Dear Sisters,
I get a newsletter from Release Technique every month. I love getting them because I know I will always find a treasure inside. This month there is an article about "How to Find Love." It says: "To find love, we have to look inside ourselves. Let go of all our non-loving feelings. We don't have to go anywhere to find all the love in the universe. All we have to do is open up to the all-loving being that we really are. To do that, we have to sit down and begin to let go of all our non-loving feelings; the first of which is wanting to be loved, wanting approval. We look inside and we release all those negative, wanting, non-loving feeling- disapproval- feelings. And as we do, we find we are becoming more loving- we are opening up to the natural all-loving being that we are, always have been, always will be. By and by, we discover, we do not need anything, we ARE love and we are the All. It is only when we turn away from that, when we forget, and we think love is somewhere out there and we have to go and find it, that we move into misery and suffering."
The true is: If we love ourselves enough, as God loves us, we don't have to ever find fault with or criticize anyone else. We are now complete in Love.
After reading the whole newsletter and savoring it, I realized that I should start releasing my non-loving feelings right here at home. I looked at my husband and began to release my non-loving feelings towards some of his most obvious, Glaring, faults. It wasn't so much that his faults started looking better, it was that my love for him was different. Simple Love. I found that he didn't have to change. I was the one who had to change.
And then last night I had a dream. My husband slipped in beside me in my warm bed and spooned me. He wrapped his arms around me and I could feel his sweet breath on my neck. I've always loved his breath. I whispered,"I love you." He whispered back, "You do?"and chuckled.
The next thing I knew we were traveling somewhere and we were in the middle of a rescue scene, and I, of course always the romantic, said between breaths, "Thanks for the snuggle in bed last night." And he didn't say,"Can't you see I am busy rescuing this woman on this ledge." Instead he looked me in the eye and said. "I've gone to many gardens and walked down many pathways and you were always there." I said, "I was?" And he said. "Yes, you were."
And the woman on the ledge jumped.
Just kidding!
Sometimes husband's never say in real life, what they really feel. Last night I found out what mine really feels. Love you all so much. Jelene
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Our Book Club
I just went on Amazon and bought 'The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore' for .01.. Of Course there was shipping..all together it cost $4.00!! Not too bad..love you Jelene
Monday, July 23, 2012
Elizabeths Children
Elizabeth's first son, Abraham, was born January 10, 1867, in Coalville. When he was a little over one year old, she moved with Joseph and his two wives, Caroline and Charlotte, and their families to Eden, Utah to make a new home. Joseph had been helping to build the Union Pacific Railroad through Echo Canyon. One day he traveled over the mountain and fell in love with the little settlement of Eden. He took two hundred and fifty acres of land to homestead. He called it his little 'Garden of Eden'. Mother nature had endowed this place with lavish gifts of majestic mountains, lush green meadows, sparkling streams, fertile land and beauty more extravagant than the beholder could comprehend. Joseph built two homes on the southeast edge of the valley. Caroline and Charlotte lived in one home and Elizabeth lived in a log cabin about a half mile away. They began to clear the land, build barns, chicken coops, fences and till the soil. It was hard work, but Joseph and his son's soon became very successful farmers.
Elizabeth was finally getting used to little cabin in Eden. But she still hated being so far from her dear family. One day when little Abraham was fifteen months old, he was out in the barn watching his father shoe a horse, when the horse lashed out with his foot and struck little Abraham, killing him instantly. Elizabeth was devastated and cried herself to sleep many nights. She was happy to welcome her new baby into her arms seven months later. His name was Don Carlos Stallings. Born, November 20, 1868. Our Great-Grandfather.
As Joseph's family grew, he could not support them the way he would have liked to. Because Elizabeth was the youngest wife, he moved her to North Ogden to work in the woolen mill. Ezekiel, Nellie and David were all born in North Ogden, Utah.
When little David was two years old, he got typhoid fever. It was very hard for his family to see him suffering. The doctor said to keep water away from him as part of his treatment. One day, eleven year old Don Carlos couldn't stand to hear him cry out for a drink any longer and gave his little brother a drink. David smiled up at Don and then went to sleep. On August 5, 1879 he died.
In 1962 President Lincoln signed into law the anti-bigamy law, known as the Morrill Law; but because of the Civil War, it's enforcement was overlooked. This legislation struck at both polygamy and the Church's power, by prohibiting plural marriage in the territories, disincorporating the Church, and restricting the Church's ownership of property to fifty thousand dollars. The saints believed that the law was unconstitutional and that it deprived them of their first amendment rights to freely practice their religion. They chose to ignore the law until it was constitutionally defined.
The Church decided a 'test case' should be brought before the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of the anti-bigamy law. In 1878 this appeal reached the Supreme Court and in 1879 the Supreme Court ruled the anti-bigamy law constitutional.
In 1882 Congress passed the Edmunds Act which defined 'unlawful cohabitation' as supporting and caring for more than one woman. Proof of a second marriage was not needed. The law disenfranchised polygamists and declared them ineligible for public office. Anyone who believed in polygamy was disqualified from jury duty and the privilege to vote.
The leaders of the Church, and many of the brethren living polygamy, had to go 'underground' to avoid arrest. Some of the United States Marshall's sent to uphold the law, became obsessed in the harassment of the saints and sending the leaders of the Church to prison.
Joseph had married Caroline and Charlotte before 1862 when the Morrill Law was passed, so the law allowed him to keep and support them. However, he had married Elizabeth in 1865 and was under constant watch and the constant threat of going to jail. Joseph decided to send Elizabeth and her three children up into Idaho, where they could start a new life. Joseph gave her three cattle, horses to pull the wagon and a crate of chickens nailed to the side of the wagon. Elizabeth and Don Carlos, age fifteen would be driving the team that pulled the wagon. Deke, twelve, held a willow stick in his hand and was trying to keep the cattle from wandering off. "Come on, Mama, let's go. I can't herd cattle standing still." He said. Nellie, nine, sat up on the wagon seat, with her mother, softly weeping. She was leaving her sisters behind.
"Elizabeth, aren't you even going to speak to me?" Joseph said, looking up at her on the wagon seat. "You know I have no choice but to send you away. If I go to jail, who will take care of Caroline and Charlotte and the children?
Elizabeth turned to the other side of the wagon to yell at Don Carlos. "Hurry, Don, get that last trunk loaded and let's go. You know we have to be at the Junction at noon to meet up with the others."
"Elizabeth." Joseph said again. Elizabeth heard Don Carlo latch the board across the back of the wagon and climb aboard.
"Good-bye, Joseph." Elizabeth said, looking straight ahead. She gave the reins a great shake and yelled, "Yea!" The horses lurched the heavy wagon forward. Forward to Idaho. Love, Jelene
Elizabeth was finally getting used to little cabin in Eden. But she still hated being so far from her dear family. One day when little Abraham was fifteen months old, he was out in the barn watching his father shoe a horse, when the horse lashed out with his foot and struck little Abraham, killing him instantly. Elizabeth was devastated and cried herself to sleep many nights. She was happy to welcome her new baby into her arms seven months later. His name was Don Carlos Stallings. Born, November 20, 1868. Our Great-Grandfather.
As Joseph's family grew, he could not support them the way he would have liked to. Because Elizabeth was the youngest wife, he moved her to North Ogden to work in the woolen mill. Ezekiel, Nellie and David were all born in North Ogden, Utah.
