THOUSANDS OF THANKS

I have always loved people that are 30 - 50 years my senior.

I think I learned that as a child by going with my parents to visit aging friends and relatives. We did that often - at least weekly and sometimes more.

I found them so interesting. They had such vast experience, interesting stories and wise insights. What a wonderful resource and support they are.  Even reading journals or stories and histories written by them helps me - if nothing else it helps me realize how much I have.

An ancestal journal records a family driven from their home by an angry mob in the wet cold of February, the mother expecting a baby and the father away. As mom lay laboring in a 'box' of a covered wagon, rain seeped through the cover. Her 12 year old son and slightly younger daughter dipped the pooling water from beneath her trying to help their mother. The baby did not live. The son buried the baby in the semi frozen ground and then the wagon moved on.

Their experiences of sorrow come to mind whenever complaints start in my thoughts.

I am so thankful to have such sons and daughters.
They help and comfort me.

I have so much comfort and convenience and safety.
I have excess of almost everything.

For just more than a year now, I have been helping digitize vital records so that people can find ancestors more readily. I have been able to work with many records in the 15 and 16 hundreds. One day as I worked on an ancient record from a small town I entered a man's death information.  A short time later a marriage noted the bride was the daughter of the deceased [NAME] above. A page or two later I saw the death of an infant - the child of that couple and then a few entries later the death of  the mother.

Sometimes I will see burial and death records that have one person in a family die and then a few days or weeks later another and then another die - not just children but parents and grandparents.  It is apparent that an illness sickened the whole family and sometimes neighborhood.

My life and mobility have been spared many times by the care of an educated professional.  I have recovered from illness by using the medicines science places readily at my disposal. I walk and am without constant pain because of the technology of our time.

Today I digitized (indexed) some marriage license records. Anyone can help index.

Some of the brides and grooms had been widowed.

No matter where they were born, or lived, or died their marriage 'dissolved' at the death of one of the partners.

I felt so sad for them.

I looked up our marriage certificate to see what it says.

this image of our certificate is edited for privacy 

It is simple yet profound. It states that we are "joined together in the Holy Bonds of Matrimony for Time and for all Eternity". We have been married about half as long as my parents. They are also joined together for time and eternity. (So are my husband's deceased parents.)

Being married and staying married is a lot of work. The covenants and commitments require constant work, diligence and renewal.  We made the decision to be married and we make the decision to stay married.

The wonder and blessing of such work and decisions is that when we die our marriage will not be dissolved.  We will still be together.  ALWAYS! Forever ...

A hymn of Thanksgiving comes to mind ... "Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below ..."

Today I think of thousands of things I am grateful to enjoy.
Each thing is a blessing from Father in Heaven.

I count them one by one ...

I am particularly grateful for an eternal marriage.

Most of the other things seem trifling.

DAD AMES

Thanksgiving always makes me think of my father-in-law.
Wallace Will Ames was born on 24 November 1921.
His birthday often occurred on the same day as Thanksgiving.

I asked my husband to share some memories of his father,
his family and feasting. He kindly obliged.

I post his e-mail reply for your perusal:

"Happy birthday Dad,  I don’t want to forget to say that once I get rambling - Happy Thanksgiving  reader.

"As long as I can remember venison was served at my parent’s dinner table.  My father says that my mother taught him how to hunt when they were first married and money was scarce.  Scarcity being the nature of money the whole family learned how to hunt so there was never any need to buy meat.

"Since this story is about food there will be no need to tell about making our own bullets to save money.  There will also be no need to tell why each one of us used only four to seven bullets a year.  It took three bullets to sight our guns.  If the sights were off it took three more.  Then it took one to shoot the deer.  If it took more than one bullet we stopped to see what was wrong with our gun.  One time Wally had to shoot twice.  He was really upset until he found out he shot two deer.  They were twins.  After he shot them he was really upset because he only had one license.  It all turned out fine in the end because Dad just used his license.  D.D. earned the name of Deer-slayer in school when she showed up to class 10 minutes late after a successful early morning hunt.

