Fun for St. Pat's Day‏

Melanie wrote: I am going to use some of these on Sunday!

Myrna wrote: St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect opportunity to add a bit of Irish humor to your family's dinner table. Here are some silly, but funny St. Patrick’s Day jokes for kids and fun facts to share with your own wee ones to tickle their Blarney Stones and keep them laughing all week long.

Top 10 St. Patrick’s Day Jokes for Kids:

1. Q: Why do frogs like St. Patrick’s Day? A: Because they’re always wearing green.

2. Q: Why would you never iron a four-leaf clover? A: Because you shouldn’t press your luck.

3. Q: Why can’t you borrow money from a leprechaun? A: Because he’s always short.

4. Q: When is an Irish potato not an Irish potato? A: When he’s a French fry.

5. Q: What do you call a fake stone in Ireland? A: A sham rock.

6. Q: What would you get if you crossed Christmas with St. Patrick’s Day? A: St. O’Claus.

7. Q: Why did St. Patrick drive all the snakes out of Ireland? A: Because he couldn’t afford airfare.

8. Q: What is left out on the lawn all summer and is Irish? A: Paddy O’Furniture.

9. Q: What do you call a diseased Irish criminal? A: leper con.

10. Q: Why did the leprechaun cross the road? A: He wanted to reach the pot of gold faster.

Top 10 Fun Facts about St. Patrick’s Day:

1. St. Patrick's Day began as a religious holiday to honor St. Patrick, who brought Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century.

2. There are four towns in the U.S. named after a shamrock, the emblem of Ireland. They are Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock, Texas; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana, and Shamrock, Oklahoma.

3. Nine cities are named after Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The most populous are in California and Ohio.

4. The actual color of St. Patrick is blue. Green became associated with St. Patrick's Day during the 19th century. Green, in Irish legends, was worn by fairies and immortals, and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.

5. The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in Boston in 1737.

6. Nine of the people who signed our Declaration Of Independence were of Irish origin, and nineteen Presidents of the United States proudly claim Irish heritage - including our first President, George Washington.

7. The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.

8. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14.

9. One estimate suggests that there are about 10,000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.

10. Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

What exactly is a Blarney Stone?

The Blarney is a block of bluestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, about five miles from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab. The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. Today, the castle is a popular tourist site in Ireland, attracting visitors from all over the world to kiss the stone and tour the castle and its gardens. The word blarney has come to mean clever or flattering talk.

Kirsten's Surgery

If one photo is worth 1,000 words, then this one must be worth much, much more. She was so brave to have it done.

Alyssa's Email

Myrna wrote: Do you have an email address for Alyssa? You note that I do not send them much but I do like to send the "away" kids a few things. Thanks.

By-the-way, would you check and see if she got her St. Pat's package? I had the zip as 84604 and the postmaster said that it should be 84602 and changed it. When I got home, I looked at Braden's and it is 84604.

AnnMarie wrote: Her address is on the last email.  But she doesn't want it given out so I respect that by not including her in group emails beyond me and the kids and now you. It is how BYU and her professors contact her.

Her zipcode is different from everyone else because she is on campus. I'll check with her though.

Myrna wrote: OK. I will not include her in a group email. Thanks.

Birthday Dinner and Delay

Myrna wrote on March 5: Braden, could you go out to dinner on Wednesday or Thursday? We are going to be in Provo on Thursday to take Gramps back to the doctor. We don't know what your plans are for celebrating. Would you rather wait and come here on Sunday? Let me know what you would like.

Myrna wrote on March 6: Braden, I am so sorry that I got so sick. I still feel terrible but some better. I haven't heard angels singing so I must be going to live.

Melanie wrote on March 6: Maybe you weren't supposed to go to Provo today. I heard there was a horrible accident near one of the freeway exits.

MelBraden Bolton wrote at 2:06 p.m. Mar 11: Thursday would be fine. I'll be even closer to the Brick Oven.

Moroni Painting

Myrna wrote: Brother Justensen, the assistant recorder, went upstairs, as he does to check on "things" as part of his job, into a storage area by the Priesthood Room and said that he had seen the painting was still in the temple.

