7 - 13 SEPTEMBER 2015

Bronwen and Cora Mae

The big news in our lives this week was the birth of a new baby to Josh and Bronwen Finicum. Bronwen is our oldest grandchild, the daughter of Blake and Serena. She married Josh Finicum from Arizona and after moving around a little, they finally settled down in Ephraim, Utah to get Josh a college degree at Snow College. Well, as is not unexpected, Bronwen became pregnant and last Saturday at 0600 in the morning she brought forth their first baby and our first great grandchild. She was 8 lbs 2 ounces and 20 inches in length. She looks perfectly beautiful. She was big enough and Bronwen is small enough that after hours of labor, the baby eventually had to be taken by C-section. We are happy that her pregnancy challenges are over and that the baby and she are safe and sound.

Josh and Cora Mae

 

      Now these three launch on a brand new adventure together. Josh will learn how to work and go to school on little or no deep rest. Bronwen will learn how to care for a little soul. They will both learn how to happily make room for and share their lives with little Cora Mae. 

      I never knew my grandfathers, let alone my great grandfathers, so being a great grandfather is a little strange for me. Little Cora Mae will be nearly 10 months old when we return from our mission in Germany. That is okay because the most important thing is that we know she has arrived and that everything is good. 

      We are happy for Blake and Serena to now have the exalted titles of grandpa and grandma.

Cora Mae Finicum

We yearn for the day that they can rejoice together again as an intact family. We talk to Blake each Sunday by telephone and know that he is very happy for Bronwen and Josh. Of course, he yearns to be able to see them and be with them, but he is accepting of his lot at present and is being patient and submissive. Serena is now a grandma! Madison, Alexis, and Brooke are aunties!!!

     The work in the mission continues to go well. This week was actually pretty slow because the mission presidents and wives were in Vienna, Austria for mission president conference with the Area Presidency.