"All this is to say that in our house we ate venison.

"One day my mother served beef steak.  Every one of us complained and asked what was wrong with the meat. She said she had prepared it special and that if we didn’t like it she certainly wasn’t going to buy it for us again.  In Canada we ate moose.  One moose would fill the freezer and last the whole year.  Sometimes mom would buy beef in Canada for a treat.  We didn’t mind.  Moose is more like beef then deer and we got used to it.

"There were foods which were served only once a year.  Some of these were turkey, cranberry sauce, yams baked with brown sugar and marshmallows, and Hawaiian punch.  Of course that was Thanksgiving.  (In those days Hawaiian Punch came in a concentrate which mixed up to make a gallon.)  I always drank a full glass of water before I drank my Hawaiian punch so that I could drink it slowly and enjoy it.  Sometimes we got to eat birthday cake on Thanksgiving because it was Dad’s birthday.  Mom made the food for thanksgiving.  She made most of the food we ate most of the time.  She was good at that.  One time she asked me how I wanted my eggs.  I told her I wanted five on the outside scrambled and one on the inside with a runny yolk.  She did it.  It was a master piece.  That wasn’t Thanksgiving, but I was thankful.  I think I may have even been spoiled.  Mom always said I would learn to cook on my mission.   I had maids on my mission so I had to wait until I got married to learn to cook.

"Although Mom made most of the food Dad usually made the ice-cream.   (But not at Thanksgiving.  Ice-cream has to be made when it is hot outside.  It is not an indoor food.) I’m sure mom mixed the ingredients but Dad mixed the rock salt and ice and knew just when the ice-cream had been churned long enough.  (That was usually after each of us children had gotten to turn it.)  While one turned another would sit on top of the ice-cream maker so the lid would not come off.  This process was highly specialized. First the littlest person would turn the ice cream. When it was too hard for her (Sharon was the littlest) she would sit on the mixer.  When Richard got tired he sat on the mixer and I turned. Then Wally turned and I sat.  When Wally finished Dad would check to see if it was done.  When it was finished Dad would take the canister out very carefully so that no salt water would get inside, then he would serve everyone.  Someone was always lucky and got to eat the ice-cream off the paddle.  That was the best.

"Churning ice-cream is based on complex scientific principles involving ice (ice came in blocks in gunnysacks and was broken up with the back or side of an ax so that the work of making ice-cream was almost as fun as eating it) rock salt, and a stainless steal canister filled with secret ingredients.  Inside the canister there are mixing paddles.  Outside there are gears which allow the paddles to turn on the inside and the canister to turn on the outside.  As the paddles turn heat is generated.  The heat melts the ice. Rock salt added in the ice absorbs the heat and allows the melted ice to retain its coldness.  That means that the water is actually colder than the ice which allows the coldness to penetrate the stainless steel and go into the secret ingredients where it belongs. As the ice melts more ice is added to the top forcing the water out and more rock salt is added so that it does not become diluted.  The ice-cream maker has an outside hole lower than the lid to the canister so the waste water can spill out without getting into the ice-cream – that is very important.  The complex part of the science is that the person sitting on top of the ice-cream maker will get wet no matter where the hole is placed (remember the water is colder than ice.)

"When we made ice-cream with friends someone always got ice down the back of their shirt.  Of course this never happened until someone had already gotten wet by making ice-cream.  Once it started everyone got ice down the back of their shirts.  Someone even had the audacity to put ice down the back of my mother’s shirt one time.  I am not sure whether that poor soul managed to escape or not but it seems like Mom took the whole bag of ice to run after him.

"Anyway happy birthday, and thanks Dad." 

"YOU ARE OLD, FATHER ..."

