Happy Halloween!
October 31, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [1]
Lily was a lovely witch (she was so pretty with orange and black ribbons in her hair for school–all the boys fight in her class about who gets to sit by her) and Ben was the cutest army g.i. joe (he really has a good hat face.)
I was a big and pregnant pioneer woman and glad to know there is some Scotts in the family line b/c that’s what Luis Ben wanted to be–a Scotsman! I amazingly found a plaid tablecloth, curtains and a black beret from the thrift stores to make his outfit. I don’t have any pictures yet though b/c he took it off before he got home and was too tired to wear it to our ward party.
What a busy day! I’m glad it’s over and hope you had fun trick or treating too! Love, Julie
Plea for pictures!!
October 31, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [7]
I don’t know why it seems I write when only something really good or really bad happens. I guess that’s what family is for–anyways, we took a trip up to visit my grandma this past weekend, Luis Ben and I finally got to spend some time together. But upon returning home, I discovered my folder missing on the computer. I asked Big Ben if he had seen it–and he had seen it–in the trash on the computer. He thought it was a mistake and emptied the trash. Not only did I lose stories and all of my young women’s stuff, but I lost all of my pictures since May, including pictures of the reunion. We weren’t able to recover them. I was devastated and cried all day, like someone had died. So if you have spare prints from the reunion, please send them our way and remember to back-up digital pictures, so you don’t lose yours like I did mine!
Love, Julie
The Viera Family is Moving
October 28, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [7]
Yes, it’s true. After almost two years (in December) Jason and Carmen are pulling up stakes and moving to Jacksonville. Jason’s job appears to be stable. He asked his boss man straight out if it would be safe enough to move his family, and he was given the “go ahead”. So, Jason has found a 4-bedroom, 2-bath home, with LR,and family room, back porch, and large back yard to rent. He signed the lease, and Carmen is packing.
Jordan will stay with us until after December, because it will be easier to leave her school year that way….and Jani has elected to stay with us until Casey gets his next assignment in the Marines. He could go anywhere, including Afghanistan. If that should happen, she will most likely move back to Oklahoma. That’s her choice. She loves Oklahoma, and doesn’t like the spiders and ants and bugs and snakes here in Florida. I don’t blame her for that….but I don’t like cold weather anymore, not even the cold of Birmingham, although I have missed the beautiful Autumns something fierce. It was cold here this morning (41degrees) I woke up, and I had no covers on me at all. I felt like a popsicle. (sp?)
When they moved in all those months ago, we made a pact. We “covenanted” with each other that we could make it a good experience or a bad one. In other words, we could decide from the get-go that we would be kind to each other, and that we would make our home a happy one. And we have done that! We have been very happy with each other. At least I have! I hope the others feel the same. Of course, they didn’t have all of the comforts that I have had. Jason and Carmen have been squashed into a little bitty bedroom all this time, and they haven’t complained about anything. We’ve shared the cooking, and housework and baby-sitting, and laundry and everything else. I’ve been sick a lot, but have tried to help in small ways. The others have carried the heavy loads.
In long and short…..we’ve succeeded in keeping our covenants, and I’m very pleased with all of us. We deserve pats on the back!!
So…the next time you see any of us….without saying anything…..just pat us on the back!!! We deserve it for a job well done!! It isn’t always easy to blend two families and get along together. I hear Paw-Paw out there now….cooing to his great-grand-baby. And that baby is adorable! He really is, and such a sweet and good little baby.
A Teyla Funny
October 27, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [3]
At Family Home Evening tonight, Luis asked Teyla to lead us in a Primary Song. She chose “I Am A Child of God”. They have been singing that a lot in Primary, getting ready for the Primary Program, which was given yesterday (Sunday). She stood in front of us, and began very well. She knew the words perfectly, until she got to , “I am a child of God, and He has sent me here, has given me an AWFUL (earthly) home, with parents kind and dear. etc.”
She sang the rest of it beautifully, and we held back the snickers, and Carmen gently corrected her afterwards.
