ABOUT THE FLU PANDEMIC FROM HELEN

Helen wrote: Folks: the e-mail below is from a very good friend- am sending it on. Love Helen

John Gifford wrote: I received this from a colleague of mine who worked at the USH Forensic Unit. 

 

I wasn't going to forward this on till I looked at the attachment.  Then I thought to myself, "what if something like this happened and someone in my family could have benefited from this information."  Then it instantly became a no brainer to forward on.

ABOUT THE FLU PANDEMIC I found this to be quite interesting. Do with it as you will. "About a month ago a seminar was put on by Dr. Susan Puls, who is a cardiologist appointed by the First Presidency of the Church as the head of the church's pandemic committee. She said she was not an expert on pandemics as this was not her speciality, but in the two years she's been in her position, is fast becoming one. She now works for the church on a full-time basis working on planning for the pandemic and trying to get the word out to as many church members as possible. There were about 1400 people at the Saturday all-day seminar. In her capacity, she works with the governor's pandemic committee and the federal pandemic planning agency. She also said a pandemic is coming - not 'maybe' but is DEFINITELY coming. She says the pandemic is expected within the next two years but she personally believes it will be 'sooner rather than later...' The various groups (CDC, WHO, etc...) do not know what the pandemic will be but 'first among their list of suspects is the avian bird flu. It's only one mutation away from being easily transmitted from birds to humans and from human to human.' She said the World Health Organization expects 40% of the world population to become sick. Of those who become sick, they expect 50% will die. If you do the math - there are over 6 billion people on the earth today - that puts the death rate at over 1.4 billion people - and she says these deaths will happen over only a 3 to 4 month period of time. Dr. Puls related that when the pandemic hits the US , mandatory quarantine's of all infected and NON-INFECTED peoples will occur within the first 48 hours. Only emergency personnel (Dr's, nurses, firemen, police, national guardsmen, etc...) will be allowed to leave their homes - not even to go to the store, etc... This quarantine will last during the duration of the 'pandemic cycle' which will last approximately three months. Her main point was that everyone will need a *MINIMUM of 3 months supply of food at home* as the governments of the world will be overwhelmed within the first week and cannot be counted on to provide food, medical help, etc... She only briefly spoke on the 'social disruption' that will occur and did not go into any detail about what plans may, or may not exist, to deal with this. However - think about this - if your neighbors (both those you know and strangers) run out of food and are starving how might they react? Then think of all the individuals who already live outside of the law and are only 'controlled' by our current legal system. How might they react when law enforcement becomes ineffectual due to illness among the ranks and those who abandon their jobs to stay home and protect their own families. Ditto for the national guard and our own military. This isn't to scare anyone - just to provide a 'heads up' as 'to be forewarned is to be forearmed.' That's the end of the e mail. I try and check the authenticity of emails such as this so I Googled Dr. Puls and was eventually linked to the Church's Provident Living website and was surprised to find that they have a section on Pandemic Planning under Home and Family Preparedness. http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,8041-1-4414-1,00.html The government also had a website: http://www.pandemicflugov/plan/tab3.html I found it very interesting that in the Church's new pamphlets on food storage, they recommend building your supply up to a three months supply. As you can see in the article, Dr. Puls states that everyone will need a minimum of three months supply of food at home. I think this quote from Elder Perry's Conference Talk (Oct 2008) has application here: *Thoreau's final necessity was fuel.* We have been hearing a lot about fuel and energy-about their high cost and limited supply, our unsafe and unpredictable dependence on their suppliers, and the need for new and sustainable sources of energy. I leave the discussion of these complicated issues to leaders of government and industry. The fuel I want to discuss is spiritual fuel. The Lord has given us a beautiful plan about how we can return to Him, but the completion of our mortal journey requires spiritual fuel. We want to emulate the five wise virgins, who had stored sufficient fuel to accompany the bridegroom when he came (see Matthew 25:6-10 http://scriptures.lds.org/matt/25/6-10#6). What is required to maintain a sufficient store of spiritual fuel? We must acquire knowledge of God's eternal plan and our role in it, and then by living righteously, surrendering our will to the will of the Lord, we receive the promised blessings. As Elder William R. Bradford taught at this pulpit: "In righteousness there is great simplicity. In every case that confronts us in life there is either a right way or a wrong way to proceed. If we choose the right way, we are sustained in our actions by the principles of righteousness, in the which there is power from the heavens. If we choose the wrong way and act on that choice, there is no such heavenly promise or power, and we are alone and are destined to fail" ("Righteousness,"/Liahona,/Jan. 2000, 103;/Ensign,/Nov...1999, 85).

