My Family History Blog

I started a blog including pictures and highlights of my ancestors lives.  I have been so inspired reading the histories of those who sacrificed so much.

http://nealfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/

Primary Power

One day last week, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  We'd gotten to bed late, the baby woke up 2 or 3 times in the night, & the kitchen was a mess & heaps of clean laundry were strewn about my room as kids rushed in to find something to wear.  So once everyone scrambled off to school & work I wanted to crawl back into bed.  I started to have a string of negative thoughts like...
Here I am stuck with the mess to clean up again.
If only I was a better mother, I would have trained my kids by now to pick up after themselves by now..
Why does everyone expect me to be their servant and clean up after them?
etc.............
Then Alyssa came up to me with a little book I made her with words & pictures to a primary song.
 "Mom, will you read this to me?"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
As I held her on my lap and started singing the words with her, I teared up  after the first 2 lines  hearing her cute off-key voice picking out the words she knew.  It was "A Child's Prayer."

" Heavenly Father, Are you really there?
And do you hear and answer every child's prayer
Some say that heaven is far away
But I feel it close around me every day.

This little experience transformed my perspective that day & I was able to go about my everyday clean up tasks with a new perspective and optimism.  I felt peace and was able to remember that Heavenly Father is truly aware of me.  I reflected on how many days I'm sure I left messes for my mom to pick up as I rushed off to school.

Today I had another "primary moment"  (although it didn't melt my heart quite as much). I caught Alyssa drawing with markers on some of my music.  This isn't the first time & probably won't be the last, since she sees me "drawing" on music all the time with my students & her siblings.  As  I started speaking to her with firmness,  she started singing,
"My am a child of God..."

She still spent some time in time-out, but its hard to stay mad at such a sweet little girl for very long.

What I wish I Learned in School

I learned a lot of good things in school but somehow over the years I missed out on some basic knowledge.  Wish they had a class called "Homeowner 101" with some practical tips like...

The furnace filter should face the furnace & be changed regularly. I knew it should be changed (although I didn't do it every 3 mos), but unfortunately I guessed the wrong direction on the airflow which cost me about $100 in furnace repairs today since our furnace was only blowing cold air on the first snow day of the year:)

If you have children don't buy an "easy  change" toilet paper roll holder  that  the roll just slides off of.  The new rolls "drop off" into the trash way too often!

When designing cabinets, think about the light overhead.  We have a major design flaw where the linen cabinet door can't open without hitting (& someday shattering) the light fixture.  Waiting to bite the bullet to replace the light/fan.

Choose dirt colored carpet if you have kids:)

Don't leave fertilizer with iron in it on your sidewalks.

Don't plant raspberries next to your AC unit or you'll be pruning constantly :)

Good things:
I have a home that I can pay to repair
Having a 2 year old who loves to unload the dishwasher & put stuff where it belongs

You Can Buy Happiness in a can!

Today I glanced through  the Scouting magazine Jared gets in the mail for free & before throwing it away I spotted an article Titled "10 Simple Steps to Happiness."  I just wanted to share this so that any of you are feeling less than happy today, you can take care of your problem quickly:)

Tip # 6 Eat Sardines!
So, according to this article if you go buy some sardines and down them, then you'll be happier... (less likely to be depressed or commit suicide thanks to all the DHA).

HaHa,somehow just the thought of having to down a can of sardines just doesn't make me feel very happy. 

I did appreciate some of the other more valid tips like
Practice Gratitude - I was certainly grateful to the kind lady at the grocery store that helped calm by 2 crying kids and commented on how cute they were while I was rushing to bag all the groceries after standing in line for way too long.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Successful People - I think I've come to grips with the fact that I'll never be a Mitt Romney, but I sure hope he is successful in becoming our next president :)

Count Your Blessings - I am so thankful for a supportive husband who is my best friend.  I love it when he teaches the family night lesson to our kids like last night and captivates them with his entertaining childhood experiences of being stuck in an elevator.
Go to bed by 10 pm  - Lately I stink at this one. Once the kids are all in bed its just to tempting to stay up late talking to Jared or reading a good book.
Help Others - I enjoyed the sweet experience helping with the lunch at a funeral for one of the sister's in our ward this weekend.  As her children spoke about her life, It was nice to reflect on the positive influence my parents have had on my life & recommit to being more involved in positive ways with my children before they grow up.

