Newell & Sally 2015

Memories Of The Year 2015

From The Humpherys Family

February 28, 2016

Nevada City, California

Thanks so much to Curt for this year’s Humpherys Herald Family Newsletter!

     Curt asked that we include a favorite memory from one of the past reunions or get-togethers over the years.  This is not necessarily a favorite memory, but it was a traumatic memory  that I will never forget.  The reunion was at the Etna Church, and it was when Shawn accidentally almost cut his arm off falling into the window at the  back of the Etna Church Building... Gerald and Tena were attending a funeral, I think, in Bedford, when this happened.  I was asked to let them know about it, so I drove from Etna to Bedford breaking all speed limits, ran into the church and found Gerald and Tena, and let them know what had happened.  As I remember,  Shawn was life-flighted by helicopter, or airplane to Salt Lake City.  During the flight, Shawn almost died because of loss of blood, if my memory is correct.  Everyone was  praying and pleading to Father In Heaven that day that Shawn would live and recover and that his arm would be OK.  It brings me to tears today just thinking about it.  Anyway, I know I probably left out a lot of details that others remember better, but I just know how miraculous his recovery was and how our prayers were answered. 

            The following are some good memories our family had together in 2015—

We held our11th Annual Newell and Sally Humpherys Family Reunion-- and here are the events we had fun doing--

Thursday, July 2, 2015--Camille arrived at about 11:30 PM, with her friend Tiffany and Jordan.  They and Damien swam in the pool and played water basketball until about midnight.

Friday, July 3-- We went wakeboarding and tubing at Scotts Flat Lake in the morning, then Camille, Tiffany, Jordan and Damien went to the river.  They returned from having a good time at the river just before C.J., Laurie, Mercy, Porter Jameson, and Quinn arrived from Arizona.  We all then went to Music in The Mountains--Picnic and the Pops-- Patriotic Performance at the Fairgrounds. Mom sang in the chorus-- the chorus and the orchestra were both very inspiring. 

Saturday, July 4, 2015, We started out the day with a Patriotic Devotional on the back deck.  Mom and Camille sang the National Anthem duet, then Porter led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.   Then, Newell  honored Grandpa Humpherys and others that have fought for our country, by telling the story about Grandpa Humpherys leaving his wife and four children at home and volunteering to serve in the United States Army to fight for our Freedoms at age 35.  We then all sang America The Beautiful, verse one and verse three-- with the emphasis on verse three-- "O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine!  Newell gave an emotional tribute to Dean Gardner Humpherys and to Neva Clark Humpherys for her support of her husband.  Grandpa Dean Humpherys was one who definitely loved his country more than self.  Then Tiffany said the prayer and blessing on the food. This was an amazing  Fourth of July Breakfast--Eggs, Bacon, Juice (Newell), Waffles and variety of fresh fruit (Mom) Crepes (Camille)--Everyone pitched in and helped.  Then, we all piled in the 1969 Green Chevy Truck and went down the rutty, bumpy, dirt road that led to the river at the end of Jones Bar Road.  We all had a fun time swimming in the river. Then, we came back to the house and had a nice barbeque dinner before heading over to the Fairgrounds for the fireworks show.  We finally got out of the Fairgrounds traffic jam and got home and went to bed by about midnight. 

Sunday, July 5--Camille and Tiffany and Jordan left for Utah about 8:15 AM, and we went to church with C.J. and Laurie and family and enjoyed a nice Sabbath Day together.

Monday, July 6-- C.J. and Laurie and family and Mom and I and Damien had a nice day at Lake Tahoe at Sugar Pine Point where the little ones swam and searched for crawdads and we all enjoyed the beautiful lake.

Tuesday, July 7-- We all enjoyed boating and tubing and wakeboarding at Scotts Flat Lake, had a nice lunch on the lake shore, and later picked blackberries and we all went to 49er Fun Park where we all rode the mini race cars and raced each other around the track, which was a lot of fun.

Wednesday, July 8-- We had breakfast, then went to Bishop Biggs home and enjoyed his zip line, rope swing and e-walk, and canoeing, then we went to Lake Valley Reservoir, had lunch at the picnic table, but it was too cold to swim, so we came home and had some of Mom's delicious blackberry pie.

Thursday, July 9-- C.J., Laurie and the grandkids left for Arizona about  9:30 AM or so.... We will miss them all so much and we had a lot of fun together.  We wish C.J., Laurie and the grandkids,  and Camille could come home more often.  

     I really enjoyed my time riding from Pocatello to Billings with Nadean, Florence and Larry to attend the 2015 family reunion later in July. We had a very nice visit up and back, and the reunion was wonderful at Jan and John's home, and at the swimming recreation center.  The food was great and it was great to see Curt and Chelsea and their families.  Newell also got to attend his 40th High School Class Reunion in Afton the first weekend of August.  He stayed overnight with Nadean on Friday and the reunion was on Saturday.  It was great to see a lot of good friends from high school days.

In October, Mom, Dad, and Damien flew to Arizona, and attended Jameson's Baptism.

Camille and her friend Lance also drove from Utah and Idaho to be there.  We all had fun riding C.J.'s motorcyles.  I guess we all got the attention of the neighbors, because Damien was pulled over by a police car.  The officer said a neighbor complained, so that was the end of our fun on the motorcycles.  Anyway, it was an enjoyable trip.

I am so grateful to have a family.  I love each and every one.  The year 2015 was another challenging year, and a year filled to overflowing with many blessings.  Sally does so much for all of us.  She is our anchor.  Don't know what we would do without her.

Damien played on the Varsity basketball and volleyball teams this year. He also played club volleyball.  He attended EFY and BYU Volleyball camp last summer.     Damien still loves mountain biking and he just got his driver license on January 22nd.  Damien just became an Eagle Scout on February 1st, 2016.  We just attended his Eagle Scout Court Of Honor, yesterday, Saturday, February 27, here at the church in Nevada City.  Three other Eagle Scouts were honored, also.  Camille and Lance drove out to be here.  Camille left South Jordan and met Lance (who drove from Pocatello) in Wells, Nevada.   Then they drove out here to Nevada City together in Lance's car.  C.J. flew here from Arizona and was one of the guest speakers.  He presented Damien with the United States Flag that was flown over The United States Capitol on February 1, 2106.  C.J. gave an amazing speech, and received many compliments.  Damien also gave his Eagle Scout Acceptance Speech, and also received many compliments.  Sally sang "God Bless America" right after the posting of the colors and the Pledge Of Allegiance. There was a live Eagle present that was brought in from U.C. Davis.  It was an amazing Court Of Honor.  Many people said it was the best Eagle Scout Court of Honor they have ever attended.  Saturday evening, Camille, Lance, C.J., and Damien and Mom rode bikes from our home to the South Fork of the Yuba River.  Then they hiked up the river, while Mom watched the bikes.  Then Newell picked them all up, and we came home and had a nice lasagna dinner.

Newell still enjoys being the gospel doctrine teacher for Sunday School.  Sally still teaches part time for the High School District.   She is an awesome teacher, and goes the extra mile with each student.  She also spends hours each week helping Damien with his homework.

  Sally recently was in charge of a dance at our local ward building that featured a live band playing 50's and 60's music.  Sally was a guest singer and sang songs such as Blue Bayou, from Linda Ronstadt.  She enjoys her calling as Ward Choir Director, and Stake Music Chairman.

    Each year continues to fly by.  We are grateful for all our blessings. We hope to see each of you soon, perhaps at the next reunion in Pocatello, Idaho!

  WITH LOVE FROM NEWELL,SALLY, AND DAMIEN HUMPHERYS