Journaling

We had a Relief Society Activity last Tuesday about journaling.  Mormons journal.  They just do.  For some reason we're just sure that there are people out there who actually want to hear us drone on and on about our exciting life.

I've always thought I haven't been that good at keeping journals, but I took stock of what I have and am a little shocked to see that I actually have 3 full journals, a number of trip diaries - with pictures, a letter binder (with letters from and to many different people), a number of scrapbooks and - of course - this and 2 other blogs.

So, here are a few entries:

October 30, 1983


It has been a good weekend.  Yesterday we worked and played hard.  After a morning of stacking wood for the winter, we took the ATC's out to the cinder pits east of town and had such good fun.  Michael and Kyle (my nephew) were learning how to drive the 90cc all by themselves.  They both did very well.  Roni tried hard, but had a tough time sterring.  After we came home, I stayed up til midnight cooking and cleaning.  Today we had the DeWitts over for corned beef and cabbage.  They are two very nice people.  


At church, after Relief Society one of the sisters came up to me and said "I feel I know your husband so well just from the things you say in Relief Society.  He must be a very special man."  I hadn't realized I talked about him so, but he really is pretty terrific - and as I said to her, he's the finest person I know.  


August 1989
Dearest Audra
   It has always been my habit to write a letter to my newborn baby.  Mike and Roni have theirs in their baby book and I chronicalized the events of their birth, but I have my diary for you, so that's covered.
   Therefore I wanted to take this opportunity to bear you my testimony.  You see, my sweetheart, I know that you were given to us through great faith and many prayers to our Father-in-Heaven.  You sure were worth the wait.
   You are such a great blessing to our family and your sweet spirit is a constant joy.  Know that you are loved dearly and completely by your family and by your Lord.  My prayers will always be with you.      Mom


Jones Journal - A newsletter that I wrote when I was babysitting in 1992 or 1993 (I should have noted a date!)

December:  AWESOME ACHIEVEMENTS

Alex - is very imaginative.  Whenever we color, he tells everyone what they drew.  He puts his own words to storybooks.  He sings great songs.
Ashely - is an expert at relacing shoes (hers and everyone elses.
Audra - is putting full sentences together.  All of a sudden, she's talkative.
Josie - is talking up a storm.  Her vocabulary is expanding at a fantastic rate.
Sean - crawls, climbs, and pulls himself up to a standing position.
Stephanie - is our little helper.  She is very willing to find, retrieve, put away...she is wonderful to have around.
Thad - knows how to clean up to get ready for lunch and then - of course - he's always the first one there.

E-mail from my trip to India
Nov 1999
   Today I witnessed something very special.  Dr. Mrs. Ramakant (isn't that a fun way to say a name) was negotiating a marriage for a woman's daughter.  Marriages are arranged here through the daughter's family.  The parents make a formal proposal.  This family making the proposal lives in Agra which is two hours away, so a written letter was presented by Dr. Mrs. Ramakant to the son's mother asking for her permission for their daughter to marry their son.  The mother was nervous about the proposal.  She wanted her son to marry in the same caste.  India is on a caste system.  I cannot explain this system well, except to say that there are several levels of society and this mother wanted her son to keep in the same level.  However, the son and the other family's daughter have fallen in love and are hoping that this mother will relent.  Dr. Mrs. Ramakant believes that she will allow the marriage, so this has been a special day.

   ...The problem with being in a completely foreign land is that you end up being almost at the level of a small child.  I eat, sleep, even use the restroom facilities at the whim or will of others.  I can never just wander off - which is truly a bad idea here, not just for safety, but there is also no doubt that I would become immediately lost.  IMMEDIATELY....and that is a scary proposition.  I am enjoying myself, and have been treated so very kindly - but the speech that Dorothy makes after returning home keeps running through my mind..."well I've learned that if you are searching for your hearts desire it is no farther than you're own backyard.  and oh, Toto, there's no place like home." (or something like that).  I will NEVER watch that movie without bursting into tears again because I really know what its saying now.

