Siovhan's Pres. Hinckley Story‏

Here's where you can find my story from monday. There was a problem with the audio half way through so it doesn't say "conference center" it just says "con" so that's what was supposed to be said. 

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/67173

Siovhan

Happy New Year and Happy celebrating in SC -- babies are coming home tonight!‏

Dear family & friends,

     Happy New Year to all of you, my dear family and friends,

     We all have so much to be thankful for this beautiful Christmas and New Year's time!  Thank you all for the love and friendship we share and the bonds that strengthen through the years!  I wish you all a most joyous New Year filled with happy times with family and friends, improved and strengthened health, and time every day to feel and experience joy and gladness!  May you all prosper and attain the goals you have set for this New Year -- spiritually, emotionally, physically, and in loving and serving one another and those around you!

     This evening we are celebrating the "Coming Home" of the sweet, little Christmas angels from University Hospital in Augusta, GA!  Alan & Rebecca are with them all day in the Special Care Nursery in a private room just for their little family.....with the nurses and doctors nearby.... in case there are questions or concerns.  Their expected arrival time here at their home in Aiken, SC, is approximately 7 pm!

     Needless to say, this New Year's celebration will be the most memorable and exciting for us here than I can imagine!

     Take good care of one another and remember to find joy in every new day!

     Love and hugs,

         Mom, (Ann Olsen)

for photos of the babies, Alan, & Rebecca go to http://mchoodlums.blogspot.com/

Question about Ericksen family site

Myrna wrote: Dear Caren and Kate,


Caren, do you still live in Washington D.C.? And Kate, are you still in Canada? I let our family site for the Ericksen family expire because there didn't seem to be any interest after one year. However, if anyone is interested, I would be willing to start it up again. Let me know.
 
Myrna

Caren Wilcox wrote: Happy holidays, Myrna.

Thanks for the message re the site. I agree that it was not much used, but would certainly join in paying for it if the younger generation wants to be involved in it.

I do indeed live in Washington, DC - address for the record is: 3241 Klingle Road NW, Washington, DC 20008-3404. My home telephone is 202 337 0702. I live right near the National Cathedral on Wisconsin Ave.

Just returned from an interesting 8 days of business in Hong Kong and Bangkok, now on to the holidays.

Keep in touch even if you don't start up the site again.

All the best to all Ericksen relatives for the New Year,

Caren Ericksen Wilcox

Kate Thorpe wrote:
Hi Myrna,
My dad is from Cardston, Alberta;  and his dad is still there.  I live currently in Irvine, California.  I wish I had more time for geneology right now, it's such an enriching and fun hobby.  Unfortunately, I just don't have the time right now.  My daughter Jane was just born on 10/30/07;  and I'm swamped just trying to keep up with my three active and busy little ones.  It's a beautiful time in our lives, but ooooooooooooooh  sooooooooooo exhausting!!! ;0)
All the best and Merry Christmas!
--Kate


Myrna wrote: I am now 67 but I remember those days!!!!!! I am the mother of eight, four boys and four girls. They are all married and I now have 28 grandchildren. Two more are due this coming year, one in April and one in May. 


 If you have any questions or would like any photos, just let me know and I will e-mail them to you. 


What is your husband's first name? Is he from Canada or from California. I had a friend who grew up with me in Price, Utah, who was a Thorpe. You sound young enough that you could be his daughter-in-law. I don't know, of course, how common the surname is. Certainly mine is not common.

Myrna


Caren wrote: Sounds like you have a wonderful and growing family, Myrna.

I just turned 65 on December 4th. I think I am Ferdinand's youngest 
grandchild, since my father was his youngest child.

I think Kate is a descendant of Clementina who moved to Alberta, and she was 
Ferdinand's second child.

All the best for the holiday. I am leaving today to go up North for Xmas 
and the New Year.


Myrna wrote: Thank you for the information. I appreciate having your address. 


Mine is: Myrna and Leonard Trauntvein, 228 South 300 East, Nephi, Utah, 84648.


My phone number is (435) 623-0195. 


We can stay in touch and that would be nice. I would like that. 


Kate Thorpe, who wrote to you, sounds young enough to be my daughter. I am 67 years old. I am the mother of eight, four boys and four girls. All are married and I have 28 grandchildren with two more due this coming year--one in April and one in May. 


