Dad and I drove to Lithia Park in Ashland today. We’re on our way to Portland/Salem to see see your kids and specifically attend Athena’s graduation open house. 
we had a nice lunch in the park as we reflected on the many happy hours we spent there with you over the years. Our hearts are filled with pain and joy as we remember your light and life. Oh, how we love and miss you!  We thank you for the beautiful people you brought into our family. They are fabulous and you can be proud of them

Mark was born 44 years ago today at 4:01 PM.  Right from the beginning of his life, he didn’t want to get things started until sometime in the afternoon, though he made sure I was up at 6:30 am when my water broke just to let me know he’d decided to make his entry into the world!  After all, his due date was July 20th!  Now that the stage is set, let me tell the story about how Mark Jonathan Griffiths came to love the outdoors.

We’d recently moved from Hawaii to Provo, Utah where Don, was employed by the BYU Outdoor Survival program.  He took students into the Utah desert on 28 day survival excursions.  Despite Don’s desire to be present for the baby’s birth, the due date came and went and so did he.  He called home every other day for 10 days but then was too remote to call.  Of course, Mark was born the next day.  So, knowing when the trip would be concluded, I packed up Ellen and Emily (Mark’s sisters) and headed to southern Utah to introduce the firstborn son to his dad.  Additionally, Don didn’t know he had a son!  Baby Mark, at 10 days old, was happy as a clam and good as gold while we spent a couple of days with Dad.  From that day forth, Mark LOVED being in nature, any season, any time.  Oh, how we miss him and his many stories.