Sappington family members moving – some a few blocks while others are going to new addresses several states away!

Kaytee, Josh, Adyn, Skylar and Thoryn have purchased a ramshackle house on 5 acres of prime real estate in Opportunity, a quiet suburb of beautiful, downtown Anaconda, MT.  The minute escrow closed, the entire Postma family – including Josh’s father Mark – descended on the property tearing down old structures, uprooting shrubs and trees and laying out the footprint for their big new home.

 

Whitney and Alex have decided, since they both work digitally, they can work anywhere, they are going to move to Maine where they believe they can find a bigger house for less money!

 

Stacy and Rick have decided to split … again!  She is living in the trailer in Gunlock until they sort everything out.  We love Rick, so we hope they can find a way to resolve their problems, so stay tuned for more details as they unfold.

 

Kris’s son Zach and his girlfriend Danielle are moving from Pennsylvania to Texas to be closer to her family, and where they will be getting married. 

Our sister-in-law Charlene has recently sold out in Coarsegold, CA and is now settling into a new home in Sun City, AZ.  She will soon be joined in AZ by  her son Tyson and daughter-in-law Tanya who are moving to Phoenix. 

 

David and Jan’L moved back from Denver to St. George last year.  Their oldest son Kaler, is back in Rexburg, Idaho where he is a fulltime student at BYU-Idaho but is applying to BYU-Provo as well as Utah Valley University to finish his degree.

 

Our niece Tiffany, her husband Bob and 5 of their 8 kids are settling into an enormous house on 40 acres in Friant, California where their wild and crazy crew can romp and play in total freedom.  I think a family reunion on their "resort" property is in the immediate future. 

 

Selwin and Brianna, Ayah and Zion have bought a home near the St. George Airport after 4 years living with her family while he got his education – including an MBA – behind him.

 

At church on Sunday, two families announced they are moving ... one to northern Utah and the other to Hurricane ... and on Sunday afternoon, I got an email from one of my favorite Rotarians announcing he and his wife are moving from SLC to Florida! 

Lots of changes in our large family.  Could COVID be to blame for all of this motion?

Halchita "service above self" weekend a huge success!

 

 

"Many groups reach out to us every year, wanting to help in some way,” noted a community leader in the remote village of Halchita, UT, “but only Rotary has actually shown up!” And, show up we did!

At the beginning of RY2020-21, when the pandemic was wreaking havoc on the world, this Utah Rotary District Governor saw a need and an opportunity to engage Rotarians in, what then-RI President Holger Knaack called “bigger, better, bolder service to change lives” and established Utah’s Native American Initiative.  The hard-working and well-connected Paul Summers (Bountiful Rotary Club) agreed to serve as NAI chair.  Representatives from at least one-third of Utah’s 45 clubs immediately stepped up – in multiple ways – to assist several of Utah’s 11 tribal communities.  Over the next year, many truckloads of donated materials and supplies crossed the state in support of those inordinately hard hit by the coronavirus due, in part, to multi-generational housing and a lack of reliable electricity and clean drinking water … including support for Halchita. 

This tiny tribal community – located on the northern border of the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners area of southeastern Utah – is miles from anywhere. Nevertheless, the landscape - while remote and mysterious - is a cinematographer’s dream.  The people are cautiously friendly – no doubt, from centuries of isolation and generations of mistrust of those who promise to treat them fairly – but don’t.  

 

Halchita has an interesting history.  When the uranium mine closed, which had employed many Halchita residents, the Utah Navajo Development Company found a way to buy the town – including all 45 homes at a cost of $75,000.  A federal grant provided a way to remove asbestos and uranium from the homes which were then sold back to the residents at a cost of $450 for a 3-bedroom, $350 for a 2-bedroom and $250 for a 1-bedroom dwelling.  While many still live in those homes, there is no school, no medical or emergency facilities, no businesses and no way to earn a living within 40 miles of the boundaries of this little reservation community. 

