In 1976 Biccentenial Year, the Pearson Sisters were all growing, and believe me it was in more ways then one. Oh well, we were all beautiful. Helen, our big sister that we looked up to, had her nose into her school books like a good girls, but don't look too close, there was usually a romance novel tucked in that history book. She paved the way for all of us at Lincoln High School, and that was a tough job.
I would have to say that some of our teachers, being upstanding good Mormons in their community were prejudice towards folks that were rumored to be pligs.
Since Mother home schooled us, our education was monitored by Lincoln Co. School District and we took tests twice a year to make sure we were on target.
So winter came on and we had all taken such growth spurts that we found ourselves out of boots and into the boys old snowmobile boots trudging along in the snow doing chores everyday.
Helen, Beth and I milked a cow every morning and night. You know what that does to a girl? Well, it makes them hungry, and you know what happens when you get hungry...well, you eat.
We had 3 milk cows and 150 range cattle to feed each day. The snow got too deep at the house, so we herded them down to the 160 acres that we owned 3 miles down the canyon. That was all well and dandy, but then they still had to be fed every day. We hurried everyday to get out school work done and then tramped down the road 3 miles in boots that were 4 sizes too big. We thought nothing of it, but everyday when we got back, we were starving and guess what we did...Eat... Peanut butter and honey sandwiches, with a large cup of whole milk. And that's all fine and dandy until you turn that age that your body revolts and starts packing on the pounds.
We didn't know what was going on, we just kept packing those boots 6 miles a day, every day. One day as we were on our way home, with about a mile left I looked across the road to Beth and I realized that she was my best friend. Now anyone who has a little sister knows that they can be such a test. But Beth wasn't just my best friend, she was my only friend. I ran over to her and gave her a hug and said, "Do you know you are my best friend?" She replied in her best comedic voice, "Who's kidding who, I'm your only friend. "
Anyway, that winter was a turning point in our lives in more ways then one. We went from 125 lb girls to 145 lb girls.
Mother taught us so many songs, she had such vision for us. It's amazing how much we want out of our children and basically we can only influence them for so many years and then they grow up and do their own thing and there is nothing you can do about it.
That is the sad and happy part of the story. We all have control of our own lives and can lead them where ever we please...
Love you Ruth.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Mother's Gift to Janice
You know it hit me the other day, while talking about Mother and Janice and Jeremy, that we don't always know how the decisions that we make will affect everyone like they do. We live one day at a time and make choices each day that affect everything down the road.
Do you realize that Mother gave Janice an amazing opportunity of growth to have Jeremy? We all wanted a family and were pretty determined when it came time go out and find love. Janice was protected, but boy when she saw an opportunity for love from a man, she took it. And from then on each day, because of love and devotion, Mother helped Janice be a Mother.
Janice had been Mother's helper for 40 years. I remember Mother saying, "I don't know how we would have done it with out Janice. " So she gave back to Janice when the opportunity came. At some point, Mother decided she wanted to give Jeremy the opportunity to be raised like her other children had been. It was her upbringing, her heritage, that made her have these values and depth of love in her.
She knew that Jeremy would need special attention and her values put her making the next step that she felt would be good for them.
I was explaining how Janice was part of our lives to my friend and then found myself going into how Mother lived with them and all the years of devotion to them. Then realized that Mother was unknowingly giving back to Janice after all that she had done for all of us.
We all have this loving heritage and need to praise God for it. When you look out into the world and see peoples empty lives, fretting about their lawsuits and fussing about their perscriptions, you just have to realize what God blessed us all with coming from hard working, deeply loving, independent, courageous people. We have good blood running thru our viens. Lets keep working on these values.
Love Ruth
Do you realize that Mother gave Janice an amazing opportunity of growth to have Jeremy? We all wanted a family and were pretty determined when it came time go out and find love. Janice was protected, but boy when she saw an opportunity for love from a man, she took it. And from then on each day, because of love and devotion, Mother helped Janice be a Mother.
Janice had been Mother's helper for 40 years. I remember Mother saying, "I don't know how we would have done it with out Janice. " So she gave back to Janice when the opportunity came. At some point, Mother decided she wanted to give Jeremy the opportunity to be raised like her other children had been. It was her upbringing, her heritage, that made her have these values and depth of love in her.
She knew that Jeremy would need special attention and her values put her making the next step that she felt would be good for them.