Sister Grimshaw said that she understood that it had been commissioned for the temple. Do you know if that is true? Your relative, the sealer (whose name escapes me at the moment), might have been the one she mentioned. Is it Christopherson? I said that the painting had been in the temple since I first attended in 1960 to receive my own endowments.

I was worried about where it might have gone to as Sister Grimshaw said she did not know.

At any rate, Brother Justensen said that the painting, by Harold I Hopkinson (the same painter who painted the one that hangs in the St. George Temple featuring the signers of the Declaration), was based on a statement by Warren S. Snow. Was Snow the man who was with President Brigham Young at the site dedication? Hopkinson, whose son, Glen, is also a painter, was born in 1918 and died in 2000 according to a web bio.

Can you remember that the painting was taken down once before? Someone reported the painting missing to President Hinckley (story one) and he called and told them to put it back. Or he was visiting and saw that it was missing (story two) and said he wanted the painting hung back up again.

Brother Justensen also said that when the park at the foot of the temple was dedicated and the Mormon Tab came to sing that one of the speakers was also a church historian. The church historian did not believe the story about Moroni and the temple site dedication was true and thought that it was legend. He said that there had been a problem with a statue of Moroni also and that it had been removed.

Also, he said, that at a recent stake conference in Manti (Is there more than one stake?), the president of the stake went into some detail about the history of Moroni and the story by Snow. Brother Justensen was a busy man and Brother Hagemeister (sp) was waiting to record some information so that was all the time we had.

President and Sister Grimshaw came into the office about then and I said that Brother Justensen could tell them about the painting. He replied, "Yes, I know who painted it." He then told them the name of the painter and they left and so did I.

One of the sisters at the clothing desk, from the Saturday evening shift, told me when I went to return my Eve vest, that she knew the President had received a letter from the First Presidency telling him to take the painting down. However, in pre-preparation meeting, Sister Grimshaw said that it was done while they were not at the temple. Rumors abound, do they not?


Merilyn Jorgensen wrote: Yep—rumors are wonderful.  Many problems for many years about this—and many of us are VERY upset about the Mortal Moroni statue not being put back up.  And the MM Pageant has had ‘grief’ for eons about the ‘tradition’ mentioned in the Pageant—and that part may be removed this year, if the ‘powers that be’ have their way.  My son, Michael is pageant pres. And is looking for documentation to prove the story, but so far all we have is a quote in “The Life of Heber C. Kimball”, about Warren Snow, etc. But that book is well documented, and claims to have had some general authorities double-checking for authenticity of the book’s contents.  Plus, Pres. SW Kimball was the editor of the 2nd printing in 1945.  He reportedly removed the things at that time that he did not think were authentic.

The book was originally printed in 1888, so only eleven years after the Moroni ‘story’ had been first told.

I really do not know, of myself, the story of the painting—only what I’ve ‘heard’ J  The sealer who is related to me is Elder Gillespie.  I’ll speak to him about it, but I do know his wife (who is my cousin) has said she had a dream/vision about it, and claims the story is true.  Since she died last fall, I’ll need to ask her husband for confirmation when he gets back in town.

Bureaucracy in government is deplorable, but I’m sorry to say that I don’t care for it in the Church either.  ‘Committee’ is somewhat of a ‘nasty’ word in my book.

Merilyn


Myrna wrote: I just hope the painting stays put in the storage area until the "committees," "boards," "departments," and "others" make certain that the painting has a right to hang somewhere important. The painter's son, an artist in his own right, is the person that I contacted.

Let me tell you about the "Ghost of Crede," painted by Dean Fausett. It hung, proudly, at Juab High School until it "disappeared" and an investigation has not uncovered it in the past six or so years. His family, after his death, wanted to buy it back at a rather nice sum. The school board said they wanted to keep it. Someone knows where it is but not anyone in the family or in the school district (who will admit it).

Glen Hopkinson About Moroni Painting That Once Hung in the Main Hallway

Myrna wrote: Harold I Hopkinson, another painter, painted an oil of Moroni dedicating the still-future Manti Temple site. Are you related to this painter.

