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)