Smith Photos

Ray is on the left.

Dad's cousin, Eva Jane Bjornson, daughter of Tom and Dolly Smith, from Springville, came with a couple of full photo albums. None of the pictures had the people's names on back. I wrote some while we were going through the book and told them they really had to get them written on. There was one picture of them with their children and grandchildren 20 years ago and they couldn't remember who all the grandchildren were!!!
There was a cute picture of grandpa Smith (Herbert William Smith) with his brother Ray when they were about 4 and 2 years old - abt 1897.

This is about the end of the Smith pictures coming in.

Love, Mom/Grandma/Avia/Donnette

We Will Be Gone

We will not be home for the next 12 days. We will be, first, in Mass. for Mikaela's baptism and, second, in Ohio for Hailey's blessing. 

Please think of me but do not send emails or they will start coming back because there will be no one here to get the messages and the mail box will fill up.

I love you all and will miss you.

 Don't do anything I would do and you will be OK.

Myrna

Keylene wrote: Have fun! Got your Christmas card and I always get your emails so you do 
have the correct email address!  -k-

Al Pitts wrote: We need a list of, 'What you wouldn't do's al 

Erin and Donovin Visit

Hi Myrna:

You must be excited about having the kids. They were ecstatic about coming up there.

Erin was so sick. I know I really don't need to write this, because I know you will, but, please keep and eye on her. Don't let her get too tired. Let Ann Marie know how sick she is. Bronchial pneumonia isn't something that you just wave off. I miss them already.

You have a wonderful trip back east, and I hope your Christmas was wonderful. We were all sick. So typical. I got sick the day after, but was feeling it all day Christmas day, then was so sick I couldn't move Monday. Bree and David have been sick for a week. It is just stress. We have to find another place to live, more room, and then things will be much better.

Got to go to work, love you, Barbara

Myrna: Thanks for putting a name to it. I was going to call you and find out what was the matter with her. I got her some Triminic chest patches like we use with Matthew who gets bronchitis at the drop of a hat (or germ). That and the inhaler seemed to do the trick and she rested well last night. Bree didn't tell Leonard what was the problem, just that she was sick. Is this her second dose of the antibiotic or the first? 

I appreciate the gift but I really worry about any of you spending any money. Honestly. A kiss on the forehead would be enough.

Love, M

E Knudsen

Dear Myrna and Trauntwein
We hope you had a very merry Christmas and that the new year will be as
happe as this one sounds

Thank for the news of the family. I know I am not good at writing, it seams
like I never get time, I probably are not good at planning, or just tired of
doing my planning. It seams like I never get around to doing what I really
want to do. I made two Christmas socks this year. One for Erling and one for
me, and then we told our kids we thought it was time for us to get a
kalender. They were pretty good about if, there was something in it almost
every day of December. We have a kalender we got from Janne 3 years ago,
that I love to open every year. She mad a big kræmmerhus, with 24 harts in
and on each hart she had written " I love you because and then a reasen,
like you taught me the gospel, or I love you because you made the wacations
of our childhood memory able. I just love to read them again every year.
That is what Christmas is about, The same old traditions, I love to decorate
for Christmas. We have nisser, harts and stuff all over the house and a big
nativity scene cut in wood, so that the children can play with them.
We had all the children with their kids, except Janne and her family because
they were in Silkeborg with Mikkels parents. Then we had 4 missionaries, and
Rita and Jesper, Henrik is in the Utah. Jesper brought a friend from
Ukraine, he did not have anybody to celebrate with and then we had Jytte
Martinussen, our Momsemor. She was my mother frien, and do not have family
except a son, she never sees. because they were in Silkeborg with Mikkels
parents. They will be here tomorrow so they will be Janne and Mikkel wil be
here to morrow, so they can celebrate my 60 years birthday the 28 of Dec
with us. I just can't belive I am already 60 years old. But I feel it
Love Else og Erling

     

Sharon Boyce, Gordon's granddaughter

My daughter, Kirsten, called me from Colorado Springs to tell me that her husband's cousin, had been stationed in Iraq. He had a massive aneurysm of the brain and had had all life support removed. He was married to one of Aunt Pearle and Uncle Fred's granddaughters. Her married name is Sharon Boyce and I was wondering if you knew her or knew of her. Kirsten was unclear who the parents of Sharon are. 

Kirsten said she had spent time with Sharon and her husband when they were living in Colorado before he was called up to serve. She is quite concerned and wonders if there is a way to offer sympathy to the Smith side of the family.

Love, Myrna

Hi Myrna and family,

Sharon Boyce is mom and dad's great granddaughter. She is the granddaughter of Roberta and I. She is the daughter of our daughter Peggy and her husband Ernie Strong.

We have heard some wonderful things about Kirsten and her husband. When Sharon and Tim were living in Colorado, Kristen tended Sharon and Tim's son (Ammon) for her, she brought food to Sharon, and Kirsten's husband fixed Sharon's teeth. I'm sorry that I don't remember Kirsten's husband's name.

