Holmquist Family

1. Meilynn Hellen Holmquist (May 28, 1952 -) married Stephen Richard Smith (June 12, 1947 -). Meilynn taught home economics at a Christian school and was in charge of teaching of handcrafts at a Christian conference center in California. Steve owns his own software company. Steve worked for several years for Apple Computer making contributions in the area of software.

In November 1998 their cousins from Sweden the Bergdahls, Christer and Bittan, Jenny, and her brother Fredrik and his girlfriend Therese visited Meilynn and Steve Smith in their Scotts Valley home in California. In about the year 2001 the Smiths moved to Bainbridge Island near Seattle, Washington. In Seattle Steve worked for Disney.

Steve is co-founder of

Christian Pilots Association.

1.1. Joshua David Smith (February 23, 1974 -) married Jennifer Alice Olsson (May 23, 1975 -) on August 9, 2003. Josh was born in Santa Barbara, California at Santa Barbara General Hospital. His parents were living in the town Goleta nearby at the time.

Jen was born in northern Maine near the Canadian border. Her parents lived in Frenchville at the time. At that remote location they only got three English language channels on TV and their Sesame Street children's show was in French.

Joshua and his brother Jeremy visited Sweden with their mom and their cousin Joan Rinell with the were little kids and Josh visited Sweden with his grandmother, Doris Holmquist, in August 1989. At the time he worked for some days with his uncle Carey at a Bible school in Säffle.

Hear Josh and Jeremy tell their great-grandparents that they are coming Sweden:

Josh & Jeremy 1978

In 2011 Josh visited the Ellis Island American Immigrant Wall of Honor on which are inscribed Rinell family who emigrated to the United States.

Ellis Island: Rinell Family Immigrants

In 1997 he was in the US navy stationed in Spain.

In 2012 Josh received an acceptance letter for the Master of Science in Information Security Management (MSISIM) with a specialization in Information Security Engineering (ISE) degree program at the University of Fairfax.

1.1.1 William Stephen Smith (September 8, 2006 -) who is known as 'Liam' a Celtic variation of William was born in Annapolis, Maryland. His name William is after his mother's father, and his name Stephen after his father's father.

At the time of Ethan's baptism. Lennart Holmquist asked Liam, whom he had just met for the first time, to tell him all about his life up until then. Only three years old Liam, however, did not have a lot to say about his life up to that point, so Lennart asked Liam,

"What is your favorite toy, Liam?"

"All of them."

"OK. What your favorite food?"

"Peanut butter!"

And so we find Liam at age 3 well grounded in what really matters in life.

1.1.2 Ethan David Smith (January 14, 2009 -) was born in Annapolis, Maryland. Ethan was baptized October 18, 2009. He was named Ethan because his parents liked the name and no one in the family had it. His middle name is after his father's middle name.

See About Me

1.2 Jeremiah Samuel Smith (July 28, 1975 -) married Jenifer Kay Kasten (September 21, 1975 - ) on October 1, 1994. Jeremy is in the US navy and was stationed with his wife in Hawaii, and served on a nuclear submarine.

In 2003 Jeremy received the award of Instructor of the Year of the entire United States Navy.

Jeremy and family traveled to Thailand in 2009. He describes it in an email on 9 April:

So.. Thailand.. Thailand is a very beautiful place—but as I’m learning like every place we pull in- the “sailor towns” are not always the nicest, cleanest places.. but that goes with the territory.. They can’t pull an aircraft carrier into the middle of the redwoods- so they pull you into the industrial part of town- and they pick close high traffic places to bus everyone.. so.. it was off to Pattaya Beach for us… Very much reminds me of Mexico city- Poor, dirty, smelly, lined with vendors and bars, little hole in the wall restaurants everywhere.. but on the other side of the street a beautiful beach, with crystal clear water- and gorgeous sunsets.