Bree Is Ill

Myrna wrote: David called this a.m. about 8:30 a.m. He was heading to Grand Junction to the big regional hospital there. Bree had seizures last night and the doctors were unable to stop the seizures so they airlifted her to the hospital. Dad left right away, after getting the call, to go to be with David. We debated whether I should go or not but he didn't want to wait for Julie to get here to help with Rachel. He took his cell phone and promised he would call to let me know what the prognosis is.

Melanie wrote: Please call when you get any information.
Mel


Myrna wrote: I takes about 3 1/2 hours to get to Grand Junction, CO, from Nephi. Dad went down and spent the afternoon. While he was there, Bree had another seizure. When he got home tonight, he tried to call David but the phone was off. He said they both were tired, and since David was staying the night, perhaps they were both napping, but I think the hospital still may have been doing tests. Dad just called David's cell phone and not the room.


Just before Dad left, at 5 p.m., they were getting Bree ready to take her to have an MRI. They told them it would take about and hour before they would do the test. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses the magnetic properties of body tissues to create a detailed image of the brain. It takes about 45 minutes. When it is used for people with seizures, a certain protocol is followed, to be sure that there is a clear image of the areas of the brain where seizures are most likely to begin. 


Earlier they gave her an Electroencephalogram (EEG) to measures electricity in the brain (or brain waves). Electrodes are used to see if there are any seizures and/or any abnormalities that might lead to seizures. The doctors did not find anything wrong when they did that test. But, after that test she had another seizure.


Dad says the first seizure happened when everyone was asleep. Bree was up with Caydin and felt her arm go numb. She went to her mom's room and woke her before the seizure happened. The doctors at the nearby hospital were unable to stop or control the seizures so they sent her via air to St. Mary's hospital in Grand Junction. Dad says they have been keeping her quieted with medicine trying to keep things under control.


So she is in room 318 (or was, the nurse said they might move her) at St. Mary's in Grand Junction, CO.


I know you all love Bree, as I do, and are praying for her. I just worry that this might be some sort of flare up of the cancer she had as a child. I also pray that that is not the cause and that it is something simple. I have a friend at the temple, one of the 60 women I work with, who gets seizures whenever she gets a fever--even a low grade fever. I hope it is just something like that. The women has had this problem since she was a child and is 70 now. It is scary for her family but she just works to keep all fevers controlled.
Enough rambling. I love you all, M

Aunt Helen's Christmas in July won't happen.

Don't plan on Aunt Helen's Christmas in July. It won't happen this year or ever again. 

She has decided that all the original siblings are getting too old and have too many problems so she is dropping it. She will have Uncle Don, Aunt Thelma, Aunt Eva and Dad and I get together one Monday in April. But as for the rest of you, it is all over. Sorry about that. I think some of you really enjoyed it.

We also do not get our time off from the temple in January and July anymore. We will have our time off in April and in October. The temple committee has determined that is the cleaning schedule we need to be on and so, while they are having the temple cleaned, we are having time off. Kind of weird times, right? They coincide with conference but do not include conference.

The Irish Mormon prophet

By Michael De GrooteMormon Times

When people think of St. Patrick's Day and famous Irishmen they probably don't think about Joseph Smith Jr.

But they should.

