I can’t believe that it has been four weeks since I’ve written here. It has been an eventful at least last two weeks. A week ago Thursday, we left IF after my hair appointment and stopped in Blackfoot at Karen’s and picked up Bryan and Jessica and headed for Utah. Karl drove and Bryan sat in the front seat with him. Jessica and I sat in the back. It was a joy to be able to visit and talk with her. I heard many of her mission experiences that I wouldn’t have heard otherwise. I was able to share some of my experiences also at the FHC. We arrived at Mama’s in American Fork about 4:00 PM. we stayed and visited with her until about 5:45. I had called into Papa Murphy’s in Orem for two pizza’s that we stopped and picked up on the way to the Kims’. We had a delightful visit with them and their two sons. Grace was in IF visiting with her other Grandma . We left there about 8:30 to head back to Michael’s to spend the night. Jess slept on the hide-a-bed and Bryan slept on the living room floor. Karl & I slept were we usually did. I was able to show Tanya and Michael the new.FamilySearch and check out some names for her. It was very interesting. If we hadn’t had to get up so early to leave for Manti the next morning we would have stayed up later.
After my shower the next morning, I came down stairs and Jess was sitting on the floor with Kendra and Abbie sewing on the sewing cards. Abbie said to me, “Just why are you here, Grandma?” I answered that we had just come to spend the night. She then asked, “Where is your husband?” not where is Grandpa….it sounded so mature for a three year old. We left Michael & Tanya’s shortly after 7:00 AM. We had a very pleasant ride with more visiting. We took I-15 to Nephi and beyond because Manti and Ephraim aren’t well marked that way. We went about 14 miles further than we needed to and took the emergency vehicle turn around and headed back to Nephi. The turn-off was very well marked from that direction. We got to Manti about 9:15. Deborah and Jake’s sealing didn’t start until 10:30. We planned on being there 30 minutes early. We found the house that we lived in when Bryan was a baby and when Michael was born. It looked the same but different. If it hadn’t been across from the park we wouldn’t have been able to find it. There is quite a hill from the parking lot to the temple. I didn’t remember it’s being so steep. Of course I was much younger when we were married there. 46+ years ago. Just as we were approaching the temple we came across an older man with four younger men. They said that they were just killing time waiting for the sealing they had come for started. Jessica had noticed they were from Texas and mentioned it. So I asked which wedding they were there for. It was Jake & Deborah’s and he was Jake’s grandfather. Jake was the fifth generation to be married in that temple. That is why they had all come from Texas for the wedding. I decided that Idaho wasn’t really that far after all. As I first went into the temple I saw Mildred’s David standing there. I hadn’t seen him since before his mission…a few years before. I met a Sister Bailey who mentioned she was from the IF area. She said the IF temple was her “home temple.” It was delightful talking to her. I found out that she was Susan Wichham Butikofer’s sister, whom I went to nursing school with. (I saw Susan today after Stake Conference and told her I had met her sister in Manti temple.) We waited and visited in the bride’s waiting room for about 35 minutes before they took us up stairs to the sealing room. The sealer commented that one mother was here and the other was with us. I knew Mildred would be there and probably Daddy too but I couldn’t feel either one of them. Deborah said she could for which I was happy. She said she really appreciated our being there. I was the only one of my and Mildred’s siblings who was able to attend. It was very special. I’m thankful that Bryan offered to drive us down and back to Blackfoot. It worded out so well that way. We left the temple after our picture was taken as part of the group and the bride’s family and went to a hamburger place and ate lunch then headed for Blackfoot. We stopped in Provo on ninth North and ninth East at what used to be Carson’s market and is now BYU Creamery on Ninth and met a young woman who had served in Jess’s mission. We had some of the creamery ice cream (couldn’t pass that up because we don’t have the chance to have it that often) it was fresh strawberry and very good. We had a delightful time getting acquainted with another Jessica. We stopped at the rest stop at Brigham City and got to Blackfoot about 7:45 that evening. It turned out that Karen had been violently ill (Shani was too; they had eaten at the same place the day before) starting Thursday afternoon. She was feeling much better but very weak. Sandy did all the chasing and buying and getting ready for the reunion the next day.
The Kims got there about 9:30 that night. I’m thankful that they came. It was their 16th wedding anniversary that day. Kimberly’s mother & dad brought Grace down the next day. Grandma Robinson was there when we got there. Kent had picked her up (Karen was supposed to but was too sick) Friday morning. It was good to have her there too. My mother, Grandma Wendel would have loved to have been there but felt like she needed to be there to support Deborah and Jake and go to the reception the night before. I totally understand that. I hope she lives long enough to come to another one. Michael & Tanya and girls got there about 10:10 the next morning. Richard got there about 1:30 that afternoon. All of our children were there. Which was wonderful. But there were still nine missing. Richard’s wife, Téa, and his six children couldn’t come. Michael’s Collin was working at scout camp and couldn’t come (Bryan and Michael both missed family reunions when they were working at scout camp so I understand that.) And Bryan’s Chris who is on a mission in Chile also wasn’t there. It has been rainy all month long. It had rained all the days in June except for about three. It rained intermittently that day too. We were hoping that it wouldn’t rain while we ate because there were too many to eat in the house. We could have eaten in the shop but it was a long ways to carry everything. Kim’s nine-year-old Alex, when it started to rain and had rained for awhile, suggested a prayer. He offered it. It stopped raining and didn’t start again until after we were thro’ eating. Oh the faith of a child. It was cool but with sweaters and jackets we got along OK. There were five generations there with Great-great grandma Robinson there and Shani’s children. And yes, we did get a couple pictures of them as well as of all the other families. It went very well. Karen despite being sick and Sandy’s organization pulled it off very well. I appreciate all of my children and love them very much. They are good people and are teaching their children to walk uprightly before the Lord. And Shani and Brittany and their husbands are inturn teaching their children, our great grandchildren too.
The Kims left that night, Nathaniel had to give a talk in sacrament meeting the next day. Michael & Tanya and girls left after lunch after church. We were thinking of leaving for IF with Richard coming home with us for the night and Mom coming with us too because Karen & Kent were supposed to be over to Kent’s parents for that evening for father’s day. Kent’s father had been in the hospital the week before. About 4:15 we were in the kitchen and heard this sound, we rushed to the living room and rain was coming down in torrents and horizontally besides. The rain was pouring out of the rain gutters as if they weren’t even there. Then it started to hail really bad with almost dime sized hail. It came down for awhile; we were about an hour late in leaving for IF. We had a quiet evening. We watched Emma, my Story, neither Mom nor Richard had seen it. Karen & Kent came and got Mom and took her back to Blackfoot for the night then Karen would take her back to Pocatello to meet Paul & ElDene for her to go back home.
Richard left about 9:15-9:30 the next morning. He was driving a Suburban that Téa’s father had given them back to Buckeye. It was soo wonderful having him here. He seemed to enjoy being here too. He went from room to room looking at the pictures and looking at the changes. As I said before I am so thankful for my children and the people they have become.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Monday, June 01, 2009
Going with the Sister Missionaries
I had quite a different experience last Friday evening. We had spent pretty much all day cleaning the house especially the big room, because the sister missionaries were coming for dinner at 5:00 pm. We got it looking much better than it had been. I had started on picking things up and clearing off the table etc. the day before. I hope we can keep it straight for a while. I need to do something in the living room too. We did start on it but ran out of time. I was soo tired that I just crashed for about an hour, then had to make a cake and change my clothes because I was going with them to teach a lesson to a young single man with two small daughters. I felt so much better after I slept about 45 minutes and was able to complete the evening. We had a delite gourmet chicken garlic pizza and salad with the cherry chocolate cake for dessert. It is very easy to make and sooo delicious. They both wanted the recipe.
We left about 5:45 to go meet Josh and his little girls. He wasn’t there yet so we went to another place where they left a sticky note and then back to Josh’s. He came about five minutes later. He had taken his daughters to the zoo.
It was exchange day in the district. They have it once a transfer where they exchange companions with another companionship in the area. The two sisters I went with evidently just met that day---at least had never worked together before. I sat there amazed as one would start a tho’t and the other would finish it like they had practiced and practiced. The Spirit bore testimony to me that it was thro’ the Spirit they were able to do this. It was a very neat experience and I will go again when given the opportunity. I told them I could go most any evening other than Wednesday since I’m at the FHC then.
Also I have been attending a special class at the FHC for only those they have invited to learn more about the new.FamilySearch.org and also about Family Tree which is on the labs.familysearch.org. I had one two weeks ago then another today and one next Monday. I’m not sure if they will have any more of them or not. I found it very interesting. I had Sister F, one of our support people to help me straighten out my Rufener lines on newFamilySearch.org because I three totally different lines and someone has totally messed them up and married and sealed them to the wrong people. We got it all straightened out and then I went to Wendy’s (where they give missionaries a 50% discount) and got my lunch and went back to the FHC to eat it. After that I went in and on one of the computers to add the dates I had on them via Family Tree in labs.familysearch.org. It was all messed up again!! It didn’t stay. I was sooo disappointed. I went in and told Sister F and she said that since the work for them was all done, then just don’t stress over it. Maybe sometime I will be able to straighten it all up. And I still can’t register for the new.FamilySearch.org. So now I have two things to be disappointed about. However, there is a silver lining. Since my sweetheart can register and we are in the same household so people could contact me if they wanted to, I can use his, so I have been able to get on and just search for my people and make some of the changes I need to and want to.
I also stayed for a class at 3:00 on advanced computer techniques. I thoroughly enjoyed that too. I learned a lot. I got home about 5:30 pm after leaving at 10:15 am. It was a long day but a fruitful one.
We left about 5:45 to go meet Josh and his little girls. He wasn’t there yet so we went to another place where they left a sticky note and then back to Josh’s. He came about five minutes later. He had taken his daughters to the zoo.
It was exchange day in the district. They have it once a transfer where they exchange companions with another companionship in the area. The two sisters I went with evidently just met that day---at least had never worked together before. I sat there amazed as one would start a tho’t and the other would finish it like they had practiced and practiced. The Spirit bore testimony to me that it was thro’ the Spirit they were able to do this. It was a very neat experience and I will go again when given the opportunity. I told them I could go most any evening other than Wednesday since I’m at the FHC then.
Also I have been attending a special class at the FHC for only those they have invited to learn more about the new.FamilySearch.org and also about Family Tree which is on the labs.familysearch.org. I had one two weeks ago then another today and one next Monday. I’m not sure if they will have any more of them or not. I found it very interesting. I had Sister F, one of our support people to help me straighten out my Rufener lines on newFamilySearch.org because I three totally different lines and someone has totally messed them up and married and sealed them to the wrong people. We got it all straightened out and then I went to Wendy’s (where they give missionaries a 50% discount) and got my lunch and went back to the FHC to eat it. After that I went in and on one of the computers to add the dates I had on them via Family Tree in labs.familysearch.org. It was all messed up again!! It didn’t stay. I was sooo disappointed. I went in and told Sister F and she said that since the work for them was all done, then just don’t stress over it. Maybe sometime I will be able to straighten it all up. And I still can’t register for the new.FamilySearch.org. So now I have two things to be disappointed about. However, there is a silver lining. Since my sweetheart can register and we are in the same household so people could contact me if they wanted to, I can use his, so I have been able to get on and just search for my people and make some of the changes I need to and want to.
I also stayed for a class at 3:00 on advanced computer techniques. I thoroughly enjoyed that too. I learned a lot. I got home about 5:30 pm after leaving at 10:15 am. It was a long day but a fruitful one.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
An Evening About Joseph and Emma Smith
Before I start telling about our zone meeting last evening, I just want to say that I still can’t register for the newFamillySearch. It is sooo frustrating to me!! I probably know it the best of anyone there who hasn’t been able to actually use it. I have attended classes on it. Almost everyone at the FHC can register. Even those who haven’t done the e-lessons or the family consultant lessons on lds.netdimensions.com. it seems to be because I wrote my name Renée instead of Renee and the computer is having difficulty recognizing me as a consultant. Elder Lyon, our director said last evening that they were keeping the lines hot between the center and SLC trying to get it straightened out. Hopefully, I will be able to register by tomorrow when I go back to the center.
Last evening we were given a very neat treat. We had a 4th great grandson of Joseph and Emma Hale Smith talk to us. He lives here in Idaho Falls now, is married and has two small children. He is working full time and going to school full time and is an officer in the Joseph Smith, Emma Hale Smith Family Association and in that capacity is working on getting ready for a family reunion in Nauvoo for 200 or so members of that family this summer. He is 26 years old and grew up in Montana. He said many of the family went to Montana to get away from the stigma of being related to Joseph Smith. He said they literally feared for their lives. He is the grandson of Gracia (pronounced Grasha I found out last night) Jones who wrote the books, Joseph and Emma and Emma and Lucy and one other one that I can’t remember. He stated that for many years he didn’t let anyone know of his heritage or lineage. He grew up in the church as did his parents. He says that there are only a small handful of members of the Church in the JSEHSFA. I think all of them are probably his siblings and their children and his cousins. He told how kids scoffed at him and gave him a really hard time even in 7th grade when they first learned of his lineage. He told of people who just plain didn’t believe him and made fun of him when they learned of it so he figured it would just be better that he not let anyone know. He mentioned that it was when he was on his mission that he found out that he needed to let others know of it. He was listening to a man tell of his ancestors experiences with the Wiley Handcart Company and thoroughly enjoying it when the Spirit whispered to him that he could and should also enlighten people about his ancestors. He said that at first it was difficult but now he enjoys doing it.
He bore a strong testimony of Joseph being a true prophet of God and Emma being an elect lady and is his eternal companion. He said one woman while on his mission told him she was sorry for Joseph because he could not spend the eternities with his eternal companion because she left the church. He told us that he knows that their Calling and Election were made sure. He didn’t site scripture and verse as he did with other things but I got the impression that it is there. He also said that Emma didn’t leave the Church, the Church left her that she remained faithful to its doctrine and principals the rest of her life. He mentioned that altho’ she didn’t like polygamy and sometimes denied it existed and was being practiced as a commandment of God, she endured it. He also pointed out that in the 124 Section of the D&C that it talks about the Nauvoo House and how it will be a “resting place” for her and it will be a place for her family in the generations to come. He told us that two years ago and again this summer he and Joseph and Emma’s descendants did and will stay there at the Nauvoo House. He said that two years ago, his mother (who is the daughter of Gracia Jones) was in charge of feeding all those people and as she was working and cooking in the kitchen she could feel “Emma’s spirit”. He also pointed out that he strongly believes and the Spirit has confirmed this to him that Emma stayed in Nauvoo because she was commanded to. She also stayed because Lucy Mack Smith was too ill and couldn’t make the journey so she took care of her. As he was telling us this someone asked about the houses there and how they’ve been restored. He was telling us that many even most of the restoration of those houses (altho’ our Church has done some of them) has been done by the RLDS or Community of God Church and “they have done a phenomenal job of it”. As he was telling us this he started to say that had Emma not stayed in Nauvoo, the houses and place as we know it today, then the microphone fell on to the floor, he said, “That is exactly what would have happened to those houses was they would have just fallen apart or been taken apart” and nothing would exist there today. He also said that Emma needed protection and General Bidemon provided that for her. He said that they had an “affectionate companionship”.
He had a decadency chart there. Most of Joseph and Emma’s posterity is from Joseph III and Alexander, his ancestor. Joseph III has only about a third of the posterity that Alexander does. He said, “We don’t know why that is, it just is.” It was a very enjoyable and enlightening evening. I feel I know Emma much better after listening to him. I have always felt that she would be with Joseph and that she is his eternal companion but now I feel like I know her better. I am very thankful that we went.