Kate wrote: My husband is Mark, and he grew up in Arizona.  His dad is Wayne Thorpe from Springville, Utah.  None of Wayne's siblings live in Price, but maybe it's a cousin.  I'll have to ask.
 
28 grandkids, WOW!!!!  That's incredible.  
 
When I have more time, I'll try to get back into my research.  Geneology is so fun, I can't believe how much joy it's brought me.  Last year, I was able to do the temple work for an ancestor on my Chrisman line, it was amazing.  And I have just felt angels really close during the whole researching process.  
 
Well, take care Myrna, and have a wonderful Christmas with all your family!
 
all the best, Kate

Ericksen Family Site

Myrna wrote: Dear Caren and Kate,
Caren, do you still live in Washington D.C.? And Kate, are you still in Canada? I let our family site for the Ericksen family expire because there didn't seem to be any interest after one year. However, if anyone is interested, I would be willing to start it up again. Let me know.
Myrna


Caren wrote: Happy holidays, Myrna.

Thanks for the message re the site.  I agree that it was not much used, but would certainly join in paying for it if the younger generation wants to be involved in it.

I do indeed live in Washington, DC  - address for the record is:  3241 Klingle Road NW, Washington, DC  20008-3404.  My home telephone is 202 337 0702.  I live right  near the National Cathedral on Wisconsin Ave.

Just returned from an interesting 8 days of business in Hong Kong and Bangkok, now on to the holidays.

Keep in touch even if you don't start up the site again.

All the best to all Ericksen relatives for the New Year,

Caren Ericksen Wilcox

Myrna wrote: Thank you for the information. I appreciate having your address.

Mine is:
Myrna and Leonard Trauntvein
228 South 300 East
Nephi, Utah, 84648

My phone number is (435) 623-0195.

We can stay in touch and that would be nice. I would like that.

Kate Thorpe, who wrote  to you, sounds young enough to be my daughter. I am 67-years-old. I am the mother of eight, four boys and four girls. All are married and I have 28 grandchildren with two more due this coming year--one in April and one in May.

Thanks- information abt chiropractor‏

Dearest family: thank you much for the pleasant Thanksgiving day with you and family and for the very good dinner. Myrna, the lemon pie was just superb!! Thank you.

Nanci and I visited on the phone today as it is our 35th adoption day anniversary. She is getting information sent to you this week from the chiropractor she goes to and the way he works with her and other information that maybe  helpful. Also want to let you know- Eva went to a seminar last week or so sponsored by the Maple Ridge Pain Clinic- these are chiropractors who use as one of their methods the same one Nanci is having with such success. It doesn't cure but truly relieves pain. Today Eva had an appointment at the Clinic for an evaluation as to whether she qualifies and whether they think they can help her.

I did call the main office for Maple Ridge here in Salt Lake today for information for you folks. They do have a satilite office in Orem- at 3507 North University- phone # 801-623-4740. The person I spoke with said you could call this number and find out when they have their next Seminar- which is free. Those who attend the seminar and are interested have a courtesy evaluation without charge. That is what Eva had today, she has an appointment on Wednesday to find out whether she qualifies.

One of the techniques they use is decompression, which is what Nanci has. Hope Nanci's information arrives during the week.

Have a good week. From the weather cast tonight we will have snow by tomorrow p.m. Surely hope Don and Thelma arrive home by afternoon tomorrow. Love you all much. Fathers' special blessing attend. Love Helen

Thanksgiving

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

We walk on starry fields of white

And do not see the daisies,

For blessings common in our sight

We rarely offer praises.

We sigh for some supreme delight

To crown our lives with splendour,

And quite ignore our daily store

Of pleasures sweet and tender.

Our cares are bold and push their way

Upon our thought and feeling;

They hang about us all the day,

Our time from pleasure stealing.

So unobtrusive many a joy

We pass by and forget it,

But worry strives to own our lives,

And conquers if we let it.

There’s not a day in all the year

But holds some hidden pleasure,

And, looking back, joys oft appear

To brim the past’s wide measure.

But blessings are like friends, I hold,

Who love and labour near us.

We ought to raise our notes of praise

While living hearts can hear us.

Full many a blessing wears the guise

Of worry or of trouble;

Far-seeing is the soul, and wise,

Who knows the mask is double.

But he who has the faith and strength

To thank his God for sorrow

Has found a joy without alloy

To gladden every morrow.