Will to Meaning
October 27, 2008 | Items of Interest | Comments [7]
I am working on a Play/Musical to showcase my songwriting based on explanations of Viktor Frankl’s ‘Will to Meaning’ principles as opposed to the Freudian/Adlerian ‘Will to Pleasure’ and ‘Will to Power’. I have this basic illustration that shows how the ‘Pursuit’ of Happiness is impossible because happiness is a by product which ‘ENSUES” once a living soul incorporates meaning to his/her life. I thought I would post it here for archiving…
Coal wars Chapter 5
October 26, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [3]
I ran back home. I really didn’t feel like speaking with anyone in fear of letting something slip. Especially Artek. I jumped and swerved quite a few times before coming back to the entrance of my den. I slunk through the gaps between the dirt and bark as I quickly slid into my home. I looked around. The place was fair sized, big enough for me to move around and store food and other supplies. Quickly, I calculated what I would need. I ran over the area where I put my food. I grabbed a few fruits, bread, cheese, and some other provisions. I put them all into a leather sling that I had, which could hold much more then it looked. I grabbed some medical roots and bandages, along with gaze and healing herbs. I grabbed some bronze coins and silver chunks, just in case. I walked over and got a piece of paper and a quill. I stopped. What would I possiblely say to them? Hey, I decided that if my dad isn’t going to do anything, i would. Miss you loads! No, I couldn’t write that. I decided to do something short and sweet. I looked at the entrence of my den, making sure no one was near. I sighed, and began writing, dipping my quill every once in awhile in a nearby ink cup. (Or whatever you call them.)
Dear… everyone,
By the time you’ve all read this, whoever might have found it first, I’ll be beyond the border of the forest. I’m sorry to leave like this, but I can’t let anyone go through with any of this. I wont let anyone go to war. I’m going to go find the element spirits, if they exist or not. I’m not going down without a fight. I won’t… I won’t let everyone fight if we don’t have to. I might not come back...
I started crying. I might never return. I would never see Katie and Crow bicker over the simplest things again. I wouldn’t be able to just bask in the mid-evening sun with Or-Tal or run with Susen. I… I would never see Artek again. Gosh… just leaving him like this seems cruel. I wouldn’t see the way his face would scrunch up when he smelt something vile. I wouldn’t be able to go on any expeditions with him, exploring the seemingly never ending world. No more laughs, no more jokes, no more crying on his shoulders.. no more him. I choked back the tears. I hated crying.
but that’s the price I’ll pay. I won’t let you all die if there’s a way to stop all this. I’m sorry…
Good-bye Katie, Crow, Or-Tal, Susan, Bluebell… dad. Good-bye Artek…
A few tears fell beside his name before I could stop them.
I’ll miss you so much.
With love, Rosalin.
I held the paper and re-read it before kissing the last name…
the one that wasn’t mine.
I waited until dark to leave. I had left the note on my small desk where they could find it. I left, feeling the cool dry air hid my body. I stopped and turned to a good looking tree. I scratched open a good sized hole and clawed some tree sap out. Hopefully it would hide my smell. I rubbed it on my arms, legs, and my ears. To bad it was so sticky. Once I was done masking my smell, I turned and scanned the area. I had good vision in the dark, and I began treading, swiftly but as quiet as I could be. If I was caught, I would have no chance of leaving. The sap on my front paws would pick up some unwanted leaves, and I had to lick them off to get them less sticky. I looked at the sky, searching for the big dipper and the little dipper. I liked those consolations for some unexplained reason. They calmed me during the night.
I hopped over a log and crawled threw some bushes as quietly as I could. I had to be as quiet as I could. I was getting close to Artek’s burrows. I had to pass through there and leave something before I could leave. I creped, taking slow and deliberate steps towards a large hollow tree. Artek and I used to use it to store and hide things when we were kits. I gently walked through another clump of bushes, slightly louder this time, and walked up to the tree. I turned and grabbed something from my pack. I glanced at it. I looked at the strong gold chain and the figure at the end. If I hadn’t had to be so quiet, I would have opened it. I took one last long look, kissing it gently, before stretching to put it into the whole. I didn’t notice that I had snapped on a twig.