Last evening we were given a very neat treat. We had a 4th great grandson of Joseph and Emma Hale Smith talk to us. He lives here in Idaho Falls now, is married and has two small children. He is working full time and going to school full time and is an officer in the Joseph Smith, Emma Hale Smith Family Association and in that capacity is working on getting ready for a family reunion in Nauvoo for 200 or so members of that family this summer. He is 26 years old and grew up in Montana. He said many of the family went to Montana to get away from the stigma of being related to Joseph Smith. He said they literally feared for their lives. He is the grandson of Gracia (pronounced Grasha I found out last night) Jones who wrote the books, Joseph and Emma and Emma and Lucy and one other one that I can’t remember. He stated that for many years he didn’t let anyone know of his heritage or lineage. He grew up in the church as did his parents. He says that there are only a small handful of members of the Church in the JSEHSFA. I think all of them are probably his siblings and their children and his cousins. He told how kids scoffed at him and gave him a really hard time even in 7th grade when they first learned of his lineage. He told of people who just plain didn’t believe him and made fun of him when they learned of it so he figured it would just be better that he not let anyone know. He mentioned that it was when he was on his mission that he found out that he needed to let others know of it. He was listening to a man tell of his ancestors experiences with the Wiley Handcart Company and thoroughly enjoying it when the Spirit whispered to him that he could and should also enlighten people about his ancestors. He said that at first it was difficult but now he enjoys doing it.
He bore a strong testimony of Joseph being a true prophet of God and Emma being an elect lady and is his eternal companion. He said one woman while on his mission told him she was sorry for Joseph because he could not spend the eternities with his eternal companion because she left the church. He told us that he knows that their Calling and Election were made sure. He didn’t site scripture and verse as he did with other things but I got the impression that it is there. He also said that Emma didn’t leave the Church, the Church left her that she remained faithful to its doctrine and principals the rest of her life. He mentioned that altho’ she didn’t like polygamy and sometimes denied it existed and was being practiced as a commandment of God, she endured it. He also pointed out that in the 124 Section of the D&C that it talks about the Nauvoo House and how it will be a “resting place” for her and it will be a place for her family in the generations to come. He told us that two years ago and again this summer he and Joseph and Emma’s descendants did and will stay there at the Nauvoo House. He said that two years ago, his mother (who is the daughter of Gracia Jones) was in charge of feeding all those people and as she was working and cooking in the kitchen she could feel “Emma’s spirit”. He also pointed out that he strongly believes and the Spirit has confirmed this to him that Emma stayed in Nauvoo because she was commanded to. She also stayed because Lucy Mack Smith was too ill and couldn’t make the journey so she took care of her. As he was telling us this someone asked about the houses there and how they’ve been restored. He was telling us that many even most of the restoration of those houses (altho’ our Church has done some of them) has been done by the RLDS or Community of God Church and “they have done a phenomenal job of it”. As he was telling us this he started to say that had Emma not stayed in Nauvoo, the houses and place as we know it today, then the microphone fell on to the floor, he said, “That is exactly what would have happened to those houses was they would have just fallen apart or been taken apart” and nothing would exist there today. He also said that Emma needed protection and General Bidemon provided that for her. He said that they had an “affectionate companionship”.
He had a decadency chart there. Most of Joseph and Emma’s posterity is from Joseph III and Alexander, his ancestor. Joseph III has only about a third of the posterity that Alexander does. He said, “We don’t know why that is, it just is.” It was a very enjoyable and enlightening evening. I feel I know Emma much better after listening to him. I have always felt that she would be with Joseph and that she is his eternal companion but now I feel like I know her better. I am very thankful that we went.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
About My Mother's Day and the day before
Yesterday was a different day at FHC. It started by Elder C telling us that everyone could register for the newFamilySearch except me. Apparently, I hadn’t completed the survey at the end of the lds.netdimensions site for the learning about the newFamilySearch. So that is what I did first after copying off the handouts for my last PAF class for this session of classes. (I start all over again July 11.) I will have to wait a day or two in order to be able to register. I had good times yesterday too but many complications. I helped four or five people. I think I was able to answer all the questions posed to me, which was nice. A woman came in and wanted help transferring things from her floppy disk to her USB drive. I later found out that she had other PAF files on another USB drive so was able to help her transfer everything to her new USB drive. Before that a couple with their daughter came in and wanted to prepare their file to go thro’ TempleReady. We put it thro’ PAF Insight for the ordinances that may already be completed and also merged a few duplicates on the file too. it all was on their USB drive. When we attempted to put it thro’ TempleReady, it kept asking for the disk to be inserted in the E drive. That was the port that the USB drive was in. Since they had an appointment at 11:30 they left saying they would be back. I had lunch then prepared for my PAF class. I felt impressed to check out the computers in the computer lab to see if PAF Companion was on each one and could be used since that was the last half of my class. I found out that something wasn’t talking to something else because altho’ PAF Companion was installed on all of the computers, a box that said “could not find experience drive” came up and it would go any further. That was for the tabs that you wanted to preview instead of printing. The first few tabs worked fine but it was the ones that wouldn’t work that are the most fun. So I asked Elder C if he could open and set up the Archibald room because I had taught in there before we had the computer lab and it worked fine. So I taught the first part of the class in the lab then we walked down two halls to the Archibald room for the rest of the class. I soon found out that the “fun”tabs wouldn’t work in there either altho’ it wasn’t the same problem. So I explained the best I could with what I had. Then we went back to the lab and let them work on my worksheet using the custom report part of the worksheet. I found out I had made a mistake and left out a step on the work sheet. I left the class members in there working on their worksheets while I went out and helped the family I had been helping that morning. We tried to do the TempleReady from the USB drive again and it still wouldn’t work. I have come to the conclusion that you must have to transfer the file to the desktop in order for TempleReady to accept it. We ended up making a GEDCOM file and putting it thro’ that way. That was easy enough to do but since the file only had a little over 300 names and the TempleReady program easily handles up to 2.000, I figured I’d skip that step. By making the GEDCOM file it worked fine. They were very appreciative. It was a pleasure to work with them.
After we were thro’ there at the FHC we met K & K, and M and S & Jand P at Smitty’s and they treated us to dinner and gave me a gift for Mother’s Day. (It was the book Daughters of God by M. Russell Ballard and some lotion and a lovely card. I’m looking forward to reading it. I read the forward by Sheri Dew out loud to my sweetheart on the way home. It all was very enjoyable. My sweetheart and I split the Halibut dinner. We had pancakes with it and a salad and a roll and strawberry shortcake that we brought home with us. I was soo full that it was an hour after we got home that I started feeling better. It was a very enjoyable time. I was very tired when I got home tho’. I got along fine while I was gone but I “let down” after I got home and didn’t do much after that. K is a very special daughter. She is our only daughter but I don’t think anyone could have a better one. She is so kind and tho’tful and loving. Her grandchildren just love her. I remember my grandchildren making me feel very special too. Being a grandma is a mutual admiration society with her grandchildren. It is a very good feeling.
I opened a gift from M & T this morning. It was a TimeOut for Women DVD and a lovely card that M wrote in. it is sooo neat being friends with my children. They are the best of our friends. Some of the discussions I have with my children are so enjoyable and enlightening. I’ve spent many a late night discussing things with M when no one else is about or around. We both find these very enjoyable. I’ve treasure those kinds of talks with all of my children. They have told me that they also treasure them and that makes them that much more special.
My sweetheart wrote me a lovely letter today. He started out differently this year than any other letter he has written me…talking about Heavenly Father’s creations etc. then went on to say what some of our prophets have said about woman being His greatest creation, etc. It was a very nice letter. He always writes such nice letters. He expresses himself very well. He is always complimentary to me when he writes about me. I love him very much and am thankful that I married him almost 47 years ago.
K called and I had a very nice chat with him. And B called and left a lovely message while I was talking to K. I’m sorry that I didn’t get to talk to him.
After our family chat, R sent this to me: I think it is beautiful.
I was thinking of you today and wrote this for you:
Today is Mother’s Day.
All across the nation, millions will meet to celebrate Motherhood… and most will miss the beauty of it.
They will meet in churches of many faiths, in restaurants, in living rooms.
They will think of the many dangers that mothers have rescued their children from, and of the very pains that those mothers endured to bring the children into the world at the mothers’ own peril, but this is not what makes my mother beautiful.
They will talk about the countless hours mothers spent watching after little ones, of sleep they lost and dreams they sacrificed to rear their children, but this is not what makes my mother beautiful.
They will tell stories about the times when mothers could easily have lashed out in anger at their children, but wisely held their tongues, but this is not what makes my mother beautiful.
They will recall times when mothers watched their children make choices they knew would bring sorrow, and could do nothing but pray, hope and wait for their children to see what they saw, but this is not what makes my mother beautiful.
They will reflect on the many menial tasks that mothers perform, and realize that many are done when those mothers would rather have been doing nearly anything else, but this is not what makes my mother beautiful.
No, as much as we deify mothers this one day out of the year, and rightly credit them for the many times when they put others before themselves, and the many times that they could so easily and understandably have let down those that they loved and did not, this Is not what makes my mother beautiful.
What makes my mother beautiful is not the fact that she did all of these things, but the indisputable fact that, given the opportunity to live her life again from the beginning, she would do these things all over again. That is her virtue. That is her glory. That is the legacy that will follow her into the heavens and all of the worlds to come. That is why Mother’s Day endures. Somewhere beneath all of the frills and mixed-up feelings is a sense that all of us have that, while childhood is fleeting, Motherhood is eternal.
R 5/10/2009
I’m so thankful that all of my children are my friends. Except for my sweetheart, they are the best friends I have. I love the discussions and events that I’ve had with each of them. They are special and dear to my heart.
After we were thro’ there at the FHC we met K & K, and M and S & Jand P at Smitty’s and they treated us to dinner and gave me a gift for Mother’s Day. (It was the book Daughters of God by M. Russell Ballard and some lotion and a lovely card. I’m looking forward to reading it. I read the forward by Sheri Dew out loud to my sweetheart on the way home. It all was very enjoyable. My sweetheart and I split the Halibut dinner. We had pancakes with it and a salad and a roll and strawberry shortcake that we brought home with us. I was soo full that it was an hour after we got home that I started feeling better. It was a very enjoyable time. I was very tired when I got home tho’. I got along fine while I was gone but I “let down” after I got home and didn’t do much after that. K is a very special daughter. She is our only daughter but I don’t think anyone could have a better one. She is so kind and tho’tful and loving. Her grandchildren just love her. I remember my grandchildren making me feel very special too. Being a grandma is a mutual admiration society with her grandchildren. It is a very good feeling.
I opened a gift from M & T this morning. It was a TimeOut for Women DVD and a lovely card that M wrote in. it is sooo neat being friends with my children. They are the best of our friends. Some of the discussions I have with my children are so enjoyable and enlightening. I’ve spent many a late night discussing things with M when no one else is about or around. We both find these very enjoyable. I’ve treasure those kinds of talks with all of my children. They have told me that they also treasure them and that makes them that much more special.
My sweetheart wrote me a lovely letter today. He started out differently this year than any other letter he has written me…talking about Heavenly Father’s creations etc. then went on to say what some of our prophets have said about woman being His greatest creation, etc. It was a very nice letter. He always writes such nice letters. He expresses himself very well. He is always complimentary to me when he writes about me. I love him very much and am thankful that I married him almost 47 years ago.
K called and I had a very nice chat with him. And B called and left a lovely message while I was talking to K. I’m sorry that I didn’t get to talk to him.
After our family chat, R sent this to me: I think it is beautiful.
I was thinking of you today and wrote this for you:
Today is Mother’s Day.
All across the nation, millions will meet to celebrate Motherhood… and most will miss the beauty of it.
They will meet in churches of many faiths, in restaurants, in living rooms.
They will think of the many dangers that mothers have rescued their children from, and of the very pains that those mothers endured to bring the children into the world at the mothers’ own peril, but this is not what makes my mother beautiful.
They will talk about the countless hours mothers spent watching after little ones, of sleep they lost and dreams they sacrificed to rear their children, but this is not what makes my mother beautiful.
They will tell stories about the times when mothers could easily have lashed out in anger at their children, but wisely held their tongues, but this is not what makes my mother beautiful.
They will recall times when mothers watched their children make choices they knew would bring sorrow, and could do nothing but pray, hope and wait for their children to see what they saw, but this is not what makes my mother beautiful.
They will reflect on the many menial tasks that mothers perform, and realize that many are done when those mothers would rather have been doing nearly anything else, but this is not what makes my mother beautiful.
No, as much as we deify mothers this one day out of the year, and rightly credit them for the many times when they put others before themselves, and the many times that they could so easily and understandably have let down those that they loved and did not, this Is not what makes my mother beautiful.
What makes my mother beautiful is not the fact that she did all of these things, but the indisputable fact that, given the opportunity to live her life again from the beginning, she would do these things all over again. That is her virtue. That is her glory. That is the legacy that will follow her into the heavens and all of the worlds to come. That is why Mother’s Day endures. Somewhere beneath all of the frills and mixed-up feelings is a sense that all of us have that, while childhood is fleeting, Motherhood is eternal.
R 5/10/2009
I’m so thankful that all of my children are my friends. Except for my sweetheart, they are the best friends I have. I love the discussions and events that I’ve had with each of them. They are special and dear to my heart.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
My mother
Yesterday, I completed reading my mother’s life history (it inspires me to start working on my own) and enjoyed reading it sooo much. It gave me new insight on my grandparents and how hard it was for them to raise their family. It also helped me to envision my mother as a little girl and young woman. I’m so thankful for her writing it. She has had many hardships, trials and challenges but she is a strong woman and came thro’ them with flying colors. She has been a widow for 39 years, and finished raising her three youngest children alone. Two of her six children have already passed on before her. That has to be one of the hardest trials there is. She started at BYU when she was just 17 years old. Her first teaching job was in Mexico and she taught children as old or older than she was. Her oldest brother died when he was 13 and she 12. I remember her telling me that it was quite traumatic to suddenly be the oldest child. (Since I have always been the oldest child I hadn’t tho’t that much about it. But as the oldest child one is expected to be responsible, set a good example and help out with the other children among other things.) Mama told of going to school and collecting her brother’s things and cleaning out his locker because she knew it would be so hard for her parents to do. So she started that roll almost immediately. And she has fulfilled that roll very well. I love her very much and really appreciate the many things she has taught me from being compassionate as well as responsible, to sewing and cooking. I could cook from the time I can remember and I started sewing when I was nine. I made most of my own clothes from age 12 on up. Mama taught 4-H so my sister, (who was only 8 at the time) and I could learn how to sew. She loves playing games (as her mother before her did) and has passed that love on to me.
This is what I wrote in a card for her
Altho' it is passed your birthday I want you to know that I'm thankful that you are my mother and that you are still here
with us. I'm thankful for all of the many things you taught me and the example you are for me. I just got thro'
reading your history today. I'm thankful that you wrote it for us, your posterity. It put a few things in a different light
than I imagined them. I'm glad you included your early life. I got a different picture of Grandpa, especially. He never seemed to have
very much to say from what I remember about him. I'm glad to know that he did have a testimony and that the Church and the gospel
meant much to him. I also remember your telling me as I was growing up that I needed to get a college degree and
to be married in the temple. Now I know where you got it from. It took a while but I did get the degree (altho'
it is only an associate degree) and I'm very grateful that I had it when K could no longer teach. I'm
not sure what we would have done had I not had it. I could have worked full time at minimum wage and we still wouldn't have
made it. With my degree, I was able to work only three days a week and that is all I needed to work with the earning power I had.
I'm thankful that my children and grandchildren got to know you as well. You have been such an influence on them.
I love you very much and am so thankful that I was sent to your home as your oldest child.
