Achew!

It is almost one hundred degrees outside...and I'm inside with a cold.  Go figure.  This is day 4 of feeling like my head is a bowling ball, ready to burst.  Hot and cold- coughie and sluggish.  I have things to do.  But I'm doing nothing.....

In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.  ~Author Unknown

Mexico!

Brandi and new combined family just spent a week in Mexico.  They survived the long trip there and  back (8 in the car)- and made some great family memories.  They spent a day at an orphanage (over 100 kids) playing, doing magic tricks (Handy) and playing in the surf.  I missed them terribly!

A few of their trip highlights: (from Brandi)
-Our time at the orphanage, such a blessing to spend some time there!
-Date night (live music, coconut shrimp and a stroll on the beach)
-Horseback riding on the beach (bucket list item check)
 
Trip low lights:
-5 hours to cross the border back into the US!!

 

 

 

Proud Mom

I have 5 wonderful kids.  Really, they are such AWESOME people....I could on and on about each one.  But I'm just going to talk about one today.

 

So, son Ryan calls me on the phone.  I asked what he was up to and he said, "Just coming home from the airport."  I asked him where he had been.  He said, "No where."  What?

 

So let me backtrack.  Years ago he served in Guatemala on a mission (that's why he thinks he's Guatemalan and he has businesses there and mentors many people, and does humanitarian work there and is building a house there, etc.  But I'm not talking about any of those things!)- he served with another boy named Dave J.  I remember Ryan telling me about Dave- and how his family busted up while he was gone...and his girl married someone else and basically came home to nothing.  That's been awhile....but after a long story- he and the girl got together again- with 7 combined kids and a life that has been challenging.  Just a great guy.  Sometime during the past year, he went to work for my son.  And a few month ago, Dave flew with Ryan on business to Guatemala and Columbia.  It was the first time Dave had been back.

 

Ryan asked Dave if he could go back to Columbia again on business with him.  They were heading out today.  Now I'll switch to Dave's story that he posted on Facebook.  It makes me want to cry.....

 

 

 

"I was witness to, and recipient of, one of the most devious schemes I've ever witnessed. I went to the Salt Lake airport this morning with my friend/boss Ryan Williams to go to Bogota, Colombia on a business trip. While he was pretending to check in, his co-conspirator, my wife, arrived with packed bags. At first I thought they wanted to surprise me by having her go to Colombia with us. I was ...pretty shocked and impressed by their sneakiness. The conspiracy turned out to be much deeper than that. Ryan wasn't going anywhere. He had arranged for my wife and I to go to Hawaii for 5 days! And by arranged, I mean arranged and paid for. It took me several minutes to wrap my mind around the whole thing. I was completely surprised and dumbfounded. I didn't suspect a thing. I've wanted to go to Hawaii to visit my mom and brothers since the late 90's. One brother, Aaron, I haven't seen since 1996. This is a very special trip for me. It's even more special since my awesome wife is going with me. She and I didn't really get a honeymoon. When we got married, we had to hit the ground running. We've dreamed of taking a trip like this, but knew that with 7 kids it would be several years off. What an understatement it is for me to say "Thank You" to Ryan. He's one of the most kind and generous people I have ever known. And kudos to he and my wife for pulling off an incredible scheme that left me speechless."

A proud mommy moment.  Speechless.

 

Pioneer Day

Today we celebrate the Days of 47 in Utah...when the pioneers first came to the state.  It is a state holiday with a huge parade (my BFF funny Kathy and her husband, run-into-our-boat-with-a-jetski-Greg-  read about it here-
http://constantgrowingamazement.blogspot.com/2007/06/boat-on.html
-   actually were in charge of making a float for it this year.  I'll share pictures of that later.)

 

In honor of the pioneers, I want to reshare a part of my family history. Since I wasn't raised in the church, this heritage means so much to me about the courage and convictions of my ancestors.  They made the sacrifices so that "I" could have the gospel in my life.   I've included more details than necessary but bolded the most important story.  I love (and have) the pictures artist Julie Rogers has done of my great-great-great-grandfather, Archibald.

 

 

 

Archibald McPhail was born on May 11, 1816 in Renfrew, Scotland. His parents’ names were Archibald McPhail and Margaret Milloy. 

            On April 26, 1839 Archibald McPhail and a woman named Elisabeth Love booked their names for three days proclamation of banns on purpose of marriage with their Parish. (The banns of marriage was a public announcement from the Christian church of the impending marriage. The purpose of banns was to enable anyone to raise any legal impediment to the marriage, prevent marriages that are invalid. People would “book” their names for a few days in advance of the marriage to give people a chance to bann it).

            In 1840, the first Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was organized in Paisley, Scotland by Orson Pratt on May 8. Archibald and Elisabeth were baptized two months later on July 19. On August 3^rd of the same year of 1840, Archibald and

Elisabeth had their first son, John, in Argyll.  Later the next year, Archibald was ordained a Teacher.

            On September 5, 1842 they had a daughter and named her Henrietta.  Archibald worked as a boot and shoemaker and they lived in Renfrewshire for the next few years. The family also had opened their home as a boarding home for saints to live.

