Marc and Julee Bernhisel
Christmas Message, Family Update
&
2022 Review.
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| Tuesday Institute Night |
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| YSA Dance night. |
Merry Christmas and a Cool Yule to Y'all. This is our "Christmas Missive" for the year 2022-and what a year it has been! This time- a year ago, Julee and I were living in an apartment in downtown San Jose California, five months into our mission as Senior Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. We were assigned to mentor, teach and befriend the Young Single Adults ("YSAs"-18-30 years old- technically, but expanded somewhat in S.J.) in the Washington Square Branch (the "WSB" building is within a few blocks of the San Jose State Campus) and the San Jose Institute-a gathering of YSA's with lessons, food and activities together.
Julee had been the "chief cook" for the Wednesday night Institute dinner, serving up to 50+ people at the WSB. I was part of her dinner-helping team. I also shared in teaching the lessons with the Institute Director, David Bohn. The blessings of Jesus Christ's atonement were discussed in the later part of '21 and Emotional Resilience was taught and discussed in the first half of '22 . We also attended the YSA/WSB activities (fun games, dances, karaoke, firesides, and outdoor hikes), taught in Sunday School and attended Family Home Evenings, which in addition to a short- good lesson also included fun activities and of course FOOD!
In December, we suggested that a Tuesday night institute class be added, which was welcomed by our Institute Director. In January '22 we started the Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon on Tuesdays both in person and by ZOOM discussing such topics as Adam and Eve and their faith, obedience and the freedom of choice. We also discussed the Gathering of Israel and the Freedom of Religion as providentially placed in the Book of Mormon and focused on the Savior and His atonement. It was so illuminating to be with these additional wonderful YSA people (more details and pictures will follow). Julee made "muffin tops" and some healthy snacks for the group. We then had Tuesday and Wednesday Institute gatherings, food and lessons, which continued to our mission's end in August.
As our mission ended, we returned to our Heber City, Utah home and enjoyed several reunions there including with our former N.C. missionaries, former Florida "Buddies"now living in Utah and the Bernhisel siblings, cousins and families. Julee and I also traveled up to our beloved Tetons in Jackson Hole and flew back to Florida to attend the Utah v Florida Gator's game.
In late September we headed towards Texas with our SUV and Ford pickup truck-attached to a 6x12 U-Haul, filled to the gills- trailer. We stopped in to our son Preston's home near Dallas and later to be with our youngest daughter Jenny Leigh at her home near Houston. We finally shoved off to Florida and made it home in early October. Shortly after returning to Florida, we visited our daughter Heidi's home in Senica S.C. and Lyndi's in Acworth (close to Atlanta). Julee had a fun surprise for her 70th birthday in October. All the kids surprised her by secretly showing up (hid in the garage and jumped out to surprise/scare her) in Florida. They had compiled some marvelous photos/videos and had recorded comments by Julee's close friends, who detailed Julee's attributes and love. All of them stayed at our home and the next day we all went to our old stomping grounds in Gainesville Florida, to attend a Gator's football game.
We feel that we have been so blessed to such an extreme by becoming such good friends with the San Jose young adults this past year. We will never forget them. We are also blessed with wonderful children, their spouses and grandchildren (#21). Three of them were baptized/confirmed while we were in S.J. (thank goodness for Zoom!). We are also so grateful for the eternally needed sacrifice and atonement of our dear Savior Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate and ultimately to our Heavenly Parents, whose presence and love we feel. We wish you and your family a wonderful and inspired holiday. We love y'all!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year-2023 to Y'all!
