All my kiddies went home, and all I have left to show for their visit are piles of blankets yet to be put away. What a crazy wonderful week we had with all the family "home." How blessed Von and I are to have such wonderful children and grandchildren.
I liked the noise and the busyness, late nights, talks and hugs and kisses. I am sure my mother and father were chuckling while watching from on high all the little personalities we had running around our house. Talk about energy!
Now the house is quiet, and maybe that is a good thing since I have yet to finish my english paper :(
I am grateful that our family could be with us this past week. Never before have I missed my family as I have these last 3 months. They define who I am and why I do the things I do. They are as much a part of me as I am of them.
We had a treat as our two youngest granddaughters were blessed, Eden Ann Finch and Tessa Lynn Packard. Lindsey called them our "vanilla and chocolate!" Eden is fair and blue-eyed, while Tessa is dark-haired and brown-eyed--both beautiful little baby girls.
We had fun bowling as a family, hiking, snowboarding and skiing for some, a turkey bowl game to prepare for the feast and playing games. Christmas lights at Temple Square and caroling to dear friends. Family pictures - which will be surprising for some as I no longer have 5 blonde-haired daughters!!!
We know have 11 grandchildren, all as different as can be. Handsome and beautiful and full of life! (Pictures to be posted later)
I love you--children of mine! You are the best.
mom
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
THE FACES OF HALLOWEEN
Another story from my Journalism class. This time I had to work with another classmates. He did some interviews, and I wove the story together. Then we collaborated on the lead and ending. This was a "fun feature" story about something happening in the area of our community.
As is the case every October, people notice more and more faces staring at them with weird expressions. Fortunately gangs and graffiti are not the issue.
The Halloween tradition of carving pumpkins has become so popular, that it is not uncommon to see three to six carved pumpkins sitting on the doorsteps of houses and apartments. Interestingly, college student housing seems to match the amount of doorstep squash as other families.
It’s evident that carving pumpkins is not just for children. College students find it a great social activity. It’s an opportunity and excuse to get together with friends in a wholesome setting. Most of the young adult crowds love the creative experience of getting down and dirty with their pumpkins.
“I carved the most amazing pumpkins this Halloween—all in one week,” said Jessica M--, who has three carved pumpkins to her name this season. “I think I might just like all the guts! The first was a cool sun with sunglasses, the second was abstract—and the third was a puppy dog.”
Home evenings, dates and neighborhood gatherings are all popular situations for pumpkin carving activities. It’s become a tradition. Such is the case with Lance and Rebecca G-- of Highland, Utah. They started an annual pumpkin carving contest about seven years ago with the intent of encouraging their college age nieces and nephews to date. The Garretts provide dinner, pumpkins, carving tools and small prizes for their efforts.
“For the kids, this was a cheap date,” Lance G-- said. “There is always a grand prize winner and a loser, but the real winners are those who had a good social experience with their dates.”
The G--’s further explained that it gives the couples an opportunity to engage in some “small talk” and learn about their date’s sense of humor and creativity. Pumpkins turned out with impressive artwork and even pyrotechnics. Another benefit is that cousins are able to introduce their dates to the family, with two contests resulting in wedding engagements.
“Pumpkins are so unique—who thought to carve a pumpkin and put a face on it,” Hallie S-- said. “Someone obviously connected a pumpkin with a head, then thought, ‘Hmm…let’s poke some holes in it to make eyes, nose and a mouth’.”
Those pumpkin heads and spooky signs may be unique, but they have become classic in the neighborhood Halloween atmosphere.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
THE DEAD DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE
For my journalism class assignment I had to interview someone and then interview 2 people that knew that person. OK, so I am boasting, I got 50/50 points. That was very encouraging day. Here is my story:
When walking into Sandra Y.’s office it is easy to see why the dead don’t leave her alone. There is order and peace. Notebooks are labeled and filed on bookshelves, special drawers hold over 16,000 family file names and numerous files are stuffed with accumulated information while searching for her kindred dead.
One of the three-fold missions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to redeem the dead.
“You don’t build temples for their good looks,” Y. said. ”We need to do our family history.
There will come a time when the significance of ‘Redeem the Dead’ will come to force.”
