In The Beginning...

Now, where to start? Going back to the start of all this would take too long. Suffice it to say that Catherine Cook and I began our life together eight years ago. In fact, last week was our anniversary. Cathy brought her daughter April into the marriage, and I provided Robyn, Kevin, Karina, Jenny and Danny. Together we have Noah and Logan. Kevin Marchant was a fairly recent addition to the family, as he married our oldest daughter Robyn in 2005. Their little daughter Kassidy (known affectionately as "Butch") is the most recent addition to the bunch. Being a grandparent is great, but kind of weird when you still have a two-year-old of your own in diapers at home. That's what you get for having a 20-year span of children. Here's Kass and "Uncle Logan"...



So Cathy and I have only Noah and Logan at home now. Kevin went on a mission to Goiania, Brazil, and April moved out on her own. Robyn and Kevin and Kassidy live in Cedar City while Kevin finishes school and waits for acceptance into pharmacy school somewhere. Karina, Jenny and Danny live with their mom in Spanish Fork.

We've been living in our modest little house in Woods Cross for almost eight years now. The house is a rambler of the same vintage as the one I grew up in up in Providence. Our neighborhood is great, and is comprised of a refreshing mix of old folks and young families. Our kids have lots of friends there, and we also enjoy the serene anchorage provided by the retired oldsters on all sides. There's always someone home in case Cathy needs help during the day.

The big event in our lives right now is the return of our missionary Kevin! Two years have gone by pretty fast, and he is due to come home in only 3 days! We're all very excited, except Logan--who doesn't really know who this "Kevin" character is. Kevin will have to get acclimated to his new little brother, who was only a baby when he left. Logan speaks in full sentences now and has his own witty little personality. Kevin will also have to get used to a dog in the house. Allie is a recent addition to the family (to Mark's chagrin). The boys love her, but Mark constantly grits his teeth at the intrusion of a canine in his life.

Here is Kevin and his companion, Stephen Minert. Interestingly, Stephen is the son of John Minert, who I met on MY mission! That is a story that bears telling in full, but that will come later.