My Dad's Hands

Bedtime came, we were settling down,  I was holding one of my lads.  As I grasped him so tight, I saw a strange sight:  My hands... they looked like my dad's! I remember them well, those old gnarled hooks,  there was always a cracked nail or two.  And thanks to a hammer that strayed from its mark,  his thumb was a beautiful blue! They were rough, I remember, incredibly tough,  as strong as a carpenter's vice.  But holding a scared little boy at night,  they seemed to me awfully nice! The sight of those hands - how impressive it was  in the eyes of his little boy.  Other dads' hands were cleaner, it seemed  (the effects of their office employ). I gave little thought in my formative years  of the reason for Dad's raspy mitts:  The love in the toil, the dirt and the oil,  rusty plumbing that gave those hands fits! Thinking back, misty-eyed, and thinking ahead,  when one day my time is done.  The torch of love in my own wrinkled hands  will pass on to the hands of my son. I don't mind the bruises, the scars here and there  or the hammer that just seemed to slip.  I want most of all when my son takes my hand,  to feel that love lies in the grip. ~ By David Kettler ~

The Runnin’ Utes

May, May, May.

What a month. Dane ended his baseball season early. He broke 2 fingers while up to bat. He still made it to 1st base ran to 2nd before someone else got out. He's now sporting a wonderful blue cast with red stripes.

Brigitta ended her 8th grade year. She officially starts high school at the end of the summer. I don't know that any of us are ready for that.

Dane had his Nifty-50 United States class program and Toren has his First Grade Opera. Both did an excellent job. They will finish up 5th and 1st grade at the end of June.

Sorina tells us, "just 1 minute, I'll be right back" quite often. I told her that she doesn't know what 1-minute means. Shawn says that he does. It's exactly 24 minutes. That's how long mom would take it the grocery store when she'd leave you all in the car “for just one minute.”

I know this is short, but we've missed all the deadlines and I've been at Girl's Camp or we've been taking care of sick or injured kids.

Poor Shawn he did his own meals today. He didn’t have such a great Father’s Day. Sorina has been sick-low grade fever, but needing to be held and fed by someone. He made this pudding cake and it was great, so was his chicken and his potatoes, he made them a bit different, so he’ll have to forward those recipes onto you as well. The chicken was the best he’s ever done. Sorina in her sick state ate quite a bit (as long as we put in her mouth—and she even ate quite a bit of the cake, which she never eats, only the frosting). He could be making 4 dishes for our annual Ward Dutch Oven dinner, as I signed him up for 2 and he signed himself up for 2 more. We didn’t communicate very well.

Next month you can look forward to braces, sick kids, sliced thumbs, piano recitals, and Girl's Camp and Father's Day updates...

Boston Baked Boltons

The month of May was such a busy month for the Boltons!

Howard was home all month, waiting for the Department of Homeland Security to interview him for his new Resident card. It was like Christmas, with a trip to the mailbox as soon as the Mail Person had been. Finally on the 25th, the interview came and went without too much of a hitch. (Just a long trip into Boston during rush hour.) Howard's company is spinning off the Health Care division, so we are watching stock prices and news of a name change.

Melanie was busy getting the house ready for six people from several Latin American countries to come for dinner. The yard work was started, the front porch and back deck were painted, miner repairs in the house were made, cleaning and wall washing accomplished. Then the big night came and so did a huge rainstorm that meant the all the outside work went un-noticed. Oh well, it was a good jump into the summer. Melanie also participated in a Feed the Need 5k race and took 2nd place in her age group category. Now the trick question is: how many women over 40 were racing? Melanie was impressed though, it was her best 5k time ever.

Howard and Melanie are Pa and Ma for the Stake Youth Pioneer Trek, which is occurring June 29, 30, July 1. We have to take care of ten youth, make their breakfasts, help them to set up and take down camp, encourage them to push the handcarts, etc. We have to dress inperiod style costumes, which means I have to make a pioneer dress for myself and modify shirts for the men. It should be interesting. We have to farm out two of the children to families that aren't going. There are fourteen Pa's and Ma's, with the majority coming from our ward.

Siovhan has a new job. She is almost done with Spring Semester and is looking forward to having a few hours a week where she doesn't HAVE to do anything. She has a new Bishopric and is trying to do well with her new Relief Society calling.

Braden is looking forward to the end of school. He was selected the Senior Patrol leader of Troop 112. He took care of planning and coordinating two huge camping trips in April and May. Both of them happened in rainy weather. He is going to go to the BSA Leadership

Training camp, the first full week of July. He then is flying out to Utah on the 10th and will be there until the 26th. He is so looking forward to seeing everyone.

Ben is taking electric guitar lessons. He is enjoying them. He is busy with his scouting and hanging out with his friends. He won't be coming to Utah this year, as he decided to stay and go to Scout camp. He hasn't helped out at his friend's new house this month. In fact, since he threw up in their house last time he was there, they haven't had him come to help again. Poor Ben. He received his certificate for his SAT tests during a televised session of the School Board Meeting in May. That was fun!

Mikaela had an exciting beginning to the month of May. She jumped up into the freezer door while it was open, and ended up getting a few stitches at our local emergency room. She was not really happy about it, but she did okay. She was very nervous when we had to go back and get the stitches out the following week. She still has a nasty scab, and it has been over a month. The cut was really deep. She is excited to have the summer off of school. She is nervous about starting at a new Elementary School next year, but we know that she will do well.

That's all for now folks!

Siovhan has plans on picking Braden up at the airport. They are still making plans as to what he is going to do the first day or two. He has EFY the 17th-22nd. He wants to go to Auntie's party and to do some 24th of July stuff. He is aware that Todd and family with be in Spanish Fork and would like to spend some time with Mike and Tyler as well. Let us know what your schedule is.

