My Current Read
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Family History
Okay, I still have to tell you about the cool activities we have had getting ready for our July Pioneer Trek at Martin's Cove, but today I am studying some family history and wanted to tell you some stories from my reading.
In the month of March, all of our girls have to do some family history research and find a name and a story to take with them on the trek--in memoriam, per se. Even though I don't get to go on the actual trek, I am doing all the prep work with the girls. So I have been studying the life of my great-great grandfather, Christopher Layton--the Mormon Colonizer (as in Nevada, Utah, Albert, and Arizona).
The biography tells many stories of hard work and faith as the Laytons got settled in Nauvoo in 1843-1846. There were good times and a lot of bad times, too. Elizabeth Matthews Layton was born August 17, 1844, just a few weeks after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The next year in September, Mary Layton went to care for a sick elderly lady who lived on the Laytons’ farm. Mary caught typhoid fever from her and died in late September. Christopher Layton said,
“I walked three miles but could get no lumber and was obliged to take a log, and I helped hew a coffin out of that; then I carried it back on my shoulders; then with three teams, we went to Nauvoo and buried her. Thus I was left alone with my little girl of 13 months.
Among my neighbors were two good friends William B. Smith and his excellent wife, who had no children, and they took my baby and cared for her as tenderly as they could have done for their own; they learned to love her so dearly and she became so attached to them that they could not give her up, and she remained in their family until she was married in 1861.”
Most of CL’s bio is historical, but occasionally he told of some very emotional and spiritual experiences. One that touched me was this, the day he left with the Mormon Battalion.
“Some of the women, feeling sure they would never see their husbands again, said they would never live to be a soldier’s widow, and one lady remarked, “I would rather be a soldier’s widow than a coward’s wife;” and that was the feeling our brave women had when they had to part with their loved ones, each one being brave for another’s sake….The parting cannot be described which took place on the 16th of July, 1846. As we were marching past Sister Smith’s camp, she held up my little girl to see me and she shook her hand and said, “By-by.” My heart was full and IO waved my hand and marched on, leaving behind me all I had on earth—my baby daughter.”
As I read the book, I will post an outline and a few more quotes for the benefit of my siblings, nieces, nephews and kids. Christopher Layton at a glance, I guess. Enjoy.
More Melin tales to come--it's time for Game Night with the Rushtons and their so-so-so cute baby, Howie.
In the month of March, all of our girls have to do some family history research and find a name and a story to take with them on the trek--in memoriam, per se. Even though I don't get to go on the actual trek, I am doing all the prep work with the girls. So I have been studying the life of my great-great grandfather, Christopher Layton--the Mormon Colonizer (as in Nevada, Utah, Albert, and Arizona).
The biography tells many stories of hard work and faith as the Laytons got settled in Nauvoo in 1843-1846. There were good times and a lot of bad times, too. Elizabeth Matthews Layton was born August 17, 1844, just a few weeks after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The next year in September, Mary Layton went to care for a sick elderly lady who lived on the Laytons’ farm. Mary caught typhoid fever from her and died in late September. Christopher Layton said,
“I walked three miles but could get no lumber and was obliged to take a log, and I helped hew a coffin out of that; then I carried it back on my shoulders; then with three teams, we went to Nauvoo and buried her. Thus I was left alone with my little girl of 13 months.
Among my neighbors were two good friends William B. Smith and his excellent wife, who had no children, and they took my baby and cared for her as tenderly as they could have done for their own; they learned to love her so dearly and she became so attached to them that they could not give her up, and she remained in their family until she was married in 1861.”
Most of CL’s bio is historical, but occasionally he told of some very emotional and spiritual experiences. One that touched me was this, the day he left with the Mormon Battalion.
“Some of the women, feeling sure they would never see their husbands again, said they would never live to be a soldier’s widow, and one lady remarked, “I would rather be a soldier’s widow than a coward’s wife;” and that was the feeling our brave women had when they had to part with their loved ones, each one being brave for another’s sake….The parting cannot be described which took place on the 16th of July, 1846. As we were marching past Sister Smith’s camp, she held up my little girl to see me and she shook her hand and said, “By-by.” My heart was full and IO waved my hand and marched on, leaving behind me all I had on earth—my baby daughter.”
