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
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