MR BRADEN BOLTON

Date: 10 JUL 06 – MONDAY; Flight : AMERICAN AIRLINES 4592; Departure: BOSTON, 6:00 AM;

Arrival: WASHINGTON REAGAN,7:33 AM; Flight : AMERICAN AIRLINES,1321; Departure: WASHINGTON REAGAN, 8:22 AM; Arrival: SALT LAKE CITY,12:23 PM

Returns home Date: 26 JUL 06, WEDNESDAY; Flight : AMERICAN AIRLINES,1730; Departure: SALT LAKE CITY, 1:08 PM; Arrival: CHICAGO OHARE, 5:14 PM; Date: 26 JUL 06 - WEDNESDAY Flight : AMERICAN AIRLINES, 818; Departure: CHICAGO OHARE, 9:13 PM; Arrival: BOSTON,12:30 AM, 27; JUL 06, THURSDAY

Melanie

From Kate

Kate Childs Bird wrote:

I am not sure if anyone called and let you know that Denise got remarried today, Saturday the 17. She married Varian Allen who is from Emery/Moore and is about Richard's age. In fact, he looks a lot like Richard in my opinion. He is built a lot like him. They were married up in the mountains on your way to Loa. In was a really nice setting. She called my mom and dad and told them last week.

We all made it, even my dad who was not supposed to be traveling was there sporting his pj's! Denise thanked him for coming and cried and said she couldn't have done it without him there and said it meant a lot. She truly seems happy and at peace with everything.

I will send what pictures we took soon. I would have sent them tonight, but seeing how I am illiterate at taking the pictures from the camera and putting them on the computer, I will have to wait until David has 2 seconds to do it for me. I think it is time I learned how, don't you?

Anyway, sorry if I am repeating information that you already knew about! 

I got the pictures of Julie's new little one. I think that she is a keeper!! What a beautiful little one, but of course she is!!

I am not sure where they will be living.

As for my dad, he has another blood clot in his leg. This one is only a surface clot, but they told him to stay off it for two weeks. He said he can't stand to have anything rub next to his leg, hence the reason for the pj's at the wedding. He was the only one out of the 4 of us that seemed to be dressed right, the rest of us were a little over dressed! He said that he it was feeling better yesterday, which is good.

Give Kirsten loves and the new baby to.

Travel safely!!! We love and miss you! Hope all is well with everyone. Give loves to all including yourself!

Love, Kate

True Blue at BYU

Well, Spring Term is fast approaching it's end. It'll be done on the 22 of June, officially. I'm actually really glad to be done. I need a break. And by break I mean I'll still work 40 hours a week. 

As for the other parts of my life--Relief Society is going well. We have our quarterly Enrichment this weeks, so I'm hoping all my plans for that go as I need them to. Work is work. Thankfully I love the people I work with so my only problem is that I am not a morning person. I have made new friends of a great group of preemie boys...unfortunately all but two leave at the end of the term. The one is actually an R.M. he just lives with an apartment full of preemies, and the other leaves at the end of the summer and he only lives in Highland anyway.

Things up here in Cougar Country are happening fast. Luckily I know that it'll all slow down soon. Hopefully.

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

           better than your school since 1875

From Ann

Dear : L & M,

So important to know and understand what a flag draped coffin means -- thank you!

Rachelle is feeling much better now and I have been enjoying my visit up here in Oregon. Today is my grandaughter, Kelsae's, 16th birthday! What fun!

Thinking good thoughts and happy memories of each of you!

Love to all the family, Ann

Genealogy From Sharolyn Petty Wood

She said: Recently a new cousin from Sarah (Petty) Neale's line found us and passed on the oral tradition that Martha and her daughter Sarah were Cherokee. Yes, I know. Everyone wants to be Cherokee. My reaction totally. But serious researchers say check it out. So they may. Here are the notes I've accumulated over the years on this line. Maybe others can add or correct this information. Who our Martha is continues to be a mystery. Why am I not surprised that this family too ties into the Poe, Clanton, Harmon, and Harrington families. 

[Editor Myrna: Wouldn’t it be funny if Grandpa Pitt’s joke about the Pitts nose being an American Indian nose really proved to be true?]

From Sharolyn--How we fit:

Ralph Petty and Isabelle McClure;

Albert Petty and Catherine Petty,

Catherine Elizabeth Petty and James Peas Edwards,

Albert Elisha Edwards and Ida Pearl Musig,

Ruth Edwards and Thomas Vivian Pitts,

Howard Pitts and Jessie Elaine Smith

[and then me, Myrna]

Catherine Petty married Albert Petty [note the double Petty]

She was the daughter of George Petty and Lydia Harrington

[That is where my family fits into the Harrington line.]

Hubert Petty and Rebecca

Thomas Petty and Catherine Garton

James Petty and Martha (assumed Clanton)

George Petty and Lydia Harrington

Catherine Petty and Albert Petty

Thomas Miles Pitts Census

Posted By: Myrna Trauntvein

---

Date Posted: May 26, 2006

---

Description: Thomas Miles Pitts household in

Myton for the census of 1910.

Census1910.x (Thomas Miles Pitts)

Posted By: Myrna Trauntvein

---

Date Posted: May 26, 2006

---

Description: Thomas Miles Pitts household in
Myton for the census of 1910.

The Little Chap Who Follows Me

Author: Unknown

A careful man I want to be;

A little fellow follows me.

I do not dare to go astray

For fear he'll go the self same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes,

Whate'er he sees me do, he tries.

Like me he says he's going to be;

The little chap who follows me.

He thinks that I'm so very fine,

Believes in every word of mine.

The base in me he must not see;

The little chap who follows me.

I must remember as I go

Through summer's sun and winter's snow,

I'm building for the years to be;

The little chap who follows me.