Myrna's 1981 Journal, Page 2

The honest truth of the matter is that I'm converted to everybody else keeping a journal but maybe I don't really want to keep one myself. The clincher is always the idea that your progeny will know what you are really like but, to be honest, I don't want my progeny to know what I'm really like. In fact, the less they know what I am really like, the happier I'll be.

I'm a person who holds resentments and keeps lists inside my mind. I continually work to not be like that. That holding on to things can't be something you want others to emulate. I have a struggle trying to love others (this does not include my children whom I always love) and I have a struggle trying to forgive. That includes forgiving myself. I sometimes wonder if it's possible to "love everyone." I wonder if it is possible to forgive and "remember it no more."

At this stage in my life, I'm not even sure what I want or who I want to be and I'm 41. My life is nearly half over by regular standards and I don't even know what I want to do with what is left.

Many days, I have to work on being forgiving. People can say the meanest things. Some of them mean to be hurtful and others do not mean to be they just, I suppose like me, make comments without thinking. 

My life is just a work in progress. I am, eventually, and who knows when, going to have to die and meet my Savior. I think I would rather not be so mortal and so much the "natural man" and would much rather be more Christlike, more like the Master. I really don't want my unrepented sins to be broadcast from the rooftops for all to know.

What to write

Myrna wrote: What scripture did I write on Emma's pillowcase? I didn't make a note of it and I don't remember. I like the idea of having a fabric-painted pillowcase with a reminder on it of the important event that baptism is. I liked what I came up with but I did not make a note of it and I do not remember what I wrote. 

There are two talks that grandparents have the privilege of giving at baptism time. I have two different talks for the two occasions but I like to give object lessons because I think they are better remembered. The pillowcase works well for the one.

Kirsten wrote: No scripture, just "I will take upon me the name of Jesus Christ." 

Myrna wrote: Thank you, Dear Heart! I love you and hope all is well at your house.

Kirsten Quote About Mothers

Kirsten wrote: Have you seen this? I thought it would be something you'd say. :) Love you!

Myrna wrote: I not only would say that, I have said that. Hehehe!

Salt on Soil

AnnMarie wrote: The problem with salt is that it can make your ground sterile for up to 10 years.  I read an article about using salt as a weed killer.  It would be fine in areas you don't want to plant for years.

Myrna Trauntvein sent: Spring is coming and this is the BEST weed spray. I made 3 gallons for around $4.00 last year after seeing a pin. Worked

better than Round Up and killed the weeds/stray grass on first application. One gallon of Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/2 cup

table salt, 1 teaspoon Dawn. Mix and pour into a smaller spray bottle. (you can purchase 3 gallon size Apple Cider Vinegar in

the canning section of a good hardware store--cheap--or the dollar store. White vinegar works also.)

I used white vinegar but be careful with the spray. It did kill the weed but also the grass in a little patch around the weed.


Dad and I tried straight salt on a patch of wild rye a few years ago. It caused them to die back for a few weeks but that was it. We used a whole water conditioner-sized sack of salt. Nothing. When the ancient soldiers used salt to make fields sterile so their enemies could not grow crops, it took wagon-loads of salt to do the trick. I did not look it up on the web.

I have used vinegar alone, without other additives, for years. It is an old pioneer treatment. I think it works just as well without the salt. I have planted where I used this within three days--how long it took the weeds to die. The plants have done very well. In fact, for a few of them, I think vinegar improved growing conditions. Here in Nephi we have already salty soil--alkaline. However, the Garden Counselor thinks that the salt should be left out and that vinegar is bad also. See: http://www.garden-counselor-lawn-care.com/home-made-weed-killer.html. And also: http://www.garden-counselor-lawn-care.com/weed-killer.html.

I think Round-Up is terrible. Dad uses it but I have more trouble with it than with vinegar.

Back to AnnMarie: "Salt is problematic. It will get rid of your weeds, but also anything else nearby. It will hang around, leaving you with long term difficulty when you want to grow desirable plants. You may have heard the term “burned a plant with fertilizer”. That is because regular fertilizer is a salt. Apply it too heavily and plants die. Salt can remain in the soil, even affecting roots from distant plants.

If your desire in wanting to use home made weed killer is because you want natural products, instead of chemicals, don’t use salt as a weed killer. It defeats the effort of trying to develop healthy soil."

Another of Myrna's Classmate Dies

Dear Classmates,

We have lost another classmate, J.R. Scott.  Don't know if many of you remember him, he was from Price.  We became acquainted with him while we were living in Hanna, Wyoming as he (and his family) was also living and working there. 

He was residing in Moab at the time of his passing.  Our sympathy goes out to his family.

Saundra 

Another Classmate of Myrna's Gone

Dear Classmates,

We have lost another classmate, J.R. Scott.  Don't know if many of you remember him, he was from Price.  We became acquainted with him while we were living in Hanna, Wyoming as he (and his family) was also living and working there. 

He was residing in Moab at the time of his passing.  Our sympathy goes out to his family.

Saundra 

Myrna wrote: Will any of us be left for our 60th? I do remember J.R. He was a good friend in high school. We are not that old, are we?

Myrna Had DVTs

Myrna wrote: I have had several DVTs. I had to take anticoagulants of varying strengths with those.  

After AnnMarie, my fifth child, they prescribed shots of Heprin in my tummy. It didn't matter WHO gave me the shot, I always bruised. At any rate, Cousin Toni, they may be able to take you off the shots sooner than they think they can. That was what happened to me. It just depends on how your body responds. 

I had DVTs each time I had a baby (that's eight) once more when I accidentally hurt my leg when one of my little kids climbed under a clothing rack at a store and tipped it over on me. Of course, I only needed the Heprin shots after AnnMarie was born. Then I had an embolism and they were afraid that it would move to my heart or a lung. A day or two before I went into labor with her I accidentally got my leg shut in a car door so part of that problem came from injury and part from pregnancy.

It sounds like you are having a great ;) (that's a wink filled with sarcasm) time. I am really sorry that you have been so ill and that you are just having one problem after another. You are in my thoughts a lot and I keep hoping that you will have good news soon. I will keep praying for you. Is your cancer in remission?

Harold Smith

Myrna wrote: Where is Harold?

Gordon Smith wrote: He lives in Brookside subdivision in Springville.  He just got out of the hospital, and a rest home.  He is starting to get his strength back.


Myrna wrote: I never did ask why he had been in a hospital and a rest home. I wondered but I did not ask. Is his wife dead? I missed that, if it is so. 


Gordon wrote: Harold was not really in a rest home, it was a rehab center.  He is doing better now.  However, he in fair condition.  His wife died several years ago.
His oldest son, and his wife, are living with Harold now.

Myrna wrote: Thanks. Tell me, when did his wife die? I am sorry that I missed her funeral. I should have been there. 

Gordon wrote: She died April 30, 2003

Dane's Prom Photos Sent by Kimberly

Garth's Plaque

Melanie wrote: Alyce posted a picture of the plaque that is in honor of Garth.

Myrna wrote: The family used to email me and now they do not. Thanks for letting me know. I guess I need to pay more attention to Facebook. I guess, rather than send email, everyone just relies on Facebook postings. I need to step up.