7 years ago
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Mallory's Poem
Student Council
I wanted to be on Student Council,
I ran,
Said my speech,
Voted,
Votes got counted
Waited,
Waited
Finally they got announced
I listened, waited,
Finally heard my name,
I bubbled with excitement,
Yes, Yes, Yes, no more waiting.
I wanted to be on Student Council,
I ran,
Said my speech,
Voted,
Votes got counted
Waited,
Waited
Finally they got announced
I listened, waited,
Finally heard my name,
I bubbled with excitement,
Yes, Yes, Yes, no more waiting.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
A Storyteller's Saga - In Memory of My Grandpa-- Darrell D. Wood 1921-2014
During my final quarter at Utah State University in 1997, I took an Advanced English
class from Dr. Helen Cannon. Dr. Cannon was pretty intimidating. For the class,
we all were required to subscribe to “The New Yorker Magazine” and read it from
cover to cover each month. We had to study and practice this style of writing. Our
final piece was due right after the Memorial Day weekend and I hadn’t come up
with a topic to write on. We were asked to write a research essay as a reporter
using a lot of dialogue. Over the Memorial Day weekend, I went with my family up
to Grandpa and Grandma’s cabin. As we were sitting around the kitchen table, my
essay began to take shape. We were all laughing so hard and I could not write
things down fast enough. I kept telling Grandpa to stop talking for a second so I
could write everything down. Here is essay I wrote about Grandpa Wood!!--ERIN
Nestled amidst tall, slender quaking aspens and short, stocky evergreen pine
trees, lies a family getaway in Stoffer Mountain. “Wood’s Woods” best describe
the ten acre plot of land known as “our summer home”. Early in the spring, the
gravel road turns into a mud slide, with gaping tracks left by four wheel drive on
and off road vehicles, leaving large pools of rainwater. “I hope we can make it
past the Smiley Faced Cabin this year so we don’t have to hike in” Mom said.
During the later part of May it is difficult to drive directly to the cabin without any
problems. “Do you remember when we came to the cabin three years ago and we
got stuck?” Aleece reminded me. Riding up in Grandpa’s “Green Machine”—a
gutless lime green Volkswagen Bus —how could anyone forget these memories
made years before?
Grandpa and Grandma Wood purchased land near Liberty, Idaho over
twenty years ago. In 1978, they bought their first Mobile home trailer, hoping
they would be able to find “a place to relax and get away form the busy world”. It
definitely is a place of relaxation and rest, with the added conveniences of home.
As we go swerving around through the trees at high speed, anticipation
mounts until the cabin comes into view. Wood’s summer home is very different
and unique–two trailer houses connected side by side with a large A-frame roof
overhead constitutes their cabin in the woods. A large redwood deck lines the
Mobile homes on two sides, complete with a three piece lawn furniture set plus
matching cushions and colorful oriental lanterns that dance in the wind. The
freestanding blue and white striped hammock has also found its place on the deck,
alongside the linoleum-covered electrical spool used as a table while cooking
Dutch oven chicken and cheesy Dutch oven potatoes. Above the door hangs a
discarded piece of pine, strung on a piece of flaxen cord, engraved with the words,
“Welcome to the Mountains”. The cabin is loaded with all the essential
necessities of home: drinkable running water, flushing toilets, electricity, minus a
telephone. Inside is a large assortment of modern conveniences: two gas stoves,
two kitchen sinks, two large refrigerators, a portable dishwasher, a deep freezer (a
new addition this trip —“I bought this freezer for only $75 at the Deseret
Industries with a ten-percent frequent shopper discount. It was a steal” Grandma
said proudly, “Did I tell you I also got the three piece lawn furniture set at the D.I.
two summers ago for only $35 with the matching cushions?”), a small microwave
oven, a long man-made table which seats at least twelve comfortably with
mustard, tomato spice and chocolate colored kitchen chairs. Recycled couches,
lamps, chairs, tables, curtains, bed mattresses, bedspreads and wall
hangings–which I have seen hundreds of times before coming to the cabin –fill the
large rectangular living room and four bedrooms. Under toe dividing the kitchen
and living room, the carpet in one trailer is hazel-nut brown and other side is olive
green sprinkled with orange. “I’m sure glad these couches never stayed in our
house long,” David said as he flopped onto one of the two matching puke green
and tan striped couches–couches which transform into queen-sized beds at
nighttime, changing the living room into a four-man bunkhouse, at least.
“At twenty-five after, I have to take the cake out of the oven” Grandma
Wood exclaims. “You can’t let me forget!” Shauna, Vicki, Jared, and Aleece all
nod their heads in agreement. It was Monday afternoon, breakfast had just been
cleared from the table and everyone sat down to relax and talk.
Grandpa is the official cabin chef, especially for breakfast. Grandpa has his
own special words for everything. “Who wants another hotcake? Rachael, do you
want a bullet or a softy? Who’s ready for water and moo juice in their hot
chocolate? You want just cold cereal? - you’ll die of starvation before noon!
Cereal is food fit for squirrels.”
“Where is David?” Shauna questioned. “He’s supposed to be watching ‘The
Last of the Mohicans’ today so we can write his English paper before school
tomorrow. Has anyone seen the movie before?”
“We have it. Aunt Vicki said. “‘The Last of the Mohicans’ is a pretty good
movie. It’s rated R because of the violence. The Mohican's are dying every two
seconds until there are only two survivors, I think.” No sooner had she completed
her sentence then Grandpa emerged from the bathroom. “Grandpa, why are you
wearing a bandanna around your head,” Aleece questioned as she looked at his
black, hot pink and turquoise bandanna. All eyes turned to Grandpa as he placed his
hand on top of his head, fingers spread apart, pointing upwards to give the
appearance of feathers on an Indian Headdress. He proceeded to mimic an Indian
dance, yelling out an Indian warhoop, “Oooo-ooo, Oooo-oooo” while bouncing up
and down in a circle around the room. Realizing that five pairs of eyes were
watching from the kitchen table, he pulled out his dentures and yelled “Look at
this” while grinning a toothless grin. Eyes were wet as laughter filled the room.
“Stop! Stop! Stop! I yelled between laughs, “my side hurts!” Since Grandpa was
the star of the show, he made a few more faces before Grandma jabbed him in the
stomach, gave him “The Look”, and muttered, “Deb” with embarrassment in her
voice. “Always the center of attention!”
“Oh look, there’s a deer...a dear little tree,” he said as his voice trailed off to
almost a whisper as he gazed at the mountain from the window.
“Did you know I was born in the same house my father was? I have some
great memories of that house in Spanish Fark.” Grandpa reminisced. Darrel D.
