Dear Ones,
I have been certified by those who know to be crazy. I guess this is what you get when you think life is going nowhere. Cy and I have been changing our lives dramatically the last little while and are hoping for good things to come. As you know from Mom’s letter, they had an offer on their house so that meant that their permanent tenants downstairs had to get packing. We have really been blessed to have lived in their basement for so long. It has been tough with what Cy goes through to do much else. When we received the news that the sell was looming ~ I decided to make a quick trip to Logan to see what I could find. Our last doctor’s appointment with Cy didn’t give us much hope that he will be well enough to go to school anytime soon so I knew that wherever we landed, I would need to work from home and continue to home school. I have been doing business consulting for quite a while but just recently was able to convert what I do for people in their businesses ~ virtually. Aunt Colleen was my first test company and it worked amazingly well. What was going to have to be a trip to Utah from Montana to set her up ended up being about a 4 hour afternoon from home. Since then I have been able to work with other businesses the same way. So when Aunt Colleen heard that we were going to move she suggested that I come to Logan and work with other artist like her. They are the perfect clients for me in that they actually have a business but don’t necessarily want an employee(s) to hold them down. I am also looking at hosting an Online Women’s Business organization here in Logan. I understand there is very successful group in SLC but nothing in Cache Valley yet. A sister missionary at the LDS employment service suggested it for me and I think it will be a fabulous way to get my name out in the community. Much to look forward to and to give us hope on a new life. Dillon has been pretty stagnate for some time with the economy and we were really struggling.
As you have also read ~ we celebrated the life of Grandpa Dick last Thursday. What a legacy he and Grandma Gladys have left behind. It was so amazing to see every one of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren there. I commented to Aunt Dicksy as I was getting ready to lead the family musical ~ we won’t be seeing posterity like this much longer. It was amazing to see all of them gathered in the front of the Chapel to sing one last time together. The two of them struggled through the hard times and enjoyed the fun times they had when their family was around them.
Taking part in Grandma Margaret’s celebration was amazing as well. Our family has lost 3 in less than 2 years now and it’s been hard each time to see them leave us as they have been such a prominent part of our lives for so long. The Briggs kids had a very unique situation with both sets of Grandparents working together and being close enough that they we in our lives daily. We know that was a blessing and a gift! Although Grandma Margaret suffered in her final days, the funeral was so fulfilling to me because it brought back the Grandma I knew so much better. The one who loved to have fun and was a good friend to all those she met. All of the memories were precious but Chris ~ kudos for reminding me about 5 cue + 5 cue. I keep hearing it in my head ~ too funny!
I am grateful to be closer to Grandpa Pope now. It will be such a blessing in my life to spend some good quality time with him. Last night as we were having dinner he offered the blessing on the food. I listened in awe as he gave thanks and asked for blessing in which we all need. His voice was strong and he is still concerned that all of his family is safe and has the things they stand in need of. If the whole world could have Grandparents and parents that pray for their posterity everyday ~ what a different place this would be. I testify that many times in the last little while I have felt that protection and know that I had help from the other side.
Thanks to all those who contributed to this edition ~ We all appreciate your efforts.
Showing posts with label APRIL 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label APRIL 2009. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Colleen
Hi Family:
Thank you Sandy for taking the PFNL and keeping a good tradition going!
It has been a while since I have written. Grandma's passing away in January was a difficult time. It is still hard to believe that she isn't just down at Sunshine Terrace. How she loved you all! There are many things here at the house that were gifts to her. She wanted those who gave the gifts to take them back as a nice memory. I will need your help with this, as I don't know who gave what, so just let me know.
Grandpa is doing well. He has an amazing, positive attitude most days. Some days are hard for him to get around, but those days are becoming less because we are getting his blood sugar under control. High levels were making him very weak, especially in the morning. His sight is not good, as you know, but he doesn't miss much! I was out planting sweet peas under the front window this afternoon, and before I was out there 5 minutes, he was at the front door making sure I wasn't puncturing any of the buried soaker hoses...and that it was a dry area next to the wall...etc. There is a problem here in the neighborhood with stray, wild, straggly cats. Can anyone help me with this? Lee, next door, has been feeding them for several years, and we are getting quite a large gang of them. There is actually a cat trail through the grass across the front and back yards! I want to start live-trapping them out...think I can get away with it?
I spent a nice conference weekend at Kim and Tim's. It was great to play with Jackson and Alex (who now yells, "MOM!!!!" whenever he wants something. Jordan, Annie and Harrison came over Saturday afternoon and we had BBQ hot dogs and chocolate cake for my birthday. It was great. I stopped by Jordan and Annie's to see their new garage and driveway. What a great addition to their home! It looks really nice, and went up quickly. Check out their blog for photos.
It is awesome to have Sandy Kay as a neighbor!!! I can hardly believe it. She and Cy brought dinner over tonight, and that was so very nice! The chicken, baked on stoneware, was especially delicious. She has been helping me set up Quick Books to keep personal and business expenses in order, and it is a life-saver!
We are sorry about the passing of Boyd's father, Dick Briggs. He was a great person, and I enjoyed his sense of humor.
I think we are all ready for Spring...long winter with lots of snow here. Happy Easter!
Love, Colleen
Thank you Sandy for taking the PFNL and keeping a good tradition going!
It has been a while since I have written. Grandma's passing away in January was a difficult time. It is still hard to believe that she isn't just down at Sunshine Terrace. How she loved you all! There are many things here at the house that were gifts to her. She wanted those who gave the gifts to take them back as a nice memory. I will need your help with this, as I don't know who gave what, so just let me know.
Grandpa is doing well. He has an amazing, positive attitude most days. Some days are hard for him to get around, but those days are becoming less because we are getting his blood sugar under control. High levels were making him very weak, especially in the morning. His sight is not good, as you know, but he doesn't miss much! I was out planting sweet peas under the front window this afternoon, and before I was out there 5 minutes, he was at the front door making sure I wasn't puncturing any of the buried soaker hoses...and that it was a dry area next to the wall...etc. There is a problem here in the neighborhood with stray, wild, straggly cats. Can anyone help me with this? Lee, next door, has been feeding them for several years, and we are getting quite a large gang of them. There is actually a cat trail through the grass across the front and back yards! I want to start live-trapping them out...think I can get away with it?
I spent a nice conference weekend at Kim and Tim's. It was great to play with Jackson and Alex (who now yells, "MOM!!!!" whenever he wants something. Jordan, Annie and Harrison came over Saturday afternoon and we had BBQ hot dogs and chocolate cake for my birthday. It was great. I stopped by Jordan and Annie's to see their new garage and driveway. What a great addition to their home! It looks really nice, and went up quickly. Check out their blog for photos.
It is awesome to have Sandy Kay as a neighbor!!! I can hardly believe it. She and Cy brought dinner over tonight, and that was so very nice! The chicken, baked on stoneware, was especially delicious. She has been helping me set up Quick Books to keep personal and business expenses in order, and it is a life-saver!
We are sorry about the passing of Boyd's father, Dick Briggs. He was a great person, and I enjoyed his sense of humor.
I think we are all ready for Spring...long winter with lots of snow here. Happy Easter!
Love, Colleen
Bill & DeAnn (Diane)
Dear Pope loved ones:
Well, winter is really hanging on here in the high country. We have had one successful blizzard right after another over the past three weeks. It doesn’t look like that is going to change soon but that is OK, I have an inside job for the most part and we are really getting some snow piled up in the mountains.