This is what I wrote in a card for her
Altho' it is passed your birthday I want you to know that I'm thankful that you are my mother and that you are still here
with us. I'm thankful for all of the many things you taught me and the example you are for me. I just got thro'
reading your history today. I'm thankful that you wrote it for us, your posterity. It put a few things in a different light
than I imagined them. I'm glad you included your early life. I got a different picture of Grandpa, especially. He never seemed to have
very much to say from what I remember about him. I'm glad to know that he did have a testimony and that the Church and the gospel
meant much to him. I also remember your telling me as I was growing up that I needed to get a college degree and
to be married in the temple. Now I know where you got it from. It took a while but I did get the degree (altho'
it is only an associate degree) and I'm very grateful that I had it when K could no longer teach. I'm
not sure what we would have done had I not had it. I could have worked full time at minimum wage and we still wouldn't have
made it. With my degree, I was able to work only three days a week and that is all I needed to work with the earning power I had.
I'm thankful that my children and grandchildren got to know you as well. You have been such an influence on them.
I love you very much and am so thankful that I was sent to your home as your oldest child.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Happy Easter
I can’t believe that it’s been that long since I have written. It has been a good month with much goings on. Since I found out that my A1C is 7.2 (the highest it’s ever been!) with no real changes except not as much exercise, actually hardly any, I have tried to go back to exercising. I’ve done better last month but I still need to improve. I’ve only exercised once or twice a week and I need to get up to at least three or four. I can tell exercise makes a difference tho’ even tho’ I haven’t done as much as I should. (My blood sugars are already lower than they have been.)
Last Thursday we left for Utah. We left a little later since I was planning on going to the Israel Barlow Family Association meeting of which I am the family representative of the Pamela Elizabeth Barlow tribe. It was held in Bountiful, Utah. I wanted to meet H B, the man I have corresponded with via e-mail and talked to many times on the phone. I did meet him and his lovely wife and a few others. I was told the meeting would start at 5:00 pm but found out that it didn’t start until 6:00 pm. I had time to chat and get to know a few people which I wouldn’t have been able to if it had started at 5:00. The meeting was very informative. I met S C who is the paid genealogist/researcher for the organization. Her husband’s grandmother was a Barlow. I found out that Israel’s 5th great grandfather, the one who came over from England, was a puritan and he come over and joined John Winthrope’s Puritan colony in Massachusetts. His name was Edmund Barlow. He would be my 8th great grandfather. (And I just discovered I had them on my PAF file already. However, I hadn’t realized that they were Puritans.) I really enjoyed being to that meeting and meeting those people. As we were leaving it, I had the tho’t: I’m so thankful that I am not as shy as I used to be. If I were there was no way I could have gone to a meeting where I knew not a soul and intermingled with them and thoroughly enjoy myself. I wouldn’t have dare go. I can thank my nursing for that besides just being more mature and thank the Lord the most that He has guided my path in the directions He has. There is nothing to catch the Spirit of Elijah like meeting people who have the same ancestors as you have. I also met D. She lives in Sandy and also is a service missionary at the Family History Center in SLC. We compared things and talked about the new FamilySearch. I found it very interesting to speak with her.
We got to Michael’s a little after 9:00. The meeting lasted until 8:20 or so. The little girls were in bed. but I was surprised that N was too. C was still up. M got home about 10:15 pm. He works at LDSFS in American Fork. He and Tand I stayed up until almost 1:30 talking and catching up. We woke up about 7:15 and I went up and read scriptures with the family and had family prayer with them. It was kind of a miscellaneous day. We enjoyed each other’s company and had fun with K and A. They are such cute little girls. And they seem to think we are special too. That evening T and I went to a bridal shower for my niece, D. She will be getting married in June but since she and her fiancé were here from Texas and her sister was here from California, (the other three sisters live in the area) they had the bridal shower for her then. They are my sister’s daughters. She died seven years ago of pulmonary emboli. It was good to see all of them and the shower was a lot of fun. My mother and two sisters, B and J were there also. After we got home Tanya and I were telling K and M about the shower. After K went to bed we started talking about other times we had been together and remembered the time we were at Joy’s place the night before my father-in-law’s funeral. We were playing games and telling jokes and how hard we laughed. I retold the joke that really made us all laugh and I was laughing so hard I couldn’t even tell the punch line. M had to guess it. I haven’t laughed that hard in years! Then T told of an experience M's co worker told him of and we really laughed then too. It felt so good to laugh. I can see why they say it is healthy to laugh.
Saturday morning we had time for a game of Pinochle. We really do enjoy playing that together. They even have some cards that aren’t regular face cards that we often use. After the Pinochle game we got ready to go to Mama’s 9oth birthday party. It was held at the Senior Citizen’s Center in American Fork. She looked very nice and really not 90 years old. I hope I look as good if I live that long. There were sooo many people there. It was good to see all of them. All of her living children were there and all of her grandchildren except five. My B and R and their families, D Y, and my youngest brother’s two children, J and J. They sent out 300 invitations and there were more than that there I would dare say. I saw cousins who had to introduce themselves because it had been so long since I had seen them. I didn’t get to see one cousin I would have really enjoyed talking to.My sister, B said she was there, but I was visiting with other cousins and didn’t notice her and she didn’t seek me out sooo. A few people did seek me out tho’ and that was very nice. All of my uncles and aunts told me I was looking so good. I decided I must have looked pretty bad the last time they saw me. Mama said that is right. I did look pretty bad there for a while. I know it’s thro’ the blessings of the Lord that I am doing so well. Uncle G told me I looked very good in my seniorness. I guess he was referring to my being a senior citizen now. We got some lovely pictures while there. I will send some of them to my children. We went back to M’s and watched them dye Easter Eggs. After the little girls were in bed we watched The Testaments. It really se tthe mood for my day the next day, it being Easter Sunday and all.
Sunday was a lovely day too. Went to church with M & T and children. They have a new chapel less than a block away from them. We had a lovely dinner there then went over to Orem, taking C with us, to see the Kims as we call them. Our son K and his wife K and their children. We had a nice visit with them. We played Pictionery Jr. and the junior Apples to Apples games. I also played the key board while K and K sang, Let There be Peace on Earth and Oh, That I Were an Angel. I think we all thoroughly enjoyed that. Karl and I were both amazed to find out that K's voice sounds almost identical to his dad's. All four of our sons have good voices but only K sounds like his Dad. I didn’t think it had been that long since I heard him sing. Altho’ it has been quite a while and he was much younger. I guess his voice has matured. We got back to M & T’s just as it was getting dark. (we don’t like to drive in the dark any more.) We had strawberry short cake and watched Meet the Robinsons which we had never seen. It was a cute movie. We were in bed before 11:00---the first night since we got there. We got up a little after 7:00 for reading the scriptures and prayer. K went back to bed. We left about 11:00 to go visit my mother for a couple of hours. We had lunch with her and enjoyed visiting with her until almost 2:00. We got gas there in American Fork before we got on the freeway and got in IF about 6:20. We got gas and ate at Chinese Garden and got home about 7:30. I was surely tired. But it was a good trip and wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It was jam packed with things to do and people to see.
Yesterday was such a beautiful day and warm—very spring like. But today there is a winter storm warning until Thursday! And it is snowing!! The high is supposed to be 50 degrees but it won’t get near that I don’t think.
Last Thursday we left for Utah. We left a little later since I was planning on going to the Israel Barlow Family Association meeting of which I am the family representative of the Pamela Elizabeth Barlow tribe. It was held in Bountiful, Utah. I wanted to meet H B, the man I have corresponded with via e-mail and talked to many times on the phone. I did meet him and his lovely wife and a few others. I was told the meeting would start at 5:00 pm but found out that it didn’t start until 6:00 pm. I had time to chat and get to know a few people which I wouldn’t have been able to if it had started at 5:00. The meeting was very informative. I met S C who is the paid genealogist/researcher for the organization. Her husband’s grandmother was a Barlow. I found out that Israel’s 5th great grandfather, the one who came over from England, was a puritan and he come over and joined John Winthrope’s Puritan colony in Massachusetts. His name was Edmund Barlow. He would be my 8th great grandfather. (And I just discovered I had them on my PAF file already. However, I hadn’t realized that they were Puritans.) I really enjoyed being to that meeting and meeting those people. As we were leaving it, I had the tho’t: I’m so thankful that I am not as shy as I used to be. If I were there was no way I could have gone to a meeting where I knew not a soul and intermingled with them and thoroughly enjoy myself. I wouldn’t have dare go. I can thank my nursing for that besides just being more mature and thank the Lord the most that He has guided my path in the directions He has. There is nothing to catch the Spirit of Elijah like meeting people who have the same ancestors as you have. I also met D. She lives in Sandy and also is a service missionary at the Family History Center in SLC. We compared things and talked about the new FamilySearch. I found it very interesting to speak with her.
We got to Michael’s a little after 9:00. The meeting lasted until 8:20 or so. The little girls were in bed. but I was surprised that N was too. C was still up. M got home about 10:15 pm. He works at LDSFS in American Fork. He and Tand I stayed up until almost 1:30 talking and catching up. We woke up about 7:15 and I went up and read scriptures with the family and had family prayer with them. It was kind of a miscellaneous day. We enjoyed each other’s company and had fun with K and A. They are such cute little girls. And they seem to think we are special too. That evening T and I went to a bridal shower for my niece, D. She will be getting married in June but since she and her fiancé were here from Texas and her sister was here from California, (the other three sisters live in the area) they had the bridal shower for her then. They are my sister’s daughters. She died seven years ago of pulmonary emboli. It was good to see all of them and the shower was a lot of fun. My mother and two sisters, B and J were there also. After we got home Tanya and I were telling K and M about the shower. After K went to bed we started talking about other times we had been together and remembered the time we were at Joy’s place the night before my father-in-law’s funeral. We were playing games and telling jokes and how hard we laughed. I retold the joke that really made us all laugh and I was laughing so hard I couldn’t even tell the punch line. M had to guess it. I haven’t laughed that hard in years! Then T told of an experience M's co worker told him of and we really laughed then too. It felt so good to laugh. I can see why they say it is healthy to laugh.
Saturday morning we had time for a game of Pinochle. We really do enjoy playing that together. They even have some cards that aren’t regular face cards that we often use. After the Pinochle game we got ready to go to Mama’s 9oth birthday party. It was held at the Senior Citizen’s Center in American Fork. She looked very nice and really not 90 years old. I hope I look as good if I live that long. There were sooo many people there. It was good to see all of them. All of her living children were there and all of her grandchildren except five. My B and R and their families, D Y, and my youngest brother’s two children, J and J. They sent out 300 invitations and there were more than that there I would dare say. I saw cousins who had to introduce themselves because it had been so long since I had seen them. I didn’t get to see one cousin I would have really enjoyed talking to.My sister, B said she was there, but I was visiting with other cousins and didn’t notice her and she didn’t seek me out sooo. A few people did seek me out tho’ and that was very nice. All of my uncles and aunts told me I was looking so good. I decided I must have looked pretty bad the last time they saw me. Mama said that is right. I did look pretty bad there for a while. I know it’s thro’ the blessings of the Lord that I am doing so well. Uncle G told me I looked very good in my seniorness. I guess he was referring to my being a senior citizen now. We got some lovely pictures while there. I will send some of them to my children. We went back to M’s and watched them dye Easter Eggs. After the little girls were in bed we watched The Testaments. It really se tthe mood for my day the next day, it being Easter Sunday and all.
Sunday was a lovely day too. Went to church with M & T and children. They have a new chapel less than a block away from them. We had a lovely dinner there then went over to Orem, taking C with us, to see the Kims as we call them. Our son K and his wife K and their children. We had a nice visit with them. We played Pictionery Jr. and the junior Apples to Apples games. I also played the key board while K and K sang, Let There be Peace on Earth and Oh, That I Were an Angel. I think we all thoroughly enjoyed that. Karl and I were both amazed to find out that K's voice sounds almost identical to his dad's. All four of our sons have good voices but only K sounds like his Dad. I didn’t think it had been that long since I heard him sing. Altho’ it has been quite a while and he was much younger. I guess his voice has matured. We got back to M & T’s just as it was getting dark. (we don’t like to drive in the dark any more.) We had strawberry short cake and watched Meet the Robinsons which we had never seen. It was a cute movie. We were in bed before 11:00---the first night since we got there. We got up a little after 7:00 for reading the scriptures and prayer. K went back to bed. We left about 11:00 to go visit my mother for a couple of hours. We had lunch with her and enjoyed visiting with her until almost 2:00. We got gas there in American Fork before we got on the freeway and got in IF about 6:20. We got gas and ate at Chinese Garden and got home about 7:30. I was surely tired. But it was a good trip and wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It was jam packed with things to do and people to see.
Yesterday was such a beautiful day and warm—very spring like. But today there is a winter storm warning until Thursday! And it is snowing!! The high is supposed to be 50 degrees but it won’t get near that I don’t think.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Installment # III
It was good to get back to the FHC. We were told we were missed. We took some ribbing because we weren’t there. I just told them we went down where it was warm. 85 degrees on the day Emma was baptized! It was very cold here we were told. I helped a few people. I am so thankful for the knowledge I have gained since we started there. A couple of weeks ago I told Elder that our mission ends in October. He said that I’d better stay around longer than that. That he had put my name in for something and I’d just better stick around. I am already teaching the PAF classes on Saturday so can’t imagine what it is all about. Time will tell.
I’ve had a couple of insights the last little while, while working there: the one was just the other day. One of the new missionaries was asking me about putting still born instead of child in the baptism and endowment fields on the individual screen. And the spirit let me know that they didn’t need to be sealed to their parents because the Atonement had taken care of them. That was a comfort to me because I have worried about little ones who are still born who wouldn’t have been BIC. I feel that the spirit is in the body before the child is born. I have felt life inside of me five times. And I know that those babies are alive before they are born. I feel that the spirit enters the body at quickening or when the mother first feels life. That is just my feelings there is no scripture or verse to support it. I feel that if the spirit is still on God’s timetable then it is only in the womb a second or so before it is born. Like I said, I have nothing to support it I just feel that way.
The other thing happened about a month ago. I was helping a young woman trying to register for FamilySearch.org. Nothing was working. She was getting sooo discouraged. She said that she lived an hour and a half away from IF and that she had planned to leave around 10:00 that morning to get to the FHC. Everything went wrong and kept her from leaving until after noon. She didn’t get there until almost 2:00. I asked her if there was a chance she had already registered because it told us that her user name had already been used. She told me that her husband may have registered her. So I found out that she had an e-mail address that she would be able to retrieve online so we sent in the request for her user name and password to be sent to her e-mail address. After we retrieved that, we were still having problems and couldn’t get the program to accept to so we could change her password to something easier for her to remember. She was ready to throw up her hands and quit. I told here that Sister F was just in the next room and she would be able to help us get it straightened out. She said she just wanted to get home; it would take her an hour and a half anyway to get home. I told her that it would only take a minute or two and that she would have to call either SLC or us to get it straightened out anyway so she gave in. S. F typed in the exact same name and password that we did and it worked for her! So S. F changed her password right then and there for her. The young woman went back into the main room and was able to find three generations of her ancestors who needed their work done! She was soo elated. She said, “I was beginning to wonder if my ancestors wanted their work done.” (She h ad told that she was a fairly recent convert.) I replied, “I don’t think it was you ancestors that would try to throw a wrench into things because they have the choice whether to accept the work being done for them or reject it.” “But,” I said, “ I do believe Satan would try to discourage you from doing this work because he knows how important it is that it be done and he would try to thwart you by causing you to become discouraged.” I felt the Spirit witnessing to me that what I said was true as I said it. It is a neat feeling.
I’ve had a couple of insights the last little while, while working there: the one was just the other day. One of the new missionaries was asking me about putting still born instead of child in the baptism and endowment fields on the individual screen. And the spirit let me know that they didn’t need to be sealed to their parents because the Atonement had taken care of them. That was a comfort to me because I have worried about little ones who are still born who wouldn’t have been BIC. I feel that the spirit is in the body before the child is born. I have felt life inside of me five times. And I know that those babies are alive before they are born. I feel that the spirit enters the body at quickening or when the mother first feels life. That is just my feelings there is no scripture or verse to support it. I feel that if the spirit is still on God’s timetable then it is only in the womb a second or so before it is born. Like I said, I have nothing to support it I just feel that way.
