THE TULIP FESTIVAL TRIP PT 4 - Seattle and environs

     With some concern we began our trek northward out of Portland.  Our scheduled day at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was to be Monday, April 9th.   The forecast for blooms was not positive, but here we were, 871 miles from home and determined to chalk this goal off our bucket list, so we crossed our fingers, offered a prayer and went forward.

     First stop:  Gig Harbor, WA to spend the night with Victor's high school friend Bruce Blakemore and his wife.  Their daughter Tammy served here in Vegas on her mission and we grew to love her dearly.  She is now in Germany with her Army husband, but we enjoyed the time with Bruce and Louise and Bruce's mother Ruth who is living with them.  Ruth is in the early stages of Alzheimer's but she also was glad for us to be there and just sat and pleasantly listened to our chatter.  

Bruce was part of a group of young people that were very important in keeping Victor active in the church and oriented toward a mission and BYU.  They all played a bigger role in who he is today than they know.  (Our evening with them was also our 33rd wedding anniversary). 

Bruce and Louise Blakemore

The Mutt and Jeff of Glendale High

     The sun was shining warmly when left Blakemore's Saturday afternoon headed for Kent, Washington. 

A year ago I began a valuable e-mail relationship with Jean Tyson, a distant cousin in our Forsgren family who provided me with invaluable photos and memories of a branch of the family I had known almost nothing about:   Sarah Christine Forsgren, the first white girl born in Brigham City after its settlement by early pioneers in the 1850's.  She was the eldest daughter of Peter Adolph Forsgren.   Jean is Sarah's great great granddaughter.   She has been my fan and cheerleader as I have worked on the Forsgren blogs and I am indebted to her for so much.  Simply could NOT come to Washington without getting to meet her.  Sometimes there are just kindred spirits.  She is one of them. Her optimism and honesty and cheerfulness have uplifted me often as we have shared information back and forth!

After leaving Jean's home we decided to check in at the Rendezvous Place - the home of yet another nephew (this time MINE), Stephen and Tara Hunt.   My step-mom and step-brother and wife had arrived from Boise the night before and we all planned to spend Easter Sunday together and then make the trek to the Tulip Fields the following Monday.  As it turned out we spent Saturday night gathering as well, chatting, playing with their cute daughters and taking a little excursion out to see the Seattle skyline from across the Sound.   

Victor, Stephen and Stephen Hunt gazing at the sights from the nippy look-out point

Mt. Ranier during the break in the cloud cover that left it visible!

Tara and Franklin Hunt

Odessa and Ada Hunt

     We were glad to be with them all Sunday morning.  As it turned out Stephen (the son) was called into the ward Bishopric that day so his father was able to be there to ordain him to the office of High Priest before they set him apart for the calling.  I noted the look of panic in Tara's eyes and felt I knew her thoughts:  "Oooh!   How ARE we going to manage three little kids on a Sunday morning when I am supposed to be conducting the music and Stephen now will be sitting on the stand."    I'm sure they will work it all out.  Many a mother has had those thoughts and then found the way!

     Had a nice time hiding eggs for the girls and some neighbor kids from Eritria, Africa -- I think it was an activity they had only had once before.

Stephen Hunt and Mildred Hunt Manwaring - part of my second family

(Take note.  It is warm and still sunny!  Seattle has just set a record for 4 days without rain in April.  Our hopes for tulip blooms are soaring!)

Had an amazing Easter dinner.  Tara is a dietition and loves to cook.  So we ate well and had the enjoyment of family and thoughtful gratitude for what Easter really means to all of us.

(Franklin, Nancy Hunt (his grandmother and Steve's wife) and Odessa)

Since we couldn't be with our own grandkids on this family day we loved that Steve and Nancy loaned us theirs for bedtime stories.   I wish Steve and Tara could move back to Boise so they would be closer to Nathan and Colleen.  Their girls would love playing with each other.   Time will tell.  Young Steve works for King Co. Transit dealing with moving people around Seattle in a safe and efficient way.  Surely Boise's Bus system needs his training and planning skills too!

Tomorrow is the big day!   Tulip Fields, here we come!!  Goodnight all.