Family History--God lives

When I flew out to stay a few days with Carolyn and family, I was seated next to a lady who was also flying to Washington to visit her daughter. We had a lot in common. She was an avid Bible fan and knew the Bible well. She loved the stories and was involved in teaching the 5th graders in her church. She was a little surprised to find a Mormon who knew and loved the Bible probably as much as she did. I began to think that maybe some of my experiences as a child might help my children as they teach their children the scriptures.
I grew up in a very small branch of the church. We were so few in number that you might have called us a twig. My mom was usually the Sunday school and Primary teacher for all of the children. Do you remember that I have taught you the 4 steps of learning? Exposure, Verbalization, Common use and Creative use. and the 3 ways of learning? Visual-seeing, Auditory-hearing, and kinesthetic-doing. She used all of those ways. She exposed us to the stories, using pictures, animated expression and games and activities so we would remember them. She had us retell the stories by speaking, acting out and drawing pictures of the steps in the stories. Then we talked about what we should do or why Heavenly Father put that story in the scriptures so we would know how to act. Then we were encouraged to ask the Holy Ghost to help us recognize the situations where we could use what we had learned. Sometimes we memorized scriptures. Sometimes we gave a small part of the lesson or used some for" two and a half minute talks". We became very well acquainted with the stories and the characters in them. At home, it was before scheduled family home evenings, she let us use the picture kits she had and play Sunday school or Primary so we were telling the stories. (I particularly liked baby Moses in the bullrushes.)
When the lady on the plane said that she had some trouble with some of the children remembering the stories even until the next week, I suggested making something to take home so that she pulled in more ways of remembering and gave her some examples of things I've used. And when we were leaving the plane I told her I had really enjoyed talking with her and she gave me a big hug.

tutoring reading

Thursday night Isaac came over for help with a school assignment. His penmanship was so poor that it couldn't be read and the teacher had told him to copy it over. She had him tell her what it said and had written the words under his so we could tell what he'd said. I showed him the "face of a clock" penmanship and had him try each letter a couple times and the results were beautiful. So we rewrote the paper.

Next day:

Me: Did you show your teacher your paper? What did she say?

Isaac: She said, "WOW!"

Me: That's all? Just WOW! ? It was better than that!

Isaac: Well, yeah, but she was just a substitute.

Memories: Car stories

My mom, Ruhama Adair, was raised in Orderville, Utah. In the early 1900's they still used horse and wagon for travel. She remembered going to the Grand Canyon in a horse drawn wagon when she was still quite young. She also remembered the first car or horseless carriage that came to Orderville and the stir it caused. She was 14 when aunt Teeny died. That would have been around 1920. After that she went to Salt Lake and attended East High School and worked as a maid for some of the officers wives at Fort Douglas. That is where she met Daddy and they were married October 11, 1930. Daddy drove a car but Mom didn't learn until I was about 5. I remember walking to town, about a mile, when I was 3 and 4. Mom would push the buggy with Dan in it and sometimes Naty or I would ride for a ways. One day we were just around the corner and I needed to use the bathroom only there wasn't one and when I had to go, I had to go, now. I wet my pants. Bill came along on his bicycle and took me home, changed my pants and brought me back to Mom and the others. It became necessary for Mom to learn to drive, so Daddy taught her. Our car was an old Buick. I don't remember the year, but they bought it when Naty was two so we had it for awhile. I have a picture of it somewhere.

Driving in Prineville , was somewhat like driving in Loa would be today. Mom really felt uncomfortable driving that car. It started with a crank. So she always began her road trips with a prayer even if she was only driving a couple miles. One day she drove up our 100 yard driveway onto the paved road, then down to the corner and on to the mile long straight stretch to town. We went past the canal, Lincoln Road, Melrose road, over the bridge and then slowed way down to go over the railroad tracks. There were a couple of men standing on either side of the road talking to each other. Our car made too much noise for the man on the right side to hear so he stepped out into the road to get closer. But as Mom went over the tracks something said stop! so she did. The man who had stepped into the road, put his hand on the radiator cap, and said, "I guess I'd better pay attention to what I'm doing. Lady, you are one great driver." The man on the other side of the road was also impressed. If she had stepped on the gas again as per usual she'd have hit him hard.