We mark the passing of Grandfather Dick Briggs this past week. We have been so very fortunate in our family to have had all four of our wonderful grandparents make it into their nineties. What a blessing – even so, it is a difficult transition when you realize that your own generation has just been moved up the pedigree chart by one notch . . . . . . . . certainly not ready for that but father time is steady and strong.
All of our crew are great. Elder Logan Briggs is really doing great in Charlotte, NC. He sends his love and appreciation for the support he has received. He is working hard and having a lot of flavor in his day to day activities. He narrowly missed a disaster the other day in having a van race through a busy intersection he happened crossing at the time and it clipped the rear tire on his bike in the crosswalk. Wow – Hard lesson to learn that you should never trust your senior companion to take you through an intersection. Not news to you old missionaries out there.
Roland and I are starting a new colt that we raised and that is a lot of fun. Otherwise all is great. Best to everyone
Bill Briggs
Well, winter is really hanging on here in the high country. We have had one successful blizzard right after another over the past three weeks. It doesn’t look like that is going to change soon but that is OK, I have an inside job for the most part and we are really getting some snow piled up in the mountains.
We mark the passing of Grandfather Dick Briggs this past week. We have been so very fortunate in our family to have had all four of our wonderful grandparents make it into their nineties. What a blessing – even so, it is a difficult transition when you realize that your own generation has just been moved up the pedigree chart by one notch . . . . . . . . certainly not ready for that but father time is steady and strong.
All of our crew are great. Elder Logan Briggs is really doing great in Charlotte, NC. He sends his love and appreciation for the support he has received. He is working hard and having a lot of flavor in his day to day activities. He narrowly missed a disaster the other day in having a van race through a busy intersection he happened crossing at the time and it clipped the rear tire on his bike in the crosswalk. Wow – Hard lesson to learn that you should never trust your senior companion to take you through an intersection. Not news to you old missionaries out there.
Roland and I are starting a new colt that we raised and that is a lot of fun. Otherwise all is great. Best to everyone
Bill Briggs
Diane & Boyd
April 6, 2009
Dear Family,
It has been so long since I wrote about the latest happenings in our life I hope that I can remember all there is so tell you.
First of all, I want to thank Milton for all he has done to keep the PFNL going and his help in getting this new issue out. Our thanks also go to SandyKay who has offered to keep it going and for her help in coordinating everything. I will try to help her as much as I can but her computer knowledge far surpasses mine and she will be able to prepare the new site for everyone's letters and blogs. I am looking forward to having an expanded newsletter from both the Pope and Heward sides of the family. I have thought for a long time that it would be good to include everyone and hopefully, this will keep us all better connected and informed on what is happing in everyone's lives. We are still missing some email addresses so please send us the ones that we are missing. This new site will also be more picture friendly and easier for everyone to keep current on their latest news. I am hoping that we will also be able to have links for the histories for everyone and a way that they can be printed out. I'm not sure if there will be a way to include genealogy pedigrees and family group sheets. We'll have to see about that.
It was so good to see everyone at Mom's funeral!! It was such a good experience for us to reflect on her life. We really appreciated all the effort that was made by everyone to come from so far away. It has been so long since we have seen some of the grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. We hope now that we can stay in touch better. There were many who were not able to come because of distance and weather but we hope that this newsletter will be a way to keep in touch with them too and that everyone will want to participate. We haven't forgotten about the CD of the pictures from Mom's service. It is still in the works and we want to include some better pictures from some of the children and grandchildren's families as we didn't have them to work with at the time. Please everyone - send them to either SandyKay or myself and we will include or replace them on the CD. I have been going to send everyone an email anyway so this will be better.
It is hard to think that Mom is gone and we really miss her. The PFNL was something that was very important to her and Dad. It has been going continually for MANY years. I am away from home right now but when I get back I will try to determine when it was first started. As I have said many times, not only is it is a great way to hear from everyone but it is also a way to record our histories each month. When I look at some of the issues from years past, I am reminded of happenings that I had forgotten about.
These past few months have been very busy and we have been away from home a lot. I was in Richmond and Logan in January helping with Mom and Dad and Boyd was in Orem helping with his Dad. We are glad that we could do this as those were special days with them. I have been working on their histories and hope that sometime in the near future I will have them done. I have the pictures scanned in that I want to include but I need to have some quiet time to make sure that I haven't forgotten something that was important in their lives. I read most of Mom's history to her while she was able to help me with it and she seemed pleased. What I have to this point is mostly of her early life. Aunt Elaine and Flora helped a lot and their thoughts that were read at the funeral will be included. Anything that any one else wants to send of memories of Her or Dad will be appreciated. We were able to locate Dad's missionary box and his journal so that will be a great help to add to what he has told us.
We are so thankful for all that Dick and Colleen are doing to help Dad and we know that he really appreciates it too. It is always good to go there and be able to see him. He was so glad to see all those that have stopped in to say hello and visit with him.
As many of you know, Boyd's Dad passed away on March 27th and his funeral was on April 2nd. He was able to pass away quite peacefully and didn't have to suffer much. We were very thankful for that. He had a great service too. It was good to reflect on his life and all that he had done as well as see many family members and friends. We are still here in Orem as Boyd and his sisters are working on settling his parent's estate.
As I said, these past few months have been very busy. We think that we have our home sold so we have been in a panic in between other happenings in our life trying to deal with that. We helped SandyKay and Cy get moved to their new home in Logan last week. We are trying to decide what is best for us to do. We won't know for sure if the sale will be final until the closing date on May 5th as it is never sure thing until you have the money in hand. We are thinking about several options. We have been shopping for 5th wheel trailers as we aren't sure where we would like to be located and this would give us an opportunity to look around and maybe do something fun for a change. It is a hard decision as trailers are a depreciated item. Maybe by next newsletter time we will know what we are doing.
We hope that all our family will be submitting their latest happenings in their lives. We are very proud of all of them and what is happening in their lives. We are so proud of Reese and Logan and their willingness to serve a mission. Everyone anxiously waits to hear from them each Monday.
We love all of you and hope to hear from everyone!!
Love, Boyd and Diane
Dear Family,
It has been so long since I wrote about the latest happenings in our life I hope that I can remember all there is so tell you.
First of all, I want to thank Milton for all he has done to keep the PFNL going and his help in getting this new issue out. Our thanks also go to SandyKay who has offered to keep it going and for her help in coordinating everything. I will try to help her as much as I can but her computer knowledge far surpasses mine and she will be able to prepare the new site for everyone's letters and blogs. I am looking forward to having an expanded newsletter from both the Pope and Heward sides of the family. I have thought for a long time that it would be good to include everyone and hopefully, this will keep us all better connected and informed on what is happing in everyone's lives. We are still missing some email addresses so please send us the ones that we are missing. This new site will also be more picture friendly and easier for everyone to keep current on their latest news. I am hoping that we will also be able to have links for the histories for everyone and a way that they can be printed out. I'm not sure if there will be a way to include genealogy pedigrees and family group sheets. We'll have to see about that.
It was so good to see everyone at Mom's funeral!! It was such a good experience for us to reflect on her life. We really appreciated all the effort that was made by everyone to come from so far away. It has been so long since we have seen some of the grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. We hope now that we can stay in touch better. There were many who were not able to come because of distance and weather but we hope that this newsletter will be a way to keep in touch with them too and that everyone will want to participate. We haven't forgotten about the CD of the pictures from Mom's service. It is still in the works and we want to include some better pictures from some of the children and grandchildren's families as we didn't have them to work with at the time. Please everyone - send them to either SandyKay or myself and we will include or replace them on the CD. I have been going to send everyone an email anyway so this will be better.