Wood – or better know by “close friends” as Deb – was born February 28, 1921 to
Amos Benoni and Sarah Ann Durfey Wood. “Dad, tell us a story of when you
were younger and lived next to Grandma who had the lilac bush. What’s that one
about going to church?” Shauna questioned. “You mean the one about my
neighbors?” “No the one about church at night. When you would stay home and
Grandma and Grandpa went.” “Oh ya, I remember that...let me think.” Sunday
School was always held during the daytime back in those days and Sacrament
Meeting at night. “Never be late–Always be there at 10 o’clock in the morning”
Grandpa sang. “It’s in the old, old, songbook. You remember that Muma?” he said
looking at Grandma. Sacrament Meeting was from 7-8 p.m. and “only the adults
went because the kids were too noisy.” Grandpa and his brothers and sisters would
stay home along and play “Animal Pens”. “As soon as my parents walked out the
door, we started throwing all the cushions off the couches and chairs to build cow
and pig pens. I always wanted to be an animal because they — my brothers and
sisters – would throw raisins and bread crumbs at me. I always wanted to be a pig
because then I could eat more” Grandpa explained.
“Grandpa, don’t you want to sit down?” Jared questioned. “You’ve been
standing and telling stories for quite a while.” “Jared, Grandpa has to stay
standing; he can’t think sitting down” Shauna alluded. “I can’t sit on my brains!”
Grandpa said laughingly. “Let’s see, I remember another game....”
“He has to make up another story,” Grandma whispered thinking Grandpa
wouldn’t hear her. “No, I just got to remember it. I don’t remember the name that’s
all.” In a square are, draw the face of a die with five dots in the sand. Everyone
grabs a heavy bomber – a club used for hockey or better known as a tree limb.
Everyone has a designated hole, “I think”. You wait ten seconds and yell “Old
Sow”. “Oh ya, I remember the name – it just slipped my mind a sec. It’s Old Sow.”
Spot, Jack, Ab, Wally and I would always play these games.” “Who are Spot and
Wally? Did you ever call anyone by their real name?” Shauna inquired.
“Grandpa, I don’t think I’ve ever heard your war story about the bomb” I
began. “Will you tell us what really happened?” Grandpa fought in World War II
from 1941-1945. To my knowledge, he has only brought the subject up once
before to my mother as she was growing up. Talking about the war is very difficult
for my Grandpa. He saw many of his close friends from Spanish Fork, Utah die.
“We were all in a unit together. We enlisted to serve in the United States Army
together. We enlisted together, served together and some of us returned home
together. Some we had to leave behind.”
“We thought we were on our way to Guam, but then we thought we got
dropped off early in Saipan.” Later they realized they were on a small island
named Tinian, which is now part of the Micronesia Islands. “One day Wally
Smith, Russ Isaac and I went to the airstrip where the P-47 airplanes flew in. As
we walked along the airstrip, we saw a P-47 coming in for a landing. There was a
bomb hanging off the rack that never dropped. As soon as the aircraft lowered
itself closer to the ground, the bomb “hit the ground and was jarred loose” from
the aircraft carrier and sent rolling down the airway. The bomb that was dropped
had a time fuse. “As soon as we saw the bomb rolling towards us, we took off
running. I never ran so fast in my entire life.” Grandpa’s good friend Russ
weighed 225 pounds while “Wally and I weighed only 145 pounds. I never saw
Russ run so fast. He passed us all and made it to the dirt hills first.” We waited and
waited and waited, lying stomach down on the earth, yet nothing happened.
“Don’t ya think it’s safe to look now?” Russ asked.
“I ain’t lookin’,” Wally interjected.
“Me either. It sure is taking a long time for that bomb to go off.” Russ said.
“Man, you two are just scared! How long does it take for the time fuse to go
off anyway? A minute or two?” Grandpa inquired.
“I don’t remember, those two weeks of basis training last year weren’t quite
long enough. I wish I could remember these things but I’m so darn scared, I can
barely remember my first name,” Wally interjected.
Finally, after waiting behind the small dirt hill for what seemed like an
eternity, “I poked my head out from behind the dirt hill to see what had happened
to the bomb.” The earth sat motionless, which was distinctly different than the
other bombs I had seen explode. I lay peering across the airstrip until “my eyes
rested upon the bomb. It was still in tact! The bomb just stopped and sat there in
one place!”
“That was one luck day” Grandpa concluded. “I still don’t know why that
bomb never exploded. There’s a reason why I’m still kickin’ now.”
“Doesn’t that look like a piece of sugarless cake?” Magically cakes and
brownies turn sugarless whenever Grandpa wants a piece. “Deb, your diabetes,”
Grandma reminds him. “Oh, a little sugar won’t hurt me none.”
Grandpa is a retired gas station operator and barber. He always fills us up
with stories from his childhood, stories he heard at the station, and “facts” about
the lives of his clients as a barber. “Do you remember Porky Buys from Payson? I
think his first name was Ray.” Times were hard during the war. Porky had a whole
litter of kids and money was kind of tight. Porky used to go to the store, buy two
T-bone steaks and a dozen weenies. Porky would tie the weenies to the chandelier
and while the kids were jumping up and down, trying to eat the weenies,” he said,
“my wife and I would eat the steaks. I don’t think the kids ever knew.”
“Do any of you know what is a spurt?” Grandpa questioned. “No”.. “No” ...
“No” chorused throughout the kitchen. “It’s a drip under pressure” he said as he
walked over to the kitchen faucet. He turned it on a little until water drizzled out,
slowly like a piece of string. He quickly stuck his finger under the faucet so water
shot directly into my lap. “Oh, that reminds me of something else. This is a .... sort
of like a test.” Walking over to the kitchen cupboards, he pulled out a funnel. “Sit
up straight,” he instructed his wife as he set the tip of the funnel down her shirt.
He placed a two liter pop bottle lid on her head filled with ice water. Grandma had
no idea what was up his sleeve. She was directed to shake the lid into the funnel
on her back, which she did obediently. No sooner had the cap fallen into the
funnel, then Grandma let out a scream. “Why did you pour water down my back?”
Grandpa’s reply was, “I used to do it all the time to my sister and she didn’t mind.”
“Well, I am NOT your sister.” Grandpa exclaimed. Just then Shayna walked in the
door and asked, “Grandpa, why did you pour water down Grandma’s shirt?” Jared
took the words right out of Grandpa’s mouth when he said, “That’s what happens
when you’ve been married 51 years.” “You just wait until this summer! I’ll get
you with the hose!” Grandma jokingly threatened.
Grandpa Wood has his own vocabulary that only members of the family can
decode. He’s always making “suicides” — mixing every kind of soda or Kool-aid
together you can find to drink. If you write “slanch ways”, you are really writing
sideways at a slant. “I’m fresher than you” means you don’t stink as bad as
someone else. “Moo juice” is none other than milk from a cow, and not the
“watery skim milk.”“If it’s burned —it’s done.” “Target paste” refers to – well,
this word needs a little more explanation.
“Aren’t we going to have some ‘target paste’ with our leftover Dutch oven
potatoes tonight?” “Why do you call gravy ‘target paste’ Grandpa?” My dad is the
only one who knows what target paste is. The explanation I received on target
paste is that it is “goop” you stick on a tree that holds a target for shooting
practice. (I guess only men in the United States Army would know that.) “It ends
up black and sticky when target practice is over.” Dad always said that having
gravy referred to as target paste wasn’t too complimentary to my Grandma’s
cooking. “Well, isn’t Dad the one who always make the gravy at Thanksgiving
and Christmas?” Vicki interjected. “If so, you just criticized your own cooking.”