As reported in the Deseret News and on MormonTimes.com last August, Ugo Perego, director of operations at the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation discovered a rare DNA marker in descendants of Joseph Smith. This marker establishes that the Smith family line came from Ireland.

Genealogists had been able to trace the Smiths to a Robert Smith who arrived in the United States in 1638 from England. Some assumptions were made about where he came from and guesses were made, but no hard evidence existed that enabled reliable tracing to go any further.

Enter DNA.

Perego thought it would be an easy task to match the well-established DNA signature of the Joseph Smith family with other Smiths in England.

It wasn't.

The Smith's DNA was not like any Smith in England that Perego could find.

Perego began DNA detective work -- trying to find a close match. After narrowing his search he discovered that the Smith family DNA matched very closely with the many descendants of "Niall of the Nine Hostages," a fifth-century Irish warlord who was the ancestor of the kings of Ireland up to the 10th century. Joseph Smith's ancestors along his paternal line were not just Irish, but probably related to Irish royalty.

Perego speculated that the Smiths had to be relatively new to England when Robert Smith came to America, otherwise there should have been DNA matches in England. He thinks that Robert's family came from Ireland and changed their last name to fit in and avoid anti-Irish sentiments. They chose the most common of English names.

If the family had not changed their name, it is possible that the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could have been named "Joseph O'Malley" or "Joseph Flannigan."

Perego's study only applies to the Smith line -- the descent from father to son and so forth. Joseph Smith, of course, had many ancestors who were not along the Smith line (his mother for instance).

So how are Joseph's descendants receiving this news?

Michael Kennedy, the President of the Joseph Smith Jr. Family Organization and of the Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society, said that most members of the family probably don't know about the study yet, but they will announce it at the next reunion. "I thought we were Scottish," he said.

Read the article about the discovery from August, 2008.

E-mail: mdegroote@desnews.com

MormonTimes.com is produced by the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Copyright © 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company


From Ann: That's so interesting!  Someday when we meet all of our ancestors it will be a great day of enlightenment!  I'm looking forward to it!

 

      Best, Ann

The Irish Mormon Prophet and Comments from Ann Olsen

The Irish Mormon prophet
By Michael De Groote
Mormon Times

When people think of St. Patrick's Day and famous Irishmen they probably don't think about Joseph Smith Jr.

But they should.

As reported in the Deseret News and on MormonTimes.com last August, Ugo Perego, director of operations at the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation discovered a rare DNA marker in descendants of Joseph Smith. This marker establishes that the Smith family line came from Ireland.

Genealogists had been able to trace the Smiths to a Robert Smith who arrived in the United States in 1638 from England. Some assumptions were made about where he came from and guesses were made, but no hard evidence existed that enabled reliable tracing to go any further.

Enter DNA.

 Perego thought it would be an easy task to match the well-established DNA signature of the Joseph Smith family with other Smiths in England.

It wasn't.

The Smith's DNA was not like any Smith in England that Perego could find.

Perego began DNA detective work -- trying to find a close match. After narrowing his search he discovered that the Smith family DNA matched very closely with the many descendants of "Niall of the Nine Hostages," a fifth-century Irish warlord who was the ancestor of the kings of Ireland up to the 10th century. Joseph Smith's ancestors along his paternal line were not just Irish, but probably related to Irish royalty.

Perego speculated that the Smiths had to be relatively new to England when Robert Smith came to America, otherwise there should have been DNA matches in England. He thinks that Robert's family came from Ireland and changed their last name to fit in and avoid anti-Irish sentiments. They chose the most common of English names.

If the family had not changed their name, it is possible that the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could have been named "Joseph O'Malley" or "Joseph Flannigan."

 Perego's study only applies to the Smith line -- the descent from father to son and so forth. Joseph Smith, of course, had many ancestors who were not along the Smith line (his mother for instance).

So how are Joseph's descendants receiving this news?