We have been so appreciative of how Kirsten and her husband treated Sharon and her family. They performed many acts of kindness. We feel a great deal of love for them, 

Sharon's cancer is in remission right now. However, the damage done to her by the Chemo has been devastating to her health. She is on oxygen, she has a great deal of scar tissue around her heart, she retains a great deal of water in her tissues, and has damage to her mouth and teeth. Sharon is a fighter, and has a positive attitude

Sharon and Tim have a new baby girl who is about two months old. Tim did get to come home and see that new daughter soon after she was born. They didn't think they would be able to have more children after the Chemo.

Apparently, Tim had a congenital aneurysm that ruptured. It is so sad. He was a great husband, father, and grandson in law. We will miss him. 

We had our family Christmas party on December 18, and Sharon, Ammon and Grace (the new baby) were t;here. Grace was Roberta's mother's name.

The viewing will be this Thursday, and the funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at a ward in Farmington. That is where Tim's parents live.

Well, our thanks again for your concern, and for Kirsten and her husband's help and love. 

 Love,
Gordon and Roberta

Aneurysm claims Utah soldier


By Leigh Dethman
Deseret Morning News 
      
FARMINGTON — Ammon Boyce isn't ready to fill Daddy's shoes just yet.
      
Just a week before his father's death, the 4-year-old begged Sgt. Timothy Boyce to come back from Iraq.
(Tom Smart, Deseret Morning News photo--Sharon Boyce, wife of Sgt. Timothy Boyce, hugs their son, Ammon, 4, as she holds their 3-month-old daughter, Gracelynn.)     
"Dad, when are you going to come home and be the man of the house," asked Ammon, who turns 5 on Dec. 31. "I'm tired of being the man of the house."
      
But Daddy isn't coming home. Sgt. Timothy Boyce, 29, died Friday from a brain aneurysm. He had been complaining about terrible headaches for weeks, his wife, Sharon Boyce, said.
      
Boyce collapsed just after 5 a.m. Wednesday during physical training at Camp Tiger in northern Iraq, his father, Rick Boyce, said.
      
"It was just like a time bomb in his head," his father said of the growing aneurysm that doctors said had been there since birth.
      
Military officials rushed Boyce to Landstuhl, Germany, after finding out he was an organ donor. He was kept on life support until his brother, Brad, could fly to Germany from Kuwait to comfort him during his last moments of life.
      
By the end of the day, Timothy Boyce's organs saved several lives as doctors were able to harvest his lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and corneas.
      
"The German doctor said it was the cleanest liver he'd ever seen," Rick Boyce said of his son, a devout follower of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which proscribes alcohol and tobacco use.
      
Now Sharon is left to raise Ammon and 3-month-old Gracelynn on her own, no easy task for a woman crippled with health problems.
      
Throughout two deployments, Timothy Boyce worried about his wife's health problems, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and blood clots in her lungs. She walks with an oxygen tank at her side.
"He always took care of me," Sharon said. "He was so amazing. I was very blessed to have him for eight years."
      
Boyce joined the Army two weeks before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He wanted to earn money to pay for his education instead of taking free grants. Boyce was never one to accept handouts, Sharon said.
      
He was assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry's Maintenance Troop, Support Squadron, based at Fort Carson, Colo., where he worked on computer systems on Bradley fighting vehicles.
      
It was his second deployment, and Boyce was scheduled to return to his family around Valentine's Day. The last time he was home was in September when Gracie was born. During the nearly three-week stay, he held on to the little girl and wouldn't let her go.
      
Some days he would hold her all day and night, feeding, rocking and changing her diapers.
      
"He said, 'She's just got me wrapped around her little finger,' " Sharon said of little Gracie.
      
Little Gracie likely won't remember her father, but Ammon knows where Daddy went.
      Hours after his mom broke the news, Ammon told his preschool teacher about his hero, his father.
      
"My dad got really really sick in Iraq and he died and he gets to go and live with Heavenly Father and Jesus," Ammon told his preschool teacher, according to his grandmother, Peggy Strong. "Isn't he lucky?"

VideoMail from David

To view your Video Mail from dvein@charter.net, copy and paste the complete URL below into your web browser to view your Video Mail.

http://videomail2.charter.net/vm/vm_player?vmfile=e9ead5653d89f0ae3d7c577aa85d09d4&vmpid=1006

A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods."
The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS

One of the joys at Christmas time is the sound of music, not just any music but the beautiful music of the season. There are great gospel principles taught through the messages of our Christmas songs. Remember the Lord said that “the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.” 

Consider this beautiful song titled “Mary Did You Know”
Mary did you know that your baby would one day walk on water, save our sons and daughters, that He has come to make you new, the child that you delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary did you know, that the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again,
the lame will leap, the dumb will speak.
Mary did you know, that He would calm the storm with his hand, He has walked where angels trod, that when you kiss your baby you have kissed the face of God.
Mary did you know, that your baby boy is the Lord of all creation, that He will one day rule the nations, that He was Heavens perfect Lamb and is the Great I Am. 