Grandpa’s quite the “character”. Always make sure he’s standing up to tell a
story or he just might sit on his own brains!
class from Dr. Helen Cannon. Dr. Cannon was pretty intimidating. For the class,
we all were required to subscribe to “The New Yorker Magazine” and read it from
cover to cover each month. We had to study and practice this style of writing. Our
final piece was due right after the Memorial Day weekend and I hadn’t come up
with a topic to write on. We were asked to write a research essay as a reporter
using a lot of dialogue. Over the Memorial Day weekend, I went with my family up
to Grandpa and Grandma’s cabin. As we were sitting around the kitchen table, my
essay began to take shape. We were all laughing so hard and I could not write
things down fast enough. I kept telling Grandpa to stop talking for a second so I
could write everything down. Here is essay I wrote about Grandpa Wood!!--ERIN
A Storyteller’s Saga
“You really ought to hear it.”
Written by Erin Peterson
May 30, 1997
Nestled amidst tall, slender quaking aspens and short, stocky evergreen pine
trees, lies a family getaway in Stoffer Mountain. “Wood’s Woods” best describe
the ten acre plot of land known as “our summer home”. Early in the spring, the
gravel road turns into a mud slide, with gaping tracks left by four wheel drive on
and off road vehicles, leaving large pools of rainwater. “I hope we can make it
past the Smiley Faced Cabin this year so we don’t have to hike in” Mom said.
During the later part of May it is difficult to drive directly to the cabin without any
problems. “Do you remember when we came to the cabin three years ago and we
got stuck?” Aleece reminded me. Riding up in Grandpa’s “Green Machine”—a
gutless lime green Volkswagen Bus —how could anyone forget these memories
made years before?
Grandpa and Grandma Wood purchased land near Liberty, Idaho over
twenty years ago. In 1978, they bought their first Mobile home trailer, hoping
they would be able to find “a place to relax and get away form the busy world”. It
definitely is a place of relaxation and rest, with the added conveniences of home.
As we go swerving around through the trees at high speed, anticipation
mounts until the cabin comes into view. Wood’s summer home is very different
and unique–two trailer houses connected side by side with a large A-frame roof
overhead constitutes their cabin in the woods. A large redwood deck lines the
Mobile homes on two sides, complete with a three piece lawn furniture set plus
matching cushions and colorful oriental lanterns that dance in the wind. The
freestanding blue and white striped hammock has also found its place on the deck,
alongside the linoleum-covered electrical spool used as a table while cooking
Dutch oven chicken and cheesy Dutch oven potatoes. Above the door hangs a
discarded piece of pine, strung on a piece of flaxen cord, engraved with the words,
“Welcome to the Mountains”. The cabin is loaded with all the essential
necessities of home: drinkable running water, flushing toilets, electricity, minus a
telephone. Inside is a large assortment of modern conveniences: two gas stoves,
two kitchen sinks, two large refrigerators, a portable dishwasher, a deep freezer (a
new addition this trip —“I bought this freezer for only $75 at the Deseret
Industries with a ten-percent frequent shopper discount. It was a steal” Grandma
said proudly, “Did I tell you I also got the three piece lawn furniture set at the D.I.
two summers ago for only $35 with the matching cushions?”), a small microwave
oven, a long man-made table which seats at least twelve comfortably with
mustard, tomato spice and chocolate colored kitchen chairs. Recycled couches,
lamps, chairs, tables, curtains, bed mattresses, bedspreads and wall
hangings–which I have seen hundreds of times before coming to the cabin –fill the
large rectangular living room and four bedrooms. Under toe dividing the kitchen
and living room, the carpet in one trailer is hazel-nut brown and other side is olive
green sprinkled with orange. “I’m sure glad these couches never stayed in our
house long,” David said as he flopped onto one of the two matching puke green
and tan striped couches–couches which transform into queen-sized beds at
nighttime, changing the living room into a four-man bunkhouse, at least.
“At twenty-five after, I have to take the cake out of the oven” Grandma
Wood exclaims. “You can’t let me forget!” Shauna, Vicki, Jared, and Aleece all
nod their heads in agreement. It was Monday afternoon, breakfast had just been
cleared from the table and everyone sat down to relax and talk.
Grandpa is the official cabin chef, especially for breakfast. Grandpa has his
own special words for everything. “Who wants another hotcake? Rachael, do you
want a bullet or a softy? Who’s ready for water and moo juice in their hot
chocolate? You want just cold cereal? - you’ll die of starvation before noon!
Cereal is food fit for squirrels.”
“Where is David?” Shauna questioned. “He’s supposed to be watching ‘The
Last of the Mohicans’ today so we can write his English paper before school
tomorrow. Has anyone seen the movie before?”
“We have it. Aunt Vicki said. “‘The Last of the Mohicans’ is a pretty good
movie. It’s rated R because of the violence. The Mohican's are dying every two
seconds until there are only two survivors, I think.” No sooner had she completed
her sentence then Grandpa emerged from the bathroom. “Grandpa, why are you
wearing a bandanna around your head,” Aleece questioned as she looked at his
black, hot pink and turquoise bandanna. All eyes turned to Grandpa as he placed his
hand on top of his head, fingers spread apart, pointing upwards to give the
appearance of feathers on an Indian Headdress. He proceeded to mimic an Indian
dance, yelling out an Indian warhoop, “Oooo-ooo, Oooo-oooo” while bouncing up
and down in a circle around the room. Realizing that five pairs of eyes were
watching from the kitchen table, he pulled out his dentures and yelled “Look at
this” while grinning a toothless grin. Eyes were wet as laughter filled the room.
“Stop! Stop! Stop! I yelled between laughs, “my side hurts!” Since Grandpa was
the star of the show, he made a few more faces before Grandma jabbed him in the
stomach, gave him “The Look”, and muttered, “Deb” with embarrassment in her
voice. “Always the center of attention!”
“Oh look, there’s a deer...a dear little tree,” he said as his voice trailed off to
almost a whisper as he gazed at the mountain from the window.
“Did you know I was born in the same house my father was? I have some
great memories of that house in Spanish Fark.” Grandpa reminisced. Darrel D.
