Sacrament In Ivan’s

We slept in this morning. We got ready for church and are attending the noon sacrament meeting at the church right by our subdivision. It’s a brand new church. Fun to hear the saints gathering all visiting with one another.  This ward has a sweet energy.  The Bishop welcomed us first as we sat in our church pew and another man from the ward.  It’s a family ward mixed with a lot of seniors.  Crazy we are senior age now.  We love staying in Natasha's new home.  They have not had any time to stay at their new home yet so we are taking advantage of the time we can come spend time and enjoy the lovely home they have here in southern Utah.  It is really pretty here in the spring season.  The flowering tree are coming out and things are really green.  It is refreshing and gives us a break from the cold and snow up north.    

Driving To St George/ Cole Is Engaged

The weather is cold and raining with more snow to come this weekend - so we are heading south for the week.  We don’t have any church commitments this next week which frees up our time.  We went and played pickleball this morning for a couple of hours which was fun.  When we got home we looked at the weather and can see it is going to be wet and cold for the next week.  We decided to pack up fast and and on the road to warmer weather.  It will be nice to just get some sunshine.  We have had such a wet spring.  And more cold weather to come. It will be nice to be in some warmer weather. We stopped by the Tesla dealership in American Fork to look at one that was suppose to come in today.  We drove one on Tuesday for the first time and really surprised how well it drives.  Everything is electric.  They are different looking inside.  I’m not sure what I think yet.  It is all so futurist for me.  I don't know if I like the look yet and ready for a computer screen to control everything in the car.  They are clean and plain looking inside.  So we will give it some more thought.  Craig really did like driving it.  Surprise how fast and smooth it drove.  It has very quick response driving on the road.  I was uneasy to drive it yet.  It made me nervous being all so new and unfamiliar.  

Our Cole is engaged!!  He propsed to Chase- they met on his mission in Canada.  Chase aslo served a mission there.  When Cole got home from his mission and moved to Provo, he asked her out- they went line dancing their first date.  They had so much fun and went again and then another date.  They soon found they have lots in common.  Craig and I were surprised, we knew Cole had a girlfriend from high school that he had been writing while she was on her mission in Costa Rica.  She comes home this month in March.  So thought he would be waiting to have some closure with her first before he proposed to Chase.  Well that is not the case - Cole was ready for the commitment and ready to move on with his life - no looking back.  He proposed on March 22nd, 2023.  They do make a darling couple.  So we are on to a new chapter in our lives as we have our first grandson to be married.  Wow! So excited for Cole. 

Grocery shopping

Craig and I went to Winn Co grocery store in Murry.  We have heard they have lower prices in food.  We loaded our grocery cart with some can goods on sale.  Our cart was full.  Checking out they only take cash or a debit card - which I did not have.  So that is why they can pass lower prices on to the public - no credit card fees.  Well I'm waiting here at the store while Craig runs to the bank for cash.  Neither of us had our Debit card- which we have not used for many years.  We mostly shop Walmart and Costco which takes a credit card.  We were caught off guard never shopping here before.  I feel a need to stock-up on more can foods and things that will store.  Hard times are here for many and I can see food shortages are coming with all the crazy things going on in our country right now. The crazy weather and with droughts and freezing rains will cause crop failures this year state wide and our nation.  There are many food plants that have mysteriously burned to the ground-  in the trucking industry moving our food- is causing shortages too.  It is all going to have a snowball effect and can change from bad to worse fast- I can feel it is all brewing for even harder times ahead. Just pray for the insight to know how to store what we can. Bank failures are happening across the entire country and this is very concerning if we can’t get our money out of our bank-  we need a surplus of food stored.  For these uncertain times that lie ahead.  

