Familial Research and Development

No. We didn’t go on family trips or summer holidays. We took no vacations as a family. The closest event to this question was when we moved from Kentucky to California. Of that I remember a bit about the train ride. Our stuff was being driven out by the Mayflower moving company. On the train, between cars (going into the dining car), while the train was moving, we had to wait in line and for a while we were in that area between cars, but they had put up some kind of a platform and makeshift walls to protect passengers from the elements and I would suppose to keep any from suicide jumpers from taking advantage of the railroad insurance company. I could see the ground rushing past and was kind of freaked about it. Hey, I was four years old, I didn’t know any better. We lived in Seal Beach for a short while. It was near where Grandma Flint lived (in Long Beach). Bobby brought milk home he ‘found’ outside (it was a milk delivery order at one of the other apartments) and had to take it back

Opera is something I can watch, but not listen to on the radio—I just haven’t developed an appreciation for it. I do love going to the theater, as long as I’m not watching a tragedy (either Shakespeare or Andrew Lloyd Weber). I loved Les Miserables and the very first stage performance I ever witnessed was Fiddler on the Roof—I love it too. Both of these speak of hope, of the human spirit overcoming the miserable-ness of mortality. Fiddler is all about culture and family. I’ve only been to a single symphony setting performance when Glen Yarborough performed The Forgotten Carols and that is of course dear to my heart so I was thoroughly satisfied with it. I did attend an afternoon rehearsal of a symphony and though I do love most of the music and the blends of the instruments, I could have taken socks, beads, and a crochet hook and enjoyed it more.

When I first unrolled this question I thought it asked how do you like rainstorms, which reminded me of the time, around Mother’s Day in 1993 when David and I were in the Houston area working on some of Valtek’s phone lines in an office they were opening there. I had stepped outside and it was raining, a very soaking, but not driving rain, gentle huge drops. It was warm! I liked it. I don’t recall ever experiencing that before. Warm rain. Wow, as great or greater than taking a shower. I love rain. It’s refreshing, a gift from God, waters lawns, cleans the air, refreshes and renews and pours nutrients into the lawn. I love rain. I feel embraced by God in the rain. The memories of rain take me further back to another rainstorm. Not the one David told me about when we were still newlyweds and he had just crossed a railroad track and then a lightning bolt struck the track and set the lights and alarms off and about scared him senseless. No, no. Much further back than that. I think I was ab

Early in our marriage my favorite was Reader’s Digest. It helped me with seeking wisdom. I loved the humor sections, the jokes, the witty things it offered. I hungered for the broader understanding of the things of the world, laws, justice, injustice, health items, government, politics, etc. My next favorite was Ladies Home Journal. I learned a lot about being a wife, parenting, and again about health and nutrition. My most favorite magazine is the Ensign. I know, it’s supposed to be for the President’s message or for the Visiting Teaching message, but really and truly my favorite section is the one about Latter-day Saint Voices. I love hearing about others testimonies of growth and development on spiritual matters, the overcoming of the body by the spirit.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell-because he has a deep spiritual base, an understanding and way of expressing the gospel principles and practices. Also, from reading his book I’m realizing how much I relate to him. He couldn’t ride a pony as a child no matter how many times he tried. Some other kid came along and after one day of trying was successful. To this his mother replied you were always kind to the animals. There is more to being always kind to the animals here. He emulated this ‘more’ I’m referring to in his last week of life. He was dying. His wife was speaking to him. He didn’t seem to hear her. She asked him if he had both of his hearing aids in. He replied, “Yes, I do. And if I could I would wear a third one.” He had a sense of humor, a respect and love for his fellow beings, and exemplified his love of the Savior in all things.

Of course to define a favorite author you’re generally looking at a particular book. The one I most enjoy reading is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. The reason I like it so much is because it’s a love story, balanced, full of passion—well bridled (something unheard of in literature or any media today), has a balanced proper ending. Which book is read more so than any other could also indicate a ‘favorite’ and that of course is the Book of Mormon. This is where I find the greatest peace and satisfaction. I have found this book to be the greatest parenting guide, marriage and family counselor, spiritual solace, etc. I have since found Bodie & Brock Thoene (pronounced Tay-nee). They are Christian novelists and have written series of books like Zion Covenant, Zion Chronicles, AD Chronicles. I love reading the last set. So far there are 9 novels in it. They have mixed in so much knowledge about Hebrew language and culture-you really develop an appreciation for the people.

Of course we share interests. How can a child, only having one father not want to have something in common with him and search for it and once found embrace it all in the interest of bonding and being one with her father? I went hunting with him; I learned to love dogs with perhaps a greater love than I had for family members. Sad, but true. And yes, dad was like that. I remember how he wept and moped when he had to get rid of Blacky. I loved fishing, though I couldn’t eat the fish. We had a love hate relationship. He loved me. I loved him. Then I grew into my teen years and recognized that so much of what he was preaching and teaching had a grain of truth and much warped opinion. Then began the hate relationship. I wanted so badly to have his approval. It didn’t matter what I did. He knowing that’s what I sought, used that to try and manipulate me for his personal gain and use. As a young mother I went through a grieving period when I realized it and realized that I had little choice

Huh? I’ve read magazines, books, newspapers, watched people, news, education channels, etc. My ‘education’ has many sources. I can’t make all the mistakes in life-there are too many and there’s not enough time in life to so I choose to learn from others. Then finally, when my kids were grown and gone, I went to college. I joined a club, I worked in study groups, I studied at the library, I wrote assignments, rewrote assignments, and re-rewrote assignments. I loved some professors, hated others, tolerated a few and made it through the best way I could. I love learning and I loved college.