The other thing happened about a month ago. I was helping a young woman trying to register for FamilySearch.org. Nothing was working. She was getting sooo discouraged. She said that she lived an hour and a half away from IF and that she had planned to leave around 10:00 that morning to get to the FHC. Everything went wrong and kept her from leaving until after noon. She didn’t get there until almost 2:00. I asked her if there was a chance she had already registered because it told us that her user name had already been used. She told me that her husband may have registered her. So I found out that she had an e-mail address that she would be able to retrieve online so we sent in the request for her user name and password to be sent to her e-mail address. After we retrieved that, we were still having problems and couldn’t get the program to accept to so we could change her password to something easier for her to remember. She was ready to throw up her hands and quit. I told here that Sister F was just in the next room and she would be able to help us get it straightened out. She said she just wanted to get home; it would take her an hour and a half anyway to get home. I told her that it would only take a minute or two and that she would have to call either SLC or us to get it straightened out anyway so she gave in. S. F typed in the exact same name and password that we did and it worked for her! So S. F changed her password right then and there for her. The young woman went back into the main room and was able to find three generations of her ancestors who needed their work done! She was soo elated. She said, “I was beginning to wonder if my ancestors wanted their work done.” (She h ad told that she was a fairly recent convert.) I replied, “I don’t think it was you ancestors that would try to throw a wrench into things because they have the choice whether to accept the work being done for them or reject it.” “But,” I said, “ I do believe Satan would try to discourage you from doing this work because he knows how important it is that it be done and he would try to thwart you by causing you to become discouraged.” I felt the Spirit witnessing to me that what I said was true as I said it. It is a neat feeling.
Installment # II
Saturday, R, T, my husband and I went into Mesa temple. It has been remodeled since we were there seven or eight years ago. It is a beautiful temple. We treated them to lunch there at the temple. It takes about an hour and 10-20 minutes to drive from their house to the temple. It made me really appreciate that we just need to drive across town. We got back about 2:00 and E’s baptism was at 4:00; they were to be there by 3:30. There were three children from the Buckeye First ward getting baptized that day. It was a very nice program. And T gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. She did a good job. She said it had been 15 years since she was baptized. She is a very spiritual person.
A couple of times I sat down at the piano and played it while C and E sang the hymns that I played. We could just find a hymn book. I’d liked to have found a Children’s Song Book. They know more of those songs. Next time we are there they should know where it is. Only the bare necessities had been unpacked. It will take them a while yet to get completely settled. C made the statement after singing We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet, that Grandma R doesn’t believe the way we do but she respects what we believe. I tho’t that was very good for both Grandma R and the children to realize that. They have a good relationship as do we.
E was radiant after her baptism. She looked so angelic in her white dress. I couldn’t hear much of the blessing that R gave her. (They don’t believe in using microphones in Arizona. I couldn’t hear D’s either.) Afterwards, friends and their children came over to the house and had refreshments…supper. They stayed until about 9:30 or so. It was very enjoyable.
Their church meetings start at 8:00!! That is early. We got there before the sacrament which I tho’t was good. We enjoyed being there at church with them. D wasn’t feeling well so he wasn’t there but the rest were. And K, T’s cousin/stepbrother went with us too. I think it would be neat if he got interested in the Church.
That evening we went to the ice cream social that the T's from their old ward holds every fast Sunday. We met many of R and T’s friends and remembered meeting others before. It was very enjoyable. We got home shortly after 10:00. T’s mom stayed home with E and A. T said that that was the first time she’d seen R able to relax when they’ve been there because he didn’t have to wonder where the two little ones were.
T had told us that the day after they moved in that they had noticed all of the covers were off the outlets. Some of the screws they were able to find, others not. It was when they found the screw driver in the refrigerator that they realized that it was Ephriam that had taken them off. He has a real fascination with the refrigerator. We are thankful that he had the muscle dexterity (which most 3 ½ years olds don’t) that he was able to do it without getting himself electrocuted.
I played Battle Ship with D on the way to the social. I played with E and C when we got back. It is much easier to play on the kitchen table than it is in the van going somewhere. The little pieces move around too easily and won’t stay put in a moving car. They need to be magnetized or something. I learned that D was doing a French catapult (I can’t remember the name, needless to say) made out of legos for the Science Fair that was supposed to be last week. I hope he did well. I asked him to send me pictures of it but he hasn’t done it yet. I read the girls a story about the Squeegy Bug. I actually read it twice to E. I had some good visits with both R and T. It was good to be there. I hope we were able to help out somewhat. Next time they will be settled and there will be more time to do things together.
The shuttle was to pick us up Monday morning at 10:05. It was right there on time or a minute or two early. We arrived at Sky Harbor with almost two hours to spare. We arrived in SLC 20 minutes early so we had an hour or a little more to wait for the shuttle to bring us back to IF. We had an uneventful ride home and arrived at the bus depot at 6:50 or so. We were home by 7:15 PM. Everything was good, except Karl had put the plug in the utility sink in the utility room to soak some screws in a golf club head he found the night before we left. (He wanted to get the brass off so he could recycle it.) And he evidently didn’t shut the water off tight. And the utility room was absolutely flooded. It also came out about a yard into the carpet in our big room. Boxes were ruined. It gave us a good excuse to clean everything out of there. He even had to move the washer and dryer and get behind them. Some of the things were on a board but most was not. We still haven’t got everything back in there. I think I’ll take much of the yarn I have and haven’t used, to DI. Someone else can use it. The patterns I may just throw away. I don’t do much sewing anymore.
A couple of times I sat down at the piano and played it while C and E sang the hymns that I played. We could just find a hymn book. I’d liked to have found a Children’s Song Book. They know more of those songs. Next time we are there they should know where it is. Only the bare necessities had been unpacked. It will take them a while yet to get completely settled. C made the statement after singing We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet, that Grandma R doesn’t believe the way we do but she respects what we believe. I tho’t that was very good for both Grandma R and the children to realize that. They have a good relationship as do we.
E was radiant after her baptism. She looked so angelic in her white dress. I couldn’t hear much of the blessing that R gave her. (They don’t believe in using microphones in Arizona. I couldn’t hear D’s either.) Afterwards, friends and their children came over to the house and had refreshments…supper. They stayed until about 9:30 or so. It was very enjoyable.
Their church meetings start at 8:00!! That is early. We got there before the sacrament which I tho’t was good. We enjoyed being there at church with them. D wasn’t feeling well so he wasn’t there but the rest were. And K, T’s cousin/stepbrother went with us too. I think it would be neat if he got interested in the Church.
That evening we went to the ice cream social that the T's from their old ward holds every fast Sunday. We met many of R and T’s friends and remembered meeting others before. It was very enjoyable. We got home shortly after 10:00. T’s mom stayed home with E and A. T said that that was the first time she’d seen R able to relax when they’ve been there because he didn’t have to wonder where the two little ones were.
T had told us that the day after they moved in that they had noticed all of the covers were off the outlets. Some of the screws they were able to find, others not. It was when they found the screw driver in the refrigerator that they realized that it was Ephriam that had taken them off. He has a real fascination with the refrigerator. We are thankful that he had the muscle dexterity (which most 3 ½ years olds don’t) that he was able to do it without getting himself electrocuted.
I played Battle Ship with D on the way to the social. I played with E and C when we got back. It is much easier to play on the kitchen table than it is in the van going somewhere. The little pieces move around too easily and won’t stay put in a moving car. They need to be magnetized or something. I learned that D was doing a French catapult (I can’t remember the name, needless to say) made out of legos for the Science Fair that was supposed to be last week. I hope he did well. I asked him to send me pictures of it but he hasn’t done it yet. I read the girls a story about the Squeegy Bug. I actually read it twice to E. I had some good visits with both R and T. It was good to be there. I hope we were able to help out somewhat. Next time they will be settled and there will be more time to do things together.
The shuttle was to pick us up Monday morning at 10:05. It was right there on time or a minute or two early. We arrived at Sky Harbor with almost two hours to spare. We arrived in SLC 20 minutes early so we had an hour or a little more to wait for the shuttle to bring us back to IF. We had an uneventful ride home and arrived at the bus depot at 6:50 or so. We were home by 7:15 PM. Everything was good, except Karl had put the plug in the utility sink in the utility room to soak some screws in a golf club head he found the night before we left. (He wanted to get the brass off so he could recycle it.) And he evidently didn’t shut the water off tight. And the utility room was absolutely flooded. It also came out about a yard into the carpet in our big room. Boxes were ruined. It gave us a good excuse to clean everything out of there. He even had to move the washer and dryer and get behind them. Some of the things were on a board but most was not. We still haven’t got everything back in there. I think I’ll take much of the yarn I have and haven’t used, to DI. Someone else can use it. The patterns I may just throw away. I don’t do much sewing anymore.
Our Trip to Buckeye Installment I
We left the house at 6:55 am Tuesday morning. We arrived at SL airport by 11:20. Our plane was to leave at 12:35. We go thro' security without any problems. Of course I had to be wanded because my knee beeped when I went thro' the gate. We had about 30 mintes to wait until they started boarding the plane. Since I had gotten online and gotten a boarding pass already, we were B- 7 & 8, we were able to get on before too long and there were plenty of seats. There were empty seats thro' out the plane. We landed in Phoenix 10 minutes early which was nice. I had made reservations with the supper shuttle the day before by phone. I've decided that is the way to do it for sure at all times because they knew where we were going and the address and the cross streets etc. We really didn't have to tell them anything. It took us about 40 minutes to go from the airport to R and T's new house. It is almost due west of the airport. R and T were at their old house doing some cleaning etc. when we got there. We were here an hour or so before T got back. It was two or three before R did because he had to load up the things they didn't want and take it to the transfer station. That is the same as our dump. They take everything that goes to the dump to the transfer station then, bulldozers with bucket lifts lift everything into big trucks and then it is trucked to the dump. We had a late supper. It was sooo good to see everyone. Their house is beautiful and sooo roomy. The children as they showed us around kept saying, "It is soo big!" The rooms are, the yard is, the garage is, etc. Their bottom floor is larger than our main floor of our house then they have six bedrooms and a loft with three bathrooms up stairs. There is also a 1/2 bath down stairs. It is very nice having a bathroom that we share with just the R's and not have to share it with the children. The first night E, who is three, kept coming to visit us after we were in bed. We finally locked the door and then he just knocked on the door a few times. He has a very distinct knock. We can always tell it is E knocking. There is a fan in the room, which makes it very nice. Altho' it was thawing when we left home, It was still supposed to be in the 30's all week in IF. It is spring here!! I have to keep reminding myself that it really is February. It is delightful. The bedroom was actually too warm that first night but the fan made it just right. Their back yard is gigantic!! The children said it was the size of at least two football fields. There is nothing but dirt and tumble weeds out there but there is plenty of room for a nice sized garden, a tennis court, a small swimming pool and still have yard left over. Since this is a dessert, I'm not sure if they will have any grass. They may, time will tell, but it won't be very much if they do. Oh, they also have a three car garage. They are by no means settled but we have been able to help some either around here or watching the children while R and T went over to the other house to finish cleaning up. My husband went with them over there three times to help. They turned the keys in today, so they will be able to spend all of the availabe time in getting settled over here. Téa has a big beautiful kitchen with granite counters. There is an island in the middle with cupboard space underneath and an outlet and a bar with stools on one side. There is a very nice family room off to the side of it. A living or front room in front and a room off to the side behind the garage that they will be using for a school room. They have four computers and T does home schooling. With six children I really don't know how she does it, but she is a very organized person. Both of the R and us have a bedroom with the bathroom in between. C and A share a room, E and E share a room and D and E share a room. That's the way it is so far anyway. We've had to watch E really closely because he loves to go outside and he can open any lock (has been able to practically since he could walk.) He will go out the front door and stand there and ring the doorbell. They have put an otoman in front of the door to slow him down or try to stop him from going out but he can move it himself when he really wants too. Today, he asked T to help him move it in front of the door. (It reminded me of J when he reminded S to lock the door after they returned from the store. And yes the lock was to specifically lock Jin.) Yesterday, M found him a block and a half away. That is the only time that I’m aware of his leaving the yard. They will have to watch him closely tho’ or he could just disappear. They live in a cul-de-sac so traffic isn't a problem right in front of their house but away from the cul-de-sac it could be.
Thursday afternoon I helped C hang up her clothes and get settled in her room. It took us 2 ½ to 3 hours. We did enjoy working together. She said she would get R4 to vacuum her room and I wasn’t sure what she was talking about. After I saw it I could tell it looks like it could have come from Star Wars or something like that.
Thursday afternoon I helped C hang up her clothes and get settled in her room. It took us 2 ½ to 3 hours. We did enjoy working together. She said she would get R4 to vacuum her room and I wasn’t sure what she was talking about. After I saw it I could tell it looks like it could have come from Star Wars or something like that.
Monday, February 09, 2009
A Testimony
This is a testimony that was sent to me last November. As one can see I am greatly behind in my e-mails. Anyway, I tho't this important and beautiful enough to include it here.
This was sent by a person who works at the LA Temple. What an incredible story! It is so relieving to hear "our side" of what has been happening the last few weeks...
My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders:
My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the priviledge of transcribing Sister Martz', the new assistant matron, message during our devotional.
She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant. After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates.
The assistant matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patrolled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.
On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room.
Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike.
Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple.
Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks .
One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!".
I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer. Your sister in Christ, Patricia H. Arnazzi
This was sent by a person who works at the LA Temple. What an incredible story! It is so relieving to hear "our side" of what has been happening the last few weeks...
My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders:
My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the priviledge of transcribing Sister Martz', the new assistant matron, message during our devotional.
She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant. After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates.
The assistant matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patrolled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.
On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room.
Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike.
Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple.
Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks .
One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!".
I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer. Your sister in Christ, Patricia H. Arnazzi
Sunday, February 08, 2009
I have been corresponding with John Rufener all week now, sometimes six or eight times a day. The other man who contacted me told me he couldn’t help me so I deleted his e-mail. John has sent me the ship’s manifest with my Grandma Wendel’s name on it when she sailed from Liverpool to America. She left the year before the rest of her mother, father and siblings. She came to SLC and lived with Aunt Elise and Aunt Louise, her half sisters (same mother, different father). They all three worked and saved money so the rest of the family could join them. He let me get online to view his family tree etc. He also sent me pictures of Aunt Elise from the time she was a young woman until she was much older. I think he sent five pictures in all. After viewing the picture of Aunt Elise when she was the oldest, I decided I must have met her because she surely looked familiar. It could have been at my grandmother’s funeral because she died two years before Aunt Elise did. He also sent me some links about Aunt Elise and her life, a short biography etc. She sounds like a very interesting woman.
Elise Furer Musser (7 December 1877 - 30 August 1967) was a prominent figure in Utah political and social life from the 1930s until her death. A poor Swiss immigrant convert to Mormonism she found her place of leadership after marrying Salt Lake City attorney Burton W. Musser, a member of one of Utah's most important families. Mrs. Musser worked at Neighborhood House an establishment designed to aid the poor and the foreign-born in Salt Lake City and she led the way toward passage of child labor legislation in Utah. She served as a Utah State Senator and Democratic National Committeewoman, but her greatest political achievement, perhaps, was her appointment by President Roosevelt in the 1930s as the United States Delegate (and only woman participant) to international peace conferences in Buenos Aires and Lima.
Elise Furer was born in Les Loges, Canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland, the fourth of five children. Her father died when she was three and although her mother remarried when she was seven the family was very poor. Elise spent four years unhappily in the home of a childless aunt, but eventually returned to her mother. She was a bright student and although her education was sporadic she graduated from high school at a younger age than usual.