It is hard to think that Mom is gone and we really miss her. The PFNL was something that was very important to her and Dad. It has been going continually for MANY years. I am away from home right now but when I get back I will try to determine when it was first started. As I have said many times, not only is it is a great way to hear from everyone but it is also a way to record our histories each month. When I look at some of the issues from years past, I am reminded of happenings that I had forgotten about.
These past few months have been very busy and we have been away from home a lot. I was in Richmond and Logan in January helping with Mom and Dad and Boyd was in Orem helping with his Dad. We are glad that we could do this as those were special days with them. I have been working on their histories and hope that sometime in the near future I will have them done. I have the pictures scanned in that I want to include but I need to have some quiet time to make sure that I haven't forgotten something that was important in their lives. I read most of Mom's history to her while she was able to help me with it and she seemed pleased. What I have to this point is mostly of her early life. Aunt Elaine and Flora helped a lot and their thoughts that were read at the funeral will be included. Anything that any one else wants to send of memories of Her or Dad will be appreciated. We were able to locate Dad's missionary box and his journal so that will be a great help to add to what he has told us.
We are so thankful for all that Dick and Colleen are doing to help Dad and we know that he really appreciates it too. It is always good to go there and be able to see him. He was so glad to see all those that have stopped in to say hello and visit with him.
As many of you know, Boyd's Dad passed away on March 27th and his funeral was on April 2nd. He was able to pass away quite peacefully and didn't have to suffer much. We were very thankful for that. He had a great service too. It was good to reflect on his life and all that he had done as well as see many family members and friends. We are still here in Orem as Boyd and his sisters are working on settling his parent's estate.
As I said, these past few months have been very busy. We think that we have our home sold so we have been in a panic in between other happenings in our life trying to deal with that. We helped SandyKay and Cy get moved to their new home in Logan last week. We are trying to decide what is best for us to do. We won't know for sure if the sale will be final until the closing date on May 5th as it is never sure thing until you have the money in hand. We are thinking about several options. We have been shopping for 5th wheel trailers as we aren't sure where we would like to be located and this would give us an opportunity to look around and maybe do something fun for a change. It is a hard decision as trailers are a depreciated item. Maybe by next newsletter time we will know what we are doing.
We hope that all our family will be submitting their latest happenings in their lives. We are very proud of all of them and what is happening in their lives. We are so proud of Reese and Logan and their willingness to serve a mission. Everyone anxiously waits to hear from them each Monday.
We love all of you and hope to hear from everyone!!
Love, Boyd and Diane
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Heidi & Trace Allen (Dick)
Editor's Note ~ Please also see December contribution further in the blog
April 4, 2009
LaVerkin, UT
Dear Family,
I’m not sure when the last time was that we wrote for the newsletter. We hope this finds you all well. We send our condolences to the Briggs Family at the passing of Grandpa Dick. He will be missed, but is probably so happy to be relieved of his physical suffering and back with Grandma Gladys again.
We’ve been so busy the past few months. Last weekend, Heidi and Tracey went up to Salt Lake with the ward’s young women to the General Young Women Meeting at the Conference Center. Like in years past, we went up on Friday afternoon and came home late Saturday night. We always have a few girls who have never been to Temple Square, so it is fun to see things for the first time through their eyes. It was a great meeting. Tracey had been in Salt Lake Tuesday – Thursday for an FCCLA competition (family & consumer science). This year she did a group project centered on the after school tutoring she has been doing at a local elementary school. She started tutoring two days a week at the beginning of the school year and really enjoys it. She invited two friends to join her recently so they could do this presentation together.
The weekend before that (Spring Break), Sam got invited to go snowboarding for the first time with a friend and his dad. They went up to Brianhead for two days. The first day was “snowboard school” and the second day they went on their own. Sam had a lot of fun, but did get sunburned. We tried to warn him, but he must not have put enough sunscreen on his face. He was lucky to already have warm, dry clothes that we bought him for his Klondike campout. Before Sam got back, we got a call from Trace’s older sister suggesting that we should come down to see Trace’s brother who has been battling cancer. At this stage he has a large tumor in his abdomen, his liver isn’t functioning and he can’t eat. The doctor’s have said there isn’t any more they can do for him. Trace and I took Andrew and left Tracey with the other boys from Friday afternoon until Monday night. It was good to spend some time visiting with Trace’s brother. We were also there for our niece’s birthday, which was fun and brought a lot of the family over. I spent an afternoon with my Mom, too. It went really quick.
I wasn’t home the previous weekend, either. I worked a full work week, then another 23 hours between Friday and Saturday at a big United Way fundraiser called the Mini Indy. SkyWest Airlines is the main sponsor of the event. We worked for 3 months soliciting and collecting items for the silent auction, for the racers’ race day gift bags, food for the event and other donations to make it happen. We’ve had better years with it, but considering the economy, I think it went pretty well. The first part of Friday was registration and lunch, then we came back at 5:00 to set up for the auction at the banquet. They also displayed their show car bodies had a pit race competition. Saturday morning at the opening ceremony, the National Guard did a flag ceremony, Taylor Viafanua (top 36 on American Idol from Tracey’s high school) sang the national anthem and a guy parachuted out of a helicopter and descended to the ground with a flag behind him while a patriotic song was played. That was pretty cool. 34 teams racing miniature Indy-style go carts around Dixie College on Saturday. The teams were SkyWest vendors and a few local businesses. There was a BBQ contest among some of teams that provided lunch for everyone. I worked in the hospitality tent all day Saturday. We were right next to the Start/Finish line, so we could see pretty well. I went down to the “wet corner” to watch the racers try to hold on while they came around a 90 degree turn, then a quick, wet 180. There were some close calls. Several of the cars had their front ends held on with duct tape before the end of the day.
Trace has been flying a little bit more lately. He enjoys it a lot, as well as seeing the friends he’s made out at the airport. Trace’s company just got another big job for the National Park Service down at Lake Mead. He is swamped with all the paperwork and planning that goes into starting the job up. He also hired a surveyor and another estimator to help with his department’s workload.
Tracey was the Sterling Scholar for English at her High School. She was awarded $150 at the district level. Thursday she competed at SUU against 13 other kids for the regional title, but she didn’t win. We’re so proud of how well she has done in school and what she has accomplished. We hope she’ll decide what school she’s going to this week. It’s down to SUU or Utah State. She did get accepted at BYU, but decided that their teaching program wasn’t the right one for her. She is taking an Introduction to Teaching class that will give her college credit. She has already done an observation day at LaVerkin Elementary. Next week she is going to observe my friend’s science classes at Sam’s school.
Sam is playing on a competitive, traveling soccer team. They’ve been playing for about a month now and will continue until the end of May. Today was a good game; they tied 1-1. It is fun to watch when the kids know what they’re doing and play positions instead of all following the ball around. Sam is very athletic. P.E. is one of his favorite classes. Ethan and Andrew just finished up their season of city league soccer this week. Sad to say, I only saw 2 ½ games all season.
I joined a Bunco group in February, but have had to miss the last two months due to prior commitments. We play once a month. I won low score the first night and got a prize. It was a Valentine’s decoration – 4” brown and pink hollow blocks that spell love. It was so cute I left it up an extra month (or was I just too busy to put it away?). I only know two people in the group to start with, but know relatives of a lot of the others. I’m looking forward to making some new friends.