Glen Hopkinson wrote: Yes.  Harold is my father.  Dad passed away December of 2000. Should you have any questions, please let me know.  Thanks, Glen

Myrna wrote: There has been some controversy surrounding your father's (Harold I. Hopkinson) painting of Moroni dedicating the temple site for Manti Temple recently. (It has nothing to do with its beauty but, rather, with the story that surrounds it.) It has been removed from the hallway wall (whether permanently or just until the facts can be verified, I do not know). The painting is so very beautiful that I thought you may be interested in contacting the Manti Temple president, or the temple recorder, and discussing it. It may even be  wise to contact the temple committee, located in Salt Lake City. I do not know if the painting was commissioned or not so I do not know who the rightful owner is. I am, quite literally, sticking my nose in where it does not belong. All I am is a worker at the temple and I have no authority whatsoever. There is a controversy swirling around the story of Moroni and his dedication of the temple site while Moroni was still on the earth. All there seems to be to authenticate the story is a quote in the book, "The Life of Heber C. Kimball." The Manti Mormon Miracle Pageant people are also working to authenticate the story because it is included in the pageant. 

Artist Glen Hopkinson wrote: I think that is all my Father had to go on when he created the painting of the Manti Temple.  Just a statement somewhere that when Brigham Young dedicated the Temple he indicated that Moroni had already been there and dedicated the spot.  I don't know much more than that.  I believe a lady  commissioned him to do the painting based on that comment and a dream that she had where she saw Moroni but he was accompanied by others thereby explaining the other figures in the painting.  It's been a long while since I've seen it.  I do remember posing for Dad when he was doing the painting back in 1989.  Let me know if there is any other info on the painting and the controversy surrounding Moroni's visit to Manti.  Glen 

Glen Hopkinson

P.O. Box 45

19 West Shoshone

Byron, Wyoming  82412     ph. 307-548-2471   cell 602-509-5513

visit glenhopkinson.com

Myrna wrote: Thank you for your response and for your time. Thank you for answering. I know that you are a very busy man. 

I am a fan of the painting.

Which Seed?

Myrna wrote: Was it quinoa or chia seeds that was in the drink that your friend made? I was going to order myself some and could not remember. 

Dad has a good shoulder again and the doctor was quite pleased. 

I will, someday, have a good stomach/digestive system again; I'm thinking after the resurrection.

We hope that you are all doing well. Literally, you have been the falling-apart family.

Kirsten wrote: It's the GST mom. The July is a grain that you use in place of rice or pasta.

I'm glad you and dad are feeling close to your old self again. You been in my thoughts and prayers. Hope you're both out of pain soon. One good thing with your stomach bug, is that you probably lost those other 2 pounds that you had wanted to lose. :-)

Saw my doctor yesterday. Everything is looking good. He's not too worried about the drainage from my nose. Says it will get better on its own. I am supposed to start chewing now. It's still a little tender to chew – kind of like when you first get your braces and your teeth first start moving that's what it feels like. But I'm starting to feel more human. So that's a good thing :-) still have a number lower lip. But things are looking up.

Thanks again for coming for so long and taking care of me. Hope you both start feeling better very better very soon. 

Sorry.  My phone didn't understand what I was saying.  Chia seed.  Quinoa is a grain you use in place of rice/pasta.

Myrna wrote: Three cheers! You can even live a a numb lower lip because, at least, it isn't a throbbing and/or swollen lower lip. It has been a L-O-N-G trip. I am glad we could be there, though, looking back, I wonder that we didn't drive you nuts.  We love you.

We were Adam and Eve again today. The coordinators on Saturday said they are going to miss us when we are in Payson. I guess that will be within a year. They may not want us at Payson with all the other people from that area to choose from.

 I love you!

 Kirsten wrote: So you're for sure part of Payson, huh?! Love you lots! Kirsten

Myrna wrote: My fingers don't understand what I am trying to say. 

Yes, we are, most likely, part of Payson. We may or may not work there but our temple will be the Payson Temple. We would work there, IF they want the Manti Temple workers as Payson Temple workers, because they may have a glut of workers in that area and we may not be wanted or needed. As tired as I am of church politics, I may or may not care. I need to learn patience. I wonder if I ever will.