Love Marc and Julee
Blog Outline
1. Family, Kids and Grandkids updates and pics.
2. Our 2022 journey with pics and descriptions.
The Bernhisel Family updates
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 Tyler and Jackson at the Grand Canyon |
Heidi & Tyler Rex and family live in Seneca, South Carolina (15 minutes from Clemson). Heidi is teaching Kindergarten at the elementary school where all of her children went to school. Tyler is still the director at Thrive Upstate in Greenville, SC. His agency provides services and support to special needs individuals. He and Heidi enjoy hiking together in the beautiful mountains nearby. Mckenzie (24) is living at a home in the Thrive Agency, with other adults with special needs. She loves to come home and visit every month. Savannah (21) is serving a mission in Reno, Nevada for the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is finding such joy in serving and inviting others to come unto Christ. Christian (17) is a Junior at Walhalla High School where he enjoys being the boys football and basketball manager and participating in FFA.-Jackson (15) is a Sophomore in HS, and is a talented guitarist. He continues to love hiking and backpacking.
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| McKenzie |
Savannah (Sister Rex) on her mission in the Reno-Nevada Mission with her companion enjoying the snowy weather.
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| At the Reno Temple. Savannah completes her mission at the end of February '23 |
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| Tyler and Heidi hiking in Alaska |
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| Joined by Jackson and Christian |
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| Heidi in her Kindergarten Class |
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| Heidi and Christian -Huge Clemson fans! |
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| Jackson with Roxie |
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| Preston and Karee Bernhisel family |
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| Karee and Preston |
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| A visit to the Bernhisels on Preston's birthday in Sept. '22, as we traveled to Florida from Utah. |
Preston and Karee Bernhisel are in Dallas, Texas. Preston is a corporate partner with Baker Botts-legal firm, which keeps him busy along with his church duties in the Stake Presidency. In addition to managing the family and all the kids’ activities, Karee is in the presidency of the Relief Society (the women’s organization) at church and enjoys tennis and pickle-ball. Cole (18) now in 12th grade, plays bass guitar, and loves to mountain bike, backpack, listen to music on walks with their dog Dexter and attend rock concerts with Preston! He works at Main Event, a food and entertainment center. Carter (16) now in 10th grade, plays guitar, and enjoys strategy board games and cards with friends, backpacking, mountain biking, reading and his Cockatiel bird named “Harley.” He is now driving and is prepping pizzas at a local pizza place. Caroline (soon to be 13) is in 7th grade, plays piano and french horn, and loves soccer, volleyball, reading, hanging out with friends and mountain biking. She played for her middle school volleyball team and is now playing basketball. Cambelle (8) now in 3rd grade plays piano and loves tennis and softball, spending time with Dexter-their dog, and riding her bike and rollerblading. All the kids love to spend time boating on the lake near their house and traveling to see family.
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| Cole is a senior in HS and looking to do a Chruch Service mission after graduation |
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| Cole plays the Bass Guitar I sometimes refer to him as "Paul" (Paul McCartney-played the bass for the Beatles) |
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| Carter is in 10th grade and doing great in all the AP classes. He loves the outdoors and enjoys mountain biking and backpacking-He also loves "Harley" his Cockateel |
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| Caroline is a busy soon to be 13 year old, who loves school, piano, French Horn and is a rocket soccer player. |
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| Caroline and Cambelle (pictured here) sing in the Millennial Choir and Orchestra concert . They performed while the Bernhisel and Howard grandparents sat in amazement of the MC&Os outstanding performance as we visited them in Texas |
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| Cambelle is a fun, perky and entertaining 8 year old. She plays softball and tennis and loves to roller blade while walking Dexter the Bernhisel dog. |
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| Cambelle was baptized this year |
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| AND--here's Dexter. My favorite Grand Dog! |
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The Walden Family
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| A visit by Popa and G'ma B, just before we departed from Utah. |
Brooke and Mike Walden live in Layton (Davis County) Utah. 2022 has been an amazing year for us with so many great memories and changes.
Brooke is now finished with her nursing program prerequisites and is a semester deep into her Nursing program at Weber State. She is also working part time as a certified nurse assistant (CNA). She's doing great in school and loving her classes. Mike is an advisor in the Church’s Young Men’s program and started a new role as a VP at a software startup called Skilljar. He absolutely loves the company and executive team there. He continues to enjoy biking, weightlifting and picking up more dad duties while Brooke pursues her degree.