Ethan is getting close on his Wolf badge and Andrew is working on his Bear. We just had our Pinewood Derby at the end of March. Sam has earned First Class and his Swimming, Athletics, Archery and Citizenship in the Nation merit badges. He is working on Family Life and Environmental Science right now. Trace doesn’t have any 11 year old Scouts that come right now, so he’s taking a little break. Another 11 year old boy moved into the ward. We’ll see if he decides to come. It’s hard to do activities when there’s only one kid there.
Trace and Sam are at Priesthood Meeting and Tracey has gone over to a friend’s house to watch a movie. I hope you all enjoy General Conference. Take care and happy Spring!
Love,
Trace, Heidi and kids
April 4, 2009
LaVerkin, UT
Dear Family,
I’m not sure when the last time was that we wrote for the newsletter. We hope this finds you all well. We send our condolences to the Briggs Family at the passing of Grandpa Dick. He will be missed, but is probably so happy to be relieved of his physical suffering and back with Grandma Gladys again.
We’ve been so busy the past few months. Last weekend, Heidi and Tracey went up to Salt Lake with the ward’s young women to the General Young Women Meeting at the Conference Center. Like in years past, we went up on Friday afternoon and came home late Saturday night. We always have a few girls who have never been to Temple Square, so it is fun to see things for the first time through their eyes. It was a great meeting. Tracey had been in Salt Lake Tuesday – Thursday for an FCCLA competition (family & consumer science). This year she did a group project centered on the after school tutoring she has been doing at a local elementary school. She started tutoring two days a week at the beginning of the school year and really enjoys it. She invited two friends to join her recently so they could do this presentation together.
The weekend before that (Spring Break), Sam got invited to go snowboarding for the first time with a friend and his dad. They went up to Brianhead for two days. The first day was “snowboard school” and the second day they went on their own. Sam had a lot of fun, but did get sunburned. We tried to warn him, but he must not have put enough sunscreen on his face. He was lucky to already have warm, dry clothes that we bought him for his Klondike campout. Before Sam got back, we got a call from Trace’s older sister suggesting that we should come down to see Trace’s brother who has been battling cancer. At this stage he has a large tumor in his abdomen, his liver isn’t functioning and he can’t eat. The doctor’s have said there isn’t any more they can do for him. Trace and I took Andrew and left Tracey with the other boys from Friday afternoon until Monday night. It was good to spend some time visiting with Trace’s brother. We were also there for our niece’s birthday, which was fun and brought a lot of the family over. I spent an afternoon with my Mom, too. It went really quick.
I wasn’t home the previous weekend, either. I worked a full work week, then another 23 hours between Friday and Saturday at a big United Way fundraiser called the Mini Indy. SkyWest Airlines is the main sponsor of the event. We worked for 3 months soliciting and collecting items for the silent auction, for the racers’ race day gift bags, food for the event and other donations to make it happen. We’ve had better years with it, but considering the economy, I think it went pretty well. The first part of Friday was registration and lunch, then we came back at 5:00 to set up for the auction at the banquet. They also displayed their show car bodies had a pit race competition. Saturday morning at the opening ceremony, the National Guard did a flag ceremony, Taylor Viafanua (top 36 on American Idol from Tracey’s high school) sang the national anthem and a guy parachuted out of a helicopter and descended to the ground with a flag behind him while a patriotic song was played. That was pretty cool. 34 teams racing miniature Indy-style go carts around Dixie College on Saturday. The teams were SkyWest vendors and a few local businesses. There was a BBQ contest among some of teams that provided lunch for everyone. I worked in the hospitality tent all day Saturday. We were right next to the Start/Finish line, so we could see pretty well. I went down to the “wet corner” to watch the racers try to hold on while they came around a 90 degree turn, then a quick, wet 180. There were some close calls. Several of the cars had their front ends held on with duct tape before the end of the day.
Trace has been flying a little bit more lately. He enjoys it a lot, as well as seeing the friends he’s made out at the airport. Trace’s company just got another big job for the National Park Service down at Lake Mead. He is swamped with all the paperwork and planning that goes into starting the job up. He also hired a surveyor and another estimator to help with his department’s workload.
Tracey was the Sterling Scholar for English at her High School. She was awarded $150 at the district level. Thursday she competed at SUU against 13 other kids for the regional title, but she didn’t win. We’re so proud of how well she has done in school and what she has accomplished. We hope she’ll decide what school she’s going to this week. It’s down to SUU or Utah State. She did get accepted at BYU, but decided that their teaching program wasn’t the right one for her. She is taking an Introduction to Teaching class that will give her college credit. She has already done an observation day at LaVerkin Elementary. Next week she is going to observe my friend’s science classes at Sam’s school.
Sam is playing on a competitive, traveling soccer team. They’ve been playing for about a month now and will continue until the end of May. Today was a good game; they tied 1-1. It is fun to watch when the kids know what they’re doing and play positions instead of all following the ball around. Sam is very athletic. P.E. is one of his favorite classes. Ethan and Andrew just finished up their season of city league soccer this week. Sad to say, I only saw 2 ½ games all season.
I joined a Bunco group in February, but have had to miss the last two months due to prior commitments. We play once a month. I won low score the first night and got a prize. It was a Valentine’s decoration – 4” brown and pink hollow blocks that spell love. It was so cute I left it up an extra month (or was I just too busy to put it away?). I only know two people in the group to start with, but know relatives of a lot of the others. I’m looking forward to making some new friends.
Ethan is getting close on his Wolf badge and Andrew is working on his Bear. We just had our Pinewood Derby at the end of March. Sam has earned First Class and his Swimming, Athletics, Archery and Citizenship in the Nation merit badges. He is working on Family Life and Environmental Science right now. Trace doesn’t have any 11 year old Scouts that come right now, so he’s taking a little break. Another 11 year old boy moved into the ward. We’ll see if he decides to come. It’s hard to do activities when there’s only one kid there.
Trace and Sam are at Priesthood Meeting and Tracey has gone over to a friend’s house to watch a movie. I hope you all enjoy General Conference. Take care and happy Spring!
Love,
Trace, Heidi and kids
Adam Pope (Dick)
Mailing info:Adam Pope (Dick's Son)
4757 W Sanna St.Glendale, AZ 85302
e-mail: symbiote82@hotmail.com
Ahoy Mighty Pope Family, Verrrrry long time no see, a situation to be remedied soon through travel and the wonders of technology. I really haven't visited with anyone since before my mission so I'll start there with a quick re-cap.
2004/05: Returning from my mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil, I quickly reclaimed my job as Goofy at Disneyland, went back to college and hopped into a singles ward. I dated a girl for a short while which didn't work out, but then I dated her roommate, Elizabeth which did work out. In fact, we got married (much to everyone's surprise). After we eloped, we stayed in Orange County for a little while where I got my AA degree (due entirely to Elizabeth's super student coaching) and a following brief 1 month stint in Provo attending BYU that didn't quite work out for us, we moved back to California to work for Elizabeth's former employer at a newly opened cookie bouquet franchise store called Cookies By Design. While residing in the city of Lake Forest, we bought a little white Miniature Schnauzer puppy named Murray and toiled away like Keebler Elves in our cookie factory.