 Michael Kennedy, the President of the Joseph Smith Jr. Family Organization and of the Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society, said that most members of the family probably don't know about the study yet, but they will announce it at the next reunion. "I thought we were Scottish," he said.

E-mail: mdegroote@desnews.com

MormonTimes.com is produced by the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Copyright © 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company


 Ann Olsen wrote: That's so interesting! Someday when we meet all of our ancestors it will be a great day of enlightenment! I'm looking forward to it!
 Best,
Ann


Myrna wrote: Well, I am looking forward to it but not too SOON! Of course, if they want to appear to me while I am still alive that will be OK. I just am excited about this life still and want to see how it turns out at the end. However, I think that it may be like a soap opera, it has no end, just the next chapter or, in the case of TV, the next episode. M


Ann Olsen wrote: I agree -- I'm not looking forward to it right away because living with our precious families on this beautiful earth, walking the Pathway of Happiness with the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and being led by the prophets of God brings so much joy to our hearts.  We live in the best of times for us.  Our ward families are loving, kind, and compassionate.  I feel the same love and unity whenever I visit my children's wards.  There is an increase in spirituality in our ward families.

Unfortunately, -- everyday my heart aches because there are so many sad, disheartening, and horrible decisions being made by our elected leaders.  Our tax dollars will now be used throughout the United States, Mexico, and other countries to abort and kill innocent babies!  Life support is being withheld from babies who have survived botched abortions.  Where is the integrity, character, respect for life of such leaders?  Long ago I promised myself that I would never vote for any candidate who was for abortion on demand.

 I never thought I would see the day in this great land of liberty when a simple vote by our senators and congressmen or a stroke of a pen would take our freedoms away one by one.  Families of faith are being threatened and persecuted.  In public schools, our young children and grandchildren are being taught to "embrace diversity, to accept and respect alternative lifestyles" as normal.  A governor and an attorney general are urging judges to overturn the vote of the people regarding the Marriage Propositions that were passed.  Our senators & congressmen approve bills that they have not even read!  Now we and our children and grandchildren are saddled with tremendous debt. Our taxation will most assuredly be greatly increased.  And on and on it goes.

However, I know that the work of the Lord is going forth throughout the world.  The Savior is our Perfect Example.  The prophets of God "waded through their afflictions" yet were true and faithful.  A great legacy of faith has been passed to us by our pioneer ancestors.  We are being blessed so abundantly day by day.  I

I believe we can and will stand immovable in doing the right and good things we know are so important to do.  We are gathering our children and grandchildren around us and teaching them not to be afraid.  We are working day by day to strengthen our faith, our families, our wards and stakes.  I believe we can and will faithfully endure each trial and challenge that comes.

What a great blessing it is to have dear, faithful friends who strengthen us, love us, comfort us, and stand strong with us!  We are all in this together!  We have the Right plan, the great Plan of Happiness!

     Much love to you and yours,

               Ann
   

Meanderings

Just so you all know, if you look at any of the photo CDs we sent to you, you will find photos of the family--all of those who have sent photos will find them on the CDs. In addition, there are photos of the new people in the family this first year of life. I hope you all have the CDs by now.

Next, I hope you all get your St. Patrick's Day packages. Remember, you all have the luck of the Irish (which can be either a good or bad thing in and of itself) by birthright. Both LHT and MT have Irish ancestors. So enjoy. This month, I sent all of the letters to each of the kids and each of you adults in one big package. That means you will all get them or none of you will depending on the mail delivery. I have, quite frankly, given up. We keep getting letters back. The mailman delivers the mail according to the return address and not to the send address. Dad keeps complaining to the post office but it doesn't do any good. It is not only snail mail but computer mail that fails me. My e-mail servers both send out multiple e-mails when I just planned on sending one. I get multiple e-mails from the same sender. In addition, I keep getting the ones I send to Todd, Melanie and Kirsten back as undeliverable. Go figure.

Those with birthdays and the one anniversary couple this month, should all be getting or have gotten cards in the mail.