Recently someone, that shall not be named, mentioned that my husband was old.

nice truck Cla-la-la

We were engaged in the taxing physical labor of loading well-aged manure (a generous farmer donated to our cause) into a pickup, driving it several miles home to our garden, and unloading it.

Yes it was done one shovel full at a time.

weilding 'Grandpa's' grain scoop - not an easy task ...
Papa says my dad gave him that shovel the year we were married

Special thanks to my son Clarence and 3 of my grandsons that shoveled with us and made the 3 loads happen in one afternoon.  My garden should be lush for the next several years.

Immediately after the words 'you are old' were spoken there came into my mind the first and last couple of lines of a funny little poem I have always loved - but I could not dig up the rest of it.  I first read about this 'old' man when I was a child and later committed it to memory.

Since that faculty (memory) seemed to not be quite up to snuff - don't say it - I know ... it begins to fail as we age ... anyway I looked it up and now can repeat it anew.  ENJOY

“You are old, Father William,” the young man said,
“And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head –
Do you think, at your age, it is right?”

“In my youth,” Father William replied to his son,
“I feared it might injure the brain;
But, now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,
Why, I do it again and again.”

“You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before,
And have grown most uncommonly fat;
Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door –
Pray, what is the reason of that?”

“In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his grey locks,
“I kept all my limbs very supple
By the use of this ointment – one shilling the box –
Allow me to sell you a couple?”

“You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak
For anything tougher than suet;
Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak –
Pray how did you manage to do it?”

“In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law,
And argued each case with my wife;
And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw,
Has lasted the rest of my life.”

“You are old,” said the youth, “one would hardly suppose
That your eye was as steady as ever;
Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose –
What made you so awfully clever?”

“I have answered three questions, and that is enough,”
Said his father; “don't give yourself airs!
Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?
Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs!”

Poem written by Lewis Carroll in the mid 1800's.

LEARNING

Happy Birthday, Raanin.
I found a picture of your mother when she was your age.
It may be fun to learn what she looked like then.

Ginger far right front with siblings and cousins  January 1982

We love you and miss you.
You have helped us learn many things.

You show us how important family is.
Some of your family and cousins had birthdays in July.

Did you know you showed Papa how to shoot a paint ball gun?
He showed you how to hit the target.

placing crumbs for the blue jay (on the left)

We have watched you be kind to birds and animals
AND your sisters.

Avalin was so happy to win a game.

Being kind is very important.
We are learning to be more kind by watching your example.

We notice that you love beautiful waterfalls and many other things in nature.  You help us be more aware of, and more thankful for, all the things we take for granted.

It is fun to watch you learn new things like taking pictures with your mom's camera.  You have many talents. Maybe I should try something new ... it will be fun. Do you think I can ever play the piano like you do?

Spring 2010

You sent us some apple seeds.
We were surprised when 2 of them started to grow.

May 2011
number 2 looks taller than tree number 1

This year one tree grew really fast.
Maybe it is trying to keep up with you - you are growing fast too.

November 2011
number 1 caught up to and grew taller than number 2

You are learning many things too.
You learn quickly.
We learn more slowly.
We must practice and practice.
I hope you try to learn lots of things now.
It is harder when you get older.

We like to memorize things - poems, scriptures, songs, stories.
My father knows lots of things he memorized.
He learned serious things and silly things.

He often recited:
I never saw a purple cow,
I never hope to see one,
But I can tell you anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one!

Do you know any poems, songs or scriptures?
Can you say the Articles of Faith?

LINKS

When someone says or does kind things (especially on a special day) the words warm the heart and cheer the soul. I must thank my family for special remembrances of my birthday.

a gift from the girls and their girls

Symbols convey more than words ever can. Their very nature invites repeated reflections that continue and in time come to have greater meaning and influence.

I read the card enclosed with this gift. It says,"Thank you for being a strong link in the generations of our family ... ". I think of the great strength I draw from my mother and grandmothers.