2006: On St. Patrick's Day the owner of the cookie store told us that she couldn't afford to pay us anymore and was letting us go (so much for the luck of the Irish!). I quickly got a job working for Nordstroms as a regional operator to pay the bills, while Elizabeth enjoyed the employee discount and scouted out other employment opportunities. Eventually I was offered a nice job with a mutual funds company in Arizona so we headed out to the wild west for a whole new kind of adventure. Blazing summers, chilly winters and Monsoon season? This is indeed a land of many faces.
2007: Was a year of house buying and hard decisions as I decided not to continue in the mutual funds industry (mostly because it was driving me nuts and I jnever gained an interest in the work aside from the paycheck). Luckily Elizabeth's company had an opening for a First Impression Specialist aka Receptionist that somehow seemed to suit me perfectly.
2008: So in January I joined the World Wide Stone Corporation team handling the switchboard, marketing materials and most important of all party planning. With 5 employee recognition parties a year there is plenty to plan and lots of fun to be had. I always come in character/costume to provide the entertainment. Thus far I've played a Cowboy Vegas Lounge Singer, a snooty French waiter, the country cousin of a millionaire and a Jewish Grandmother from Long Island, named Bubbie. Good times.
2009: At the beginning of this year Elizabeth and I decided after a long and amicable seperation to make our Divorce final and move on with our lives. We're both a lot happier and looking forward to what the future holds. For me it involves visiting family and friends I haven't seen or talked to at all during the last 5 years, which has been a real treat. I've just returned from a trip to visit Erik, Joy and Katie in California which was a wonderful and will be heading out to all corners of Utah for Dad and Grandpa's birthdays the first week of May. Meanwhile I'm having a lot of fun writing articles about pop culture momories from years gone by for a website called retrojunk.com under the name Hoju Koolander and hanging out with my little deputy, Murray.I hope to see most of you at some point during my travels or at the next family reunion. Like the song says, "...'til we meet again".* I attached a picture from my visit with Erik, if you want to include it.
2004/05: Returning from my mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil, I quickly reclaimed my job as Goofy at Disneyland, went back to college and hopped into a singles ward. I dated a girl for a short while which didn't work out, but then I dated her roommate, Elizabeth which did work out. In fact, we got married (much to everyone's surprise). After we eloped, we stayed in Orange County for a little while where I got my AA degree (due entirely to Elizabeth's super student coaching) and a following brief 1 month stint in Provo attending BYU that didn't quite work out for us, we moved back to California to work for Elizabeth's former employer at a newly opened cookie bouquet franchise store called Cookies By Design. While residing in the city of Lake Forest, we bought a little white Miniature Schnauzer puppy named Murray and toiled away like Keebler Elves in our cookie factory.
2006: On St. Patrick's Day the owner of the cookie store told us that she couldn't afford to pay us anymore and was letting us go (so much for the luck of the Irish!). I quickly got a job working for Nordstroms as a regional operator to pay the bills, while Elizabeth enjoyed the employee discount and scouted out other employment opportunities. Eventually I was offered a nice job with a mutual funds company in Arizona so we headed out to the wild west for a whole new kind of adventure. Blazing summers, chilly winters and Monsoon season? This is indeed a land of many faces.
2007: Was a year of house buying and hard decisions as I decided not to continue in the mutual funds industry (mostly because it was driving me nuts and I jnever gained an interest in the work aside from the paycheck). Luckily Elizabeth's company had an opening for a First Impression Specialist aka Receptionist that somehow seemed to suit me perfectly.
2008: So in January I joined the World Wide Stone Corporation team handling the switchboard, marketing materials and most important of all party planning. With 5 employee recognition parties a year there is plenty to plan and lots of fun to be had. I always come in character/costume to provide the entertainment. Thus far I've played a Cowboy Vegas Lounge Singer, a snooty French waiter, the country cousin of a millionaire and a Jewish Grandmother from Long Island, named Bubbie. Good times.
2009: At the beginning of this year Elizabeth and I decided after a long and amicable seperation to make our Divorce final and move on with our lives. We're both a lot happier and looking forward to what the future holds. For me it involves visiting family and friends I haven't seen or talked to at all during the last 5 years, which has been a real treat. I've just returned from a trip to visit Erik, Joy and Katie in California which was a wonderful and will be heading out to all corners of Utah for Dad and Grandpa's birthdays the first week of May. Meanwhile I'm having a lot of fun writing articles about pop culture momories from years gone by for a website called retrojunk.com under the name Hoju Koolander and hanging out with my little deputy, Murray.I hope to see most of you at some point during my travels or at the next family reunion. Like the song says, "...'til we meet again".* I attached a picture from my visit with Erik, if you want to include it.
Milton & Stacey Briggs (Diane)
Hello Family,
Like everyone else, we are darn tired of winter. I have been a little ahead of myself trying to fish on the Provo River. Today was the first day in my life that I questioned my sanity about fishing. A howling gale was blowing up the canyon and driving snowfall into my face. I lost track of my fishing partner and when I called him on the cell phone to see where he was he said, "I'm in the truck trying to thaw out . . . where do you think I am you idiot?"Reese is getting along fine on his mission. I sent a picture of him to SandyKay so maybe she will include it in the newsletter. He has a hard time using English because his companion is a native Argentine and I don't think Reese ever speaks or writes in English except for when he writes back to friends and family. He has lost weight due to walking everywhere he goes, but he looks great. He is located in Villa la Angostura, Argentina.Mariah is busy as ever as a freshman in High School. She won the 400 meter race in her first track meet of the season for ninth graders. She took home the Most Valuable Player award at her basketball season banquet last month. She has already begun her backyard fire-pit parties this year and so old dad is shagging it to the forest for firewood next week. She works hard to keep up with her schoolwork in spite of all the time she spends with sports and so we are proud of her for that.Stacey is still going strong and somehow keeping all of the things she is juggling in the air. She loves springtime because all of her flowers start popping up in her flower beds and each day after work, she can get a fresh count on what has arrived. She and Mariah have been asked to sing in Sacrament meeting sometime this summer and so they are working on that.It was so good to see everyone at Grandma's funeral. It was a wonderful and spiritual event. We came home feeling uplifted and felt that Grandma must have been so pleased. What a great family.We enjoyed having Grandpa Boyd around last week. He was here to visit his dad who lives near Stacey and I in Orem. We also enjoyed watching Alyssa's boyfriend Jake compete in a college rodeo in Ogden. Stacey had a blast because we had her sitting right next to the roping boxes where she could look down and see the contestants and the stock getting ready to go. Alyssa has been trying her hand at doing some roping so we will see how that goes. She is a great cowgirl and has a good way with horses. Take care everyone.Love,Milton, Stacey, and Mariah
Like everyone else, we are darn tired of winter. I have been a little ahead of myself trying to fish on the Provo River. Today was the first day in my life that I questioned my sanity about fishing. A howling gale was blowing up the canyon and driving snowfall into my face. I lost track of my fishing partner and when I called him on the cell phone to see where he was he said, "I'm in the truck trying to thaw out . . . where do you think I am you idiot?"Reese is getting along fine on his mission. I sent a picture of him to SandyKay so maybe she will include it in the newsletter. He has a hard time using English because his companion is a native Argentine and I don't think Reese ever speaks or writes in English except for when he writes back to friends and family. He has lost weight due to walking everywhere he goes, but he looks great. He is located in Villa la Angostura, Argentina.Mariah is busy as ever as a freshman in High School. She won the 400 meter race in her first track meet of the season for ninth graders. She took home the Most Valuable Player award at her basketball season banquet last month. She has already begun her backyard fire-pit parties this year and so old dad is shagging it to the forest for firewood next week. She works hard to keep up with her schoolwork in spite of all the time she spends with sports and so we are proud of her for that.Stacey is still going strong and somehow keeping all of the things she is juggling in the air. She loves springtime because all of her flowers start popping up in her flower beds and each day after work, she can get a fresh count on what has arrived. She and Mariah have been asked to sing in Sacrament meeting sometime this summer and so they are working on that.It was so good to see everyone at Grandma's funeral. It was a wonderful and spiritual event. We came home feeling uplifted and felt that Grandma must have been so pleased. What a great family.We enjoyed having Grandpa Boyd around last week. He was here to visit his dad who lives near Stacey and I in Orem. We also enjoyed watching Alyssa's boyfriend Jake compete in a college rodeo in Ogden. Stacey had a blast because we had her sitting right next to the roping boxes where she could look down and see the contestants and the stock getting ready to go. Alyssa has been trying her hand at doing some roping so we will see how that goes. She is a great cowgirl and has a good way with horses. Take care everyone.Love,Milton, Stacey, and Mariah
Friday, March 20, 2009
Chrystine Reynolds (Uncle Merrill)
Editor's Notes: This a link to Chrys' article and her contribution to the PFNL ~ I have pasted the article but please go to the link so you don't miss the pictures. Thank you Chrys ~ I cried and cried. I've heard this story so often.