Wood – or better know by “close friends” as Deb – was born February 28, 1921 to
Amos Benoni and Sarah Ann Durfey Wood. “Dad, tell us a story of when you
were younger and lived next to Grandma who had the lilac bush. What’s that one
about going to church?” Shauna questioned. “You mean the one about my
neighbors?” “No the one about church at night. When you would stay home and
Grandma and Grandpa went.” “Oh ya, I remember that...let me think.” Sunday
School was always held during the daytime back in those days and Sacrament
Meeting at night. “Never be late–Always be there at 10 o’clock in the morning”
Grandpa sang. “It’s in the old, old, songbook. You remember that Muma?” he said
looking at Grandma. Sacrament Meeting was from 7-8 p.m. and “only the adults
went because the kids were too noisy.” Grandpa and his brothers and sisters would
stay home along and play “Animal Pens”. “As soon as my parents walked out the
door, we started throwing all the cushions off the couches and chairs to build cow
and pig pens. I always wanted to be an animal because they — my brothers and
sisters – would throw raisins and bread crumbs at me. I always wanted to be a pig
because then I could eat more” Grandpa explained.
“Grandpa, don’t you want to sit down?” Jared questioned. “You’ve been
standing and telling stories for quite a while.” “Jared, Grandpa has to stay
standing; he can’t think sitting down” Shauna alluded. “I can’t sit on my brains!”
Grandpa said laughingly. “Let’s see, I remember another game....”
“He has to make up another story,” Grandma whispered thinking Grandpa
wouldn’t hear her. “No, I just got to remember it. I don’t remember the name that’s
all.” In a square are, draw the face of a die with five dots in the sand. Everyone
grabs a heavy bomber – a club used for hockey or better known as a tree limb.
Everyone has a designated hole, “I think”. You wait ten seconds and yell “Old
Sow”. “Oh ya, I remember the name – it just slipped my mind a sec. It’s Old Sow.”
Spot, Jack, Ab, Wally and I would always play these games.” “Who are Spot and
Wally? Did you ever call anyone by their real name?” Shauna inquired.
“Grandpa, I don’t think I’ve ever heard your war story about the bomb” I
began. “Will you tell us what really happened?” Grandpa fought in World War II
from 1941-1945. To my knowledge, he has only brought the subject up once
before to my mother as she was growing up. Talking about the war is very difficult
for my Grandpa. He saw many of his close friends from Spanish Fork, Utah die.
“We were all in a unit together. We enlisted to serve in the United States Army
together. We enlisted together, served together and some of us returned home
together. Some we had to leave behind.”
“We thought we were on our way to Guam, but then we thought we got
dropped off early in Saipan.” Later they realized they were on a small island
named Tinian, which is now part of the Micronesia Islands. “One day Wally
Smith, Russ Isaac and I went to the airstrip where the P-47 airplanes flew in. As
we walked along the airstrip, we saw a P-47 coming in for a landing. There was a
bomb hanging off the rack that never dropped. As soon as the aircraft lowered
itself closer to the ground, the bomb “hit the ground and was jarred loose” from
the aircraft carrier and sent rolling down the airway. The bomb that was dropped
had a time fuse. “As soon as we saw the bomb rolling towards us, we took off
running. I never ran so fast in my entire life.” Grandpa’s good friend Russ
weighed 225 pounds while “Wally and I weighed only 145 pounds. I never saw
Russ run so fast. He passed us all and made it to the dirt hills first.” We waited and
waited and waited, lying stomach down on the earth, yet nothing happened.
“Don’t ya think it’s safe to look now?” Russ asked.
“I ain’t lookin’,” Wally interjected.
“Me either. It sure is taking a long time for that bomb to go off.” Russ said.
“Man, you two are just scared! How long does it take for the time fuse to go
off anyway? A minute or two?” Grandpa inquired.
“I don’t remember, those two weeks of basis training last year weren’t quite
long enough. I wish I could remember these things but I’m so darn scared, I can
barely remember my first name,” Wally interjected.
Finally, after waiting behind the small dirt hill for what seemed like an
eternity, “I poked my head out from behind the dirt hill to see what had happened
to the bomb.” The earth sat motionless, which was distinctly different than the
other bombs I had seen explode. I lay peering across the airstrip until “my eyes
rested upon the bomb. It was still in tact! The bomb just stopped and sat there in
one place!”
“That was one luck day” Grandpa concluded. “I still don’t know why that
bomb never exploded. There’s a reason why I’m still kickin’ now.”
“Doesn’t that look like a piece of sugarless cake?” Magically cakes and
brownies turn sugarless whenever Grandpa wants a piece. “Deb, your diabetes,”
Grandma reminds him. “Oh, a little sugar won’t hurt me none.”
Grandpa is a retired gas station operator and barber. He always fills us up
with stories from his childhood, stories he heard at the station, and “facts” about
the lives of his clients as a barber. “Do you remember Porky Buys from Payson? I
think his first name was Ray.” Times were hard during the war. Porky had a whole
litter of kids and money was kind of tight. Porky used to go to the store, buy two
T-bone steaks and a dozen weenies. Porky would tie the weenies to the chandelier
and while the kids were jumping up and down, trying to eat the weenies,” he said,
“my wife and I would eat the steaks. I don’t think the kids ever knew.”
“Do any of you know what is a spurt?” Grandpa questioned. “No”.. “No” ...
“No” chorused throughout the kitchen. “It’s a drip under pressure” he said as he
walked over to the kitchen faucet. He turned it on a little until water drizzled out,
slowly like a piece of string. He quickly stuck his finger under the faucet so water
shot directly into my lap. “Oh, that reminds me of something else. This is a .... sort
of like a test.” Walking over to the kitchen cupboards, he pulled out a funnel. “Sit
up straight,” he instructed his wife as he set the tip of the funnel down her shirt.
He placed a two liter pop bottle lid on her head filled with ice water. Grandma had
no idea what was up his sleeve. She was directed to shake the lid into the funnel
on her back, which she did obediently. No sooner had the cap fallen into the
funnel, then Grandma let out a scream. “Why did you pour water down my back?”
Grandpa’s reply was, “I used to do it all the time to my sister and she didn’t mind.”
“Well, I am NOT your sister.” Grandpa exclaimed. Just then Shayna walked in the
door and asked, “Grandpa, why did you pour water down Grandma’s shirt?” Jared
took the words right out of Grandpa’s mouth when he said, “That’s what happens
when you’ve been married 51 years.” “You just wait until this summer! I’ll get
you with the hose!” Grandma jokingly threatened.
Grandpa Wood has his own vocabulary that only members of the family can
decode. He’s always making “suicides” — mixing every kind of soda or Kool-aid
together you can find to drink. If you write “slanch ways”, you are really writing
sideways at a slant. “I’m fresher than you” means you don’t stink as bad as
someone else. “Moo juice” is none other than milk from a cow, and not the
“watery skim milk.”“If it’s burned —it’s done.” “Target paste” refers to – well,
this word needs a little more explanation.
“Aren’t we going to have some ‘target paste’ with our leftover Dutch oven
potatoes tonight?” “Why do you call gravy ‘target paste’ Grandpa?” My dad is the
only one who knows what target paste is. The explanation I received on target
paste is that it is “goop” you stick on a tree that holds a target for shooting
practice. (I guess only men in the United States Army would know that.) “It ends
up black and sticky when target practice is over.” Dad always said that having
gravy referred to as target paste wasn’t too complimentary to my Grandma’s
cooking. “Well, isn’t Dad the one who always make the gravy at Thanksgiving
and Christmas?” Vicki interjected. “If so, you just criticized your own cooking.”
