Mother and Father's Day

I was blessed to have been raised by such wonderful parents.  I learned so much from them about kindness and hard work and love and what it means to be in a family.

This picture was made just before we moved to Sicily.  I was in the 1st grade.  For most of my early years Daddy was stationed in the northeastern part of the United States.  I started school in Bainbridge, Maryland.  Momma says that they hoped they would get transferred to Florida or someplace close to home in Arkansas after they left Maryland.  When Daddy's orders came, they were to move to Sigonella, Sicily. I have a very clear memory of asking "Where?" and being told that Sicily was the 'football' that 'boot' shaped Italy kicked.  Certainly not very close to Lonoke, Arkansas.

Sicily was a great experience for me.  I attribute my love of travel to our two and a half year Italian adventure.

Exciting, happy news!!!!

Johnny and Monica are starting their own eternal family on May 30th in the Buenos Aires Temple!  They have been in love for a long time.  Such an exciting time for them and for us!  George and I will make a quick trip so that we can be there for this happy occasion.  Actually we wouldn't miss it!

Spring in Harper's Ferry

I just wanted to share a few of my favorite photos from my morning walks in Harper's Ferry!

Plus a few from Williamsburg...

Whining again....

I'm allowing myself one more WHINE about the destruction of my alma mater, Lonoke High School.  I think it was a beautiful building.  Just kills me to write that it was a beautiful building. It was torn down a couple of years ago and a new school built.  Don't get me wrong, I know they needed a new school.  My mother graduated from this one in 1938 so it was definitely in need of repair.  I just will never understand why they didn't add on behind this historical building.  I think I've just traveled enough to see the value in preserving our history.

Right down the street from Mary's house is another historic school building, also built in the 1930s I think.  They too needed a new school.  What did they do?  Did they tear the old school down?  NO they didn't.

Harper's Ferry Schools remodeled and added on while keeping the look and feel of the original building.

And also adding the additional classrooms and modern conveniences they needed.

Ok, there is my whine for the year about Lonoke High School!  I don't think I'll ever get over this but I am going to TRY not to whine about it anymore!

Bad Girls

I think we must have been bad one day!

And I always thought we were such nice girls!

Another adventure with Mary!

Enjoyed a wonderful visit with my #1 daughter!  Spring in West Virginia is almost as pretty as spring in Oregon!  But nothing can possibly beat spending time with Mary!

We took a short trip to Williamsburg, Virginia. While there we stormed the British Governor's Palace to protest his taking all the gun powder leaving the colonist (and soon to be revolutionists) without weapons.

 The British Governor was not amused.

We stood in the crowd as the Declaration of Independence was read on the steps of the courthouse.  It was entertaining to talk to the 'colonists' in the crowd who were so worried about the coming war with Great Britain.  One lady turned to me and said, "I am so afraid. I have 3 sons and they will want to fight for Independence. Do you have sons?" When I replied that I did, she said, "We don't know that the the French and Spanish will fight with us." I told her I was pretty sure they would welcome any chance to fight the British.

Our favorite speaker was Patrick Henry. The man who portrayed him was just excellent.  I was amazed at the depth of his knowledge.  I feel like I really know the man Patrick Henry.  Also I was impressed with the questions the crowd asked him.  Lots of intelligent, well read people there!

 We watched a slave couple 'jump the broom', which means that they got married.

Plus we had some great food at the taverns in the colonial area.

Our smart phones didn't quite fit the 'Colonial' theme though!

I'm so glad I have a daughter who loves to travel and a son-in-law who approves of our 'Mom-daughter' adventures!!!

Memes

I often see the word 'meme' and I know generally what they are but I decided to look up the actual meaning.  I loved what I found.  

Historically, a meme is a discrete 'package of culture' that would travel via word of mouth, usually as a mesmerizing story, a fable, a joke, or an expression of speech.  Today memes travel much faster than simple speech.  As internet email forwards, instant messages, and web page links, memes now travel instantly via the internet.

Last weekend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its semi-annual General Conference.  Thousands of people traveled to Salt City to attend meetings held from 10-12 and from 2-4 on both Saturday and Sunday; with a special meeting for men and young men on Saturday from 6 - 8. (Just so you know, the women of the church had a special meeting just for them on the Saturday before.) These meeting are held in the new conference center across from temple square. Because we sustain our leaders as prophets, seers and revelators, we all look forward to this chance to listen to their words of counsel.   With modern technology most of us are able to stay home, sometimes in our pajamas, and listen by way of TV or the internet.  One of my friends said it is like 'super bowl Sunday for Mormons."

What does this have to do with memes?  Well the conference sessions were hardly over before Facebook was busy with Mormon Memes….little packages of our LDS culture. Words of wisdom and practical advice from God through his servants, living prophets! 

I blog in the hopes that my grandchildren and great grandchildren will get to know me a little as they read my annual blog books.  For them, here are a few of my favorites 'packages of gospel culture'!