A major turning point came in 1894 when she was baptized into the Mormon Church in response to the message of missionaries. Her conversion, while no doubt sincere, had an economic component as well, for she saw in the Mormon Church an opportunity to emigrate to America to improve her condition in life. She arrived in Salt Lake City in 1897 and accepted a menial housekeeping job for a few weeks while she added English to the French and German languages which she already spoke (she eventually would become fluent in Spanish and Italian as well).
Salt Lake City, however, seemed not to contain the kind of opportunity she sought and when an opportunity came for her to move to one of the Mormon colonies in Mexico she accepted. The Mexican colonies, of course, were refuges for polygamists who had found themselves rejected by both church and state in Utah. Elise was unaware of the purpose of the colonies when she went there. She found a good home with one of the families though once again she was unable to locate work that would provide her with more than a modest income. She did manage to accumulate a certain amount of savings, and that, together with her unwillingness to enter a polygamous marriage which would be expected of her if she remained in Mexico, induced her to return to Salt Lake City.
It proved to be another fortuitous move. Shortly after she attended a party in the Second Ward and became friends with Blanche Musser, she met Blanche's brother, Burton, who was to become her husband. They were married in 1911 and moved to New York City while Burton attended law school at Columbia University. Elise also attended college in New York City and the years there were happy ones for her.
Two events of great significance occurred while the couple was in the East. They had been Republicans, but they became very impressed with Woodrow Wilson and joined the Democratic party, the party in which both were to become very influential. Also, they had a baby boy, Bernard, in 1914. Burton had typhoid part of the time she was carrying Bernard and she was worried about suffering a miscarriage if she contracted the disease. Thus the birth of her son had special significance for the couple and her letters later in life, even while engaged in the most intricate and momentous political processes, show an unfailing concern for Bernard's well-being, his travels and his education.
Mrs. Musser's entrance into politics came through her involvement with Neighborhood House where she put her linguistic skills and her social compassion to good use. It was while engaged at Neighborhood House that she attracted the attention of the wife of Governor George Dern who asked her to serve as State Chairman of Democratic Women. That first post led eventually to diplomatic missions in Latin America and service as the Utah State Senator. For the remainder of her life Mrs. Musser was a figure to be reckoned with in Utah Democratic politics.
During the last decades of her life, Mrs. Musser was active in a wide variety of social and political organizations and served as mentor to many younger women who wanted careers outside the home. For reasons that remain relatively obscure she drifted away from and she joined the Unitarian Church in 1940. It was in that church that her funeral services were held in 1967.
John is 61 years old to my 65 years…about the same age as my brother. I sent him the GEDCOM files on the Rufeners and Meiers that I have gotten the names for since we started or mission. Also a picture of the Rufener family after my Grandpa and Grandma were married. John’s grandfather, Henry, was also in the picture as well as other members of the family. I also sent him a picture of the home in Switzerland where the missionaries taught the Rufener family. It has been a very interesting and rewarding week.
Elise Furer Musser (7 December 1877 - 30 August 1967) was a prominent figure in Utah political and social life from the 1930s until her death. A poor Swiss immigrant convert to Mormonism she found her place of leadership after marrying Salt Lake City attorney Burton W. Musser, a member of one of Utah's most important families. Mrs. Musser worked at Neighborhood House an establishment designed to aid the poor and the foreign-born in Salt Lake City and she led the way toward passage of child labor legislation in Utah. She served as a Utah State Senator and Democratic National Committeewoman, but her greatest political achievement, perhaps, was her appointment by President Roosevelt in the 1930s as the United States Delegate (and only woman participant) to international peace conferences in Buenos Aires and Lima.
Elise Furer was born in Les Loges, Canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland, the fourth of five children. Her father died when she was three and although her mother remarried when she was seven the family was very poor. Elise spent four years unhappily in the home of a childless aunt, but eventually returned to her mother. She was a bright student and although her education was sporadic she graduated from high school at a younger age than usual.
A major turning point came in 1894 when she was baptized into the Mormon Church in response to the message of missionaries. Her conversion, while no doubt sincere, had an economic component as well, for she saw in the Mormon Church an opportunity to emigrate to America to improve her condition in life. She arrived in Salt Lake City in 1897 and accepted a menial housekeeping job for a few weeks while she added English to the French and German languages which she already spoke (she eventually would become fluent in Spanish and Italian as well).
Salt Lake City, however, seemed not to contain the kind of opportunity she sought and when an opportunity came for her to move to one of the Mormon colonies in Mexico she accepted. The Mexican colonies, of course, were refuges for polygamists who had found themselves rejected by both church and state in Utah. Elise was unaware of the purpose of the colonies when she went there. She found a good home with one of the families though once again she was unable to locate work that would provide her with more than a modest income. She did manage to accumulate a certain amount of savings, and that, together with her unwillingness to enter a polygamous marriage which would be expected of her if she remained in Mexico, induced her to return to Salt Lake City.
It proved to be another fortuitous move. Shortly after she attended a party in the Second Ward and became friends with Blanche Musser, she met Blanche's brother, Burton, who was to become her husband. They were married in 1911 and moved to New York City while Burton attended law school at Columbia University. Elise also attended college in New York City and the years there were happy ones for her.
Two events of great significance occurred while the couple was in the East. They had been Republicans, but they became very impressed with Woodrow Wilson and joined the Democratic party, the party in which both were to become very influential. Also, they had a baby boy, Bernard, in 1914. Burton had typhoid part of the time she was carrying Bernard and she was worried about suffering a miscarriage if she contracted the disease. Thus the birth of her son had special significance for the couple and her letters later in life, even while engaged in the most intricate and momentous political processes, show an unfailing concern for Bernard's well-being, his travels and his education.
Mrs. Musser's entrance into politics came through her involvement with Neighborhood House where she put her linguistic skills and her social compassion to good use. It was while engaged at Neighborhood House that she attracted the attention of the wife of Governor George Dern who asked her to serve as State Chairman of Democratic Women. That first post led eventually to diplomatic missions in Latin America and service as the Utah State Senator. For the remainder of her life Mrs. Musser was a figure to be reckoned with in Utah Democratic politics.
During the last decades of her life, Mrs. Musser was active in a wide variety of social and political organizations and served as mentor to many younger women who wanted careers outside the home. For reasons that remain relatively obscure she drifted away from and she joined the Unitarian Church in 1940. It was in that church that her funeral services were held in 1967.
John is 61 years old to my 65 years…about the same age as my brother. I sent him the GEDCOM files on the Rufeners and Meiers that I have gotten the names for since we started or mission. Also a picture of the Rufener family after my Grandpa and Grandma were married. John’s grandfather, Henry, was also in the picture as well as other members of the family. I also sent him a picture of the home in Switzerland where the missionaries taught the Rufener family. It has been a very interesting and rewarding week.
Monday, February 02, 2009
An Interesting Experience
I just had an interesting experience. I was looking in the archives of my online blog for an entry I made since we started our mission. I couldn’t find that particular blog but I did find two things I was unaware of. The first one was in April 2007 and the other May of 2007. I guess I need to check back every once in a while a month or two and see if anyone has left me any messages. These two were from two men who does family history/genealogy. The first was from a Rufener cousin…he has the same great grandfather I do. (Frederic Rufener) And his name is Rufener too. I have no idea where he lives. The other is from a man who lives in Switzerland who offered to help me find individuals in Bern, Switzerland. And those messages had been sitting there all this time and I was unaware of it. I e-mailed both of them and asked them to please not wait so long to contact me as it did me them. J
Time will tell what happens.
Time will tell what happens.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
I can't believe it is February already!
Last Monday was our Zone meeting there at the FHC. Our director and is wife, Larry and Kathy Killian were released after serving four+ years and Elder Wayne Lyon and Sister Caroline Lyon will be our new directors. They have been at the center for five years. The Killians will be “moving” up the chain to be the Regional Family History consultants working with 12 stakes within the temple district of the IF temple. I’m thankful that I got to know them as well as I did and work with them the last 21 months.
After all of the business was taken care of Brother and Sister Kazier from Rexburg spoke to us. He is a patriarch up there now, worked there at the Regional FHC four years ago and was instrumental in all of the obituaries in SE Idaho being digilized and pictures of grave stones put with them so they are accessible on the computer. He spoke of what the Lord is telling the youth today in their blessings. He had nine points. Some of them were: pay and honest and full tithing, attend your meetings, read and study the scriptures, pray daily and often…you get the idea. All of them were things we all should be doing if we want to endure to the end.
Afterwards, my husband and I went to Gangplank to eat (the meeting was 5-6 pm) and the couple ahead of us was the Kaziers. Sister Kazier asked us to come and sit with them. We spent a delightful hour and a half getting to know them and they us. He has worked at the site, taught at Ricks for 20 years, and is still working on establishing certain sites on the computer for different things. We found out we know their daughter, Janet, who lives in Kearney 2nd Ward. They have six children and 29 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. It was a very delightful evening.
I’ve been busy at the FHC. Since they have made me the trainer on both Saturdays and Wednesdays now, and we have quite a few new missionaries, that alone keeps me busy. Yesterday I helped four different patrons as well. I have discovered a way to find more ancestors. On Ancetry.com is One World Tree. When you put an ancestors name in there and click on find famous ancestors, it comes up with people you are related to. I typed in Mildred Theresa Call. She is related to 37 famous people!! Florence Nightingale, Rutherford B. Hayes, Thomas More, Eli Whitney, and many others. I clicked on Florence Nightingale first. They have your ancestors ancestors and the ancestors of the other person listed until they find a common ancestor. With Florence Nightingale there were seven above Grandma and only five above Florence. A week ago I tho’t of checking to see if I have all seven on my PAF file. I had all of them except the common ancestor. I put her into my file. When I clicked on her little box, I found her husband and 11 other children with dates and places for all of them. I copied and pasted all of them. The next day I went to FamilySearch.org and found that all of their work had been done. Then Saturday, a week ago I found about 40 more people. Last Wednesday, I found more. I have decided I will check out each one of those 37 people. I’m on the 5th one now. I was so busy yesterday, that I only had time to add two more people. But that’s OK. I will get to it as I get to it.
I worked with a woman, yesterday, who is here from Missouri. Because her temple district has been rolled out she is registered on the NewFamilySearch.org. She needed help understanding that. Since they told us last October or November that we will be getting the NewFamilySearch but not soon, they haven’t been teaching any more classes on them. I’m so thankful the Lord helped me learn and understand how to use it and helped to remember who to do so I could help that nice sister. She really didn’t know anything about it. I taught her how to combine duplicates, check for duplicates, that the green arrow means there is someone in that family needs work done, and if there is a check there that the whole family’s work is done. She was there four or five hours. I’m so thankful the Lord helped me remember all of that. I hadn’t done anything with it for months. I’m thankful to be a Family History Missionary. I truly believe I am doing what the Lord wants me to do. We, me and my husband, are supposed to be serving there. My husband has learned how to scan books with the new scanner. That is something I really don’t know. I had one session on it and helped someone that same day learn about it but that was months ago and since it was only one time, I would need to be shown again. Since I am busy helping the patrons and the new missionaries, I really don’t have time to spend on it anyway. It gives my husband satisfaction to be able to do it. He has mastered it well. He has also indexed more than 11,000 names! He has done all of those at the FHC also.
After all of the business was taken care of Brother and Sister Kazier from Rexburg spoke to us. He is a patriarch up there now, worked there at the Regional FHC four years ago and was instrumental in all of the obituaries in SE Idaho being digilized and pictures of grave stones put with them so they are accessible on the computer. He spoke of what the Lord is telling the youth today in their blessings. He had nine points. Some of them were: pay and honest and full tithing, attend your meetings, read and study the scriptures, pray daily and often…you get the idea. All of them were things we all should be doing if we want to endure to the end.
Afterwards, my husband and I went to Gangplank to eat (the meeting was 5-6 pm) and the couple ahead of us was the Kaziers. Sister Kazier asked us to come and sit with them. We spent a delightful hour and a half getting to know them and they us. He has worked at the site, taught at Ricks for 20 years, and is still working on establishing certain sites on the computer for different things. We found out we know their daughter, Janet, who lives in Kearney 2nd Ward. They have six children and 29 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. It was a very delightful evening.
I’ve been busy at the FHC. Since they have made me the trainer on both Saturdays and Wednesdays now, and we have quite a few new missionaries, that alone keeps me busy. Yesterday I helped four different patrons as well. I have discovered a way to find more ancestors. On Ancetry.com is One World Tree. When you put an ancestors name in there and click on find famous ancestors, it comes up with people you are related to. I typed in Mildred Theresa Call. She is related to 37 famous people!! Florence Nightingale, Rutherford B. Hayes, Thomas More, Eli Whitney, and many others. I clicked on Florence Nightingale first. They have your ancestors ancestors and the ancestors of the other person listed until they find a common ancestor. With Florence Nightingale there were seven above Grandma and only five above Florence. A week ago I tho’t of checking to see if I have all seven on my PAF file. I had all of them except the common ancestor. I put her into my file. When I clicked on her little box, I found her husband and 11 other children with dates and places for all of them. I copied and pasted all of them. The next day I went to FamilySearch.org and found that all of their work had been done. Then Saturday, a week ago I found about 40 more people. Last Wednesday, I found more. I have decided I will check out each one of those 37 people. I’m on the 5th one now. I was so busy yesterday, that I only had time to add two more people. But that’s OK. I will get to it as I get to it.
I worked with a woman, yesterday, who is here from Missouri. Because her temple district has been rolled out she is registered on the NewFamilySearch.org. She needed help understanding that. Since they told us last October or November that we will be getting the NewFamilySearch but not soon, they haven’t been teaching any more classes on them. I’m so thankful the Lord helped me learn and understand how to use it and helped to remember who to do so I could help that nice sister. She really didn’t know anything about it. I taught her how to combine duplicates, check for duplicates, that the green arrow means there is someone in that family needs work done, and if there is a check there that the whole family’s work is done. She was there four or five hours. I’m so thankful the Lord helped me remember all of that. I hadn’t done anything with it for months. I’m thankful to be a Family History Missionary. I truly believe I am doing what the Lord wants me to do. We, me and my husband, are supposed to be serving there. My husband has learned how to scan books with the new scanner. That is something I really don’t know. I had one session on it and helped someone that same day learn about it but that was months ago and since it was only one time, I would need to be shown again. Since I am busy helping the patrons and the new missionaries, I really don’t have time to spend on it anyway. It gives my husband satisfaction to be able to do it. He has mastered it well. He has also indexed more than 11,000 names! He has done all of those at the FHC also.
Monday, January 12, 2009
The second week of January 2009
This week has been so rewarding at the FHC. One of my daughters-in-law reminded me that one of the gifts of the Spirit is Knowledge, another one is being able to teach others that knowledge. I had to become a missionary at the FHC to realize that I have these gifts. I have taught Primary, Jr. Sunday School, Beehives in Young Women’s and Relief Society. I have had good success in all of these but I never tho’t of it as having those Gifts of the Spirit. But there at the FHC it is so obvious that I am so blessed. I have been able to retain most of the things I have been taught and am able to teach it to others in such a way that they can understand it. It is such a wonderful experience to be able to do this. Since the first of the year I have been so busy that the time has just flown by. Busy with teaching and helping both new missionaries and patrons to learn new things and help them find the information they are looking for. Elder Killian, the director at FHC told us that we have cleared more than 225,000 ordinances last year. The first two days we were open, January 2nd and 3rd, we cleared more than 2,000 names. They add up the numbers at the end of each month. It will be interesting to see how many we do this month. Elder Killian told me last Wednesday that when he first started there at the center as a missionary 14 years ago, that they only cleared 20,000 ordinances all year long and they were probably the majority of them duplicates. And of those over 225,000 ordinances this past year that over 200,000 were probably not duplicates. I think that is so exciting.