I had roommates. Mary Rushlow (for whom I 6 years later I baked and decorated her wedding cake and threw her a bridal shower). She was a convert of about a year more than I. We got along quite well. She was more of a health food kind of person-not to the nth degree as some are but quite into how important and critical it is to eat fruits and vegetables. She was so sure and confident about everything it was hard to talk to her and help her see that she didn’t have all the answers. Claudia Gotshall-a yuppie who whined to mommy every time she wanted something (not needing-just wanting-mommy please put some money in my account-I’m so sad and depressed). Judy Roadhouse-a good girl trying to survive. Sharp enough to know not to cross Claudia, not strong enough to be able to go against her when Claudia was wrong. I learned that people can agree to disagree but once that decision is made all must hold to the guidelines.

The front yard in Santa Barbara was basically a small postage stamp. There was a young tree-about 15 feet tall in the parkway. There was a huge pampas grass plant by the master bedroom window-closest to the driveway. Dad had put up a trellis with a magenta bouganvilla plant growing up it. This gave privacy to the front door. We could leave it open in the summer evenings and let the coastal breeze blow through the front room. The back yard had a small cement patio. The dog was tied up in the corner nearest the back garage door. The garden was in the farthest corner at the same side of the yard as the dog. It seemed like a huge garden when I was little and weeding it, but it was definitely small when I looked at it as an adult. The opposite far corner had the chicken coop. Between the garden and chicken coop across the back fence was where the pet guinea pig cages were. Later, when dad started breeding guinea pigs and selling the offspring to the pet store, the guinea pig cages were pu

I didn’t have a wedding dress. When we got married I used my nicest Sunday dress. It was peach with long sleeves that had insets, called gussets, from the elbow down and had a Nehru collar. Cindy Huntsman (who later married Gary Butler of Boulder, Colorado-he had served in the Australia East Mission just like David) was as close as I had to a maid of honor and Gary was David’s best man. There were no other frills, no open house, and no reception.

I must have known, before I was born that Sunday’s were special—that’s why I chose to be born on the Sabbath. Our Sunday’s were extra special on Christmas and Easter. It was such a labor for Mom to get us all dressed, brushed, combed, and spiffed up to go to Church. Those were the only days, besides when one of us kids were getting baptized (sprinkled in the Episcopalian Church custom) she really went to any trouble to spruce up. Other than that, Sunday was just another day. The biggest difference was that we had to be quiet while Dad watched any and every sport show on TV. He seemed to like bowling, car racing, football, boxing, baseball, but not so much golf.

My mother's wedding dress was a ladies suit, fully lined, which she made. She was a great seamstress. It was a beautiful burgundy. They got married in an Episcopalian Church, I believe in Long Beach. My mother stood 5’9” and was very, very slender. She was a beautiful woman. I don't really know much about her wedding. I'm not even sure who her witnesses were. I know that her mother-in-law was sure she was just trying to marry into the family to get money. Others accused them of having to get married-yet their first child was born three weeks shy of their first anniversary. My mom once told me that the night before they got married dad had to stay in her/what would be their apartment; and he wanted to sleep in her bed. He said he'd sleep on top of the sheet and she could sleep under, but she was no fool and refused him. She was 23 years old, she must have watched many of her friends get married, she must have been hungry for that love and acceptance all young women long

A promise made can bring all kinds of happiness and hope. It can also bring distrust, fear, and insecurity. When the promise is kept it brings more feelings of trust and security than anything else. Little D was promised a trip to IKEA where he could spend his carrot money from last summer and buy himself a train set, just like his little brother Babers and just like his Grandpa (sometimes grumpy grandpa-he needs to eat more prunes to sweeten his attitude!) both have. Now he has his own! I got off work early. Stopped to pick him up. They didn't want to let me have him. They said, "I don't recognize you. What is your name? How do you know his mommy?" They checked with the boss-"Did did his mommy call? Nope? I don't think so granny-unless there's a note here with special instructions. Ah. I see that there are special instructions. Okay then I guess we can let you check him out." He was just a little chatterbox all the way up there. Do you want to get s

My first crush happened way back in Jr. High school and it changed every 3 weeks. Once I could see some humane-ness in someone I would have a crush on them. Until I saw the next guy who showed another aspect of humane-ness. I went through a lot of crushes. I never acted further than admiring them. John Arden Mike Smith Mike Nichols Keith Kendrick Truly the man I married has shown all the same signs. He’s a bit stern with children and that would truly be okay if only he could develop that greater showing forth of love afterwards. This is the humane-ness he shows me, I just wish he could show it to his children.