Once I had finished my business, I quickly ran back through the bushes and treaded back toward Sparrow pond. There was a clear and easy route out of the forest there. I soon came up to the pond and walked up the small supply of water. I grabbed my canteen and set it in the puddle, letting the water rush inside. I felt guilty about taking what was remaining of our depleting water supplies, but the journey would be long and who knew how long it would be until I found water again. I waited until the canteen was full before climbing up the slop and back onto level land. I turned to the pathway. ~Well~ I thought, looking down the dark and unknown path. ~This is it. I’m leaving the forest. Everything I’ve ever known and loved.~ I thought for a moment. Did I really want to do this? I didn’t have to. I could just walk home and go to sleep and pretend that nothing happened. That I had never gotten this outrageous idea to leave and look for beings that might not even exist. No one would know. I was tempted, but then I thought again. ~But I had thought of the idea~ I told myself. If I left now, I would still know what was to come, and that I had chickened out. I would know. I put a game face on. There was no backing out now. I had come to far. I looked down the path again, less intimidated, when I heard something behind me. I froze. ~Please let it be the wind. Please let it be the wind. Please let it be the wind!~ I slowly turned around, praying that it wasn’t what I thought it was. When I saw, I took a sharp intake of breath. I had been discovered. His head raised, and I heard him sniff the air. “…Rosalin…?”
I didn’t move. I didn’t do anything. It was actually a good thing I had breathed in because I didn’t even breath. He had found me. He had heard me and found me and now I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t say anything, because I hoped maybe he would think that his nose was wrong for once and leave. No, I didn’t do a thing. He looked confused and sniffed again, taking a few steps forward. I instinctively took two steps back. Darn it! His head shot up, knowing for sure someone was there. “Rosalin…is that you?” I wondered whether or not to speak to him. If anything, he could make me stay. I couldn’t let that happen, but answered anyway. “Yes,” I whispered, barely audible. But I knew he could hear. “Wha- what are you doing out so late, and why do you have all that traveling stuff?” I didn’t answer that time, but took another cautious step backward. Artek looked confused at my reluctance to speak for a moment, but once I took another step, now half turned to the path, he seemed to understand. “Rosalin, your not gonna… leave, are you?” I couldn’t help it and I felt the tears return, falling down my cheeks and down my snout in waves. Artek smelt the salt-water mix and knew I was crying. I paniced as he started walking forward, carfully going around the empty pond. “Rosalin, are you-” “No!” I said, panicked. He stopped instantly. I watched as the wave of shock and worry rushed over his face. I stood there for a moment, before slowly turning and looking down the path once more. I knew he wouldn’t let me go. “Artek…” My voice cracked. I heard him walking towards me again. “I’m… I’m sorry.” I burst into a full run, speeding my way down the rugged dirt path and forestation. “NO!” Artek yelled, rushing after me. I knew that if he caught up to me, he would easily get me to stay. I ran faster in fear, resisting the urge to look back at my pursuer.
I ran for what seemed for days, thought I knew it was only for a few minutes. I almost sighed when I saw the opening in the woods to the long pastures. I sped up. I was suprised Artek was still behind me. I had never seen him run so fast in his life. I had always been faster then any one of my friends, but this was different. He was running for something. I jumped past the last of the trees and roots to land in a long bare field with nothing but rocks hear and there. This was the line where the forest ended. I ran a few yards from the forest before looking back.
Artek burst through the forest, but as soon as he hit the plain floor, he gasped and retreated to the undergrowth. I knew. He was blind here. He hadn’t been here since the… accident, and now he didn’t know the landscape at all. Without that, it was like staring at nothing but black. Now he was really blind. He looked franticly for me, afraid to leave the security of knowing what surounded him. His home. He lifted his ears onto his head, which was something he rarly did. It made him look like a rabbit in comparasin to their normal look, like hair on his head. They twitched and turned. He sniffed the air franticly. I sighed and moved a bit.
