Howards in December Concerts

Concerts for December

December 3 Philharmonic (Megan and Kyle) 6:15

December 6 THS Choirs 7:30 pm

December 11 THS Band 7:30 (don't need to come to this if you can attend December 3, Kyle is most excited about making it into that)

Dec 18 Wasatch Choir and Band Concert at 6:00 pm - Matthew is in both

 

No word on the solos concert for Kyle and Alyssa with Hale Center theater.

 

AnnMarie

Eva Needs Michael's Address

Dear Myrna,

Is this Michael's newest adress?  

5951  Riverside Dr.   #158
Chino,  CA    91710

 I'm trying to get all of mly missionary Christmas Cards done so I can mail them early.  Some have a very long ways to go..

Have  good rest of the week.

Love,

Eva

Thanks for update about Dad

Mom,

Thanks for the update. I am glad that this will help him with his contacts and eye situation. I am glad that he was in a good mood after going so long without food...I know how his body reacts to fasting...I might not have been so happy. 

Glad that you survived that horrible traffic from Salt Lake to Provo. I don't know how Utah Valley commuters do that drive every day. 

I am so grateful that Julie can do things like making dinner for you. What a nice daughter she is. 

Love you also, 

Melanie

About Dad

That was one LONG day for both of us. The surgery was scheduled for 11 a.m. Just before we left home, they called and scheduled it for an hour and a half later. We still waited and waited. They finally took Dad in at 3 p.m. By the time all was said and done, we did not leave there until dusk. I got to drive home in the dark. :) (You all know how I love that.) But it was not bad. Poor Dad, he had gone without food since 7 p.m. the night before. Thanks to Julie, we came home to roast and brown rice which she had cooked and left in the oven for us. I tried to get Dad to eat a banana on the way but he did not feel like it. (WHAT?? You know how he loves slightly green bananas. He must feel really lousy.)

When I say it was a long day for both of us, that is because I had to impatiently (I was the impatient one, not Dad.) wait with Dad. I was perched on a little doctor's stool. They took us back to the prep room not long after we got there and got Dad ready. Then we waited and waited and waited. Of course, if it had been Dad who was the person needing the extra time we would have been thankful that the doctor gave him the time so we tried to be cheerful.

Dad looks pretty good, considering that they cut out a chunk of his eyelids. They also tightened the muscle that holds the eyes open. He has wide, wide eyes now, even though they are both black. The doctor said that by morning we can expect them to be swollen shut so, for a few more days, no one will be able to see how wide and nice they are. He has to sleep either in a recliner or on top of three pillows. He gets to wear an ice bag over his eyes for the next couple of days off and on. He gets to take extra-strength Tylenol for the next couple of days, as well. I was feeling really sorry for him until they wheeled another patient into the same discharge room we were in. It is sort of a little good-bye room with recliners that they have the patient sit in until they have their sea legs and while the spouse (or whatever) goes to get the car. The woman's whole lower jaw was swathed in an elastic-style brace/bandage and she was complaining about extreme pain. I still feel sorry for Dad, of course, but I am glad he was not in that situation. UGH!

In six weeks we go back to the doctor. And, hopefully, that should be that.

Dad's RN was a person that Auntie Helen had trained in nursing. Her maiden name was Anderson. Her first name was Alys (said Alice). She was so happy to wait on a relative of Auntie's that we got the royal treatment. She was the nurse who got him ready for the surgery and who kept tabs on him while we waited and waited. (The Primary song: "Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked and Walked and Walked" made me think of Dad. "LHT joked as he waited and waited and waited. . .")

I am just thankful that, even though I drove through the rush hour traffic of Salt Lake City, I got us home in one piece and that I did not make any driving mistakes. When they remodeled the freeway, they should have added a fifth and sixth lane I am thinking. We did the bumper to bumper traffic on the way to Provo and I was in the HOV lane. What does that tell you? At least I didn't have to worry about speeding. 

I just gave Dad his last meds of the day and fixed his ice pack so he is tucked in for the night (or until the ice melts). I am heading to bed myself. 

We love you all.

Christmas Tree Bubble Lights

Myrna wrote: Do you remember how magical it seemed when these liquid-filled Christmas tree candle lights warmed up and started bubbling? My Grandmother and I had these on our tree. Aunt Renee and Uncle Max also had a set.

Connie Trauntvein Lumsden wrote: "We had bubble lites also, couldn't wait for them to start bubbling!!!"

Lorraine Rostron Pack wrote:  We had them on our tree when I was young. I loved bubble lights as a child and I still love bubble lights today.

Alba Kintz wrote: We had some,too.

Jodi Jorgensen Murphy wrote:  My mother in law had some

Maxine Gordon wrote: I love bubble lights.

Kathi Tanner wrote:  I remember them too, and loved them!

Carrie Jones wrote: I think my Mom did when I was a little girl.. Thanks for sharing.

Ann Bailey wrote:  Thanks for sharing and for the ride and conversation to the Temple.

Linda Garrett wrote: I remember them from when I was growing p and my family actually found some several years ago to put on our tree. LOved them on the tree for sure.

Vickie Sorenson Dowler wrote:  LOVE old ornaments and lights like those! Those were the days!

June Pay wrote: We had bubble lights too.

Deborah Knight Wilson wrote: We have them on our tree. Bought them at Sprinkler World.

Patrice Cluff Fairbanks wrote: My grandma had them too. Thanks for the memory!

