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What a weekend. Full of fun, excitement, family. Also, full of surprises, at least for a few of us. It all began, at least for me, several weeks ago with a phone call from Jim. Could we, he wanted to know, come to Howe for the weekend of May 31st? He hoped Jessica’s family would be able to make it and at long last the two families could meet. It would be a surprise for Jessica, so don’t tell her, okay? He thought we would have BBQ Beer-can chicken at either Uncle Bill’s or Uncle Chuck’s, and everyone was making stuff. What was this? Jim as a social events planner was entirely out of character. But I knew he was kind of fond of Jessica, and it did seem like a nice plan for the two families to get together. Of course we would be there. An idea started niggling at the back of my brain. Was this an event to announce an engagement? I started to ask, but decided not to. Knowing my son, even if this was the plan, he wouldn’t tell me.
Jim called me again several days before the ‘weekend du jour” (yes, I KNOW that means ‘the weekend of the day’. It’s kind of a little joke, okay?) to tell me all was set and that Heather would be joining us accompanied by her famous taco dip. “You can bring a dessert,” he informed me. “Something chocolate. Jessica’ family is crazy about chocolate.” My famous cream puffs were suggested, but this was problematic for a couple of reasons, chief of which was lack of time. Jessica’s family would be bringing several casseroles, and when we found out Chenoa, Mike and Rowan (Chenoa is Pat’s daughter, so our niece) would be able to make it out from Idaho Falls that day, Jim nixed my idea of a veggie tray and asked for another casserole type dish. “I’m not that big on veggies,” he informed me. Jim as a social planner indeed!
I set off bright and early Friday morning, only 45 minutes later than I had planned, and picked up UltraDad in Wells, where he parked his pickup. We were in high spirits as we wended our way to Howe, stopping in Twin Falls long enough for a delightful lunch at Chilli’s , and a bit of shopping in Shopko. I called Patty to see if anything more was needed, and found out she had dessert covered with a double chocolate cake and two fruit pies. I bought beverages and chips, and a lawn game called “Lasso Golf” that caught my eye on the way into the store.
We arrived at Bill and Patty’s, where we would be staying, about 5 pm. Jim was already there, and Jessica would be arriving soon. She is working for an accounting firm in Twin Falls for the summer, and couldn’t leave until after work. Patty was recovering from a recent surgery, but had put together a wonderful dinner of roasted ham, cheesy broccoli and salads. We assembled my lasso golf game, which turned out to be a lot of fun, in spite of noone being able to beat Jim at it. Jessica got a little chilly, but had forgotten her sweatshirt, so I loaned her my blue jacket, which she is wearing in nearly all the photos, and which looks much better on her than it does on me. Later, Jim gave his Dad an early birthday present: he had remounted some antlers from a deer UltraDad had shot years ago and had a plaque made detailing where and when the deer had been taken. Beautiful.

Jim with Bill and Patty’s dog, ‘Toby’. Jim says Jessica is jealous of the close relationship he and Toby share

UltraDad and Bill compare antlers

Bill and Patty’s old dog, “Buddy” is nearly 20 years old. He is a great dog, but lately is having quite a few ‘old age’ problems

The next day, Saturday, Jim and Jessica went for a hike in the mountains. Meanwhile, guests were arriving and uncles were BBQing chickens. Mike and Chenoa arrived with show-stealing, photo-monopolizing 5-month old Rowan and dog Chester, the Westie. Rowan was a little grouchy at first, but even allowed me to hold her before the day was over. It’s a good thing Heather brought her Taco Dip; I think it may have kept us all from starving as we waited for the hikers and dinner, especially the hungry Kasper clan who arrived around 2 pm, bearing casseroles and chips. Tom, the dad, was very personable and friendly. Jessica greatly resembles her father. Mom, Joann was also very nice and I enjoyed chatting with her. She homeschools(ed) all 6 of her kids, an amazing feat. Eric, the oldest is 27, I believe. He and brother Peter got Dairy Science degrees, then moved back home to help with running the family dairy farm in Melba, Idaho. Sister Janelle is graduating this year with a degree in Accounting, sister Josina is the equivalent of a high school junior, and sister Johanna is only 9. A new addition to the family is Elsa, a German Shepherd puppy who didn’t come along.

Mike, Chenoa and little Miss Rowan

Rowan liked cousin Heather

Rowan seems happy with Uncle UltraDad

Rowan was fine with Aunt UltraMom as long as she couldn’t see who was holding her!

Just ‘chillin’ waiting for those kids to come back.

Johanna was pretty good at ‘lasso golf’

Tom and Joann Kasper

About 3 pm, Jim and Jessica showed up. She was bubbling with excitement and sporting a large diamond ring on the 4th finger of her left hand. It wouldn’t quite go over her knuckle, but she was wearing it all the same. Jim was grinning from ear to ear. It seemed my suspicions were correct! But as I soon learned, nearly everyone already knew this was happening, except for Heather, me and, of course, Jessica, who was astounded to see her family’s vehicle in the drive. I hugged Jessica and asked for details. “Jim took me to the place where he first told me he loved me,’ she told me. “He told me the first time he saw me he knew I was ‘it.” Jim broke in, “She said ‘yes’ before I even asked the question. So I told her I got down on my knee to take my shoe off, and the question I was going to ask was ‘Will you smell my sock?’” But the ‘rock’ on her finger showed me she had, indeed, answered the right question!

Jim and Jessica after ‘announcing’

How romantic! Jim is pretending to drop Jessica in the ditch.

with little sister Johanna

Me and two of my girls

Jim,Jessica, UltraMom, UltraDad

UltraMom feels short

You can see me running to get into the picture. It seems the timer was set for ‘2 seconds’. Jim is still trying to get cameras focused, and noone else appears ready either…

The weather was iffy, but we ended up eating outside, though it was a little windy. At least the rain held off til after dinner. The food was good and plentiful, and everyone felt much more mellow with full stomachs. Jessica’s parents had gifts for the newly committed couple: a large NIV Study Bible and an Elizabeth Elliot book titled “Passion and Purity.”
Before we disbanded, we trooped out to the large ‘picture-taking’ rock in Bill and Patty’s front yard for some group photos. I tried to put my camera on a timer, but I think instead of getting ‘2 shots’, as I thought I was doing, I got my picture taken in ‘2 seconds’. Heather has promised me copies of hers, which I think turned out a little better than mine.
So, it was quite a weekend, and I am quite excited about gaining a daughter, especially one as terrific as Jessica. I may even let her keep my blue jacket, for a while anyway.

UltraMom