My first kiss was as sweet and innocent as you see in the movies. On the lips, awkward at what the feeling was to be touching someone else's lips with my own and all the hormones came undone. His name was Jack Giles. He was 6’1”, long and lanky, blond curly hair. Oh my gosh, I can still see him in my minds eye. I was in love with love. But that’s all it was. To know someone else accepts you physically is a satisfying fulfillment. However, he was a typical male teenager and all he wanted was to investigate, explore, and prove his manliness. It wasn’t me he was interested in, just in being able to get physical. I don’t know where I was when we kissed, my eyes were closed. I was probably at John and Janet Uribe’s apartment, as they are the ones who introduced us.

I was starting junior high school. My dad went down to the Western Auto store and bought me a new bike. It was a coaster (peddle backwards to apply brakes, this also means it was a one speed-Hey, less parts to break!) It was blue. I don’t even remember if it had fenders or not. The very first day I rode it to school my right foot slipped off the peddle as I was coasting downhill and got caught in the front wheel. The spokes of the wheel wore through the soul of my very expensive, brand new Hush Puppy shoe. Boy were my parents all shades of happy over that! They shoes were the most comfortable and perhaps the nicest pair of shoes I had ever had; Hush Puppies, taupe and a foam rubber soul. Dang it. But they had to last the whole school year.

Oh please! I can’t remember what I wore as a child. What I do remember clothing wise was that the summer before I reached womanhood (I was 14) I loved to dress up. We didn’t have dress up clothes. I did have a very lightweight blanket and I would belt that around my waist so I had a princess train. I guess I thought all princesses and queens wore flowing long skirts. So I felt like a princess. I spent many hours that summer divided between going down to the beach, and in my bedroom dressing like a princess, and playing school (I was the teacher). My favorite outfit now is whatever white Temple dress I'm wearing-and wearing in the Temple.

HALLOWEEN: I used to let the kids go out trick-or-treating, but then society seemed to get less trustworthy and there’s so much candy and junk food available I decided to just buy their favorite candy and if they wanted to dress up to answer the door that was fine. THANKSGIVING: We try to have dinner by 2:30. We bless the food and then as Dad’s carving the turkey we each take a moment to say what we’re thankful for. The dearest one in recent memory was when Nicole at age 3 said, “I’m thankful that I’m beautiful.” The most precious to me is when our children say how thankful they are for the gospel in their lives. As for foods, we generally have turkey, sage-sausage dressing, stuffed celery, olives, mashed potatoes, baked yams, sometimes a leafy salad, sometimes Sharon’s Jell-O™ salad, sometimes a vegetable, gravy (can’t forget that-I love it the most!) and jellied cranberry sauce (mmmmmm) CHRISTMAS: We generally start the holiday setting up the tree the day after Thanksgiving. We also

Dad worked for the SB City Water Department. He dug holes to get at the broken pipes. He also turned off people’s water when they were moving or for non-payment. Elaine Hansen was one of those people he was going to turn the water off for non-payment. She and her husband had 4 kids-young adults and teens. Her husband had just been assigned as the US Forest Service Ranger in the nearby National Park and the house they were supposed to live in, at the edge of the forest (near Painted Cave), wasn’t ready for them to move into yet. Dad asked about why they couldn’t pay the bill, heard her circumstances and then decided to give her, from his own pocket, the minimum money needed to keep her water on-which he then turned in. A couple months later dad was supposed to go turn the Hansen’s water off again. He again spoke with Elaine to find out what was going on. This time it was good news-their house was ready and so they were moving out. A few months after this, my little brother (4 years my j

I went to college for one semester. I stood in the old field house with the dirt floor waiting in line after line. I didn’t know where I was coming, where I was going, what I wanted to study. I knew nothing. But I knew that I loved learning and I was glad to be able to go. Besides, there were a lot of good looking guys there! I lived with an older woman who just needed a companion. Mae Siepert. She was a tiny little lady. She told of a story about when she was a youth, about my age and how she was riding on a buckboard and it was going too fast, she fell off but her foot got caught in something and she was drug for quite a ways before they could get the buckboard stopped. She was quite injured from it and with the medical prowess of the day; the doctor had said she wouldn’t live. But she did. Boy was I glad for it. She was a great lady. She lived in a little brown cabin set back from the road, across from a large city park. I walked her to Church on Sundays. I was a Junior Sunday Schoo

I’d like to describe walking down the street to my Grandpa Flint’s gunsmith shop in Louisville, KY. I really don’t remember or know if it was in the downtown district or not. I remember the one time I spent the night with him at his shop. We rode the bus from Mom and Dad’s place to a few blocks from his shop, where he lived. There were lots of businesses and people in comparison to our somewhat quiet neighborhood. Yet I don’t recall it being as busy as seen the streets of downtown Provo, nor do I recall any skyscrapers. It didn’t seem like we had walked very far or long, but then I was with my grandpa so it wouldn’t have felt long. When we got to his shop I remember seeing a door inset from two large (not huge) display windows. I don’t believe his shop could have been much more than 20’ wide and perhaps 30’ deep. He had a curtained off sleeping area in the back where he worked on cleaning, building, and repairing weapons. There was a pot bellied stove used to heat his business. I belie