Helen Yarrow

I remember a Helen Yarrow from junior high. She was a pretty blond, blue-eyed girl who wore her hair like what I thought a Swedish princess might wear hers: in heavy thick braids wrapped around her head. 

I enjoyed her friendship during the seventh grade but she moved during the summer. She played the cello and was quite good at it. 

For years, I have thought I owed her an apology for one of those childhood quarrels at the end of the school year. I might not have worried about it, off and on, over the years if I had had a chance to make it up to her the next year. However, by then she had moved on. I think her parents were divorced and that she and her mother came to Price because that was where her mother found a job. She told me that she had once had more money and was able to take private lessons. 

At any rate, I just wondered if I was the only person who remembered her. It was sad, because I think I may have been her only friend and then I lost my temper, easy for me to do back then. It was all boy-related and stupid. She thought that the boy she really liked at school, who probably didn't even know she was alive, paid attention to me because we were in the same ward. Big deal. He acknowledged that I was alive but barely. (I don't know what happened to him either.) My grandmother would have had my hide if I really had a boyfriend because I was way younger than age 16. At any rate, I told her that I did not want to be friends with someone who would think so badly of me and we all went home for the summer only she did not come back. 

I would like to know what happened to her and if she has had a happy life. I would write and tell her that I was sorry that I was a dumb kid but I have no idea how to go about that.

Myrna wrote to Saundra: I thought, after I had asked if you remembered Helen Yarroll from Jr. High, what I nut I was being. You didn't go to Price Jr. High. :) 

Saundra wrote: In the book from the last reunion, there are e-mail addresses for some of the girls who attended Price Jr. High. Some of them might remember Helen Yarroll

Re: Group Letter

Melanie wrote: This was a very nice email Mom: "Group Letter." 

Braden called Howard last night and said that you and Dad were going to take Braden out for dinner on Wednesday. That is so kind of you. He was feeling a little homesick the past few days, and I think this will be nice for him. He was wanting to spend time with his family, as this will be the fourth birthday he has celebrated away from his immediate family. 

I am glad that Dad is doing well. It sounds like the latex allergy must be a Trauntvein gene, with Auntie Eva suffering so badly from the adhesives as well. When they take a latex bandage off of me, it removes the top layer of skin, and then leaves a huge, welting, red rash that feels like a burn. Don't know if that is what Dad experienced, but if it is, I am very sorry for him.

I love you.
Mel


Myrna wrote: We are so looking forward to helping Braden celebrate. AnnMarie has planned a co-party for Matthew and Braden the day that Matthew is ordained. It is also Matthew's birthday this month.

David and I also have the adhesive rash. We both end up with welts and no skin. Dad's skin came off, left welts, and, in addition, he got hives. That is why the doctor was not certain if it was all caused by the tape or if it came from the Percocet as well. On Dad's side, apparently, the latex allergy comes from the Rostons. Dad's cousins have all told us that they are allergic to adhesives. When we were at the funeral, they started talking about the "shakes" that each one of them has. They moved on to allergies and they all have problems. Very interesting, is it not? Some of them have Factor V. 

These Great Americans Are Soon To Be Gone

LuWayne Walker wrote: From A Military Doctor--This should be required reading in every school and college in our country. This Captain, an Army doctor, deserves a medal himself for putting this together. If you choose not to pass it on, fine, but I think you will want to, after you read it. Myrna, this one is very touching I thought you would like to read it. Lu

Myrna wrote: I cried. My Dad was a WWII vet as were three of my uncles, his brothers and one of his uncles, nearly his age. My mother's father was a WWI vet. My youngest uncle was in Korea. My cousins made it through Viet Nam, Desert Storm, and some have been deployed to these other horror spots that we keep on fighting. My hat is off to all of you for your dedicated service in so many ways. I lived with heros on a daily basis. Some of them were women. My step-mom was a "Rosy the Riveter," an aunt drove a dump truck when there were no men to do the job, and all of my family, along with countless others, shared in the war effort. I am certain that there is a special place in the Hereafter for each man and woman who gave their all.

Guess what your email address comes up as on my spell-checker? Lawmaker.