Hey Grandma!

Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:08:25 -0600
From Brigitta Rae

Hey I have a blog post you should read. It is a movie review I have pasted it below...tada

If any of you have seen the film "The Boy In Stripped Pajamas", you recognized the upfront characterization lacking depth and motive, the slightly shaky feel during the running scene and the long, tedious building-up-to-the-point. I was ready to write the film off as "A last minute heart throb" until my someone brought something to my attention.

"You know, that's not all that different than what we went through...the pioneers."

And now the movie has become a testament to me of the simple view we should all take of the world. Mind if I endarken you? I feel a rant coming on... Oh heck, it's my blog! I can do as I will.

This is what drives me away from churches, schools, congregations and even countries. The whole, "Well, we're not so different" act. It's not about Jews, Mormons, Germans or even Governments, it's about people. These are humans, just as you and I (I'm sorry we can't include you in this bob...whatever you are.).  I don't care what this movie was meant to say, what point they were trying to get across, but it shone to me as a penlight in fog.

This point is an everlasting struggle between religions, especially the Mormons and the Jews. I have nothing against the following quotes, for it is in fact my religion, but I just have an opposed opinion when it comes to this war; the stupid war over the persecuted church. It says in the bible that the church will be persecuted like none other. Well, the Jews seem to uphold that they are that most persecuted. (And seriously, who could blame them.) So, the Mormons feels a need to come back and say, "Look at our pioneers!". Even in the most recent of LDS church announcements, one speaker can be quoted saying "...ask the Mormons..." in reference to a Jewish Rabbi asking an acclaimed archaeologist about the temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. WHY THIS WAR!? Why can't you accept that these are all Gods people? That it makes no difference who they are or what they belong to! Why are the first words to come out of your mouth, "Look at us"? I don't understand how anyone could be that heartless and so without understanding. The point is not to haggle about beliefs, it's to show what has happened to us, why it happened to us...THE POINT IS TO UNDERSTAND that this shouldn't happen again, that this is all mans sin, we were all persecuted in the Holocaust and we were all persecuters! Every group and individual should be coming to the conclusion that at anytime someone could decide you weren't fit to live. This is no badge of honor, even for the people who lived through it. It is a showing of mans iniquity, not Adams, yours. Even in saying this I feel hypocritical. I know there is so much more I could be doing to help those around me. To prove my love for all man, no matter what sect. But the cowardliness of my own heart drives me into the background to mingle with the other foreshadowed values of my person and I am ashamed.

This movie shows the innocence of a boy and the understanding of the pure. All men were created equal and man only cared if he was, not that all should. This film is the song of my faith and my testimony of peace. I only wish that either others can see as I or that in my wrong I can be enlightened.

-Brigitta Rae

--
The definition of an editor is a person who knows a great deal about very
little and who goes on learning more and more about less and less, until
finally he or she knows practically everything about nothing.

To: Brigitta Rae from Myrna Rae

I enjoyed reading your comments. Grandpa called me and told me that you had watched the DVD and how moved he was. I guess I need to check it out. I am impressed with your writing. You do a good job of getting your thoughts across and making people stop and consider your viewpoint. Love, Grammy

About Waite Break

Myrna wrote: Kirsten, I think Dad had your vacation time wrong in his head. He is up at Shawn's this week until Wednesday. He and Dane and Brigitta drove up this a.m. That means that we will be home all next week so we could enjoy your company. He actually thought that you were coming last Friday and was surprised when we got home from the temple and you were not here. It was then that I figured out that he did not have it right so we can spend all of the week with you when you have Spring Break. I hope you haven't made other plans.

Love, M

Kirsten wrote: No, it is this week.  But when he told me about the schedule for this week, we decided to make a trip up to see Anna (in ID) for the first part of the week, then come down to Nephi next weekend when you guys would be around.  So, that's where we are.  We used Friday to play catchup at our house and left late Saturday night.  We'll be here until Frid am.  We'll drive to Am's and stay there for the night and go to the baptism.  We were thinking of taking the kids bowling on campus after the baptism then heading down to Nephi.  If you don't mind, we'd love to stay the night and probably hit sacrament meeting with you then head back for home (so we don't get back too late).  We'll be out again in the summer, so I wasn't too stressed about Dad helping out in Layton this week.  Plus, you still have the great pleasure of taking our kids off our hands for two weeks in May.  ;)

So, sorry for the miscommunication, but we'll see you this weekend.  

Love, 
Kirsten

A Big Thank You!!

Dearest Hon and Sster:It is raining heavy at this night hour and the cloudys are lowering over Mt. Olympus-  by morn there will be snow to be sure.

Hope you folks enjoyed the Sabbath and the opportunity to attend the Draper Temple Dedication. I think it is marvelous and probably completely exhausting for President Monson to preside over 12 such services in 3 days.

Want to let you know and thank you again for your thoughtfulness in bringing me a handky from the Denmark Temple Dedication. I have about 4-5 handkies I considered using ( all white)  the one I used is the one you folks gave me .
It seemed very appropriate to me.