E-mail from me to Ron saved in his travel journal while in Jerusalem, April 11, 2001
Are you warm or cold?  Are you eating well?  are you taking pictures?  Did you bring enough clothing and incidentals?
I found a live cam for the Wailing Wall.  Wouldn't it be fun to see you there?  I read up on the tour through the temple wall.  It sounds very interesting.  I hope you get to go.
I looked it up and will remind you that church is held on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm.  Remember, it is up Mt. Scopus.
I am happy to hear about all of the armed guards, I think.  Does it help everyone to be calm, or does it rile things up at times?  At night, I dream about you A LOT.  So far you seem to be safe and happy in my dreams.  I hope that you keep that way - both in my dreams and in reality.

Well, that's basically a snapshot of about 30 years.  I think my family is going to be grateful that I don't have a journal for every year!  All in all, I do have a lot of memories to look back on.  I'm grateful for what I've written down, there is so much I've forgotten.  I've also found things written by my family and friends that I've kept along the way.

After all is said and done - and having gone through this experience recently, I want to tell my darling family that they don't have to hold on to these journals forever....nothing is going to happen if you throw them away.  RELAXXXXXX!

Just make sure and build your own memories and leave some glimpses for your loved ones.  It will mean the world to them, honest.

What IS lovely and virtuous? Apparently, not me!

I know that there are times that I swirl around in self doubt and that is not a positive way of thinking, but I've noticed lately that I am simply a pain in the patooty.  I'm picky, I'm driven and I'm pushy.  There it is.  I can not deny it.

I don't like those attributes. 

What do the scriptures say about such behavior?  My husband and my youngest daughter LOVE to quote me Proverbs 21:19:  [It is] better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

Greattttttttttttt.

I like soft.  I like dignified.  I like quiet faith and fortitude.

When I look through the Scriptures, the women seem sweet, reverent and demure.  The world may think that isn't an ideal woman, but....well, I do!  My mother was that way, well, unless you REALLY ticked her off, and then only for a moment. 

The scriptures provide the basis for the following list:

Attributes of a Godly Woman

She is at peace with God & herself.
She is submissive.
She has a meek & quiet spirit.
She has a servant's heart.
She does not call attention to her physical beauty.
She considers homemaking a high & noble call.
She is a joyful person.
She is a woman of prayer & devotion to God.
She is a loving person.
Sooooooo much work to do!

So, for those who I push, prod and pull.  I really am sorry.  I am trying.  And for those who want to defend me, DON'T.  I'm ready to admit my mistakes and try my hardest to progress out of it all.  I think EVERYONE will be able to relax and enjoy life more, including me.

Ding dong ding dong

Wedding bells are ringing!  I'm sooooooooo excited.  The whole family is excited.  So, in honor of equally exciting events, I present photos from my family:

Thanks Momma

Mom always said that she wanted to be cremated and thrown---oh, just anywhere.  She also said that she didn't want a funeral....absolutely not, thank you very much.  We (my brother and I) mentioned that maybe we could get together as her children just to remember her together.  She decided that this would be fine with her...and the suggestion came up that when the time came, Grass Valley would be a central place for all of us to meet.  You see, Mom was born and raised in Grass Valley.  Her parents are buried in the old Masonic Cemetery.  She said that it would be nice to be placed by her parents (though she found the cemetery itself stark and depressing.)

Old Elm Ridge Cemetery

 After Mom's death, I began trying to contact the Mason's in Grass Valley in order to obtain permission to place her ashes at the gravesite.  I was passed around from one Mason to another.  Finally, I received a call from the local mortuary.  They promised to go to the gravesite and see if there was a way to place her ashes there.  Unfortunately they hadn't called by the time we had to leave yesterday, so we had to go on blind faith and just take the ashes with us.

Today, while we were on the road, we received word from the mortuary that they would have to cut into the concrete covering our grandparent's gravesite in order to place Mom's ashes.  That would cost $761.  Mom specifically said "no cost."  Additionally, no one was comfortable with the idea of marring our ancestor's gravesite, so we were stuck.

My brothers discussed placing her ashes in Yuba River or Lake Tahoe.  Somehow it just  didn't feel right to me.  Not that it's wrong - it's a lovely idea.  It just didn't feel like what we should do.

So here's what we decided....pay attention, because it's amazing.

Knowing that we were all going to need lodging while in Grass Valley, my oldest brother, Steve decided to find a house to rent.  He found two.  The first one is named Kate's Place and it's a pretty little victorian house on a little skinny side street near the cemetery.  It looked great, but it sleeps 10 and we just weren't sure how many were showing up.  Steve then found a larger house that we went ahead and rented called "A Victorian Rose".