Eva--New message from Faye Trauntvein Anderson‏

Myrna, I just plain do not know how to use face book and to be honest, I do not really want to;  first, I do not have the time to get that involved with their computer. There are more important things I need to use my time for. I wanted  to reply to Faye so will send it to you to send to her if you will please. 

Faye.  I am confused, I so not know who Jens, Julius  is.  My Gr-Gr-grandfather was Jens Herman Birch Trauntvein and  wife was Julie Marie Nielsen. Their first son Jules (Julius) Harold born1860 died 1863 in Garnison. They brought their 2nd son Junius Herman b 1862.

Their 3rd son (my grandfather) was born in Mt. Pleasant  Dec 1864  Joseph Henry. They had two girls and another son after him. I do not know if Gr. Grandmother Julie had diabetes or not, I do know her husband had kidney and heart problems.   

 In those days, it was called dropsey. 

Myrna, thanks for helping. Love, Eva  

Happy Birthday Music for Todd Sent Via Facebook

Happy Birthday, by Beethoven? Bach? Mozart? - Nicole Pesce on piano

www.youtube.com

Nicole Pesce in concert at Tempe Center for the Arts, not only showed her virtousity, but gave us a taste of her creativity and humor. In this clip, she spec...

• 

  Todd Trauntvein I liked this. Very creative. Glad to hear everything went well with Dad. Hopefully, he is healed enough by Friday.

Fabulous News

My Dearest Tim  and Myrna,

Fabulous news; barring any complications; Richard and Pete will be home for four days  Dec. 26th. His 18th transfusion created another miracle.  He has been feeling so much better. We are all so grateful. He goes to hospital Thursday for scans, blood tests and an MRI to see where the cancer stands.  

My prayers are with you Tim for tomorrow and your Drs.  I so pray everything will go terrifically well with your eyes.  

God bless all of you. Love you so much. Eva


Melanie wrote: So what is wrong with your eyes, Dad? Mel

Myrna wrote: He is having eyelid reduction surgery so that his eyelids do not keep his eyes partially closed. It is making it difficult to wear contacts. Helen had the same type of surgery done several years ago.

From Faye Trauntvein Anderson‏

Faye Trauntvein Anderson

I also have Type 2 diiabetes. My DR has me on Metformin, but recently took me off of it, as my blood glucose level was well within the ratio. I understand that Grandma Trauntvein(Jens Julius) had diabetes. My sister, Joyce, also had type 2 diabetes and died from pancreatic cancer which I understand was the cause, but a blockage of a stone from the liver to the pancreas was the culprit.. She was 64 when she died. Joyce was the oldest of the Jaames Elmer Trauntvein childres - then came Faye, James Elmer, Jr, Connie and Carolyn. My parents adopted a little girl. Mary Courtney, when she was 18 mos old.Mary married a young man from Wales, England and they have a little girl, who will soon be 1 yr old, Also a son, Christoopher, who is deeply involved in the Democrate party in San Francisco. What a fami;ly, who I dearly love. I must write the James Trauntvein history as I know it so that my sisters know where we lived and when. I have promised to do that, but that lazy streak in me keeps putting it off. Enough said. I hope that you had a great family Thanksgiving and a glorious Christmas.

Fruity Oatmeal Cake

This cake uses fruit juice for the sugar and makes a nice cake. It is sort of like the old oatmeal cake that we used to love, as a family.

Fruity Oatmeal Cake
Yield: 1 9 X13-inch cake 
Ingredients:
2 1/2 c boiling water
2 c Quaker Oats uncooked (quick or old-fashioned)
1 c butter or margarine; melted
2 c applesauce
1 12-ounce can unsweetened apple juice
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
3 c all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg 
Lazy Daisy Topping
1/2 c butter or margarine; melted
1 c crushed pineapple (pureed) and/or part applesauce (you may use one or both, pineapple is best)
6 tbsp canned evaporated milk
1 c chopped pecans
2 c unsweetened flaked coconut
Instructions:
For cake pour boiling water over oats; stir to combine. Cover and let stand 20 minutes. Beat butter until creamy; gradually add applesauce and juice and beat. Blend in vanilla and eggs. Add oats mixture; blend well. Sift together flour, soda, salt and spices. Add to creamed mixture; blend well. Pour batter into a well-greased and floured 9 X 13 inch square baking pan. Bake in preheated moderate oven (375 F.) 45 to 50  minutes. Do not remove cake from pan. For frosting combine pineapple and milk and cook in a microwave until hot. Stir in nuts and coconut to coat. Spread evenly over cake. (You may broil until frosting becomes bubbly or not depending on how you like your topping.). Serve warm or cold. 

Cocoa oatmeal cake: Increase boiling water to measure 2 2/3 cups in total in above recipe. Use 3 tablespoons cocoa in place of the cinnamon and nutmeg. Prepare and bake as above. 

Michael wrote: Sorry, I forgot this:

If any of you are wanting to send letters or anything to me, I have a new address to send them to, since the mission office can no longer forward letters in this mission.  My address is:

Elder Michael H Trauntvein
5951 Riverside Dr. #58
Chino, CA 91710

You can also look it up on Google maps to see the area where I live! Alright, coolio.  Talk to you all again soon!

Love,
Elder Trauntvein

Myrna wrote: NOW what? I just sent him his Thanksgiving package. Will he get it?