As I read the book, I will post an outline and a few more quotes for the benefit of my siblings, nieces, nephews and kids. Christopher Layton at a glance, I guess. Enjoy.
More Melin tales to come--it's time for Game Night with the Rushtons and their so-so-so cute baby, Howie.
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Friday, February 11, 2005
Our Little Diva
Addie walks around the house pretending to talk on this sparkly pink play cell phone that used to be full of lip gloss. I wish I could send you a video because she is so animated and funny.
Head Above Water
I am still holding out for a quiet moment to write. I am reading the coolest stories in a book by my great-great-grandfather, I am working out everyday (except yesterday--fighting a horrible sinus cold), I am making Valentines, I am playing with my girls more and cleaning my house less. Writing has been squeezed out a bit, but it's a cycle, you know? Sometimes you gotta sort out things in writing and sometimes you gotta go act on your ideas.
I can comment on the weather, whcih was so nice today, Heidi had her first walk sitting up in the stroller. We walked around the Lagoon, which is still mostly ice, but the wind got too cold to walk more. We took a valentine to our friend Page and came home to eat lunch with Rich. My sinuses are still achy and full--my brain has been replaced with mucus! GROSS! Here's the weather...
46°FFeels Like39°F
UV Index: 0 Low--Wind:From SW at 16 mph--Humidity:16%--Pressure: 29.94 in. --Dew Point: 2°F--Visibility: 10.0 miles
And the evening news is playing that Howard Dean Primal Scream over and over. Scary. Another shovel-o-dirt out of the democrats' grave.
We are hosting several little girls for a little party tonight (babysitting) while their parents go to the adult stake dinner dance. Rich is working on our house with the missionaries--we figured we could skip the dinner dance since we are stealing away midweek to celebrate our anniversary. So much fun!
Gotta go make frosting for Valentines cookies. E mail me or leave a comment....hello...?! :)
I can comment on the weather, whcih was so nice today, Heidi had her first walk sitting up in the stroller. We walked around the Lagoon, which is still mostly ice, but the wind got too cold to walk more. We took a valentine to our friend Page and came home to eat lunch with Rich. My sinuses are still achy and full--my brain has been replaced with mucus! GROSS! Here's the weather...
46°FFeels Like39°F
UV Index: 0 Low--Wind:From SW at 16 mph--Humidity:16%--Pressure: 29.94 in. --Dew Point: 2°F--Visibility: 10.0 miles
And the evening news is playing that Howard Dean Primal Scream over and over. Scary. Another shovel-o-dirt out of the democrats' grave.
We are hosting several little girls for a little party tonight (babysitting) while their parents go to the adult stake dinner dance. Rich is working on our house with the missionaries--we figured we could skip the dinner dance since we are stealing away midweek to celebrate our anniversary. So much fun!
Gotta go make frosting for Valentines cookies. E mail me or leave a comment....hello...?! :)
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Apologies
I am sorry for my week-long absence from this blog. My brain has suddenly been clouded by my busy-ness. I started going to the little gym down the street EVERYDAY and I had a big-ol' special Fast Sunday lesson to prepare and teach to the Young Women on Sunday. My next (COHERENT) entry will be about that and our preparations for the Trek--a reenactment of a bit of the Pioneers' trek across the plains, to take place near Martin's Cove, where the Martin and Willie handcart companies were rescued in November 1856.
But all is well here. Relatively. Our spring like weather has gone away and temps have plummeted back to highs in the 20's, but they are supposedly going to be 50 again soon. We are waiting to kick butt dry walling our house next week with brother Matt and Cousin Brent, after our little mid-week aniversary trip to Billings. Fun.
Heidi is wailing and my head hurts, so I'll write when things are better.
But all is well here. Relatively. Our spring like weather has gone away and temps have plummeted back to highs in the 20's, but they are supposedly going to be 50 again soon. We are waiting to kick butt dry walling our house next week with brother Matt and Cousin Brent, after our little mid-week aniversary trip to Billings. Fun.
