Tucson trip

 Saturday, November 18, Steve and I took a trip to Tucson.  Our first stop was the Tucson Temple.  Isn't it gorgeous?

We then had lunch at an authentic Mexican food restaurant (meaning there was miminal cilantro).
It was delicious...

After we ate, we visited the cemetary where my parents are buried. 

Here they are.  

Here are my grandma and grandpa Young...

And here are my Aunt Thelma and Uncle Harry. 

It looks pretty ragged and desolate but one has to remember that this IS the desert where water is scarce.  So, it is what it is.  Still a hallowed spot for many many families whose ancestors settled in the Binghampton section of Tucson in the early 20th century.  My grandparents came there from Old Mexico where they had lived in the Mormon colonies until the Mexican revolution which drove many out.  My dad was their first American born child.

Here is the church that the early settlers built and where my ancestors worshiped.

I have been there several times while growing up - mostly to attend funerals of the above relatives.  (but not mom and dad - their funerals were in Payson)

Here is what I believe to be the home that my parents and older siblings lived in - just around the corner from the church.  I entered the address into Google Maps and this is where it took me.  It is currently being used for storage for a plumbing company but I believe it is the right place based upon old photos I have seen.  My mom and grandpa Fraedrich pretty much built it out of adobe bricks (which they made, too!)

 We also drove to Fraedrich Street, just down the block from the church, which is where my mom's parents had their home and property.

Aside from attending the temple and visiting family heritage sites, another objective for going to Tucson was to support Elder Chilson as he rode in the Tour de Tucson bicycle race.  

He and his wife are serving in the Arizona Phoenix mission and they are from Florida.  (note his shirt).  Here they are at the finish line.

Bob Chilson is in his seventies and it is quite impressive he was able to do this race.  He has been training for months!

Then, it was back to Phoenix - we stopped for dinner and a bit of shopping at the IKEA in Tempe (I heart IKEA).  Then, we had dessert with these folks.....

This is my cousin, Neil Fraedrich, and his wife Gloria.  He is the youngest son of Edward and Jane Fraedrich.  Edward is next in age from my mother.  The last time I saw him was back in 1994 at his father's funeral.  Edward died just a day after my dad died so I was already back in Arizona.

 He and Gloria live in Oregon but retired last year and are now snowbirds in Arizona.  They are staying in their 5th wheel in Mesa so we connected via email and met them at Culvers.  What a nice couple. 

After saying goodbye to them, we took a cup of custard to Jerri and chatted with her few minutes before driving back to Anthem.  A LONG but terrific day.