Sunday Dinner/Friends For Life

Sunday was a full day for us.  I woke up early 6am-  I have to make adjustment to the flower arrangement I made for the Paris Tabernacle for our stake conference last spring.  I borrowed both of them for our Relief Society birthday party on Wednesday night.  Sister Menlove was picking them up at 7:30am on her way up there she could drop them off and save me the 30 minute drive up there and back which was nice.  I made a few adjustment and got them all bagged up ready to go when she arrived.  I then took the time to beautify myself- my Sunday best appearance.  I was nervous anticipating Craig and I both speaking in the visitor ward.  We both did a great job and a sigh of relief.  Marcene Booth my friend I meet at the lake when were 15 years old was in attendance.  They were gathering for a family dinner later that afternoon and she invited us to share with them, the Peterson family, and Madsen family in our Ward. Marcene and Sister Madsen are sisters.  It was so nice for her to extend an invitation.   Sister Tammy Lynhart’s invited us to come share parts of our talks with her Sunday School class.  She was so impressed with our talks, they went right along with the come follow me lesson for this Sunday which is what we were asked to speak about.  She teaches the 16-17 yrs old in our ward. They were few in numbers this week with Nate Woods Mission farewell.  Nate did a great job speaking- we were able to go from speaking in the visitor ward to our Ward sacrament meeting.  We had a couple hours to rest and the go to our dinner invite at 4pm.  We had a lovely dinner.  It was so fun to visit with everyone.  We all visited and talked about all kinds of subjects. We didn’t get home until 8pm.  I so enjoyed my time with Marcene.  We have so much in common and sad we have not kept in better touch over the years.  We are old women now!  We had lots to share.  We promised to not wait so long to meet up again.   This morning I was up by 8am.  It snowed last night and cold.  Old man winter is still here.  I tidy things up and we pack up to come to our Draper home.  We were on the road by noon.  When we arrive the snow had all melted and the roads were clear.  Just as we got the car unpacked and sat down to rest a snow storm hit fast and we got about 2 inches of snow. There are suppose to be storms rolling in and out all week long.  It feels good to be in a little warmer weather.  There was no snow in the Salt lake valley like it is at the lake.  Anxious for spring to come and get out and do some walking.

Marcene Booth and Debbie Turner as young teens at Bear lake Summer of 1972

we were best friend for the summer and created fun memories, so fun to be reunited 50 years later!

Picture of Marcene and Debbie Summer of 2018 we had not seen each other since our summer fun in 1972.  Happy reunion!  Come to fine out we are both descendants of the famous Pocahontas, she is her 13 great-mother and my 11th great-grandmother.  This is amazing the blessing of Bear Lake in my life.

Pocahontas has ancestors all over the United States and just from one daughter Ok-Okee, an amazing prosperity!!

  

Talk At The Bear Lake Visitor Ward ? Keeping The Sabbath Day Holy

I’m grateful for this opportunity to speak to you today . We were asked to speak about a message I studied and learn more about in our “Come Follow Me” study this past week.  I love the Come Follow Me lessons and in learning more about the life of our Savior Jesus Christ. as he lived on this mortal earth. The lesson this week is titled - “ I Will Give You Rest”   I asked myself the question - how has the Savior given me rest in my life ? I have learned over my life time that Jesus Christ will give us rest as we rely upon Him.  In Matthew 11: 28 ​​¶ ​​​​Come​ unto me, all ​ye​ that ​​​labor​ and are heavy laden, and I will give you ​​​rest​.

​​​29 ​Take my ​​​yoke​ upon you, and ​​​learn​ of me; for I am ​​​meek​ and ​​​lowly​ in ​​​heart​: and ye shall find ​​​rest​ unto your souls.

​​​30 ​For my yoke ​is​ ​​​easy​, and my burden is light. In these verses-  the Savior taught that He will help us carry our heavy burdens if we accept His invitation-  
We all have various heavy burdens to carry in this life journey.  I like the visual picture in the Manuel of two oxen yoke together- yokes are designed to help animals carry heavy loads to get work done, and yokes are often custom fitted to the animal.  Just as we help one another in doing our own work our burden is made light as we share in working together.

As I reflect on how the Lord has made my burdens light and given me rest in my life - I’m taken back to my conversion story when I was introduced to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. My mother and I were visiting other religions looking to receive the gift the Holy Ghost as we had read in the New Testament.  Matthew 3:11 ​​​​I​ indeed ​​​baptize​ you with water unto ​​​repentance​: but ​​​he​ that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not ​​​worthy​ to bear: he shall ​​​baptize​ you with the Holy Ghost, and ​with​ ​​​fire​: Share conversion story:-