Melanie wrote:  In Ben's mission, they hold all the mail and the packages until the Zone leaders deliver them, and it is usually every other week. It will get to him, if not this week, it will by next week. They are having a mission party for Mike's mission, and for sure he will be given the package then if he doesn't have it by then. Mel 

Amy G wrote: Yes, he will get it.  It will wait at the mission home until the zone leaders stop by and they will deliver it.  Usually will take an extra couple of days.  I sent an email last week about the problem they are now having with USPS not letting them forward thing on anymore.  Don't worry about it.  He will get it and probably this week.  Thanks for sending him a package!  We got ours today.  Fun activity and the kids always love that you're thinking of them!

Thanks, Amy 

Eva wrote: Myrna.  I just opened the email from Michael with address change.  I just feel sick.  I just mailed  13 emails to 'my' missionaries.'  My letter was one of my best.  What will happen to it if that Pres. doesn' t forward them. How sad, if he dosen't  think more about his missionaries than that.  Melanie just sent me an email re: a package for Ben. She must have sent it to me by mistake. I hope he gets my letter, too. I have our stateside missionaries plus 10 International, 4 in Africa. It is so fun when once in a while I get a note or card from one of therm; I got one from both Ben and Michael  in the past 2-3 weeks, which was really great.  I hope you  folks have a fabulous Thanksgiving. God bless you. Much love,  Eva 

Myrna wrote: I just learned that they are all going to their mission homes for dinner on Thanksgiving. They will hold the mail there and give it to them then. That is what the parents have found out. So we both should be just fine. We all love you and appreciate the wonderful things you do for your missionaries.

Eva wrote: Thanks for letting me know. I am so glad both for letters and packages.   Have a great day. Much  love,  Eva

Sent

My missionary Thanksgiving package differed from the one I sent to each family. I just sent them $5 each, the card, the turkey, feathers and story. I didn't send them the other game because it didn't seem like something missionaries would be sitting around doing. I love you all.

Amy G. wrote: Thank you!  I'm sure they will love it!

I love you!

EllaDean Hunter to Myrna: I received this and it touched my heart...if you get this from me. I do love and admire you.

She can deal with stress and carry heavy burdens. She smiles when she feels like screaming, and she sings when she feels like crying. She cries when she's happy and laughs when she's afraid. Her love is unconditional. There's only one thing wrong with her. She forgets what she's worth! Pass this to every beautiful woman you know. Remind her that she's unique. I love you girl. In twenty five minutes something will make you super happy, but you have to tell ten crazy ladies you love them, including me. L-o-v-e-y-o-u. Today is 'love u day' send to everyone you love.
You're spoiled if you get 5 back.

Myrna wrote: I do love you and I think you are special.

EllaDean wrote: Thank you,  You are a very special person to me.  My daughter went with their youth
 to the temple last Saturday, and I ask her is she saw you.  She said she didn't see any one 
that she knew.  

Myrna wrote: We were 3 and 4 and spent most of our day doing that. What did she think of the new decor at the baptistry? 

EllaDean wrote: She didn't say anything about the new decor.  I will ask her.

About the Note

Myrna wrote: A person in Melanie's ward, when we were visiting her in Flower Mound, Texas, gave LHT and I a an interesting note. The man in Texas, who handed me the note really did not have much helpful information for us.

The first word he had written on it was "Opladen."
Next was, "Leverkusen--Opladen."
He then wrote:(Rheinland) NRW (stake); Nord Rhein Westfalen

He then wrote: "Trautwein."  It is note spelled as ours is "Trauntvein." There is not much there.

The Trautwein, he said, was a member of the church and could be traced through church records.

Eva wrote: Thank you. In all the years I researched, many of the family was wein, one Tromp wein.  I think the spelling was just whatever the Parish minister heard- Danish with a heavy German accent.  As I think back over those many years, I was so blessed to be able to find so much and be able to connect families.  I know the Holy Spirit was my constant companion.  As I get older, I keep thinking about in not too many more years, I am going to finally meet all of those wonderful folks and be able to finally tie them into their parents. One day  David showed me how he was able to pull up the huge family tree in a fan shape.  As we were looking at the lines, I noticed that our gr grandmother about three back ( Marie Fredericka Birch Trauntvein's parents were not there. I had brought that family group sheet to the library with me that morning and showed it to my favorite missionary who had been helping me for weeks. She showed  me how to add  her parents and a brother I had also found.  In doing that, she also showed me how someone else had added a sister; I had never found her in any of my extensive research. I was elated. It was in a totally different parish than I knew about. How wonderful the Spirit is to help us be successful  and for somone else to connect us. I would like to find that person; maybe he could help me in joinning up some more families. 

HAVE A GREAT TURKEY DAY. GOD BLESS YOU. OH, BY THE WAY, I LOVED BEN'S  QUOTE ABOUT THE 100,000 MISSIONARIES. BOTH OF YOUR YOUNG MEN ARE DOING TERRIFIC.  IT TOOK ME THREE FULL DAYS  (AT MY SNAIL'S PACE TO WRITE, STUFF AND MAIL LETTERS TO 13 MISSIONARIES WHICH INCLUDED THREE MATURE  COUPLES IN PARIS, AUSTRALIA AND COVE FORT,  ELDERS EVERYWHERE FROM TWO IN AREAS  IN AFRICA, TAIWAN, PHILIPPINES, TONGA, SOUTH AMERICA, ENGLAND, USA. IT IS SO REWARDING. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE LORD'S HELP  IN WRITING AND THINKING AND PLANNING. MAY HE CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU IIN ALL YOU DO. LOVE  AND  HUGS ALWAYS, EVA

Kimberly wrote: Opladen is the place my piano tuner gave me for knowing a trauntvein, last year.

