October 27 proved to be one of the best days of Mom and Dad's (Nikki and Blaine's) life. Mom wrote a 7 page summary of our tender feelings and memories in her journal, but suffice it to say that when President Kunz of the Temple Presidency said that the greatest gift an adult child can give his parents, that doesn't cost any money is to choose to live righteously and go to the temple for the first time, and to continue on faithful. He was absolutely right. We felt like our hearts would burst! We felt our deceased ancestors with us, especially my Grandpa Ellis Williams, who served his young mission in the New England States, right where Derek will be serving in January!
This is Grandpa and Grandma White with Derek, right after his session at the Rexburg Temple.
This is Grandpa and Grandma White with Derek, right after his session at the Rexburg Temple.
A little closer up of them. They and Kortny and Tad drove to be with Derek on this special day.
Here is our precious son, and us and my parents.
This is all our family that was there to support Derek. Grandma and Grandpa Ripp; she 80 years old and he 86 years old, Aunt Debbie and Nolan came from Twin Falls (their son Todd is on his mission in Ghana, Accra Africa), their son, Shaun Anderson, who also let us host a lunch at his new condo in Rexburg. His wife Ashley is a doll.
Not pictured, but in our temple session was Bishop Roy Moulton and Kayleen, Matt Berry and Jon Jensen from our Bishopric, Brother Peter McKellar, who was Derek's Young Men's President and who has influenced him a lot in his vocation and other areas of life's goals; and David and Alene Breckenridge, who have long been Derek's friend, and ours, as well. Their son, Gary, and Derek have been friends since they were in pre-school.
Grandma Ripplinger, Derek, and Grandpa Ripplinger
Shaun and Derek were the only Ripplinger Cousins.
Here they pose like the Armies of Helaman!
