Memorial Day

This past Monday was Memorial Day.  I remember that day as being special from the time I was a small child.  We would travel to Ephraim to put flowers on the graves in the cemetery.  It was always a special time to go to grandma's house and then to the cemetery.  Cousins would also be there and it was a reunion of sorts.  I also remember that always they had a program with patriotic music and speeches to remember those who had died serving our country.

When Jerry's dad died in February 1965, the following May began our trips to Price for Memorial Day.  Many relatives would come, and again it was a reunion of sorts with many aunts, uncles and cousins of Jerry's coming from all over to decorate the graves of loved ones.

 Over the years, we went less and less.  I don't suppose it means that we forget our loved ones, but other priorities stand in the way of going every year.  It seems to happen to others also, for they don't make the trip as often

Now my parents are both in the Ephraim cemetery and both of Jerry's parents are in the Price cemetery.  This year we planned to go put flowers on the graves, but again, priorities came up and we did not make it.  I'm sure  they know they are remembered, even though they did not get a flower to show our love and
remembrance.

Family is so important.  I think of all of my ancestors and know what good, strong people they were and I always appreciate the lives they lived.  Hopefully I inherited some of the genes that made them what they were.

Thoughts of pets

I have been looking at old slides of my childhood that I scanned in the computer.  A lot are pictures of me and my kitties.  How many?  Well, I can remember a lot of the names:  Mickey, Blackie, Tordy, Little Tordy, Baby Tordy, Slinky Tordy, Six-toe Pete, Ralph, and these are just some of the ones that I had as a child growing up.  Others, that I have had since I got married are:  Missy, Fritz, Henry Midnight III, Fade, Liza, Puddis, Buzz and Ginger.  I may have even missed a few.  The longest living cat was Missy - 17 years and Liza comes in second at 14 years.  There are many stories I could tell of my kitties and I.  Sometime I may share some of them on this blog. Here are a few pictures:

Fritz

Ralph and me 

Henry Midnight III

Me and Missy

My brother John Theron and I with Tordy and Blackie

Sunday thoughts

Stake conference this weekend and as always I have been impressed with the way this stake organizes the entire schedule of meetings with a theme.  The music is also done very well with a large choir of talented singers and musicians, including harp, flute and the organ.  The theme this time was "Finding Personal Meaning in the Gospel.

Hearing the experiences and trials of others helps me to deal with my own challenges and knowing that others perhaps are dealing with other kinds of problems, but we all have the same source for help.  Losing a child, having one born with birth defects, struggles with inactive family members were discussed.  I have not suffered the death of a child, but certainly can relate to the other two issues and I might say a few others that are personal challenges.  I could not have gotten through those times nor can I now deal with them without much faith, prayers and help from a loving Heavenly Father.  One thing I know for sure and that is that they may not go away or be resolved on my time schedule, but when all turns out in the end, it is for our best good because it is according to Heavenly Father's plan for us.  When all is said and done, our handicapped daughter, our inactive son, our physical challenges, the trials of getting older, the daily worries and concerns that we have will all be resolved and we will better understand the why.  This gives me peace and comfort and a knowledge that if I do my best - which sometimes isn't very good - the Savior will make up the difference and all will be okay.

Today's Thoughts

Well, my old blog has expired.  Probably because I didn't write anything for over a year.  That is the story of my journaling life - on again, off again.  Then I think I should be writing, so I get this big idea that I will write a little every day.  Hmmm, how long will it last this time - I just don't know.  However, I keep trying.