“ As a young teen of 14 years old - my family moved from Texas to Tampa Florida.  Moving to an entirely new area was difficult.  I was a new convert to the Church of Jesus Christ and baptized at the age of 11 years old- I loved my Denton, Texas Ward- the fellowship and support of the saints there -Moving to Florida I found myself living in an upheaval environment and the only LDS member in my new Jr high school.  The LDS presence in our community was very few.  It was a time in history called the Hippie era of free love and drugs -and there were lots of Hippi's in Florida - It was a time of uncivil rest in the entire community - the busing of the black students from their schools to the white schools and whites to the black schools.  Many were angry and every day a fight would break out in violence in the halls- one day unaccustomed to the new rules I went to the bathroom between my PE class and found I was in the mix of several black girls pushing and hitting me and not knowing if I was going to make it out alive. I was traumatized by this experience and afraid to attend school.  My only peace and rest from this new complex environment was my weekly sabbath attendance.  The sabbath day was a day of joy and delight to me to fellowship with the saints.  To partake of the sacrament and to total rely upon my Savior for protection.  I loved taking walks on the beach in Florida and In this season of my life is when I heard this story - Footprints In the Sand -  “ Lord you said that once I decided to follow you, we would walk side by side through life, but when through life? But when I needed you most, I saw only one set of footprints in the sand .  The Lord replied- I love you and would never leave you, during your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of foot prints, that was when I carried you !  This brings tears to my eyes many times in my life as I have carried my life burdens and then remember as I come to Christ - he make my burdens light- he carries me by his loving arms and gives me the strength to carry on and find solution to the challenges that are before me, as I have depended upon him thru prayer and striving to keep the Sabbath Day Holy.  While living in Tampa, Florida the 29th of August 1971, I received my patriarchal blessing.  Our stake patriarch was Joseph Charles, Rich. Who was the great-grandson of Charles C. Rich who settle this Bear Lake Valley.  Little did I know at the age of 14 years old I would someday be living in this beautiful valley and meet my future husband while living in Florida- Patriarch Rich gave me a beautiful blessing that gave me strength and courage in my young teen years to endure the challenges that lie ahead.  I read it often.  In my blessing he said - “ Our Heavenly Fathers loves you - he has watched over you and cared for you from the time you were born into morality and he will hear and answer your prayers and be mindful of you all the days of your life, if you try to serve him and keep his commandments.- You are a member of the Kingdom of God in the earth” ….  As a warning  he said - “ Satan is abroad in the land.  He would lead you astray.  He will tempt you.  Choose good companions, choose those with high ideals who love and serve the Lord.  Pray for guidance-  you will be watch over and protected when dangers threaten.  I bless you with faith and a deep love for the gospel- and a desire to serve our Heavenly Father- make it a practice to study the standard works of the church. Let their words, become apart of your knowledge of the Lord with these people. Also be inspired by the words and instructions and admonitions of our Latter- Day prophets as well.  I have taken this counsel to heart.  I have felt the words of the Book of Mormon- literal my Iron Rod of God- my strength in this life.  I felt if I did not hold on with all my strength I would die and lose my way.  I love the power, strength and rest the scriptures have given me in my life journey. our Prophet Nelson has counseled - "Yoked with Jesus Christ."

