WE'VE HAD 13 FAMILY REUNIONS SINCE THE GIRL'S HAVE LEFT HOME.

I'VE THOUGHT ALOT ABOUT EACH OF OUR REUNIONS AND HOW MUCH FUN WE HAVE HAD.

WHEN WE FOUND OUT DON HAD PROSTATE CANCER, WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A YEARLY REUNION AS LONG AS DON WAS FEELING GOOD. THIS BEGAN IN 2008.

I DID WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL THE REUNIONS THROUGH OUT THE YEARS. I'M SURE YOU WILL ENJOY THE MEMORIES.

REUNIONS ARE WHEN ALL THE CLEVELAND FAMILY ARE TOGETHER. WE'VE HAD MANY GREAT TIMES TOGETHER BESIDES REUNIONS, BUT IT'S ALWAYS SPECIAL WHEN ALL THE GIRLS AND THEIR DAD AND I CAN GET TOGETHER SINCE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT OFTEN. 

1997 - #1 Reunion.....OUR FIRST FAMILY REUNION WAS AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

LARA WAS PREGNANT AND HAVING KIDNEY STONE ATTACKS SO IT WAS SCARY THAT SHE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO COME. LARA WAS RELEASED ON FRIDAY FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE NEXT DAY THEY FLEW INTO GRAND JUNCTION. IT WAS LIKE A MIRACLE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO COME.

LARA WAS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AND SO CUTE. WE ALL GOT A KICK OUT OF HER.

WE LOVED THE PIZZA AND LIMO RIDE. THEN IT WAS TIME FOR P.J.'S. BEN EVEN GOT SOME. WE TOOK SOME GREAT PICTURES WITH THE GIRLS SURROUNDING BEN. 

1998 - #2 Reunion.....THANKSGIVING IN GRAND JUNCTION WITH THE SUMMERS.

THIS WAS OUR FIRST HOLIDAY WITH OUR GRAND-DAUGHTER CHLOE. WE ALWAYS HAVE FUN AT THE SUMMERS FOR THANKSGIVING AND THEN THE NEXT DAY WE CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS AND EXCHANGED GIFTS. SEEING CHRISTMAS THROUGH A CHILD'S EYES WAS SO SPECIAL. 

1999 - #3 Reunion.....CHRISTMAS IN GRAND JUNCTION

WE HAD SUCH FUN DOING OUR FAMILY TRADITIONS....PIZZA, LIMO RIDE, NEW P.J'S., GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS AND THE CHRISTMAS CAROL MOVIE.

LARA AND BEN SHOCKED ALL OF US WITH A FAMILY CRUISE FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS GIFT. WE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. THAT MEANS WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER ON A SHIP THE FOLLOWING MAY!
 

2000 - #4 Reunion.....OUR WONDERFUL CRUISE VACATION AS A FAMILY.

WE WENT TO CATALINA ISLAND AND ENSENADA, MEXICO. WHAT A FAMILY REUNION. ALL THE ROOMS WERE CLEANED EVERY DAY, ALL THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS AND PREPARED AND SO MANY ACTIVITIES PLANNED. IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO HAVE A FAMILY REUNION. 

2000 - #5 Reunion.....THANKSGIVING IN GRAND JUNCTION.

MY DAD AND TERESA DROVE OVER FROM ST. GEORGE TO SPEND THANKSGIVING WITH US AT THE SUMMERS HOME.

THAT SATURDAY LARA HAD A GLAMOUR PICTURE TAKEN. SHE WAS SO FUNNY AND WE GOT SUCH A KICK OUT OF HER.

THEN WE HAD OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION THAT EVENING AND EXCHANGED GIFTS.



 

2001 - #6 Reunion.....DADRA'S FAREWELL BEFORE HER MISSION TO BRAZIL.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HAVE EVERYONE HERE TO SEE DADRA OFF ON HER MISSION. MY DAD AND TERESA WERE ABLE TO BE HERE TOO.

IT WAS A HARD GOODBY. WE WOULD SEE HER AGAIN IN 18 MONTHS. 