Grandpa’s quite the “character”. Always make sure he’s standing up to tell a
story or he just might sit on his own brains!
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
My Grandpa- Darrell "Deb" Wood
Darrell D. "DEB" Wood
February 28, 1921 – February 19, 2014
Darrell D. "DEB" Wood returned to our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, February 19, 2014. He was born on February 28, 1921, to Amos B. and Sarah Ann Durfey Wood in Spanish Fork, Utah. Deb graduated from Spanish Fork High School, is a veteran of World War II, and graduated from Salt Lake Barber College. Deb married Betty Raye Keele on April 17, 1946, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
He was a licensed barber and managed the Cash Saver Service Station on Riverdale Road. Deb's customers were his friends. He asked about their families and even knew many of their birthdays. He had a terrific memory.
An active member of the LDS Church, he served in numerous callings. Deb and his wife, Betty, were ordinance workers in the Ogden LDS Temple and served in the LDS Texas Houston Mission. He loved spending time with his family at their cabin in Idaho and camping with friends. Betty and Deb traveled throughout the United States and Europe.
Deb is survived by his wife, Betty, daughters Vickie (Stephen) Funk, Shauna (Ronald) Peterson, Debbie (Wayne) Funk, and a son Dennis (Teresa) Wood, 23 grandchildren, 71 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Also surviving are brothers Jay (Glenda) Wood and Blaine (Mary) Wood, brother-in-law Arthur Slater, and sister-in-law Berniece Wood. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Lothair, Francillo, Kenneth, and sisters Thelma and Athene.
Deb loved his children and grandchildren. He knew all of them by name and their birthdays. He especially enjoyed the weekly family dinners and was always ready to go to a buffet. He loved playing games with friends and family. We love you Dad. We will miss you.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, February 24, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., at the Roy Stake Center, 5127 South 2400 West in Roy, Utah. A viewing will be held Sunday, February 23, 2014 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Myers Roy Mortuary , 5865 South 1900 West in Roy, Utah, and on Monday from 9:30-10:30 a.m., prior to services at the church.
Interment will be in the Roy City Cemetery where military honors will be accorded. - See more at: http://www.myers-mortuary.com/obituary/Darrell-DEB-D.-Wood/Roy-UT/1346486#sthash.2EXsgGwc.dpuf
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
RIP my 1T Seagate External Hard Drive
Right now I am mourning the loss of this beautiful, sleek, silver external hard drive that has served me so well over the past three years! Each and every time i downloaded pictires off my camera, i dutifully tranaferes them to this 1Terabyte hard deive (so as not to bombard my desktop with too many rhings). thousands of our pictures from the past 17 months tucked somewhere inside its deep dark folders!! I took this precious piece of hardware to our computer repairman and $50 later he told me he could not retrieve the data and pictures off of our beloved hard drive but possibly some high tech lab in California could do it and it would cost $1000-$1500!!! (Did you catch the word "possibly" in there).
Well,
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Well,
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, September 9, 2013
Outlaws FC '04 Silver
Mallory and Hayley's soccer team is on our Outlaw FC club's website today!
http://outlawsfc.com
They really played hard in this game. The game was at 12:00 on August 17th and it was HOT!!! Like 99 degrees HOT! Our girls played so hard! Hayley ended up playing goalie the 2nd half because our goalie went out with heat exhaustion right before halftime. We only had 8 girls to start the game (we play 8 on 8) and so we played the whole second half with only 7 players and we lost 2-0 against a really good team (who also had 4-5 girls on their bench that they could sub in).
In our minds--that game was a win! Our girls played their hearts out!
http://outlawsfc.com
They really played hard in this game. The game was at 12:00 on August 17th and it was HOT!!! Like 99 degrees HOT! Our girls played so hard! Hayley ended up playing goalie the 2nd half because our goalie went out with heat exhaustion right before halftime. We only had 8 girls to start the game (we play 8 on 8) and so we played the whole second half with only 7 players and we lost 2-0 against a really good team (who also had 4-5 girls on their bench that they could sub in).
In our minds--that game was a win! Our girls played their hearts out!
Brittney's Drawing
I had to post this picture Brittney drew a few weeks ago.
Brittney was complaining about doing her chores for the day so I sent to her pick an "Extra Job" from the Job Jar we have. Her job was "Draw a picture of you happily doing your chores".
This is what she came up with!
I think Brittney is a great little artist and such a cutie!
When she was finished she said, "Mom, I drew you too with a happy face because I did my jobs." The picture has been hanging on our fridge for a few weeks and it makes me smile every time I see it!
Brittney is so fun and such a sweetheart! She will always be my little buddy--I am really missing her now that she is in school all day!
Brittney was complaining about doing her chores for the day so I sent to her pick an "Extra Job" from the Job Jar we have. Her job was "Draw a picture of you happily doing your chores".
This is what she came up with!
I think Brittney is a great little artist and such a cutie!
When she was finished she said, "Mom, I drew you too with a happy face because I did my jobs." The picture has been hanging on our fridge for a few weeks and it makes me smile every time I see it!
Brittney is so fun and such a sweetheart! She will always be my little buddy--I am really missing her now that she is in school all day!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Herbert John Peterson- My Grandpa
Herbert John Peterson
HOOPER -- Herbert John Peterson, 90, passed away Thursday, January 10, 2013.
He was born July 13, 1922 in Ogden, Utah to John Soren and Irene Davis Peterson.
He married Wanda Simpson June 24, 1942 in Hooper, Utah. They were sealed August 16, 1944 in the Salt Lake Temple.
He served in the Army Air Corp during WWII.
Herbert grew up in West Ogden and moved to Hooper in 1952. He attended Hopkins Elementary, Central Junior High, and was in the second graduating class at the new Ogden High School in 1940.
He was a member of the LDS Church. He served faithfully in many positions, including an ordinance worker at the Ogden Temple for ten years.
He retired from HAFB after 31 years then opened Herb's Sharp Shop for another 31 years. He was a charter member of the Hooper Lions Club. His interests include gardening, model trains, fishing (especially in Alaska), golfing, reading poetry, and garage sales. He was a member of the Golden Spike Gem and Mineral Society. He loved spending Saturdays with his friends at Sam's Club. He was a great example of showing love to his wife and his children.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda; children, L. Scott Peterson; Tamra (Ray) Schenk; Ronald (Shauna) Peterson; Lyle (LaRae) Peterson; Jami (Bob) Bradley; Jon (Bonnie) Peterson; and Jeff W. Peterson; 30 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his sister, Elva Hackwell.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Floyd, Clyde, and Clarence and two great-grandsons.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and aids at IHC Hospice and also family and friends for their support.
The family suggests a donation to your favorite charity.
HOOPER -- Herbert John Peterson, 90, passed away Thursday, January 10, 2013.
He was born July 13, 1922 in Ogden, Utah to John Soren and Irene Davis Peterson.