Myrna wrote: I wonder if we could get in touch?

Is Bree Ill?

Melanie wrote: Mom, why is Bree in the hospital?

Bree may have tried to take her own life. She may have used her prescription. It had been newly filled. There were 50 pills in the bottle. It may not be that that is what happened. She may not have really taken all of them. She was deeply depressed and may have taken a few to try to feel better. However, when David returned from work, he took her to the hospital because she appeared to not be well. David is home with the children and is taking the next day or two off while he determines what help he might need or what he might need to do. We have offered to take the kids, to go and stay there or to do whatever else is needed. 

I told him I would not tell all of you about this but he said there was nothing secret about it so he did not care if I did. Last spring she tried to cut her wrists with an old soda pop can. She seems to be cycling with the bipolar disease but none of the meds seem to work for keeping her from cycling into the deepest depression. David has more questions at this point than he has answers. I am certain that is also true for Bree. She does not choose to be ill.

I want you all to know that LHT and I love them all. We cannot imagine what it must be like to be in her shoes.  We just pray that some one of the doctors may find the necessary treatment and that all will be well. 

Melanie wrote: I called to talk to him about the dog and camping in November in Texas. He has good ideas. I will be using some of them. I love that little boy.

The Crisis of the American Family

What a sad world we live in. I think it was easier to worry about wolves eating your children than to worry about all of the problems that beset our children and grandchildren in the modern world. Well, maybe not, but it is hard for many of our loved ones. One of the largest problems facing all of us today is the weakening of the American family. While it is true that the news coverage of the epic health care debate in the Supreme Court represents one of the most important news stories in recent years, one story with implications for the future of the American republic, a potentially bigger news story, went largely ignored. Mormon Media Observer: Coverage of crisis of the American family under-covered story By Lane Williams, For the Deseret News Published: Monday, April 2, 2012 The traditional American family continues to break. That's a key takeaway from a quadrennial study by the National Center for Health Statistics recently released. It was a large-scale study of more than 20,000 people. News coverage of the report was spotty and uneven at best. Among the study's findings: • A full 38 percent of women under age 44 have never been married. • Less than one in three men in that age group are in a first marriage. • Only about 50 percent of first marriages are surviving 20 years. • The rate of cohabitation — living together before marriage — is growing rapidly. In 2002, about 9 percent of men were cohabiting. Today, that figure has grown to more than 12 percent — a 33 percent increase. (Evidently, about 60 percent now say they cohabit before marrying.) • It is one third as likely that men are cohabiting as it is that they are in their first marriage. • More than 50 percent of black or African American women under age 44 have never married. • Education makes a big difference. While one in five women without a high school diploma live unmarried with a man, only about one in 20 with advanced degrees do. For men, those without a high school diploma are cohabitating at a rate of about one in four. • U.S.-born Hispanic or Latino men are about half as likely as their foreign-born counterparts to be married. • Religiousity and education also correlate with longer-lasting marriages. • Cohabitation before marriage still correlates with a marriage more likely to end in divorce, especially among those not engaged. But those statistical differences seem to be narrowing as more people live in cohabitation. It all paints a picture of the nation's most important institution facing continued assault and great peril. It suggests that the value of chastity continues to fade. And without marriage, poverty and other problems rise among children. The foundation of the nation is cracking. To be sure, this report received some important coverage in the news media. And, rigorous, useful analysis by intelligent people is also available. But many important news organizations missed the news entirely. Who missed it? If my Lexis-Nexis and Google searchs were accurate, only two major national newspapers wrote about it and only two smaller wire services covered it. To be sure, these news organizations haven't ignored the story of the changing American family — as in a fascinating New York Times report on the troubling rise of out-of-wedlock births among women under 30. More than 50 percent of births to women under 30 now are outside of marriage. Furthermore, we must be grateful to careful government researchers who spend their time writing these remarkable, extensive reports. But there needs to be a greater focus on family issues by the national press. Here's why: One of the most important insights that has emerged in recent decades from the study of the news media is that as the frequency of stories about certain issues rise, so does the public's perception of the importance of those issues. Put another way, when you ask people what the most important issues are facing the county, they choose issues that correlate with how frequently issues are in the press. So, as news focuses on, say, the economy, so do voters. And as voters focus on issues, so, naturally, do politicians. Things, therefore, get done. Hence, the lack of coverage of these family issues by the mainstream press makes it less likely that people will talk about them and, therefore, less likely that any pressure will come to make policy change. Are their useful governmental solutions to help address this crisis? Probably. Yet, these proposals have a hard time gaining traction amid low national attention. What is the most important issue facing this county today? Obamacare? The economy? Possibly. Here's one vote that the declining norm of marriage may be the biggest threat to our long-term survival as a nation. I, for one, think this issue needs more serious, focused, consistent and thoughtful attention by the nation's mainstream press. The coverage of this milestone study needed far more attention than it received. The crisis of the American family is real and may be the most important issue in America today even if the press neglects it.

Will any of you be here on Thanksgiving?

Myrna wrote: OK, I know who will not be here--Julie and family are going to Idaho; AnnMarie and family are going to St. George; Todd and family are in Ohio; Melanie, Howard and Mikaela are in Texas (if that is still a state and not a new country); Siovhan is still at her far-away job; David is on-call; and the rest of you we do not know about. 

Auntie Helen called and she, and her wonderful popcorn cake, will be here. 