Heidi is wailing and my head hurts, so I'll write when things are better.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Secure the Blessings of Liberty
I had to watch the C-Span Replay because I was on a wacky scavenger hunt with my Young Women's group (which included driving around with the door of my mini-van open so they could jump in and out, A-Team style, and shining my headlights on the shore of the lagoon as they looked for goose feathers, white rocks, and snowballs). Afterward we ate triscuits, cheeses, and drank delicious apple-passion-mango juice (please--try this juice! it's so good, and I am not an apple juice fan), topped off with some gummi worms. Ahhh, I love my church job.
So the State of the Union was good. It started off with a bunch of yadda, yadda, yadda domestic policy that they are gonna fight over for the next 4 years. I wish thye'd stop making social security such an issue--um, hello, government!?! No matter what any of you say, we 20- and 30-somethings know that in 30 years, there won't be social security as we know it and anybody with half a brain has an IRA or some kind of alternative retirement program, so stop trying to spoon feed us your alternatives or sugar coat the future. Or--if your a stubborn ol' dem--it's okay--you don't have to be in denial. SS as we know it won't survive the baby boomers. Come on, you can say it--it won't hurt anybody to admit it.
Anyway, the good part was the last third or so (and the fact that --ding-dong, the Dachle's gone--Harry Reid gave the democratic response; He's more palatable). Here is the single most useful piece of information communicated tonight, in my opinion:
The United States has no right, no desire, and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else. That is one of the main differences between us and our enemies. They seek to impose and expand an empire of oppression, in which a tiny group of brutal, self-appointed rulers control every aspect of every life. Our aim is to build and preserve a community of free and independent nations, with governments that answer to their citizens, and reflect their own cultures. And because democracies respect their own people and their neighbors, the advance of freedom will lead to peace. (Applause.)
Thanks for clarifying that, cuz this Judeo-Christian-ethical republic thing might not fly east of Europe.
And it may be the hormones, but I cried when Sefia held up her indigo finger, and then I cried even harder when she turned around and embraced Janet Norwood, mother of fallen marine, Byron Norwood. That one picture speaks the thousand words to explain why our military personnel are doing what they do (at least the ones I have talked to). I think of theatrical moments like "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" or the Von Trapps singing "Edelweiss" as they had to leave Austria. Think of tyrants violently taking over your homeland. Imagine your father being assassinated or your whole ethnic group or religious group being tortured, murdered, or exiled. Then imagine, decades later, returning to your homeland to vote in the first free election of your lifetime. I don't care what your political affiliations are--if the thought of those things doesn't stir your heart, you have no soul!
I just pray daily that, first, my beloved military brothers, cousins, and in-laws will be safe until this mission is through. I pray that our leaders will be inspired to lead us and protect us and get us home from Iraq ASAP. And I pray for the new leaders and people of Iraq and Afghanistan that they may be able to preserve their own liberty and create their own government.
Rich asked me the other day, "So what exactly is this assembly going to do?" I answered that they'd be like the Continental Congress --they'd draft the constitution and outline how the next "real" election would go. I said, "Remember the preamble?" and proceeded to perform the School House Rock Version (it's my favorite song, doncha know? Great lyrics): "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare [note--it doesn't say PROVIDE FOR the general welfare], and secure the belssings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity..." That pretty much sums up the duties of the assembly, if the silly sunni insurgents will let them do their job.
Enough. These comments are neither researched or greatly informed--just my reaction and opinions, off the cuff. Forgive my grogginess--must...sleep..now.
So the State of the Union was good. It started off with a bunch of yadda, yadda, yadda domestic policy that they are gonna fight over for the next 4 years. I wish thye'd stop making social security such an issue--um, hello, government!?! No matter what any of you say, we 20- and 30-somethings know that in 30 years, there won't be social security as we know it and anybody with half a brain has an IRA or some kind of alternative retirement program, so stop trying to spoon feed us your alternatives or sugar coat the future. Or--if your a stubborn ol' dem--it's okay--you don't have to be in denial. SS as we know it won't survive the baby boomers. Come on, you can say it--it won't hurt anybody to admit it.