Last Saturday I had such a special experience. I had spent the morning helping two new missionaries (this was only their second day there at the center) get a acquainted with their PAF program and clean it up, get rid of duplicates, etc. I also helped quite a few patrons as well. As I was going back in the big room after eating lunch one sister waved me over to where she had just seated a man and a woman at at computer. She introduced me that Bill and Adrian were there and Bill was not a member and had a name to put thro’ temple ready. I asked them if they had brought their information. They hadn’t brought anything with them. However, Bill could remember all of the pertinent information. I showed them how to bring up a new PAF program (you need to use PAF to put a name thro’ temple ready) and had Adrian type in her name, address, etc. I told her to type in her husbands name first. That’s when I found out that they weren’t married. Since the Sister hadn’t told me the last names I just assumed… Anyway, Bill typed in the name of a young woman and her birth date and place. When he was typing in the death date, he got quite emotional and left for a few minutes. I said to Adrian, “you say he isn’t a member?” and she said, “That’s right.” I then asked her how it came to the point that he wanted his wife’s work done. (I had told them he obviously was very close to this young woman and Adrian told me she was his wife.) Adrian also told me that she and Bill had “been keeping company” for 17 months and that his wife had appeared to her and had asked her to get her work done for her. She said that she finally was able to approach him on it and he was agreeable to have her work done. After we put the name thro’ temple ready and got the submission disk completed, Adrian asked us the purpose of the FHC and other questions about it. I let the other sister take over and went back to helping others. But while Bill was in the other room trying to compose himself, I told Adrian that when my sons went on missions, they didn’t have to fill out the four generation family group sheets and send them in with their application like they do today. I said that this showed me why they do that now; that I can see how family history can be a very powerful missionary tool.
This morning my husband and I went into the first new missionary class of the year to teach the “computer, basic skills class”. My husband ran the computer and I did the teaching telling them different things about the computer and how we use them there at the center. We have 19 new missionaries. I found out half of them were retired educators. I found that very interesting. About 2/3 of them felt comfortable with the computer. The other third didn’t know much about them. I taught in the new computer lab for the first time. It is great. As I told them about something, my husband would show them on the main computer with the overhead projector on the wall then they were able to do the same thing on their individual computers. I also had a worksheet for them to find certain things on the computer. Sister Hendricks had allowed me a full two hours but we were all thro’ in a hour and a half. By doing this I get to meet the new missionaries that work on other days besides Wednesday and Saturday when I work. The class went well and I think almost everyone learned something new. Even those who know computers because we do a few things differently there. One of the sisters had arranged for four of the missionaries to be in there to help them if they had difficulty with the assignment. It was a rewarding experience.
On the way home we stopped at Office Max and got a new 8 GB USB drive for $20! The first one I got for me less than two years ago was a 2 GB that was selling for $80 and was on sale for $30. With everything going up technology is definitely one thing that the price is going down. It is sooo nice. I’m going to use that new USB drive for my backup for everything. My 2 GB USB drive is almost ¾ full. I have over 600 pictures on it of people and documents. It holds much more than I tho’t it would.
Last Saturday I had such a special experience. I had spent the morning helping two new missionaries (this was only their second day there at the center) get a acquainted with their PAF program and clean it up, get rid of duplicates, etc. I also helped quite a few patrons as well. As I was going back in the big room after eating lunch one sister waved me over to where she had just seated a man and a woman at at computer. She introduced me that Bill and Adrian were there and Bill was not a member and had a name to put thro’ temple ready. I asked them if they had brought their information. They hadn’t brought anything with them. However, Bill could remember all of the pertinent information. I showed them how to bring up a new PAF program (you need to use PAF to put a name thro’ temple ready) and had Adrian type in her name, address, etc. I told her to type in her husbands name first. That’s when I found out that they weren’t married. Since the Sister hadn’t told me the last names I just assumed… Anyway, Bill typed in the name of a young woman and her birth date and place. When he was typing in the death date, he got quite emotional and left for a few minutes. I said to Adrian, “you say he isn’t a member?” and she said, “That’s right.” I then asked her how it came to the point that he wanted his wife’s work done. (I had told them he obviously was very close to this young woman and Adrian told me she was his wife.) Adrian also told me that she and Bill had “been keeping company” for 17 months and that his wife had appeared to her and had asked her to get her work done for her. She said that she finally was able to approach him on it and he was agreeable to have her work done. After we put the name thro’ temple ready and got the submission disk completed, Adrian asked us the purpose of the FHC and other questions about it. I let the other sister take over and went back to helping others. But while Bill was in the other room trying to compose himself, I told Adrian that when my sons went on missions, they didn’t have to fill out the four generation family group sheets and send them in with their application like they do today. I said that this showed me why they do that now; that I can see how family history can be a very powerful missionary tool.
This morning my husband and I went into the first new missionary class of the year to teach the “computer, basic skills class”. My husband ran the computer and I did the teaching telling them different things about the computer and how we use them there at the center. We have 19 new missionaries. I found out half of them were retired educators. I found that very interesting. About 2/3 of them felt comfortable with the computer. The other third didn’t know much about them. I taught in the new computer lab for the first time. It is great. As I told them about something, my husband would show them on the main computer with the overhead projector on the wall then they were able to do the same thing on their individual computers. I also had a worksheet for them to find certain things on the computer. Sister Hendricks had allowed me a full two hours but we were all thro’ in a hour and a half. By doing this I get to meet the new missionaries that work on other days besides Wednesday and Saturday when I work. The class went well and I think almost everyone learned something new. Even those who know computers because we do a few things differently there. One of the sisters had arranged for four of the missionaries to be in there to help them if they had difficulty with the assignment. It was a rewarding experience.
On the way home we stopped at Office Max and got a new 8 GB USB drive for $20! The first one I got for me less than two years ago was a 2 GB that was selling for $80 and was on sale for $30. With everything going up technology is definitely one thing that the price is going down. It is sooo nice. I’m going to use that new USB drive for my backup for everything. My 2 GB USB drive is almost ¾ full. I have over 600 pictures on it of people and documents. It holds much more than I tho’t it would.
Monday, January 05, 2009
It’s the first of a new year. We had a lovely Christmas. We went down to Karen & Kent’s about 2:30 pm Christmas Eve Day. Shani & Jon and children as well as Kylie were already there. Jon is doing sooo good!! It is good to see him able to walk and move without difficulty. He talks well but when he’s trying to explain something you can see him thinking of how he wants to say it. I remember doing that too. Brittany & Wes came a little later. My husband’s mother was there by the time we got there too. One of her young neighbors and his family has in-laws just down the road from Karen & Kent and so he went right past their place so he dropped her off and then picked her up the day after Christmas. She really enjoyed being there and we enjoyed having her. She would have spent Christmas alone or we would have had to go get her and take her back otherwise. It worked out really well that way. We got another five generation picture on Christmas Eve; one with Porter in this time too and Macie a little older. The others weren’t to excited about getting it but were compliant especially since I was so adamant in getting it. Who knows how many more opportunities we will have to do this. It really doesn’t happen that often.
We fixed our Crème Burlée French Toast while we were waiting for others to get there.
Karen and Shani told us what Macie was doing earlier with her little play cell phone: Macie was going around handing her phone to people she handed it to me and said it is your mom she had Kylie talk to Brittany and she had shani talk to a friend than she handed the phone to Kent and said here Papa it's for you and he took the phone and said who is it and without hesitating she said it's Jesus and Kent the look on his face was priceless he wasn't so sure he was ready to talk to him. We all had a good chuckle over that.
We had prime rib for dinner that night. Kent does a really good job of cooking it. That and Dutch oven potatoes. It was all very luscious. One of their neighbors, Bob came and also Kent’s parents were there too. Bob and Kent parents left before we had our Christmas Eve program. Jon and Brittany had a thumb fight while we were waiting to start. Jon did very well. Brittany said, “I wish I could say I was letting him win, but I’m not!” We didn’t read the Christmas Story in the scriptures this year. Macie, who is three, was there and so we did things a few things differently. Karen had some figurines of the nativity so Shani put each individually in a lunch bag with a piece of paper explaining the character, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, a camel, a donkey, the three wise men, shepherds, etc. it also had a Christmas Carol and the page number it is found on on it. Brittany, Shani, Kylie, Wes and I all took turns playing the piano. We’ve never had so many players before! I used to have to do all of it. It was nice to be able to sing the carols instead of just playing them.
Christmas Day Kylie knocked on our door at 7:10 am. We needed to get started because Kylie had to be back to Kimberly by Twin Falls to go to work by 2:00 pm. it was blowing and snowing. It took us a couple of hours to open all of the gifts that were there. Brittany & Wes spent the night since Julie (the children’s mother) had their children. They left about 10:00 to meet Julie in Tremonton to bring the children back to Idaho. Brittany called after going thro’ Malad Pass and told us it really should have been closed because there were so many cars on the road; but they made it thro’ and then made it back. We were thankful for that. Karen had checked on the internet and found out that the freeway between Pocatello and American Falls was closed because of blizzard conditions. We weren’t really surprised. They left about 9:30 with Kent driving Kylie and Karen following in their suburban, and drove her to Massacre Rocks beyond American Falls taking the old Highway 39 that runs right passed their house. Karen said she had never driven in such bad weather and she hoped to never again.
Karl, Mom and I went down stairs and watch a DVD about Gordon B. Hinckley’s life. It was very interesting. Karen & Kent got back about 2 or 2:30. Brittany & Wes and children got there about 4:00 or so. It was good to see the kids again.
As we looked at the blowing snow I was glad that we always stay until the day after Christmas. We have done that for ten years or so since we ran into black ice and wrecked coming home after dark on Christmas Day. Staying until the day after makes it possible for us to spend the whole Christmas Day there. We play the games usually after it gets dark and that’s part of the most fun.
We left around noon the day after after Cameron Williams and his family stopped and picked up Mom to take her back home. When we got back to IF we could tell that they had had snow here but not nearly as much as there was in Blackfoot.
We had a very quiet New Years Day. We didn’t really celebrate New Years Eve either. We did put up our Christmas decorations. (The big room still looks kind of empty without the tree.) It pretty much took us all day. Karl said he thinks he made at least 16 trips down and up the stairs getting the empty boxes them taking them back down. I’d guess even more than that because we had more than eight boxes up here.
We went to the center for the first time in two weeks on the 3rd of January. I really didn’t think we would have any patrons come in but I helped at least five myself so there were many more than I tho’t there would be. We cleared over 800 ordinances that day. Counting the ones cleared the day before over 1,000 were cleared. So the work is going on and this year is starting out with a bang. We cleared many more ordinances last year than we did the year before…thousands more. We are on the down side of our mission but if things keep going well, I and I hope we will extend again.
We fixed our Crème Burlée French Toast while we were waiting for others to get there.
Karen and Shani told us what Macie was doing earlier with her little play cell phone: Macie was going around handing her phone to people she handed it to me and said it is your mom she had Kylie talk to Brittany and she had shani talk to a friend than she handed the phone to Kent and said here Papa it's for you and he took the phone and said who is it and without hesitating she said it's Jesus and Kent the look on his face was priceless he wasn't so sure he was ready to talk to him. We all had a good chuckle over that.
We had prime rib for dinner that night. Kent does a really good job of cooking it. That and Dutch oven potatoes. It was all very luscious. One of their neighbors, Bob came and also Kent’s parents were there too. Bob and Kent parents left before we had our Christmas Eve program. Jon and Brittany had a thumb fight while we were waiting to start. Jon did very well. Brittany said, “I wish I could say I was letting him win, but I’m not!” We didn’t read the Christmas Story in the scriptures this year. Macie, who is three, was there and so we did things a few things differently. Karen had some figurines of the nativity so Shani put each individually in a lunch bag with a piece of paper explaining the character, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, a camel, a donkey, the three wise men, shepherds, etc. it also had a Christmas Carol and the page number it is found on on it. Brittany, Shani, Kylie, Wes and I all took turns playing the piano. We’ve never had so many players before! I used to have to do all of it. It was nice to be able to sing the carols instead of just playing them.
Christmas Day Kylie knocked on our door at 7:10 am. We needed to get started because Kylie had to be back to Kimberly by Twin Falls to go to work by 2:00 pm. it was blowing and snowing. It took us a couple of hours to open all of the gifts that were there. Brittany & Wes spent the night since Julie (the children’s mother) had their children. They left about 10:00 to meet Julie in Tremonton to bring the children back to Idaho. Brittany called after going thro’ Malad Pass and told us it really should have been closed because there were so many cars on the road; but they made it thro’ and then made it back. We were thankful for that. Karen had checked on the internet and found out that the freeway between Pocatello and American Falls was closed because of blizzard conditions. We weren’t really surprised. They left about 9:30 with Kent driving Kylie and Karen following in their suburban, and drove her to Massacre Rocks beyond American Falls taking the old Highway 39 that runs right passed their house. Karen said she had never driven in such bad weather and she hoped to never again.
Karl, Mom and I went down stairs and watch a DVD about Gordon B. Hinckley’s life. It was very interesting. Karen & Kent got back about 2 or 2:30. Brittany & Wes and children got there about 4:00 or so. It was good to see the kids again.
As we looked at the blowing snow I was glad that we always stay until the day after Christmas. We have done that for ten years or so since we ran into black ice and wrecked coming home after dark on Christmas Day. Staying until the day after makes it possible for us to spend the whole Christmas Day there. We play the games usually after it gets dark and that’s part of the most fun.
We left around noon the day after after Cameron Williams and his family stopped and picked up Mom to take her back home. When we got back to IF we could tell that they had had snow here but not nearly as much as there was in Blackfoot.
We had a very quiet New Years Day. We didn’t really celebrate New Years Eve either. We did put up our Christmas decorations. (The big room still looks kind of empty without the tree.) It pretty much took us all day. Karl said he thinks he made at least 16 trips down and up the stairs getting the empty boxes them taking them back down. I’d guess even more than that because we had more than eight boxes up here.
We went to the center for the first time in two weeks on the 3rd of January. I really didn’t think we would have any patrons come in but I helped at least five myself so there were many more than I tho’t there would be. We cleared over 800 ordinances that day. Counting the ones cleared the day before over 1,000 were cleared. So the work is going on and this year is starting out with a bang. We cleared many more ordinances last year than we did the year before…thousands more. We are on the down side of our mission but if things keep going well, I and I hope we will extend again.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Thanksgiving 1968
When we got home from the FHC Saturday night, we had been home about ten minutes, we received a phone call from our daughter, Karen. She told me that her son-in-law, Jon had had a stroke. I said, Shani’s Jon? And she said yes. I said something about my stroke that I had had just before Thanksgiving in 1968 almost three weeks after Kim was born. She said she didn’t know I had had a stroke. Anyway, we went a little later than evening down to the hospital. I just waltzed in and told Jon, “I’ve come to give you hope.” I told him about my stroke. As we were coming home I tho’t that all of my children, altho’ Bryan was 5, Michael 4, Karen 2 ½ and Kim almost three weeks and Richard not yet born for eight more years, may not really know anything about it. So I decided to write it down.
