Email Sent at the beginning of my 4th year in Dental School @ USC
Hi all!We're doing great down here in L.A., although it's
been cooking outside for the past week. Two weeks ago
we flew out to the east coast to check out a few
orthodontic schools. The first school we went to was
Eastman, which just happened to be in Rochester (20
miles away from Palmyra). Visiting the church sites
there was a very powerful experience for us both. One
evening we drove out to the Smith Log home just to be
on the property again. When one of the couple
missionaries saw us by the home he came out and let us
take a private tour and then spend as much time as we
wanted to in the home. I went upstairs in the
(rebuilt) room where Moroni visited Joseph Smith while
Lisa and Parker were downstairs with the missionary.
What a Great feeling to feel witness that this amazing
gospel is true, and that it all began in that room and
in the sacred grove right behind the home. As we
opened the back door to the home and stood on the back
stairs and viewed the grove some 50 ft. away the
missionary quoted Joseph's account of the first
vision. Zap! The Spirit was there so strongly that
it still hasn't worn off. Our visit to the Martin Harris home was also neat
because my great-great-great-great-(great?)Grandpa was
Emer Harris, Martin's brother, who lived next door.
What a wacky thought that my family goes all the way
back to PALMYRA!!! I never really dawned on me until
I called my Dad the first night and he told me where
Emer's home was. Our trip took us to other amazing places - Colonial
Willamsburg and Mount Vernon (Washington's home) in
Virginia, and the Smithsonian & The Mall in D.C.
Parker was a good little traveler, and seems to have
grown into a toddler while we were there.Just now as I was typing he just walked across the
living room floor. He will be one on September 24th.
The kid looks so much older than his age because he's
so tall. He measures 30 inches. We did a date with
the Sadowski's last night to Westwood where Parker was
catching everyone's attention from his stroller. His
a super happy kid in public, or anytime he has the
attention of someone. What a surprise, he's social!He recently started giving kisses. I was afraid with
his first few kisses that he was going to sink his
teeth into my cheek since his mouth was open so wide.
A month ago he gave me a big hug and affectionately
sunk his teeth into my shouler. When I got after him
it almost broke my heart to watch him cry. I could
tell that his feelings were really hurt. I just
hugged him for a long time. It's like he was saying
"Dad, I just wanted to love you. How could you get
mad at me like that?"Parker is totally Pooh-bear crazy. Yesterday at the
toy store he picked Pooh out of a wall mural that had
30 different famous cartoons. He didn't care about
any of them but Winnie. This morning he talked to the
Pooh-bear on his wall for about 10 minutes before
calling out for us. When we would peak in to his room
he was facing the Pooh-bear wall jabbering away. It's
hilarious.Well folks. I get a two week break starting next
week, and will be in Utah from August 21st - 26th.
Lisa will come up on the 23rd after work (she still
works Mon-Wed). Give us a call, please! Otherwise we
might show up on your doorstep unexpected. Our number up there is still 773-7731.We love getting e-mail, even though we aren't very
good at sending it. Keep in touch!Love,
Rich and Family
been cooking outside for the past week. Two weeks ago
we flew out to the east coast to check out a few
orthodontic schools. The first school we went to was
Eastman, which just happened to be in Rochester (20
miles away from Palmyra). Visiting the church sites
there was a very powerful experience for us both. One
evening we drove out to the Smith Log home just to be
on the property again. When one of the couple
missionaries saw us by the home he came out and let us
take a private tour and then spend as much time as we
wanted to in the home. I went upstairs in the
(rebuilt) room where Moroni visited Joseph Smith while
Lisa and Parker were downstairs with the missionary.
What a Great feeling to feel witness that this amazing
gospel is true, and that it all began in that room and
in the sacred grove right behind the home. As we
opened the back door to the home and stood on the back
stairs and viewed the grove some 50 ft. away the
missionary quoted Joseph's account of the first
vision. Zap! The Spirit was there so strongly that
it still hasn't worn off. Our visit to the Martin Harris home was also neat
because my great-great-great-great-(great?)Grandpa was
Emer Harris, Martin's brother, who lived next door.
What a wacky thought that my family goes all the way
back to PALMYRA!!! I never really dawned on me until
I called my Dad the first night and he told me where
Emer's home was. Our trip took us to other amazing places - Colonial
Willamsburg and Mount Vernon (Washington's home) in
Virginia, and the Smithsonian & The Mall in D.C.
Parker was a good little traveler, and seems to have
grown into a toddler while we were there.Just now as I was typing he just walked across the
living room floor. He will be one on September 24th.
The kid looks so much older than his age because he's
so tall. He measures 30 inches. We did a date with
the Sadowski's last night to Westwood where Parker was
catching everyone's attention from his stroller. His
a super happy kid in public, or anytime he has the
attention of someone. What a surprise, he's social!He recently started giving kisses. I was afraid with
his first few kisses that he was going to sink his
teeth into my cheek since his mouth was open so wide.
A month ago he gave me a big hug and affectionately
sunk his teeth into my shouler. When I got after him
it almost broke my heart to watch him cry. I could
tell that his feelings were really hurt. I just
hugged him for a long time. It's like he was saying
"Dad, I just wanted to love you. How could you get
mad at me like that?"Parker is totally Pooh-bear crazy. Yesterday at the
toy store he picked Pooh out of a wall mural that had
30 different famous cartoons. He didn't care about
any of them but Winnie. This morning he talked to the
Pooh-bear on his wall for about 10 minutes before
calling out for us. When we would peak in to his room
he was facing the Pooh-bear wall jabbering away. It's
hilarious.Well folks. I get a two week break starting next
week, and will be in Utah from August 21st - 26th.
Lisa will come up on the 23rd after work (she still
works Mon-Wed). Give us a call, please! Otherwise we
might show up on your doorstep unexpected. Our number up there is still 773-7731.We love getting e-mail, even though we aren't very
good at sending it. Keep in touch!Love,
Rich and Family