Once he knew what direction I was in, he let his ears down and said, “Rosalin don’t go! You know I can’t see past the forest!” I backed up more. “I know,” I said in a weak voice. He panicked with each step he heard my take. “Rosalin, please don’t go! I’ll come after you if I have to!” I knew he wouldn’t. Although he wasn’t afraid of most other things, I knew that Artek was afraid of not being able to see. It would scare him half to death to take a step into an area that he didn’t know. I sniffled, my tears not having gone, and stepped back further until I was just out of his hearing range (Which is pretty far back!) “Rose! ROSE!” I heard the tears in his voice, although i couldn’t see him any longer. I turned. “Goodbye, Artek,” I said, just loud enough so I knew he could hear, then ran. And as I ran, a said the three words I didn’t have the courage to say before I had left. Those three, simple words that I’ve never been able to tell him. The ones now, that I would never be able to tell…
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! SO SAD!!! What did Rosalin want to tell Artek? What did she leave for him in the tree, and what of its importance? See if you can guess! Lots of spelling mistakes, but ya know. As long as you can read it, I’m fine!
Good Grief….We are truly royal!!!
October 24, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [2]
I started tracing Flora Montgomery’s (my 3rd great grandmother’s, history, and it went all the way back to “Dond” of Ireland and his Spouse, “Cocrainel”, both born in 0430 in Ireland. But it was what I found it in between!! Royalty! I will spell it out later, but I have to go make a bottle for the little baby in the house, while his parents spend some time on their last two nights together.
ENGLAND AND WALES OF COURSE
October 22, 2008 | Items of Interest | No Comments
I already knew that!! I started out with Benjamin Franklin Mclure, Jr., most certainly a Scottish fellow, but he married Ruth Cassity, of the English sort. They fanned around in Louisiana, and on to here and there.
But I noticed that Ruth Cassity had an English heritage going back to a John Pipkin born in 1645 in Stanfordshire, England.
Benjamin was a great-great uncle of our’s.
Was this Pipkin fellow kin to us? I’m not sure. I have to look again.
Our Christmas Plans Might Include Julie and Ben
October 21, 2008 | Items of Interest | Comments [5]
Nancy’s father, who lives in Largo, FL, is traveling up to Tulsa to visit her sister for Christmas, so we’re going up for Christmas as well.
So while we’re there, assuming Julie, Ben and the little guys are hanging around Joplin for the holidays, we plan to go up and visit for a day or two. No fret if we do, guys; we’ll stay in a hotel (as we are doing in Tulsa as well).
I hope we can get together. It’d be fun.
Love to all.
An Uncle Melvin story
October 20, 2008 | Nostalgia | Comments [4]
I was just looking over some of the files that I have on The William Washington Family, and I filed some conversations among Mile Holland, and his sisters, Nancy and Peggy…and Johnnie and me….on MyFamily.com (I think it was Mike’s family website). Any way, Johnnie posted this: Uncle Melvin, in the last few months of his life, thought we were all taking his things from around the house. He went on a tangent about a bucket that he swears Kenny (Johnnie’s husband) took from him, and this bucket is the one that he and Irene began housekeeping with. He told us that she washed the dishes, her hair, and her underwear in it!!! He threatened to sue Kenny for $5.00 if he didn’t immediately return the bucket. I scoured that house and shed out back for that bucket, and I found several buckets that I showed him, but none of them were HIS bucket. But after he died, I climbed up in the loft of his shed and found some old buckets in a stack that he put up there and forgot about. I guess his bucket was in that stack!!!
Jani and Casey got Married
October 17, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [2]
Sometimes around 11:00 AM this morning. He came in around midnight Tuesday. We’re very impressed with him. He and Jani got busy taking care of business….getting a birth certificate for the baby, and now that they’re married, of course, his name goes on the certificate. They had other transactions to take care of. I don’t exactly know what the immediate plans are. He has to go to California for two months training, and then he doesn’t know where he goes from there.
He’s very nice, well-mannered, and handsome. In Teyla’s words, “Jani’s boy is cute.”
Big relief all around.