On the Monday before Thanksgiving, November 25, 1968, I awoke with a slight head ache. Kim lacked two days of being three weeks old. Mondays were always busy. I had a 5 year old, Bryan, 4 year old Michael, 2 ½ year old Karen as well as Kim. Monday was wash day. I had a wringer type washer so once I started washing I had to stick right to it in order to finish. Monday was also bake day, baking bread, a cake and cookies for my family for the coming week. By the time I’d finished the wash, my head ache had gotten worse. I had a pain in my head with every heart beat. I called the doctor. I couldn’t get past the receptionist. She told me, “Well, you have four small children; maybe you have a migraine.” I told her I’d never had one before and tho’t and I hope I don’t have one now. I took a couple of asprin which dulled it for awhile and went on with my baking. After the asprin wore off it was much worse. I took some Darvon that my dad had given me that he had had left over from some surgery he had had. It didn’t help a bit. (I wasn’t an RN then so hadn’t heard you weren’t supposed to take medications prescribed for other people.) I called the doctor again. Again, I couldn’t get past the receptionist. I went back to taking care of my little ones and my baking. I called the doctor again and this time the receptionist called him to the phone. I described what I had been experiencing. He told me to come in that it might be my blood pressure. I told him I would have to wait until my husband got home from work. When Karl got home, (as far as I can remember, I got all the washing done and put away and the baking done. I didn’t iron until Tuesday.) we gathered up the children and he took me to the doctor’s office. He took my B/P and told me that my top number was over 200 and bottom number was over 100. (If I’d had my degree then I would have had him be more specific. Since I didn’t the numbers didn’t mean that much to me anyway.) He gave me a shot of Demerol and Phenergan and told me to go home and go to bed. Karl was there to take care of the children so I went to bed and slept. Altho’ Kim was our largest baby, ½ ounce shy of nine pounds, he woke up twice between 10 pm and 6 am to be fed. I can’t remember if I was aware of his waking up that night or if Karl had to feed him. I do remember waking up about 4:30 am to use the bathroom. I remember my right leg dragging as I walked. When I looked in the mirror, I noticed that the left side of my mouth drooped. 40 years ago women had to use a belt to hold their sanitary napkins. I was still flowing from the birth. I remember it seemed to take forever to put the clean napkin on because my right hand wasn’t working very well. Afterwards, I went back to bed and slept until the alarm went off. Karl asked me how I was feeling. I guess he could immediately tell something was wrong. He called the doctor as soon he was in his office and was told that he would see me but not until he had seen all of his other patients. 40 years ago there were no doctors in the emergency rooms altho’ they did have emergency rooms staffed with nurses. We didn’t think about going there, tho’. I remember Karl and Phil Ingersal, the Elders Quorum President, lying their hands on my head and giving me a blessing. I remember feeling like it wasn’t really me they were giving the blessing to. It was like I was observing their giving it to someone else. Karl had called the school and told them he couldn’t be there that day and explained why. If I remember right, they told him to take the next day off too. I can’t remember that much about those two days. I do remember going to the doctors office. I imagine Karl had to assist me as I walked. I can’t really remember. When I asked him if he did, he said he couldn’t but, “all I know is you were pretty brave, pretty brave.” I don’t remember that either. I suspect he was the brave one. He was a 31 year old father with a 5, 4 2 ½ , almost three week old children and a 25 year old wife who couldn’t function. I can only imagine how I would feel had the situation been reversed. They took me into the exam room. I was sitting there on the exam table. I guess the doctor could understand me and I was able to convey my concerns to him. He just looked at me, took my B/P and maybe listened to my heart and lungs, I’m not sure. I do know they didn’t have me undress or anything and he also didn’t have me walk or shake my hand or anything like that. I do remember asking him if it were a stroke. He said, “No, it was an allergy to Phenergan.” I asked him how he knew it wasn’t a stroke and he said, “Because you are not old enough to have had a stroke.” Now, keep in mind he was an OBGYN doctor and if he had ever studied strokes it was probably 40 years ago. (He was probably in his 50’s which seemed old to me at that time.) He didn’t even have the decency to go out into the waiting room where Karl was with our four children and speak with him or try to reassure him or anything. There were no other patients there. (We had just moved here to Idaho Falls the last of August and didn’t know that many people, none well, nor no any other doctors.) So Karl took me and the children back home. It seems like he took the children out to the car and then came and assisted me back. Karl tells me that when I was trying to tell him what the doctor said, that I was talking about a little red bike. (I remember his telling later truck but he now says bike.) I tho’t I was saying what the doctor had told me. It sounded to me like I was. I don’t remember the next day at all. I know I slept thro’ Kim’s nightly feedings. Didn’t hear a thing. That is a symptom of strokes is the sleeping a lot. We had been invited down to Grace to my in-laws for Thanksgiving. I remember being there. There was plenty of help for Karl with the children while we were there. I think Karl’s brothers, Gene and Stan and their families were there too. I remember sitting in a chair in the dining room and their serving me a piece of pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top. I was in an arm chair and someone had set the pie on the arm of the chair. I was using my left hand to eat because my right wasn’t working right. As I was trying to cut a piece of pie to eat it, the pie fell upside down on the carpet. I remember feeling devastated until I looked at my mother-in-law’s face and how sad she looked and I remember her apologizing saying she should have known better. That’s really about all I remember about that visit. I know we stayed until Sunday. I think I went to church that day but can not be sure. I know we left Bryan and Michael down there for a week and came home with just Karen and Kim. Karl went back to school the next day. I remember that week feeding Karen and me lunch and feeding Kim then we would all go down for a nap, not waking until Karl got home from school around 4:00 pm. I later really felt for Karl because he was feeding Kim the two times between 10 pm and 6 am and then having to go to work then come home and take over here. I know I didn’t have any additional help other than him. The diapers Kim wore were cloth diapers using safety pins to close them. I was able to take care of him and Karen when Karl wasn’t there. I don’t remember how difficult it was. I’m sure it must have been challenging at times for me. I don’t think we even informed the bishop. We tho’t the doctor knew what he was talking about. And we figured I’d eventually get over it, given enough time. As I was talking to doctors later, two in particular, told me that it was a stroke I had had. That an allergy doesn’t act like that nor does it last that long. And when I was studying strokes in my nursing classes and as I took care of stroke patients I knew that that was what I had had also. I was also told that if and when I ever had a brain CT scan that it would show that I had had a stroke even tho’ it is many years later. Had I gone to the hospital 40 years ago, there was no CT scanner here to do one anyway. Altho’ as far as I can remember I was able to take care of my family less than a week after the stroke, it was months before I could speak spontaneously without thinking out every sentence before speaking and it took about six months for my hand writing to return to normal. I can remember it being about three weeks before I wrote to my parents. So I must not have had that much control until then. My mother said that my hand writing was quite illegible for six months. I do know that I had no medical intervention. It was thro’ the Priesthood and the tender mercies of the Lord that I had a full recovery over not so long a time….looking back on it. I’m sure that the first week or two especially was quite challenging but I can’t remember for sure. But over 40 years six months really isn’t that long. I told Jonathon Sunday night that if any good could come out of my stroke it was that my total recovery could give hope to others who have had a stroke. I also told him that I had no residual from it unless you could count when I get my tangue tongled. J All kidding aside. I am so grateful to the Lord granting the miracle of a full recovery so shortly after it happened. The other night Kim asked me about another episode. I told him that that was the only one meaning the only stroke. However, the next morning when I was still in the twilight zone before fully becoming awake, I knew that he was referring to when I had my rotator cuff repaired and had a laringial (sp?)spasm and went into respiratory arrest (quit breathing) and went very dark before I started breathing again. When they took another EKG after that it should I had had a heart attack and the x-ray of the lungs were completely white (they showed me.) they were going to put me in ICU but by the time the 2 ½ hours I was in the recovery room was up, they put me in IMC instead. (that’s were Jon is). The next morning (it was supposed to be a day surgery and I was supposed to have gone home that night) the EKG showed a right bundle branch block, no MI or heart attack, and the x-ray of my lungs were all black the way it was supposed to be. I still have the right bundle branch block (I just had an EKG last week) but Dr. Stutts told me that if I had to have a block that the RBB was the one to have. So there were two episodes that the I guess I could have been very comprimized but the Lord thro’ his priesthood has blessed me. That was the second thing I tho’t when I first woke up in recovery after the shoulder surgery, “It’s a good thing I had a blessing last night.” The first thing was, “I didn’t see the light.” J
I hope this helps you understand. I don’t think of it very often. Only when I need to tell someone to help them.
On the Monday before Thanksgiving, November 25, 1968, I awoke with a slight head ache. Kim lacked two days of being three weeks old. Mondays were always busy. I had a 5 year old, Bryan, 4 year old Michael, 2 ½ year old Karen as well as Kim. Monday was wash day. I had a wringer type washer so once I started washing I had to stick right to it in order to finish. Monday was also bake day, baking bread, a cake and cookies for my family for the coming week. By the time I’d finished the wash, my head ache had gotten worse. I had a pain in my head with every heart beat. I called the doctor. I couldn’t get past the receptionist. She told me, “Well, you have four small children; maybe you have a migraine.” I told her I’d never had one before and tho’t and I hope I don’t have one now. I took a couple of asprin which dulled it for awhile and went on with my baking. After the asprin wore off it was much worse. I took some Darvon that my dad had given me that he had had left over from some surgery he had had. It didn’t help a bit. (I wasn’t an RN then so hadn’t heard you weren’t supposed to take medications prescribed for other people.) I called the doctor again. Again, I couldn’t get past the receptionist. I went back to taking care of my little ones and my baking. I called the doctor again and this time the receptionist called him to the phone. I described what I had been experiencing. He told me to come in that it might be my blood pressure. I told him I would have to wait until my husband got home from work. When Karl got home, (as far as I can remember, I got all the washing done and put away and the baking done. I didn’t iron until Tuesday.) we gathered up the children and he took me to the doctor’s office. He took my B/P and told me that my top number was over 200 and bottom number was over 100. (If I’d had my degree then I would have had him be more specific. Since I didn’t the numbers didn’t mean that much to me anyway.) He gave me a shot of Demerol and Phenergan and told me to go home and go to bed. Karl was there to take care of the children so I went to bed and slept. Altho’ Kim was our largest baby, ½ ounce shy of nine pounds, he woke up twice between 10 pm and 6 am to be fed. I can’t remember if I was aware of his waking up that night or if Karl had to feed him. I do remember waking up about 4:30 am to use the bathroom. I remember my right leg dragging as I walked. When I looked in the mirror, I noticed that the left side of my mouth drooped. 40 years ago women had to use a belt to hold their sanitary napkins. I was still flowing from the birth. I remember it seemed to take forever to put the clean napkin on because my right hand wasn’t working very well. Afterwards, I went back to bed and slept until the alarm went off. Karl asked me how I was feeling. I guess he could immediately tell something was wrong. He called the doctor as soon he was in his office and was told that he would see me but not until he had seen all of his other patients. 40 years ago there were no doctors in the emergency rooms altho’ they did have emergency rooms staffed with nurses. We didn’t think about going there, tho’. I remember Karl and Phil Ingersal, the Elders Quorum President, lying their hands on my head and giving me a blessing. I remember feeling like it wasn’t really me they were giving the blessing to. It was like I was observing their giving it to someone else. Karl had called the school and told them he couldn’t be there that day and explained why. If I remember right, they told him to take the next day off too. I can’t remember that much about those two days. I do remember going to the doctors office. I imagine Karl had to assist me as I walked. I can’t really remember. When I asked him if he did, he said he couldn’t but, “all I know is you were pretty brave, pretty brave.” I don’t remember that either. I suspect he was the brave one. He was a 31 year old father with a 5, 4 2 ½ , almost three week old children and a 25 year old wife who couldn’t function. I can only imagine how I would feel had the situation been reversed. They took me into the exam room. I was sitting there on the exam table. I guess the doctor could understand me and I was able to convey my concerns to him. He just looked at me, took my B/P and maybe listened to my heart and lungs, I’m not sure. I do know they didn’t have me undress or anything and he also didn’t have me walk or shake my hand or anything like that. I do remember asking him if it were a stroke. He said, “No, it was an allergy to Phenergan.” I asked him how he knew it wasn’t a stroke and he said, “Because you are not old enough to have had a stroke.” Now, keep in mind he was an OBGYN doctor and if he had ever studied strokes it was probably 40 years ago. (He was probably in his 50’s which seemed old to me at that time.) He didn’t even have the decency to go out into the waiting room where Karl was with our four children and speak with him or try to reassure him or anything. There were no other patients there. (We had just moved here to Idaho Falls the last of August and didn’t know that many people, none well, nor no any other doctors.) So Karl took me and the children back home. It seems like he took the children out to the car and then came and assisted me back. Karl tells me that when I was trying to tell him what the doctor said, that I was talking about a little red bike. (I remember his telling later truck but he now says bike.) I tho’t I was saying what the doctor had told me. It sounded to me like I was. I don’t remember the next day at all. I know I slept thro’ Kim’s nightly feedings. Didn’t hear a thing. That is a symptom of strokes is the sleeping a lot. We had been invited down to Grace to my in-laws for Thanksgiving. I remember being there. There was plenty of help for Karl with the children while we were there. I think Karl’s brothers, Gene and Stan and their families were there too. I remember sitting in a chair in the dining room and their serving me a piece of pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top. I was in an arm chair and someone had set the pie on the arm of the chair. I was using my left hand to eat because my right wasn’t working right. As I was trying to cut a piece of pie to eat it, the pie fell upside down on the carpet. I remember feeling devastated until I looked at my mother-in-law’s face and how sad she looked and I remember her apologizing saying she should have known better. That’s really about all I remember about that visit. I know we stayed until Sunday. I think I went to church that day but can not be sure. I know we left Bryan and Michael down there for a week and came home with just Karen and Kim. Karl went back to school the next day. I remember that week feeding Karen and me lunch and feeding Kim then we would all go down for a nap, not waking until Karl got home from school around 4:00 pm. I later really felt for Karl because he was feeding Kim the two times between 10 pm and 6 am and then having to go to work then come home and take over here. I know I didn’t have any additional help other than him. The diapers Kim wore were cloth diapers using safety pins to close them. I was able to take care of him and Karen when Karl wasn’t there. I don’t remember how difficult it was. I’m sure it must have been challenging at times for me. I don’t think we even informed the bishop. We tho’t the doctor knew what he was talking about. And we figured I’d eventually get over it, given enough time. As I was talking to doctors later, two in particular, told me that it was a stroke I had had. That an allergy doesn’t act like that nor does it last that long. And when I was studying strokes in my nursing classes and as I took care of stroke patients I knew that that was what I had had also. I was also told that if and when I ever had a brain CT scan that it would show that I had had a stroke even tho’ it is many years later. Had I gone to the hospital 40 years ago, there was no CT scanner here to do one anyway. Altho’ as far as I can remember I was able to take care of my family less than a week after the stroke, it was months before I could speak spontaneously without thinking out every sentence before speaking and it took about six months for my hand writing to return to normal. I can remember it being about three weeks before I wrote to my parents. So I must not have had that much control until then. My mother said that my hand writing was quite illegible for six months. I do know that I had no medical intervention. It was thro’ the Priesthood and the tender mercies of the Lord that I had a full recovery over not so long a time….looking back on it. I’m sure that the first week or two especially was quite challenging but I can’t remember for sure. But over 40 years six months really isn’t that long. I told Jonathon Sunday night that if any good could come out of my stroke it was that my total recovery could give hope to others who have had a stroke. I also told him that I had no residual from it unless you could count when I get my tangue tongled. J All kidding aside. I am so grateful to the Lord granting the miracle of a full recovery so shortly after it happened. The other night Kim asked me about another episode. I told him that that was the only one meaning the only stroke. However, the next morning when I was still in the twilight zone before fully becoming awake, I knew that he was referring to when I had my rotator cuff repaired and had a laringial (sp?)spasm and went into respiratory arrest (quit breathing) and went very dark before I started breathing again. When they took another EKG after that it should I had had a heart attack and the x-ray of the lungs were completely white (they showed me.) they were going to put me in ICU but by the time the 2 ½ hours I was in the recovery room was up, they put me in IMC instead. (that’s were Jon is). The next morning (it was supposed to be a day surgery and I was supposed to have gone home that night) the EKG showed a right bundle branch block, no MI or heart attack, and the x-ray of my lungs were all black the way it was supposed to be. I still have the right bundle branch block (I just had an EKG last week) but Dr. Stutts told me that if I had to have a block that the RBB was the one to have. So there were two episodes that the I guess I could have been very comprimized but the Lord thro’ his priesthood has blessed me. That was the second thing I tho’t when I first woke up in recovery after the shoulder surgery, “It’s a good thing I had a blessing last night.” The first thing was, “I didn’t see the light.” J
I hope this helps you understand. I don’t think of it very often. Only when I need to tell someone to help them.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Thanksgiving 2008
. We had a lovely Thanksgiving. We went to Karen & Kent’s. Shani and Jon were there with Macie and Porter. Macie is talking quite plainly now. She is so cute. Porter is six months old now and also very cute. I enjoyed being around them both so much. We also enjoyed having Bryce there. He came down here the Sunday evening before and stayed with us until Tuesday evening after Michael McLean’s The Forgotten Carols. I think he really enjoyed them. I know I did. He went home with Karen that night so he could spend some time with Kylie because after that time they may not see each other until after his mission.