We ought to make the moments notes

Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;

The hours and days a silent phrase

Of music we are living.

And so the theme should swell and grow

As weeks and months pass o’er us,

And rise sublime at this good time,

A grand Thanksgiving chorus.

Location

M,
I have had no luck in getting a response from Charlotte or Wally. I was in hopes in traveling to ID. and visiting with them with the intent of getting a look at the Pitts family album. My intent is to obtain the much wanted photo's of our family and other family interactions. I of course will bring along a scanner and my own laptop to make it easy to copy the wanted photo's. Could you provide me with their latest email address so I am sure that I am getting my message to them I would appreciate it very much.

Thanks
PS. I went to SLC to celebrate Mom's 90th birthday. October 27th. and had a great time.

Your Cousin, Al Pitts
Manufacturing Engineering
Boeing Affordability Task Force

Dear Trauntweins

Dear Trauntweins

It has been a long time, we are so busy at work, and I work with computers all day long, so I get so tired, I do not want to see a computer when I get home at night.

We have just been to a very nice stakekonference to-day, It started with a half our concert by the stake coir, which is very, very good. I just loved it. Then the meeting started with a testimony from a returned missionary, than a talk from our new missionpres. It probably was good, but very hard to understand, he is an American, has been on a mission in Sweden, and tried to talked Danish. He seams a very nice man and he tried, that gives him points. The next speaker was our new tempelpres, who is Swedish and talked in Danish but did a very nice job. He has been a counsellor in the temple for two years, when the temple was first opened. He alwas gives some very inspired speeches, he also did that today. He started talking, and had a lot crying including himself and me, it is so embarresing that I always cry. Well I wasn’t the only one. Then he showed us his paper and said I always have to talks this one, and showed us the paper and then he pointed to his hart and said one here, I think I will give you the one here. And he gave a wonderful talk from his hart about the blessings given when we to temple work. Then the stakepres for the relief society talked about celestial marriage. She started by telling that she grow up in a very strange family, where her father did not think he had to stay faithful to her mother, and on Christmas eve he would eat with the family and then would say he had to go and earn some money, he was a taxi driver, but she later found out he was with another family. So when she learned about the church when she was 18. and could see married couple that loved each other, and were faithful to each other, she thought that’s were where she wanted to bee. And then she went on and said different very smart things. it was not so much about what they could do if they had more money, but what they could do, with the money they had. It wasn’t about having a lot of money, they had not had a lot of them, but it did not matter so much. It was about being together, being committed to each other, and to their marriage. To never think about divorce, but always be committed. You could disagree, quarrel, but always be committed to your partner. Like you could be looking at the moon and a claud would get in front, but you would know that behind the claud there was the moon still. I just loved her speech, and was still crying like a baby the spirit was so strong. Last was our Stakepres and he always has some good things to say. He was talking about that it is by grace that we are saved. I whish a lot more people has what we have. I felt so blessed that I was granted a time here on this earth while the gospel is here and that I have been blessed with the knowledge of it. Sometimes, when I think how blessed I am, I am so thankful. It is great to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ. I’m thankful that I got to know you twoo, it is a blessing to have good friend, even when they are so far away. I love you too and think of the time I spend with you in the spring wit joy in my hart, thaks for all you did for me, for all the driving and for caring. I think with great joy of the time we spend in the Manti temple, it was very special for me to be there with you two, with trauntwein and Durfy at one and the same time. I also love my visit to the Salt Lake temple. I met sis Jensen from Lyngby at the conference. She I doing just fine. She would like to write, but she said she has such a hard time writing in English, so I told her just to write in Danish, you would probably understand, if not you would have to ask for the gift of thungs. But she did say she thought of you often. Thanks for being so good friends. I hope that your family are all doing fine. Our family are doing fine, but Jacob and his children could use some prayers.

Love Else

From Eva

Hi,
I forwarded two emails to you this evening. What a surprise when they came back not deliverable. That is why I am using this email address.

It was so good to see you folks on Sunday.

Thanks for the email from Melanie . We will keep her in our prayers. It is hard not to know what to expect.

God bless all of you
Much love,
Eva 

Oh, I for got to thank you for the pretty birthday card , much appreciated.

Yes, I got my new chair. It is relly pretty; so much better than the other one; I am glad I persisted and got one I can use. Thanks for asking. 
Love,
E.