2002 - #7 Reunion.....DADRA COMES HOME FROM HER MISSION.

LARA WAS ABLE TO FLY IN TO WELCOME DADRA HOME FROM BRAZIL. BEN AND CHLOE WERE THERE IN POSTER FORM. TASHA CAME OVER FROM SALT LAKE. WE WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE DADRA. SHE LOOKED WONDERFUL!
 

2002 - #8 Reunion.....THANKSGIVING IN GRAND JUNCTION.

TERESA TOOK THE BUS TO BE WITH US DURING THIS TIME. LARA WAS ALSO PREGNANT WITH PAIGE.

2003 - #9 Reunion.....ALL OUR GIRLS WERE IN GRAND JUNCTION BEFORE TASHA MOVED TO FREDERICK, MD.

LARA, CHLOE AND PAIGE WERE ABLE TO STAY FOR A FEW WEEKS. DADRA DROVE OVER FROM PROVO A COUPLE OF WEEK-ENDS TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH US.

I HAD EMERGENCY GALL BLADDER SURGERY DURING THIS TIME. WE ALSO HAD AN EAMES/MADDY REUNION. WHAT A BUSY FEW WEEKS WE HAD. 

2004 - #10.....CHRISTMAS IN GRAND JUNCTION

I HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS AT SEARS TO HAVE OUR FAMILY PICTURE TAKEN. WHEN WE ARRIVED WE FOUND A NOTE SAYING THAT THE PHOTOGRAPHER WASN'T GOING TO BE THERE THAT NIGHT.

WE WENT INTO THE ROOM AND TOOK OUR OWN PICTURES WITH OUR CAMERA'S AND SEARS BACK DROPS. WE ENDED UP HAVING A GREAT TIME. 

2005 - #11 Reunion.....TASHA AND J'S MARRIAGE IN LAS VEGAS.

THIS WAS A SURPRISE FAMILY REUNION THAT WAS PAID FOR BY TASHA AND J. WE HAD A FABULOUS TWO DAY TRIP. 

2008 - #12 Reunion.....GOING TO WILLIAMSBURG AND VISITING THE COLONY AND BUSCH GARDEN.

OUR FAMILY IS GROWING. WE'VE ADDED 4 MORE GRANDCHILDREN SINCE OUR LAST REUNION....ABBY, TYLER, COLDON AND LANDON.

TAMI, DON AND I SPENT THE REST OF THE WEEK WITH THE TORGESEN'S. TASHA AND COLDEN DROVE DOWN FOR HALLOWEEN AND WE HAD SUCH FUN. 

2009 - #13 Reunion......WALKING THE MARTIN COVE LOOP IN WYOMING.

WE ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS IN GRAND JUNCTION AND DID SOME FUN THINGS THERE AS A FAMILY.

IT WILL BE EXCITING TO FIND OUT WHAT AND WHERE OUR FAMILY REUNION WILL BE NEXT YEAR. WE ALWAYS HAVE A GREAT TIME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY AND IT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.! 

I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL THIS MORNING THIS WOULD BE MY LAST RELIEF SOCIETY LESSON.

I was released in Sacrament Meeting.

My lesson was on ADVERSITY and it was a great reminder to all of us that Adversity helps us to grow, learn and be more compassionate.

I have enjoyed teaching the Sisters for the past 1 1/2 years. The women have been wonderful and I will miss this calling. 
 
 

SOME SCRIPTURES & VISUAL AIDS USED FOR THIS LESSON

 
 
 
 

Christ was on a fishing boat with his apostles when a huge storm came up. Christ had fallen asleep. The apostles, fearing for their lives, woke the Savior up to see if He could help.

Christ stood up and reached out his arms to calm the storm. The apostles were amazed that He had the power over the elements too.

Christ can help calm our storms too. He is there whenever we need Him to be. He might not take our problems away, but he will give us the strength to endure them.