They continue to miss Leila (19) and are are incredibly proud of the young adult she's become. After living in Grandpa and Grandma Bernhisel’s house in Florida and attending the University of South Florida (USF in Tampa) for that year, has spent the last 6 months living on her own in Hawaii (Kauai) while attending her USF courses online. She'll do this again next semester as well, while enjoying the cliffs, beaches and all the beauty of the islands that has started to feel like home to her. Andee (14) continues to grow up so fast and although she's dialed back her dancing, she's replaced it with music theater (she'll be performing Adams Family this semester) and cello. She's filled the role oldest child like amazingly and is a wonderful role model for her younger siblings. Ethan (10) is now in 5th grade and is really enjoying his move from private to public schools. He's been playing basketball, learning the guitar, and is the family jokester always keeping the family laughing. He's now read every release of Calvin and Hobbes, Captain Underpants, and has started writing his own comics. Last, but never to be left out is Brooklyn (7) who is now in 2nd grade and, like her big brother, had a lot of fun playing soccer this year and learning to play the ukulele. Aside from sports and school, her year has been filled with hiking nearby trails with her dad, riding her bike, and playing with her new neighborhood friends.
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| Leila is a quite a traveler-coming from Utah and completing her first year in college in Florida (USF) and now in Hawaii for her second college year taking classes online. |
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| Ethan "Bubba" loves all sorts of games, sports, animals and adventures He is very bright and humorous. |
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| Ethan kayaking with Mike |
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| Brooklyn, the great 7 year old 2nd grader. Like her big bro., she loves the outdoors and plays soccer |
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| The Ballard Family |
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| Kevin and Lyndi |
Lyndi and Kevin Ballard
Lyndi and Kevin live in Acworth Georgia, close to Atlanta with their 4 kids.
Lyndi works as a mom with her kids, and as a speech therapist specializing in speech sound and feeding disorders. She teaches the 14-15 year olds in Sunday School. She
She loves adventure racing, skiing, and mountain biking. She did fit in a couple of
Florida Gator football games (including the Gator victory over the University of Utah and the Gator game with her siblings and mom and dad for her mom’s 70th birthday). Lyndi goes to some Atlanta Braves baseball
games with the family. Kevin continues work as a Physicians Assistant (PA) in
interventional radiology—and has been serving 2 years now
in the stake presidency. Lyndi is planning for an adventure race along with Kevin in 2023.
Annie, soon to be 13, is in 7th grade and has participated in school lacrosse. Her priorities are: school Lacrosse, Friends -Friends & Friends. She is taking guitar lessons and is getting A’s in all her advanced classes.
Rhet is now 10 years old and in the 5th grade. He successfully completed his first season of cross country running with 6-8th graders and shaved 2 minutes off his time at the end of the season. He currently plays basketball and enjoys all things animal (pet frog- and dog-Archie) and the outdoors. He plays the piano. Elsie is 8 years old and in 3rd grade. She completed her first season of competitive soccer as a striker and loves to “sole role” with the ball to throw off the defenders. Elsie is kind, witty, and always thinking of others…including how to pawn off her little brother and roomie Sonny, to another sibling.
Sonny (Emerson), age 6 started Kindergarten. He came home the first day with a smug face and simply said, “I crushed it.” He then came home the second day and asked how much longer he had to go to school for? He was tired of having been told what to do all day. He made it to the playoffs in baseball and is now “crushing it” , as he would say, in basketball.