Have a good week. Love Helen


Myrna wrote: You are such a sweetheart! We love you.

Today the sky is gray, the clouds are heavy and it is snowing. We ended up meeting as two stakes together last night for the televised dedication. We were having such heavy winds here and our stake's satellite was moving so much that the signal could not be maintained. We all moved up to the North Stake Center. Of course, with more than 2,500 people, it was very crowded but we did have the spirit there and it was great.

Love, M

Raymond and Karen's Daughter Death‏

Raymond is Pearle and Fred Smith's youngest child and the brother of Gordon Smith.

Gordon  Smith wrote: Dear Family,
We are sending you the obituary for Raymond & Karen's daughter, Melissa, and Raymond's email address, if you desire to send a note of condolence to them.  The obit. was in the Daily News of Blackfoot, Idaho,
today.  Her service is Monday.  We are going up to support them.
Love ya, dad and mom.

RymndKar@aol.com

BLACKFOOT — Melissa Dene Gallegos, 37, the daughter of Raymond and Karen Smith of Blackfoot, died peacefully in her sleep on March 18, 2009 in Blackfoot, Idaho.
Melissa Dene
Gallegos, 37
BLACKFOOT — Melissa Dene Gallegos, 37, the daughter of Raymond and Karen Smith of Blackfoot, died peacefully in her sleep on March 18, 2009 in Blackfoot, Idaho.
Melissa was born May 24, 1971 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Darla Dene Jensen and Gordon Walter Snow.  She moved to Blackfoot when she was 9 months old to live with her aunt and uncle, Raymond and Karen Smith, who raised her to adulthood.  Melissa attended school in Blackfoot, graduating from Blackfoot High School in 1989.  She made friends easily and was a loyal and loving friend to many.
Melissa married Michael Gallegos in 1987.  They were later divorced but have remained good friends.
Melissa worked for many years as a waitress at Martha’s Café in Blackfoot and later at Oakridge Convenience Store.  She lived for a short period of time in Pocatello and Montpelier but later returned to live in Blackfoot.  Melissa was a good worker and always gave full measure to her employers.
Melissa’s crowning glory was her three sons, Tason, Adrian and Logan.  She loved them fiercely and they were her life.
Melissa is survived by her parents, Raymond & Karen Smith of Blackfoot; her father, Gordon Snow of LaVerkin, UT; her children, Tason Gallegos, 21, of Salt Lake City, UT; Adrian Jimenez, 18,  and Logan Smith, 12, both of Blackfoot; her brothers, Wade Smith of Lake City, FL, Bryant Smith of Gypsum, CO; sisters Susan (Layne) Anderson and Stacy Smith, both of Blackfoot; brothers, Gordon Snow and Frank Woolsey, both of Salt Lake City, UT; brother, Jerry Diat and sister, Holly Diat; brothers Darren, Eric and Jon Hardman, all of Springville, UT and sister, Leslie Nielsen of Spanish Fork, UT.  Also surviving are many aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews.  She will be dearly missed by her entire family.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Darla, an infant daughter, Angela Karen Jimenez, and her grandparents.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 23, 2009, at Hawker Funeral Home. The family will meet with friends and relatives from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2009 at the funeral home and again for one hour prior to service. Interment will be in the Grove City Cemetery.


Myrna wrote: Thanks for keeping me in the loop. She was so young. Did she have cancer? That is the worry we all have that our youngsters will die before we do. She certainly was a beautiful woman. What will become of the youngest--the 12 year old? Will Raymond and Karen give him a home? Love, M


Hi Myrna, Melissa had health problems for a long time.  All that is known is that she died in her sleep.

The services were very nice, with a great attendance and support.  It was good to see Karen & Raymond's family, they are so scattered we never see them, just hear about their activities.  Bryan conducted the services, he is or has been a Branch President, and he did very well.  The services were
family oriented and family participants.  Monte and Wynette drove up there from Ioka (Roosevelt).  It was so good to see them too.  Wynette said she saw you at Suzanne Farrer's mothers services in Nephi.  That was a pleasant surprise for her.  As for the boys, the oldest is living in Salt Lake and attending the Community college there, Adrien will graduate this year from high school and will have to decide what he
desires to do, and Logan, the 12 year old has been invited to live with his father and his family, so that is where it stands.  Raymond and Karen's door is open to give them love and support, a place to live, or whatever their needs are.  They have given the boys great support in a myriad of ways up to this point.  They have been given a good foundation, now their agency will have to step in.  Worries and concerns never end.    

Hope all is well at your home, we enjoy your emails.  Gordon tells me about them, and sometimes I get to read them.  My computer skills are terrible, as you can see.  Love, Gordon & Roberta

Hi, Again from Helen

Sorry to send you to responses to your e-mail- I sent the first one and it didn't send, according to the screen, so rewrote. When I sent the 2nd one and it was into the sent page the first one was also there. Oh Well, repetition brings conviction. Right??? of course right from Fiddler on the Roof. Love Helen

Shawn Trauntvein Kid's Schedule

Kimberly wrote: Here is the kid's schedule. I forgot to send this with Grandpa, could you give it to him?