In spite of my type 2 diabetes, we will have all the traditional dishes, including pie. I will have my own dishes--turkey, salad, vegetables and a baked sweet potato--but the rest of you can expect the same traditional meal we have always served, including stuffing and pie.

We love you and would appreciate knowing your plans.

Kirsten: Jared's parents are flying in tomorrow, so we will be here. Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Miss you all and love you all very much! Love, Kirsten

Melanie wrote: I do admit it feels weird not to be traveling to Ohio for Thanksgiving. I will miss being there, almost as much as I will miss not seeing Todd. :)

Todd wrote: Ah. She misses me. :)

Myrna wrote: We all do! This getting old is for the turkeys. I remember that my dad told me that.

Todd wrote: Yeah. Last year was my first year of odd. Told Amy we ought to just go out there for kicks and giggles. I know where there are a few places to eat dinner on Thanksgiving. I only hope hailey will remember those trips. Remember the year it snowed the whole time we were there? The kids rode the hill all morning long. 

Braden wrote: As you all may have seen in the news, Israel is suffering a great time. I write this so that you may all remember one of my dear friends who is serving in the Israeli Army. Her name is Ariel Bruce. Please keep her in your prayers over the next few days. Thanks to all!


Okay, just an update. My friend, Ariel, had actually been flown in to the U.S. and is currently in Boston for a surprise visit to her parents. She is safe and sound.

And sorry for all the emails, and the grammar that sometimes does not make sense. You can take Braden out a Spanish world, but you can't take Spanish out of Braden...


Myrna wrote: OK. It might be Auntie Helen and us and MAYBE David's kids, depending on whether Bree is still in the hospital or not.

Shawn wrote: We will be in Kaysville this year.  :(

Kirsten wrote: If no one is coming down you are always welcome to come here! I'll have lots of extra turkey including me! Love you lots

Myrna wrote: I'd need to bring Auntie. Maybe she would come. I haven't heard from Braden. 

I love my turkey girl. Happy Birthday! I hope you could read the card. Sometimes my pens smear. :)

Kirsten wrote: She'd be welcome, too!  I will let you know about the card.  Mail hasn't come yet today. :)

Braden wrote:  You are going to be in Kaysville?I think I should be okay to come down Wednesday night and help prepare for the whole next day. Just let me know what's going on with all the plans, okay?

Myrna wrote: I will not be in Kaysville at all, the Shawn Trauntvein family will be. It is going to be a small gathering at our house. You are invited and so is your roommate. We will be here and so will Auntie Helen and MAYBE David's kids.

Amy J. wrote: I am working but Eric and the kids will be there.

Myrna wrote: Thanks for all of the responses. I now know who will be here to celebrate with us and who will be celebrating elsewhere. Let's all have a great day. Thanksgiving is still one of my favorite holidays: food, family, fun. Of course, there is also gratitude, thankfulness and lots of good and happy memories.

One year for either Christmas or Thanksgiving, when Joey and Walter Olpin lived next door, they were our only guests besides our own small family. We crowded into our small kitchen, that was years and years before the addition was added, and ate, laughed and enjoyed a great meal. 

Most years, we traveled elsewhere. I don't know why it was that we stayed home that year. It was most unusual but it was fun. Perhaps all of our usual haunts had other plans. Strange that I do not remember why we were at home. It must have been Christmas. We usually stayed home Christmas Day after all of the children started to have lots of gifts to pack around. We would sometimes have family come to our home for dinner and sometimes not. 

We always had Auntie Helen's Christmas party in early December and met together as a big family then. We also, at some point, visited in Kenilworth, Price and Huntington. There we exchanged gifts prior to Christmas and were fed great meals. These are all good memories to warm my old age.

Oh, wait, I am old. Well, they warm my memories now and, perhaps, someday I will actually remember whether it was Christmas or Thanksgiving that we hosted the Olpin neighbors.

OK, Braden is coming on Wednesday, right? Am's youngest will spend her workday here and will travel on to St. George that evening. Bree is home from the hospital and none of them will be here. Amy J. is working but the rest of Eric's family will be here. Auntie Helen will be here. Is that all right? Three cheers for Thanksgiving. It is still a favorite holiday of mine--good food, great family, and lots of blessings to recall.

Two quotes Myrna needed to hear.

"We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that 'gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.'" Thomas S. Monson

Melody Beattie
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." 

We would like to leave early.

Could you work out our schedule so that we could leave a bit early on Saturday? We have a Senior grandson at TimpView High who has a role in the play. We can't go Friday and would like to go on Saturday. It starts at 7 p.m. so we would have a tough time getting there and getting a seat before it starts if we leave at 5 p.m. It takes about 45-55 minutes from Manti to Nephi and then about 40 minutes from Nephi to Provo. We would then need to fight Provo traffic to get to TimpView. The play is also on Thursday but I have school board meeting and I hate to try to make up the meeting afterward by listening to the tapes. It is possible, however. So if it is difficult for you to do, then let me know. My daughter-in-law in Hurricane is having health issues and we may also have to go get her kids. (Our youngest son's wife.) He is trying to hold down the fort but I don't know how that will go. We will let him do what he can and what he thinks a good dad should do but I will tell you it would be easier on me emotionally if he would let me help. I don't know how long they will keep her at the hospital so we may be looking at a week or two. Eileen wrote: Dear Myrna, I am so sorry about your daughter in law. Live is so hard. I have texted Bro. Maxwell to see what he wants to do about the temple schedule. We had you portraying 3/4 at 3:30. He'll get back to me and I will let you know as soon as he does. I don't believe getting off early will be a problem. Enjoy the play and, as for the daugther-in-law's health, keep your chin up, my dear friend!! Love you Eileen aka Sis. Lofthouse

About the note about Trauntvein.