http://www.ldsmag.com/turninghearts/090320promise.html
“The Promise” By Chrystine Heward Reynolds
Shafts of sunlight pierced the russet canopy overhead, intermittently banishing shadows here and encouraging others there as dusk began to settle on the old Nauvoo Pioneer Cemetery. My husband, Jim, silently took my hand as we stepped over the chain that barred the narrow dirt road leading to the cemetery from motorized intrusion. The road -- merely a path now -- curved upward over the brow of a small hill before vanishing among brittle Indian summer grasses and a mosaic of fallen leaves, punctuated occasionally by the frail and crumbling remains of pioneer headstones.
My thoughts turned inward as we moved up the gentle incline. "You're a Terry and a Gilby," I remembered hearing my father say. Confused at first by the statement, I later discovered that he meant my temperament resembled that of my first and second great-grandmothers, Mary Gilby and Elizabeth Terry. That small, seemingly insignificant observation had triggered a response in me which had eventually brought me to this moment -- the culmination of a promise made nearly a year earlier. Jim stopped as we reached the crest of the hill, his hesitation momentarily interrupting my thoughts. The cemetery lay before us bathed in the glow of the rapidly setting sun. I broke away and dropped to the ground to examine the name etched so faintly on the headstone nearest my feet. "Laura Iowa Loomis," it read. "February 22, 1844 - August 22, 1845." My mother-heart skipped a beat at that . . . so young.
Decades of neglect by all but the elements had wrought a natural beauty here which far surpassed that of the manicured lawns and fenced and ordered plots of ordinary cemeteries. Headstones lay half-buried under layers of decaying foliage, or stood like sentinels, precariously balanced as though defying gravity.
As I knelt, I felt Jim's hand touch my shoulder. Glancing downward, I noticed our shadow lengthening almost imperceptibly in the gathering twilight. "We haven't much time," I murmured. "We'd better look separately or we'll never find it before dark."
"Do you really expect to find a marker?" he questioned.
"Not really," I sighed. "They were so poor, and there was so little time before they were forced to leave. I know we'll find the spot, though. I feel it strongly, now that we're really here." He smiled at me then, his tiny, somewhat indulgent smile that said, “I understand, sweetheart, and I'll help in any way I can.” We spent the next few minutes rapidly moving from stone to stone, systematically examining every corner of the cemetery. As we searched, my mind turned once again to the promise.
Shortly after my father's observation, for reasons still unknown to me, I felt myself drawn to one of these two women in particular, my Great-Great Grandma Terry. I began to search for information about her, both to know her better and, perhaps, to discover more about my own identity as well. In answer to one of my queries for information, a relative sent me a copy of Grandma's journal. In reading t he intimate details of her life which she recorded on its' pages, a profound spiritual bond soon developed between us. I quickly came to love and revere this woman whom I had never met.
It was also in perusing the pages of this journal that I discovered the discrepancy. My genealogical research on the Terry line had indicated that Elizabeth 's first child, Rachel, had been born and buried in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at Winter Quarters. Yet, as I studied the pages of her journal, I found Grandma had written about the child's birth on December 1, 1845, and of her death from exposure three months later. Both events had occurred in the rude wooden shack in Nauvoo which was all the family had to call home. According to her record, Grandma had buried her daughter in the burying ground, three miles east of the Nauvoo Temple . The discrepancy between Grandma's account and the genealogical records was one I couldn't ignore. Thus, I had spent many hours in further research, trying to unearth even one shred of physical evidence to confirm Grandma's record. I had found none. Rachel's death on March 5, 1846, just one month after the first wagon left the "City Beautiful" for the barren Salt Lake Valley, had come at a difficult time for record keeping in Nauvoo. In spite of this, I still knew deeply within me that Grandma's account was true. A mother would know where she had borne and buried her first child! It was then that I had made the promise to Grandma to find Rachel's grave and to place a marker there if one had never been erected. Drifting back to the present, I scanned the one remaining stone on my side of the cemetery. "Nothing here," I sighed. I looked over at Jim, and he shook his head, indicating his search had been futile as well. Just as I had suspected, there would be no tangible evidence of little Rachel's resting place.
I had felt from the beginning that this must be a search of the spirit, merely hoping, against all logic, for some physical memorial. I closed my eyes and hugged my arms tightly about me as I silently pleaded; Dear Father, only you know how much this means to me. Please guide me now. Then feeling my Grandma's spirit, I whispered, "Grandma. . . I know you're here. . . . Help me to find your child." I opened my eyes and slowly moved forward, my steps leading away from the center of the cemetery, down a small slope toward a hollow in the Northwest corner. As I walked, I felt a warmth begin in my chest and flow down my entire body. The feeling intensified almost to the point of actual pain as I drew nearer to the wooded hollow now glowing luminously in the evening half-light. My throat tightened, and my heart leaped as spirit whispered to spirit. Yet, as I stood there with exquisite joy flooding into every corner of my soul, my mind questioned the truth my senses had revealed. Determined to quell this feeling of uncertainty, I moved up and out of the hollow toward the fence which formed the western border of the cemetery, the need to validate the experience of the last few moments driving me forward. As I walked, the spirit drained from me until, standing by the fence, I felt a great, cold void where a burning warmth had stirred only moments before. Longing to recapture that warmth, I slowly retraced my steps, gradually feeling once again the joy of spiritual communication as a surge of emotion welled up within me until it took my breath away and threatened to burst the walls of my chest. Still uncertain, my faith required a further test. I walked one more time in the opposite direction -- two, four, then six yards from the emotionally charged area. Again, the spirit ebbed from my body, only to flow freely once more when I turned and calmly . . . purposefully walked back to the center of the hollow.
My doubts banished, I stood with tears of gratitude streaming unheeded down my face as wave after wave of emotion engulfed me. "Thank you, Father," I sobbed, in awe of the magnitude of the gift I had been given. My search was over, I gazed in wonder around the area, knowing that somewhere, very close to where I stood, my beloved Grandma had laid the still, small body of her infant daughter in a cold, unmarked grave -- a grave she would visit for the last time only a few weeks later before marching westward with the body of the Saints. "Oh, Grandma," I whispered through my tears. Her spirit was so tangible I felt I could touch her. My thoughts reached out to her. Would she rest more peacefully now with the knowledge that another also kept a vigil here in her heart?