To have a strong chain each link must have its own strength. I am grateful my daughters and granddaughters each have their own unique strengths.

And they are beautiful too - inside and out.

when held up, light reveals intricate detail
on beads that at first glance look like a sparkling rock

WISHING FOR MORE

Casey has a birthday this week -
a celebration of her arrival into life.

Casey we hope you know how much we love you and appreciate the blessing you are to our son and grandchildren as well as all the many things you do for him and with him.

Happy Birthday.

When I was a teen someone asked me how many children I wanted.  I thought carefully and decided 12 or more would be a good number.  Having a lot of children was not a popular idea. I think I mostly wanted to appall the person that asked but then I decided that I really wouldn't mind having a lot of children.

I had to settle for fewer.

As my 6 children find spouses and ask them to become part of our family I think of them with the love I view my sons and daughters with. This week I realized that when my youngest son marries our family will, in my heart at least,  have a dozen sons and daughters - 6 of each.

My hopes and dreams are finally coming true. Thanks for being willing to be a part of that - a unique and special part of our family.

TRAVELERS

Do not stop on such roads if it can be avoided.
Better to take pictures through a bug smeared window. 

I think every road out of this area goes through mountains. Some roads are steep and curvy; others are 'straight on until morning' freeways. We enjoy each trip and the variety of places and things we see. We loved this sculpture we saw in the middle of an Idaho Falls roundabout. We just HAD to make time to take pictures.

Roads can be newly paved, broad and smooth or under construction, narrow or rough.  Some have many interesting places to stop and things to see but some are so boring I am reduced to contemplating cows ... well maybe all roads have those sections.

 Each road has places like that ... the going is slower or a bit tedious. Some roads have known dangers or treacherous areas. Some have warnings - some do not.

Clarence's car 'tried on' a deer hood ornament in September

We saw a lot of deer as we drove through Montana and Idaho.
Cars do not 'wear' deer very well - sad for the deer and sad for the cars. David asked if I noticed that most of the cows we saw were black.  He speculated that maybe Montana cows are black so you can tell the difference between herds of cows and herds of deer - funny David!!!

Although some stops are needed for health and sanity, if a traveler stops often, or for very long at too many venues, arrival at a desired destination may be significantly delayed.  I suppose it all depends on what is expected and desired - what is the reason for the trip? to see the interesting things? or to arrive somewhere and be part of an event?

Idaho Falls temple with reflection

Am I going somewhere in particular or just anywhere, with no pre-selected destination?

We wanted to attend a wedding on Friday in the Idaho Falls LDS temple (and a luncheon afterwards in Rexburg), do and see as many other things as possible (yes I did get in some shopping), AND avoid exhaustion or any dangers that might tend to 'jump' into our path.

Rexburg Idaho Temple front view

We especially enjoyed going to the temple in Rexburg Friday evening. It is a very beautiful edifice.

Rexburg, Idaho temple side view 

Traveling and arriving on a schedule requires planning and preparation. When we make any mistakes, like missing a freeway exit or having improper directions, our trip has additional cost and takes extra time. We cannot travel north on US95 and expect to arrive in Idaho Falls. If we realize we are on the wrong highway or headed west instead of east we have some decisions to make.

A specific destination also means sacrificing some good things for other priorities - things we desire more.

As always, time in the car provided the opportunity for pondering that was not interrupted.  I thought a lot about a family and how it is like a journey - with thrills, easy times and hard times, distractions and even sometimes missed opportunities or changed plans. Each of our children has prepared for and planned their own 'destination' of choice - their eternal family.

Every family must travel their own road. It may be parallel to or intersect with others (or even join with them for a while before diverging again). We will each experience a unique trip but we all can 'arrive safely'. It was wonderful to be a part of the beginning of a new family this week.