 President Russell M. Nelson taught: “You come unto Christ to be yoked with Him and with His power, so that you’re not pulling life’s load alone. You’re pulling life’s load yoked with the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and suddenly your problems, no matter how serious they are, become lighter” (“The Mission and Ministry of the Savior: A Discussion with Elder Russell M. Nelson,” Ensign, June 2005, 18).   I can testify that my burdens have been made lighter in my life as I have strived to live my covenants to always remember our Savior Jesus Christ.  In partaking the sacrament weekly, and striving to attend my sabbath meetings I have been given the strengthen to carry on when my burdens felt heavy and when I have at times felt lost - some times traveling in the mist of darkness- hanging on to the iron rod - the word of God has given me answers and strength to carry on faithfully even when I don’t understand why I have to endure certain challenges.  I have come to learn it is personally for me the refining fire to make me a better follower of Christ.  I had the opportunity many years ago -where President Russel M Ballard spoke in our sacrament meeting.  After the meeting I was able to shake his hand and he lean over and whispered in my ear to Keep the Sabbath day Holy !   His words pierced my very soul - it was as if the Lord was speaking directly to me.  I had time to reflect on this experience many times and evaluate my life-  was I keeping the sabbath day holy?  D&C 59 : 9 ​  we read - And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself ​​​unspotted​ from the ​​world, thou shalt go to the house of ​​​prayer​ and offer up thy ​​​sacraments​ upon my ​​​holy day​;​​​10 ​For verily this is a ​​​day​ appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;​​​11 ​Nevertheless thy ​​​vows​ shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;​​​12 ​But remember that on this, the ​​​Lord’s day​, thou shalt offer thine ​​​oblations​ and thy sacraments unto the Most High, ​​​confessing​ thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.​In my reflection and striving to keep the sabbath holy - I have learned -the  Sabbath day becomes a day for personal healing. By the end of a week raising five daughters and the all the demands of  just living life. I need a breather from the burdens of the demanding needs of motherhood- Sunday provided much-needed relief to my soul- fellowshipping with the saints and renewal of my baptism covenants by partaking of the sacrament.  The word sabbath means rest-  “Sabbath was His gift to us, granting real respite from the rigors of daily life and an opportunity for spiritual and physical renewal. God gave us this special day, not for amusement or daily labor but for a rest from duty, with physical and spiritual relief.” Quote president Nelson” He goes on to say - How do we hallow the Sabbath day? In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, “What sign do I want to give to God?” That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear.    I have learned that the Sabbath day is truly a day rest for me  and day of healing from the challenges of life -And has truly given me the power and strength to become unspotted from the world - through the atonement - becoming one with Jesus Christ has made my burden lights-  I’m so grateful for this sabbath day to share with you and as an outward sign to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ I’m striving to always remember them. In return I will be strengthen to endure my life journey. In the name of Jesus Christ - Amen.  

St Patrick’s day

Today has been a working day -we had to fix a picture- our big Showboat picture fell off the wall for some odd reason it’s been hanging there for 12 years and it came crashing down in the middle of the night- it fell apart and we had to re-staple it together. Only thing we think happened is we might’ve had some water leaking with the ice and snow melting and soften the sheet rock. I helped Craig change the oil on our car. He had me lying on the board that rolls under the car- the hard part was getting back up. We ran a few errands and got ready for our Saint Patrick’s party tonight. We invited the Batts and the Lynhardt’s to play games and have dinner with us.  It was a fun night!! We have had a very full day - I also finished putting things away from the relief society birthday party on Wednesday. I was so happy with how everything turned out- it was alot of work but well worth it. I was so tired yesterday I had to just rest from all my hard work. I did muster the energy to go play pickle ball at 3:30 for a couple hours -we drove down to Laketown to play with the Lamborns.  I fell asleep fast last night and I’m sure I will tonight too.  I'm really tired. Tomorrow I have to make the time to write my talk- Sunday morning Craig and I are both speaking in the visitor ward.  We have had a full week keeping busy at the lake.  

Batt's 

Craig lost a tooth, this is a funny picture of him

Tammy and Mike Lynhardt, Mike is our Mayor for Garden City, we all had a fun evening, I fixed another meal which is a lot of work,  I'm ready for some down time, this has been a busy work week entertaining.

Cute Picture of Craig and I Happy St. Patrick's Day 2023

Relief Society Birthday Party

I have been working for several weeks getting ready for the big RS birthday party for our ward.  It all turned out so pretty.   It was a lot of work for me -I was pretty much a one person committee this year. Sister Turnbow did help me the night before setting up for a few hours.  I did all the food ! It was a lot of work ! I made a yummy chicken salad and everyone loved it.  The secret ingredient was rice-aroni-.   I used quilts from my grandmother Beatrice Sparks Bailes and Jane Bailey quilt passed down to me on the Symes side.  Grandmother B’s quilt look so pretty hanging up on the wall in honor of her displayed at our food table.   She would be so proud her quilt was used for a church event.  Cleaning up was frustrating- all the sisters left and left just sister Batt and I cleaning up the food. It took us a couple hours. I was beat when I got home.  I woke up at 5:30 am and stood on my feet all day.  It took me till noon to get all the food prepared and hauled to the church.  I arrived at the church at 2pm and stayed till 9:30 pm-  it was a race against the clock to get it all set up and ready for the event at 6pm .  We had about 30 sisters attend.  Our guest speaker was amazing.  Sister Laurie Clark she just moved in our ward a few months ago.  She works at an Indian reservation helping the kindergarten thru 6grade with counseling-  teaching to think positive- our thoughts control our actions.  She was very spiritual for us all. Glad I was inspired to ask her.  The sisters brought shoes and socks to donate to the children at the School- they are poor and always in need.  It was a great service project.  We also tied a quilt to donate to the church humanitarian center in Salt Lake City.  Over all it was a lovely evening and worth all the hard work.  