Another time on the way home when we came to the corner, she stopped rather than going on around. Just As she got stopped a group of boys on their bikes came around the corner and they were all over the road. If she had kept going she would have plowed into the whole group because neither of them could see each other until it was too late. When we started learning to drive she told us to listen for the instructions from the Holy Ghost if we wanted to be safe.

I was probably 8 or nine because Bill was 17 or 18 when the Ashlocks came to visit. They had become acquainted at church in Springfield when both had lived there and so they decided that we would all go over the McKenzie Pass to Springfield to visit others that they had known. The McKenzie pass was a very very narrow and twisty road through the trees and over the mountain. We decided that it would be more fun if the kids all went in our car with Bill driving and the adults went in the other car so they could visit. We had prayer and started out, us kids in front and the adults following. Everything was going well until we met a big old flatbed Semi truck coming around a turn on our side of the road.Bill made a sharp right turn, stepped on the gas and climbed the bank. The truck went past and its very tail end hit our back fender and squashed it a little. I was sitting by that window on that side, but you know me, I didn't even really know what was happening. Mom and Dad came along a couple minutes later and found our car up the bank and the truck backing down the road. Its driver hadn't even slowed to stop but his passenger just jumped out and came running back saying, "All I could see was that carload of kids." He and the driver were really glad to see Adults come along to take care of the kids. Mom walked us down a little side road to a waterfall while the men drove the car off the bank and assessed the damage. There really wasn't any except the crumpled fender and I never even noticed that the car was on the bank at such a slant until after we came back from the waterfall. I was in fourth grade when we discovered how near sighted I was. Maybe that accounted for how calmly I took things. Dad drove us on into Springfield and both Mom and Dad acknowledged that the lord had really blessed Bill in his driving. We went on into Aunt Tessie's and Mom read us "When The Grass Grew" from the Book "A Story to Tell" about George Albert Smith when he was a boy. I think that car was our old green 41 Chevy.

It's getting late so...more another time. Did I tell you about the first time I drove after getting my license and the green panel truck?

Remembering: Music

We attended one of the best regional conferences I've been to this morning. One of the talks by Elder Snow of the seventy was about remembering. We do tend to forget and that is why we should keep a journal, we were told. So I wanted to write about different experiences where music has helped me feel the spirit of the Lord and been a blessing in my life.

When I was about three years old we had moved to the house in Prineville where I grew up. One morning I woke up with a line of Music running through my mind. The house my parents bought was very tiny and at the time he had built bunk beds in a small room. Bill was sleeping on the top bunk and Naty and I were on the bottom bunk. I remember humming the musical phrase over and over in my mind trying to remember what the song was. When Bill woke up I hummed it to him and he told me it was "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet". I remember thinking what a beautiful song it was.

Later when I was maybe four or five, we were singing "Abide with me; 'tis Eventide" in sacrament meeting. When we came to the second verse that says "Has made my heart within me burn, as I communed with thee.," I was puzzled about what it meant and yes, even a little frightened. Later, as I was in bed with my Mom I dared to ask her what it meant. That is when she first explained to me what feeling the spirit was like. I remember feeling comforted and knowing that the Savior could stay the night with me.

I may have been 6 or 7 When I went to work with Daddy when he was driving dump truck for the gravel plant. As we rode out to the gravel pit to get loaded up with gravel to deliver, we sang "Beautiful Zion Built Above". I don't remember if we were able to sing in parts but I could hear the beautiful harmony of that song at least in my mind. Last week as we sang that song in church I could remember so clearly sitting on that high seat in the dump truck singing with my Dad.

Around that same time we showed up at Sunday School and all of the Melchizedec Priesthood was out of town all six of them. All the Ladies said, "I guess we can't have church without the Priesthood here." Mom said, " Look at this" and turned to the 20th section of the D &C verses 46 through 49. Then she said," Bill is a Priest." And verse 49 says that "he is to take the lead of meetings when there is no elder present." This was a branch of the church and 15 or 20 people at a meeting was a good crowd. So Bill conducted and either played the piano or led the singing, and he blessed both the bread and water for the sacrament and helped our one deacon pass it. I don't remember the songs we sang but the meeting went very smoothly. My respect for the Priesthood grew immeasurably that day And I knew that the scriptures are true and that we should know what they say so that we can solve our problems with the help of the Lord.