A gallbladder attack. I literally felt my life forces leaving my body and I really didn’t care. I’ve never suffered with clinical depression. Never had bipolar or schizophrenia or any other mental illness. I had chicken pox when I was in the third grade, the last week of school, so I missed the end of the school year classroom party. That was a bummer. I had a really bad case of the flu once when I was in Junior High and nearly passed out. I don’t remember going through pertusis (whooping cough) when I was two years old. Mom was beside herself. I got it and then Barbara (2 years younger than me) got it. Of course, it is life threatening and the younger you are, the more life threatening it is. Years later I recall her blaming me for getting Barbara sick with it. As if! That was another lesson learned of what to not do. People get sick; others carry germs; that’s part of life. I developed a nasty habit for coughing because of it. Ever after (u7ntil about the age of 10), when I’d get a c

I was so young when we moved away from Louisville, that I think I should describe Santa Barbara. At Christmas time the boats in the harbor were decorated with Christmas lights. Mornings were usually foggy and generally by 1 in the afternoon the fog would burn off and be replaced with a cool sun. Most businesses had some Christmas decorations in them. Many houses had lights up on the eaves. Rarely did people put lights on the trees or bushes in their yards. I don’t remember there being any snow on the hill tops. Christmas was heavily marketed, yet it was much simpler than it is today.

It was a very simple, inexpensive, no bells & whistles train set. And then we brought it home and it brought out some very interesting personality traits. Those of a 5 year old, those of a 58 year old and those of a nearly 30 year old! See what I mean: Little D was all excited and I helped him open the package so he could put the new bridge in while g-pa Dove was going down stairs to get the crock pot so we could cook beans for dinner for the next night (start them the night before and they’re soft and perfect the next day). When I had my back turned little D took the bridge and the new trains, went to the spare bedroom where his train tracks are set-up willy-nilly all over the floor, put in the new bridge and started playing with the new trains. Now, I’d like to mention that Little D had already received one of these train sets at Christmas time-but obviously one is not enough-hence G-pa Dove had to have this addition for his coffee train table set up! When G-pa Dove came upstairs

We usually went to a Christmas tree lot the day after Thanksgiving, bought a live tree, put it up immediately. Dad would do the lights and I and then later the kids would put the ornaments on it. Because each child had their own ornaments they would decorate the tree with them. Later Jacob became the master at putting the lights on the tree, until he went on his mission. In Provo we started buying our trees at the Allied Tree lot. One of the years we didn’t have a car, but did have bus service, Jacob and Joey went out and bought the tree and the driver was kind enough to let them bring it home on the bus. There was one year when we lived in the Los Altos II ward and we followed the ward tradition of meeting at the Church on a Saturday and driving up to the mountains to a Christmas tree farm. We walked all over, up and down a hillside until we found the ‘perfect’ tree. It was more expensive than what we could have found on a lot. I guess the beauty in it was the thrill of being a part o

The only sound that comes to mind was the shiny black vinyl records of music. It was like a library set. There were a couple records of classical, couple of big band and the ones that come back best and clearest to my memory were the records with the American folk songs on it. That’s where I learned the songs of childhood. Davy Crocket, This Old Man, Mother Goose Songs. These were my favorite and I never got tired of hearing them. The other sound I remember is when daddy got home from work. He’d pull up out front and back into the driveway-always leaving the keys in the car (made it hard to lose them in the house). Besides that was the ‘old’ way of doing things, back before people stole cars. Often, even before we could hear him backing up the dogs (Sergeant and later Blackey and Queeney) would start barking/howling). These sounds always struck fear in me for many times I had heard mom say, “You just wait until your dad gets home.” And more often than I’d like to think, she meant it.

Do you mean before I joined the Church and attended Seminary or post membership? Pre-Church membership I got up, caught a ride with Deanna Hafner and later Paula Westcott (neighborhood friends—her mom drove us in her very old black Packard), or Keith Kendrick (if Paula was sick that day) and we rode to school. In fact, the week before school started Deanna and her mom picked me up and took me shopping with them. They bought me my first pair of sandals—not thongs (flip-flops), but for really real sandals. They were cream colored and there were little metal circles that joined the toe and ankle straps to the triangular leather across the top of the foot. I loved those sandals. Made me feel so special-almost like the normal kids. Mrs. Hafner dropped us off out front of the school, we went in to our classes and I usually got a ride home with her. Lunch was spent with her friends, but I was quite coarse in my speech around them. If we got into too frank a conversation I’d start swearing—rep

A typical school day involved being hollered at to wake up or you’re going to be late. I’d jump out of bed, throw my school clothes on-there was always something on the floor I could wear, then stop at the kitchen to pick up my Velveeta cheese sandwich made on white bread and spread with Miracle Whip. Sometimes there was an apple. No breakfast was made or offered. And then it was time to dash off to school. I never worried about the temperature. If it was hot, I walked slower. If it was cold I ran most of the way. School was about 5 blocks away. It was often overcast with a fog-not always at ground level but sufficient to feel overcast. At school we’d start with the pledge of allegiance. In the younger grades there was a mid morning recess, noon recess, and mid afternoon recess. I was in the slower reading group and through first and second grade I had a hard time getting the hang of adding and subtracting. Just because 2+3=5 this time didn’t mean that 3+2=5 was going to be the truth