It is a thought provoking question – Mary Did You Know. The answer is taught so plainly in the Gospel. YES Mary knew long before the reality of her mortal experience and so did we. She and Joseph were both chosen and pre-ordained, for the marvelous earthly mission of being the parents of the Son of God. Mary to be his mortal mother and Joseph given the responsibility of providing for, nurturing, and loving as a Father would. We also were present in the counsel in Heaven when God offered His Plan of Salvation or as we often refer to it as the Plan of Happiness. This life was to be a test to see if we would obey all of the Gospel principles, laws and ordinances that we had been taught while in the presence of God in our pre-mortal state. God’s plan was based upon the principle of AGENCY, the opportunity to make the choices between good and evil that would allow us to return and live with our Father in Heaven again. With the ability to choose came the test, would we obey the commandments given to us by the principle of FAITH, having truth revealed to us through our hearts and minds by the power of the Holy Ghost rather than by always having to see evidence with our eyes.  

Lucifer, as you will recall, offered a counter plan – that of removing our agency and replacing it with force. His price tag for bringing us all back would be that he would be given all of the credit, power and glory for his accomplishment, in other words he would replace God. One third of our brothers and sisters choose what they thought to be the easy way. We all know the consequences of their choice and that they were cast down without ever having the opportunity to have a mortal body. We also know that Jesus Christ was central to God’s plan in that He offered himself to be our Savior and atone for our sins and shortcomings here on this earth if we would repent.

Yes, Mary knew, and even with the veil of forgetfulness she was valiant in her for- ordained calling to be the Mortal mother of Jesus Christ our savior.  

Would you like to have been there on that Silent Night, Holy Night, when the Angels were heard singing in that sacred setting, Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains, where Shepherds Watched Their flocks by Night, or in the Little Town of Bethlehem where The World In Solemn Stillness Lay To hear the Angels Sing. Would you like to have been there when Mary sang her lullaby to her Boy Child as he lay in a manger, for He had no crib for a bed. There the Stars in the Heavens looked down where He lay, the Little Lord Jesus asleep on the Hay. The cattle were lowing, the poor baby wakes, but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes. Be near us Lord Jesus we ask 
Thee to stay close by us forever and love us we pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care and fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.  

It is very probable that we were there on that night of all nights where the star led the way to His birth place, and where the choirs of angles, which we very well may have been a part of, heralded His coming and we rejoiced and honored our Lord and our Savior.

Dear friends, we love and appreciate you all. There are gifts that no one can buy because they are priceless and your friendship is one of those. 

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. We will see you again in 2006.

Love, 
Elder and Sister Jack and Joyce 

S Trauntvein Family Visit

Kimberly wrote: We are going to come down Christmas Eve late morning/early afternoon. We will need to head back home around 3pm. Will that work? Then we will just stay home Christmas Day.

Childs Cousin Dies in Accident

Toll rising on deadly rural road in Utah
This year, 13 deaths have been tallied in 9 accidents on U.S. 6 
By Nicole Warburton and Jeremy Twitchell
Deseret Morning News        
Much has been said about safety improvements along U.S. 6, but this has been the worst year for fatal crashes on the 128-mile highway since 1998.    
The Utah Department of Transportation reports 13 fatalities along the route this year, most being "cross-overs," where a motorist travels into an oncoming lane of traffic. 
On Sunday, three people traveling on U.S. 6 were killed when their car crossed the center line, collided head-on with a pickup truck and burst into flames.
      
The cause of the accident has yet to be determined. Kimball K. Childs, 46, Juanita Varela Childs, 46, and their son, Mason, 8, were killed in the crash.
      
Juanita Childs was a Spanish teacher at Carbon High School for the past 13 years, said Carbon School District superintendant David Armstrong.       
Mason was a student at one of the district's elementary schools.
      Eva Bennett, 54, and Jay Bennett, 55, both of West Valley City, were in the truck that was hit head-on by the Childs' car. The Bennetts were taken to Castleview Hospital in Price with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.       
Robert Hull, UDOT director of traffic and safety, could not give a reason for the high number of fatal crashes on U.S. 6 this year. Last year, only five fatalities occurred on the road, and the average over the past four years has been about 10.       
"The roadway has been built to the standards that are out there," he said. "Unfortunately with the nature of the road, in terms of being in a rural area, we end up getting into high-speed situations with impatient drivers, and poor decisions are made. Those conditions lend themselves in many cases to fatal crashes."
      