I made 13 flower arrangement for the tables- our food table turned our so pretty.  

Sister Batt a dear friend our RS President

Our food was yummy!

Attending Jordan River Temple

Craig and I attended the Jordan River temple last night at the 8pm endowment session.  They just made changes to the endowment session and I have been anxious to attend.  February we were sick and baby sitting the Thomas grandkids for two weeks we did not have a chance to attend- so this week I wanted to make sure to fit a session in.  I called and scheduled where I could find an open session.  With the new changes attendance is up.  All the time slots were full -I did find the 8pm session open at Jordan River Temple.  It felt so good to be in the house of the Lord.  I was very moved by the tweak's made in the endowment - the Savior is brought even more into focus.  I feel this endowment session is taking us into the millennium’s reign.  I look so forward to a time of peace and harmony in our world in the future to come.  We are preparing for the Savior’s second coming and I feel strongly it is not far off- it could be in my life time!   The hard part is getting to that point.  There is so much in the world that is happening fast- as if the entire world is going to hell.  The temple brings hope and comfort to me knowing God is in charge.  He created this world for us to learn and grow.   Satan will have power to tempt us and try to lead us astray yet we will have the power to overcome as we keep our temple coveants-we will be lead to eternal life- to live in a better world in the near future.  It was an honor to act as proxy for my deceased ancestors and learn and grow at the same time for myself.  The sister I attended the temple for was Emogene Margarete Ford.  I have been working on her temple ordinance for many years.  She is one of the last old submission I have been working on.  Sorry I haven’t gotten her done sooner.  It does take time for each ancestor to complete their temple ordinance.  I have the baptism and confirmation submission.  I have been giving these names to our grandchildren to complete and then passed back to me or one of our daughters to complete the rest of the temple ordinance which include initatory, endowment and sealing to spouse and parents. Each area takes over an hour adding time getting to the temple- and adding the time it takes to prepare one name for temple ordinances.  I say it takes about 2 hours for each area and research time so each ancestor name takes me over 12 hours of time or longer.  It is pockets of time to complete the needed ordinances.

I started working on Emogene May 13th 2017 - when we took a youth group to the Logan temple for a baptism activity and I acted as proxy for her baptism-  November 1st 2017 I completed her initiatory at the Logan temple and finally last night the endowment  March 11th 2023-  it took me almost 6 years - so sorry for the delay-  her card had got past to one of my daughters and forgotten- she was passed back to me and finally I was able to complete her working card the last pink temple card for me in a batch I had been working on for many years.  in the past few years I prepareed our family names to take to the temple and they would print their name on pink cards for female sisters and blue cards for the male brethren.  We were responsible of keeping our cards and picking them up at the temple's clerk office after each ordinance - when complete I could keep the cards.  With technology changing- the process changed to where we can print our own white card with a female or male and attend the temple still picking up our own cards at the temple that was a lot of storing cards at the temple until picked up by the submitting members. Then it changed just before 2020 to be completely online printing our own cards with a bar code number that is scanned at the temple and then as the ordinance is complete- it then shows on my ordinances submitted records on my family search account.   It is all recorded online now - which is much easier- they don’t have to keep cards at the temple and we don’t have to store family ordinance cards in our personal family records- as I have worked on family history over the 45 years of my life span it is a miracle to see how this work has grown and how we can better keep our records. Having it recorded online is amazing to me.  I went last night- her name was scanned at the temple after the session and by the time I get home I can she her endowment has been recorded and she is complete. We now keep names in our online family search account and work on them one at a time printing a card for each ordinances and taking to the temple.   I can even access my family search account at the temple on my cell phone and print a card there for the needed ordinance that day to complete at the temple. After the name is recorded online the cards are thrown away there is no need to keep.  So the temple work is accelerated and the record keeping is very effective and fast. I love the work and so blessed to take the time- which it does take time and work for each ancestor. 

These are ancestors on my mother's family tree.  I have spent over 40 years doing temple work for my ancestors living in the Nicholas County, West Virginia area. No more pink cards to store in my family records.  It is all online now and recorded by the familysearch website. Just seeing the changes how temple work is recorded has been a miracle for me to witness over the years.   