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| Annie is soon to be a teenager! She loves life and her friends and she works hard in school |
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| Halloween picture of Annie and a friend dressed like the 60's Hippies
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| Elsie the "Cop", Sonny -one of the Mario Brothers and Rhet, a swamp monster-eat snacks at the Church's Halloween party. |
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| Elsie is a cute, funny character who is a fabulous soccer player  Elsie's Baptism, attended by her aunt Heidi  Sonny (Emerson) and Lyndi at a school farm visit |
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| Sonny's 6th Birthday breakfast. This one in bed!! |
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| The Pendleton family. A visit to their home by Popa and G'ma B on our way to Florida |
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| The Pendletons at the beach. |
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| Lance and Jenny Leigh on a Canada vacation trip |
Jenny Leigh and Lance Pendleton
Live in Kingwood Texas, close to Houston.
Jenny Leigh is happily busy supporting and cheering on the kids in each of their games, school work, and other activities. She has loved being a substitute teacher in her kids’ school this year and getting lots of waves from them in the hallways. She and Lance celebrated their 15th anniversary, sneaking away to beautiful Banff-Canada for some incredible views and hiking to celebrate. She works with the Young Adults in church.
Lance works for Rockwool as a Sales Manager of the North American Gulf Region. He stays busy with work, constant house projects, and planning the next family adventure. Lance coached Gavin’s baseball team in the fall and they are now looking forward to the spring season together too. He really enjoys working with the boys on their hitting or pitching, and taking the girls out on the boat for some wakeboarding. The Astros brought home another World Series Championship for this lifelong fan! Lance in on the church’s High Council.
David (13) is in 7th grade and is having fun being the bigger kid on campus. Taking after both of his grandpas, he played for his school football team as wide receiver, safety, and went in a few times as defensive linemen. Turns out this baseball player loves to tackle. He juggles a busy schedule of school, piano, cello, and all the sports, with a little bit of picking on his brother and sisters on the side. He works hard to meet any goals he’s set. Jenny Leigh has really had to ramp up the amount of food in the house- they’re in the teenage years now! She has taught him how to cook a handful of things so this hungry teen can help out in the kitchen. He makes a mean chocolate chip cookie! He is soon to be in the Teacher’s Quorum in the church.
Gavin (11) is wrapping up his elementary school days as a 5th grader. His love for all things Star Wars and legos has only grown and is often found trading coveted Star Wars mini-figures with his friends. His piano teacher even realized if she wants to motivate him to practice more, it needs to be a Star Wars song. If he’s not writing scary stories, he’s reading them. Gavin appeased his mom by playing winter basketball and is really starting to learn the game. Baseball, like the other boys in the family, comes first for him and he liked having Lance coach his team this past season. Gavin loves being with his buddies and is a supportive teammate, always cheering everyone on. Gavin is in the Deacons Quorum in the church.
Millie (9) is in 3rd grade and loving every minute. She is giggly, talkative, and creative. Though she is as sweet as a button, she’s starting to develop a very competitive nature. Basketball really brings it out in her! She loves playing all sports but basketball, soccer, and being on the swim team are her favorites. She made the school choir and is often serenading the family with all sorts of songs. She also loves to cook with Jenny Leigh and is a master at whipping up some homemade buttermilk syrup for breakfast.
Maggie(6) is in 1st grade and loves to read and write. Most days she’ll come home from school with a handwritten card to someone in the family, telling them that they are her "favorite person ever”. Friends mean the world to her and she is always asking to play with her buds no matter what time of the day- we’ve had to teach her that 7am is not an okay time. She loves to climb and scale trees or places she probably shouldn’t. She is never short on conversation subjects or questions. She is loving soccer, basketball, and being on swim team with her big sister!
Hattie (3) has absolutely loved being in preschool a few days a week with her “best friends”! She is one determined little girl, continuing her reign as ruler of the roost at home and can convince most of the family to do as she says. Like her big sisters, she is chatty and loud. She tries to keep up with her siblings and doesn’t like to be left out of anything. If they are playing a game, she is too. Don’t even try to question it. She loves helping Jenny Leigh around the house and going on trips to Costco, or hanging out with Lance while he works at home in his office. Hattie is sneaky and if she finds the right moment will sneak out and run next door to ask our neighbor for gatorade or candy.