No crash on the road has ever been attributed to an unsafe road design, according to Hull. Since 1997, UDOT has spent $115 million to enhance the safety of the road, he said. Recent projects include the addition of center-line rumble strips, truck climbing lanes and an upgraded guardrail.       
Sunday's accident occurred in an area where center-line rumble strips were installed.       
Over the next two years, UDOT plans another $50 million in improvements to the road. Plans include the installation of overhead speed signs near the curve where a truck carrying explosives overturned in August, blowing a 70-foot deep crater into the road.       
The signs will register the speed of a vehicle, then tell motorists to slow down if they are over the speed limit. "It is intended to give the drivers information to let them know they are approaching too quickly," Hull said.       
Regardless of the improvements, Jenny Wheeler, a BYU employee originally from Ephraim, says she avoids U.S. 6 whenever possible. She and her family won't drive it during the winter.       
"If I go on 6 at all, I think it's only once or twice a year," she said.       
But for the 4,000 to 12,000 drivers who use U.S. 6 each day to commute, UDOT encourages safe and smart driving. Be patient, said UDOT spokesman Nile Easton. Don't speed or drive drowsy.       
"U.S. 6 has been a priority for the department and will continue to be a priority," he said, "but there is still a responsibility for drivers when they get behind the wheel to follow traffic laws."

Obituaries for Kimball Childs, Varela Childs and Mason Lowry Childs

This is Garth's, David's, and Richard's first cousin. For those who don't know, Garth, David and Richard are Renee Smith Childs' sons. Renee is the oldest daughter of Raymond James Smith (Myrna's grandfather). 
Thursday, December 15, 2005 
Obituary: Kimball K. Childs Price, Carbon County 
Kimball K. Childs was born August 15, 1959, to Parker and Dorothy Lowry Childs. He married the love of his life on December 31, 1992. The birth of his son Mason completed his cherished family. 
Kimball was a humble man with great faith, integrity and a thirst for knowledge. He was eager to be of service to everyone around him. 
Kimball returned to the presence of his Heavenly Father, with his son and wife, on December 11, 2005. He is survived by his mother Dorothy, brother Allen (wife Colleen), sister Debra (husband Steve), sister Diane (husband Bob), Aunt Virginia, Uncle Fred (wife Barbara) and many nieces, nephews and cousins. 
Juanita V Childs 
Juanita Varela Childs was born July 5, 1959, to Henry and Englantina Barela. She married Kimball on December 31, 1992. 
Juanita cherished her family and loved entertaining them with her vivacious personality and sense of humor. She taught Spanish at Carbon High School, she loved to teach and cherished her students and they loved her. She enjoyed decorating and photography. 
Juanita joined her Heavenly Father, with her son and husband, on December 11, 2005. She is survived by her brothers Henry Jr. (wife Vikki), Marcelino, Fausto and Frank, Aunt Pauline, adopted mom Marilyn, brother Bill and grandmother Lorraine, many nieces, nephews and cousins. 
Mason Childs 
Mason Lowry Childs was born May 11, 1997, to Kimball and Juanita Childs. 
He was a loving spirit and a special gift to his parents and family. He loved being with his grandma eating cookies, playing with his goat Daisy, drawing and working on crafts. His smile, laughter and endless enthusiasm will always be remembered. Mason and Isabelle (his best friend) had fun packing puppies, cats and other things into their wagons to get to each others' house. 
Mason returned to his Heavenly Father, with both his parents, on December 11, 2005. 
Combined Funeral Services will be held Friday, December 16, 2005, at 1:00 p.m. at the Price LDS Stake Center (150 So. 500 E., Price). A visitation will be Thursday evening from 6-8:00 p.m. at Fausett Mortuary in Price and also 1 hour prior to the service at the Church. Burial in the Orangeville City Cemetery.

Tim Boyce Video‏ Sent by Gordon Smith

http://kutv.com/video/?cid=5

 

I watched the video report about Tim Boyce from the kutv channel 2 television station web site.  It said I could email it to others.  I tried.  I even sent it to myself.  It did not work.  The web site address shown above takes you to the kutv videos for Dec. 19, 2005. 

 

I don't  know if you want to pull it up and watch it, or not.  However if you do, there is the web site address.  Just click on it.

 

I have done it, and it works.  However, sometimes it does not show all of the videos, and you have to click on "more" under those listed.  Once I had to click on U.S. & World in the list on the left side of the screen.  When that finally loaded, I then had to click on "more" listed under the stories listed.  When you finally get in there you will see a picture of a soldier and his son.  The caption says:  "Utah Soldier Dies After Complaining Of Headaches."  If you click on that, the video will be buffered in.  It takes time to buffer, but it is a touching video, and worth being seen. 

 

I have slow dial up.  If you have DSL etc. it will come in faster than it does for me.

 

Sorry the video wouldn't email like it is supposed to from kutv.  I tried emailing it to myself three times.  It just did not work.  

