Family Letter

When Becca asked me to look at her project of a Josephus and Alice Riding family blog, I had to smile. Growing up, I remember Mom (Rose) waiting patiently (and sometimes impatiently) for the Riding family letter to come in the mail. In those days, the family circulated a family letter comprising of individual letters from those who wanted to participate. When the family letter would arrive, Mom would eagerly read the individual letters included in the envelope. She would remove the letter she had written previously and write a new letter in its place with our family's updated news. She would then send it along to the next person in the chain. Sometimes it would be many months before the family letter would come around again. When Lisa and I were first married, I even participated a few times in the Riding family letter. Sadly, that tradition died out some time ago (at least as far as I know).
This blog is the revival of that family tradition, updated and technologically savvy. I look forward to reading your news.
Lisa and I felt bad about missing the reunion again this year. Stake assignments, major trips, trial schedules, and hosting international piano competitors have conspired against our attendance. But enough of excuses.
Our family is growing and spreading out. Becca has three children (JoAnna, Hyrum and Lizzie) with her husband Jason G. They live in the Salt Lake valley and are looking for a new home. Cecily and her husband Tommy D have a little girl, Summer. They have recently moved to Washington, D.C for a summer job and will then move the North Carolina
for at least two years for Tommy's graduate schooling in statistics. Jay is working at BYU for a few more months and making plans for thereafter. Sam is almost a year into his service to the Arizona, Tempe Mission (Spanish speaking). He is serving in the Yuma area, close to the Mexican border. He says it is HOT! Lisa and I seem to move from project-to-project and from calling-to-calling without too much change (except for a few gray hairs and aches and pains that weren't there before). Such is life.
Remember our noble Riding family birthright and carry the tradition forward. It will be great to hear about you and your families.
Darrel B (Youngest son of Rose)

Reunion 2008

As always it was a pleasure to be present at the reunion, and to meet and greet other members of the family.
Watching the children grow and change along with their parents and grandparents is a wonder to me. I am constantly amazed by how good looking and smart they all are! Almost makes me feel like I'm somehow related to them.
I don't ever remember being as talented or as athletic as are the kids of today. Watching them zip around on bikes and scooters and skateboards makes my bones ache, but it thrills me to see how well they do.
Catching up on what's new and who's who is a testament to my poor memory. I always seem to get some one or something wrong. Maybe I need to see everyone a little more often to help keep my memory strong.
Ruth and Tom P, Daughter of Edwin

Starting things off with 109 years

We've just finished celebrating the 109th Wedding Anniversary of Josephus and Alice Riding. It was a fun and successful reunion. I hope the addition of this blog with become a widespread asset to our family. Please share the information of how to access this blog with whomever you can within our family. Hopefully this can turn into a wonderful and rich picture of where the Riding Family is now. Feel free to update on your own families every now and then. Add pictures when you have them. Tell stories you remember of our families past and present. Let us know your good news and bad. I hope this can be a way for us to keep connected whether it's from Ghana, California, Texas, or right at 'home' in Washington County, UT.

It would probably be helpful to sign who you are with a few specifics as entries are added. So, here's starting things off from Utah with Becca, granddaughter of Rose. I will post some pictures from this year's reunion soon.

Becca, Grandaughter of Rose, Daughter of Darrel