Every family has a unique story. As a volunteer at the Alpine Tabernacle Family History Center one can find Y., each Tuesday, helping patrons find that story. She assists and teaches others how to search their own family history. One patron, Sheila P., was directed to her because of a chance meeting in the temple with P.’s husband. Y. visited the temple one evening to do temple sealings for her family. Von P. noticed the lilting British accent of Y., his wife is British also, so he struck up a conversation. During their discussion he discovered that she was a family history consultant, and that she had a special interest in British genealogy.
“It was sheer providence,” P. said. “She made it easy.”
“She knows how to get into the records on the internet,” P. said. “She is very thorough, documenting everything exactly where we found it.”
Shortly after Y.’s mother passed away she met a young man, Trevor Y. They took a holiday together to visit an aunt who lived in the southern part of England. The aunt was a “Mormon.” Neither she nor Trevor thought much of this religious faith after their discussions with the missionaries, and dismissed the experience. However, the missionaries did not forget them. A few months later this set of missionaries were attending a meeting where they met some missionaries that lived in Y.’s hometown. The missionaries promptly told them that there were a couple of young kids that needed the gospel.
Both Y., and her husband-to-be, joined the church in 1959, and married soon after. Y. wanted to leave England for America, so after selling everything, the family immigrated to the United States. With two children under the age of 3, four suitcases and $200, they arrived in Salt Lake City in 1963. Y.’s husband worked for $2 a day and she managed apartments. Y.’s husband has never looked back; he felt he had come home.
However, Y. missed her family and homeland and traveled back to England only to discover that visiting living relatives was not the only way to cure a homesick heart.
“I know that when I was on the other side, I said, ‘I will do it!’,” Y. said. “Next time I will sit on my hands. I can’t leave it alone—they won’t leave me alone! I eat, sleep, and breathe family history.”
“My daughter will call to make an appointment with me for lunch,” Y. said. “She calls it--lunch with the living.”
Y.’s daughter, Julie P., describes her mother’s temperament as sweet and giving, always willing to serve others. Genealogy became one of the family projects, one where they learned to serve those that have passed on.
“My mom has a ‘no one left behind’ rule,” P. said. “It is something personal for her. It is as if someone leads her.”
“Oh, look, there’s one more lovely little family,” Y. said.
When it comes to family relationships or family history, Y.’s life is evident that her love is genuine and sincere. At this time in her life she has found a passion that gets her out of bed in the morning and excited to welcome those departed to her office.
When walking into Sandra Y.’s office it is easy to see why the dead don’t leave her alone. There is order and peace. Notebooks are labeled and filed on bookshelves, special drawers hold over 16,000 family file names and numerous files are stuffed with accumulated information while searching for her kindred dead.
One of the three-fold missions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to redeem the dead.
“You don’t build temples for their good looks,” Y. said. ”We need to do our family history.
There will come a time when the significance of ‘Redeem the Dead’ will come to force.”
Every family has a unique story. As a volunteer at the Alpine Tabernacle Family History Center one can find Y., each Tuesday, helping patrons find that story. She assists and teaches others how to search their own family history. One patron, Sheila P., was directed to her because of a chance meeting in the temple with P.’s husband. Y. visited the temple one evening to do temple sealings for her family. Von P. noticed the lilting British accent of Y., his wife is British also, so he struck up a conversation. During their discussion he discovered that she was a family history consultant, and that she had a special interest in British genealogy.
“It was sheer providence,” P. said. “She made it easy.”
“She knows how to get into the records on the internet,” P. said. “She is very thorough, documenting everything exactly where we found it.”
Shortly after Y.’s mother passed away she met a young man, Trevor Y. They took a holiday together to visit an aunt who lived in the southern part of England. The aunt was a “Mormon.” Neither she nor Trevor thought much of this religious faith after their discussions with the missionaries, and dismissed the experience. However, the missionaries did not forget them. A few months later this set of missionaries were attending a meeting where they met some missionaries that lived in Y.’s hometown. The missionaries promptly told them that there were a couple of young kids that needed the gospel.
Both Y., and her husband-to-be, joined the church in 1959, and married soon after. Y. wanted to leave England for America, so after selling everything, the family immigrated to the United States. With two children under the age of 3, four suitcases and $200, they arrived in Salt Lake City in 1963. Y.’s husband worked for $2 a day and she managed apartments. Y.’s husband has never looked back; he felt he had come home.
However, Y. missed her family and homeland and traveled back to England only to discover that visiting living relatives was not the only way to cure a homesick heart.
