A Little More of June

June 2025 

The littles are now the bigs, and it's so cute.  Charlotte (12) and Ella (almost 10) love playing with the "little Vores" and Kaide. They are awesome to create games, build forts, and play with them all throughout our Sunday night gatherings.

I was sitting out on the back porch when this group was heading into the house.  I overheard this conversation and it made my heart happy:

 Charlotte: "I feel like Aubrey and Lauron.”

Ella: "For real!"

Aubrey and Lauron put in the hours with these two. They would teach them dances, play dresses, make up games and keep the little girls happy and entertained. Now those two little girls are the big girls and continuing the cousinly love.

On Thursdays we have "girl lunch" with Dad. We rotate picking the restaurant and lucky us, it's his treat each time. We visit nonstop about our weeks, our children, Mom, gospel insights, seminary, callings, t-shirts... really anything. My dad shakes his head and chuckles because "girl lunch" is so different than Mondays and Fridays when he goes to lunch with Chris and Kerry. (Brian and Adam are invited but due to work, don't go.) From what I gather, there isn't as much chatter going on during "boys lunch." My dad laughs and says, "y'all never run out of things to talk about."

I'm grateful for my dad who helps us all stay connected. We are going to miss having Angelique at our Thursday lunches.

Father's Day was so quiet this year. It was just me and Brian. Aubrey was out of town with a friend. Tanner and family joined Erin's family that day at the Sandhills. (We can't complain, because they join us every other Sunday evening for dinner and Sunday night.) Parker and Brinley called with well wishes, and Brian was celebrated with gifts and cards throughout the week, but the quiet day might be a little bit of foreshadowing of things to come as empty nesters.

Brian is an wonderful father: helpful, patient and supportive. He is also the one around here who keeps us laughing and helps lighten the mood when things (cough, cough-me) get to too intense. When I asked him for ideas for Father's Day, he mentioned he wanted to get some new fishing supplies when we are in Utah next month. Perfect! I found a YouTube tutorial and folded up a $100 bill so he can purchase supplies in July.

Kaide celebrating when he cut his banana. I sure love this boy and his twinkly eyes and his huge grin. He brings so much joy to our lives.

One last Taco Villa Monday on Wednesday at Chic-Fil-A....while we still have Chris and Ang.

Aub prepping for her Alaska trip. Her new scarf and earmuffs arrived, and she was just testing them out while scrolling on her Ipad.

Speaking of Aubrey's Alaska trip...

Last year, her friend Parker Huse, invited Aub to join her family on an Alaskan cruise. Her cruise room was covered, but Aub needed to cover air fair, excursions and the extra travel days before and after the cruise. Aub saved about $1000 to put toward the trip, and Brian and I purchased airfare and gave her some extra spending money. She had an amazing time in Alaska, Canada and Seattle.

I believe this was Canada. She was in awe of the trees and the overall beauty.

Parker's Mimi surprised the girls with a helicopter ride over the glaciers.

This picture just makes my soul happy. Aubrey says it doesn't even begin to compare to Alaska in person.

Puttingher earmuffs to good use.

My dad was able to be in Utah for Chris and Ang's setting apart. He reached out to the grandkids ahead of time, and they planned a couple of get togethers. The group below rented and rode e-bikes up to Bridal Veil Falls. Brinley said her favorite part was at the top when they got off their bikes, and Grandpa asked them to share their dating stories. She said it was fun to laugh together and share those special memories.  

Shortly after this e-bike adventure, they went to lunch with Chris and Ang before they left to the MTC.

While my dad was gone, I worked evenings from 8-midnight with my mom. That time of night is mostly just backup if she wakes up to use the restroom so I mostly just relaxed. (massage chair, Netflix, etc) 

The first night, when I was trying to follow my dad's evening routine with her, she was not pleased. "Where is Steve?" It was pretty startling to hear because 98% of what she says is not coherent. I loved that she knew and was able to express that her husband was supposed to be the one lying next to her in bed singing a hymn and reading from The Book of Mormon.  

She is so good to love on and take care of her two babies. She usually doesn't sleep with them, but she did two the two nights my dad was out of town.

She also loves this grandkid blanket that is probably 17 years old. She will roll up in her wheel chair and tell them individually how cute they are. In this picture, she was having a little interactive time with her baby and the grandkids.

We had a t-shirt quilt made for Aubrey for graduation. I think it is so fun to have all of these memories sewn together. The shirts on her blanket are from elementary school, Vore family vacations, sports, middle school and high school sports, SIP, girls camp, a Taylor Swift concert, her first job/work shirt and more.

This little boy loves his dada. (And this momma is so proud of her little boy who grew up to be the sweetest dad.)