 

After nearly 18 months of hopeful planning by Rotary leaders, somewhere between 75-100 Rotarians and their families, Rotaractors and friends of Rotary showed up on Halloween weekend (Oct. 28-31, 2021) to renovate an old school turning it into a community center.  Everyone jumped in with gusto and the building became the scene of beautiful chaos (think "beehive").  Rotarians enthusiastically tore out shelves and appliances, painted almost every square inch of the building – inside and out – installed modern and professionally made cabinets in the library and kitchen (donated by a Rotarian in Cedar City and valued at about $17,000), sorted thousands of donated books to create an amazing community library, and cleaned up a baseball diamond including an improved dugout. At the conclusion of four days of “service above self,” a Trunk or Treat event attracted many nearby children excited to fill their bags with candy, toothbrushes, small toys, and books.  Some also took home warm winter coats, hats, quilts and other gifts. 

 

Sadly, some of the children did not come for Trunk or Treat, planned especially for them, because they did not have a costume or the money to buy one.  We were heartbroken when we heard this!

 

Our only faux pas (at least we want to hope it was our only mistake) had to do with red rocks!

Some who visited our project over 4 days, commented:

·       *    “You did all of this for us?”

·      *     “I’ve lived in southeastern Utah for almost all of my 90 years … and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

·       *    “This week in Halchita has been a true Rotary experience. My wife (also a Rotarian) is going to be so sorry she missed this!”

·       *    When asked, “what is Navajo Strong?” three young staffers responded, “we are Navajos helping Navajos, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. We strive to honor our ancestors and work hard to help citizens affected by disease, poverty, and other health disparities on the Navajo Reservation … and now we’re also huge fans of Rotary!”

Rest in Peace, Dear Sister Stephanie Sappington

Our sweet friend Stephanie Ann Kaehuokalani Sappington passed into eternity on September 20, 2021 - coincidentally my mother’s and Uncle Bob Sappington’s birthday – after a valiant battle with colon cancer.

Stephanie was beautiful inside and out.  She loved bird-watching, movies (her favorite was "The King and I"), Beatles music, video games; her dog Sam, who when he died was buried under the family's apple tree in the backyard of their Santa Clara home.  She also loved hiking, camping, playing the piano or her violin or sharing her beautiful singing voice in the shower or with her ward choir; and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ with children - hers and everyone else's!  But, she mostly loved her family, including her husband Ron.  She and Ron were married for 42 years, 7 months and 17 days - and together they shared 8 wonderful kids (including two who were actually adopted grandchildren and who were sealed to them).   

She spent the last month of her life in the hospital.  When asked what she missed most about being at home - aside from Ron - she said "working on family history, going to church, my church family and seeing and talking with my family and neighbors."  

 The morning before her passing, her bishop came to visit.  She told him of her concern that her temple recommend had expired during the COVID year.  He was able to take care of that, noting, "Sister Sappington believed the true meaning of CTR ... was not so much Choose the Right, but Current Temple Recommend."

People wonder how we are related, and I guess technically, we aren’t since she – like me – is not a Sappington by blood, but by marriage. However, we found a common Sappington ancestor in Ed’s 4^th great-grandfather and Ron’s 5^th great-grandfather making our husbands something like 16^th cousins.  

The shocking other coincidence is how much Ron looks like a combination of Ed’s brothers Robert and Phil, except he has Jim Holiday’s fancy facial hair in the form of a handlebar mustache!

 

We met Ron and Stephanie not long after they moved here and felt an instant connection, not because of our name-in-common, but because they are delightful people.

 

Stephanie, who was born in Hawaii, taught hula lessons here in St. George.  I’m certain she decided to use this skill to help with family finances when their 6 children were young.  My story about all this goes like this:  one afternoon, my doorbell rang at our home in Bloomington.  When I answered, there stood a little girl – probably 8 or 9 years old – as her mother drove off on her way to somewhere else.  The little girl told me she was here “for my hula lesson.”  It took me a minute to figure out what she was talking about but finally realized she was looking for Stephanie in Santa Clara … not Linda in Bloomington.  Unfortunately, this was at a time before cell phones so we were not able to call her mother, who eventually returned to retrieve her daughter.  It was shocking to think she would drop her daughter off at the home of a total stranger without confirming she was at the right address!  

Stephanie and I got a good laugh out of this story, but I felt bad she didn’t get paid!

 

We have had them over for dinner from time-to-time and see them in the community occasionally.  We will miss her!

 

Rest in peace, beautiful Stephanie!