I was explaining how Janice was part of our lives to my friend and then found myself going into how Mother lived with them and all the years of devotion to them. Then realized that Mother was unknowingly giving back to Janice after all that she had done for all of us.
We all have this loving heritage and need to praise God for it. When you look out into the world and see peoples empty lives, fretting about their lawsuits and fussing about their perscriptions, you just have to realize what God blessed us all with coming from hard working, deeply loving, independent, courageous people. We have good blood running thru our viens. Lets keep working on these values.
Love Ruth
Saturday, January 19, 2013
"Oh Divine Redeemer"
Dear Sisters,
Did everyone notice....Ruth Blogged! I'm about to fall off my chair. How Exciting!! You go girl.. I am so happy to hear from you. I still don't know how you found the time, with everything else you are doing. But, now we will expect you to write at least once a week! Please keep writing.
Every Sunday morning at 9:30 sharp, Linton turns on the tv to 'The Spoken Word' and listens to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing their Sunday morning program. We call it, 'Grandpa's Church'. I ask Janae, who lives in Salt Lake, if she ever watched it and she said, "Yes, we watch it every Sunday morning, before we go to church and Boston points to the tv and says, "Grandpa's Church."
Last Sunday the choir sang, "Oh, Divine Redeemer" and I could hear Father and Mothers voices singing, their sweet harmony blending together. Especially at the end, when Mother took the lead and Father sang the harmony part. How I loved it when they sang that song together. Then, I remembered way back when was about 6, we went to Grandma's house to see mother on the tv. The Singing Mother's from her stake got to go to Salt Lake and sing in the Tabernacle during Conference. She was wearing her beautiful, beaded, turquoise dress she bought for this special occasion. The camera's scanned the singing ladies and sure enough, there was my very own mother, singing so beautifully with all those other mothers. I can still see the image of her singing there, in my mind today. I remember feeling so special, because, My Mother was one of the singers on the tv that day. I'm so glad she took that opportunity to do something for herself. We were so proud of her.
Isn't it funny, how we don't think our mother's are neat, until they do something for themselves. We are not cool when we are sacrificing our lives for our children every day, bending over backwards to make their lives easy and pleasant. They don't respect us then. It is only when we do something for ourselves that they respect us and say, "Wow, look at my mom! She loves herself. So I will love and admire her, too."
My sweet Janae, is going to a counselor, to help her with her Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her counselor told her that mothers do the same things over and over everyday. So she asked her, " How can you make the things you do everyday a little different so you can bring more Joy into your life." She is going to have a shower everyday. How can she bring joy to her shower? Maybe turn on her favorite cd. Use a beautiful, smelling soap. She has to do the dishes everyday. How can she bring Joy into doing the dishes? Sing while you do the dishes. Listen to Mozart. If your children see you happy, they will be happier. If your children see you being joyful, they will be joyful. Everything you do becomes an example to them of how to live their lives. You can't tell them anything, you must show them, by your example. Such a great idea. Young mother's feel so trapped sometimes. They need to take care of themselves, too.
I love you all and hope you will take some time to spoil yourselves with something new that you love. Love yourselves, I know I sure do love you. Kisses, Jelene
Did everyone notice....Ruth Blogged! I'm about to fall off my chair. How Exciting!! You go girl.. I am so happy to hear from you. I still don't know how you found the time, with everything else you are doing. But, now we will expect you to write at least once a week! Please keep writing.
Every Sunday morning at 9:30 sharp, Linton turns on the tv to 'The Spoken Word' and listens to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing their Sunday morning program. We call it, 'Grandpa's Church'. I ask Janae, who lives in Salt Lake, if she ever watched it and she said, "Yes, we watch it every Sunday morning, before we go to church and Boston points to the tv and says, "Grandpa's Church."
Last Sunday the choir sang, "Oh, Divine Redeemer" and I could hear Father and Mothers voices singing, their sweet harmony blending together. Especially at the end, when Mother took the lead and Father sang the harmony part. How I loved it when they sang that song together. Then, I remembered way back when was about 6, we went to Grandma's house to see mother on the tv. The Singing Mother's from her stake got to go to Salt Lake and sing in the Tabernacle during Conference. She was wearing her beautiful, beaded, turquoise dress she bought for this special occasion. The camera's scanned the singing ladies and sure enough, there was my very own mother, singing so beautifully with all those other mothers. I can still see the image of her singing there, in my mind today. I remember feeling so special, because, My Mother was one of the singers on the tv that day. I'm so glad she took that opportunity to do something for herself. We were so proud of her.
