A Weekend in Sonoma

It was a quick trip to Sonoma, CA this weekend to see Kris and her family.  She was unable to take time off work so we scheduled our arrival at 5:30 on the afternoon of Friday, March 10 and our departure for home on Monday, March 12 so we could spend as much time as possible with her.  We spent two days putting puzzles together (ask any of us about that “cheater Jaeson”), reminiscing through Grandpa’s pictorial history of Cuz’N Camps gone by, and just catching up on family news. There was lots of laughter and chit chat which is the best way to spend time together.

We also got some happy news on this trip.  Memo is going to get a baby brother – or sister – on or about October 1. This precious little baby will be our 5^th great grandchild. We love our family!

Til We Meet Again, Coral Henion Nyland

Coral Velora Henion Nyland – my father’s last surviving sibling – passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at the home of her daughter Coyia Nyland Keables. The 4^th daughter, and 5^th of eight children in the family of Harry Dexter and Else Marie Werner Henion, was born in Alexandria, Minnesota on 18 March 1920, passing into eternity just 10 days short of her 98th birthday.

Coral and her family moved to Randle, WA when she was 9 years old.  She moved to Tacoma for her senior year in high school where she also worked as a nanny for the children in a family with whom she lived.  Sometime after graduation she met Harry Nyland at a dance and they were married on September 1, 1940.  As their three children - Coyia, Bruce and Mark - grew to adulthood, she worked as a lab technician and later as a clerk in the City of Tacoma County Assessor's Office. In her leisure time, she also enjoyed gardening and golf, as well as being a talented seamstress. 

Harry preceded Coral in death in 1993. Coral leaves behind 2 adult children, Coyia (Dan) Keables, and Mark Nyland. Bruce (Mary) Nyland preceded Coral in death in 2010. Coral also leaves behind 3 grandchildren, Piper Lee, Noah Keables, and Caleb Nyland, and 5 great-grandchildren Stephen, Barnabas, Miriam, Naomi, and Nathanael Keables.

I only have a few memories of my aunt, but the most important was created just last summer when Ed and I made our “circuit” vacation, traveling 3500 miles through seven states to visit friends and family over 3 weeks.  Gratefully, my cousin Coyia willingly organized her annual Henion cousins’ luncheon so it coincided with our time in Washington State.  Larry traveled down from Seattle and Coyia brought her still-beautiful, but frail mother.  My brother and I had a wonderful conversation with our aunt as I shared family pictures on my computer – some she had never seen; and, she expressed her love and admiration for my father – five years her senior – her brother she called “my hero”. I was also pleased to snap a wonderful photo of her.  Although I didn’t know her well, her passing is a loss to me and our family.

Rest in peace, dear Aunt Coral and enjoy your reunion with loved ones on the other side of the veil.

Call Me Dr. Bob!

Tiffany Sappington Nelson’s husband and Charlene’s favorite son-in-law - the amazing Bob Nelson - was officially recognized as Dr. Robert Nelson on Thursday, March 8 after successfully defending his doctoral dissertation at the University of Southern California (USC).

His milestone accomplishment coincided with our visit in Fresno on our way to see Kris in Sonoma, so together with Charlene, Tiffany, Tyson, their spouses and children – a total of 14 family members – we enjoyed a celebratory dinner at Fresno’s Olive Garden ... which kept the servers busy and made the company accountant smile!!!

Thinking back over Bob’s life, we wonder if he sees what we see? He has accomplished so much in his nearly 5 decades and has experienced so many amazing changes in his life to bring him to this point in time, including:

* For more than a decade, Bob and Tiff had only 3 sons (Ben, Josh and Phillip).  Now they have 7 kids since adopting Destinie (5), Abby (almost 4), Ashton and Sawyer (Abby's identical 2-year-old twin brothers) in quick succession over a period of about 3 years.
* When Bob and Tiffany first met, he was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but luckily she saw his potential – as a husband, father and Church leader. They have now been sealed in the temple as a couple and recently Abby and her twin brothers were adopted, joining Destinie, and all have now knelt across the temple alter to become members of the Nelson “forever” family.
* Bob started as an elementary school teacher making “peanuts” and over not-so-many-years his career has brought him to the position of Superintendent of the Fresno School District (with a big paycheck) – the 4^th largest school district in California and second poorest in the nation (only schools in Appalachia are poorer).

Dr. Bob … you are incredible and one-of-a-kind and we have enjoyed watching as your life unfolded. Who, I wonder, will play you in the movie?