Monday:

Brigitta work @ 3pm-5:30pm

1st day of 4th term, Tuesday:

Brigitta school, A-Day, 8am to 2:30pm

Dane school 8:05am to 2:55pm

Take garbage out.

Feed fish and cat and crabs.

Brigitta work @ 3pm-5:30pm


Wednesday:

Brigitta school, B-Day, 8am to 2:30pm

Dane school 8:05am to 2:55pm

Pull in garbage cans.

Feed fish and cat and crabs.

Brigitta work @ 3pm-5:30pm

Dane/Brigitta Mutual 7-9pm


Thursday:

Brigitta school, B-Day, 8am to 2:30pm

Dane school 8:05am to 2:55pm

Feed fish and cat and crabs.

Brigitta-no work.

Brigitta and Dane be respectful of each other, and of Grandpa.  Clean up after yourselves.  Homework and chores before computer time.


Myrna wrote: I hope you can think of something great to do on the way home! Maybe Sorina will sleep because she is tired out. We were so happy that the older two were with us. Dane helped put the swing set together on Saturday. He even found a screw to replace the one Mary buried in the garden. Then, of course, we went to the temple dedication on Sunday.

About Bree's Health

The doctors think that Bree has pseudoseizures. According to the medical dictionary, psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), or pseudoseizures are paroxysmal episodes that resemble and are often misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures. Paroxysmal nonepileptic episodes can be either organic or psychogenic. Syncope, migraine, and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are examples of organic, nonepileptic paroxysmal symptoms. The seizures are very real and involuntary. They may be harder to control because they do not respond to the usual non-seizure medications. There are treatments but, as of tonight, David had not learned from the doctors what those might be. They do have an around-the-clock nurse stationed in the room now and her observations may be helpful to the medical staff. David had been doing a lot of the care himself and was having a difficult time getting a stat crew into her room. He said they told him that it just seemed like a long time to him but he said it was a long time. Sometimes stress can be a trigger but the seizure response is much like a migraine, there are many different triggers and, I am supposing (but am not certain), it will take a bit of time for the doctors to find the stressors. This is an involuntary illness and the seizures cannot be controlled by strength of will. Given my choice of response, and I am certain Bree feels the same way, I would take migraines over this. LHT had experience with a friend who had seizures and he said it is obvious to him that Bree's are very much like his childhood friend's. He had epileptic seizures.

About Bree

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

New England Marriages Prior to 1700

Posted By: Barb McGee

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Date Posted: Mar 19, 2009

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Description: This is an excerpt from New England Marriages Prior to 1700.
You will need to enlarge the photo to read the print!!

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Date Taken: 7-23/2008

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Place Taken: FHC-Houston

More About Bree

The doctors think that Bree has pseudoseizures. According to the medical dictionary, psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), or pseudoseizures are paroxysmal episodes that resemble and are often misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures. Paroxysmal nonepileptic episodes can be either organic or psychogenic. Syncope, migraine, and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are examples of organic, nonepileptic paroxysmal symptoms. The seizures are very real and involuntary. They may be harder to control because they do not respond to the usual non-seizure medications. There are treatments but, as of tonight, David had not learned from the doctors what those might be. They do have an around-the-clock nurse stationed in the room now and her observations may be helpful to the medical staff. David had been doing a lot of the care himself and was having a difficult time getting a stat crew into her room. He said they told him that it just seemed like a long time to him but he said it was a long time. Sometimes stress can be a trigger but the seizure response is much like a migraine, there are many different triggers and, I am supposing (but am not certain), it will take a bit of time for the doctors to find the stressors. This is an involuntary illness and the seizures cannot be controlled by strength of will. Given my choice of response, and I am certain Bree feels the same way, I would take migraines over this. LHT had experience with a friend who had seizures and he said it is obvious to him that Bree's are very much like his childhood friend's. He had epileptic seizures.

Helen wrote: Dearest family: thank you for the update. David's and Bree's names are on the prayer rolls of the 3 valley temples. On Monday I put them on the Draper Temple prayer roll. I did read in the paper that the Draper Temple is open for patrons starting Monday. You may have read in last weeks Church News- the Salt Lake Temple will be open on Mondays from 7 a.m.-11 a.m. starting the 6th of April. Enjoy the dedication tomorrow.

Thank you for keeping me informed. I am keeping Nanci informed by sending a copy of your e-mail to her. Please know David's, and Bree's names are on the prayer rolls of the 3 valley temples, on Monday I will put them on the Draper Temple also- I read an article in the paper that it will be open on Monday for patrons. You may have seen the article in the Church News Saturday last about the Salt Lake Temple will be open on Mondays from 7.a.m.-11 a.m. starting on Monday 6th April. Enjoy the dedication tomorrow. Love to each of you. Love Helen