 

Planning Christmas with S. Trauntveins

Kimberly wrote: It looks like we are coming Christmas Day. We have church at 11am, so we will be down around 2:30 or about. Snow permitting. :-)

Myrna wrote: That means you will not be down for Christmas Eve? Love, Mom

Kimberly wrote: Correct, sorry. :(

Myrna wrote: Kirsten will be here Christmas Eve and will leave sometime Christmas morning

so they can get back to Colorado for Jared's work on Tuesday. Love, M

Kimberly wrote: What time Christmas Eve? We need to be at my parents around 4 pm. So we
could come early Christmas Eve leave around 2 pm. 

Jul

People in Denmark often have different views on Christmas, or "Jul" as we call it (the Christian word Christmas/Kristmesse never quite caught on in Scandinavia). The main festivities take place on the 24th of December (a normal tradition in Denmark is to have a big celebration the evening before the actual holiday). People go to mass either before noon or at midnight (the only time of the year the churches are full). In the evening people have a traditional dinner with their family (including grandparents, oncles, aunts and such). Afterwards they join hands around the Christmas tree and sing Christmas songs while walking around the tree. Afterwards, the presents are opened and sweets are served. People enjoy the company of their relatives until midnight mass or until they go to bed.

The christmas meal:
The most common meat eaten on this day is roasted pork with a crisp skin (the pork dates back to heathen times, where the largest pig would be sacrificed to Frey, the god of fertility). Other animals eaten on this evening could be duck or goose (newer tradition), some people (especially in southern Jutland) also eat sausage. To go with the meat, we eat two kinds of potatoes (boiled, and some roasted with sugar in a frying pan), red cabbage, and lots of thick brown gravy. The dessert is normally ris a' la mande (a Danish invention with a french sounding name), which consists of rice porridge, whipped cream and chopped almonds. In the ris a' la mande we put a whole almond, and the one who finds it, wins a prize (the dessert and the almond-prize is a rather new invention, not more than hundred years old).

All through the Christmas season people gather at christmas lunches, where they eat too much and drink "snaps" and of course strong Christmas beer. People also drink a lot of "gløg", which is warm red wine with chopped almonds and raisins. (Of course, members of the LDS Church do not drink.)

The Santa Claus figure is very popular in Denmark, due to the heavy American influence. The tradition of giving out presents has been popular in the broad population only for about a hundred years or so (this of course is also connected with the poverty among the masses before WWI). The still living traditions, which are very old, are the eating of the pork and red cabbage. Danish folklore contains a lot of superstitions and ancient rituals connected with Christmas, that I don't want to waste your time by naming.

Sharon Boyce's Parents‏

Hi Myrna and family,

 

Sharon Boyce is mom and dads great granddaughter.  She is the granddaughter of Roberta and I.  She is the daughter of our daughter Peggy and her husband Ernie Strong.

 

We have heard some wonderful things about Kirsten and her husband.  When Sharon and Tim were living in Colorado, Kristen tended Sharon and Tim's son (Ammon) for her, she brought food to Sharon, and Kirsten's husband fixed Sharon's teeth.  I'm sorry that I don't remember Kirsten's husband's name.

 

We have been so appreciative of how Kirsten and her husband treated Sharon and her family.  They performed many acts of kindness.  We feel a great deal of love for them, 

 

Sharon's cancer is in remission right now.  However, the damage done to her by the Chemo.

has been devastating to her health.  She is on oxygen, she has a great deal of scar tissue around her heart, she retains a great deal of water in her tissues, and has damage to her mouth and teeth.  Sharon is a fighter, and has a positive attitude

 

Sharon and Tim have a new baby girl who is about two months old.  Tim did get to come home and see that new daughter soon after she was born.  They didn't think they would be able to have more children after the Chemo.

 

Apparently, Tim had a congenital aneurysm that ruptured.  It is so sad.  He was a great husband, father, and grandson in law.  We will miss him.

 

We had our family Christmas party on December 18, and Sharon, Ammon and Grace (the new baby) were t;here.  Grace was Roberta's mother's name.

 

The viewing will be this Thursday, and the funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at a ward in Farmington.  That is where Tim's parents live.

 

Well,  our thanks again for your concern, and for Kirsten and her husband's help and love.

 

Love,

 

Gordon and Roberta

 

 

Gordon Smith

Boyce

Dear Family,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a great New Year. We want you to know that our grandson-in law, Timothy Boyce, while serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, suffered a ruptured aneurysm in his head. He was flown to Germany for medical care. He made it through the night, and long enough for his brother to fly up from his service tour in Afghanistan to see him, then life support was taken from Tim. His brother will accompany Tim home. This should take about 5 days.

The services for Tim are pending, possibly before Christmas.

Tim was home to see his new little daughter, Grace, recently. She is 2-months-old, and has a brother Ammon who is 4-years-old. Ammon talked to his dad on the phone recently and said, "Come home soon dad, I'm tired of being the man!" Sharon, Tim's wife and our granddaughter (Peggy and Ernie Strong's daughter), has cancer which is in remission at this time. She has other health problems stemming from the radical cancer treatments she received. She is a "fighter," has a great attitude about life, and is a very special young lady.