I will never forget the day that the Crosswhites were baptized and we had a piano player who really knew how to play the piano. I loved Primary after that and she always came. Our Sacrament meetings and Sunday School meetings were so much nicer and feeling the spirit was so much easier.

I remember singing parts to Silent Night around Christmas time in the early mornings still in bed waiting for the fire to be built and the house to warm up. The birth of the Savior and the need for a redeemer became so real for me. Sometimes the whole family would sing the Christmas songs in the mornings.

We learned the song "In the Garden" as a Bluebird girl to sing for them as we visited the Baptist Church. We visited many of the churches in town and learned of their love for the Savior.

And riding in the car. Since we knew the church hymns best, we always sang many of them and learned to sing parts. When Bill and Millie were engaged to be married, she went with us to Portland. When it was her turn to choose a song Millie was unsure what we might know. She was raised a Baptist and didn't know the LDS hymns. She was delighted that we knew many of her favorite Hymns from her church. This contributed to her conversion to the church.

Music has been a tremendous help in the growth of my testimony and the feelings of real reverence that I have learned over the years. Perhaps another time I can share some of my adult experiences of answered prayers through music in another post.

MTC Moments

As I was crossing the street to get to my car (They make us park way out in the boonies now while the entryway is under construction) A group of missionaries was also crossing to go to the soccer field. A cute missionary stepped up beside me.

Missionary: I'm right here with ya', Ma'am.

I looked at him and smiled.

Missionary: This is my good deed for the day.

Me: Oh, you're helping a little old lady across the street! It's your good turn daily!

Missionary: Yes, Ma'am. (with a mile wide smile)

Me: Thank you very much. I really appreciate this.

I did appreciate it. What he didn't know was that a couple days before I tripped and fell while crossing the street. We reached the other side and he and his companions took off running through the parking lot to the soccer field. Ya' just gotta love these missionaries.

I didn't hurt anything but my dignity in the fall.

Computer mess ups

I'm having a little problem with my computer. You know that bar or whatever that goes right under the one with the search bars? You know, the one where you can just click on a sight? that you often visit? Somehow mine includes the "letter N" and takes me to Nn on starfall. Does anyone know how that happened? Do I need to review that letter or something? I must be getting old. How do I remove it? Any suggestions?

YUCK!

Laura is here staying the week with Jenny and me. We were looking at the cereals to see what kinds we could get for Laura to have for breakfast. You are all aware that Jenny labels hers that she buys with her name. Well here is what Laura noticed.

Apparently Jenny doesn't like Blueberry Pomegranate Total. Sooo if any of you do like it she has removed her name from it and you are now welcome to try it. And you're welcome to come have breakfast with Laura this week. (But not before 10:30 or 11:30 am)

The New Lawnmower! (sorta not so new anymore)

We finally put the pics mom took of the new lawnmower on the computer.

Ahh, the good old days when we had the wonderful privilege of Steven living across the street. Jenny never had to sweat a single drop under the heat of the sun pushing a lawnmower. Sigh!

Then Steven moved and Susan would lovingly come and mow, putting Jenny to shame.

Finally Jenny got off her derriere and started earning her keep. (right) But alas, she had to borrow Susan's lawnmower and, unfortunately, that broke not long after.

There was a short stint with a lawnmower given to us from a sister at the MTC. A very short stint, we couldn't even get it started once.

When Amy inherited one from her in-laws and let us use it, we discovered he was a testy little fellow. He would shut off from time to time and absolutely refuse to turn on again without a five to ten minute break. That was fine by Jenny, if we're being honest, she needed the breaks too.

Finally came the big day! We bought a brand new one from Home Depot. After a shuffling of buying and getting it from Lehi to here, (thanks Steven) we got it home and set about learning how it worked.

We carefully read the manual, OK like two pages of it.

By page two Jenny had to lie down. This did not bode well for the weekly lawn mowing.


William tried to help.



