Join an organization or club - I don't think this one is going to contribute to my happiness right now. In fact I signed up for the PTO & paid dues at Rebecca's school, then got called as Relief Society Counselor & Jared is now on the high counsel.  When I read over the minutes to the meeting, I was grateful that I didn't bring my 2 little kids to it or add any more commitments to my plate.  At least they can use my $ for refreshments or something :)

Perfect Photoshoot

 

 

As much as I dislike family pictures... I'm so glad that I finally scheduled to have my friend Melonie take them for us.  The evening was perfect, the kids were more cooperative than ever and I'm thrilled with the results.
You can see more on her facebook page  - head to toe photograph.

Josh loves to feel his new tooth with his tongue :)

Fall Happenings

Now that my camera screen is broken... I haven't taken too many pictures since I can't see what I'm getting until I load them on the computer, so I was pretty happy that I actually was able to capture the subject in these pics!

Joshua - about 6 months

I love it when he sucks his thumb!  So far my thumb suckers are my best sleepers and they broke the habit on their own.

Pack meeting cooperation games

 Daniel became a scout and he is pretty motivated now that he's gotten past the Bobcat requirements of memorizing all of the sayings :)  A few weeks ago he planned a family night lesson on service all on his own.  He  ended with a challenge for us to choose a different person each day to serve.  I saw a noticeable improvement in the level of peace in our home that week.  On one of the days he bought some of my favorite treats (chocolate covered orange sticks) and hid a few with a nice note on my pillow to surprise me with.
He asked if we could recite the cub scout promise for Family Night this week!

 We loved having our family up to visit for Daniel's baptism.. more pictures of that to come when I locate Rebecca's camera :0)

 

 I finally scheduled to have our family pictures taken.  I took a few snapshots before my friend Melonie (our photographer) arrived.  I'll be posting her professional ones once we get them.

 

 Jacob, Daniel & Emily participated in the school fun run. Despite what the school says about it "not being a contest"... Daniel takes this race pretty seriously.  As soon as it was announced he asked Jared to start "training" with him in the mornings.  I went one Saturday to walk around the track and just once was enough to tire me, so I am pretty amazed at my kids endurance levels to run 3 or 4 laps without walking one bit.  Daniel ended up in 3rd place in his grade & Jacob was insistent he was well enough to come and run despite staying home that morning for flu symptoms.  He was in the top 5 for his grade.

Even Emily joined the boys for a few days of training & Jared ran with her this year.  Last year I tried running the first lap with her and realized I was slowing her down more than encouraging her along :)

 

Squaw Peak Story and Inspiration

Squaw Peak is known for its beautiful lookout points + a little bit more among college students in Utah County, but I learned about a unique family tie to it this week. 
I feel so inspired as I read the accounts and testimonies of my ancestors.  They sacrificed so much and endured hardships that make my current life look like a piece of cake.  I come away feeling more hopeful about my life and more determined to face my challenges with optimism and faith.  This week, I came across this interesting story involving my ancestor, Isaac Higbee, the first stake president of Utah County, and his son Joseph.  I thought it might make an interesting family night lesson.

Isaac Higbee, II  born 1797

"On January 31, 1850, Isaac Higbee sent a report to Brigham Young that the Indians in Utah Valley, “had killed and stolen between 50 and 60 head of cattle and horses, that they were saucy and threatened to kill more cattle and get other Indians to join them in killing the settlers in Utah Valley. Higbee further reported that the brethren in Utah Fort were agreed in asking the privilege of defending themselves against the Indians.” The request for help was granted and Governor Young dispatched a hundred men to strengthen and protect the settlers.

The Indians were under command of Big Elk, a brave resourceful leader. They had fortified themselves in a bend of the Provo River occupying a log cabin abandoned by a pioneer who had sought the shelter of the Fort. (He had been advised not to build apart in the first place.)

An attempt was made to negotiate peace, but while the parley was in progress Big Elk opened fire. The pioneers fired back. At the close of the first day the Indians still held their position. On the following day by a determined attack possession of the cabin was gained, and a final retreat was brought about by the construction of a V-shaped barricade of planks which was covered with brush, while the inside was hung with buffalo robes and blankets to stop the force of the bullets should they penetrate the timbers. This strange object was pushed toward the Indians, who took alarm and retreated.