While Bryce was here he helped me do some straightening and cleaning in the big room. He also brought in a cabinet that Karen had given my husband to put some of his stuff in by his chair. He also brought all of the Christmas boxes upstairs for my husband. It took my husband a couple of days to get them upstairs last year. Bryce’s young legs did it in less than 30 minutes. And there were quite a few boxes too. He put the Christmas tree together for me and put the star on. We didn’t have time to decorate it that evening with going to Forgotten Carols. And on Wednesday I was cooking and getting things ready to take to Karen’s for Thanksgiving etc. Wednesday evening the Kims and children stopped by on their way to Kimberly’s brother Rex’s place in Rigby where they stayed and had Thanksgiving. Since I hadn’t decorated the tree yet and had told them their children could stay there while they spent the day together, I decided to wait until Friday and let Nathaniel, Grace and Alex help me with it. We had a good day together. Then the Kims and children spent most of Saturday with us too. It was very pleasant to visit with them and have them here. We also really enjoyed having Bryce here too.
I am so blessed. I’m blessed to be a missionary at the Family History Center. The Lord has blessed me with a good mind that I can remember things. I have learned so much since we started there almost 20 months ago. I enjoy teaching what I’ve learned to others. I’m now a trainer on the Saturday shift and that means I teach the new missionaries and help them with some of the programs we have and with their own PAF program to get them cleaned up, etc. It is so rewarding.
At a zone conference last Friday both Elder Killian, the FHC director and Brother Rawson, who spoke to us, told us that we were where we were supposed to be in our lives, working there at the Family History Center. The Spirit bore witness to me as they each said it.
Last Wednesday I was helping a patron who had ancestors from Switzerland and told him about the Billiter Notes that Julius Billiter microfilmed most if not all of the Parish records in Switzerland. After he left and I ate supper I looked at my pedigree chart and was looking at my Grandma Wendel’s line and saw the names Hofer and Dreier. I looked in the FHLibrary Catalog and found films with both of their names. I felt like I needed to check out the Dreiers. I looked up there at the FHC to see if we had the film on the Dreiers and we did! I found six generations with children, back to my 11th great grandparents!! That is 13th great grand parents for you. Some of the work has been done but not all. I definitely feel like the Spirit was guiding me on this. I took the submission disk after preparing it Saturday to the temple so I’m sending the cards down to Michael so Collin and Natasha can do the baptisms next week when the youth in their ward go to the temple.
At a zone conference last Friday both Elder Killian, the FHC director and Brother Rawson, who spoke to us, told us that we were where we were supposed to be in our lives, working there at the Family History Center. The Spirit bore witness to me as they each said it.
While Bryce was here he helped me do some straightening and cleaning in the big room. He also brought in a cabinet that Karen had given my husband to put some of his stuff in by his chair. He also brought all of the Christmas boxes upstairs for my husband. It took my husband a couple of days to get them upstairs last year. Bryce’s young legs did it in less than 30 minutes. And there were quite a few boxes too. He put the Christmas tree together for me and put the star on. We didn’t have time to decorate it that evening with going to Forgotten Carols. And on Wednesday I was cooking and getting things ready to take to Karen’s for Thanksgiving etc. Wednesday evening the Kims and children stopped by on their way to Kimberly’s brother Rex’s place in Rigby where they stayed and had Thanksgiving. Since I hadn’t decorated the tree yet and had told them their children could stay there while they spent the day together, I decided to wait until Friday and let Nathaniel, Grace and Alex help me with it. We had a good day together. Then the Kims and children spent most of Saturday with us too. It was very pleasant to visit with them and have them here. We also really enjoyed having Bryce here too.
I am so blessed. I’m blessed to be a missionary at the Family History Center. The Lord has blessed me with a good mind that I can remember things. I have learned so much since we started there almost 20 months ago. I enjoy teaching what I’ve learned to others. I’m now a trainer on the Saturday shift and that means I teach the new missionaries and help them with some of the programs we have and with their own PAF program to get them cleaned up, etc. It is so rewarding.
At a zone conference last Friday both Elder Killian, the FHC director and Brother Rawson, who spoke to us, told us that we were where we were supposed to be in our lives, working there at the Family History Center. The Spirit bore witness to me as they each said it.
Last Wednesday I was helping a patron who had ancestors from Switzerland and told him about the Billiter Notes that Julius Billiter microfilmed most if not all of the Parish records in Switzerland. After he left and I ate supper I looked at my pedigree chart and was looking at my Grandma Wendel’s line and saw the names Hofer and Dreier. I looked in the FHLibrary Catalog and found films with both of their names. I felt like I needed to check out the Dreiers. I looked up there at the FHC to see if we had the film on the Dreiers and we did! I found six generations with children, back to my 11th great grandparents!! That is 13th great grand parents for you. Some of the work has been done but not all. I definitely feel like the Spirit was guiding me on this. I took the submission disk after preparing it Saturday to the temple so I’m sending the cards down to Michael so Collin and Natasha can do the baptisms next week when the youth in their ward go to the temple.
At a zone conference last Friday both Elder Killian, the FHC director and Brother Rawson, who spoke to us, told us that we were where we were supposed to be in our lives, working there at the Family History Center. The Spirit bore witness to me as they each said it.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
It's November Already!
.
It has been four weeks since I have written. Things have been happening but I just haven’t taken the time to write. We’ve been going to the FHC two days a week. I have been helping many people each day. Most of my time is spent helping either new missionaries or the patrons. I really enjoy doing that and am so thankful for the knowledge I have gained since I started there and for my memory so I can remember it and pass it on. And I am still learning new skills too. I learned yesterday how to enlarge pictures on the copy machine and how to lighten them. You just have to push certain buttons but you have to know what buttons to push.
Last Thursday, our bishop had asked us as a ward service project to have 60 people at the cannery to do applesauce and clean up so they can do some extended repairs. The unofficial count was 72 which I think was just wonderful. Since I couldn’t tolerate that kind of work for four hours, I volunteered to take care of Hatchs’ four children while both of them went. I had tho’t about it for about a week before talking to them. I was kind of apprehensive about it because it would be at least 4 ½ to 5 hours I’d be with them and it had been a long time since I had taken care of any children not to mention four at once. Colleen is 8, Keeton 6, Kevin 4 and Logan 3. I took some DVD’s that I didn’t think they had seen (which they hadn’t) and a VCR tape and some books and our colored dominoes so we could play chicken foot. Logan knew his colors very well and was my partner. Kevin ended up winning! They were so well behaved and we all had a great time.
Our country is in a real turmoil right now. We are truly living in perilous times. National elections are this coming Tuesday. It seems to be again, we are “voting for the lesser of two evils” type thing. The one candidate appears to be a warm good person but the ideas he is presenting are too radical and too close to socialism. He wants to give everyone everything without their having to work or account for it. And that just isn’t right! The other one wants to improve things and has some aggressive ideas that may or may not work, and he is 72 years old! Now, I know are prophets are and have been much older than that and work very hard every day. But I think this is different. I’m fasting today (and my sweetheart, too) at least until after church at 2:00 pm (I usually don’t fast because I need to take my medication with food.) I decided that this is an important enough issue and we need the Lord’s help so much that I will do it this time. I’m already thirsty just thinking about it now. The easiest part was when I was asleep. J I told my mother in March or April that if the Democrats get in this time, maybe it will speed up the Second Coming. She said that was a new one on her; she hadn’t heard that one before. There is expected to be a record turnout at this election.
Today is the first day off of daylight savings time. It is nice and light this morning, early. But it will get dark very early tonight. That will take more getting used to. It already was getting dark so much earlier. We have had unseasonably warm weather, in the high sixties but I have so enjoyed it. We do definitely need the rain and moisture that we usually get in the fall and winter time.
That pretty much covers the month of October. I haven’t exercised as I should have done. And my blood sugars are a little higher. I know how to fix that and commit to going to Apple Athletic Club more often. I’m thankful that my sweetheart has kept up with his own exercising. Oh, and our bathroom is completely finished. It only took seven weeks. It is beautiful! I enjoy it so much. Having it in disrepair for so long, I really do appreciate it more. If I had know the last of August when they started that it would be October before they finished it, I’m not sure I would have had the courage to do it. But I am thankful that we did.
It has been four weeks since I have written. Things have been happening but I just haven’t taken the time to write. We’ve been going to the FHC two days a week. I have been helping many people each day. Most of my time is spent helping either new missionaries or the patrons. I really enjoy doing that and am so thankful for the knowledge I have gained since I started there and for my memory so I can remember it and pass it on. And I am still learning new skills too. I learned yesterday how to enlarge pictures on the copy machine and how to lighten them. You just have to push certain buttons but you have to know what buttons to push.
Last Thursday, our bishop had asked us as a ward service project to have 60 people at the cannery to do applesauce and clean up so they can do some extended repairs. The unofficial count was 72 which I think was just wonderful. Since I couldn’t tolerate that kind of work for four hours, I volunteered to take care of Hatchs’ four children while both of them went. I had tho’t about it for about a week before talking to them. I was kind of apprehensive about it because it would be at least 4 ½ to 5 hours I’d be with them and it had been a long time since I had taken care of any children not to mention four at once. Colleen is 8, Keeton 6, Kevin 4 and Logan 3. I took some DVD’s that I didn’t think they had seen (which they hadn’t) and a VCR tape and some books and our colored dominoes so we could play chicken foot. Logan knew his colors very well and was my partner. Kevin ended up winning! They were so well behaved and we all had a great time.
Our country is in a real turmoil right now. We are truly living in perilous times. National elections are this coming Tuesday. It seems to be again, we are “voting for the lesser of two evils” type thing. The one candidate appears to be a warm good person but the ideas he is presenting are too radical and too close to socialism. He wants to give everyone everything without their having to work or account for it. And that just isn’t right! The other one wants to improve things and has some aggressive ideas that may or may not work, and he is 72 years old! Now, I know are prophets are and have been much older than that and work very hard every day. But I think this is different. I’m fasting today (and my sweetheart, too) at least until after church at 2:00 pm (I usually don’t fast because I need to take my medication with food.) I decided that this is an important enough issue and we need the Lord’s help so much that I will do it this time. I’m already thirsty just thinking about it now. The easiest part was when I was asleep. J I told my mother in March or April that if the Democrats get in this time, maybe it will speed up the Second Coming. She said that was a new one on her; she hadn’t heard that one before. There is expected to be a record turnout at this election.
Today is the first day off of daylight savings time. It is nice and light this morning, early. But it will get dark very early tonight. That will take more getting used to. It already was getting dark so much earlier. We have had unseasonably warm weather, in the high sixties but I have so enjoyed it. We do definitely need the rain and moisture that we usually get in the fall and winter time.
That pretty much covers the month of October. I haven’t exercised as I should have done. And my blood sugars are a little higher. I know how to fix that and commit to going to Apple Athletic Club more often. I’m thankful that my sweetheart has kept up with his own exercising. Oh, and our bathroom is completely finished. It only took seven weeks. It is beautiful! I enjoy it so much. Having it in disrepair for so long, I really do appreciate it more. If I had know the last of August when they started that it would be October before they finished it, I’m not sure I would have had the courage to do it. But I am thankful that we did.
Monday, October 06, 2008
It's October already!
It’s October already! The year is going so quickly. I loved General Conference yesterday and the day before. It is neat being close to the Spirit or having it close to me for those two days almost all day long. It bore witness to me many times that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet and mouthpiece of our Lord and Savio, Jesus Christ. And also that Jesus Christ is the son of God and our Savior and Redeemer and without Him there is no way we could return Home again.
It has been a busy three weeks since I wrote. Our bathroom is all but completed. Evan and Norm are coming today to fix the goof they did last week when laying the floor. Evan forgot about the toe-kick drawer in the bottom of the cabinet and laid the underflooring beside it instead of also under it then Norm laid the vinyl on top of that and coved it up under the drawer. So it can’t be opened at all. They will come today and lift the vanity and place the underflooring and I guess vinyl underneath it so I can use my drawer. It is a beautiful deep drawer. Bryce came Friday and put on the mirror and the door to the vanity and cabinet above. He does beautiful work. It just takes him forever and a day. Last week we got 43” high cabinet, white with a drawer and two shelves. It is 20” wide and 11” so it is just the right size to be there where that triangular shelf was. It will be much more serviceable than that triangular shelf. My sweetheart put it together during the afternoon session of conference, Saturday. We also got a wood over the toilet space saver with doors on it. My sweetheart has started to put it together. We may get it put together and in the bathroom today after they finish in there. It really is looking beautiful. We have shower doors on the tub. The vinyl is shades of brown and gold with some dark streaks thro’ it. It looks like it is in squares but is all one piece. The walls are called Hayseed white. It is an off-white with a golden hue to it. We are going back to Bed, Bath and Beyond to get a shorter mirror. I had originally gotten a full length mirror but with the taller cabinet (the white one) it won’t fit there. I remember seeing one with a tarnished silver frame that is a 2 ½ or 3 foot mirror that will look very nice. It is more expensive but it will go well with the room. I need it so I can see the back of my hair.
The work at the FHC is going well. We didn’t go Saturday because of conference. I found the passenger list and passport application for Johann Wendel, my great grandfather, when he came from Germany and then went back to Germany for his mission. It is now linked to my PAF program. I found it on Ancestry.com. I’ve been able to help a few of the patrons that have come in and also many of the new missionaries. I’m so thankful that the Lord has given me the gift of knowledge and remembering and teaching and so I can do that. I attribute my being able to do so entirely to Him.
We are truly blessed.
It has been a busy three weeks since I wrote. Our bathroom is all but completed. Evan and Norm are coming today to fix the goof they did last week when laying the floor. Evan forgot about the toe-kick drawer in the bottom of the cabinet and laid the underflooring beside it instead of also under it then Norm laid the vinyl on top of that and coved it up under the drawer. So it can’t be opened at all. They will come today and lift the vanity and place the underflooring and I guess vinyl underneath it so I can use my drawer. It is a beautiful deep drawer. Bryce came Friday and put on the mirror and the door to the vanity and cabinet above. He does beautiful work. It just takes him forever and a day. Last week we got 43” high cabinet, white with a drawer and two shelves. It is 20” wide and 11” so it is just the right size to be there where that triangular shelf was. It will be much more serviceable than that triangular shelf. My sweetheart put it together during the afternoon session of conference, Saturday. We also got a wood over the toilet space saver with doors on it. My sweetheart has started to put it together. We may get it put together and in the bathroom today after they finish in there. It really is looking beautiful. We have shower doors on the tub. The vinyl is shades of brown and gold with some dark streaks thro’ it. It looks like it is in squares but is all one piece. The walls are called Hayseed white. It is an off-white with a golden hue to it. We are going back to Bed, Bath and Beyond to get a shorter mirror. I had originally gotten a full length mirror but with the taller cabinet (the white one) it won’t fit there. I remember seeing one with a tarnished silver frame that is a 2 ½ or 3 foot mirror that will look very nice. It is more expensive but it will go well with the room. I need it so I can see the back of my hair.
The work at the FHC is going well. We didn’t go Saturday because of conference. I found the passenger list and passport application for Johann Wendel, my great grandfather, when he came from Germany and then went back to Germany for his mission. It is now linked to my PAF program. I found it on Ancestry.com. I’ve been able to help a few of the patrons that have come in and also many of the new missionaries. I’m so thankful that the Lord has given me the gift of knowledge and remembering and teaching and so I can do that. I attribute my being able to do so entirely to Him.
We are truly blessed.
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