Guess who the Pendletons are cheering for?
All the kids
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| David , who also loves football and music, shows off his favorite sport-Baseball. He is a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood. |
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| Gavin is a great Baseball Player with a great coach--- Coach Lance. He loves Star Wars and writes scary stories. Gavin is a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. |
We love our family. Our 21 Grandchildren's names on the stones.
Our 2022 Journey: San Jose, Utah and Florida
As we started the New Year of 2022, we continued the delightful association with the Young Adults from the greater San Jose area. 
We continued the dinner assemblies for Institute Night and other dinners. We also started the Tuesday night Institute class The teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon, which covered so many doctrines and gospel principles from Adam and Eve into the eternities. We discussed Freedom of Religion, the Gathering of Israel and the Covenant pathway, but the main focus was on Jesus Christ-His life, His love and His Atonement. 
In March of 2022, our dear friend Inez Bauer passed away at the age of 94. She had asked me years ago as her bishop, to speak at her funeral. I received permission to go the Florida and attend and speak at her funeral by President Gary Smith, our mission president. It was the happiest and most upbeat funeral that I have ever attended. This is a picture of me serenading Inez before our mission. In her last days, in the care of Hospice, I was contacted and asked to sing/play the guitar- "Puff the Magic Dragon". Delightfully, Inez robustly sang with me!
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| Inez and me singing folk songs in her home just prior to our S.J mission |
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| As I went to our home in Riverview Florida, to attend the funeral, our granddaughter Leila had been living in our home while attending USF. We dined on some Publix Subs-my favorites. |
We continued to be amazed by the beauty of the area on our mission.
The Big Sur area
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| Hiking in the Saratoga Gap trails |
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| Mountain Biking at Sunny Vale |
We attended the Oakland Temple nearly every Thursday morning and were privileged to attend the endowments and marriage sealings of two of our YSA couples.
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| The Sealing of Victoria Cardenas and Michael Shalabi. With Ken (1st Counselor in WS Branch) and Lynette Yoshimoto (Stake Relief Society President) on the left and Jim (WS Branch President) and Vickie DeCaires on the right of us.  |
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| Elder Reed and Sister Darlene Satterthwaite, President Gary and Sister Tara Smith at a mission temple trip. |
We continued our wonderful association with the YSAs and the missionaries assigned to the branch.
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| Josh Segales, who was called as the Elder's Quorum President |
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| Allison Mauret from Ecuador, who was called as Relief Society President.  Branch) |
Sisters "T" Tagatauli and "S"Sugutura'n'ga
pier at Santa Cruz.
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Dance Party |
As we started our Tuesday night Institute Class, we were joined by
This was a senior missionary tour of San Francisco areas that were part of the Chruch's History there.
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| Our good friend Paul Gallo who had served in the Russian Mission. |
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Jason Marquez and Ranadi "Nadi" Koroitamana for a YSA Picnic in Oakland |
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| Mountain Biking along with Patrick Thornton (who had just completed his PhD |
As we left the Institute patio/parking lot, the whole YSA group lined up
Goodbyes from Ken, Jim and Vicki
and Dave and Shawna Bohn
In July '22, Julee's dear brother Rick Kirkham passed away from pancreatic cancer. He had a number of health issues before this malady. He was a fun, loving, creative and caring (PhD in psychology/ Psychologist) brother, husband and grandfather.
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| Rick and Joyce's son Darren Did not get a picture, unfortunately. of their oldest son, Rayan |
From our last mission day, 8/9/22, we traveled to our Heber City Utah home. We had our reunions, as noted above and trips to the Tetons before heading back to Florida.