The Swiss Connection
October 13, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
But this is only by marriage. It seems that Our Great Great Aunt Marjorie Ann Chapman had a daughter, Dora Mae Hatton, who married James Henry Wesley Mills. They had a son, Rufus Alonzo Mills. born in Franklin, Georgia in 1918. I had the Baptism and Confirmation performed for him on the recent Ward youth trip to the temple. I was checking to see if Newfamily registered the work (it did), and I was excited to see that his name connected to bunches of others going back and back into Switzerland to a Rudolph Schneider of St. Gallen, Switzerland (he was born in 1677). That wasn’t all. Other lines went into England. There was a Joseph Smith among them. He was born in 1612. Now, these people are not our blood kin. All of their ordinances have been completed by others to whom they ARE blood kin. Rufus is attached to us by marriage to our distant cousin, Dora Mae. This program has been such a blessing to me. I cannot do much of anything. I can’t drive or cook, or do much of anything else, but genealogy is something that I can do!!
The Irish showed Up
October 11, 2008 | Items of Interest | Comments [4]
Well…I do love this NEWFAMILY program. I found where another of our lines …. the Crooms….go back to Limerick, Ireland. Back nine generations from me….ten from you. To Joel Croom, and his wife, Susannah. Joel was born about 1657 and Susanna about 1665. The both died in New Kent, Virginia. So, they were the immigrants. Their son, Daniel, was born in Ireland about 1683, and he married Susanna Holmes, who was born in Goochland, Virginia, so he must have been a little child when he came over with his parents.
All of their temple work has been done. I counted…starting with the nine of you….76 children (all ordinances finished, except for six.
IQ Test
October 11, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [7]
I took an IQ test today and got my score, but I don’t know what to compare it to. If anyone has taken an IQ test what was your score?
An Announcement from Hillary and Chris Blackwelder
October 11, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [4]
They are pregnant, about seven weeks or so as of this writing.
Happy Birthday Dad Oct 11th
October 10, 2008 | Check-in, Uncategorized | Comments [2]
So many years gone by and you just seem ageless…
Lots a love from all of us…
BETH
October 8, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [4]
She finally had surgery on her neck again yesterday, and I talked to her briefly, and she was doing well. They came to get her to take her to her room, so I didn’t get any details, and I have forgotten what hospital she’s in, and I haven’t tried to call today, because I was taking care of the baby for Jani this morning, and then I had to go to the doctor. Back home again, I crawled up in the bed, and forgot to call.
Luis and Jordan just left for the temple. My foot was hurting, so I didn’t try to go, because the doctor ordered me to keep it elevated another week. It’s still swollen. And it hurts pretty much. But it sure does look better. The toes won’t ever be straight again, but I think I’ll be able to wear normal shoes, and I don’t think I’m going to limp.
At the temple, I sent about 80 female names and 70 male names for baptism. As of Sunday, I was the only member of the Ward that had turned in any names to be done, so if no one else takes any names with them, it’s possible all of mine will be done, or at least most of them. Then begins the difficult part. That is…getting the rest of the ordinances done. But it gives me something wonderful to do with the rest of my life.
Galveston Pictures
October 7, 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments [2]
I was in Galveston all week and didn’t get a chance to call Bill cause I didn’t have his number and also don’t have a cell phone. I couldn’t call from the Hotel because they charge but I was near Bill. I stayed at the Omni Hotel all week which is on Dairy Ashford and Katy Freeway. Trust me they spared no money when it came to hotels and food. We had prime rib and every other expensive food you could imagine. Nevertheless it was a long drive to Galveston every day. 2 hours with bad traffic and 1 hour on Sunday with the least traffic. We worked in the Galveston Home Depot store because they lost 80% of there employees due to the storm and it was non’stop customers. The people were great! The only rude customers I had occasionally were the contractors (believe it or not and they are the one’s making all the money). We sold out of all kinds of stuff and expecially sheetrock and lumber ( I can’t imagine why we sold so much sheetrock and lumber). I dropped my camera in a pond but mangaged to somewhat save the sim card and have a few pictures to share. Well they didn’t load. I can only say the people were really nice, mostly they had alot of water and mold damage. Galveston has always been a beautiful town to me. If bill can retrieve these photos for me I will post more. Basically there were big boats wahed up all over the side of the freeway. Not alot of major structural damage but alot of flooding. Most people got about 7 -10 feet of flooding. Most people in Galveston have houses where the downstairs serves as a basement and 1 or 2 feet came into there upstairs houses.