 

Our Saydee Speaking

Saydee is speaking in her sacrament ward this morning for her mission homecoming report.  We are so proud of her.  She has not figured out yet what her stomach issues are and have limited her in returning back on her mission.  It has been a hard decision for her to close this chapter in her life.  She has grown so very much in the short months she did serve in Washington and such a wonderful experience for her- she may have meet her future husband by mingled with the missionaries there.  He is from Lehi and they are writing and communicating as he fulfills his mission.  She is moving on to a new chapter.  We are gathering as family today to honor her.   Saydee spoke a very inspirational talk.  We all felt the Holy Spirit as she shared her mission experiences and how the Holy Ghost lead her to share the gospel message with others.  Feed my sheep and love all people!  The pure love of Christ - The Savior is there to heal us.  Afterward we gathered at the Burbidge home for a yummy brunch.  Trisha is a wonderful hostess and makes everything look so pretty - I so appreciate all her efforts to make it pretty for us.   She is so very talented in this area.  This Sunday for Primary - brother Argyle our 2nd counselor in our new bishopric dressed up as Matthew for the primary Children.  I made his costume the week before.  It turned out so awesome!  He was going to dress up last Sunday but our ward cancelled the last hour of church due to so much snow an asked us to check on our ministering families.  Which we did our checking in -on our families, we got so much snow last Sunday morning most people were snowed in. Craig and I got ready for church and in the car to leave-  raising the garage door - when we were so surprised how much snow we had received that night. It was over a foot.  We weren’t going anywhere until Craig could snow blow a path for us.  We did make it to church but there were few in attendances. We have so much snow at the lake this year.  This week they are sand bagging getting ready for flooding.  Once it warms up there is going to be flooding from so much snow.   It was nice to have a few days in St George this week and stay at Natasha’s lovely home there.  They are planning on coming down to their new home for spring break the first weekend of April which is also conference weekend. Trisha has decorated so nicely their home and it is very comfortable to stay in now.  Natasha hasn’t seen any of it yet.  So excited for her to see how lovely.   She invited us to come down with them for spring break which will be nice if the weather is nice in two weeks, we will for sure take advantage of her invite.  We drove back yesterday afternoon so we could be back for our Saydee speaking in church today.   I was so tired afterwards I had to come home and take a nap.  Love being in our Draper home for only a short few days. I had fun getting out my Easter decorations.  I received some fun things from Craig's mother belongings and fun to set out the pretty Easter décor'.  We have to head back tomorrow afternoon to the Lake.  Craig has a rehab-appointment Tuesday morning.  I’m decorating for the Relief Society birthday party this coming Wednesday so another big project for me coming up.  I have errands tomorrow morning to finish gathering things up for the event and then we are heading back to the lake. We are going to have another busy week.  Craig and I have been asked to speak in the visitor ward at the lake this coming Sunday.  So we will be staying at the lake for the week.  We then plan to come back to our Draper home.  I will be busy this week hosting the Relief Society birthday event, Craig sand bagging, writing a talk and speaking in sacrament next Sunday.  There is always lots to do which is how I like it.  I like to feel like I’m accomplishing something with my time here on earth.  Pray for the health and strength I need for our very busy week ahead.  Pictures of brother Argyle acting as Matthew in our ward primary on Sunday.  I made his out fit.  It turned out really good.  I had the two black purses and put gold money candy coins in the purse to give to the children- as Matthew was a tax collector. Looking at the pictures I can see the children were all smiling.  Wish I could have been there, but we needed to attend our Saydee's Sacrament as she spoke supporting her.  

 I have many projects in the workings.  The primary president called me to see if I could help with clothing for Bible Characters.  Well I couldn't say no- online I found a quick and easy pattern to create an outfit.  I called my friend Karin Mcdougal who sews alot and figures she would have some fabric on hand to donate.  Sure enough she did.  She also gave me back all my fabric scraps I had given to her when we moved the fall of 2016.  It was all still in a bag.  Fun to go thru it, memories of all my sewing projects with the girls growing up over the years.  I had lots of scrapes of left over material.  I was able to pull out some that I could use for the up coming birthday party I was decorating for.  I have to say brother Argyles outfit turned out great!  

