Today is June 28, 2008. This day would have been Mom and Dad's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple by Joseph Fielding Smith. There is a great story that goes along with this special day. Both Mom and Dad lived in the Provo area. There was no Provo Temple in 1948 and there wasn't a freeway. The closest temple was in Salt Lake City, which was 50 miles away. The day finally arrived and in the excitement of the day, they left their marriage license home, at Mom's house, where it would not get lost. They were in the temple when the problem was realized. The temple worker took the problem to President Smith. He instructed them to go forward with their endowments then if they could get back by 4:00 pm with their license he would personally marry them. That is just what happened.
Now I don't know what kind of car Dad drove, but I sure it didn't go as fast as cars today. There was no freeway, but there again I don't believe there was nearly as much traffic either. I know they were blessed that day!
I remember how pleased Mom was on their 50th wedding anniversary. I'm sure Mom is celebrating her anniversary today, being grateful for temple ordinances and covenants made in the Lord's holy house.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! We are grateful for this special day and the example you set for each of us. We love you!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
A Legacy of Service
Your mother, Deane, did an act of service that forever earned her a place in my heart though I'm not so sure she realized it at the time.
When Tyler, our first child was born, neither Kris or I had much of a clue what we were doing. I had grown up in a family of just two children and it had been years since there was a baby in my family. The morning we brought Tyler home from the hospital Kris asked me to change his diaper. I was so green behind the gills as they say, having never changed a diaper in my life I had to sheepishly ask Kris to show me how. Being the sweetheart that Kris is she was very patient and showed me how to change the diaper.
None the less, we still had much to learn. My parents were all goo goo ga ga over Tyler, being he was their first grand child. However, as I mentioned, it had been years since they had had a baby in their home and had little assistance to render. They would come to visit and after a while it would be "ooh he poops too, well bye see ya later."
After a few very sleepless nights Deane came to the rescue. She sat down with Tyler and snuggled up like she loved to do with all of her grandbabies. She told Kris and I to get some sleep, which we did.
After several hours of some of the best sleep we had had in days I awoke to the smell of something burning. The previous Christmas some of our friends had given us some tin trays to put over and protect the heating elements on our electric stove when it wasn't in use. Deane had gotten up and put a pot of water on to boil. However, not being familier with our stove she turned the heat on to the wrong element, one of which she had not removed the tin tray. With in a matter of a few minitues the stove heated up and burned the paint right off of it. At the time she felt terrible about what had happened. I'm sure she felt like she had come to help and made things worse. She had no idea at the time that I was so grateful for the sleep that I came very close to pulling the last $20.00 I had out of my wallet and telling her to go buy another set of trays and to burn them too and to keep the change.
It was the only time she came to help with one of our new babies. But, at the time being our first child, it came as a huge blessing one that she may never know how much Kris and I appreciated.
When Tyler, our first child was born, neither Kris or I had much of a clue what we were doing. I had grown up in a family of just two children and it had been years since there was a baby in my family. The morning we brought Tyler home from the hospital Kris asked me to change his diaper. I was so green behind the gills as they say, having never changed a diaper in my life I had to sheepishly ask Kris to show me how. Being the sweetheart that Kris is she was very patient and showed me how to change the diaper.
None the less, we still had much to learn. My parents were all goo goo ga ga over Tyler, being he was their first grand child. However, as I mentioned, it had been years since they had had a baby in their home and had little assistance to render. They would come to visit and after a while it would be "ooh he poops too, well bye see ya later."
After a few very sleepless nights Deane came to the rescue. She sat down with Tyler and snuggled up like she loved to do with all of her grandbabies. She told Kris and I to get some sleep, which we did.