Anyway, the good part was the last third or so (and the fact that --ding-dong, the Dachle's gone--Harry Reid gave the democratic response; He's more palatable). Here is the single most useful piece of information communicated tonight, in my opinion:
The United States has no right, no desire, and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else. That is one of the main differences between us and our enemies. They seek to impose and expand an empire of oppression, in which a tiny group of brutal, self-appointed rulers control every aspect of every life. Our aim is to build and preserve a community of free and independent nations, with governments that answer to their citizens, and reflect their own cultures. And because democracies respect their own people and their neighbors, the advance of freedom will lead to peace. (Applause.)
Thanks for clarifying that, cuz this Judeo-Christian-ethical republic thing might not fly east of Europe.
And it may be the hormones, but I cried when Sefia held up her indigo finger, and then I cried even harder when she turned around and embraced Janet Norwood, mother of fallen marine, Byron Norwood. That one picture speaks the thousand words to explain why our military personnel are doing what they do (at least the ones I have talked to). I think of theatrical moments like "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" or the Von Trapps singing "Edelweiss" as they had to leave Austria. Think of tyrants violently taking over your homeland. Imagine your father being assassinated or your whole ethnic group or religious group being tortured, murdered, or exiled. Then imagine, decades later, returning to your homeland to vote in the first free election of your lifetime. I don't care what your political affiliations are--if the thought of those things doesn't stir your heart, you have no soul!
I just pray daily that, first, my beloved military brothers, cousins, and in-laws will be safe until this mission is through. I pray that our leaders will be inspired to lead us and protect us and get us home from Iraq ASAP. And I pray for the new leaders and people of Iraq and Afghanistan that they may be able to preserve their own liberty and create their own government.
Rich asked me the other day, "So what exactly is this assembly going to do?" I answered that they'd be like the Continental Congress --they'd draft the constitution and outline how the next "real" election would go. I said, "Remember the preamble?" and proceeded to perform the School House Rock Version (it's my favorite song, doncha know? Great lyrics): "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare [note--it doesn't say PROVIDE FOR the general welfare], and secure the belssings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity..." That pretty much sums up the duties of the assembly, if the silly sunni insurgents will let them do their job.
Enough. These comments are neither researched or greatly informed--just my reaction and opinions, off the cuff. Forgive my grogginess--must...sleep..now.
Shall We Dance?
My husband is out of town and I am up late and COLD--I just finished watching the American version of Shall We Dance, and to my surprise it made me cry!
Maybe it was the Peter Gabriel song at the end (PG must have an extraordinary love life because how else would he be able to sing like that? This is a tangent, but seriously! You may or may not know the legend of "In Your Eyes," but suffice it to say my most indelibly romantic pre-marital moments were accompanied by that song. One time on my mission, I heard it just floating on the air as I was tracting in Durham and I literally had to sit down for a minute because it took my breath away).
Maybe it was the refreshing affirmation of marriage and fidelity, and that finding your personal joy always makes you r marriage better.
Maybe it was that it (the movie) reminded me of the precious, fabulous, prayed-for wonder that is my husband, who still surprises me with the things he thinks and learns and knows how to do--and with his bottomless wonderfulness as a father and partner and soother of my worries & furies.
I SO love you, hun...15 days til anniversary #4...what a ride!
Come home safe cuz your girls miss you.
Maybe it was the Peter Gabriel song at the end (PG must have an extraordinary love life because how else would he be able to sing like that? This is a tangent, but seriously! You may or may not know the legend of "In Your Eyes," but suffice it to say my most indelibly romantic pre-marital moments were accompanied by that song. One time on my mission, I heard it just floating on the air as I was tracting in Durham and I literally had to sit down for a minute because it took my breath away).
Maybe it was the refreshing affirmation of marriage and fidelity, and that finding your personal joy always makes you r marriage better.
Maybe it was that it (the movie) reminded me of the precious, fabulous, prayed-for wonder that is my husband, who still surprises me with the things he thinks and learns and knows how to do--and with his bottomless wonderfulness as a father and partner and soother of my worries & furies.
I SO love you, hun...15 days til anniversary #4...what a ride!
Come home safe cuz your girls miss you.
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