Your friendship and prayers in behalf of this family are greatly appreciated.

Again, we hope all is well with you and yours, and that you have a Merry Christmas.

Gordon and Roberta Smith

You have elf mail

Todd just sent you a Discover Card elf.

Easy to play with and hard to resist, this little helper knows how to have fun.
Click on the link below to see what he can do.

www.sendanelf.com 

Discover Card is the helpful card at the holidays. Our cash rewards, security and
service are all designed to give you just what you need, just when you need it.
Happy holidays from Discover.

Timothy Boyce, Gordon's Grandson-in-law

Dear Family,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.

We want you to know that our grandson-in law, Timothy Boyce, while
serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, suffered a ruptured
aneurysm in his head. He was flown to Germany for medical care. He made
it through the night, and long enough for his brother to fly up from his
service tour in Afghanistan to see him, then life support was taken from
Tim. His brother will accompany Tim home. This should take about 5
days. The services for Tim are pending, possibly before Christmas.
Tim was home to see his new little daughter, Grace, recently. She is 2
months old, and has a brother Ammon who is 4 years old.
Ammon talked to his dad on the phone recently and said, "Come home soon
dad, I'm tired of being the man!" Sharon, Tim's wife and our
grandaughter (Peggy and Ernie Strong's daughter), has cancer which is in
remission at this time. She has other health problems stemming from the
radical cancer treatments she received. She is a "fighter", has a great
attitude about life, and is a very special young lady.
Your friendship and prayers in behalf of this family are greatly
appreciated.
Again, we hope all is well with you and yours, and that you have a Merry
Christmas.


Gordon and Roberta Smith
© 2013 MicrosoftTermsPrivacyDevelopersEnglish (United States)

     

Myrna wrote to Donnette Smith: My daughter, Kirsten, called me from Colorado Springs to tell me that her husband's cousin, had been stationed in Iraq. He had a massive aneurysm of the brain and had had all life support removed. He was married to one of Aunt Pearle and Uncle Fred's granddaughters. Her married name is Sharon Boyce and I was wondering if you knew her or knew of her. Kirsten was unclear who the parents of Sharon are.

 Kirsten said she had spent time with Sharon and her husband when they wereliving in Colorado before he was called up to serve. She is quite concerned and wonders if there is a way to offer sympathy to the Smith side of the family.

Love, Myrna Trauntvein 

Donnette wrote: Myrna, you might be interested in this. Aunt Pearle’s great granddaughter’s husband died. Myrna is Raymond Smiith's granddaughter. He was Grandpa Herbert W. Smith's next younger brother.

The rotating gift list.

David asked me to remind him who he had for Christmas this year. He has AnnMarie and family.

Are you coming up for Christmas Eve? If you are, do we need to have dinner at 3 p.m. so you can get back home at a decent hour? That would put you home about 7 p.m. Right?

If you are not coming, let me know. I will then have Jim bring down your gifts when he comes to get David for the game.

Love, M

From Barbara for the Newsletter

Barbara wrote: Hi: Sorry it has take me so long to get back with you. I was waiting to 
see what David was going to do. He is on call all week this week and right up to the time they leave for Mexico.

Bree is doing so much better. So is David. We are all managing in this little house which just amazes me. They are both handing me their paychecks and I am paying bills. The car is caught up, and everything else is under control. Bree takes her medication and is doing just fine. She is going to her meetings and David is going with her.

We haven't had a major crises is at least 3 weeks. The kids don't know what  to do with the status quo so they are picking on each other, but that is changing too.

It feels really good to say these things. Bree is working and just handed me a $1,400 check.

I wish you all the most best Christmas, Myrna. We love you and wish we could be there for your Birthday.

Barbara

Myrna wrote: David asked me to remind him who he had for Christmas this year. He has AnnMarie and family.

 It sounds like you are not coming so I will have Jim bring down your gifts when he comes to get David for the game.

Love, M

Barbara wrote: I love the card, thank you. I finally got to look at it. It really is 
great. I love you too, Myrna. You are a very good person and I am glad you 
are in my life.

Raymond

Dear Myrna,
Did you get a letter from BYU about your grandfather being a Mexican
Border Volunteer. I took so long getting Richard's rememberances of the
war ready to send - and just sat on it for so long - and finally got it
mailed last week. I had Richard's remembrances and pictures and Claude's
and Raymond's pictures and the pages you and Richard signed giving them
to BYU.

Anyway - Richard got a letter from them which I will enclose. I hope you
can read it.

Donnette

Helen Email Address Change

Hi, folks, hope all is well. For information- I have been having a very difficult time receiving e-mails from the Stake, with my calling, as any number of other persons sending e-mails with attachments/picutres etc. to me locks others out of coming up. I spend upwards of 2-3 hours pulling them up so I can get the ones from the Stake. As of today I have changed my e-mail address-this will be used only by the Stake and Nanci, and will have no other e-mail address for other information. Hope all is well. Look forward to having you come up for the Joseph Smith program in an other week. Love Helen

Todd wrote: Too bad. I don't typically use the mail.