This was an interesting time in my life. I was maturing between the kid who had to ask, “Mommy may I breathe?” to the adult who could say, “Mommy I’ve finished my chores and want to go to spend a couple hours at the beach.” During the wschool year, Paula Westcott and her dad would pick me up and take me to school. At school, nearly every day she would buy me a sweet roll. They were huge, frosted, sweet and nummy. And for someone who hadn’t had breakfast-they hit the spot. Didn’t care if I didn’t have milk with it-just was great to get the sweet roll. So I guess we got there about a20 minutes before school started because there was plenty of time for it. There are a few things I want to mention about those days. Mr. Cudney (my 7th grade science teacher) gave me a Yearbook, so I could sign other students and they could sign mine. The next year Mr. Parker (my Spanish teacher) talked me into being on yearbook staff. Also in the 7th grade my first Spanish teacher, a single young lady, was i

I’m thinking of downtown Santa Barbara. We’d pile in the car, (all 4 kids in the back seat and Mom and Dad in the front seat). I remember an old 50 something Pontiac, and Dad would drive. We had to keep our mouths shut, or else. If we got excited or upset with each other Dad would flip the back of his hand into the back seat and hit whoever he could reach, whether you were part of the problem or not.

We (me as a child) never went on family vacations. We (me as a parent) did go on a few. I’d rather tell the story of how we ended up getting camping gear. David had gone down to Sears (downtown Provo-it’s now an RC Willey surplus outlet store) to pick up some tool or part we needed. He then promptly got side tracked. I was home with all 5 kids (that’s how many we had at the time). He was gone quite a while, but then it was one less kid to watch so it was okay. He finally showed back up. He was in an unusually good mood. So when he said let’s go down to Sears, I want to show you something, I was positively interested yet a bit concerned. It would necessitate taking all 5 children down to Sears. When we got down there he said oh let’s just walk around. No. You said you wanted to show me something, take me to it. So we ended up in the sporting department. He had to show me this really cool tent (sleeps 8) and the bunk bed cots, and the nice pretty green with red lining sleeping bags, and

My testimony is a gift of the Spirit. I have never seen Christ in mortality, yet I know, with every fiber of my being, that He exists. I know He is the literal Son of God in the flesh. I know that He suffered in the Garden and on the Cross for me. This I know through the Holy Ghost in my heart. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only living and God-directed Church on the face of the earth. I know I can never turn my back on the Church or deny my testimony of it. This I know with all my heart. I know that Joseph Smith really did see and commune with Jesus Christ and the Father. He was a prophet, seer, and revelator. This I know with my head and feel it’s so in my heart. I know that Heavenly Father knows me intimately and that I matter to Him. I know he has been there for me every time I’ve needed Him in my desperate hours and He’s been there to rejoice with me in the sunshine. I know He loves me. I know the gift of motherhood came to me through Heavenly Father

As a child I thought that because Bobby was the oldest he got to do whatever he wanted, I was too young, was what I heard when I said, but Bobby gets to. As an adult I realize now that it was probably more because he was a boy and I was a girl, that’s why I didn’t get so many privileges. The best part of being the 2nd oldest is that I did more work so once in a while Dad had compassion when he was cutting the ice cream on Monday night and I got a slightly larger piece. The worst part was when the younger siblings did a no-no, Bob and I got beat for it.

Hiking a mountain makes me feel good. The view at the top of a mountain makes me feel good. The pretty flowers, beautiful trees, and waterfalls and creeks on the way up the mountain makes me feel good. Watching a happy every after type movie makes me feel good. Chocolate makes me feel really good. Being with my children and grand children makes me feel good. Taking the Sacrament makes me feel good. Being in the Temple makes me feel good. Being in the Temple with my children makes me feel Really Really Good. Hearing my children by marriage call me mom, mother, mommy makes me feel really good. Shaking hands with a Prophet makes me feel good. Working in my yard makes me feel good. Reading a good book makes me feel good. Balancing my checkbook and knowing bills are paid, tithing is paid and there’s still gas money makes me feel good. Chocolate makes me feel really good. Harvesting my garden makes me feel good. Shopping makes me feel good. Taking a shower makes me feel good. Lifting weights

Ha! I tell you, HA! That is a loaded question. Rarely does anyone EVER, I mean EVER end up being what they think they want to be. That’s a good question. At the time of this writing I’m 50 years old. Had I been asked that question when I was 18 I would have answered that I wanted to be a veterinarian. Now that I’m 50 I know that I want to be one half of a senior couple missionary companionship. I’m going to college now to gain office skills so I can be a missionary in a mission president’s office. I’ve learned Access, Excel, HTML, power point and I’m learning new things this coming year. I’m looking forward to it. Ya know, that first semester I was just so excited, delighted, pleased, pickled tink to be able to go to college. Now, I’m just glad that eventually it will be over! Post Script. I finished college (BS Degree from UVU) over a year ago and soon, very soon, it will have been a year since I started my 'career'. I'm an online store merchandiser for Creative Xpress an

