Testing the post

Hey Sage,

I signed up to contribute but kinda got freaked out about the privacy of blogging and the whole idea in general but now I'm bored so I'll try a post.  Caught me at a weak moment.

My wife, Louisa, and I moved to British Columbia about 18 months ago.  We have two kids, Nelya (age 7) and Wilson (age 4).  We had been living in Los Angeles (2 miles from Venice Beach) for the past 10 years.  We live in a pretty fantastic area, lots of skiing, biking, lakes, etc.  Plus it's not too cold.  It's knows as "the Palm Springs of Canada."  I know... crazy.  Anyway, we love it here.  Louisa grew up here so her folks live a couple of miles away and we were able to build our dream house.  We both travel for work -  Louisa is a focus group moderator, and I'm a screenwriter (currently on strike) - so we get back to L.A. fairly often.

I'm currently working on my Masters in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia's non-resident program.  I've also got a new calling as a High Councilman and Stake Young Men's President.  

We have a dog (Friendly) and a cat (Chloe).  We got our first snowfall two days ago.  I'm not used to the snow so it's still very novel for me... and I can't wait to go skiing.

Draper Reunion 2005

We all had a great time at Katie's place in Wyoming back in 2005! It was complete with a pig roast and fireworks as well as knitting, oil painting, yoga and other fun classes! There were also fun competitions like which team could build a working robot from a bunch of old machines and who could dig the deepest hole with the Skidsteer digging machine (Thanks Katie)

SGT Nathan Fife, son of James & Irene Fife

From James Fife

Our son, SGT Nathan Fife, who is currently serving in military intelligence in Iraq--he works at a computer--will be returning home in mid-December and after a month's leave, will then be posted in England. I am attaching his photo.

I was very touched, impressed, by the love I could see among the children of John and Gwen Bushman as they gathered for John's funeral last month. We have a great heritage behind our families. I appreciate Sage's efforts to keep us in touch with each other and that heritage.

Irene and I are well. I am enjoying the positive results of recent cataract surgery. We are planning to visit family in Utah over the Thanksgiving vacation period.

Where is everyone?

Dear Family,

Last July I hosted a Sisters Reunion at my home in Brewster, NY.

Both Katie and I were expecting baby girls that we had five weeks apart.

This photo is on my front steps just before we went to NYC for the day.

It took me about three minutes to write this post and attach the photo.

If you don't want to sign up on blogger.com, you could send me your photos and letters and I will post them. We have not had a lot of activity--and I was hoping for more. I may start posting old letters I have if no one responds!

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving season.

Would love to hear from more of you.

Sage : )

Funeral Service Program for John V. Bushman

JOHN VIRGIL BUSHMAN
23 May 1921 ~ 29 September 2007


Funeral Services
October 10, 2007 - 11am
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Gridley, California

Bishop Grant Goodman, Presiding and Conducting
Leticia Stewart, Organist
Delcia Bosch, Music Director

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Grant Goodman
Opening Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "How Great Thou Art" # 86
Invocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry Kessinger
Life Sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeffrey Bushman
Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connie Webb and Suzette Meik
Medley of Cowboy songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daphne Kessinger
Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rodney Bushman
Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Grant Goodman
Closing Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Love at Home" #294
Benediction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allan Bosch


Casket Bearers:
John F. Bushman Andy Bosch
Brian Bushman Thomas Bushman
Tyler Bushman Coby Bushman
Doug Kessinger John L. Bushman


Dedication of Grave
Jeffrey Bushman
Interment Gridley-Biggs Cemetery

1942

1961

1989

JOHN V. BUSHMAN

John V. Bushman, 86, passed away of natural causes on September 29, 2007 in Orem, Utah. He was born in Snowflake, AZ to Preston and Daphne Bushman. He graduated from Snowflake High School and served as a missionary in the Central States for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He married Gwendolyn Fife of Gridley, CA in 1943 and enlisted in the US Coast Guard serving his country in the South Pacific during World War II. He was a resident of Gridley, CA for nearly 50 years and raised his family there working as a journeyman carpenter and job site foreman in northern California.

He enjoyed horses and said he could ride anything that grew hair. He loved to dance, sing and tap his foot to cowboy tunes. He was also a terrific tease, and had a great sense of humor. For the last ten years he lived in Orem, UT with his son Jeff (Heidi) Bushman and their family.

He is survived by his seven children: Daphne (Larry) Kessinger of Atascadero, CA, John F. (Kathy) of Chico, CA, Delcia (Allan) Bosch of Georgetown, CA, Rodney (Chris) of Kearns, UT, Jeffrey (Heidi) of Orem, UT, Connie (Gary) Webb of Loomis, CA and Suzette (Matt) Meik of Merced, CA. He is also survived by 32 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. His wife Gwendolyn passed away February 2, 1977.

A funeral will be held Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 at 11am in the Liberty Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Gridley, CA.