When little David was two years old, he got typhoid fever. It was very hard for his family to see him suffering. The doctor said to keep water away from him as part of his treatment. One day, eleven year old Don Carlos couldn't stand to hear him cry out for a drink any longer and gave his little brother a drink. David smiled up at Don and then went to sleep. On August 5, 1879 he died.
In 1962 President Lincoln signed into law the anti-bigamy law, known as the Morrill Law; but because of the Civil War, it's enforcement was overlooked. This legislation struck at both polygamy and the Church's power, by prohibiting plural marriage in the territories, disincorporating the Church, and restricting the Church's ownership of property to fifty thousand dollars. The saints believed that the law was unconstitutional and that it deprived them of their first amendment rights to freely practice their religion. They chose to ignore the law until it was constitutionally defined.
The Church decided a 'test case' should be brought before the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of the anti-bigamy law. In 1878 this appeal reached the Supreme Court and in 1879 the Supreme Court ruled the anti-bigamy law constitutional.
In 1882 Congress passed the Edmunds Act which defined 'unlawful cohabitation' as supporting and caring for more than one woman. Proof of a second marriage was not needed. The law disenfranchised polygamists and declared them ineligible for public office. Anyone who believed in polygamy was disqualified from jury duty and the privilege to vote.
The leaders of the Church, and many of the brethren living polygamy, had to go 'underground' to avoid arrest. Some of the United States Marshall's sent to uphold the law, became obsessed in the harassment of the saints and sending the leaders of the Church to prison.
Joseph had married Caroline and Charlotte before 1862 when the Morrill Law was passed, so the law allowed him to keep and support them. However, he had married Elizabeth in 1865 and was under constant watch and the constant threat of going to jail. Joseph decided to send Elizabeth and her three children up into Idaho, where they could start a new life. Joseph gave her three cattle, horses to pull the wagon and a crate of chickens nailed to the side of the wagon. Elizabeth and Don Carlos, age fifteen would be driving the team that pulled the wagon. Deke, twelve, held a willow stick in his hand and was trying to keep the cattle from wandering off. "Come on, Mama, let's go. I can't herd cattle standing still." He said. Nellie, nine, sat up on the wagon seat, with her mother, softly weeping. She was leaving her sisters behind.
"Elizabeth, aren't you even going to speak to me?" Joseph said, looking up at her on the wagon seat. "You know I have no choice but to send you away. If I go to jail, who will take care of Caroline and Charlotte and the children?
Elizabeth turned to the other side of the wagon to yell at Don Carlos. "Hurry, Don, get that last trunk loaded and let's go. You know we have to be at the Junction at noon to meet up with the others."
"Elizabeth." Joseph said again. Elizabeth heard Don Carlo latch the board across the back of the wagon and climb aboard.
"Good-bye, Joseph." Elizabeth said, looking straight ahead. She gave the reins a great shake and yelled, "Yea!" The horses lurched the heavy wagon forward. Forward to Idaho. Love, Jelene
Saturday, July 21, 2012
My COCK
Friday, July 20, 2012
Proud Mother of Chickens
I went against my husband's wishes (he has been dragging his feet for a month) today, and took Reagan to pick out chickens. We ended up coming home with 5 and we found out that tomorrow at Southern States there may be more to pick from, so we will go look at them.
Troy came home from work and was forced to finish the flooring in the chicken coop and so we are so happy to have chickens. We didn't sharpy them like Lilly, but Reagan has them all named and we love them already.
I love that my heritage has led me here.....
Love Donna
Troy came home from work and was forced to finish the flooring in the chicken coop and so we are so happy to have chickens. We didn't sharpy them like Lilly, but Reagan has them all named and we love them already.
I love that my heritage has led me here.....
Love Donna
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Elizabeth Barnes
Dear sisters, It seems I have found a way to make writing my stories more fun. Telling my stories to you on this blog! It's like I am telling my stories to you instead of to a piece of paper. So you are going to get sick of me because I have about 200 more stories to write. Hope you don't mind. This is the story of Elizabeth Barnes. Our Great-Great-Grandmother.
The beauty of high mountain country of Coalville, Utah could almost take your breath away.
Nineteen year old Elizabeth and her younger sister, Nellie were best friends. They were walking arm in arm, laughing at each other, when they noticed a gray haired man working with his horses across the street.
"How would you like to marry an old man like him?" Nellie asked Elizabeth, poking her in the side as they walked along.
"Brother Stallings? He is way too old for me. I want to marry someone who is young and handsome. Besides, he already has two wives." Elizabeth whispered, so as not to be heard by anyone but Nellie.
Joseph Stallings climbed up onto the wagon seat and grabbed the reins up tight, pulling his horses into the street. Waving to Elizabeth and Nellie as he passed, he headed home to Caroline and Charlotte. His wives were anxiously awaiting the sugar and lard he had just picked up at the Mercantile, so they could make sugar cookies for the church social that evening.
Joseph remembered the first time he had seen Caroline. Cold and hungry, the exiled Mormons were suffering through the winter of 1849 at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Joseph had just buried his sweet wife, Margaret, in the frozen ground of the plains, as his four little children clung to his legs. Death had come to many couples. Brigham Young introduced Joseph to Caroline, a widow with two children. Daniel, who was seventeen and Charlotte, eleven. They married soon after they met, which was a blessing for Joseph and his small children. The two families combined their wagons, oxen and supplies and made the long trek west, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on October 1, 1850. Finally they could feel safe and have some land to call their own. Joseph and Daniel cut logs to build a home at the mouth of Millcreek Canyon. It was a great day when Caroline moved from the wagon bed into her log cabin. Joseph and Caroline had two children born to them in the Millcreek home.
Plural marriage was widely practiced in the valley, after Brigham Young introduced it to the saints in General Conference in 1852. The people accepted this commandment as a revelation from God to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Joseph accepted this principle and asked Caroline for permission to marry his step-daughter, Charlotte, who was eighteen years old. They drove into Salt Lake on June 1, 1856 and were married by Brigham Young in his office. They returned home to Millcreek to live. Joseph was forty-three years old.
Elizabeth wrapped her winter scarf tighter around her ears and hurried home from church. She could hardly wait to get home to tell Nellie the news. She was getting married. "Remember that old man I said I would never marry." She asked Nellie.
"Yes, what about him?" Nellie asked.
"Well, I'm marrying him."
"Why?'
"Because he asked me and I am getting old. Besides he is kind and good. And I need a husband who is kind and good." Elizabeth said, trying to convince herself.
Joseph and Elizabeth were married in the endowment house in Salt Lake City, on November 18, 1865.
The beauty of high mountain country of Coalville, Utah could almost take your breath away.
Nineteen year old Elizabeth and her younger sister, Nellie were best friends. They were walking arm in arm, laughing at each other, when they noticed a gray haired man working with his horses across the street.
"How would you like to marry an old man like him?" Nellie asked Elizabeth, poking her in the side as they walked along.
"Brother Stallings? He is way too old for me. I want to marry someone who is young and handsome. Besides, he already has two wives." Elizabeth whispered, so as not to be heard by anyone but Nellie.