“I know that when I was on the other side, I said, ‘I will do it!’,” Y. said. “Next time I will sit on my hands. I can’t leave it alone—they won’t leave me alone! I eat, sleep, and breathe family history.”
“My daughter will call to make an appointment with me for lunch,” Y. said. “She calls it--lunch with the living.”
Y.’s daughter, Julie P., describes her mother’s temperament as sweet and giving, always willing to serve others. Genealogy became one of the family projects, one where they learned to serve those that have passed on.
“My mom has a ‘no one left behind’ rule,” P. said. “It is something personal for her. It is as if someone leads her.”
“Oh, look, there’s one more lovely little family,” Y. said.
When it comes to family relationships or family history, Y.’s life is evident that her love is genuine and sincere. At this time in her life she has found a passion that gets her out of bed in the morning and excited to welcome those departed to her office.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
I AM LEARNING
Someday soon--my blog will look awesome. Probably around Thanksgiving time when Loralee is visiting and she can show me in person HOW to do incredible things with my blog. At least I have some of my family members listed, thank you Lindsey.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
DAILY JOURNAL
It was on Cami's blog that I read about using your blog as a daily journal. Hmmm...most days that would be boring, as I don't have any little ones around to add humor to my days. And it would be very disrespectful of me to use Von as my story line each day, though he does give me something to talk about (nope - won't go there!).
So I have made up some acronyms to speed up my journaling process:
So I have made up some acronyms to speed up my journaling process:
- SAD - Studied All Day
- OOPS - Officially Out of Perfume Scents
- BAG - Busted A Gut
- NC - Need Chocolate
- TGIF - Thank Goodness Its Food
Monday, September 29, 2008
NEW SIZE FOR BIG BODS
I have to admit that one of my biggest fears about coming back to school were the desks. Whenever I would visit an open house for my high school age children, sitting in their school desks was tight. I am happy to report that at college, they have generously, oops, the desk are of a generous size that I and other big boys can fit in. I am most appreciatitive of this as well as my rolls of bodily girth that would overflow the countours of the chair. And I think those sitting around me are appreciatitive as well.Friday, September 26, 2008
JULIANNE'S BIG CHANCE AS A PAUL MITCHEL PROFESSIONAL
My daughter Julianne, gave me a call yesterday telling me about a competition she and her classmates are participating in - where any viewers that I have can participate in! I am copying my other daughter, Loralee's, post about this opportunity. The most important aspect of this blog post is for any and all to go to the website and view the youtube video mulitiple times a day!!!! So here is what Loralee has to say about her sister, Julianne.....which I ditto by 500%!!!!!!
TAG - JU-JU's Paul Mitchell Contest
My sister Julianne attends Paul Mitchell Hair Academy in Rexburg and she's entering a contest. I want to say just a few words about her. She is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet in your life. She has had to overcome some SERIOUS obstacles throughout her life. When I think about the things that she has encountered, I am amazed at her ability to get through them. No doubt she is one of Heavenly Father's strongest and most faithful daughters. She is a loyal friend and tries so hard to bring happiness into the lives of those around her. Hair school means so much to her because it's a place where she can go and feel safe, feel confident in her abilities, and feel like she has a support system all around her. Here's what she wrote:"Paul Mitchell is having a YouTube contest that all Future Professionals in all of the schools nationwide are invited to participate in. And I really really really want to win!!! The grand prize is an all expense paid airfare, hotel, and dinner with John Paul Dejoria and Winn Claybaugh. So here is the deal. The winners are picked by the HIGHEST NUMBER OF VIEWS and HIGHEST RANKING. So here is where all of you come into play and your friends and family and their friends and family! You will all need to view JUST my video (don't view the other videos b/c then they get a vote as well) as often as possible and then rank it high!!! In order to rank it, you need to be a You Tube member-it takes just a couple minutes to create an account and other than the confirmation email, you don't get any other emails from them. You can view it as much as you want (please view it a lot) and then I would love you to tag everyone on your blog list with it. Voting goes from the time my video is uploaded until October 18. This is so important to me. Love you all!!!!!!! So keep your eyes open for the link!which is right here (and to make sure you have the right one, her username is julijam421):
TAG ALL OF YOU WHO READ THIS!!
Just copy and paste this post and put it on your blog,
then create a You Tube account and view, view, view!!!
Julianne would flip out if she won this contest.THANKS!
***Voting starts at midnight tonight-Thursday***
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