Cookies?

Hello, everyone! My sister, Diane, wrote this recipe for me, it sounds like another day in my life that I wouldn't trade for anything!

Hope you get as big of a kick out of it as I did! And Merry Christmas!
Love, Kim

*!@*&^%!!+%$ (or cookies for the homeroom teacher)*
by Diane

1. Preheat oven to 350. Check to be sure there are no rubber balls or plastic rubber-tired back hoes lurking on the shelves. 

2. Remove Cassie's homework and Kayla's drawings and Robbie's tractors from table. Grease pan. Get Robbie down from the counter. Wipe up the spilled pop from when Kayla tripped over Robbie's John Deere. Crack nuts. 

3. Measure 2 cups flour. Remove Robbie's hands from the flour. Wash flour off him. Re-measure flour. 

4. Crack more nuts to replace those that Kayla ate. Put flour, baking powder, and salt in sifter. Get dust pan and brush up pieces of bowl that Cassie knocked on the floor. Get another bowl. 

5. Answer the doorbell. Return to kitchen. Remove Robbie's hands from the bowl again. Wash Robbie. The phone is ringing. It is Beth. Answer the phone. Talk for 38 minutes. Return to kitchen. 

6. Remove 1/2-inch salt from the greased pan. Look for Robbie. Grease another pan. The phone is ringing. It is Jennie. Answer phone. Talk for 23 minutes. Return to kitchen and find Robbie. 

7. Take up greased pan and remove layer of nut shells in it. Head for Robbie who dodges your reach, once again knocking the bowl off the table. 

8. Wash the kitchen floor, table, walls, and dishes. Cassie says she needs to leave for some kinda practice at the Junior High. She has nothing to wear. Wipe wet hands on paper towel. Step on misplaced nut shell and cut toe open. Wipe blood from toe. The phone is ringing. It is Dad. Answer phone. Explain why you don't have the cookies done for the Christmas play for Kayla's school. Water is coming from the bathroom. Robbie has flushed a 6" plastic boat down the toilet. Kayla is frantic. Cassie wants new pants. 

9. Timer has been set. Kayla said it sounds cool when it goes off. Nothing is inside the oven but wasted energy but the oven is an exact 350 degrees and is waiting, waiting, waiting for something to bake. 

10. Phone is ringing. It is Cassie's teacher. He wants her at the school in 7 minutes. 

11. Take Robbie from the table. Remove 4 hot wheels cars from the "road" in the bowl. Cassie still doesn't have anything to wear. Hand mop to Kayla. Show her how to remove toilet water from hallway and kitchen before it gets to the front room carpet. 

12. Phone is ringing. It is Kayla's teacher. She wants the cookies you promised to have at the school in 12 minutes. 

13. Undress Robbie. He is wet from head to toe after water skiing in the hallway.
14. Dress Robbie. 

15. Cookies? What cookies?

Myrna: She forgot the last few steps. 
16. Stop to get cookies at the bakery where you should have started in the first place. 
17. Be late and have teacher yell at you. 
18. Cassie and Kayla are in tears and Robbie is covered in sugar. 
19. Smile bravely. Tell everybody you can't share the cookie recipe because it is a "family secret." 
20. Go home and cry.

Love, M

Merry Christmas!

Hi

Just wanted to drop you all a line wishing you all A Very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.

This picture I had taken on 12-11-05 is of my 3 basenji's (Zak is on santa's right,then Jenna, and Dannii) and I with Santa. This is the first time EVER that I had done this. Yep, that's grey hair up in front.....NOT blonde! :>(

Love
Mom, S


is, Marti

Todd's Phone

Our home phone number is changing.  We have had a lot of problems with the recycled number we were given and suffice it to say that yesterday was the proverbial straw in the camel's back. 

 

Our new number that will begin sometime tomorrow is 740-967-1678.

 

Love you all.

 

Todd

Alyssa's Performance Night

The night of Alyssa's performance in the Nutcracker at Thanksgiving
Point was terrible. We picked Siovhan up at her apartment about 5 p.m. We made it to the on-ramp by UVSC at 5:15. We made it to Thanksgiving Point at 7:20 p.m.
Honest! Love, The storm of December 2005 was a damaging winter storm with snow-packed and slick roads wreaked havoc. Diverse weather took many parts of Utah by surprise. In Utah County, sudden snow caught drivers and the Utah Highway Patrol off guard. It was bumper to bumper traffic on a snow-packed freeway. Julie was driving and I was having anxity. We finally decided we might be quicker if we left the freeway and drove to Thanksgiving Point on city streets. Thank goodness we arrived safely and so did AnnMarie, Alyssa and Megan. The Nutcracker was wonderful and Alyssa did an excellent job. When we left to go home, it had stopped snowing and we were able to drop Siovhan off at her apartment and travel home in safety. It was much easier going home than it had been going to Alyssa's program.