Joseph Stallings climbed up onto the wagon seat and grabbed the reins up tight, pulling his horses into the street. Waving to Elizabeth and Nellie as he passed, he headed home to Caroline and Charlotte. His wives were anxiously awaiting the sugar and lard he had just picked up at the Mercantile, so they could make sugar cookies for the church social that evening.
Joseph remembered the first time he had seen Caroline. Cold and hungry, the exiled Mormons were suffering through the winter of 1849 at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Joseph had just buried his sweet wife, Margaret, in the frozen ground of the plains, as his four little children clung to his legs. Death had come to many couples. Brigham Young introduced Joseph to Caroline, a widow with two children. Daniel, who was seventeen and Charlotte, eleven. They married soon after they met, which was a blessing for Joseph and his small children. The two families combined their wagons, oxen and supplies and made the long trek west, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on October 1, 1850. Finally they could feel safe and have some land to call their own. Joseph and Daniel cut logs to build a home at the mouth of Millcreek Canyon. It was a great day when Caroline moved from the wagon bed into her log cabin. Joseph and Caroline had two children born to them in the Millcreek home.
Plural marriage was widely practiced in the valley, after Brigham Young introduced it to the saints in General Conference in 1852. The people accepted this commandment as a revelation from God to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Joseph accepted this principle and asked Caroline for permission to marry his step-daughter, Charlotte, who was eighteen years old. They drove into Salt Lake on June 1, 1856 and were married by Brigham Young in his office. They returned home to Millcreek to live. Joseph was forty-three years old.
Elizabeth wrapped her winter scarf tighter around her ears and hurried home from church. She could hardly wait to get home to tell Nellie the news. She was getting married. "Remember that old man I said I would never marry." She asked Nellie.
"Yes, what about him?" Nellie asked.
"Well, I'm marrying him."
"Why?'
"Because he asked me and I am getting old. Besides he is kind and good. And I need a husband who is kind and good." Elizabeth said, trying to convince herself.
Joseph and Elizabeth were married in the endowment house in Salt Lake City, on November 18, 1865.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Clarinet From 1776
I was really looking forward to playing the clarinet when I got into Junior High. Kay had started playing the saxophone, Keith was learning the trombone and Bart played the trumpet. Father had a beautiful black clarinet he played and I just assumed that I would get to take it to school with me to play in the band.
"Okay, Jelene," father said,walking into the living room. "I got you a clarinet to take to school. Come here and I'll show you how it works. I love these old clarinets. I remember watching Benny Goodman play one just like this in his band."
"Whose Benny Goodman?" I asked.
"Whose Benny Goodman?! He's only the most famous clarinet player in the world."
He opened the long narrow case that was laying across his lap and pulled out the ugliest clarinet in the world. It was a tarnished silver color, with rust around each of the keys. It didn't come apart like his beautiful black one. It was all in one piece.
My heart started beating wildly. "Yes, of course." I said to myself. "Here we go again." My head told me to shut up and not say anything. "This is normal procedure," My head reminded me.. "Remember, life is not meant to be easy... It would be too easy, if you were to be able to take his clarinet to school. Not in the plan...Not in the plan..!!"
Father gently took a reed out of the side pocket of the case, licked it on both sides and tightened it into the head piece. He took the clarinet into his expert hands and began to trill up an down the scale. He could make anything sound good. Okay, alright, maybe if Benny Goodman could play a clarinet like this, it wouldn't be that bad.
"You take this one to school and when you learn how to play well enough, then you can take mine."
I knew there was no need to say anything, so I kept my mouth shut and trudged off to school with my clarinet under my arm on Monday. When I got to band class, I sat down in a chair and pulled out my one piece. The other kids opened their cases and began putting their beautiful black clarinets together, piece by beautiful piece. One girl looked over at me and screwed up her face in a horrid, painful grimace. "What is that?" she shouted, so loud, even the teacher turned to look at the oldest Clarinet still in existence.
"It's a clarinet like the one Benny Goodman used to play." I said in my defense.
"Maybe in 1776!" Everyone roared laughing.
I was so humiliated I wanted to crawl under my chair. But instead, I hauled that ugly, ancient clarinet home every night. I practiced and practiced, until I played better than any of those other stupid kids and got to be first chair clarinet.
That'll show you, SUCKA's!!!' Loveuall Jelene
"Okay, Jelene," father said,walking into the living room. "I got you a clarinet to take to school. Come here and I'll show you how it works. I love these old clarinets. I remember watching Benny Goodman play one just like this in his band."
"Whose Benny Goodman?" I asked.
"Whose Benny Goodman?! He's only the most famous clarinet player in the world."
He opened the long narrow case that was laying across his lap and pulled out the ugliest clarinet in the world. It was a tarnished silver color, with rust around each of the keys. It didn't come apart like his beautiful black one. It was all in one piece.
My heart started beating wildly. "Yes, of course." I said to myself. "Here we go again." My head told me to shut up and not say anything. "This is normal procedure," My head reminded me.. "Remember, life is not meant to be easy... It would be too easy, if you were to be able to take his clarinet to school. Not in the plan...Not in the plan..!!"
Father gently took a reed out of the side pocket of the case, licked it on both sides and tightened it into the head piece. He took the clarinet into his expert hands and began to trill up an down the scale. He could make anything sound good. Okay, alright, maybe if Benny Goodman could play a clarinet like this, it wouldn't be that bad.
"You take this one to school and when you learn how to play well enough, then you can take mine."
I knew there was no need to say anything, so I kept my mouth shut and trudged off to school with my clarinet under my arm on Monday. When I got to band class, I sat down in a chair and pulled out my one piece. The other kids opened their cases and began putting their beautiful black clarinets together, piece by beautiful piece. One girl looked over at me and screwed up her face in a horrid, painful grimace. "What is that?" she shouted, so loud, even the teacher turned to look at the oldest Clarinet still in existence.
"It's a clarinet like the one Benny Goodman used to play." I said in my defense.
"Maybe in 1776!" Everyone roared laughing.
I was so humiliated I wanted to crawl under my chair. But instead, I hauled that ugly, ancient clarinet home every night. I practiced and practiced, until I played better than any of those other stupid kids and got to be first chair clarinet.
That'll show you, SUCKA's!!!' Loveuall Jelene
The aftermath of going on vacation
Oh my gosh, I'm a crazy woman. Why do all of my clients seem to dump work in my lap all at the same time? And suddenly they have a deadline! I am swamped this week, but so far am surviving it. You can tell my nerves are a little on edge though.
Driving the girls to get their sports physical this morning, Bailey refused to get her feet off of the seat, so I slammed on the brakes and told her she could get out and walk if she wanted to. It totally freaked her out and she was mad at me all the way. Oh well, maybe she'll listen someday, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm just looking forward to those years after she is grown up and we can be friends, because I'm sure we will be good to each other then. She will call me to complain about the daughter that she has that is exactly like her and she will cry on my shoulder and I will relish in the fact that she finally understands why she should have been nicer to her mother....
Jelene, try the resistance training, it will be good for you to mix it up. I have always been a walker and after you do that for so long your body doesn't react to it, so you have to shake it up and change routines. I thought I gained 4 pounds on my 4 day vacation, but today I was back down. Thank goodness, because I was not happy about that at all.
Gotta go to bible study, chat at you all later.