Caregiving for Gram can make for long days. I work all day on Tuesdays and Fridays. I love it when Brit and girls stop by to visit. It makes for a nice diversion and helps break up the day.

They made it to Cote d'Ivoire.

Celebrating these cute grads

Parker is always on one adventure or the next. He works hard and plays hard-always has.  We are looking forward to seeing him, Bryn and Derek next month.

Farewell to Chris and Ang

 June 2025

It's unreal that these two are really heading to west Africa for three years as mission leaders of the Cote d'Ivoire West mission.  Chris (my older brother) and I became good friends during our teen years. Angelique was my best friend who moved from Odessa when she was starting thirteen or fourteen. We stayed close through letters, phone calls (that cost money per minute back in the day!), and by visiting each other during summer or winter breaks. 

We all staggered our first year at BYU: Chris 1989-90, Ang 90-91 and me 91-92.  Chris and Ang basically fell in love through letters when he was on a missionary in France. Ang and I were roommates the spring term of my freshman year. We then worked as Academy for Girls counselors together June and July of 1992 before they were married in August. We have raised our children together. We've gone on couple vacations and family vacations together. We have served in the same ward together almost our entire adult lives. We've hung out almost every Sunday night since we moved to Odessa in August 2000. It's really hard to imagine life in Odessa without Chris and Angelique. They will be fantastic mission leaders, and they will be missed.

Lft-rt, Back row: Thomas Pitt, new French speaking convert Chris helped teach, Grandpa (Steve Vore), Aileen & Alan Pitt, Laurel & David King, John & Shari Martin (Ang's parents), Britney & Adam Bird, Kerry Vore, Hudson Bird, Brian & Erin Gwilliam  On couch: Megan & Adam Vore, Chris holding grandson Noah & Angelique Vore, Holden and baby Olivia Vore & mama Courtney Rogers, Erin, Kaide & Tanner Vore  Front row: Lincoln, Christian & Gracie Vore, Ella & Charlotte Bird & Emerson Pitt

This little family farewell was perfect. Megan and Adam put it together. They had a few decorations and made some yummy French food. Brit and I brought some treats to share as well. We had it on a Sunday night at the Birds for our Sunday night family gathering. Grandpa made sure he had someone to care for Gram so he could attend. My brother Kerry, and his son and family Holden, Courtney & Olivia came for the occasion. They live two blocks away from the Birds but usually just join in the family gatherings a few times a year. (It's too people-y for Kerry, I think.) Thomas Pitt (cousin) and his daughter Emerson and Laurel (cousin) and David King came from Midland. Probably the most fun/surprising addition was Alan (uncle) and Aileen Pitt driving from Kerville to say goodbye.

Megan & Adam (Adam is Chris and Ang's oldest)

Adam, Adam, Hudson, Tanner & Holden

Thomas, Emerson, Aileen, David, Laurel, Ang

Alan, Chris, friend, Dad

Playroom fun, Hud w/ Noah on his back, Gracie, Kaide, Ella

We did a little ladies farewell lunch the next day at Jason's Deli. Chris and Ang had already gotten together over meals with lots of friends for the past month, so it was a smaller gathering. We had a couple of tables in the back room, and we all had a great time being together one last time.

Some friends had to leave a bit early or came a bit late, but this was most of our group. 

Kara Thompson, Kimberla Payan, Ang, Shari Marten, Taylor Wiest & Britney Bird

Kaide, Erin, Ang & Megan

When we snapped this picture, my mind did a flashback to our early years. I love this girl so much. I remember a cute wood sign I bought as a gift for Ang when we were in college. It was in the shape of a house and had something like this painted on it: In my Father's house there are many mansions. I hope yours is next to mine. 

I think it will be.

Aubrey had to say goodbye a week early because she was heading on a trip with a friend. Aub, who isn't a crier, was quietly sobbing. When we got in the car she said, "They are my second family." 

She did spend tons of time at their house. She and La were best cousins. They had lot of sleepovers, and Aubrey was included several times to join in on their family vacations. Chris has been her home teacher, bishop and stake president. Ang was her seminary teacher for 2.5 years. She loves them and knows they love her.

Chris and Ang were sweet to include Derek & Brinley in a family lunch right before they were set apart. Bryn and Derek were also able to say one final goodbye at a going away party Ang's brother had for them the night before they flew to Cote d'Ivoire.

July 17, 2025 Elder Christofferson and another man set them apart. They were able to include immediate family members to be there. My dad and Ang's brother were also able to attend.

Elder Goury, Jake, Charity, Benjamin, Megan, Adam, Chris, Ang, Erin, Jeff, Lauron, David, Steve (Dad), Joseph, Kate & Elder Christofferson

They had a few days of training in the MTC and now they are off to love and serve in a new land.