I feel like the old cliche: "The check is in the mail." It really is but who ever believes that when it never shows up?

By the way, one of the people will get $2. I got new bills and they kept sticking together. When I finished I had one dollar left and I should have had two (out of $50). But it is not my fault, I inherited "bug eyes" as one of my friends (?) told me on Saturday. My eyes bulge outward, like bug eyes, she said. I'd worry about it but I have other things troubling me. I am getting ready to blow away. I have now been diagnosed with dry eye, dry skin and dry mouth. When I die, I will not need a casket. Dad can just put me out on the porch on a windy day and I will blow away. That "from dust to dust" statement must really apply.

I love you all. Have a great week. M

Meanderings‏

Myrna wrote: Just so you all know, if you look at any of the photo CDs we sent to you, you will find photos of the family--all of those who have sent photos will find them on the CDs. In addition, there are photos of the new people in the family this first year of life. I hope you all have the CDs by now.

Next, I hope you all get your St. Patrick's Day packages. Remember, you all have the luck of the Irish (which can be either a good or bad thing in and of itself) by birthright. Both LHT and MT have Irish ancestors. So enjoy. This month, I sent all of the letters to each of the kids and each of you adults in one big package. That means you will all get them or none of you will depending on the mail delivery. I have, quite frankly, given up. We keep getting letters back. The mailman delivers the mail according to the return address and not to the send address. Dad keeps complaining to the post office but it doesn't do any good. It is not only snail mail but computer mail that fails me. My e-mail servers both send out multiple e-mails when I just planned on sending one. I get multiple e-mails from the same sender. In addition, I keep getting the ones I send to Todd, Melanie and Kirsten back as undeliverable. Go figure.

Those with birthdays and the one anniversary couple this month, should all be getting or have gotten cards in the mail.

I feel like the old cliche: "The check is in the mail." It really is but who ever believes that when it never shows up?

By the way, one of the people will get $2. I got new bills and they kept sticking together. When I finished I had one dollar left and I should have had two (out of $50). But it is not my fault, I inherited "bug eyes" as one of my friends (?) told me on Saturday. My eyes bulge outward, like bug eyes, she said. I'd worry about it but I have other things troubling me. I am getting ready to blow away. I have now been diagnosed with dry eye, dry skin and dry mouth. When I die, I will not need a casket. Dad can just put me out on the porch on a windy day and I will blow away. That "from dust to dust" statement must really apply.

I love you all. Have a great week. M


Melanie wrote: I got our package today! Just in time to help with my Family Home Evening assignment. I will also use my button tomorrow at the Rehabilitation/Nursing Home as there are a ton of old Irish and Italian/Irish Immigrants that reside there. They love this holiday. Massachusetts celebrates it as big as New York does.

Here's an Irish blessing that I fell in love with:

May those who love us, love us,
and for those who don't love us,
may God turn their hearts.
And if He can't turn their hearts,
may He turn their ankles
so that we will know them by their limping.

Or this one:
 As you slide down the banister of life,
may the splinters never point the wrong direction.

Love you!

Mel

Todd wrote: How about, Where does lint come from and would you like to go there on vacation?


Kirsten wrote: Or maybe, "Some days you're the dog, other days the hydrant."  OR as Jared's favorite t-shirt says, "Irish you would kiss me!"  --get it, Irish (i wish)...  hahaha

Thanks for the package, mom!!!  We used it for family night tonight also!  The kids loved the buttons and the dollar!  BTW, I know who you love best (you know that secret person holding the $2)...

:)

Kirsten

Happy Irish Day!


David wrote: "May the forces of evil become lost and confused on the way to your house."


Kimberly wrote: Ok, that’s my favorite, David.  I was thinking I liked Mel’s ankle twist one, but I like this one best.

Kimberly


Happy St. Patties Day

Myrna wrote: Who is the holder of the $2?

Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck.


Kirsten wrote: One last one, "May the bird of paradise fly up your nose!"