Chokecherry Syrup - Grandma's Recipe

Chokecherries

In the early fall of the year (in Nephi that is in August but in the mountains it is later) the wild chokecherries are ready to pick. It is fun to make syrup and is not too difficult. Chokecherry syrup is also good for pancakes, French toast, waffles and is delicious over ice cream. You can also make clear jelly with the chokecherry juice using the recipe that comes with your commercial Sure-gel pectin or the one found below. You can easily pick a gallon of chokecherries in an hour and can make enough syrup with that gallon for 10 pints of syrup. This is often enough to last a family for a year but if your family really likes it, you might need a lot more. Making chokecherry syrup is easy and fun for the kids with plenty of adult supervision.

I've also thought that a small jar of chokecherry syrup would make a nice, inexpensive Christmas gift for friends and neighbors.(Sister Joey Olpin, our former next door neighbor, did that.) The best part of making chokecherry syrup or jelly is that you don't need any special equipment, just a large pot for making the juice and a hot water bath canner, if you use that method. I always had a fun time making
and canning this syrup and had tremendous satisfaction making something really great for next to nothing. (And a lot of it!)

Chokecherry Juice for Syrup or Jelly
Add water to 1 gallon of berries to barely cover the berries. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain through a colander, saving the juice and returning the berries to your pan. Barely cover with water and bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Drain as before, saving the juice and returning the berries again to your pan. Do this one more time for a total of 3 times. NEVER press the berries through a sieve, it mixes in pulp and makes the juice cloudy and bitter. (I did this once and ruined the entire barch!) DISCARD the berries and mix the resulting 3 juices. You should have between 8 and 12 cups of juice. You can now use this juice for either syrup or clear jelly.

Old-Fashioned Chokecherry Syrup
Ingredients :
8 c. sugar (or 12) * some use 1 cup white corn syrup in place of 1 cup sugar
8 c. juice (or 12) *some like to use 2 cups apple juice in place of two cups of chokecherry juice
Preparation :
Measure juice into 6- to 8-quart kettle. Mix ingredients, bring to a rolling boil and boil for 2 minutes. Stir down. Skim top. Pour boiling water over clean new lids. Have clean, hot, sterilized dry jars ready to use. Pour syrup into about 3 jars at a time within 1/4 inch of top of jar. Put hot lid on top and screw on band. Immediately invert jars for 5 minutes, then turn jars right side up again. After jars are cool check seal by pressing middle of lid with finger. If lid springs up when finger is released, lid is not
sealed. (Just refrigerate sealing failures and use within 3 weeks.) Because of the high sugar and acid content, you do not have to use the water bath method to make this syrup or jelly. Continue with your other jars in the same manner. NOTE: This is a very old-fashioned recipe and I do use the boiling water bath. Process syrup in sealed jars 10 minutes for half-pints at 5,000 feet or 15 minutes for pints above 6,000 feet. Remove from water and cool syrup-filled jars. Follow above advice for jars that do not seal.

Chokecherry Syrup Using Pectin
. 8 C. juice or 12 C. juice
. 1 pkg. Sure-Jell pectin
. 1/2 C. lemon juice
. 1 1/2 t. almond extract (optional, tastes more cherry-like)
. 10 C. sugar (if using 8 C. juice) or 12 C. sugar if using 12 C. juice
Pour boiling water over clean new lids. Have clean dry jars ready to use. Wash fruit and cover with water; simmer 15 minutes. Strain juice. Measure juice into a 6 to 8 quart kettle. Add pectin and stir. Bring to a boil, add sugar, stir, and bring to a rolling boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Boil exactly 2 minutes. Skim and pour into jars. Pour syrup into about 3 jars at a time within 1/4 inch of top of jar. Put hot lid on top and screw on band. Seal. Place jars in boiling water bath and process for 10 minutes. Remove from water and cool syrup-filled jars. Remember that syrup uses twice as much juice to 1 package pectin as jelly does.

MYRNA'S NOTE: Sister Olpin, my neighbor, always used two cups of apple juice in place of two cups of the chokecherry juice. It is a bit less tart and I liked it that way also. Be sure to process jars and lids in a hot water bath if you are planning to store the jelly for future use. Some of myfriends say they lightly crush the berries before boiling them to get more juice. I have never done that. I wonder if it would make the juice more bitter?