It’s Raining

We are packing up this morning to make our drive back to Draper today.  We have a winter storm hovering over the entire states from the far south to the far north. It’s is raining here in St George which is good but at what cost in the long run from all the cloud seeding that is being done.  Bridger bought three bicycles to ride while at their new home in Ivan's.  Craig put them together.  We have tried to be helpful in our appreciation for staying at their new home. This was a quick trip for us- wish we could have stayed longer.  We have so enjoyed our short trip.  It is pretty to bike in the dessert landscape.  We are enjoying our time in southern Utah this time of year.  We can see why people migrate south in the cold winter months to a warmer climate.

St George / Cloud Seeding.

We have had nice weather the last couple days. It has felt so good to have some sunshine.  The high yesterday was 65 degrees the warmest this year so far in the southern area.  We had fun playing pickleball yesterday with dear friends Sandra and Scott Ragsdale. We have known them for 40 years. Scott and Craig worked together in the insurance business in our younger years.  They couldn’t have children but adopted one son.  We have thought so highly of them we signed them in our will to be guardians of our children growing up if anything was to happen to us.  That season has past and grateful that never happened, we are blessed to still be friends.  We had a great time playing pickleball with them.  It was so nice to have sunshine for the day- I was soaking it up.  I enjoyed laying out on the porch feeling the sunshine.  I have been learning about cloud seeding - geoengering which is about weather controlling and manipulating the weather.  At first I was really surprised that there has been the technology to do this.  What grabbed my attention is last year Shannon mentioned seeing all the airplanes flying back and forth and spraying our skies with white steams of condensation of some kind and then watching it spread into this misty film making our blue sky very cloudy.  It’s a rare day we have a clear blue sky day this past year.  So I have been asking questions what is going on ? Who is paying for all this and why are they spraying constantly and what is in the spraying chemicals ?  We have a panoramic view at the lake and I watch the planes flying all day long and our beautiful sky turn to this misty gray cloud cover.  Come to find out our governor of Utah is funding cloud seeding full speed to bring moisture to our state to help fill the Great Salt Lake which has been shrinking.  The question is at what cost to our health with all thees toxin chemicals being sprayed upon us as a mass population that are mostly unware.  I'm very concerned.  This project is very organized!  I'm a grain of sand on the sea shore so to speak trying to stop this chemical nonstop spraying upon us all.  God Save us is our only hope in a world of so many evil comprising men.  Being here is southern Utah I can see the spraying is going on too!  The entire state has these non-stop planes spraying chemicals into the air and can see it spread across the sky and the sky becomes this hazzy milky color.  We lose the clear blue sky as the day progresses.  Come to find out it is taking place all over the world.  Globalist wanted to block the sunshine from the earth, causing a cloud cover by this non-stop spraying.  I'm sure there is much more harm to us, animal life and plant life that is taking place than can be comprehended.  

Drove to Ivins Today

Craig had a rehab appointment at 8:am this morning.  I did a load of laundry and tidied things up and packed up the things we needed to take off and head south for the rest of the week.  We have so much snow at the lake and very cold.  It was sunny which felt good today but cold.   We haven’t seen the sun much lately. It was only one degrees when we headed out today  It will feel nice to be in some warmer weather. We drove the 6 1/2 hours down south.  We were at the farthest north in the state of Utah a polar zone and made it this evening to the far south end of the state- Ivan's where Natasha's new home is located.  Be nice to enjoy a few days in some warmer weather.  