 

I' VE BEEN THINKING SO MUCH ABOUT THE HANDCART COMPANIES THAT WERE CAUGHT IN THE EARLY STORMS 153 YEARS AGO.

THE PIONEERS HAD JUST CROSSED THE PLATTE RIVER FOR THE LAST TIME ON OCT. 19, 1856, WHEN THE STORMS BEGAN . FOR THREE DAYS THE STORMS NEVER LET UP! THEY WERE RUNNING OUT OF FOOD AND FREEZING TO DEATH.

ON OCT. 28TH, THE ADVANCED PARTY OF MEN ON HORSEBACK FINALLY FOUND THEM BEYOND DEVIL'S GATE.

 
 

WE HAD 6 MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY IN THE MARTIN HANDCART COMPANY.

ONE OF THESE WAS A LITTLE 3 WEEK OLD BABY THAT WAS BORN TO FRANCIS AND ANN ELIZABETH WEBSTER. THEY NAMED HER AMY ELIZABETH.

FRANCIS GAVE A POWERFUL TESTIMONY YEARS LATER IN A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS THAT WAS CRITICIZING THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH FOR LETTING THE HANDCART COMPANIES LEAVE SO LATE IN THE SEASON. HE STOOD UP AND ASKED THEM TO STOP THE CRITICISM, THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.

FRANCIS SAID THAT HE WOULD BE SO TIRED AND EXHAUSTED THAT HE WOULD SEE A SAND HILL UP AHEAD AND THAT HE COULD ONLY GO TO THAT SPOT AND NO MORE. WHEN HE WOULD GET THERE THE CART WOULD START PUSHING HIM. HE WOULD TURN AROUND AND NO ONE WAS THERE. THAT IS WHEN HE KNEW THAT THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN WERE HELPING THEM.

THEN HE SAID THAT THE PRICE THEY PAID TO KNOW GOD WAS WORTH ALL THE SUFFERING THEY HAD ENDURED.

 

LAST DAY OF OCT.,THE RESCUERS FINALLY MET UP WITH THE MARTIN HANDCART CO. AT GREASEWOOD CREEK....16 MILES FROM DEVIL'S GATE.

THE RESCUERS FROM SALT LAKE SAW THE DIRE NEED OF THE HANDCART IMMIGRANTS AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO GO FORWARD TO DEVIL'S GATE WHERE THERE WERE SOME SUPPLY WAGONS WITH FOOD AND CLOTHING WAITING FOR THEM. THESE THINGS WOULD KEEP THEM ALIVE.

THERE WERE 12 TO 18 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND AND THE WAGONS WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TO THEM. ON NOV. 2, 1856, THE MARTIN HANDCART COMPANY FINALLY MADE IT TO DEVIL'S GATE. THE STORMS NEVER LET UP SO THEY DECIDED TO MOVE EVERYONE TO MARTIN'S COVE WHERE THERE WAS SOME RELIEF FROM THE SNOW AND WINDS. IT WAS ABOUT 2 1/2 MILES AWAY.

THE IMMIGRANTS STAYED IN MARTIN'S COVE FOR 6 DAYS. THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 11 DEGREES BELOW ZERO IN THE COVE. MANY DIED AND WERE BURIED AND THE SUFFERING WAS BEYOND COMPREHENSION.

 
 
 
 

ON NOV. 9, 1856 THE RESCUERS MOVED THE IMMIGRANTS OUT OF MARTIN'S COVE TOWARDS SALT LAKE

THE VERY SICK WERE ABLE TO RIDE IN WAGON'S BUT THE REST WALKED. ALL THE HANDCARTS WERE LEFT BEHIND. WAGONS AND SUPPLIES WERE MET ALONG THE WAY AND BY THE TIME THEY WERE AT ROCKY RIDGE, ALL OF THE MARTIN HANDCART IMMIGRANTS WERE RIDING IN WAGONS.

THEY MADE IT TO SALT LAKE ON NOV. 30, WHERE THE SAINTS IN SALT LAKE WERE READY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM UNTIL THEY WERE ON THEIR FEET AGAIN.