“Investigation the following day revealed two or three Indian warriors either dead or dying and one squaw dead. Big Elk who had sworn never to live in peace with the white man, died on the way to Rock Canyon, to which part of his force had fled. Big Elk’s widow, a fine-appearing, intelligent young squaw, in attempting to climb a precipice, fell and was killed. From this incident, it is said, Squaw Peak, near the mouth of Rock Canyon, received its name.”

Joseph, son of President Isaac Higbee and a lad of nineteen, was one numbered among the men who took part in this conflict. While the fighting was in progress Joseph and a comrade were concealed behind a log. His companion saw that an Indian had discovered them, and had a gun pointed in their direction. The young man warned Higbee of the danger, and told him not to raise his head. Both lay behind the log for sometime. At last becoming very weary in the uncomfort-able position and suffering from the intense cold, Joseph asked his companion if he thought it would be safe to take a look over the log. His friend urged him not to do so, but Joseph finally made the venture. The moment his head appeared above the log a shot was fired, the bullet striking and breaking his neck.

Joseph had a premonition before the battle that he would not survive the conflict and he told his older sister, Amanda, of his forebodings. She urged him not to go out to fight, but he answered that he could not be a coward, and would go even if he knew he should be killed.

It was the first death among the settlers in the first Indian War in Utah and it cast a gloom over the little community. The blow was especially severe to President Higbee as this was his only living son, and not for some time was he able to reconcile himself to the loss."

 

My heart was touched as I also read about the trials his 9 months pregnant wife Keziah String endured.

 

"From Andrew Jensen’s Biographical Encyclopedia and Isaac’s Journal we are told: “In the flight to Clay County we crossed the Missouri River. There had been heavy rains and floods the night before and all day, and it was this night my son, Alma, was born. He died in Clay County two and a half years later.” Isaac’s daughter, Amanda Higbee McEwan, gives the following account of the flight and birth: “The first sorrow I ever felt was the night after we were driven out of Jackson County. We camped at the foot of a high bluff and in the night a terrible storm arose, the rain came down in torrents and we had to climb the bluff to keep from being swept away by the swelling flood. We took shelter in a cave after driving out the wild hogs. My dear mother had to be carried up, being too ill to help herself and not being able to lie down she sat in her chair through the long night. Morning came at last as it always does, and with the light (though it was still raining) we resumed our journey. This day we crossed the Missouri River and immediately pitched our tent when a few moments after my mother gave birth to a son. And it was that night the stars fell from the heaven and our enemies thought the day of judgement had come.”

These excerpts were copied from the full account on this site 

 

I think the loss of a child would be one of the most difficult trials I could endure.   I was holding Joshua in my arms when I listened to  Elder Bowen's talk in conference yesterday about the emotions and feelings he experienced after the death of their 8 month old put some chalk in his mouth.  It made me pretty teary-eyed and helped me to feel an outpouring of love for the children we have been blessed to have  and hold despite the fatigue and impatience I feel after waking up 4 times in the night to care for them when they are sick/hungry.

 

I also love the letter Keziah's daughter Amanda wrote to her posterity in the Relief Society box found here.  ( also in the Jesse Knight Family book)

A few of my favorite parts are:

Provo, Utah March 25, 1881

To my dear children and my grandchildren who may be living when the box which contains this letter shall be opened and the fingers that penned these lines gone back to mother earth.

I conjure you, my dear children, to be faithful in all your covenants that you make in the Church. Pay all your tithes and offerings with an eye single to the glory of God and be faithful to the end of your days. It is the great love I bear you that causes me to pen you these few lines, the last you will have from me on this earth. It is the voice of your mother and grandmother speaking to you from the grave, calling upon you to live near your God and do all that you can that is left undone for our dead.

 ...

And now, my beloved children and children’s children, down to the latest generation: Be true to yourself and to your religion and to your God for there is no exaltation outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I might write much mere but we are told to be as brief as possible that there may be room in the box for all. If any of my dear children are living when this come to hand, I hope they will think much of what I have written, for it is with pure motive. Now do all you can for yourselves, my darlings, and: for the building up of the Kingdom of God en the earth, and may God bless you all, is the prayer of your loving Mother and Grandmother.

AMANDA M. McEWAN

To her loving children and grandchildren to the latest generation.

 

This makes me think of the scripture in Malachi regarding the hearts of the children being turned to their fathers. What a privilege it is to be able to read the thoughts and experienced of those I am linked to and to gain strength from their example and  help me count the blessings I enjoy today!