A Wow Family History Story ! Pocahontas My 11th Great-Grandmother

I’m related to Pocahontas!!- She is my 11th great-grandmother thru my mothers family line.  My mother had told me we had Indian blood in our veins and the family folk lore for many generations had past down the knowledge- but had not been documented how?   As I have worked on my family history for 40 years I have not found any connection.  I figured the connection had to be in the early founding of the Colonist’s coming to America.   About 20 years ago I had a dear neighbor Angela from Brazil. She has the gift of seeing spirits from the other side of the veil.   One day when I was visiting with her she told me I have an Indian Chief looking after me!   I was astonished by her very open conversation and that she could see this Indian Chief as a guardian Angel.  I have come to know that our deceased ancestors are guardian Angels.  I have always had an interest in learning about Native American Indians. It was my interest that lead me to read the Book of Mormon at the age of 11 yrs old.  The information taught in my elementary schooling was not complete.  I kept asking the question how did the native Indians come to be in America ?  Reading the Book of Mormon answered many of my questions as a young girl.  2003 I began working on my family history certification degree from BYU. Learning how to extend my early American family lines and how to research Indian heritage in the United States - I attend several classes and family history conferences at BYU.  I even bought two books “Everyday Life in Colonial America from 1697 to 1783 “ and “ Every day Life among the American  Indians”. In 2016 Craig and I went to Washington DC as Craig served on the Utah State Board underwriters insurance conference.  I had serval days to myself to tour the museums- I spent an entire afternoon at the Native America museum-  I was greatly moved emotionally and felt this deep love and drawn to learn about their history.  So today when I received a message from Family Search that my most famous ancestor is Pocahontas and is my 11th grandmother!   I was astonished! I truly do have Native American ancestors and related to one of the most famous ones in our American  history.  I have spent the past three days reading what has been added to family search and learning how I’m related to this historical 11great-grandmother.  I have truly been on spiritual high as I have been discovering this ancestral family line. Today I have taken the time to understand the family links and share with our family in our group family text.  My son-in-law Dave Noriega sent me a  thoughtful message -  This is some incredible research Grandma. Well done. Amazing family history story. One of the best I’ve ever seen. 

I learned that Pocahontas had one daughter Ka-Okee from her first marriage her husband of the Patawomeck Tribe.  He died and belief he was murdered by the newly English Settlers of Jamestown.

The first English settlement was founded in 1607.  Her tribe saved the settlers from starving those first few years of establishing their homes in the newly founded America from England.  Patawomeck tribe was the largest of all the tribes in the area in this time period.  For Ka-Okee's protection she was kept hid from the knowledge of the English and was raised by her sister among their own tribe.  Pocahontas was kidnapped and lived in Jamestown.  While there for over a year, she learned English and converted to Christianity and changed her name to name Rebecca.  The King James Bible translation was first printed in 1611.   She married John Rolfe the governor of Jamestown in 1614. this was the first English man and Native American recorded to be married in our American History. Their marriage was a token of peace treaty between her tribe and the English. They had one son together Thomas Rolfe.  They sailed to England and while there Pocahontas became ill and died before she could return at the young age of 22 years old.  The royal blood linage is past down by the female blood line of the tribe, so Ka-Okee carried the royal linage for her tribual hertigage she married an  Englishman  Thomas Pettus.  Their first child a daughter who's name was kept hidden from the English and continue the royal tribunal blood line by marring the next Patawomeck Chief. Our family line continues thru this daughter.  This is a brief history account. 

This  is our family lineage connection to this famous ancestor thru Ka-Okee the daughter of Pocahontas

Their oldest recorded daughter, her name kept unknown for protection to the Royal bloodline she married the Next Chief of the Patawomeck Tribe

Their daughter recorded as Unknown daughter of Chief Wahanganoche married  John Grigsby, so our family line continues four generations of the royal blood line thru the female tribal bloodline of the Patawomeck Tribe. 

They had a son James Redmond Grigsby who had a daughter Elizabeth Grigsby

Elizabeth Grigsby married Thomas Hughes in 1734 and they their oldest daughter Sarah Hughes born 1738 married Isaac Foster Sr. who were the parents of their son George Foster born1767- he married Sarah Conway 7 May 1786.  They are the parents of their oldest daughter born Mary Polly Foster 1790 who married John Bailes March 3rd, 1807 who homestead in Nicholas County, Virginia 1807. John and Mary had a son George Washington Bailes in 1826 who married Sarah Wiseman February 4th, 1846 and gave birth to a son George Washington Bailes Jr. born 1860.  George Washington Bailes Jr married Sarah Margaret Johnson who had a son John Bailes who married Beatrice Sparks are the parents of my mother Shelva Jean Bailes.   This is the linage of my Pocahontas family line.  It has been so exciting to learn about them.

This is my mother Shelva Jean Bailes.

John Bailes and Mary Polly Foster my 4th great-grandparents - Mary Polly Foster carrying the royal blood line of our American Indian Blood in our family veins.  Such a fun and exciting family history discover.  I have so enjoyed learning about this amazing story that has just come to light this past year and documented on family search.  My heart has truly been turned to my forefathers by the spirit of Elijah.  I'm just in awe!