2011 Garner Siblings Family Reunion

Some arrived at noon on Thursday via Southwest in Las Vegas, while others drove through SLC and arrived in St. George, Utah in time for a buffet supper at the Golden Corral at 6 p.m. for a first meeting of the Don Garner Family Reunion 2011. We totaled 25 people, but missing Carl and Bridgette (who finished their school the next day in Salem) and Curt and Michele and family (who had painful back and shoulder - Curt, or other commitments - Dawson). Because of the distance and limited housing space, we mainly concentrated on the siblings and their spouses getting together with Grandma Lula.

On Friday morning we drove 30 miles northwest of St. George to the Mountain Meadow Massacre site and had a history lesson on what happened there, thanks to Reed and Lance who had relatives who were involved at the time or had done research. We learned a lot of things about that incident and saw the beautiful valley and monument that the Church has erected.


Can you identify everyone? Let's see how good you are.







The wind on the mountain was a bit chilly Friday morning. It was much warmer down in the parking lot. Do some of us look colder than others?





We ate our lunch at the Pine Valley cabin of Jillyn Wells, a member of Lance and Rhonda's ward, who shared with us her kitchen, cool porch and spacious front lawn for games. We played "Elephant, Monkey or Donkey" first, then the older family members moved their chairs into the porch shade and watched the young people play "Shipwreck", set up by Lance. Here are a few pictures of that event


Lance is "calling" the signals, with the hose marking the boundaries of the ship.







In action, can you guess what he just called them to perform?

There was "man overboard", or "walk the plank", or "three/four men in a boat". Or to mix it up, the "north", "south", "east", "west" directions."Hit the deck" called for dropping to the ground faster than anyone else. If you were the last one to perform the action, you might be eliminated from the ship.


See the spectator against the porch front, sitting in the shade and laughing at the antics of the players.






See the dilemma after a call of "three men in a boat". Poor Brad was left standing alone.








Grant was already out but keeping his eye on who might be the winner, the last one standing. Kerrie was the winner twice and Lance won another time. It was fun to watch.






This is the best one: periscope.







We drove back to St. George and after the evening meal of Hawiian haystacks and salad, we went to Tuachan's production of "The Little Mermaid." This was special effects to the max, including water cascading down the rocks at the back of the stage to run over the stage. It was a fabulous production. A special thanks to Rhonda for organizing that show.

Saturday morning some of us met at the St. George Temple for the 10 a.m. session. Grandma Lula's youngest sister Doreene joined us. She took this picture outside the temple after the session.
Six of us, with our spouses, joined the prayer circle to feel the neat spirit we had with doing family names that Rhonda had found. Thank you Rhonda, for making it a special morning.



Just another shot, but this time with the flash on.

After lunch of rollups, salad, fruit and veggies, many went hiking with Lance on the red cliffs near his house. Some took naps and some went for a drive as far northeast as the entrance to Zion's Park (an option we didn't take this time as it is a full day to enjoy and some of the group could not hike).


We gathered at 6 p.m. to have lasagna, salad, french bread and fruit for the evening meal at Rhonda's parents house, inviting Elise and Lamar Evans and Doreene and Ron Schouten to be with us.

Afterward and before people heading out, we took a photo of the seven children with their mother, age 88, and their spouses. Can you tell we left a place for Carl and Curt to fit in? Should we photo shop them in?


And with the spouses, Mother Lula stands as the matriarch at the front. At this posting, she has nine children, 41 grandchild, and 79 great grandchildren. Who will make it an even 80?
Stay tuned for more growth.




Thanks for a wonderful time together. Our next reunion will be in the Boise Valley in June 2013 and ALL of you will be invited. Mark your calendars now!