Donna
Driving the girls to get their sports physical this morning, Bailey refused to get her feet off of the seat, so I slammed on the brakes and told her she could get out and walk if she wanted to. It totally freaked her out and she was mad at me all the way. Oh well, maybe she'll listen someday, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm just looking forward to those years after she is grown up and we can be friends, because I'm sure we will be good to each other then. She will call me to complain about the daughter that she has that is exactly like her and she will cry on my shoulder and I will relish in the fact that she finally understands why she should have been nicer to her mother....
Jelene, try the resistance training, it will be good for you to mix it up. I have always been a walker and after you do that for so long your body doesn't react to it, so you have to shake it up and change routines. I thought I gained 4 pounds on my 4 day vacation, but today I was back down. Thank goodness, because I was not happy about that at all.
Gotta go to bible study, chat at you all later.
Donna
The most exciting thing that happened in my life this week, is I had Kaylee post a picture of me on my facebook page. Wow, I need to change something. I actually got up and went to Curves this morning to exercise. LeAnna, my daughter, owns the Curves here and gave me a free membership last year, but this is the second time I have gone in a year. What a slacker. I usually get up at 6 a.m. and go for a walk, but I need to strengthen my shoulders and arms, so I went over and really enjoyed it.
Brian had his Grand Opening at TruBerry on Saturday. He sold 85 bowls!! He has been doing quite a bit of advertising and it is bringing lots of people into the store.
Linton is doing well with his Radiation. It makes him really tired. But he is hanging in there, still able to take his truck down the road and curse at the other drivers. So that's what counts!
Kaylee is almost done with this semester of school. She has registered for all the classes for next semester. 20 credits! It's going to be a rough one. But she is taking Music Appreciation and Intro to Theater. That should help alittle.
I am sending out another email today to let everyone know the Family Reunion is on Labor Day weekend..Hope that floats everybody's boat! I asked Donna to embroider a plaque with Father's and Mother's dates on it and a nice saying. We will hang it in the living room at the ranch instead of putting a bronze one on the bench outside. The Bronze one cost $700 and I think Mother would love one made by her beautiful Donna tons more. If yall' can think of a nice saying for the plaque, please let Donna know. Ruth suggested, "In this valley, we lived, laughed, and loved." Donna said she liked Beth's saying, "He brought home lemon's and She made Lemonade!" I have been trying to think of a song title that would work. So rack your brain's and come up with something SPECTACULAR!!! Hugs and Kisses, Jelene
Brian had his Grand Opening at TruBerry on Saturday. He sold 85 bowls!! He has been doing quite a bit of advertising and it is bringing lots of people into the store.
Linton is doing well with his Radiation. It makes him really tired. But he is hanging in there, still able to take his truck down the road and curse at the other drivers. So that's what counts!
Kaylee is almost done with this semester of school. She has registered for all the classes for next semester. 20 credits! It's going to be a rough one. But she is taking Music Appreciation and Intro to Theater. That should help alittle.
I am sending out another email today to let everyone know the Family Reunion is on Labor Day weekend..Hope that floats everybody's boat! I asked Donna to embroider a plaque with Father's and Mother's dates on it and a nice saying. We will hang it in the living room at the ranch instead of putting a bronze one on the bench outside. The Bronze one cost $700 and I think Mother would love one made by her beautiful Donna tons more. If yall' can think of a nice saying for the plaque, please let Donna know. Ruth suggested, "In this valley, we lived, laughed, and loved." Donna said she liked Beth's saying, "He brought home lemon's and She made Lemonade!" I have been trying to think of a song title that would work. So rack your brain's and come up with something SPECTACULAR!!! Hugs and Kisses, Jelene
Monday, July 16, 2012
The Cox Family Vacation 2012
Well, Troy and I squeaked away from our life controling jobs and took a 4 day weekend with the kids. We went up to Troy's old stomping grounds where he used to go as a kid for fun. Cedar Point is the home of some of the best roller coasters in the world and we rode each and every one of them, and the favorites more then once. The park is right on Lake Erie, so the view from the rides was incredible and most times there was a nice breeze coming off the water.
We met Troy's cousin Doug and his wife Nicki up there and it made it even more fun. They are pros, so it was like we had a tour guide for the weekend. We got super lucky, for some reason the crowd was really light on Friday, so we got on almost every ride with less than a 30 minute wait. It was really nice, but we still got alittle worn out by the afternoon, so we took a break and went to the water park side and rode the lazy river. It was the coolest lazy river I've ever been on. It had a section that was more like a wave pool, so you were just sitting and riding the waves. Very fun and relaxing except for the time that Troy tried to save me from a big waterfall and ended up getting me soaked. (We will never know if it was a mistake or not.)
We splurged and stayed in the hotel at the park and it made it so much nicer because you could take breaks and change when you wanted to. And after we were extra adventurous and rode the Millenium in the dark Friday night, it was nice to be able to go straight to the room and drop.
My favorite moment was standing on the beach and watching Bailey and Reagan play in the sand and build things. There was a nice breeze and they were just having a good time on the beach and it was really relaxing and made me greatful for my wonderful life. It also made me want to do more things like this, so I think I need to change something in my life to make room for more vacations.
I gained 4 pounds in 4 days-another sign that I had a good time. lol
Yes, that is a swing ride 200 plus feet from the ground and we rode it more then once....I pretended I was somewhere else during that ride...
We met Troy's cousin Doug and his wife Nicki up there and it made it even more fun. They are pros, so it was like we had a tour guide for the weekend. We got super lucky, for some reason the crowd was really light on Friday, so we got on almost every ride with less than a 30 minute wait. It was really nice, but we still got alittle worn out by the afternoon, so we took a break and went to the water park side and rode the lazy river. It was the coolest lazy river I've ever been on. It had a section that was more like a wave pool, so you were just sitting and riding the waves. Very fun and relaxing except for the time that Troy tried to save me from a big waterfall and ended up getting me soaked. (We will never know if it was a mistake or not.)
We splurged and stayed in the hotel at the park and it made it so much nicer because you could take breaks and change when you wanted to. And after we were extra adventurous and rode the Millenium in the dark Friday night, it was nice to be able to go straight to the room and drop.
My favorite moment was standing on the beach and watching Bailey and Reagan play in the sand and build things. There was a nice breeze and they were just having a good time on the beach and it was really relaxing and made me greatful for my wonderful life. It also made me want to do more things like this, so I think I need to change something in my life to make room for more vacations.
I gained 4 pounds in 4 days-another sign that I had a good time. lol
Yes, that is a swing ride 200 plus feet from the ground and we rode it more then once....I pretended I was somewhere else during that ride...
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Wish I was there too
I feel so lucky to have received that phone call from Joann's fabrics in the middle of that terribly important decision that had to be made about yarn color. I so enjoyed talking Beth thru being patient with Helen's enduro yarn shopping event.
If we all did this when we needed a break, the divorce rate in this country would be much lower. I can't imagine how much fun it would be to hang out with you girls on your big adventure. I would probably press you to workout a little harder then Beth's description, but you could still revolt when necessary....
Unfortunately, my life doesn't adapt well to days off. I have stressed out completely just to get ahead enough to take two whole days off to make a long weekend trip up to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio with the family. I am so looking forward to the time off, so I hope that it turns out good. The kids are thrilled, so it should be a good time.