I thought about how families begin, continue and how a family can bless every person in it.  We are a bit like travelers.  One of our sons arrived in our family along a bit of a bumpy road with lives hanging in the balance and has had some serious curves and steep inclines.  We often worried that his 'trip' might be cut short and grieved that he might not be blessed to have the joy of a companion and children.  We have been so pleased that his life now includes a spouse and children. His wife makes many sacrifices to help him be healthy and happy. He makes many to help her. They work together to help their children. 

Families are like that - we work and learn and play together.
We help each other along the road and share the wonders of it all. We are all traveling to a wonderful destination. There are times I ask myself where my road is going. Am I alert and prepared? Can I 'arrive' safely? What do I really want? Can I get where I want to be?

Where is your road going?

ONLY A BOY

This week we traveled to the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to attend the marriage of Mark.

Idaho Falls LDS temple at night 

About 12 years ago my son, Clarence, met Mark when our local church units (known as Wards) were reorganized.  We all made new friends as we began to attend church in the 5th Ward (instead of the 8th Ward) with many people we had not met before. The boys were in the same Priesthood Quorums and Scout Troops. 

Our son encouraged Mark to attend (and participate in) dances, parties, and many other activities youth enjoy. Mark encouraged our (more gregarious) son to think and plan carefully so consequences of decisions and actions turned out well for all involved.  

Boys can do that - strengthen and help each other!

We traveled hours through Montana, seeing the grand sweep of the Rocky Mountains and foothills,

deciduous leaves donning fall colors among the evergreens, 

and 'Big Sky Country' put on a variety show of sun and clouds with some light rain,

an unexpected rainbow 

and evenings lit by her starry expanses.

I marveled at the scope and the majesty of the world. 

The beauty of the temple at night, reflecting in the river,
 was across the street from our hotel.  

LDS temples reflect the majesty of great mountains. 

Their spires point our eyes and thoughts up - toward God. 

In Idaho Falls we spent some time looking at an exhibit in the Visitors Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints titled "The Healing Power of Jesus Christ". The exhibit contained sculptures by an artist originally from Columbia Falls, Montana - Angela Johnson.  I marveled at the scope and majesty the sculptor gave to her subject. 

One piece in particular moved my heart through deep emotions. It depicts a boy kneeling at the feet of God and his son Jesus Christ.  The sculpture tells of the glory of his answered prayer. 

Joseph Smith was only a boy. An ordinary 14 year old boy. He was taught to think. His mother taught him about God and the sacredness of God's word - the Bible. 

Joseph believed the truth he found in James 1:5 of the Bible.

It was simple.  

'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God ...'

Asking God is prayer.

He prayed. 

He went to a secluded grove of trees, knelt and asked God. 

God answered.

I looked in the face of that sculptured young boy and found tears prickling in my eyes.  My grandson, Calvin, is 14 this week. Happy Birthday Calvin. I think you will enjoy the link to this gallery of sculptures and the artist's story and work.  

Joseph was 'only a boy' but his example of kneeling to 'ask of God' humbles me and bends my own stubborn, and sometimes careless, knees.  

That one act - that one choice grants me, and every other truth seeker, greater truth and more blessings and knowledge from God than has ever been known. 

An ordinary boy can do that. 

That is extraordinary! 

THANKSGIVING TURKEY TREATS

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.

Many of you have already eaten the turkey, and will have leftovers with a relaxing day off today, so here is entertainment for the kids to enjoy making - really - I have made these with 4 and 5 year olds - but I do admit I 'let' them eat their own creation. If you want picture perfect place settings or neighbor gifts you may want to do that separately - most kids can't resist finger licking or snacking as they go.

Yes you did see the process last year but that was just for fun. I hope this is a more serious and useful version you may actually be able to follow to create a treat.

Ingredients:

Krispie-rice cereal, 

Butter (real butter = real taste)

Mini marshmallows 

Sandwich cookies                                      

(I prefer chocolate for contrast),

Candy Corn

1 container of icing

 (or powdered sugar to make your own).