Myrna wrote: The man, in Texas, who handed me the note really did not have much helpful information for us.

The first word he had written on it was "Opladen."

Next was, "Leverkusen--Opladen."

He then wrote:(Rheinland) NRW (stake); Nord Rhein Westfalen

He then wrote: "Trautwein."  It is note spelled as ours is "Trauntvein." There is not much there.

The Trautwein, he said, was a member of the church and could be traced through church records.

Eva wrote: Thank you. In all the years I researched, many of the family was wein, one Tromp wein.  I think the spelling was just whatever the Parish minister heard- Danish with a heavy German accent.  As I think back over those many years, I was so blessed to be able to find so much and be able to connect families.  I know the Holy Spirit was my constant companion.  As I get older, I keep thinking about in not too many more years, I am going to finally meet all of those wonderful folks and be able to finally tie them into their parents.   

One day  David showed me how he was able to pull  up the huge family tree in a fan shape.  As we were looking at the lines, I noticed that our gr grandmother about three back ( Marie Fredericka Birch Trauntveins  parents were not there.  I had brought that family group sheet to the library with me that morning and showed it to my favorite missionary who had been helping me for weeks.  She showed  me how to add  her parents and a brother I had also found.  In doing that , she also showed me how someone else had added a sister; I had never found her in any of my extensive research.  I was elated It was in a totally different parish than I knew about.  How wonderful the Spirit is  to help us be successful  and for somone else to connect us.  I would like to find that person; maybe he could help me in joinning up some more families. 

Have a great Turkey Day. God Bless you.

Oh, by the way, I loved Ben's quote about the 100,000 missionaries. Both of you young men are doing terrific. 

It took me three full days (AT MY SNAIL'S PACE TO WRITE, STUFF AND MAIL LETTERS TO 13 MISSIONARIES WHICH INCLUDED THREE MATURE COUPLES IN PAIRS, AUSTRALIA AND COVE FORT,  ELDERS EVERYWHERE FROM TWO IN AREAS  IN AFRICA, TAIWAN, PHILIPPINES, TONGA, SOUTH AMERICA, ENGLAND,USA.)  It is so rewarding. I am so grateful for the Lord's help in writing and thinking and planning. May He continue to bless you in all you do.   

 MAY HE CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU IIN ALL YOU DO. LOVE  AND  HUGS ALWAYS, EVA

Kimberly wrote: Opladen is the place my piano tuner gave me for knowing a Trauntvein, last year

Myrna wrote: I wonder if we could get in touch?

Our relative, Marg, passed on.‏

1927 ~ 2012
Marjorie Musig Greenhalgh passed away Monday, Nov. 12, 2012 in St. George, Utah.

Marjorie was born July 4, 1927 to Lucina Clark Musig and William DeMille Musig in Springville, Utah. She was married and sealed to her eternal companion Ralph Clark Greenhalgh on Sept. 8, 1948 in the Manti Utah Temple.

She lived her life with joy, and deeply loved and enjoyed rearing her family of four sons: Larry Clark; Kent Dean (deceased); Blaine William; Wesley Joseph; and two daughters: Karen Lou; and Linda. She taught them a love for the Lord and His Gospel, and for family, service, work, and our nation. 

Marjorie was very patriotic and loved that her birthday was on Independence Day. She was a lifetime member of the Chalice Club of Nephi. 

She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many responsibilities in the Stake and Ward Primary organizations. She especially enjoyed their mission together, serving in the Boston, Massachusetts Mission office and their success in searching for and teaching many interested in the Church. From 1991 to 1994, she served as assistant to the Matron in the Manti, Utah Temple. She was faithfully attending the temple until just a year ago. 

Marjorie developed into an accomplished artist. Her home is adorned with many of her oil paintings, depicting the beautiful Utah landscapes she loved. 

Marjorie is survived by her husband Clark of Nephi; Larry (Diane) of St. George; Karen (Bill) Bennett of Laverkin; Blaine (Janet) of Pleasant Grove; Wesley (Janet) of Heber City; and Linda (John) Curtis of Star, Idaho. 

She is also survived by two sisters Merial (George) Hawkins of Bountiful, and Elva Christian of St. George; brother-in-law James (Elaine) Greenhalgh of Logan; as well as 18 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren (one deceased). 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 at 11 a.m. in the Nephi 128 LDS Ward Chapel (222 South 100 East, Nephi, Utah) following a brief viewing from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Family and friends may call Friday evening at the Anderson Funeral Home (94 West 300 North, Nephi, Utah) from 6 to 8 p.m. She will be laid to rest in the Vine Bluff Cemetery in Nephi.

Published in Salt Lake Tribune on November 14, 2012

Melanie wrote: Linda said that her mother had suffered a severe stroke that she never really recovered from. Marjorie was always very kind to me. Her family loved her very much.

Sorina's Program

Sorina's primary program is this Sunday at 1pm. 

Schedule change

Myrna wrote: Could you work out our schedule so that we could leave a bit early on Saturday? We have a Senior grandson at TimpView High who has an important role in the play. We can't go Friday and would like to go on Saturday. It starts at 7 p.m. so we would have a tough time getting there and getting a seat before it starts if we leave at 5 p.m. It takes about 45-55 minutes from Manti to Nephi and then about 40 minutes from Nephi to Provo. We would then need to fight Provo traffic to get to TimpView. The play is also on Thursday but I have school board meeting and I hate to try to make up the meeting afterward by listening to the tapes. It is possible, however. So if it is difficult for you to do, then let me know.