A scripture flashed through my mind: "And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers." Was this revelation my personal fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy? As I pondered, I looked up to find my husband standing outside the circle of my private communion, hesitant to interrupt my thoughts. I gestured an invitation with my hand. "It's here," I said, a sob catching in my throat. "I can feel it." He came to me, and I collapsed in his arms, weeping uncontrollably. I buried my face in his coat, all the tension and anticipation pouring out of my body in a great rush of joy and relief. I had found little Rachel, Grandma's precious daughter. My promise was fulfilled. Later I would try to place a physical marker here, but for now I was content to mark it in my heart.NOTE: At the time I made this pilgrimage, the Old Nauvoo Burial Ground still belonged to the Reorganized Church of Latter-Day Saints. Several years later, I heard that the Church had exchanged some pieces of land with the Reorganized Church and had thus been able to obtain the cemetery. I called the person in charge of the exchange, Elder Loren C. Dunn, the current Area Authority over Nauvoo. I explained my experience and asked if it would be possible to place a marker in the cemetery over Rachel's grave. He explained that the Church would only be replacing existing headstones. Disappointed, I sent him a copy of "The Promise," hoping it might encourage reconsideration of my request. Imagine my surprise the following November when I received a package in the mail from him containing an article from The Church News about the dedication of the newly restored Old Nauvoo Burial Ground and a copy of his talk from the dedication ceremony on October 7, 1989. The article indicated that a heroic-sized monument by Utah sculptor Dee Jay Bawden, depicting a family burying a loved one, would soon be placed at the cemetery.
The following is an excerpt from Elder Dunn's talk at that dedication:
“Elder Dunn recounted the experience of early Nauvoo resident Elizabeth Terry, and her newborn daughter, Rachel. While her husband was away, she and the baby were both ill. They were left alone in their open house after the toll of illness throughout the community depleted the ranks of those who would have helped. "I tended her till 4 o'clock, then I fell asleep," she wrote in her journal. "When I awoke at 6 o'clock, she was dead. I trembled so that I could hardly stand. But I wrapped her in a blanket and took her to Father's to see if she was really dead. [The journal later records the cause of death was exposure.] Brother Huntington buried her in the burying ground three miles north20of the temple."
Chrys Reynolds of Layton, Utah, a great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Terry, recently searched the burial ground for the grave of little Rachel. "As she walked, she prayed for guidance to find what she was looking for," related Elder Dunn. "She said that "I gazed in wonder in the area, knowing that somewhere very close to where I stood, my beloved grandmother had laid the still, small body of her infant daughter in a cold, unmarked grave, a grave she would visit for the last time only a few weeks later, before marching west.' " Elder Dunn explained that the planned heroic-sized monument "will be a marker Rachel never had, as well as the other boys and girls and men and women that are buried here with loving hands and heavy hearts."
Needless to say, I was overwhelmed at the way in which the Lord had touched Elder Dunn's heart to fulfill the promise I had made to Elizabeth, and no child could have had a more fitting and lovely monument to mark the place in which her tiny mortal remains were laid than little Rachel now has.
ADDITION SUBMITTED BY CHRYS:
What I didn't put in the article was that I wrote down coordinates of the spot when I first found it. Several years later, Jim and I had another opportunity to go to Nauvoo. However, I forgot to bring the coordinates. The second trip was long enough after the first that I couldn't remember the exact spot where the grave was. I could just remember a general area. I found the spot the second time -- just as I had the first time -- through prayer. I again wrote down the coordinates for the spot. When I got home, I compared the two and they were exact -- to the foot!Later -- after we did the wagon trains and found out about using hangers to "dowze" for sites where earth has been disturbed to a depth of at least a foot and a half, (like is is for graves and old home foundations, etc.) I took a set of hangers back to the cemetery to see if they would move when I walked over the area. They did -- exactly where I think the grave is. Then -- to make sure I wasn't just "willing" that to happen, I walked backwards over the area -- so I couldn't really see where I was going. Again -- the hangers moved exactly where they should have. Our youngest daughter was about 16 at the time -- and was quite skeptical of the whole thing -- so I handed the hangers to her and said -- OK -- you walk over it -- even backwards if you want to and see what happens. Of course -- the hangers moved right where they needed to. She about dropped them!Love, Chrys
http://www.ldsmag.com/turninghearts/090320promise.html
“The Promise” By Chrystine Heward Reynolds
Shafts of sunlight pierced the russet canopy overhead, intermittently banishing shadows here and encouraging others there as dusk began to settle on the old Nauvoo Pioneer Cemetery. My husband, Jim, silently took my hand as we stepped over the chain that barred the narrow dirt road leading to the cemetery from motorized intrusion. The road -- merely a path now -- curved upward over the brow of a small hill before vanishing among brittle Indian summer grasses and a mosaic of fallen leaves, punctuated occasionally by the frail and crumbling remains of pioneer headstones.
My thoughts turned inward as we moved up the gentle incline. "You're a Terry and a Gilby," I remembered hearing my father say. Confused at first by the statement, I later discovered that he meant my temperament resembled that of my first and second great-grandmothers, Mary Gilby and Elizabeth Terry. That small, seemingly insignificant observation had triggered a response in me which had eventually brought me to this moment -- the culmination of a promise made nearly a year earlier. Jim stopped as we reached the crest of the hill, his hesitation momentarily interrupting my thoughts. The cemetery lay before us bathed in the glow of the rapidly setting sun. I broke away and dropped to the ground to examine the name etched so faintly on the headstone nearest my feet. "Laura Iowa Loomis," it read. "February 22, 1844 - August 22, 1845." My mother-heart skipped a beat at that . . . so young.
Decades of neglect by all but the elements had wrought a natural beauty here which far surpassed that of the manicured lawns and fenced and ordered plots of ordinary cemeteries. Headstones lay half-buried under layers of decaying foliage, or stood like sentinels, precariously balanced as though defying gravity.
As I knelt, I felt Jim's hand touch my shoulder. Glancing downward, I noticed our shadow lengthening almost imperceptibly in the gathering twilight. "We haven't much time," I murmured. "We'd better look separately or we'll never find it before dark."
"Do you really expect to find a marker?" he questioned.
"Not really," I sighed. "They were so poor, and there was so little time before they were forced to leave. I know we'll find the spot, though. I feel it strongly, now that we're really here." He smiled at me then, his tiny, somewhat indulgent smile that said, “I understand, sweetheart, and I'll help in any way I can.” We spent the next few minutes rapidly moving from stone to stone, systematically examining every corner of the cemetery. As we searched, my mind turned once again to the promise.
Shortly after my father's observation, for reasons still unknown to me, I felt myself drawn to one of these two women in particular, my Great-Great Grandma Terry. I began to search for information about her, both to know her better and, perhaps, to discover more about my own identity as well. In answer to one of my queries for information, a relative sent me a copy of Grandma's journal. In reading t he intimate details of her life which she recorded on its' pages, a profound spiritual bond soon developed between us. I quickly came to love and revere this woman whom I had never met.