Is there something I can do?‏

Garth Childs (Garth@e.emery.k12.ut.us) wrote: 


Alyce is ordering the flowers as we speak. I will have to call you and let you know the whole story on this. It kind of gets to ya.. 

The Lord works his plan and its good he knows the scheme of things.

For some reason when you send me the pictures I can open the E-Mail but not the pictures. Must not be ment to see the little gal. Thanks for being you. Love Garth.

To Garth and Alyce

Is there something that I can do?

If I put $20 in an envelope and send it to you, would you have Alyce order flowers from Leonard and I? I would appreciate it.

I am sure that Aunt Dorothy is suffering. We can empathize with her. Are you OK?

I love you! Myrna

Eva sends congratulations to welcome Hailey

Eva wrote: CONGRATULATIONS GRANDPA AND GRANDMA!

Hailey Maxine Trauntvein was born, Dec. 5, Welcome to the family!

Our e-card from Arbree

Your Ecard:  http://www.ecardfunny.com/html/Christmas-Wish-Ecard.html  Arbree also included this message:  We love you!  Erin and Donovin  Trauntvein  ecardfunny.com Funniest Greeting Cards On The Internet.

December newsletter add on‏ from Kimberly

Early December

Oh, how I thought I was prepared for Christmas this year.  I had Sorina shopped and wrapped in October.  The rest of the kids were all pretty much pre-planned, not done, but knowing what I was getting. Easy, piece of cake, really.  Our tree was up the Friday after Thanksgiving.  We had a nice snow storm and nativity and light sighting drive.  Everything was on track for a nice and relaxing holiday.  (Sigh.)  Well, it’s now December 9^th.   Most of my Christmas Village people are headless.  I’m missing a few Santas and Snowmen ($1 Store purchases, mostly) from my collection.  Three of the four new ornaments that were bought for this year were broke before they made it to the tree.  I honestly do not know what happened to the tree, it’s looking pretty sad.  A partial string of lights on the house has gone out.  My Christmas cards are not done.  Sorina has opened three of her presents to date.  One on her own, under my not so watchful eye.  Two with a cousin under Dad’s supervision.  The good thing is that she likes the presents, and will hopefully still like them in a few weeks when she gets to open them again. Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

Hailey Maxine

Disneyland--Shawn Trauntvein Family

If you can't print it let me know. Otherwise, I will just >assume it is OK.

Al wrote: I was unable to open this document. I really enjoy these letters/photo's from you. If you have any suggestions for opening the document I could use them now

Al Pitts

Myrna wrote: My sons, the computer geniuses, tell me that we have to convert it to text.
You lose the type-setting and headings, but it is OK. I'll get back with you when I figure out what they are talking about. Love, M

Todd wrote: What kind of word program do you have on your PC? Word Perfect, MS Office, MS Works?

Todd

Myrna wrote: The photos, once again, are on a CD that I will be mailing with the December newsletter. I am putting both together. Love, M

Christmas Jokes

Christmas joke

Q: Why does Santa Claus go down the chimney on Christmas Eve?

A: Because it " soots " him!

Star Wars Christmas

Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker were having one of their little father and son chats... lightsabers drawn and sparks flying. Vader pinned Luke against a bulkhead and glared into his face, "I know what you're getting for Christmas, Luke," he said, "Ohhh, yes! I know!"

Luke fought himself free and jumped to a higher platform just out of Vader's reach, "How do you know!?" Luke yelled at him, "How do you know what I'm getting for Christmas!?"

Darth Vader shot Luke an icy glare, "The force iswith me... I felt your presents."

Funny Poem for Parents

A parent's night before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house

I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.

Instructions were studied and we were inspired,

In hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required."

The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,

While Dad and I faced the evening with dread:

A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's town house to boot!

And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!

We opened the boxes; my heart skipped a beat....

Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!

Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;

If we can't get it right, it goes in the basement!

When what to my worrying eyes should appear,

But 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,

With each part numbered and every slot named,

So if we failed, only we could be blamed.

More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,

All over the carpet they were scattered about.

"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!

Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!

Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand."

"Honey," said hubby, "you just glued my hand."

And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact

That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact

To keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night

With "assembly required" till morning's first light.

We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,

Till our eyes, they went bleary; our fingers all hurt.

The hot chocolate went cold and the night, it wore thin

Before we attached the last rod and last pin.

Then laying the tools away in the chest,

We fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.

But I said to my husband just before I passed out,

"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.

Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,

And not have to run to the store for a thing!

We did it! We did it! The toys are all set

For the perfect, most perfect, Christmas, I bet!"

Then off to dreamland and sweet repose I gratefully went,

Though I suppose there's something to say for those self-deluded...

I'd forgotten that batteries are never included!