I Love you all,
Donna
If we all did this when we needed a break, the divorce rate in this country would be much lower. I can't imagine how much fun it would be to hang out with you girls on your big adventure. I would probably press you to workout a little harder then Beth's description, but you could still revolt when necessary....
Unfortunately, my life doesn't adapt well to days off. I have stressed out completely just to get ahead enough to take two whole days off to make a long weekend trip up to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio with the family. I am so looking forward to the time off, so I hope that it turns out good. The kids are thrilled, so it should be a good time.
I Love you all,
Donna
So Jealous
Beth you are hilarious! All I can say is I am so jealous. I want to be there with you crazy ladies so bad. I'm sure I could have lost at least 10 pounds by now using all those stomach muscle it takes to laugh my head off and of course, your exercise plan, which is also the one I use. Helen does have an addiction to pies and yarn. She is delicious, just like her pies. And as lovely and colorful as her yarn. Have another wonderful Alaskan Day!! Loveu Jelene
Shopping Days in Fairbanks
Yesterday, we woke ever so slowly, Enoch and Savannah beat us down stairs to do their insanity exercise routine. Helen and I sauntered out to the back porch with a cup of joe to sit in the always shining sun just because we could. We could actually do this at anytime of the day unless you have a boss. The sun isn't giving you any clues to what time it is, always there never sets. The suns intensity is very different up here. It was Sat. we do know that much. We made a plan to go to the farmers market, you all know how Helen loves a market where we would buy tomatoes, lettuce, and some other thing, such as goat soap, goat cheese and ect. ect. Then we planned to meet up with Enoch and Savannah, at the fair where she might buy something else she didn't need. Finally we met at Joann's Fabric where Helen and Savannah would definitely buy something that they didn't need. The young people wanted to go to Boston"s Pizza to watch a cage fight later on that evening.
What really happened was, Helen and I leisurely went to the garage where we did our toned down version of Insanity. The first rule:never let your feet leave the floor. Second rule: heart beat must remain around mediocre sex, and if you feel like your breaking a sweat stop immediately and walk it out.
Next we went to the farmers market, Helen with map in hand, makes it very dangerous because she can not tell which direction we are going. Once I caught her telling me where to go holding the map upside down. If I'd have kept going in that direction could have ended up in H E double hockey sticks somewhere. We have learned our way around town even with the map upside down. At the market there was a group of young cello players so we stopped and listen. Helen found some red leafed lettuce, spinach and tomatoes. We came upon a woman who sold handwoven Alpaca wool, had to have some of that because it was different than regular yarn. You can make really nice baby caps out of it. After scoping out the rest of the booths and exchanging chitchat with the locals, we got a text from Savannah saying there was no Fair that day so we decided to go take some pictures. Helen had just purchased a nice digital camera so we headed up the hill to get a picture of the valley. Next, we headed down to the botanical gardens which was located right next to the University of Alaska. We took a lot of pictures of flowers, gardens and such. This was an experimental garden, in which they attempt to find out what can be grown in this extreme environment. We read a poster that explained the soil conditions during summer months. The soil temperature reaches a high of 50 degrees which is not conducive to a wide variety of long season plants. So they raise their beds to warm the soil to encourage a faster growth cycle. No hard shell squash, but they grow cabbage like crazy and there are no fruit trees up here.
We needed some drinking water so stopped at a dispensary to fill our jugs, Helen spotted a ice cream shop she always has her eyes peeled. We noted that we had saved so much money on the water, that we should go over and get us a treat, a banana split was just the ticket!!!
Right next door to the ice cream , was a store named Blueberry Babies. In the store was a woman who had never worn makeup and wore lama sandals, Helen was in her element.
Savannah called, she was ready to meet at Joann's fabric, for a quick stroll through aisles and aisles of yarn the fabrics, do you see where we are going with this. Savannah comes in to browse for curtian material. 30 minutes later Enoch comes in. "Come on ,we're going to be late!" Savannah says, "OK, I will be done in 10 minutes". Twenty minutes later Enoch come in, "Come on Honey, we are going to be late". She finally lets go of the fabric and joins him. Now its just Helen and I in aisles and aisles of fabric and yarn and books about how to knit or crochet this or that shawl, afghan or hat. While we were in the store, we had to call Donna to find out what color she likes for her prayer shawl. She is right in the middle of making me a shawl which is lovely, and she has the yarn for Cassies wrap around neck scarf, which she can't wait to start. Lets not forget the Alpaca yarn for the babies hats, and I do believe there is yarn in the trunk of my car just in case. We did not get the curtain material but we did get the yarn. Helen made a quick decision at the check out counter and pulled out cash to pay for the yarn. She looked at me and said,"What Ken doesn't know can't hurt him." I think she may be on the brink, of intervention, but I don't know if there is a Yarns Anonymous yet.. Laughing
Helen loves to make dinner, bake sourdough bread and pie, eat ice cream and buy yarn. She is having the time of her life and I am the lucky one to be able to share this time with her.
What really happened was, Helen and I leisurely went to the garage where we did our toned down version of Insanity. The first rule:never let your feet leave the floor. Second rule: heart beat must remain around mediocre sex, and if you feel like your breaking a sweat stop immediately and walk it out.
Next we went to the farmers market, Helen with map in hand, makes it very dangerous because she can not tell which direction we are going. Once I caught her telling me where to go holding the map upside down. If I'd have kept going in that direction could have ended up in H E double hockey sticks somewhere. We have learned our way around town even with the map upside down. At the market there was a group of young cello players so we stopped and listen. Helen found some red leafed lettuce, spinach and tomatoes. We came upon a woman who sold handwoven Alpaca wool, had to have some of that because it was different than regular yarn. You can make really nice baby caps out of it. After scoping out the rest of the booths and exchanging chitchat with the locals, we got a text from Savannah saying there was no Fair that day so we decided to go take some pictures. Helen had just purchased a nice digital camera so we headed up the hill to get a picture of the valley. Next, we headed down to the botanical gardens which was located right next to the University of Alaska. We took a lot of pictures of flowers, gardens and such. This was an experimental garden, in which they attempt to find out what can be grown in this extreme environment. We read a poster that explained the soil conditions during summer months. The soil temperature reaches a high of 50 degrees which is not conducive to a wide variety of long season plants. So they raise their beds to warm the soil to encourage a faster growth cycle. No hard shell squash, but they grow cabbage like crazy and there are no fruit trees up here.
We needed some drinking water so stopped at a dispensary to fill our jugs, Helen spotted a ice cream shop she always has her eyes peeled. We noted that we had saved so much money on the water, that we should go over and get us a treat, a banana split was just the ticket!!!
Right next door to the ice cream , was a store named Blueberry Babies. In the store was a woman who had never worn makeup and wore lama sandals, Helen was in her element.
Savannah called, she was ready to meet at Joann's fabric, for a quick stroll through aisles and aisles of yarn the fabrics, do you see where we are going with this. Savannah comes in to browse for curtian material. 30 minutes later Enoch comes in. "Come on ,we're going to be late!" Savannah says, "OK, I will be done in 10 minutes". Twenty minutes later Enoch come in, "Come on Honey, we are going to be late". She finally lets go of the fabric and joins him. Now its just Helen and I in aisles and aisles of fabric and yarn and books about how to knit or crochet this or that shawl, afghan or hat. While we were in the store, we had to call Donna to find out what color she likes for her prayer shawl. She is right in the middle of making me a shawl which is lovely, and she has the yarn for Cassies wrap around neck scarf, which she can't wait to start. Lets not forget the Alpaca yarn for the babies hats, and I do believe there is yarn in the trunk of my car just in case. We did not get the curtain material but we did get the yarn. Helen made a quick decision at the check out counter and pulled out cash to pay for the yarn. She looked at me and said,"What Ken doesn't know can't hurt him." I think she may be on the brink, of intervention, but I don't know if there is a Yarns Anonymous yet.. Laughing
Helen loves to make dinner, bake sourdough bread and pie, eat ice cream and buy yarn. She is having the time of her life and I am the lucky one to be able to share this time with her.