Okay, so i cheated and stole that one from Little Jimmy Dickens


Todd wrote:
Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live every day as if it were your last.


Amy G wrote: Myrna,

Thank you for the St. Patrick's Day package!  As always, the kids were very excited to get it and we played the games as part of our FHE.  Thanks for the treat dollars, the kids enjoy going to get something compliments of Grandma and Grandpa!

Love,

Amy

It's about time I wrote something here!

Just so you all know, if you look at any of the photo CDs we sent to you, you will find photos of the family--all of those who have sent photos will find them on the CDs. In addition, there are photos of the new people in the family this first year of life. I hope you all have the CDs by now.

Next, I hope you all get your St. Patrick's Day packages. Remember, you all have the luck of the Irish (which can be either a good or bad thing in and of itself) by birthright. Both LHT and MT have Irish ancestors. So enjoy. This month, unlike in November, December, January and February, I sent all of the letters to each of you, kids and adults, in one big package. That means you will all get them or none of you will depending on the mail delivery. I have, quite frankly, given up. We keep getting letters back. The mailman delivers the mail according to the return address and not to the send address. Dad keeps complaining to the post office but it doesn't do any good. It is not only snail mail but computer mail that fails me. My e-mail servers both send out multiple e-mails when I just planned on sending one. I get multiple e-mails from the same sender. In addition, I keep getting the ones I send to Todd, Melanie and Kirsten back as undeliverable. Go figure.

Those with birthdays and the one anniversary couple this month, should all be getting or have gotten cards in the mail.

I feel like the old cliche: "The check is in the mail." It really is but who ever believes that when it never shows up?

By the way, one of the people in the family mailing will get $2 instead of $1. I got new bills and they kept sticking together. When I finished, I had one dollar left and I should have had two dollars (out of the $50). But it is not my fault, I inherited "bug eyes" as one of my friends (?) told me on Saturday. My eyes bulge outward, like bug eyes, she said. I'd worry about it but I have other things troubling me. I am getting ready to blow away. I have now be diagnosed with dry eye, dry skin and dry mouth. When I die, I will not need a casket. Dad can just put me out on the porch on a windy day and I will blow away. That "from dust to dust" statement must really apply.

I love you all. Have a great week. M

Thanks!

Brigitta, thank you for posting a new holiday page. Thank you for telling us about your award and thanks for posting photos of Sorina on  her happy day. It is nice to know that someone else takes an interest in keeping things current.

I have been spending lots and lots of time with the chiropractor. He has had me come for one-hour appointments three times a week. I am so much better that I think it is worth it. My back and hip no longer cause me problems and my tummy is almost healed. I can almost stand straight again. Thanks to David for suggesting I try it and thanks to Jim, for finding a good chiropractor. Auntie Helen and Auntie Eva really believe in the help that can be given. After all the surgeries, Auntie Eva has finally been helped by a chiropractor. Nanci has been going to one to help her with her problems. 

Happy Birthday Sorina!

Blowing Out the Candles

The Awesome Pre-Cut Cake

Spoiled? Naw!

Famous line "Oh My Goodness"

"I BET I CAN COLOR THE CARROT FASTER!"

Sorina, Sayda, Chloe

Future Build A Bear Fashion Models!

"AHHH! STUFFING!" 

(Admit it most kids hate it! Even on thanksgiving!)

Birthday Party Line Up

(This is Brigitta again, I doubt my mom really knows this blog exists!)

Sorina had tons of fun on her birthday and is so excited to be six! She had a wonderful birthday party at Build A Bear with her friends and cousins...well not all her cousins! Where were you guys? Anywho, she made a cute little doggy and called her Chloe. (Oddly enough the name of her cousin in one of the pictures!) Some of her gifts include a barbie mp3, Beautiful B'Day card with birthday money in it (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!) and a make-up kit (:0) ! All in all, Brigitta is tired of typing and since are pictures worth a thousand words, ....I'm ending this novel with 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SORINA!

cya next week for Kims Birthday!