My daughter-in-law in Hurricane is very, very ill and we may also have to go get her kids. (Our youngest son's wife.) He is trying to hold down the fort but I don't know how that will go. We have to let him do what he can but I will tell you it would be easier on me if he would let me help. I don't know how long they will keep her so we may be looking at a LONG week or two.


Eileen wrote: Dear Myrna,

I am so sorry about your daughter in law.  Life is so hard. I am sorry that she is sick. 

Sickness is one thing. I worry about other things with family. Wish these kids could find a better way to handle life's ups and downs. This is coming from one who has 2 granddaughters in the UT county jail on drug charges.

I have texted Bro. Maxwell to see what he wants to do about the temple schedule.  We had you portraying 3/4 at 3:30.  He'll get back to me and I will let you know as soon as he does.  I don't believe getting off early will be a problem.    

Keep your chin up, my dear friend!!

Love you
Eileen  aka Sis. Lofthouse

Melanie's Favorite Pancakes

One of my favorite cookbooks is, "The Mormon Diet,' Ethel C. Updike, Dorothy E. Smith, and Earl F. Updike, 1992, distributed by CFI (Cedar Fort, Incorporated), 925 North Main Street, Springville, UT, 801-489-4084. I bought it about fifteen years ago, while I lived in Missouri. I use it frequently. It is a Word of Wisdom cookbook, with limited meat, white anything and no sugar. My favorite parts are the soups and salads, but also, they have fabulous breads and breakfast foods.

My all time favorite recipe from this book is the oatmeal pancakes.

1 c. flour, half whole wheat, half white (I use 3/4 c. whole wheat and 1/4 c. white, just to bind the batter together better)
1/2 c. uncooked oats, quick or old fashioned (I use the old fashioned)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. almond milk
2 egg whites, beaten
2 Tbs. applesauce

In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a pyrex cup, mix the beaten egg whites and the applesauce together. Add to the dry ingredients, and mix until just moistened. You need to let the batter sit for about five to ten minutes, to let the oatmeal soften a bit. Cook as you would normal pancakes, watch carefully, they tend to brown more quickly.

I eat them with peaches, apples slices, berries, whatever. They really are the best pancakes for me. Howard and Mikaela aren't fans...probably too healthy for them.

Mel

Granny Sycamore Copycat‏ From Kirsten

Kirsten wrote: Ok, so I found a recipe that is really yummy and for those of us who cannot stock up on Granny Sycamore's white bread, here's a copycat version that I have tweaked a bit. Enjoy!
By the way, the original copycat (does that make sense) recipe can be found here:
http://robbygurlscreations.blogspot.com/2011/06/robins-perfect-homemade-bread.html
her loaves come out a little squat, so I use her original recipe to only form one loaf.


Granny Sycamore Copycat
3 C. All Purpose Flour
1 - 1/4 oz. Pkg. Fast Acting Dry Yeast (or 2.5 tsp SAF yeast)
1 1/4 tsp. Salt
3 Tbsp. Sugar
4 Tbsp. Butter, Melted
1/4 C. Non-Fat Dry Milk
1/4 C. Mashed Potato Flakes (or potato pearls that have been processed to powder)
1 1/8 C. Luke Warm Water
1 1/2 tsp. Vital Wheat Gluten or dough enhancer
A Pinch of Sugar


1. Proof the yeast with warm water and a pinch of sugar.  
2. Combine flour, salt, sugar, non-fat dry milk, potato flakes and vital wheat gluten into your mixer. Mix together.
3. Add dough enhancer to proofed yeast.  Measure out your 4 tbsp of butter and stick in the microwave for about 20 seconds.
4. Pour melted butter into yeast mixture add this to your mixer.
6. Knead for 10-15 minutes.  
7.  Transfer dough to greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap (that has also been “greased”).  Place in warm area and allow to rise for 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size (I learned a trick from ATK, set your oven to 200 degrees before you even start gathering your ingredients.  Allow to come to temperature and sit at 200 for 10 minutes.  Turn off oven and let cool slightly.  You will be left with a perfect proofing oven.) 
8. While the dough is rising, grease a loaf pan. 
9. Punch dough down, then place dough on a lightly floured surface.
10. Roll out to a little bigger length than your bread pans, then fold in all 4 sides to match the length and width of your loaf pan.
11. Place the dough folded side down in the loaf pan and cover VERY lightly with saran wrap. Then place the loaves in a warm place. 
13. After the bread dough has risen to twice its size in the loaf pan, place it in the preheated oven (350 degrees) for 15-20 minutes or until instant read thermometer reads 175 when placed in the side of the loaf.
14.  Remove from oven.  Using a stick of butter, run butter along the top crust of the loaf.  Immediately remove loaf from pans and allow to cool for 15-20 minutes on a cooling rack.  


Kirsten

Todd wrote: That last sentence doesn't make sense. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
Like that's going to happen. :)

Kirsten wrote: hahahahaha! I now double the recipe and let one get "ripped into" and the other to cool accordingly! :)

Shawn wrote: I'll have to try it with some whole wheat flower. Toren eats a peanutbutter and jam sandwich for lunch every school day, and he only likes it on Granny Sycamore's whole wheat bread (also has to be some kind of blackberry jam without seeds).