[And perhaps some pretty (disposable) plates

and Zip closure bags that the loaded plate will fit in for deliveries].

Note: Watch for Candy Corn in individual bags near Halloween.  For group or class projects one bag per person, per turkey make these very handy.

Add caption

Find a largish bowl that can be microwaved

(the easy/lazy way) or a large kettle that will hold at least 8 cups (bigger is better). I tried it both ways. On the stove top the treats set harder and in the microwave they stay more soft and malleable.

It also depends on the brands you are using.  The marshmallow brand at one store, that has 'great values', made treats that were way too soft and sticky. If you encounter this problem let the mix cool more before handling.

[Aside: I avoid this store as their icing sugar tastes like it is mostly starch!] 

Note: Most mini marshmallows contain 6 cups - the ‘great value’ store brand does NOT!

RECIPE for krispie-rice treats:

1/4 cup butter (real butter = real taste)

6 cups of mini marshmallows

6-8 cups krispie-rice cereal

vanilla to taste (about 1/2 tsp)

I zap the butter just enough to melt it and then pour in about 2/3 of the marshmallows (whatever fits in with extra room to mix) and stir a little bit to coat with butter.

Next I microwave those marshmallows approximately 30 seconds until they soften (will depend on your power settings - I use high) and then add the rest of the marshmallows and zap them again until they are puffing and ready  to beat.

 Add vanilla and beat it in until smooth.

 Add the marshmallow mix to the cereal

and stir until cereal is coated evenly.

Cool slightly.

I put a small amount of butter on my hands, and using a large spoon to scoop out the mix, make balls about 1 - 1/2" to 2" in diameter.

Do not make these too large.

Cooling helps the shapes hold together better -otherwise the mix tends to stick to your hands not itself and the butter just melts.

These are your turkey tummies.

 Form Turkeys:

Split sandwich cookies in half and if icing is not sticking onto the cookie remove it. If it is not firmly adhering to the cookie it will cause trouble later - the tail falls off or the tummy rolls off the base.

Spread inside of both cookie pieces with frosting.

Place ball firmly in center of one cookie. 

Some cookie brands are quite fragile and break easily.

To avoid breakage always lay the cookie

on a flat surface when pressing  the turkey tummies into place. 


Next place that combination onto the other cookie half.
They are now in an L or chair (without legs) shape.

Place one Candy Corn, pointed tip down, at top center of cookie between tummy and cookie (chair back) but extending slightly above cookie edge.

Add an additional piece on either side, (making three) and then another one on both sides of those, making 5 all together. 

These are the tail feathers. 

If you run short of Candy Corn (as I always seem to do) use only 4 evenly spaced.  Pieces of Candy Corn that arrive broken in the package  can readily be used for feather 4 and 5. If needed dip the end of Candy Corn into icing to help secure it into place.

Sometimes I also find I need to gently encourage better shape by giving some pats and a squeeze here and there.

BE ADVISED: this is often when cookies break.

Last but not least select a very nice

Candy Corn for the turkey's beak and head.

Use frosting to 'glue' it to the front of the 'turkey tummy'. 

Keep it fairly low to the base and if desired tilt slightly to create attitude.

 I let the kids make and eat their own - it is my rule! 

Some creative kid is sure to want to add more details –

check out these wonderful wings on this fellow.

wings invented and placed by a determined 6 year old 

THANKSGIVING

Monday, October 10th is Canadian Thanksgiving.


Citizens of Canada and the United States of America live in unparalleled prosperity with so much of EVERYTHING that we grumble about the most minor of lacks of food or clothing, or inconvenience in any little way. We are devastated if electricity or water is off for a short time or our car needs a repair.


Today my cousin posted a Facebook link that made me cry.


I am so foolish and silly. I don't even realize all the wonderful things I have in my life. I take windows and open space, light and air and about a kazillion other things for granted.


Starting today I am going to count my blessings;
one by one by one;
everyday, every single day.


What else do I take for granted?