He married Wanda Simpson June 24, 1942 in Hooper, Utah. They were sealed August 16, 1944 in the Salt Lake Temple.
He served in the Army Air Corp during WWII.
Herbert grew up in West Ogden and moved to Hooper in 1952. He attended Hopkins Elementary, Central Junior High, and was in the second graduating class at the new Ogden High School in 1940.
He was a member of the LDS Church. He served faithfully in many positions, including an ordinance worker at the Ogden Temple for ten years.
He retired from HAFB after 31 years then opened Herb's Sharp Shop for another 31 years. He was a charter member of the Hooper Lions Club. His interests include gardening, model trains, fishing (especially in Alaska), golfing, reading poetry, and garage sales. He was a member of the Golden Spike Gem and Mineral Society. He loved spending Saturdays with his friends at Sam's Club. He was a great example of showing love to his wife and his children.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda; children, L. Scott Peterson; Tamra (Ray) Schenk; Ronald (Shauna) Peterson; Lyle (LaRae) Peterson; Jami (Bob) Bradley; Jon (Bonnie) Peterson; and Jeff W. Peterson; 30 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his sister, Elva Hackwell.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Floyd, Clyde, and Clarence and two great-grandsons.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and aids at IHC Hospice and also family and friends for their support.
The family suggests a donation to your favorite charity.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
In Loving Memory: Herbert John Peterson--- July 13, 1922 - January 10, 2013
(The following is a series of Facebook posts I made since my Grandfather passed away today. I posted several memories on a special Family Facebook Page and I wanted to include them on my blog. All the pictures of my Grandparents, Herb and Wanda Peterson, were taken last summer by my sisters friend Natalie (except this first portrait taken 15+ years ago) and are placed between the various Facebook posts I made.)
Early this morning, my Grandpa, Herbert John Peterson passed away at 90 years old. I have been able to reflect a lot on the lessons my grandpa taught me the past few days in preparation for this time. I will cherish my memories of him. One thing he told me every time I visited was "I sure do love you and I am so proud of you." He loved my grandma with all his heart and he told her that everyday. He always put grandma first in his life and I think he waited until my grandma was ready to let him go. I was able to visit grandpa Sunday night and his face lit up and he smiled at me when my dad told him I was there. I will always remember his face! I am at peace knowing my grandpa has "returned home" and his is with loved ones who have already passed on. My testimony of the plan of salvation has been strengthened today! I love you Grandpa! "God be with you til we meet again!"
I also visited with my sweet grandma for a few minutes this afternoon! What a sweet experience! She loves my grandpa - she misses him already! I love you too grandma!
Another memory of mine: I would often find grandpa sitting on a high stool in his shop, in blue coveralls (which he always wore), totally ASLEEP sitting up! Sometimes he would wake up if you walked in and other times, I would just walk out quietly and shut the door and let him enjoy his little nap.
Grandpa LOVED going to Sam's Club every Saturday morning! He loved to go and visit all of his "girlfriends" who demoed food there. He knew each and every one of the ladies and they knew Grandpa. One Saturday, about 10 years ago, I went to Sam's Club to do my own shopping and I ran into Grandpa there. Grandpa took me around and introduced me to each and every lady at the Riverdale Sam's Club (of course, we had to sample their food too). He was so proud of me and complimentary as he introduced me as his granddaughter. What a special time!
Grandpa talked about his lady friends all the time. I always loved how Grandma let him talk (sometimes she would add an "Oh Herb") and I could always tell Grandma knew she was still and always would be Grandpa's #1!
Grandpa always was so proud of his kids and grand kids. He would share the accomplishments of others with the rest of us. Grandpa always made you feel really good about yourself and you always knew he loved you!
Grandpa loved rocks and gems. Whenever I would visit, I usually was given a tour of the gem case in the family room. Grandpa knew the names of every rock and gem and he could tell you a story of where he found the rock or who gave it to him. His rocks and gems were polished to perfection. Grandpa also loved making jewelry, belt buckles and clocks. Grandpa took great pride in his work! He always gave the most beautiful necklaces to Grandma. I remember a beautiful crystal necklace he made Grandma about 12-15 years ago. I still have the necklaces and earrings grandpa made and gave to me. I also have a rock clock Grandpa made Scott and I for our wedding-- a cherished keepsake!
Grandpa also loved taking me on tours of his immaculate garden. We would walk together by each and every row and he would tell me what he had planted, how the plants were doing, how often they needed watered and how long it would be before it was ready to eat. Grandpa planted corn, beets, peas, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, turnips, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, zucchini, cucumbers, beans, pumpkins, squashes of all kinds (crook-neck, spaghetti, winter, summer, etc.), radishes, etc. If vegetables were ready, he would pick some and send them home with me. Grandpa planted his last garden in 2011! Grandpa was very particular about the care and keeping of his garden!
I have many wonderful memories of grandpa! He loved us all no matter what and he always told me he loved me!
Scott and I had a sweet experience with grandpa at his 90th Birthday Party in July. When Scott and I went to talk with him, we were commenting how wonderful it was that he had made it 90 years and was pretty healthy. He looked at us, with great love in his eyes and in his voice and pointed over to grandma with his thumb and said, "being married to Grandma for 70 years is a greater accomplishment. Not many people can say they have been married to the same person for 70 years". It was so sweet! I really wish I could have video recorded it! (Grandma and Grandpa had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in June with those of us who could attend at the Timbermine).
What a legacy of love! We all have wonderful examples of love and commitment! I'm sure grandpa and grandma had their struggles like the rest of us, but they worked together through each and everyone one.
Yesterday, when I stopped to visit Grandma for just a few minutes she said, "Herb told me every day that he loved me. The last few months he told me he loved me 5 or 6 times a day". Another great example to all of us!
I love you Grandpa! I will miss you but I am so glad I know where you are, who you are with and I know I will see you again someday! Families are Forever!
I also visited with my sweet grandma for a few minutes this afternoon! What a sweet experience! She loves my grandpa - she misses him already! I love you too grandma!
Grandpa LOVED going to Sam's Club every Saturday morning! He loved to go and visit all of his "girlfriends" who demoed food there. He knew each and every one of the ladies and they knew Grandpa. One Saturday, about 10 years ago, I went to Sam's Club to do my own shopping and I ran into Grandpa there. Grandpa took me around and introduced me to each and every lady at the Riverdale Sam's Club (of course, we had to sample their food too). He was so proud of me and complimentary as he introduced me as his granddaughter. What a special time!
Grandpa talked about his lady friends all the time. I always loved how Grandma let him talk (sometimes she would add an "Oh Herb") and I could always tell Grandma knew she was still and always would be Grandpa's #1!
Grandpa always was so proud of his kids and grand kids. He would share the accomplishments of others with the rest of us. Grandpa always made you feel really good about yourself and you always knew he loved you!