After several hours of some of the best sleep we had had in days I awoke to the smell of something burning. The previous Christmas some of our friends had given us some tin trays to put over and protect the heating elements on our electric stove when it wasn't in use. Deane had gotten up and put a pot of water on to boil. However, not being familier with our stove she turned the heat on to the wrong element, one of which she had not removed the tin tray. With in a matter of a few minitues the stove heated up and burned the paint right off of it. At the time she felt terrible about what had happened. I'm sure she felt like she had come to help and made things worse. She had no idea at the time that I was so grateful for the sleep that I came very close to pulling the last $20.00 I had out of my wallet and telling her to go buy another set of trays and to burn them too and to keep the change.
It was the only time she came to help with one of our new babies. But, at the time being our first child, it came as a huge blessing one that she may never know how much Kris and I appreciated.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Aunt Mary's Biography of Grandma Deane
The preceding was the biography of Grandma Deane handed out at the family reunion.Click a page to enlarge it.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Piccalilli
It is interesting that Tyler would remember Mom's piccalilli. It is really good and worth remembering.
When John and Paul and I were little, next to making deadly nightshade potions for the Wicked Witch (to destroy her of course), Mom's piccalilli was one of our most daring quests. We would have to sneak the key to the basement without getting caught and questioned and then locate the latest batch--giving it sufficient time for potency. Then we would go out on the North side of the house with a fork, also pilfered from the kitchen, and share the entire bottle. The adventure made it taste all the better. Mom was probably aware of what we were doing when the empty bottles and forks showed up in her kitchen, but it always amazed her how quickly the stuff disappeared.
We enjoyed piccalilli for Thanksgiving for several years after we made it with Mom. I'm glad we have the recipe since Tyler is wanting to make it again. I will always savor the memories as we eat it that take me back to a time of quests and co-conspirators.
When John and Paul and I were little, next to making deadly nightshade potions for the Wicked Witch (to destroy her of course), Mom's piccalilli was one of our most daring quests. We would have to sneak the key to the basement without getting caught and questioned and then locate the latest batch--giving it sufficient time for potency. Then we would go out on the North side of the house with a fork, also pilfered from the kitchen, and share the entire bottle. The adventure made it taste all the better. Mom was probably aware of what we were doing when the empty bottles and forks showed up in her kitchen, but it always amazed her how quickly the stuff disappeared.
We enjoyed piccalilli for Thanksgiving for several years after we made it with Mom. I'm glad we have the recipe since Tyler is wanting to make it again. I will always savor the memories as we eat it that take me back to a time of quests and co-conspirators.
Grandma Deanes Piccalilli
Once, my family made this piccalilli with Grandma Deane:
Grandma Deane's Piccalilli Mix
2 bunches of celery
2 pkg. carrots
3 heads cauliflower
2 Lbs. pickeling onions
1 gallon small sliced cucumbers
20 hot peppers
Wash and prepare vegetables pack into hot jars. Cover with boiling brine and seal.
(Boil plays well.)
Brine
Add 2 cups white vinegar to 6 cups water and 1/2 cup softner salt.
Grandma Deane's Piccalilli Mix
2 bunches of celery
2 pkg. carrots
3 heads cauliflower
2 Lbs. pickeling onions
1 gallon small sliced cucumbers
20 hot peppers
Wash and prepare vegetables pack into hot jars. Cover with boiling brine and seal.
(Boil plays well.)
Brine
Add 2 cups white vinegar to 6 cups water and 1/2 cup softner salt.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Summer reading programs
Mom had the right idea when it came to getting children into the summer reading programs at the library. Not only did it make us smarter, preserving all our hard work from the previous school year, it gave her some down time to do one of her favorite things...read...which in turn showed us the example of enjoying a good book.
She often would read along with me and we would have great discussions about ideas and concepts presented in the book. These conversations often were jumping off points for Gospel related topics and an exploration of values and principles. Not only could she have been a doctor, Julie, she would have made a marvelous English teacher. There is no doubt she was a marvelous teacher to us.
