August Catch Up

As always, August has been, and probably always will be a very busy month for me. At least until I retire from teaching. Now that I'm close to the end of this August I'll try to get the things of August all caught up.
August began with a super party up at the property in the Uinta's. Jennie and John, my niece and nephew were in charge of the MILLETT REUNION this year (that's my sister, Georgia's family) and had asked me if they could use our cabin. So since it was at our place we were invited to attend. It is always good to be invited to a party!! So August 5th through the 8th we spent our time there. A really hard thing to do, right??? NOT!! And especially since I didn't have to do any cooking...well almost none. Larry and I totally enjoy sharing the cabin with our family and friends.


I think they had a lot of fun riding the 4 wheelers, shooting their guns,fishing, doing crafts and especially one of their family traditions of a Whirly Pop Competition. They've even got a traveling trophy for the winning popcorn recipe of the year. Mostly it is just fun being together with family. That's what reunions are all about! It was good to be with their family and have so much fun with them. Come back anytime guys!!

The very next weekend I had arranged to have teachers that teach 4th grade with me come up and spend a last relaxing weekend at the cabin before all the madness began. They've all heard me talk about the cabin so much that I wanted them to come and enjoy it too. Because of some misfortunes in some of their lives, that I won't go into, only two of them were able to come up. It was still enjoyable to share a weekend with those who could make it.




Brenda and her son, Nathan, were able to come up and spend the whole weekend, while Linda and her husband, Steve, only were able to come up for the day on Saturday because they were taking care of their grandson. We did a lot of relaxing and a little riding on the 4 wheelers of course, and Linda's grandson wanted to try out his new fishing pole. So we spent a little time down at the little pond. Not too many big fish yet to catch in it, but he didn't have a very big attention span anyway so that was okay. Anyway, the weather was beautiful and I think that they enjoyed spending a little time away from the rat race for awhile.
Of course the week after that it was back to school for me. I had already been out to the school quite a bit throughout July trying to get my room put back together. This year I moved from the portable out back of the school to a portable in the front. Here's a picture of my new location... looks a lot like the old one! :)
We decided since we lost one 4th grade teacher last year that we could be a little more unified if both Brenda and I moved from the back. So 6 of us are now all together in the front with only Pam on the inside of the school. I hate the moving A LOT, but it will be a much easier year to have us all together. So far I've completed the first week, and I must say that I think I'm going to have a pretty good class. The first day went by so fast that the kids were totally surprised too. Their really cute and appear to be eager to learn and enjoy their year with me. I'm sure it will be a wonderful year!!
That last thing I wanted to talk about was that I was released as 1st councilor in the Young Women's Presidency a week ago. It was bitter sweet for me. I've been in the Young Women's organization several times and it is one calling I have always missed every time I've been released. As the Bishop's councilor was releasing us I felt that emotion that about brought a tear to my eye. Okay...maybe it actually did. I'll miss the girls, but hope to keep tabs with them and enjoy their friendships. I loved working with our Presidency. We've been in 3 years and all good things must come to a close. Their is nothing as consistent in the church as change. Maybe the Young Woman calling will come again in my life. For now.... I only have to worry about where the Lord is sending me next.
Wow... what an August it has been.

Mendon and Paradise

Last weekend I went to some cemeteries in Mendon and Paradise Utah. You're going to think that all I do is go to cemeteries lately. I've really been into seeing how the uncles, aunts and cousins of my ancestors fit together, especially since there are so many relatives buried in one area or another. My sister Marla and niece Katie were coming down to keep my niece Margie company. She is going to school at Utah State and the friends of Marla's who Margie stays with were going out of town so it was a good time to do that....well anyway. Marla wanted to go over to Mendon and to Paradise, which are within 20 minutes of Logan to see some great grandparents graves. I told her that I wanted to come up and go with them. So I left home about 8:00 Saturday morning and met them at the Mendon Cemetery. In this cemetery is buried my 3rd great grandfather, Charles Bird, and my great grandmother Mary Ann Kennedy Bird. They are on my mother's father's side of the family. He was the first out on the ice with his team to test it when they left Nauvoo. My 2nd great grandfather and grandmother, John Pratt Kennedy Bird and Sarah Ann Hoopes, are also buried there along with many of both of their children.











We weren't too far into our looking around when Marla didn't feel well. She has diabetes and she thought her sugar was low. When we tested it, it was over 300 so that was not good. She took some insulin and thought she felt better so back out she came looking at the graves. We continued taking pictures of other family member's graves when all of the sudden she said go get the car I need to sit down. Well she didn't want to sit on the grass, because she has recently had a knee replaced and didn't think we could get her off the ground. However, before we could get the car to her she went down on the ground, scraping her arm and chin on someones big grave stone. I promised her I wouldn't put the picture I took of her on the ground on the Internet so I won't. Although I really want to because it is such a precious picture :) She was laughing a little at that time. We got her over to the car, but the day just didn't get any better for her. She also has seizures and had one of those too...however she insisted that we go on over to Paradise. I won't go on to say all the troubles she had that day, but I was a little concerned that she shouldn't go on. I think she should have just gone home and seen the pictures later...but I understand her wanting to see the actual place. I love you Marla and am glad that you're feeling okay.
So off to Paradise we went!!

Marla just stayed in the car and Margie stayed with her..she wasn't to with it anyway, while Katie and I tried to find the graves. In this cemetery is my 2nd great grandfather and mother on my mother's, mother's side. They are Charles Cook Housley and Mary Orgill. Also Mary Orgill's parents are buried there too, again with brothers and sisters of my great grandparents.






I was very dissappointed that I did not find my grandmother Birds grandparents here. They are suppose to be buried here but the cemetery does not have there records or her or her great grandparents. They were Davis and Merrell (or Merrill) They did have a lot of unknowns there and maybe they were one of them. All the genealogy records I have looked at including my mother's say they are buried there. HMMMMMmmmmmm... don't know what to think.
So I took some pictures of the empty areas where the unknowns are.. maybe these are them and they will love me for trying anyway!!



I have loved seeing the areas where they lived and standing on the ground where they stood. Seeing the beautiful valleys that they must have loved so much. This has been special to me. When I was born I only had my maternal grandmother living and so have known so little about actually doing things with grandparents, so maybe this is why I'm reaching out, who knows. :) I guess I'm not getting a lot of new genealogy done by doing this, but I think that I am coming to know my great grandparents much better and learning to love my heritage. Thanks to the Hegerhorsts for not minding me coming along on their adventure. Love you all!!