Grandpa loved rocks and gems. Whenever I would visit, I usually was given a tour of the gem case in the family room. Grandpa knew the names of every rock and gem and he could tell you a story of where he found the rock or who gave it to him. His rocks and gems were polished to perfection. Grandpa also loved making jewelry, belt buckles and clocks. Grandpa took great pride in his work! He always gave the most beautiful necklaces to Grandma. I remember a beautiful crystal necklace he made Grandma about 12-15 years ago. I still have the necklaces and earrings grandpa made and gave to me. I also have a rock clock Grandpa made Scott and I for our wedding-- a cherished keepsake!
Grandpa also loved taking me on tours of his immaculate garden. We would walk together by each and every row and he would tell me what he had planted, how the plants were doing, how often they needed watered and how long it would be before it was ready to eat. Grandpa planted corn, beets, peas, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, turnips, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, zucchini, cucumbers, beans, pumpkins, squashes of all kinds (crook-neck, spaghetti, winter, summer, etc.), radishes, etc. If vegetables were ready, he would pick some and send them home with me. Grandpa planted his last garden in 2011! Grandpa was very particular about the care and keeping of his garden!
I have many wonderful memories of grandpa! He loved us all no matter what and he always told me he loved me!
Scott and I had a sweet experience with grandpa at his 90th Birthday Party in July. When Scott and I went to talk with him, we were commenting how wonderful it was that he had made it 90 years and was pretty healthy. He looked at us, with great love in his eyes and in his voice and pointed over to grandma with his thumb and said, "being married to Grandma for 70 years is a greater accomplishment. Not many people can say they have been married to the same person for 70 years". It was so sweet! I really wish I could have video recorded it! (Grandma and Grandpa had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in June with those of us who could attend at the Timbermine).
What a legacy of love! We all have wonderful examples of love and commitment! I'm sure grandpa and grandma had their struggles like the rest of us, but they worked together through each and everyone one.
Yesterday, when I stopped to visit Grandma for just a few minutes she said, "Herb told me every day that he loved me. The last few months he told me he loved me 5 or 6 times a day". Another great example to all of us!
I love you Grandpa! I will miss you but I am so glad I know where you are, who you are with and I know I will see you again someday! Families are Forever!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Grandma and Grandpa Peterson (Herb and Wanda)
The following is a little thing I wrote about my Grandparents in honor of their 70th Wedding Anniversary. My aunt asked everyone in the family to record memories about Grandma and Grandpa--here are a few of my memories! The pictures of my grandparents were taken by my sister's friend in the Summer of 2011. She also took pictures of their home, Grandpa's shop and other items from their home which I wanted to include.
GRANDMA AND GRANDPA PETERSON
Herb and Wanda Peterson
70th Wedding Anniversary
Saturday, June, 23, 2012
I have many, many memories of Grandma and Grandpa Peterson.
It was always a treat to go visit Grandpa and Grandma Peterson as a child since we lived
further away. I remember going to stay overnight at Grandma and Grandpa’s house
whenever we came to visit from Preston, Sandy or Tooele. . We would make beds for
ourselves on the green reclining chairs (of course, with eight of us kids, we would fight
over who got to sleep in the chairs). We would stay up late in our beds watching the
news and MASH with Grandpa. In the morning, Grandma and Grandpa always had boxes of
Honey Combs cereal for us to eat!
name engraved on it. Inside was a baptismal certificate and a pedigree chart. Grandma
has always had several large Book of Remembrances on her shelf that I loved to look
through with pictures and stories of our ancestors. I loved reading the stories of our
ancestors that she had collected and typed. She had so many old pictures of our
ancestors too that made our ancestors come more alive to me. I also love looking at
Grandma’s scrapbooks she has kept over the years which she has labeled in her beautiful,
perfect cursive handwriting!
When I was about 10 years old, Grandma invited me to come and stay at their house for a
week during the summer. My family and I came up on a Sunday evening, for the
traditional cheese sandwiches and hot chocolate, and then my family left around 10:00 or
10:30 (we always stayed late). Grandma and I had made big plans of going shopping
together and she was going to take me to the Classic Water Slides during the week. As
soon as my family left, I got changed into my pajamas and crawled in bed in the spare
room. I started to feel really scared and I wanted to go home (my family was probably
only 10 miles up the road). Grandma comforted me and she promised she would drive me
home in the morning. The next morning, we climbed into the car and she drove me home
to Sandy. She kept telling me we should have invited Aleece to stay too so I wouldn’t be
so lonely.
afternoons after I graduated from Utah State. I was living at my other Grandparents
home in Roy and Grandma Peterson invited me down to eat Sunday dinner with them
each week. We had wonderful conversations about life and the gospel. Grandma and
Grandpa would tell stories from their childhoods and Grandpa would give me lots of
advice and Grandma would say, “Oh, Herb!!” It was so cute!. I loved being with Grandma
in the kitchen preparing dinner and cleaning up! Grandma would share her recipes with me
and she has always been a wonderful cook! I went down to Grandma’s house, on several
occasions, before I was married, and she taught me how to make pie crust and homemade
bread.
Grandma has always kept her Book of Mormon on the little table by her chair in the family
room. For years, the Hooper Stake gave out a little chart that said “I have read the
Book of Mormon in ___ (year)” with a little square to color in each day of the year when
you read. Many, many times, when I go visit Grandma, I peek inside her scriptures to her
little chart and I notice almost every little box is colored in. I don’t know if Grandma
ever saw me sneak a peek in her book but Grandma, in her own quiet way, has taught me
the importance of the Book of Mormon and reading it on a daily basis. I thank you for
this legacy!!
always tinkering with something. Over the years, Grandpa’s interests have changed. I loved
watching Grandpa make clocks. He loved making jewelry and collecting gems, stones and
rocks. Whenever I would go and visit, Grandpa always had to show me the latest thing he
had made. I love listening to Grandpa talk about his wares!
visit, he would take me out to the garden and point out the different plants. Grandpa
has always taken such good care of his garden. Last year, Scott planted our first
vegetable garden. Before we planted our garden, Scott was talking to Grandpa about
plants and seeds and what varieties of fruits and vegetables Grandpa planted and why.
Grandpa sent us home one Sunday night with one of his “Gurney” catalogs and we ended
purchased many seeds and plants from it. It is always fun listening to Scott and
Grandpa talk about their gardens.
Mallory, Hayley and Brittney lovingly refer to Grandma and Grandpa as “Hot Chocolate
Grandma and Grandpa”! They love to visit Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday’s and carry on
the same traditions I loved as a child– going to Grandma and Grandpa’s for cheese
sandwiches, hot chocolate, Kool-Aid and Twizzlers or Red Vine licorice!
We love you Grandma and Grandpa!
Love,
Erin, Scott, Mallory, Hayley and Brittney
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Clinton Creepers-- 2012 Wasatch Back Ragnar
Clinton Creepers Van #1
Corey, Jantzen, Steve, Mike, Amie and I (with Scott as our driver)
@6:45 a.m. before we headed up to Logan to start the race on Friday, June, 15, 2012
Things I Learned and Relearned from
Running the Wasatch Back Ragnar
2012
"Clinton Creepers"
1. Always look for the good in others
2. It is so important to motivate and encourage others on their path through life.
3. Strangers can easily become friends as we help one another.
4. Everyone’s path in life is different and each path is difficult in its own way. (Each of our legs were different and unique - we can’t compare them to one another in difficulty because each and every leg was difficult to each of us in one way or another.)