Finally, we got to mowing our slightly murdered lawn. (love ya, Brother Haslem)



















So there you have it, the boring story of our "new" lawnmower.

(Too bad a few weeks later the dang thing is already having issues. Luckily, Jenny knows just the right trick to getting it started)
(If you hadn't guessed, Jenny obviously blogged this for mom.)

Thanks for Pool party

I want to thank all those who worked to put together a pool party so Mike had a chance to bring his kids to be with their cousins. Jenny pretty much put it together for those who were in town and worked hard cleaning and vacuuming the pool and Providing the wings from Wingers. The rest of us brought salads, chips and corn and everyone had plenty to eat. Mike's kids had fun and felt like part of the family. See Amy's blog for pictures. And Thanks again for all the support for Mike during difficult times.

Isaac blowing bubbles with William.Kept him happy for more than an hour.

Kait teaching Laura letters and numbers.

Spring

Look what someone planted in my barrel! pretty yellow pansies. Spring must be coming.

Thank you, someone!

Hyrum's Birthday

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite grandsons, Hyrum. You are one of the cutest, smartest, politest, most helpful, considerate, and all around best grandsons that I have....though Caleb is pretty close.

Food

Last night I had a disturbing dream. I'm sure my blood sugar was low because I was dreaming about food. I wanted to make a large pot of Chile or some split pea and ham soup or Lima bean and ham soup. Unfortunately no one wanted to share with me. Finally Carolyn agreed to help me eat some of it if I made it but she was too far away.

I remembered when Mom would make a pot of beans for Sunday Dinner because she didn't have time for anything else--And I hated it. Oh, well, maybe I could make a small pot of split pea or Lima been soup or some chili. Any takers?

Stake Conference

Sunday we had Stake Conference. I went into the back of the cultural hall about 5 to 10:00 and sat all alone an an empty row at the back. I was remembering when our family filled a whole row and maybe then some as we attended Stake Conference. Slowly other late comers began to fill rows around us but mine remained empty. Then a little girl edged past me and sat down beside me. Her family didn't come. It was just her--she had been in my primary class in 2009. I smiled and she said "Can I sit with you?" "Of course!" I replied and gave her a quick hug. I looked back and there was her family sitting a couple rows back. I smiled--they smiled and I had a seat partner for conference. She stayed the whole time.

I began to think of stake conferences I'd attended at her age. I grew up in the mission field. We had Branches and districts and had no buildings--just rented halls. Some of the people traveled up to a hundred and fifty miles to come to conference and our visiting authority was generally the mission president from Portland. We had both a morning and afternoon session and each was two hours long. I remember that for one conference we had rented the Library in Bend for the conference. We had moved the tables back against book stacks and set up chairs. They filled rapidly so we children sat, Indian style, on some tables and smaller ones went to sleep using their coats for pillows.

I don't remember anything that was said at these conferences but I remember a special feeling. It was something to be looked forward to and we made a special picnic lunch to eat between sessions. We had quarterly stake conferences--that means 4 times a year and two sessions.

Later, each town built a small chapel and as an early teenager I talked at one conference in the new Bend chapel.

As my former student sat next to me I wondered what she thought of stake conference and was happy to have her bring back memories of my childhood. I wonder if she will remember when she is a grandma, the stake conference where she sat with an old Grandma who had been her Primary teacher.

Well I went down to the hospital to see Steven and Erica's new baby. Isn't she cute? Looks a little like Seth I think, at least the nose and mouth. Anyway she is a cutie. Here's a couple of pictures I took. Steven can scoop me tomorrow. He'll have lots more and cuter pictures.

See the pretty shells on my windshield when I went out to my car this morning? This is from the inside of my car. They were so pretty that I didn't want to scrape them off. So I was nearly late to my appointment at the MTC.
The next picture is from the outside but my photography skills are a little lacking, too. Anyway I did scrape them off and went to the MTC.

Reminds me of the pretty frost pictures that Jack Frost used to paint on the windows of our house when I was growing up. We got to draw pictures in the frost to entertain ourselves when we had Rheumatic Fever. I always thought the frost pictures were just like a fairy land.

And I have no idea why there were pretty frost shells rather than dull old gray frost on my windshield this morning.