Isn't it funny, how we don't think our mother's are neat, until they do something for themselves. We are not cool when we are sacrificing our lives for our children every day, bending over backwards to make their lives easy and pleasant. They don't respect us then. It is only when we do something for ourselves that they respect us and say, "Wow, look at my mom! She loves herself. So I will love and admire her, too."
My sweet Janae, is going to a counselor, to help her with her Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her counselor told her that mothers do the same things over and over everyday. So she asked her, " How can you make the things you do everyday a little different so you can bring more Joy into your life." She is going to have a shower everyday. How can she bring joy to her shower? Maybe turn on her favorite cd. Use a beautiful, smelling soap. She has to do the dishes everyday. How can she bring Joy into doing the dishes? Sing while you do the dishes. Listen to Mozart. If your children see you happy, they will be happier. If your children see you being joyful, they will be joyful. Everything you do becomes an example to them of how to live their lives. You can't tell them anything, you must show them, by your example. Such a great idea. Young mother's feel so trapped sometimes. They need to take care of themselves, too.
I love you all and hope you will take some time to spoil yourselves with something new that you love. Love yourselves, I know I sure do love you. Kisses, Jelene
Our Talented Days of the 1970's
Do you all remember the Gene Gelznick Talent Show? I remember wanting to be cool and somedays really thinking that I was. We went shopping with Father and Mother in Salt Lake and bought "brand new" shoes (You know the kind that have never been worn before). They were black, cute, high heels. Do any of you remember? We bought 4 white shirts, which were something special because white shirts didn't fare well in our rough lives, and we had already made 4 black skirts and 4 red plaid vests. O Boy, did they look cute.
I remember thinking Father was so nice to buy us all new shoes. I was sixteen and I think that was my third or fourth new pair that Father had bought me in my life.
So, we sang "Sweet Gypsy Rose" or "Bumble Bee" and won 2nd or 3rd place. We won a camera and that was my introduction to photography. I took so many great pictures with that camera.
I thought we were pretty good back then. I wish we would have been able to comprehend how good we were and put more into finding our niche and learned how to personify every song we sang like the group "Ambiance".We would have gone off the charts somewhere I'm sure. Maybe....
Love Ruth
I remember thinking Father was so nice to buy us all new shoes. I was sixteen and I think that was my third or fourth new pair that Father had bought me in my life.
So, we sang "Sweet Gypsy Rose" or "Bumble Bee" and won 2nd or 3rd place. We won a camera and that was my introduction to photography. I took so many great pictures with that camera.
I thought we were pretty good back then. I wish we would have been able to comprehend how good we were and put more into finding our niche and learned how to personify every song we sang like the group "Ambiance".We would have gone off the charts somewhere I'm sure. Maybe....
Love Ruth
My Rooster Problem
So just last week I looked at my chickens and thought, "Those hens are getting really big, they should start laying eggs soon." Then a few days later, I was out there with Reagan and she said, "Mom, Layla just jumped on Maggie." I turned around and I took one look at her and I knew she was a he. Then within seconds Helen (my favorite chicken) jumped on Blair. Needless to say that those big hens are now known to be Roosters and I am shocked. So Layla is now Linny and Helen is now Henry.
These are sad days. Now we have to decide which we are going to let Dad eat.
Reagan is finally coming to terms with it though. I told her we will get some more chicks for her to raise and she is warming up to the idea. I've never met such a chicken lover.
Donna
These are sad days. Now we have to decide which we are going to let Dad eat.
Reagan is finally coming to terms with it though. I told her we will get some more chicks for her to raise and she is warming up to the idea. I've never met such a chicken lover.
Donna
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Getting Old
Dear Sisters,
I got an invitation to Joseph Knudson's (an old class mates) 60th Birthday Party, clear back in December. The party was going to be held at his mansion in Centennial Park, Arizona on January 7, 2013. I was really looking forward to seeing some of my old classmates. I had my hair cut, lost 10 pounds, picked out some cute jeans and jacket and scarf to wear. I wanted LeAnna to go with me, but at the last minute, her baby got sick so she couldn't go. Helen was going to come up and go with me, but she decided it was too late in the evening and she hadn't been feeling well. So I decided I could be a big girl and go all by myself.