5. No matter how much training you do, you will run into bumps and unexpected things along the way. You will be challenged physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
6. The power of prayer and the power of the Atonements is REAL!!
7. The importance of the love and support of those we love the most will get us through the hard times when we want to quit or give up.
8. The importance of working together as a team. We couldn’t have finished the Ragnar without the efforts of each and every team member!
9. We can’t do it on our own. We must allow Jesus Christ to walk with us along the path of life.
10. There is a “Runner’s Wall”! It is real, but we can push through it and accomplish what we have set out to do!!
11. There is a power in music!!
12. Positive self-talk (even talking outloud) can do wonders!
13. Running long distances is as much a mental effort as a physical effort!
14. After all we can do–- the Lord will make up the rest!!
I ran with some amazing people!! Everyone came and did their part and it was an awesome experience!
**Each of these lessons has an experience behind it! I will have to write them down soon!! Stay tuned!!
-Erin Ropelato
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Me finishing my last leg!!!
My sister Rebecca and I--Becca ran on another team but we met up at the finish line in Park City! It was wonderful to see her finish with her team!!
My wonderful "Clinton Creepers" team!! We finished the 197 miles in 34 hours and 48 minutes!!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Easter: I Know That My Redeemer Lives - Michael R. Hicks
My really wonderful friend Danielle sang this song "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" in Sacrament Meeting today (not this exact version). This is my most favorite hymn! Danielle has the most beautiful voice and she sounded angelic as she sang today! Thank you Danielle for sharing your talents today! Although I am not blessed with an angelic singing voice, I can recognize a beautiful voice when I hear one (can that be a talent??)! I truly appreciate those who can sing and play (my other dear friend Brooke played the piano for Danielle and Brooke is amazing) and share their testimonies through music with me!! Music truly speaks to my Spirit and I feel my Savior's love through music!!
What a blessed day!
Happy Easter!
Easter Sunday: Gethsemane Song - Stories of Jesus
Sacrament Meeting today was wonderful! The music was beautiful and the testimony's shared were powerful!! Our beautiful neighbor, Grace (who is 11 years old and one of my girls most favorite babysitters) sang this song "Gethsemane" today!! WOW! Grace has a beautiful voice and this song is so simple, yet so powerful and profound!
Here are the words to the song:
GETHSEMANE
by Roger and Melanie Hoffman
Jesus climbed the hill
to the garden still
His steps were heavy and slow
Love and a prayer, took Him there
to the place only He could go
Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He went willingly
to Gethsemane
He felt all that was sad
wicked or bad
all the pain we would ever know
While His friends were asleep
He fought to keep
His promise made long ago
Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He went willingly
to Gethsemane
The hardest thing that ever was done
The greatest pain that ever was known
The biggest battle that ever was won
This was done by Jesus
The fight was won by Jesus
Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He gave His gift to me
in Gethsemane
Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He gives His gift to me
from Gethsemane
Here are the words to the song:
GETHSEMANE
by Roger and Melanie Hoffman
Jesus climbed the hill
to the garden still
His steps were heavy and slow
Love and a prayer, took Him there
to the place only He could go
Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He went willingly
to Gethsemane
He felt all that was sad
wicked or bad
all the pain we would ever know
While His friends were asleep
He fought to keep
His promise made long ago
Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He went willingly
to Gethsemane
The hardest thing that ever was done
The greatest pain that ever was known
The biggest battle that ever was won
This was done by Jesus
The fight was won by Jesus
Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He gave His gift to me
in Gethsemane
Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
so He gives His gift to me
from Gethsemane
As Grace sang, my heart was full! The line "so He gave it willingly" hit me pretty hard. Jesus Christ willingly gave His life for me--for all my weaknesses, shortcomings, sins, heartaches and pains. He suffered willingly for me because Heavenly Father asked Him to atone for my sins. Jesus Christ was 100% obedient to His Father's will! I wish I was as obedient as Jesus Christ!
I am surrounded by such wonderful family and friends! I couldn't ask for anything more. Our next door neighbor bore his testimony today about Jesus Christ today too! Nathan is a great young man!!
I heard such powerful testimonies of Jesus Christ today. A friend, Amy, reminded me that Jesus Christ already paid the price for my sins and I need to be willing to allow Him to heal me! I cannot express in words the feelings I felt and the things that touched my heart today!
Our Bishop, Bishop Barnett (my other next door neighbor--see I told you I was surrounded by great and wonderful people) challenged us to ponder the following questions:
1- What has Jesus Christ done for me?
2-What have I done for Him?
3- What am I doing for Jesus Christ?
I wrote the following in my little notebook at church today:
We knew and loved each other before this life. We cannot do it on our own. We need one another. Jesus Christ loved us enough to do the Father's will. Jesus Christ freed me from death and sin. The Atonement of Jesus Christ does heal. Jesus Christ can do His work! I am so lucky to have the knowledge and testimony I have!
Bishop Barnett read Isaiah 53:3-5 which says,
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3-5)
I have a testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know He lives! I know He loves me! I know He is my Savior and my Redeemer! My heart if full!!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Bagged, Tagged and Ready to Go!!
It's that time of YEAR!!
Yesterday and today, I got everything ready for our 14 Days of Valentine's! Everything is put together with a treat and valentine! Mallory, Hayley and Brittney are so excited to see what has been left for them each morning!
Happy 14 Days Before Valentine's to ALL!!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Super Reader Party
In November, Mallory, Hayley and Brittney participated in a Reading Marathon where they read at least 20 minutes per night for 4 weeks. Each of them met their goal of reading at least 480 and were invited to a fun to a fun celebration at the Utah State Fairpark. We were able to watch a star show, make slime, plant flower seeds, make crowns, watch a magic show, make masks, eat snow cones, make capes, see animals from Madagascar (a cockroach, turtle, millipede and a hedgehog) and make harmonicas. We also watched an anteater run circles in an empty plastic pool!! The girls also received a brand new book!!
One of the highlights was to meet several characters from PBS Kids! We met Curious George, the Cat in the Hat, and Dog from Word World! (My girls LOVE PBS Kids!!!)
Hayley: a chemist in action measuring chemicals to create Glitter Slime
Hayley, Brittney and Mallory listening to the zoologist from Hogle Zoo talk about anteaters
Brittney and Mallory blowing a pompom through a maze
Hayley shooting a dart gun (I was amazed at how well all 3 of our girls did hitting the target!)
Brittney and the Cat in the Hat
Hayley and The Cat
Mallory and the Cat in the Hat
Hayley and Dog from Word World
Brittney and Curious George
Mallory making her "I Feel Super" cape
We had a great time together as a family!!
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