When I married Lyn, he hated to read. It was a laborious chore, drudge work, homework, and not interesting. How could this be? I grew up with a love of the printed page. Little by little, I have introduced him to good literature and he has caught the vision of reading. He told me just last night, looking forward to relishing reading the next good book together that he can now sit down and read to relax and for pleasure.
Tyler also has learned a love for reading through summer reading programs. Thanks to how well our first summer reading program took, it has become a tradition to read a 100 books the summer after kindergarten for a trip to Lagoon.
Well, I could go on and on about how Mom probably read 9/10ths of the Springville Public Library in her lifetime, but I need to be off to the library.
She often would read along with me and we would have great discussions about ideas and concepts presented in the book. These conversations often were jumping off points for Gospel related topics and an exploration of values and principles. Not only could she have been a doctor, Julie, she would have made a marvelous English teacher. There is no doubt she was a marvelous teacher to us.
When I married Lyn, he hated to read. It was a laborious chore, drudge work, homework, and not interesting. How could this be? I grew up with a love of the printed page. Little by little, I have introduced him to good literature and he has caught the vision of reading. He told me just last night, looking forward to relishing reading the next good book together that he can now sit down and read to relax and for pleasure.
Tyler also has learned a love for reading through summer reading programs. Thanks to how well our first summer reading program took, it has become a tradition to read a 100 books the summer after kindergarten for a trip to Lagoon.
Well, I could go on and on about how Mom probably read 9/10ths of the Springville Public Library in her lifetime, but I need to be off to the library.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Doctor Wanabe
Our mother could have had a great career in the medical field. She really enjoyed learning about the way the body works and what to do when it didn't. James had a lot of medical challenges from the time he was just little. Things like, ear infections, heart problems, and a tumor to name a few. Mom read and studied about each one so she could help him cope in this big world. Infections were never much of a problem, Mom knew just what to do. I know Mom watched Mary get her tonsils out and probably the exploratory surgery when they concluded that it was her appendix causing the problem. I know I always called Mom first for help when my children had any kind of rash or ailment. When Adam was almost two, his lung collapsed. I knew something was wrong, but Mom took us straight to the Emergency Room.
She took Kelly for stitches after falling into the rose bush. Chicken pox, diaper rash, stitches, bumps or bruises, Mom was the greatest resource. She knew how to talked to doctors and explain complaints and get answers. I miss having her to talk to about things of a medical nature. Thankfully, she passed a lot of her knowledge on to my sisters. They are pretty good to talk to about medical concerns.
She took Kelly for stitches after falling into the rose bush. Chicken pox, diaper rash, stitches, bumps or bruises, Mom was the greatest resource. She knew how to talked to doctors and explain complaints and get answers. I miss having her to talk to about things of a medical nature. Thankfully, she passed a lot of her knowledge on to my sisters. They are pretty good to talk to about medical concerns.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Excercise,Books,&Piano
Some of my fond memories of mom: excercising with Jack Lalane, on TV. Mom bought the dreaded Glamour Stretcher, with which we were all delighted. Julie remembers a time that we used it to tie up Steven to make baby sitting easier. We got in trouble for that one.
Another is that mom always read books to us. I saw her loosening the tubes in our old TV so that it woulodn't work. She read us the whole series of Laura Ingall's Wilder's Little House on the Prairie. She would get to a very exciting part and then close the book and make us wait until the next day to hear what happened.After that, Steven started signing his school papers "Alfonso Wilder."
One last thing was the piano lessons. Mom and dad retrieved Grandma Mary's old upright piano from the deserted farmhouse in Vinyard. It was full of dead birds, feathers and mice droppings. Bless her heart for cleaning it out. (She really shuddered through the task. Mom had a massive phobia of dead birds.) and getting Golden Hansen to tune it as well as he could. He had to tune it a half tone low because the strings were so old. Anyway James and I got piano lessons from Sam Henry. Mom paid Sam $5 per month for those lessons and she was determined to get her money's worth. We were strictly required to practice 30 hours per month. If we missed a day we had to make it up on the next day. I remember bawling because the practice took so long, but mom sat with me for about a year to make sure I did it. Wow, thanks mom. You might know by now how many pianists have come from that amazing effort. Love, Mary
Another is that mom always read books to us. I saw her loosening the tubes in our old TV so that it woulodn't work. She read us the whole series of Laura Ingall's Wilder's Little House on the Prairie. She would get to a very exciting part and then close the book and make us wait until the next day to hear what happened.After that, Steven started signing his school papers "Alfonso Wilder."