Pardon me while I check the Internet for some lists which I will then massage over… • Follow the Prophets • Truth Seekers - they want to understand things by analyzing underlying principles and structures • Value spiritual knowledge and gospel principles above all others above all else • Value knowledge and competence • Have very high standards for performance, which they apply to themselves • Independent and original, possibly eccentric • Creative and insightful • Future-oriented • Usually brilliant and ingenious • Good sense of humor • Positive and optimistic • Friendly, meet people easily • Can keep a conversation going with anybody • Take frustration and rejection in stride • Able to persuade others easily • Well-groomed • Considerate and tactful • Enjoy being with people • Enjoy listening • Enjoy helping other people resolve problems • Curious about many things • Enjoy reading scriptures • Determined to complete projects • High energy level • Can cope with sudden emergencies • See

She and I used to stay up late during the summer months watching the late show-usually an old black and white movie. But that was okay because we didn't get the expensive color TV-ours was just a black and white one. Mom loved the old actors and actresses, I loved the happy endings and the beautiful décor in the movie sets-it set my imagination running toward the ritzy finer things in life. The other thing we did, when there wasn’t a ‘good’ movie playing that night, was to play cards or dice. We played rummy, gin rummy, bunko or Yahtzee. I nearly always lost but for me playing games with mom was the reward of working hard during the day and getting some quality time and attention with my mom.

Ya know-this thing changes as time goes on. Movies. I attended them about three times before I left home at age 17. King Kong when I was a little girl in Kentucky and it scared the living day lights out of me. Krakatoa East of Java when I went on a date with Keith Kendrick. Some drive-in movie I went to with my dad, and we bought a six-pack of ale and drank it while we were watching the movie. Now I go with my husband, am more careful about what I go to, and am looking specifically for entertainment that leaves me feeling good. I could careless anymore if I have a movie snack or treat. I find a lot of satisfaction in journal keeping and in blogging (online journaling for me). I find a lot of satisfaction going to the Temple and doing genealogy and doing the online census indexing. I find great satisfaction in introducing my grandchildren to new tastes, places, scents, feelings.

What? Was TV even invented yet? Actually I don’t remember there being a TV when we lived in Kentucky, Seal Beach or Buellton. After we had been living in Santa Barbara for a while (could have been a year) we did finally buy a TV, a little black and white one. I watched Captain Kangaroo and Howdy Doody. They were my favorites. I still remember the songs! Good mornin' captain, won't you come on out and play! It's Howdy Doody time, it's Howdy Doody time... As I got older it was: Leave It To Beaver The Donna Reed Show Father Knows Best The Lone Ranger Zorro Paul Revere and the Raiders

Oh! Mylanta! Do we even have to go there? I am my mother's daughter whether that's a credit to her or not! Her absolute best trait is that she was there. She was a stay at home mom. I never returned home from school and found the house empty or locked. Well, I take that back. One time I returned home and the neighbor ran out to get me and said I was supposed to stay there for a few hours. Mom had a miscarriage and it must have been pretty bad, because the ambulance came to get her. Mom seemed to be non-plused about any emergency. Looking back I recognize it as a willful intent to keep from coming apart and to try to keep the rest of the family from falling apart. She wasn’t afraid of talking very matter-of-factly about things that much of society would not even want to admit to thinking about. She was eating breakfast (2 eggs and 2 toast) when she told me the ‘facts of life’. She strove to keep the family together, through all and any challenges. Worst? Didn’t keep the house cl

Remembered by whom? At what stage of my life? This changes, ya know! I’d like to be remembered as a faithful Latter-day Saint. That I held to the rod and stood for truth and righteousness no matter the danger, cost, distance, discomfort. I’d like to be remembered for striving to be honest, true, and faithful in all things. That I followed the admonition of Paul, “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men. Indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul. We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” I'd like to be remembered as a mom, though way imperfect, strove with all my might to overcome as many imperfections as possible and was more good than not as a mommy. I'd like to be remembered as a wife who loved her husband through thick and thin, good, bad an

My favorite restaurant is any which one I can afford, where I can sit across the table from my husband and enjoy a good meal and just visit. These places include: Ottavio’s in Provo, UT Fenton’s in Oakland, CA Taco Bell (anywhere-they all taste the same) Kentucky Fried Chicken (anywhere-they all taste the same) Ruby River in Provo, UT Mulboons in Salt Lake City, UT Any Chinese Buffet (anywhere-they all taste the same) Mongolian BBQ places are good too

From age 0-4 years I lived in Louisville, KY in the city. 2415 Lyons Ave. At age 4 for a few weeks or a couple of months in an apartment in Seal Beach, California At age 4 to 5 years for a few months in Bulletin, California. From age 5 to 17 in Santa Barbara, California. 2436 Murrell Rd. My parents home, a tract home, which his parents gave them $1,000 for the down payment, the mortgage was $19,000 when they bought it in 1959 and sold for $125,000 12 years later. They moved because they couldn’t afford the property taxes on it, which was about 1%. It was yellow stucco. Dad and Mom had the garage cut in half to expand the living room. The rest of what had been the garage was made into a workshop area.