So my sister, Audrey decided that it would be fun to find Mom's house from her childhood.  We went through Grandpa's papers and found an old envelope with their address on it.  I looked it up on Google Maps and found out that it was.......Kate's Place.  Honestly.  Here is what it looks like now:

...and here's a picture of Momma with her brother David on the front porch.  This was around 1942 - during World War II:

I mean, there are hundreds and hundreds of houses, and we found it, that easy.  I thought it so amazing that I contacted the owners of Kate's Place and told them what we discovered.  They invited us to come and see the house when we got into town, even though we weren't staying there.

So I thought to myself, Mom loved this home.  This is where she was happiest.  I wondered if we could ask the owners to consider letting us put Mom's ashes in the yard (which is legal, with permission.)  My brother Ken felt that there would be no way these people would agree to it, and thought we should go with the Yuba River idea.  But somehow, it just felt right.  So I called the owners and explained the situation.  They told me that they had thought of the very same thing when I first called them, but figured we were already set and so didn't bother offering it.  They were very excited and very honored.

I do not normally look for signs, but somehow I know that this is exactly what my Mom wants to happen.  So, tomorrow, we're taking Mom home.

 
Thanks Momma.  I miss you so much.  So grateful to know that you are still near me.

Comforting words in a scary world

Still reveling in the great Ensign issue last month.  I found the following quote right after all heck and high water broke lose in Egypt last week.  I was starting to get scared and wanting to run around going "The End Is Near!  The End Is Near!"

Comforting words for scaredy cats like me...

In 1993, when President Howard W. Hunter (1907–1995) was president of the Quorum of the Twelve, he told young adults:

“I am here tonight to tell you that despair, doom, and discouragement are not an acceptable view of life for a Latter-day Saint. However high on the charts they are on the hit parade of contemporary news, we must not walk on our lower lip every time a few difficult moments happen to confront us. …

“Knowing what we know, and living as we are supposed to live, we really have no place, no excuse, for pessimism and despair.

“In my lifetime I have seen two world wars. … I have worked my way through the Depression and managed to go to law school while starting a young family at the same time. I have seen stock markets and world economics go crazy, and I have seen a few despots and tyrants go crazy, all of which causes quite a bit of trouble around the world in the process.

“So I am frank to say tonight that I hope you won’t believe all the world’s difficulties have been wedged into your decade, or that things have never been worse than they are for you personally, or that they will never get better.”

There are no better days than these days, because “these are [your] days” (Helaman 7:9). You are here on earth at this time for a reason. You have what it takes. You have skills, knowledge, and natural talents given to you from God. If you live righteously, you will have access to the inspiration and strength you will need to triumph over any challenge you face. You will have the protection of a worthy life; guidance from the Lord through the Holy Ghost and prophets, seers, and revelators; and the power of sacred promises that are yours because you keep your covenants.

Take these things that are yours and have a great life!

Best Article EVAHHHHHH!!!!

When I was a little girl, my favorite magazine was Highlights.  It had short articles and LOTS of games.  As an adolescent, it was Readers Digest.  It had short articles and lots and lots of jokes.  As a new bride, my favorite magazine was "People".  It had short articles and lots of gossip.  Took me a while to figure out that it was a rag magazine in sheep's clothing!  Oh well.

I'm not perfect, I'm NOT. but my favorite magazine now really is "The Ensign", which is a magazine published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.....my church.  And I love it.  The articles are short (generally) and they make me happy.  Each month I think "Wow, this is the BEST issue ever!"  And it is, until the next one hits my mailbox.

Maybe old age brings on silly sentimentality, but hopefully not.  Hopefully, in being closer of the age to meet God, I've grown to understand Him.

Well, with last month's issue I really do think I have discovered the best of the best in articles. It's intelligent, enlightening and takes care of those situations where I want to explain what I know to be true far better than I've been able to find the words for. This article is excerpted from an address given to the faculty and students of Harvard Law School on February 26, 2010.  It was given to provide an accurate overview of who we, as Mormons, are - rather than what the world misperceives us to be. It is not short.  It is detailed and insightful.

Fundamental To Our Faith

Alright, I effuse too much.  I'm old.  I'm allowed to. 