One last thing was the piano lessons. Mom and dad retrieved Grandma Mary's old upright piano from the deserted farmhouse in Vinyard. It was full of dead birds, feathers and mice droppings. Bless her heart for cleaning it out. (She really shuddered through the task. Mom had a massive phobia of dead birds.) and getting Golden Hansen to tune it as well as he could. He had to tune it a half tone low because the strings were so old. Anyway James and I got piano lessons from Sam Henry. Mom paid Sam $5 per month for those lessons and she was determined to get her money's worth. We were strictly required to practice 30 hours per month. If we missed a day we had to make it up on the next day. I remember bawling because the practice took so long, but mom sat with me for about a year to make sure I did it. Wow, thanks mom. You might know by now how many pianists have come from that amazing effort. Love, Mary
Monday, June 2, 2008
Enchiladas
Enchiladas were a staple for big family celebrations. I can remember Mom making pans and pans of enchiladas to celebrate birthdays especially. She put a lot of work into them frying the hamburger and dipping each tortilla into oil to soften them.
Here is a simpler, healthier way to make them and they taste just as good.
Brown a pound of ground turkey (Or enough meat for as many as you want to make. A pound usually will make close to 2 dozen for me.) adding chopped onion and green peppers as desired.
Add a taco seasoning packet to the mix.
Microwave the corn tortillas in their bag for a minute or two to soften. Flour tortillas are also yummy and don't require softening.
In a bowl pour a couple of cans of tomato sauce and add a dash of hot sauce or salsa as desired (the more the spicier your enchiladas will be).
On your casserole dish or cookie sheet (depending how many you want to make) put a little sauce to keep the enchiladas from sticking. On each tortilla put a little sauce, a little of the meat mixture and roll.
Once all the tortillas are rolled, pour the remaining sauce over the top of the enchiladas. You can also add any remaining meat mixture if you have any on top. Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake at 350 until the cheese is melted and gooy.
Enjoy over a bed of lettuce and don't forget the fruit cocktail on the side. At least that is the way Mom always garnished them. So celebrate!
Here is a simpler, healthier way to make them and they taste just as good.
Brown a pound of ground turkey (Or enough meat for as many as you want to make. A pound usually will make close to 2 dozen for me.) adding chopped onion and green peppers as desired.
Add a taco seasoning packet to the mix.
Microwave the corn tortillas in their bag for a minute or two to soften. Flour tortillas are also yummy and don't require softening.
In a bowl pour a couple of cans of tomato sauce and add a dash of hot sauce or salsa as desired (the more the spicier your enchiladas will be).
On your casserole dish or cookie sheet (depending how many you want to make) put a little sauce to keep the enchiladas from sticking. On each tortilla put a little sauce, a little of the meat mixture and roll.
Once all the tortillas are rolled, pour the remaining sauce over the top of the enchiladas. You can also add any remaining meat mixture if you have any on top. Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake at 350 until the cheese is melted and gooy.
Enjoy over a bed of lettuce and don't forget the fruit cocktail on the side. At least that is the way Mom always garnished them. So celebrate!
Enchiladas
I made enchildas for dinner yesterday. Funny how such a simple thing triggers memories. I remembered that whenever we had enchildas at home mom always served fruit cocktail. Something cool with the spicy, she would say. I always knew which dish was mine because I didn't like the cherries in fruit cocktail and made sure mine didn't have one. Silly, but true.
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