Thanksgiving 11/26/06

Thursday was Thanksgiving, and we did. Truly. The original Thanksgiving in Plymouth Massachusetts is special to our family. The Pilgrims left Plymouth, England for their journey. Plymouth was in our mission and we had the priviledge to stand on the site where they left in their small ship, the Mayflower, for the New World. Five of those 102 passengers were ancestors of our family.

In 1992 we journeyed back to Massachusetts and visited the Plimouth Plantation, a 1627 pilgrim village that is a living museum. They have actors portraying the 1627 inhabitants. It was a real experience for Elizabeth and Joseph (note the video camera in hand) to interview their gggrandmother Elizabeth Tilley. The actress portraying her could tell them anything within the range of Elizabeth's knowledge and experience up to that day in 1627. The kids were fascinated with her life and lifestyle (note she in preparing mussles for dinner). It created some family memories that are recalled this season of the year. How grateful we are for those who have gone before.

Elizabeth married John Howland . It is interesting to see the decendants of these two people. Take a look at this site that mentions some of them: The Pilgrim John Howland Society: Famous Descendents. Elizabeth and John Howland were not wealthy people and never had expectation of fame-- just common people trying their best to live their lives true to their faith and their family. What a legacy they left to their posterity, including the Prophet Joseph Smith. Who knows but what our children's children will look back at our day in thanksgiving for the simple lives we live and the foundation we lay for them.

Looking Forward in Gratitude 11/19/06

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day in the United States, one of the best holidays of the year. It is one of the few holidays that is not very commercialized (except for selling food for the traditional family 'feast'). This whole year has been one of feeling overwhelming gratitude as a family for our blessings and for the blessing of great friends and a wonderful family.
President Gordon B. Hinckley said of gratitude: "Gratitude is a divine principle. The Lord has declared through revelation: "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things." (D&C 59:7.) (Faith: The Essence of True Religion, p.81). And expressed his gratitude for this day and age in these words: "This is a wonderful season in the history of the world, the best ever, I truly believe. I have a profound feeling of gratitude for life in this remarkable age. I never get over the wonder of it. . . ." (Teachings of GBH, p.19). We echo those words with our feelings of gratitude for life in this marvelous age of the world. In a day of restoration and renewal and living prophets. We look forward to Thursday's simple celebration of Thanks with our family.

Big Shoes to Fill -- 11/12/06

Saturday was Veterans Day in the United States, a holiday which honors our war veterans. From our early ancestors who fought for freedom in the war of independance to the present day, we are grateful for those who loved liberty more than their own lives and comfort. The result is a sweeping trend of self-determination and freedom that is still moving across the lands of this globe. Their examples leave big shoes to fill.

Speaking of big shoes to fill. . . The photo is of Cheyenne Bird, Joseph's niece, trying on his shoes. She loves her Uncle Joe, and especially likes going shopping in his closet.

Joseph is doing great. He has finished registering for next semester's classes at the "U". He is taking three classes beginning in January. In his spare time he is also running an Ebay business that is going pretty well. (http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZjosephstaggartQQhtZ-1)Life is good.

Treats with No Tricks, Just Hard Work -- 11/5/06

Halloween (a dreadful commercial holiday in the U.S.) is past and November begins. Okay, the grandkids are so cute it hurts (Ethan was Buzz Lightyear -- Cheyenne was a princess) and the neighborhood is great with not many pranks and lots of fun little ghouls and boys. But we're glad it's past nevertheless.



Joseph is doing GREAT. His classes continue at the University of Utah, he is taking "Physical Environment and Human Behavior" (FCS 5600) and "Managing Small Cities and Towns" (Pol S 5693). He enjoys both of them and is in the process of selecting classes for next semester (begins in January).

Dad had the opportunity of taking Joseph to his physical therapy at NEUROWORX (NWx) in South Jordan on Friday. He works incredibly hard and his steadily increasing ability is amazing. The third photo is of Joseph working out on a cycle for the arms. The machine provides no assistance, just adjustable resistance and a flywheel to keep momentum going. Joseph's hands are strapped to the handles and off he goes. For a half-hour he kept the thing going and got a great workout. The ability and movement in the right arm continues to increase in steady but small increments. With Faith and Hard Work the miracles continue. It is a season of Thanksgiving.