Grandma and Grandpa Nelson lived in Solvang, California and later moved to “Leisure World” in Chula Vista, California. Their home, both places, looked like an Ethan Allen showroom. She had ceramic butterflies (about 3 or 4 of them) on her coffee table in the front room. Most of the furniture in each living area had pretty little dust collectors on them. I don’t remember a particular smell. I don’t remember noticing things like that. It felt stiff and proper-don’t touch-just sit and be still. Grandpa Flint owned a gun shop in Louisville, Kentucky. He repaired and sold rifles and pistols. He lived in his shop. I spent the night with him once, a treasured memory, yet I remember nothing specific about it. I was about 4 years old and it was a very small shop and I felt it was a cluttered shop. It had a funny smell to it; my guess is that it smelled like gun oil, although I think I was a bit young to know that smell. It felt like love. I felt welcome there. Grandma Flint lived in an upstairs

So far it’s been teaching Primary. It gets challenging in that you prepare a lesson every week. I think I would enjoy team teaching (lesson every other week) even better. I also think I would like to teach the teens in Sunday School.

I don’t have a favorite. I like some songs done by some performers and not the same song by others. Same sentiments apply with the artists. To me to say a favorite would be to say that one is better/superior to another. I don’t think so. I take the best each has to offer and toss the rest. The mood I’m in is always a factor, however, among those I like listening to: Classical Don Williams Credence Clearwater Revival Paul Revere and the Raiders Algae Mormon Tabernacle Choir The Monkees Neil Diamond Jose Feliciano Simon & Garfunkel Paul Simon The Turtles The Lettermen Afterglow Johnny Cash Crystal Gale Billy Ray Cyrus Alan Jackson Linda Rhondstat

I brought you into the world and I can take you out! You have two ears and one mouth to remind you to do twice as much listening and half as much talking. The eleventh unwritten commandment is, “Thou shalt not touch what is not thine.” I fix it, you eat it. You mess it up, you straighten it up. You can’t fix your sibling’s problems—worry about your own. Mama said there’d be days like this—she just didn’t say they’d happen all in the same day, one right after another. “When you grow up and have kids I hope you have one just like you.” “Thank you!” I did. John is impatient like me; Janele—second born like me, is the smartest of her siblings—like me; Jacob’s favorite color is red—like me; Joey is insatiably curious about everything and won’t quit until he has answers—like me; Ruth is very sensitive to and responsive to the Spirit—like me; and Paul cares about what others are feeling—like me. Because I said so, that’s why. If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. Nothing is so strong as ge

By want ad I’m assuming you want me to try and sell him-which means present his good points. He has a lot of them. In his young man days he was very handsome. He knows hot to flirt with his eyes, words (through innuendos), and the cock of his head. He’s very strong in that he will stick to his beliefs (story, idea, theme, convictions), right or wrong. Yes-stubborn could define this strength of character as well. He finds self-value in serving others-doing things for them he knows they can’t do for themselves. He does not weaken family members by doing anything for them which he knows they can struggle through somehow, eventually on their own. S. Here’s the ad: Manly man, 5’11”, brown eyes, cuddly with naturally curly gray/white hair, strong in character and convictions, ever seeking to do good and to be treated well.

Wanted: Man who can fix things without complaining and actually gets excited about the challenge; hold me without judging me; one who will let me have my head and do what I feel I want and need to; a man who supports me in my choices and decisions; a man who wants to have fun even though it’s a lot of work to pack the car up to go camping and unpack it and put stuff away when we get back home and are exhausted; a man who tenderly tucks the kids in at night after they’re sound asleep; and all of this would be for naught if he didn’t put the Lord first and honor his priesthood.

You’re assuming we went some place. We didn’t. At least no more than I’ve mentioned already about going to Grandma Flint’s or Grandma Nelson’s house. Dad once took me to the county fair in Santa Barbara. But that wasn’t the whole family. Dad was a scoutmaster and had me help plan the meals and then go on the week long campout with the boy scouts. I did all the cooking and cleaning up while they hiked and fished during the days.

You're gonna have a good time... Yeah-some of you won't remember that rowdy song. I do though! It's awesome when you have people who work hard to make it special and unique. Work threw me for a loop. The 3 underlings planned and gave me a card, a bag of DOVE heart-shaped promises, a heart-cupcake cake, and they sang at me. It was awesome to have them do so much to make the day special. It really did bring tears to my eyes. I felt special all day long! My kids and hubby did the mostest. I got cards from my Aunt, sister, daughters, hubby, son and even from the president of the company I work for! It was awesome. I enjoyed flowers and good food and good company AND my son that I wasn't sure would ever decide to get serious about a girl did-and got engaged the day before my birthday. Wohoo!! How awesome is that?

I couldn't resist. I got this hare-brained idea for a new coffee table. I mean we have enough grandkids running around here-they needed something their size so they could play and enjoy life more-especially when they're cooped up inside during the winter months. Yeah, they love it. Even the kids do. Even Grandpa does!