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| Our dear friends Scott (my Sigma Chi fraternity brother, & Thai mission companion) and Suzi (high school friend of Julee's-who lined us up)Hansen |
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| Our Florida Buddies (now living in Utah) |
North Carolina, Raleigh (former) Missionaries (young and seniors)
Dear Friends David and Mary Evans (David served with me as instructors
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| Viewmont High School buddies: LeAnn and Brent Cleverly, Frank Taylor & JoAnn Briggs Olsen  Liz Roach, Kurt Bernhisel and Dave Bernhisel & spouses, kids, grandkids and dog! |
The Univeristy of Utah-"Utes", where I received my B.S., medical degree and was a resident in OB/Gyn and where Julee received her B.A. and Masters degree, was scheduled to play the University of Florida-"Gators" in football in late August at UF. This is where I taught- as an assistant professor and the director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility division, in the Ob/Gyn department and practiced my specialty (sorry-long explanation). So Julee and I cheered for the Gators (who barley won) along with our daughter Lyndi and her husband Kevin Ballard and buddies Tom and Madeline Clem (now a resident at UF). My sister Gretchen and her husband Ryan Wilcox ( along with two of my Bernhisel cousins-which we found out about later) came and cheered for the Utes
Pregame with Albert and Alberta gators. It rained like crazy, but let up a
Now the Tetons-I have to show some of scenic Pics
Jenny Lake with the Tetons behind
Surprise Lake by Amphitheater lake
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| Dinner at Calicos-Jackson Hole. Moose road. |
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a recently graduated HS student in'68) |
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White Water rafting in the Snake River. Julee and I are on the 2nd row-right
 Jackson Hole (from Jackson Lake Lodge) overlooking Jackson Lake with Mt Moran (and other Tetons left and right) in the background  On the way back to Heber from the Tetons, we stopped at Joshua and Lacey Pollard's home in Chubbuck Idaho (close to Pocatello). Joshua served with us in our NC Raleigh mission and also served as my assistant. They have two darling kids Jeter and Hallie.  Back to Heber Valley looking to the Northwest from Coyote Canyon area  Heber Valley looking to the Southwest with Mt Timpanogos and Provo Canyon to the right and middle Now back in Florida and JKB's 70th BD Kids had stelthly arrived by plane and had hid (after communicating with me)  Julee, initially startled then happy to see the kids and the berry pie held by Brooke. Lyndi seen on the right   Birthday Presents  At Gainesville U of F campus-again,standing by Albert and Alberta Gators for the Gators football game (as the kids had enjoyed it when they were young). L-R Julee, Preston, Heidi, me behind by Albert, Brooke, Lyndi, Kevin, Jenny Leigh and Lance Shortly after, we went to Heidi's home in Senica S.C. and Lyndi's home in Georgia (pics seen above of the Ballard kids for Halloween) . We had also come back to our home, where Lacie Henneke (former Tampa Mission-missionary) had been living in our home and taking care of it since our granddaughter Leila left. We reacquainted ourselves to our church and neighbor friends and celebrated Thanksgiving with many at our home and are looking forward to Christmas.We consider all of y'all to be dear and precious friends and love you.  Our back home area by the Alafia River- gazebo, fire pit and kayak holder   Mountain Biking in N.C. at the Tsali trail  Lake Fontana as seen from the Tsali biking trail  Smokey Mountains-tunnel for the "Road to Nowhere". Close to Bryson City N.C.  Smokey Mountain Park overlooking the North arm of Lake Fontana   We like Bears and Ice Cream in Bryson City   Celebrating Lacey's Birthday. Looking at a "Southern Terms" dish plate y'all  in Ybor City Florida L-R Merci Beiro, Dr Barry Verkauf and Arline Verkauf, Kelly Gast and Sherry Smith Mackeil  All these good folks (spouses not included, except Arline) were former workers/docs/employees of the Reproductive Medicine Group (RMG). The exception being Kelly Gast, who still works at the Fletcher office and perhaps me, as I have been asked to return to do IVF one day a week. Our move from Gainesville Florida- University of Forida, to what was the Verkauf-Bernhisel practice in 1989 and expanded to the RMG. which now has 5 offices, many employees and has been bought out by a medical company-Inception. |
