Dave and Jan headed for the Phoenix area on October 14th so Dave could participate in the annual meeting of the International Board of Directors for UIM International (United Indian Missions) in Gilbert.  Dave has been a part of this board for more than three decades now, and was elected to serve another three-year term at this year’s meeting.  It has been an interesting assignment, serving with a great group of missionary administrators and board members.

Having traveled some 375 miles from home, Dave had decided to turn a round trip into a triangle by driving north to Cedar City, Utah where he and Jan are planning to relocate in May of 2020.  Following the board meetings, they drove north through Flagstaff, Arizona to spend the night in Kanab, Utah.  The drive the following day included spectacular fall scenery as they drove over Cedar Mountain toward Cedar City.

Because their last drive over the area featured a blanket of fresh snow, it was nice to be able to pay a visit to Navajo Lake and the numerous camp sites which occupy the area at the top of the mountain range there.

Arriving in Cedar City around lunch time, a picnic lunch was in order – in a park Dave and Jan have already learned to enjoy – near the part of town where they would like to live in years to come.

Following lunch was a stop by the real estate office (Century 21, Prestige Realty) from which they have been receiving e-mails each week, with real estate possibilities in the area.  Their realtor was not in the office, but intended to meet them the following day, so they drove around town to several locations they thought might be of interest – preferring a site where new homes are being built which would seem ideal for their needs.  The house with the floor plan they were most interested in was scheduled to be built on the lot pictured here.

When they met with the realtor, as well as the builder, the following day, they learned that they could have the house they were interested in located on any of several lots in the area which the builder had purchased for future houses in the neighborhood.  So Jan (with Dave’s concurrence) preferred a lot across the street, because it backs up on an attractive golf course – a nice view from the anticipated dining room and the back yard.

The builder is currently building three houses in the immediate neighborhood, including this one on the lot next door to the lot Dave and Jan have chosen.

Dave and Jan were very pleasantly surprised when they were able to sit down with the realtor and builder and plan out many of the details for the house they would like to purchase, and they were able to put money down and sign the papers to initiate the process of having the house built.  The projected date of completion is May 22, 2020.

Before their stay in Cedar City was over they were able to further explore the city and ponder the day when they should be experiencing “life elevated” – which is the state motto for the state of Utah (in view of the fact that, like Cedar City with its 5,000 ft. + elevation, much of the state is characterized by higher elevations than many others).

Before dinner in a local restaurant on Thursday evening, Dave and Jan enjoyed a short hike on one of the many hiking trails in the area – including many which originate in town.

It was a very refreshing trip, and another fun and exciting visit to a city Dave and Jan look forward, before too many more months, to calling their new home!

It has been almost two months since the family gathered for the back-yard celebration of our son Stephen’s 38th birthday.  Many things have happened since that time, but Dave and Jan have always had many reasons to thank the Lord for bringing Stephen (as well as Alissa) into their lives.  And Meagan’s life has been changed in many ways as well because of Stephen’s life.

The family who gathered for the birthday party included (left to right) Chip Clampitt, Connie Seymour, Heidi Clampitt, Jan, Erin, Dave, Meagan, Stephen, Bruce Seymour, Benjamin Clampitt, Ryan, and Amos Clampitt.

Missing from the family picture (because Dave didn’t realize she had gone into the house) was Zerlinda Clampitt, shown here beside her grandmother, Connie Seymour.

Instead of the traditional birthday cake, Jan made ice cream pies – some of Stephen’s favorites when it comes to dessert.

Among Stephen’s birthday gifts was a package of “face coasters,” with a variety of facial alternatives for those who like to experiment with different facial options.

For the youngsters the day included some cruises in one of two motorized cars a neighbor put out on the sidewalk with a “free” sign several weeks before Stephen’s birthday arrived.

The youngsters also enjoyed some play on a “slip and slide” on the lawn in Dave and Jan’s back yard.

Another reason to celebrate came soon after Stephen’s birthday when he received word of a job offer from Zeiss (Carl Zeiss, Inc.), an international lens company headquartered in Germany.  After around two and a half years of unemployment and under-employment we are all excited about the company’s offer of the position of Cinema Technical Sales Specialist.  He will be in charge of a new office in a high-rise in Sherman Oaks, beginning Monday, October 28th, where he will handle technical issues and sales for Zeiss’ cinema lenses – something Stephen is very familiar with because of his 7-8 years with Red Digital Cinema and, more recently, two years with Maxx Digital.  With his wife Meagan out of town for a homecoming celebration at the college she attended in Indiana, the family joined in a small celebration of the long-awaited good news of Stephen’s employment opportunity.

Given a November 31 target date to have his family relocated in the area of his new job, Stephen has been making trips to explore housing options in the Sherman Oaks area north of Hollywood where the family would like to settle.  We are all very grateful for the Lord’s provision, after a lengthy wait, of what looks to be an ideal job situation for Stephen for the years ahead – on a job which will pay a significant starting salary with a company which has over 200 years of experience in the lens business (making virtually every kind of lens imaginable).  As you can tell, there is plenty of reason to celebrate!