Flat Stanley Visits the Jones

   I received a request from Ruth Ellen and her class to participate in a class assignment.  A piece of paper was mailed to me that had a simple outline of a man.  I was asked to decorate it anyway I saw fit and then take this 'man' and do something fun with him that showed a local 'flavor'.  His name was Flat Stanley, and the following are my stories (two of em) about our adventures.  As you will see, they are written in newspaper format.
 
  This is for my darling Ruthie.  I love you sweetie!

Gram Jones

 

Flat Stanley ‘takes the plunge’ 

in Washington State

AP -  Sequim, WA  1/14/11

Ron and Nina Jones welcomed Flat Stanley from Alpine, Utah to their country home in Sequim.  Perched upon Burnt Mountain, and overlooking the beautiful San Juan Islands and Puget Sound, the Jones’ residence “is a wonderful place to welcome friends,” said Nina Jones.  “Flat Stanley came to us a little ‘undone’”, she admitted.  “But we soon spiffed him up”.

Flat Stanley tries to bike

Flat Stanley now sports a curly top, curly beard, button up shirt and dungarees.  “He looks like he was born here,” commented Ron Jones.  “Fits right in, if you ask me.”

The Jones then looked to see what activities Flat Stanley might enjoy during his visit.   They lent him their bicycle, but unfortunately Flat Stanley’s diminutive size prevented him from being able to reach the peddles.  

Flat Stanley displays the difficulty in driving

They offered him the use of their automobile, but he simply could not reach the steering wheel.

“We were headed towards a disaster,” worried Mrs. Jones.  “How were we going to entertain Stanley?”

Flat Stanley goes diving

Luckily, Mr. Jones’ hobby raising exotic fish and coral came in handy.  “My buddy Stanley decided that deep fish tank diving would be just the ticket.”  Mrs. Jones found specialized equipment from her pantry shelves, and Stanley was set to explore the tank to his heart’s content.

All Stanley could do by the end of his adventure was flash his half crooked smile.  He was obviously moved beyond words.

Flat Stanley ‘Saves the Day’ 

For Sequim Grandma

AP -  Sequim, WA  1/17/11

Flat Stanley and Mrs. Jones

Flat Stanley thought his adventure in Sequim was over.  He had packed his bags and was ready to return to Alpine, UT via the USPS service Tuesday morning.

All of that changed quickly Monday when a wood stove fire got out of hand at the Ron and Nina Jones homestead.

“I had started a fire in my stove at 10:00 a.m.,” explained Mrs. Jones.  “Then I went to help my mother for a few minutes.  That was my first mistake.”  It didn’t take very long before the fire became so big that it caught the creosote that had built up in the chimney on fire.

Creosote is a very dangerous condition that happens with wood burning stoves.  Creosote is a dark brown or black flammable tar deposited from wood smoke onto the walls of a chimney.  Creosote is highly flammable once it builds up through the winter months.

“Soon my smoke alarms went off – not because of any smoke, but because of the heat the chimney pipe was putting off,” Mrs. Jones continued.  “I could hear the fire in the pipe, and it began to glow bright red.  Then I got scared.”
 

It was Flat Stanley who helped Mrs. Jones know what to do.  “He told me to throw water on the fire in the fireplace …and to get it under control,” she said.  “It wasn’t easy.  I had to be careful not to fill the house up with smoke.  Mr. Stanley helped me.  I poured water on the fire and I shut down the flu of the stove.  But the chimney was still on fire.  That was when Mr. Stanley and I decided to call 911.  The emergency operator told me to get my mom out of the house and wait outside for the fire trucks to come.”

Flat Stanley with one of Sequim's Finest

10 minutes later the Clallam County Fire Department arrived and inspected the house.  After looking in the walls and going up into the attic, they declared the structure safe and sound.

“They told Flat Stanley that we did everything correct.  I was so grateful,” Mrs. Jones explained.  “They also said that the chimney and house had been built up to code and because the chimney had been very well insulated, it protected my house from catching on fire.”

Mrs. Jones summarized her experience “The Clallam County Fire Department is excellently staffed.  They helped me to secure my home and comforted me during an especially stressful situation.  Thank you Clallam County Fire Department.  And thank you Flat Stanley, for your excellent advice.”