We stayed one night in town in a hotel that was actually built the shape of a cruise ship.. after being at sea on a ship- it was a little over the top… but heh.. it was a nice place to sleep.. The hotel was easily a 4 start hotel that I would have expected to pay $200/night to stay at- but it cost $30 to stay there… so that was nice.. On this first night, we walked the town to see what there was- met up with friends- and had (get this) Lobster??? Huh.. go to Thailand and order lobster??? It was the place the hotel recommended.. and it was good. We actually ate at a tiny Thai restaurant for lunch- so lobster dinner wasn’t bad.. and the price was right.. about $6 per person. After dinner we went dancing (actually THEY went dancing, this white boy don’t dance) for a little while, then off to bed.

Morning came early- and I spent a few hours on ichat with Jeni and the kids.. It’s nice to see them—and especially fun to watch them all interact—it’s the next best thing to being home.. hopefully they won’t have withdrawals from the chatting again.. I think I will though.

Morning ended with a 45min cab ride to go golfing.. Now.. I’m not a HUGE golf addict- I plan for the company—and the excuse to get outside away from the ship.. but THIS was golfing.. for $82 ( the most money I spent this entire stop) we got to play at a Jack Nicholas PGA course (way better than the one in Cancun)—and included in the price was 18 holes of golf with a cart, rental clubs, AND a personal caddy to drive the cart, pick the clubs, look the other way when you hit it out of bounds, laugh at you when you are swinging so hard to make a 320yd drive over the water- you accidentally throw your driver 20yds down the fairway, get you drinks, wipe your ball after each putt, and just generally take care of you.. If all golfing was this easy- why would anyone work?? Oh, there was a downside.. tropical storms.. holes 3-8 it poured on us.. so by the end we were all drenched.. but we had a change of clothes.. and the country club had showers for us to use.. Not too shabby… Money well spent.. Golfing was good, company was good.. and fun was had by all..

So.. nothing culturally exciting this stop.. I didn’t get to ride an Elephant with a monkey on my back- but I’ve got to save something for the next deployment..

After golfing we had a hail and farewell for new officers coming, and some officers leaving—which somehow turned into Karaoke at the country club.. but hey—who cares.. then a cab back to Pattaya, dinner, and back to good ‘ole CVN74.. and now it’s time for bed..

Hope you enjoyed this chapter of my journeys.. next chapter should have a guest visitor.. Hmm.. who will that be??

Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, emails, letters, care packages, and crayon drawings for my locker..

Jeremy

In June 2011 Jeremy achieved CVN (Aircraft carrier) Officer of the Deck (OOD) a major accomplishment carrying significant responsibility. At sea the Officer of the Deck is stationed on the ship's bridge and is "in charge of navigation and safety of the ship, unless relieved by the Captain or a senior qualified line officer." www.Wikipedia.org, June 2011.

See DESIGNATION AS OFFICER OF THE DECK (UNDERWAY).

Also in June Jeremy achieved Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) pin. To qualify a Surface Warefare Officer must:

"qualify as a line Surface Warfare Officer and must hold certifications as Officer of the Deck (both underway and in port), Small Boat Officer, Combat Information Center Watch Officer, and must be trained in shipboard engineering, damage control and quality maintenance (3M), and attend Surface Warfare Officers' School (SWOS) in Newport, Rhode Island."

Jeremy's responsibility includes being Technical advisor to the Reactor Officer on Reactor controls issues, which consists primarily of standing watch as Propulsion Plant Watch Officer.

In November of 2011 Jeremy received a letter from Washington State University offering him admission to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program starting in 2012.

On December 5, 2011 Jeremy successfully complete the Naval Sea Systems Command Drydocking course.

See article written by Jeremy in Refit Review, May 10, 2012.

Currently (2012) Jeremy serves on the air craft carrier Stennis.

Jeni and Jeremy have three children.

1.2.1 Savannah Emma Rose Smith (September 25, 2001 - ). Nicknames as of 2009 are Vanna and Nonny.

In 2011 Savannah was awarded the Youth Essay Certificate of Merit and in 2012, 1st Place Youth Essay Contest by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Ladies Auxiliary for an essay.

1.2.2 Macaulay James Smith (August 2, 2004 - ). Adoption papers signed on September 11, 2007.

1.2.3 Hudson Samuel Smith (July 30, 2007 -). Nick name as of 2009 'Hudsy'.

For the ancestors of Meilynn Smith see:

Descendants of Johannes & Emma Holmquist

Footnotes