Hallelujah!
I agree, now we can expect some regularity,tempo on the beat.. She'll have order established in no time. Maybe she can even get the angels to bed at 9Pm.. I love your posts..
Hallelujah!
Dear sisters,
I said to Kaylee the other morning at breakfast, "I wonder what Mother is doing in Heaven today."
And She said, "Well, the first thing that happened when she walked through the pearly Gates, was, the gate keeper announced over the loud speaker, "ILENE IS FINALLY HERE!!!". Then the choir started singing Handel's Messiah. "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,Halleeeeelujah," And the choir director said, "Finally, someone who can play the piano! Kick Pocahontas off that piano bench. She's always been one beat behind me. It's time to get serious. Now that Ilene is here, maybe we can beat the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in next years Competition!" loveu, Jelene
I said to Kaylee the other morning at breakfast, "I wonder what Mother is doing in Heaven today."
And She said, "Well, the first thing that happened when she walked through the pearly Gates, was, the gate keeper announced over the loud speaker, "ILENE IS FINALLY HERE!!!". Then the choir started singing Handel's Messiah. "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,Halleeeeelujah," And the choir director said, "Finally, someone who can play the piano! Kick Pocahontas off that piano bench. She's always been one beat behind me. It's time to get serious. Now that Ilene is here, maybe we can beat the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in next years Competition!" loveu, Jelene
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The cattle drive from hell and back!!!
Hello sweet sisters,
This memory is when we lived on and ran the ranch. I was 16, Ruth was 14, and Beth 13. We were the cutest cowgirls this side of Mt. Wilson( lol the only ones). Jelene got married the first spring to her handsome tall man. It took Kay two years to marry into her fun and wonderful family. So it left us 5 girls plus mother at the ranch. The brothers were either married or working full time. They would come out periodically to see how we were managing their ranch. We were taught to love them and our mother was always so happy to see them that it passed down to us. We always had a good breakfast on the weekends. so us girls got up and milked two or three cows and brought it in for mother to strain through a cloth. Then because our brother and his friend ( that we always made fun of ) was out there, I started making pancake dough and started cooking. We would have jams for the toppings, anything from apple butter to chokecherry or elderberry that our mother and us had made. It was so much fun cooking pancakes on top of a wood stove. They were delicious with that smoky smell on them.
At that time, our brothers would come and visit occasionally, but we were the cowgirls and could handle a big group of cows. Well, it was a beautiful summer and the cows would not stay up into the hills. They wanted the pasture grass and no matter where we would take them, they would be back the next day. We had about fifty by the house pasture and another fifty at the 320 pasture which was about 2 miles from the house. So my dad had this brilliant idea that if we took them clear up on Mt. Wilson (the highest mountain 10,000 ft. elevation) and drop them down into the canyon that had a spring of water, that they would stay. It would be an all day ride and at least 15 miles out in the wildest country that we knew.
At the breakfast table we discussed the trail we would go and how to get them there. Lilly and Donna would stay home and help Mother for the day. Lilly just did not like to go with father because it made her so nervous that she would get sick with diarrhea and Donna was still our little baby. Roger was at the ranch with his friend Leroy Brisco and their job was to bring supper to us and sleeping bags because we where going to sleep up there with our horses. By this time in our lives, we did not have a lot of faith in our brothers. I remember telling Roger to not be late because it was going to get very dark on us. Why we didn't take matches with us I don't know. We didn't have a trailer to haul the horses home so we were going to have to ride them. We knew it was an all day ride and it would be dark by the time we got to the main road. Ruth, Beth and I saddled our horses and packed a small lunch of water,dried fruit, apples and jerky. We were all a little sick with the excitement and the knowledge that we were going to be a long ways away from family and we only had each other to rely on. The meeting place was going to be on the road just before the summit pass.
Ruth and Beth went down to the end of the field and started to drive the cows out to the road. We have family standing on the mountain by the house and on both roads. It all started out smooth and we were in the saddle once again. We really loved it once we got going. We would take the cows up to the 320 and gather all the rest of the cows and head up the mountain with 100 head of cows. Father road ahead and started gathering the cows at the 320 so when we got the herd going all we had to do was meet at the bottom of the field and head the whole herd up the canyon.
Our father was not the greatest cow herder. He liked to run the cows and get them all riled up so by the time we got our small herd up to his herd, the cows were all excited. We were relieved to know that father would not stay with us but he did help us get the cows up the steep ravine to the clearing. He said good-bye and off he went. Now we could let the cows relax and just walk at a steady pace. We knew it was about 15 miles that we had to go that day so we had to keep the herd moving. Up and down the mountains until finally we brought the cows down a pretty steep mountain and met the road to Mt. Wilson. There was a spring where we were going to refill our water jugs, water the cows and let them rest a bit, but of course one stringing beastly heifer decided to start running up the wrong canyon. Off we went on a fast run through bogs of water and brush, finally we got ahead of the main cow and turned the herd back around. We decided that from now on we couldn't let them rest because they were tired and just wanted to get away from us. Up the hill we went about 4 more hours herding the cows and pushing them. Finally came to the top of the mountain where we needed to push them down into another steep canyon where the spring was. It was starting to get dusk and we knew that as soon as the sun left us we would get cold. But we were told to do this job and we took to seriously. It was about a fourth of a mile straight down to the spring. We took them sideways for a while and then turned them for the rest of the way. By then the sum had gone from us and we knew that we needed to get to the top and so Roger could find us.
The wind was blowing briskly and we were hungry and tired from the ride when we got to the summit. Roger was no where to be found. We found a grove of trees just off the road and down a bit so that the wind was not quite as cold and waited and waited. The night was as black as it could be because there was no moon to light it up. Just the wind to keep us company. We were quite mad at Roger for being late, but of course he was a precious brother so we shouldn't say much. We finally heard voices coming up the canyon and much to our relief it was Roger and Leroy (O just to let you know, he was my prospective husband). They had food, blankets and matches for a fire. Our relief was met with panic and horror when Roger started the big tree on fire and also did not bring the hobbles for the horses. That meant that our horses were stomping around us all night and not happy. Well, needless to say, in a few hours we woke up because our horses were not stomping around and knew that they had taken off. Beth and Ruth (the two brave souls) started walking down the road feeling their way into the black night. They walked right into the back end of Tex and Ginger. Beth felt her way around and grabbed Tex's halter and then got Ginger and Meg. The other two horses followed them back. This time We girls took control of the situation and stayed awake holding our horses. It seemed that the night and darkness would never end.
At the crack of dawn, we were on our horses and off we went without breakfast and did not even bother waking them up. We rode our wonderful, faithful horses back to the stable and brushed and fed them before we went to get our breakfast. We were so very happy to see our home and so were the horses. We will never forget that night for as long as we live. It feels good writing it down and finally putting words to the memories.
