Brent's 60th birthday and Serafina came to see us with her daddy Parker and her mommy Katie

The best husband in the world just turned 60! He is also the best dad and grandpa. He’s easy to please and doesn’t ask for a lot. He likes to be home and watch tv with me. I made him a nice dinner and homemade chocolate cake. On Friday, we went to dinner to celebrate with our son Parker, his wife Katie and our granddaughter Serafina.

Parker, Katie and Serafina came to visit from Utah. Also, my niece Ivy came to see me and they got to meet Serafina. In the picture I am holding Serafina, Ivi's son Josiet and Ivy's daughter is in the picture too, Soly.

More Utah photos

Tinci

Norma Feliberti was in Utah for RootsTech. She lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico and is the President of the Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Genealogia. She went to church with me.

At church. Ashley sang with a quartet in Sacrament meeting it was beautiful and then taught an amazing class in RS.

With Norma at dinner at Elder and Sister Alvarado's house

RootsTech 2026

Day 1 of RootsTech

Kirby Heyborne is a well-known actor, comedian, and musician who serves as the enthusiastic English-language main stage emcee for RootsTech

Steve Rockwood, President and CEO of FamilySearch

Marlee Matlin, Academy Award-winning actress and author

Denisse Sottili - She was a presenter last year. I met her at the Washington DC temple when she was a missionary and Alson was serving in Italy. Denisse is from Italy.

Sister Barcellos, she was in our Stake

Sister Christofferson, Elder Christofferson's wife

Greg Christofferson, Elder Christofferson's brother

Elder Jorge Alvarado

Lidi and I

Elder Jorge Alvarado and I

Tom Gill Director of Familysearch Latin America

Me, (Chucho) Jorge Alvarado, Cari Lu Alvarado, Elder Jorge Alvarado, David Catale, Lidi Catale

Day 2 of RootsTech

Myko Clelland - Director of content in Europe MyHeritage

Tara Roberts - Tara became the first Black female explorer ever to be featured on the cover of the National Geographic magazine.

Meeting new friends and cousins!

Board of Family Search: Elder Alvarado, Elder Bragg, Elder De Feo, Elder Whiting.

 

Arturo Cuellar y su esposa

Con Vivian Deliz y Myra Irizarry

 There was a lot of snow on the 2nd day

3rd Day

El Chavo del 8

Conner went with me on the 3rd day. With Elder Alvarado

Kendall Hulet - CEO of Storied

The Gardiner brothers Irish dancers

Dave Vance - General manager of Family Tree DNA

Steve Young

Sister Reyna Aburto and Chucho gave a very good class

Ssiter Reyna Aburto

Elder and Sister Rasband were very cute holding hands.

With the Quintanas!!!! It was great to run into them! I had not seen them in a long time.

Aixa's note

My friend Aixa Ocalsio died young, on January 22, 2017, at the age of 57.  Today I was organizing my nightstand and found a notebook from a Relief Society activity in the Lake Reams Ward, where I belonged at the time. In the notebook that was given to all of us, each of us wrote something good that we liked or that inspired us about the sister whose book it was. Aixa, who loved me very much, like a sister, wrote the following: " Maria; You are a very special sister, you are very kind, you are easy to love, and you are always ready to help others. You are a sister with a great testimony of our Heavenly Father and a strong spirit. You are a good mother, wife and a great example for all of us to follow. When I grow up, I want to be like you. With all my love, Aixa." Aixa, Thank you for loving me so much and for thinking so highly of me. You have brightened my day even though you no longer in this earthly world.