December 15, 2010 - Robert named Vice President at Goldman Sachs
Robert R. Haslam was named a vice president at Goldman Sachs in the Private Banking division.
December 11, 2010 - Merry Christmas to ALL.
December 7, 2010 - New Thai Triple Combination
Reed received a copy of the new Thai translation of the Latter-day Scriptures in the form of a triple combination. This makes the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants that he assisted in translating 35 years ago, now the expired version of the Thai scriptures. Reed worked with Srilaksana Suntarahut who was the principal translator of the latter-day scriptures in Thai. He also assisted her with the final review of "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" which contains many portions of the Doctrine and Covenants. In the photo at the left the new triple combination (leather bound) is in his right hand and the prior versions of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price are in his left hand.
The new triple combination was printed at Church Printing in Salt Lake City (2010). The prior Thai scriptures were printed in Thailand. The Book of Mormon (1976) and the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Prince (1979).
November 10, 2010 - Jared & Melissa are expecting their first child.
Their approximate due date is June 18, 2011. This will be Reed and Sherry's first grandchild.
November 6, 2010 - Do We Game Day?
Yes we do. ESPN College Game day came to Salt Lake City for the TCU vs. Utah game. Rob, Reed, and Jared went to the event held in the west parking lot at Rice Eccles stadium. We arrived at about 7:45am rather than the 6 am or earlier that many in the crowd did. Sadly Utah was beaten by the frogs with horns.
October 30 - Happy Halloween - Home Grown, Home Carved Jack-o-lanterns
Three of the images below were all carved into one very large pumpkin. Passing out candy and carving pumpkins is all we do for Halloween.
September 16-27 - A visit to Thailand. Ayuthaya, Bangkok and Phuket.
Sherry and I traveled with her brother Les Westberg and his wife Laura to Thailand. This was my third return visit since my missionary days. It was the second for Sherry and the first trip ever to Asia for Les and Laura.
A highlight of the trip for me was to meet Brother Bunja and his family. Bunja was a young man we taught in Ayuthaya Thailand 36 years ago. This was while Mani Seangsuwan was my companion. Brother Bunja was one of several young people ages 16-24 that we taught while in Ayuthaya. Some of them of them joined the church after we were assigned elsewhere. Brother Bunja was one of these.
Today Brother Bunja is married with a wife and two children, all of whom are members of the Church. He is an officer in the Air Force and a member of the Rangsit branch presidency in the Bangkok Thailand stake.
It is hard to express my joy at this reunion. Brother Bunja was involved in the Boy Scouts (common in Thailand, but no too common in Asia). In 1976 (the year after I left, he attended the World Scout Jamboree in Norway.
To see my full report on LDS church sites that we visited in Thailand read this report [pdf]
Bangkok -
We spent 3 busy days in the Bangkok area. On Friday we went north of Bangkok to visit Ayuthaya (the ancient capitol of Thailand) and Bang-Pa-In (site of the King's summer palace. That evening we had dinner with Wisit Khanakham (former president of the Bangkok Thailand stake). He took us out for some fine Thai food. He also took us to the site of the largest meetinghouse in Thailand now under construction in Pakkret.
On Saturday we traveled west of Bangkok out to Ratchaburi province to visit the Floating Market at Dumnern Saduak. It is always fun to take a long tail boat ride on the canals. Following that we returned to Bangkok to visit the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. Les took a fine picture of the Emerald Buddha (made of jade) from outside Wat Phra Kaew through the open door. We also stopped to see the Reclining Buddha at Wat Po which is close by.
In the afternoon we visited the Weekend market at Chutujak. It is a remarkable place where you can purchase almost anything in the way of food, clothes and souvenirs. We purchased ties for all our sons and scarfs for all our daughter and daughters-in-law. Following shopping we visited the incredible Paragon shopping mall. A five story mall that features high end shopping for Thailand's wealthy residents. Next door we saw where the riots last May had destroyed by fire other nearby buildings at Siam Square.