Thanks Ruth and Beth for going after the horses because it would have been a long walk home.
Love Helen
This memory is when we lived on and ran the ranch. I was 16, Ruth was 14, and Beth 13. We were the cutest cowgirls this side of Mt. Wilson( lol the only ones). Jelene got married the first spring to her handsome tall man. It took Kay two years to marry into her fun and wonderful family. So it left us 5 girls plus mother at the ranch. The brothers were either married or working full time. They would come out periodically to see how we were managing their ranch. We were taught to love them and our mother was always so happy to see them that it passed down to us. We always had a good breakfast on the weekends. so us girls got up and milked two or three cows and brought it in for mother to strain through a cloth. Then because our brother and his friend ( that we always made fun of ) was out there, I started making pancake dough and started cooking. We would have jams for the toppings, anything from apple butter to chokecherry or elderberry that our mother and us had made. It was so much fun cooking pancakes on top of a wood stove. They were delicious with that smoky smell on them.
At that time, our brothers would come and visit occasionally, but we were the cowgirls and could handle a big group of cows. Well, it was a beautiful summer and the cows would not stay up into the hills. They wanted the pasture grass and no matter where we would take them, they would be back the next day. We had about fifty by the house pasture and another fifty at the 320 pasture which was about 2 miles from the house. So my dad had this brilliant idea that if we took them clear up on Mt. Wilson (the highest mountain 10,000 ft. elevation) and drop them down into the canyon that had a spring of water, that they would stay. It would be an all day ride and at least 15 miles out in the wildest country that we knew.
At the breakfast table we discussed the trail we would go and how to get them there. Lilly and Donna would stay home and help Mother for the day. Lilly just did not like to go with father because it made her so nervous that she would get sick with diarrhea and Donna was still our little baby. Roger was at the ranch with his friend Leroy Brisco and their job was to bring supper to us and sleeping bags because we where going to sleep up there with our horses. By this time in our lives, we did not have a lot of faith in our brothers. I remember telling Roger to not be late because it was going to get very dark on us. Why we didn't take matches with us I don't know. We didn't have a trailer to haul the horses home so we were going to have to ride them. We knew it was an all day ride and it would be dark by the time we got to the main road. Ruth, Beth and I saddled our horses and packed a small lunch of water,dried fruit, apples and jerky. We were all a little sick with the excitement and the knowledge that we were going to be a long ways away from family and we only had each other to rely on. The meeting place was going to be on the road just before the summit pass.
Ruth and Beth went down to the end of the field and started to drive the cows out to the road. We have family standing on the mountain by the house and on both roads. It all started out smooth and we were in the saddle once again. We really loved it once we got going. We would take the cows up to the 320 and gather all the rest of the cows and head up the mountain with 100 head of cows. Father road ahead and started gathering the cows at the 320 so when we got the herd going all we had to do was meet at the bottom of the field and head the whole herd up the canyon.
Our father was not the greatest cow herder. He liked to run the cows and get them all riled up so by the time we got our small herd up to his herd, the cows were all excited. We were relieved to know that father would not stay with us but he did help us get the cows up the steep ravine to the clearing. He said good-bye and off he went. Now we could let the cows relax and just walk at a steady pace. We knew it was about 15 miles that we had to go that day so we had to keep the herd moving. Up and down the mountains until finally we brought the cows down a pretty steep mountain and met the road to Mt. Wilson. There was a spring where we were going to refill our water jugs, water the cows and let them rest a bit, but of course one stringing beastly heifer decided to start running up the wrong canyon. Off we went on a fast run through bogs of water and brush, finally we got ahead of the main cow and turned the herd back around. We decided that from now on we couldn't let them rest because they were tired and just wanted to get away from us. Up the hill we went about 4 more hours herding the cows and pushing them. Finally came to the top of the mountain where we needed to push them down into another steep canyon where the spring was. It was starting to get dusk and we knew that as soon as the sun left us we would get cold. But we were told to do this job and we took to seriously. It was about a fourth of a mile straight down to the spring. We took them sideways for a while and then turned them for the rest of the way. By then the sum had gone from us and we knew that we needed to get to the top and so Roger could find us.
The wind was blowing briskly and we were hungry and tired from the ride when we got to the summit. Roger was no where to be found. We found a grove of trees just off the road and down a bit so that the wind was not quite as cold and waited and waited. The night was as black as it could be because there was no moon to light it up. Just the wind to keep us company. We were quite mad at Roger for being late, but of course he was a precious brother so we shouldn't say much. We finally heard voices coming up the canyon and much to our relief it was Roger and Leroy (O just to let you know, he was my prospective husband). They had food, blankets and matches for a fire. Our relief was met with panic and horror when Roger started the big tree on fire and also did not bring the hobbles for the horses. That meant that our horses were stomping around us all night and not happy. Well, needless to say, in a few hours we woke up because our horses were not stomping around and knew that they had taken off. Beth and Ruth (the two brave souls) started walking down the road feeling their way into the black night. They walked right into the back end of Tex and Ginger. Beth felt her way around and grabbed Tex's halter and then got Ginger and Meg. The other two horses followed them back. This time We girls took control of the situation and stayed awake holding our horses. It seemed that the night and darkness would never end.
At the crack of dawn, we were on our horses and off we went without breakfast and did not even bother waking them up. We rode our wonderful, faithful horses back to the stable and brushed and fed them before we went to get our breakfast. We were so very happy to see our home and so were the horses. We will never forget that night for as long as we live. It feels good writing it down and finally putting words to the memories.
Thanks Ruth and Beth for going after the horses because it would have been a long walk home.
Love Helen
Monday, July 9, 2012
The Greatest Generation
Dear sisters,
Yesterday, Brian and his wife, Tawnya and boys were speaking in church so I went to show my support. I got to watch their youngest, 2 year old Rex, who incidentally ate my last 3 sticks of gum by the time church was over.
There, sitting in the seat in front of me, sat Uncle Reo's Granddaughter and her husband with their darling twin boys, who are 6, their cute 4 year old daughter and new 6 month old baby girl. Amber is cousin Rick's daughter. She reminds my a lot of Uncle Reo's boys. She has coal black long curls and all her kids have Grandma Lillie's dark hair.
A few of years ago, Brian and Tawnya walked across the street to meet their new neighbors, Amber, her husband and their twin boys.
Amber said they were just getting home from a family reunion. Brian asked."Where was your reunion?"
"Rexburg, Idaho." Amber said.
"That's where my family is from. What's the name."
"Archibald."
"Shut up! That's my Grandma's name. Her first name is Ilene."
"Shut up! My Grandpa Reo has a sister named Ilene."
"We're second cousins!!" They said together....
And they have been good friends ever since.
As I sat there in church it felt like mother and her brother, Reo and Grandma Lillie and Grandpa David were sitting on the bench with me. What a lovely man Uncle Reo was. All 8 of mothers brothers were wonderful, kind men. Five of them went off to war at the same time. Uncle Reo was a medic and by the time he came home from the war, his coal black hair had turned white. He never wanted to talk about the horrors he had seen. I remember he always had a smile on his face and would have given you any thing he had. He was just older than Mother and he played house with her a lot when they were little. They loved each other dearly.