I found a place to park close by and started walking up to the house with a bunch of other folks. I began to notice that they were all wearing beautiful evening gowns. Oh, well, I had brought a birthday gift for Leann, Joseph's first wife and my long time friend. I thought 'Maybe I will just go in and say Hi, and then bow out.' I went in the majestic pillared entry and ask the greeter if he knew where Leann was. He said he had seen her downstairs. I headed that way. There she was sitting in a semi-circle with about 4 other women, watching a video of Joseph's life. I went over and said Hi and she was so glad to see me. We watched the video together and Wow! What a life Joseph has lead. He owns several hotels around the country, owns a huge farm west of Delta, that Leann ran for him for several years. Owns a company that makes seals for machinery. I don't know if he still has his Mortgage company. But I think that is where he made his millions. There were 3 plaques on the table, one congratulating him on 46 million dollars in sales, another one for 64 million dollars in sales and yet another one for 224 million dollars in sales. He owns and flies a small 6 passenger jet all over the country to keep up with all his different businesses.
Leann took me by the hand and introduced me to everyone. I recognized some people. Jed Hammon and his wife Carol Steed. I remember in high school how they were so in love. Of course they were breaking all the rules by showing their affection to each other, but no one seemed to care or reprimand them. Everyone knew they were going to get married. And they did. And I heard a few years later after they got married that they had terrible, knock down, drag out fights when he got another wife. I saw Claude Colly, a teacher at the Academy. Beverly Steed, Marlene and Priscilla Jessop, Melanie Bistline. Leann's son sang a song, from Les Miserable' with another really good singer. She was so proud. They sing a lot at the school there and in her home. It was so fun to hear that they have a lot of music in her house. There were toasts to the birthday boy and roasts about the birthday boy and then all the men and boys in this huge room full of people, broke out in song, singing "Give Me Some Men Who are Stout Hearted Men and I soon give you 10,000 more". It was Awesome. It was like they were one big happy family. They all knew each other and loved each other.
I was very torn between my hatred for polygamy and the love that I knew these people have for one another.
I was ready to go, but I wanted to say congratulations to Joseph, so Leann and I went in search of him. When Leann told him who I was he was dumbfounded. He dragged me into the lighted hallway. "What, Jelene, Come into the light, so I can see you better." It was like he was shocked that I was 60 years old. He could be 60, but I shouldn't be 60. Then I ran into 2 other guys I had graduated with and they kept looking at me like I was 100 years old. I felt like a freak. Of course, they didn't look too bad. They were still handsome. It was ok for them to be 60. It just wasn't ok for me to be. In their society, women my age are no longer of any use to them, they have moved on to another younger, prettier model. Of course they were polite and asked how my family was and all but I felt like they wanted me to be 18 still.
I said my good-byes to Leann and thanked her for taking such good care of me all night, and drove home feeling sad and rejected and old. Some how I have got to be ok with getting old because there is absolutely nothing I can do about it but enjoy it and be gracious about it. I just wish other people could be gracious about it too. I would have appreciated a "Man, you are looking great. You are still as pretty as ever." That would have been nice and polite. I will remember that the next time I see someone I haven't seen in a while. Thanks for listening. Love you all, Jelene
I got an invitation to Joseph Knudson's (an old class mates) 60th Birthday Party, clear back in December. The party was going to be held at his mansion in Centennial Park, Arizona on January 7, 2013. I was really looking forward to seeing some of my old classmates. I had my hair cut, lost 10 pounds, picked out some cute jeans and jacket and scarf to wear. I wanted LeAnna to go with me, but at the last minute, her baby got sick so she couldn't go. Helen was going to come up and go with me, but she decided it was too late in the evening and she hadn't been feeling well. So I decided I could be a big girl and go all by myself.
I found a place to park close by and started walking up to the house with a bunch of other folks. I began to notice that they were all wearing beautiful evening gowns. Oh, well, I had brought a birthday gift for Leann, Joseph's first wife and my long time friend. I thought 'Maybe I will just go in and say Hi, and then bow out.' I went in the majestic pillared entry and ask the greeter if he knew where Leann was. He said he had seen her downstairs. I headed that way. There she was sitting in a semi-circle with about 4 other women, watching a video of Joseph's life. I went over and said Hi and she was so glad to see me. We watched the video together and Wow! What a life Joseph has lead. He owns several hotels around the country, owns a huge farm west of Delta, that Leann ran for him for several years. Owns a company that makes seals for machinery. I don't know if he still has his Mortgage company. But I think that is where he made his millions. There were 3 plaques on the table, one congratulating him on 46 million dollars in sales, another one for 64 million dollars in sales and yet another one for 224 million dollars in sales. He owns and flies a small 6 passenger jet all over the country to keep up with all his different businesses.