That first summer out of Junior High I worked for Clarance Peterson-his adult daughter Janice Uribe and her husband John Uribe directly supervised me and my work. He owned apartments in Santa Barbara and in Isla Vista. He needed someone to meticulously scrub walls and the grout in tiles. I was paid 80 cents/hour and I did a good job. He was known for firing people who didn't-very quickly. But all that brow beating from my dad to weed perfectly, wash dishes perfectly, sweep the carpet (every square inch) perfectly, well-I'd learned how to be both efficient and precise. So my first job was cleaning apartments. The money I earned? Had to go into the bank-I wasn't allowed to keep it or spend it (of course if I'd kept it, I would have spent it). A LOT of stuff happened in high school. I met my first Asian (didn't remember meeting one in elementary or Jr. High). Hung Wung bought me a candy at See's the day I had gone over to the school to pick up my class schedule. Ye

In Jr. High PE we wore a cute little white gym shirt-button or snap up the front with cap sleeves and white short shorts. That was the uniform. I don't remember who my mom got my hand me down from-she just did and it was great. We had a cross-country track at my Jr. High. It was so awesome-went up through the scrub oak on the hillside for half the run. Once in a while we got to run it. I was never as fast as the rabbit-Stephanie. She was slight framed and fast-really fast. But I'd keep up with her. I'd get some scrapes on my legs but I wasn't slowing down for nothing-if she could do it, so could I. I had to force myself to do it. I was a bigger body frame and muscle mass than Stephanie. On the flat field she was always way ahead of me-but once we got into the briar patch-I was nipping on her heels. One time that we were running the cross country track we had an assembly after class. I ran so hard to catch the rabbit that day-I think we actually had to run around the bas

Mr. McEcheon was my Mass Media teacher. This was the class that opened my eyes to public communication and marketing. Things said, ways things were done to convince and coerce the public to buy, do, etc. The bandwagon theory. The soap box theory. The half truths of commercials. 'Nothing is better than aspirin.', well then, why take any? Really, if nothing is better than taking it-don't! It was like a trigger that set off a chain of thinking and reasoning. Finally my brain didn't just parrot back what it was told. I finally began to think for myself. I guess the reports on Balboa and Magellan when I was in grade school was supposed to help me start thinking on my own (read and then write up the gist of what you read), but that wasn't what did it for me. The flip side of this coin was I could finally see through what my dad was saying. Right at first, when my eyes were first opening, I thought, I must be wrong-surely he doesn't mean what it sounds like he means. I

Here's a few more pieces. This is largely because 1) I never heard my parents say anything about themselves doing something like this 2) I did hear one of my son in law's did this 3) Maybe one of my grandkids will read this (or have it read to them) and say, "Hmmmm. I think maybe I'll give it a go!" So When I was in the 8th grade I was given a yearbook-the La Cumbrean. Mr. Cudlney my 8th grade science teacher made this huge announcement about how once in a while a teacher finds a student who does works really hard to do well and they get no rewards (Rodney Dangerfield-I get no respect-Google it if you're curious). So he presented the yearbook to.... Da-ta-da-da! My name was called-I was in shock! So the next year when my Spanish teacher who was also heading up the yearbook invited me to help on the staff, I took him up on it. I knew I couldn't afford the book but still-anytime you're asked to do something you feel of value because you perceive you'

First you need to understand that the 2-year old loves the puppy. He grabs him in the middle and tackles him to the ground. The pup has to lick the 2-year old to death to finally get him to release his iron-clad hug on the dog's middle-who must be nearly suffocated before this point of release. So I'm enjoying a quick breakfast before I dress for work. My 2 year old grandson comes toddling into the kitchen and using his 2 year old language skills points to the front room and emphatically says, "Poop." I'm thinking I'm not hearing him right, he normally says, "Aieron poop". So I ask him if he is. "No. Poop." Did you go poop in the front room. "No. Poop." Is there poop in the front room. "Uh huuuhh!" So I finally get up and give him my hand and ask, "Did the puppy go poopy in the front room?" "Uh huuuhh!" escapes his mouth as he hauls me to the front room. Sure enough. The puppy went poopy on my carpet.

I miss my blogs the most! Go ahead. Laugh. Blondie did when she barely got home and I blurted that out to her. Dove did when I repeated it to him on our ride home from the bus stop. I finally got CS4 and was trying to install it but it was fighting tooth and nail with IE7. My only real option was to back up my system and install the OS again. This is the first time in like 3 years but still... Most of it was backed up just fine. Except... my kids's blogs. Dang it. That's how I keep up with what's going on-keep abreast of their lives. So with Geek & Lady's help we finished up Sunday night (midnight) and Monday night (I quit at 10 p.m.) reinstalling all the essentials. I have yet to open Bridge or CS4 to verify they work. Here, let me go check... Yip! Bridge works, which means that CS4 will work too. Right? Oh yeah-it does!! Wohoo! I love Adobe!! Frog said those desert pictures were in here somewhere too. But I can't find them. Dang it. Okay, so I'm just about