How NOT to gain sympathy

Yesterday, at church, I stood up to bear my testimony. As I was walking to the front of the church, I realized that John [ed. note--surname was left off on purpose] was walking up the other aisle. He deferred to me and I went first. There he was sitting behind me. I noted that Brad Johnson seemed quite uncomfortable, also. (Dad had stayed home with a really bad cold.) I have no idea why, but I went back down and sat where I had been sitting. I should have just walked out but I was too dumb to do that. At any rate, he was his usual rambling self but did bring up my name, the newspaper letter and than moved on Joe [surname removed to protect the innocent] (I muttered, "If he mentions certain person, I will get up and sock him." I was by Sister White, and so I had to apologize. She hadn't really heard what I said, however.) but he did not go into detail except to say that he was being prosecuted and was having a very difficult time. He didn't mention any young people by name but he did say how there was a dark side to the church in this town and that he would not sustain Don Eyre. He said that Jared Eldridge and the attorney's office were persecuting him. He said that he usually sat in the back of the church near Annette and his step-son would come and sit with him. He said his daughter had convinced him to come back to church and he was trying to do so. He started rambling about his troubles and the bishop told him, quietly, that it was time for the meeting to end so he ended and left. Brad told me afterward that he was about to get up and call the police but decided to stay put. The bishop asked me, afterward, what he was talking about concerning me, the letter, the tape recorder, Joe and a cover-up. John had not made any of the connections clear. Only that while he was at my house working on the letter he had taken out his tape recorder to turn over the tape. Jenny, Brad's wife, said she thought we were taking it all too seriously. "I think, confused as he is, he forgot to set his clock and was in the wrong ward," she said. His stepson and former wife live in the 8th ward. Apparently he goes to that ward and sits at the back somewhere in the neighborhood of Annette. At any rate, Brad said that he is not to be in the same building with Brad because John has a restraining order and he told the bishop that as well. He said the bishop's face went pale when John was walking up the aisle and that he seemed really uncomfortable. I was OK with Jenny's explanation until my RS first councilor called me last night. (She was Ams RS president when they were at university.) She asked me about it. Then she said that her friend told her that he also showed up at the 6th ward and did the same thing. He is trying, I guess, to get sympathy.

From Grammy and Gramps

I think that I am finally happy that I live among cowboys. It has taken some time for me to feel that way but, over the years, I have been in great meetings where humble and spiritual cowboys have taught great lessons. 

For example, at sacrament meeting one week ago, Bro. Davis, first counselor in the bishopric, told of his experience with his cell phone. He is the new church cattle ranch manager for the cattle ranch in our stake. He replaced Bro. Don Berezay when he died. At any rate, our ward is having, at the St. George Mission President’s request, a bring-a-friend-to-church-day on November 11. There is an assignment that goes with the request--we are to pray each day for inspiration, we are to read certain scriptures, we are to seek the spirit--then we are to approach the person with love and respect and ask them if they would like to attend church with us on that day. 

Paul Sutorius, our retired seminary principal and gospel doctrine instructor, said that, if they refuse, we should continue to be friends but that when we approach them we should teach them how to recognize the spirit when it inspires them. There is a list of scriptures we should use: 1 Cor. 2: 11-14; Moroni 10: 4-5; John 14: 26; Alma 32: 28; Alma 5: 45-46; and 3 Nephi 18: 18-20. 

At any rate, Bro. Davis was out rounding up cattle with Mitch Durban, Berezay’s son-in-law, when one of the calves decided to take off away from the rest of the cattle and make a run for it. Davis said that he knows from experience that the only thing to do is to chase the cow and work to cut it back to the rest but that it often leads through rough ground and tall brush. It cuts at the flesh of the cowboy and tears at his clothes. He did get the calf back to the herd but, at that time, he realized that the cell phone he had in his pocket was gone. He knew that it might seem a trivial and unimportant thing but to him it was vital. It had the contacts he needed for the church and for the other church business activities involved with his job. Those could be replaced but it would take time that he could ill-afford. So still in his saddle, he prayed and reminded Heavenly Father that the cell phone, in the eternal scheme of things, was not very important but that to him, Bro. Davis, it was. He asked him to help find it. Then he yelled to Mitch and told him to mind the cows while he looked for his phone. The problem was that he had been all through the brush in a zigzag manner and one stand of brush looks much like another. Still he looked as best he could for 45-minutes. Then it occurred to him that since he wanted help for this project, he should ask in a more formal way. So he got off his horse and knelt and offered a formal prayer. He got back on the horse and rode a short distance and there the phone was shining in the sun. He got off his horse, picked it up and then knelt again to thank Heavenly Father.

Bro. Davis said he wanted us all to know that we were important to Heavenly Father. He took time for each of His children and, if they wanted His help, He was there. “If He would help me find something so unimportant to anyone but me, He will help each of us with any of our problems. All we need to do it ask.”

He then said that the people we wanted to come to church with us were so important that He would help us reactivate them or convert them if we asked for His help and if those people were then ready. However, He was going to send us to the people who were ready. They would be the ones who would be inspired to accept our offer just as we had been inspired to seek them out. Gramps and I enjoy your missionary letters. 

We feel your great spirit in each of your letters and we are so happy that you are serving our Father in Heaven. The only way that any of us can ever truly feel the peace of the gospel is by living it. "Living the gospel does not mean the storms of life will pass us by, but we will be better prepared to face them with serenity and peace." Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, May 2000.

We love you. We hope that you got your Halloween card in time. Grammy doesn't yet know how long it takes to get things to you.

Lots of love, Grammy and Gramps