Leann took me by the hand and introduced me to everyone. I recognized some people. Jed Hammon and his wife Carol Steed. I remember in high school how they were so in love. Of course they were breaking all the rules by showing their affection to each other, but no one seemed to care or reprimand them. Everyone knew they were going to get married. And they did. And I heard a few years later after they got married that they had terrible, knock down, drag out fights when he got another wife. I saw Claude Colly, a teacher at the Academy. Beverly Steed, Marlene and Priscilla Jessop, Melanie Bistline. Leann's son sang a song, from Les Miserable' with another really good singer. She was so proud. They sing a lot at the school there and in her home. It was so fun to hear that they have a lot of music in her house. There were toasts to the birthday boy and roasts about the birthday boy and then all the men and boys in this huge room full of people, broke out in song, singing "Give Me Some Men Who are Stout Hearted Men and I soon give you 10,000 more". It was Awesome. It was like they were one big happy family. They all knew each other and loved each other.
I was very torn between my hatred for polygamy and the love that I knew these people have for one another.
I was ready to go, but I wanted to say congratulations to Joseph, so Leann and I went in search of him. When Leann told him who I was he was dumbfounded. He dragged me into the lighted hallway. "What, Jelene, Come into the light, so I can see you better." It was like he was shocked that I was 60 years old. He could be 60, but I shouldn't be 60. Then I ran into 2 other guys I had graduated with and they kept looking at me like I was 100 years old. I felt like a freak. Of course, they didn't look too bad. They were still handsome. It was ok for them to be 60. It just wasn't ok for me to be. In their society, women my age are no longer of any use to them, they have moved on to another younger, prettier model. Of course they were polite and asked how my family was and all but I felt like they wanted me to be 18 still.
I said my good-byes to Leann and thanked her for taking such good care of me all night, and drove home feeling sad and rejected and old. Some how I have got to be ok with getting old because there is absolutely nothing I can do about it but enjoy it and be gracious about it. I just wish other people could be gracious about it too. I would have appreciated a "Man, you are looking great. You are still as pretty as ever." That would have been nice and polite. I will remember that the next time I see someone I haven't seen in a while. Thanks for listening. Love you all, Jelene
dinner table talk
So after dinner we are sitting around watching Bailey do the dishes (our favorite pass time)
and Bailey says "Remember the time you got a bloody nose in Gwen's car and I stuck a tampon up your nose because it was the only thing that I could find?" The things that come up at the dinner table.
Just had to share...
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Hope
Our sweet sister Beth got a couple weeks off for the holidays. She flew from Alaska to Arizona to see her family then came to Las Vegas, to hang out with her sisters. Janice came from Panaca, Jelene from St. George. Helen came over to my home and we hung out. We tied a couple quilts, waxed alot of eye brow hair, laughed, cut hair, drank wine, sang songs, watched a movie, had facials, wondered what the hell happened to the mirros that we look in, laughed some more, and ate way to much yummy food, It was sooooooooo great to see her. She looks like a different person that left for Alaska 6 months ago. I am So proud of her. She shared all the stories she has been writing, all the books she has been reading. She has really grown. She gives me Hope that I can change and grow. Thank you Beth. I love you all. Love Lilly
Our sweet sister Beth got a couple weeks off for the holidays. She flew from Alaska to Arizona to see her family then came to Las Vegas, to hang out with her sisters. Janice came from Panaca, Jelene from St. George. Helen came over to my home and we hung out. We tied a couple quilts, waxed alot of eye brow hair, laughed, cut hair, drank wine, sang songs, watched a movie, had facials, wondered what the hell happened to the mirros that we look in, laughed some more, and ate way to much yummy food, It was sooooooooo great to see her. She looks like a different person that left for Alaska 6 months ago. I am So proud of her. She shared all the stories she has been writing, all the books she has been reading. She has really grown. She gives me Hope that I can change and grow. Thank you Beth. I love you all. Love Lilly
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