It was also in perusing the pages of this journal that I discovered the discrepancy. My genealogical research on the Terry line had indicated that Elizabeth 's first child, Rachel, had been born and buried in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at Winter Quarters. Yet, as I studied the pages of her journal, I found Grandma had written about the child's birth on December 1, 1845, and of her death from exposure three months later. Both events had occurred in the rude wooden shack in Nauvoo which was all the family had to call home. According to her record, Grandma had buried her daughter in the burying ground, three miles east of the Nauvoo Temple . The discrepancy between Grandma's account and the genealogical records was one I couldn't ignore. Thus, I had spent many hours in further research, trying to unearth even one shred of physical evidence to confirm Grandma's record. I had found none. Rachel's death on March 5, 1846, just one month after the first wagon left the "City Beautiful" for the barren Salt Lake Valley, had come at a difficult time for record keeping in Nauvoo. In spite of this, I still knew deeply within me that Grandma's account was true. A mother would know where she had borne and buried her first child! It was then that I had made the promise to Grandma to find Rachel's grave and to place a marker there if one had never been erected. Drifting back to the present, I scanned the one remaining stone on my side of the cemetery. "Nothing here," I sighed. I looked over at Jim, and he shook his head, indicating his search had been futile as well. Just as I had suspected, there would be no tangible evidence of little Rachel's resting place.
I had felt from the beginning that this must be a search of the spirit, merely hoping, against all logic, for some physical memorial. I closed my eyes and hugged my arms tightly about me as I silently pleaded; Dear Father, only you know how much this means to me. Please guide me now. Then feeling my Grandma's spirit, I whispered, "Grandma. . . I know you're here. . . . Help me to find your child." I opened my eyes and slowly moved forward, my steps leading away from the center of the cemetery, down a small slope toward a hollow in the Northwest corner. As I walked, I felt a warmth begin in my chest and flow down my entire body. The feeling intensified almost to the point of actual pain as I drew nearer to the wooded hollow now glowing luminously in the evening half-light. My throat tightened, and my heart leaped as spirit whispered to spirit. Yet, as I stood there with exquisite joy flooding into every corner of my soul, my mind questioned the truth my senses had revealed. Determined to quell this feeling of uncertainty, I moved up and out of the hollow toward the fence which formed the western border of the cemetery, the need to validate the experience of the last few moments driving me forward. As I walked, the spirit drained from me until, standing by the fence, I felt a great, cold void where a burning warmth had stirred only moments before. Longing to recapture that warmth, I slowly retraced my steps, gradually feeling once again the joy of spiritual communication as a surge of emotion welled up within me until it took my breath away and threatened to burst the walls of my chest. Still uncertain, my faith required a further test. I walked one more time in the opposite direction -- two, four, then six yards from the emotionally charged area. Again, the spirit ebbed from my body, only to flow freely once more when I turned and calmly . . . purposefully walked back to the center of the hollow.
My doubts banished, I stood with tears of gratitude streaming unheeded down my face as wave after wave of emotion engulfed me. "Thank you, Father," I sobbed, in awe of the magnitude of the gift I had been given. My search was over, I gazed in wonder around the area, knowing that somewhere, very close to where I stood, my beloved Grandma had laid the still, small body of her infant daughter in a cold, unmarked grave -- a grave she would visit for the last time only a few weeks later before marching westward with the body of the Saints. "Oh, Grandma," I whispered through my tears. Her spirit was so tangible I felt I could touch her. My thoughts reached out to her. Would she rest more peacefully now with the knowledge that another also kept a vigil here in her heart?
A scripture flashed through my mind: "And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers." Was this revelation my personal fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy? As I pondered, I looked up to find my husband standing outside the circle of my private communion, hesitant to interrupt my thoughts. I gestured an invitation with my hand. "It's here," I said, a sob catching in my throat. "I can feel it." He came to me, and I collapsed in his arms, weeping uncontrollably. I buried my face in his coat, all the tension and anticipation pouring out of my body in a great rush of joy and relief. I had found little Rachel, Grandma's precious daughter. My promise was fulfilled. Later I would try to place a physical marker here, but for now I was content to mark it in my heart.NOTE: At the time I made this pilgrimage, the Old Nauvoo Burial Ground still belonged to the Reorganized Church of Latter-Day Saints. Several years later, I heard that the Church had exchanged some pieces of land with the Reorganized Church and had thus been able to obtain the cemetery. I called the person in charge of the exchange, Elder Loren C. Dunn, the current Area Authority over Nauvoo. I explained my experience and asked if it would be possible to place a marker in the cemetery over Rachel's grave. He explained that the Church would only be replacing existing headstones. Disappointed, I sent him a copy of "The Promise," hoping it might encourage reconsideration of my request. Imagine my surprise the following November when I received a package in the mail from him containing an article from The Church News about the dedication of the newly restored Old Nauvoo Burial Ground and a copy of his talk from the dedication ceremony on October 7, 1989. The article indicated that a heroic-sized monument by Utah sculptor Dee Jay Bawden, depicting a family burying a loved one, would soon be placed at the cemetery.
The following is an excerpt from Elder Dunn's talk at that dedication:
“Elder Dunn recounted the experience of early Nauvoo resident Elizabeth Terry, and her newborn daughter, Rachel. While her husband was away, she and the baby were both ill. They were left alone in their open house after the toll of illness throughout the community depleted the ranks of those who would have helped. "I tended her till 4 o'clock, then I fell asleep," she wrote in her journal. "When I awoke at 6 o'clock, she was dead. I trembled so that I could hardly stand. But I wrapped her in a blanket and took her to Father's to see if she was really dead. [The journal later records the cause of death was exposure.] Brother Huntington buried her in the burying ground three miles north20of the temple."
Chrys Reynolds of Layton, Utah, a great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Terry, recently searched the burial ground for the grave of little Rachel. "As she walked, she prayed for guidance to find what she was looking for," related Elder Dunn. "She said that "I gazed in wonder in the area, knowing that somewhere very close to where I stood, my beloved grandmother had laid the still, small body of her infant daughter in a cold, unmarked grave, a grave she would visit for the last time only a few weeks later, before marching west.' " Elder Dunn explained that the planned heroic-sized monument "will be a marker Rachel never had, as well as the other boys and girls and men and women that are buried here with loving hands and heavy hearts."
Needless to say, I was overwhelmed at the way in which the Lord had touched Elder Dunn's heart to fulfill the promise I had made to Elizabeth, and no child could have had a more fitting and lovely monument to mark the place in which her tiny mortal remains were laid than little Rachel now has.
ADDITION SUBMITTED BY CHRYS:
What I didn't put in the article was that I wrote down coordinates of the spot when I first found it. Several years later, Jim and I had another opportunity to go to Nauvoo. However, I forgot to bring the coordinates. The second trip was long enough after the first that I couldn't remember the exact spot where the grave was. I could just remember a general area. I found the spot the second time -- just as I had the first time -- through prayer. I again wrote down the coordinates for the spot. When I got home, I compared the two and they were exact -- to the foot!Later -- after we did the wagon trains and found out about using hangers to "dowze" for sites where earth has been disturbed to a depth of at least a foot and a half, (like is is for graves and old home foundations, etc.) I took a set of hangers back to the cemetery to see if they would move when I walked over the area. They did -- exactly where I think the grave is. Then -- to make sure I wasn't just "willing" that to happen, I walked backwards over the area -- so I couldn't really see where I was going. Again -- the hangers moved exactly where they should have. Our youngest daughter was about 16 at the time -- and was quite skeptical of the whole thing -- so I handed the hangers to her and said -- OK -- you walk over it -- even backwards if you want to and see what happens. Of course -- the hangers moved right where they needed to. She about dropped them!Love, Chrys
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