The next generation is moving on. Taking the example their parents set for them. Taking their babies to church. Singing 'Come, Oh Thou King of Kings', like I did yesterday, (with the slowest chorus director I have ever seen. I mean I was singing as loud as I thought appropriate from the back trying to get her to speed it up before everyone went to sleep. I was on the second King when she was just getting to the First King, my gosh how slow can you go! And that tight, white, almost see through skirt she was wearing should have been outlawed. What the heck was she thinking. Getting up in front of all those people wearing that skirt that showed her ass off like that!!!)
I think the next generation of kids we raised are awesome too. They are products of the Greatest Generation, so how can they help but be great.
My 2 year old charge had yelled out 'Hi Daddy', really loud, waving his tiny hand, 3 time during his daddy's talk, filled his hand with half the bread off the sacrament tray, ran up and down the rows, dragging his blankie, eaten all Amber's kids treats and then finally got out of my grip long enough to walk all the way up to the stage and climb up onto his mama's lap. Boy, I'm sure they will call me to watch him during church again.
I was a proud Mom and Grandma after Briggs read his story about how to be a good friend, Beckham sang "I Love To See The Temple", and Brian and Tawnya had given their talks on God's Tender Mercies. We sang the closing song, (really, really slow) and after the prayer I leaned forward to talk to Amber. I told her I had never met her new baby yet. "What did you name her?" I asked
"We named her Haven Lillie."
And the beat goes on..........Love You All, Jelene
Yesterday, Brian and his wife, Tawnya and boys were speaking in church so I went to show my support. I got to watch their youngest, 2 year old Rex, who incidentally ate my last 3 sticks of gum by the time church was over.
There, sitting in the seat in front of me, sat Uncle Reo's Granddaughter and her husband with their darling twin boys, who are 6, their cute 4 year old daughter and new 6 month old baby girl. Amber is cousin Rick's daughter. She reminds my a lot of Uncle Reo's boys. She has coal black long curls and all her kids have Grandma Lillie's dark hair.
A few of years ago, Brian and Tawnya walked across the street to meet their new neighbors, Amber, her husband and their twin boys.
Amber said they were just getting home from a family reunion. Brian asked."Where was your reunion?"
"Rexburg, Idaho." Amber said.
"That's where my family is from. What's the name."
"Archibald."
"Shut up! That's my Grandma's name. Her first name is Ilene."
"Shut up! My Grandpa Reo has a sister named Ilene."
"We're second cousins!!" They said together....
And they have been good friends ever since.
As I sat there in church it felt like mother and her brother, Reo and Grandma Lillie and Grandpa David were sitting on the bench with me. What a lovely man Uncle Reo was. All 8 of mothers brothers were wonderful, kind men. Five of them went off to war at the same time. Uncle Reo was a medic and by the time he came home from the war, his coal black hair had turned white. He never wanted to talk about the horrors he had seen. I remember he always had a smile on his face and would have given you any thing he had. He was just older than Mother and he played house with her a lot when they were little. They loved each other dearly.
The next generation is moving on. Taking the example their parents set for them. Taking their babies to church. Singing 'Come, Oh Thou King of Kings', like I did yesterday, (with the slowest chorus director I have ever seen. I mean I was singing as loud as I thought appropriate from the back trying to get her to speed it up before everyone went to sleep. I was on the second King when she was just getting to the First King, my gosh how slow can you go! And that tight, white, almost see through skirt she was wearing should have been outlawed. What the heck was she thinking. Getting up in front of all those people wearing that skirt that showed her ass off like that!!!)
I think the next generation of kids we raised are awesome too. They are products of the Greatest Generation, so how can they help but be great.
My 2 year old charge had yelled out 'Hi Daddy', really loud, waving his tiny hand, 3 time during his daddy's talk, filled his hand with half the bread off the sacrament tray, ran up and down the rows, dragging his blankie, eaten all Amber's kids treats and then finally got out of my grip long enough to walk all the way up to the stage and climb up onto his mama's lap. Boy, I'm sure they will call me to watch him during church again.
I was a proud Mom and Grandma after Briggs read his story about how to be a good friend, Beckham sang "I Love To See The Temple", and Brian and Tawnya had given their talks on God's Tender Mercies. We sang the closing song, (really, really slow) and after the prayer I leaned forward to talk to Amber. I told her I had never met her new baby yet. "What did you name her?" I asked
"We named her Haven Lillie."
And the beat goes on..........Love You All, Jelene
Saturday, July 7, 2012
A reunion at the ranch.
I thought I would put names to go with our faces, starting from right to left
Mother, Cheryl, Janice, Kay, Jelene, Helen, Ruth,(second row left to right)
Beth, Lilly, and Donna. That is the birth order of us girls.
Ruth, what the heck is above your ears? Yes, we got our clothes out of boxes that people would bring us. These were our nice clothes. Dang, we were all cute except that Lilly girl front center. She got better with age. Mother was always beautiful. Cheryl, Janice, Kay, and Jelene were in their beautiful years. Donna was still in her cute years and the rest of us were ranch hands. Helen and Ruth had men that wanted them as second or third wife's but Beth and I were safe for a few more years.
Hi my name is Ruth. I was 2 1/2
years old when we moved to Colorado City, Arizona. I only remember being the
prettiest and the fastest girl in town, and always being followed by at least
ten other girls. I was cool and I knew it. Then we moved to the ranch and that
all went away. What an adventure this was going to be, no electricity, no
indoor toilet. Wow we were all excited. A few weeks later I showed my true
colors and screamed, "I want to go home." This was home, and I
had to deal with it for the next nine years. I was a very strong headed
child and it took me some time to value my family as my only social circle.
I remember the day when I
was walking home from feeding the cows with my sister Beth. I looked across the road as we walked and I
said to her, "Did you know that you’re my best friend?" Then we
laughed hilariously and rolled all over the road in the snow. Then I said,
"Actually, you’re my only friend." And that was the scary part,
because, if given the chance I'd have had a zillion friends. But I thank
the Lord every day for my sisters and the bond we have. That ranch life helped
it come to pass.
My mother taught me to play the
piano, sing with my sisters in four part harmony, and play the clarinet and
trumpet. My father loved to play the clarinet too. We played duets at
night and for everyone who walked through the doors. Boy did we have an
amazing father. He actually thought we were the prettiest, most talented people
in the world.
In all the free time that we
had, I dreamed that prince charming would ride his horse into my life and sweep
me away. So that is what happened when I married a cowboy from
the boonies and we ran away for the weekend and got married.
We have brought 12 wonderful
children here into this world to live and to seek their fortunes, so I guess it
worked out pretty well.
Ruth
I don’t remember the name
of the man that used to visit us at the ranch, but I know that he was married
and I remember being completely scared of him because whenever he visited, he
and Father would tease with me and say that someday maybe he would come and
marry me and take me to live with him. I was old enough to know that when you
got married, you were supposed to like the man that you married, and smart
enough to know that this man was at least 20 to 30 years older than me and that
would mean that I was married to an old man.
I used to get sick to my stomach when he would come to see us because I
was not sure how old I had to be in order for Father to tell him it was ok for
him to take me with him. All I knew for
sure was that the Ward boys were a lot cuter and I was holding out for one of
them…Too funny. And they were busy
entertaining Lilly, so I had no chance.
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