On Sunday we attended church at the Asoke building, joining with both the International Ward and the Asoke Thai ward. The International ward had members from several different nations in attendance. At the Asoke Thai ward we met Elder McConkie (grandson of Elder Bruce R. McConkie). I had communicated with him prior to his mission departure. After church the Bishop of the Asoke ward arranged to take us to the airport using his personal van. That was very much appreciated.
For a complete report on our activities in the Bangkok area please see: Near Bangkok.pdf.
Phuket -
We spent a full week in Phuket. Phuket is an island in southern Thailand in the Andaman Sea (a part of the Indian Ocean). Phuket has popular beach resorts on the west side. Phang Nga bay on the east side is the home of incredible "karst" islands which have a unique and start beauty. These islands jump straight up out of the bay. [See the photograph at the left].
We stayed at the Marriott resort on the northwest coast of Phuket. The resort was beautiful with pleasant accommodations and spectacular swimming pools.
Beaches we visited along the west coast included Mai Khaw, Kamala, Patong, and Kata. The waters were warm and pleasant.
Off the southern end of Phuket are the Phi Phi islands. They are also "karsts" but are located in the Andaman sea and feature clear blue waters, and some nice beaches.
For more information please see Phuket.pdf
August 1, 2010 - Cumulonimbus Mammatus at Sunset over the Wasatch
Reed caught this photograph of a thunderhead (Cumulonimbus) over the Wasatch mountains at about sunset. It was shown by Dan Pope on the KSL news at 10 pm. The cotton ball look at the bottom of the cloud is the Mamatus element in the name. Over the great plains this type of cloud will often spawn funnel clouds and tornadoes. The purple-red color is due to the setting of the sun. Some stray cumulus clouds (white) can be seen beneath this huge thunderhead.
July 24, 2010 - Day's of 47 Parade - "Pioneer Spirit - Now and Then"
One of the best parades in terms of quality was held today in Salt Lake City. It was also one of the shortest Days of 47 parade in many years. Commercial entries were almost nonexistent.
Turning Trials into Treats - Animation and People's Choice Award - Days of 47 Parade - 2010
Other photographs: [Click on thumbnails for larger image]
June 23, 2010 - New Weather Station
The Haslams installed a new Davis Instruments Vantage Vue weather station. The prior station a Davis Instruments Weather Monitor II had served for almost 13 years, but the anemometer which measures wind speed was inoperable for over a year. The new station is much smaller and more compact than the old one, but delivers the same functionality.
May 8, 2010 - Kansas City Missouri Temple Groundbreaking
John and Gale Haslam attended the event near Liberty, Missouri (Clay County Missouri), distant from the LDS population center in the area, but quite close to "Liberty Jail".
Painted, Labeled, Ready to Break Ground
For most - A bring your own chair event
It was a cold and windy morning on May 8, 2010 at the Kansas City Temple site. Members from 11 stakes in and near Kansas City attended the ground breaking ceremony. Elder Ronald A. Rasband gave the dedicatory prayer, Elder William R. Walker managing director of the temple department conducted and spoke. See the program.
For the latest news on Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints see www.LDSChurchTemples.com. [Note: This is not an official web site of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but has the best temple information on the web].
May 7, 2010 - Angela received her Master of Education degree at Utah State University
Receiving her Master's Degree
Angela with Husband, Grandma, and Haslams
Angela with the Hanks Family
April 10, 2010 - Robert Haslam and Desiree Neilson were married in the Salt Lake Temple.
A wedding luncheon was held in the Wasatch Room, Joseph Smith Memorial building. A reception was held that evening at Heritage Gardens:
March 24, 2010 - A new book by Reed's Publishing Company "HTown Publishing" came off the press.
The book "Monk to Missionary" is the true life story of one of Reed's mission companions Mani Seangsuwan. He served three years as a monk before leaving to pursue a new path in life. For details see Monk to Missionary.