            In May of 1847, Archibald’s wife Elisabeth died at the age of 28, leaving him a single father of two young children. In July of that year, Elisabeth’s sister Jane Love went to live at the home of Archibald to care for her older sister’s children. Jane was baptized right after hearing the gospel that was taught to her in the McPhail home. Robert Baxter was a man that was boarding in their home and he eventually married Jane the next year. They continued to live with Archibald and care for the children.

            On March 4, 1848, Archibald, along with about 12 other saints, were excommunicated from the church for unknown reasons.

 

On December 4 of 1849, Archibald McPhail and Jane McKinnon were married. Some records have stated that Jane McKinnon and Archibald’s first wife were first cousins.  

In 1851, the McPhail family was living in Greenock, Scotland. Archibald was 35, Jane 28, John 11 and Henrietta was 9. Henrietta and her stepmother Jane did not get along. Henrietta wrote later in her life that she and Jane were never on friendly terms.

 

Henrietta was baptized in March of 1856 and in May of that year, they embarked on the ship The Thornton and left for America, James G. Willie was the leader for this journey. They arrived at the New York Port a month and a half later in June. While in New York, they boarded a steamer boat and sailed to Ohio, and then to Chicago where they took a train to Iowa City on June 26.

When they arrived in Iowa, the saints built the handcarts themselves and outfitted each cart with 90 days rations. The company was divided into 20 carts per group with a man placed over each group. Archibald McPhail was chosen to preside over one of these groups. In his group there were 100 saints. The company left for Salt Lake on August 27, 1856 – which was late in the year for saints to travel across the plains. This pioneer company became famous for all the trials they went through.

He was a captain in the Willie handcart company. He was a captain of 100. In this group there were two women who constantly lagged behind the others. Archibald’s daughter Henrietta tells of what happened:

"A terrible blizzard had been raging all day and when they reached camp Father found one of his group was missing.  There were two old ladies in his company who often lagged behind, coming into camp later.  When this one didn’t soon follow, Father felt it was his duty to go back after her.  It was indeed an undertaking for one so exhausted by the lack of food and nearly perishing with cold.  But he cheerfully accepted his responsibility and went in search of the woman.  He found her sitting by the wayside on the other side of a frozen stream they had crossed earlier.  He pleaded with her to come on, but she refused saying she was going to stay there and die.  There was nothing to do but cross the stream and get her.  He picked her up and as they recrossed the stream with his burden the ice broke and he was soaked with icy water to the waist.

By the time he reached camp his clothes were frozen to him and he was taking heavy chills.  The air was cold and wet and the men were so weak and hungry they could not go in search of dry wood to make a fire.  So without anything warm to eat or drink, he was placed in a cold bed with the covering of the handcart pitched over him for a tent.  There was a strong wind blowing which blew the tent over three times and they stopped trying to keep it up.  He was in a high fever and Henrietta sat by his bed, brushing the snow from his face as he lay dying.

After his death he was wrapped in a sheet and soon after day-break, after a short service, the snow was scooped away and he was laid on the ground and the snow covered back over him and they proceeded on their journey knowing full well that soon after they left the wolves would devour the body.  This account is well bourne out in other accounts of this company and the Martins to follow.  Because of the weakness of the men and the frozen condition of the ground it was impossible to dig graves for those who passed away.”

Below is an excerpt of the pioneer company journal written by James Willie:

       

  "Archibald McPhiel, from Greenock, Argyleshire, Scotland, died about 2 a.m. aged 40 years. Much snow on the ground this morning & still more falling. Go down Echo Kanyon, roads very bad at the crossing of streams; forded Weber River & camped on its banks. It snowed most of the day. The camping ground presented a most dismal appearance, as we rolled on to it there being much snow on the ground & it being late at night. Rasmus P. Hansen, from Lan Denmark, aged 16 years, died this evening"

Church historian  Paul Lyman said:  

 

“Cold” was noted on the 3rd and the 5th. After mentioning a snowstorm coming on the evening of the 5th, the record for the 6th reported that “it snowed most of the day,” which caused people to start dying again.

Archibald McPhail, like many unsung heroes, died simply doing his duty. He had been responsible for the 20 people assigned to his tent. On the evening of the 5th he noticed that one of two women who often lagged behind was missing. He went back along the trail and found her. She was on the opposite side of a creek. She refused to cross, saying she was going to die anyway and saw no need to cross only to die. He crossed over the creek on the frozen ice, picked her up, and started back across the ice. The additional weight of the woman caused the ice to break through and he was soaked up to his waist. He guided her into camp with his clothes frozen to his waist and legs. As the snowstorm raged, he went to bed on the snowy, cold ground wearing his frozen clothes. His wife used a handcart for a tent that night. Due to the wind, their handcart tent blew over three times. He died, with his wife holding him, never having gotten warm after rescuing his unnamed charge.¹
Archibald McPhail left a wife and children ages 3, 4, and 15. With the death of Rasmus P. Hansen, Anna Hansen, age 40, his mother, was now alone. She had lost her husband on October 19th. Echo Creek meandered back and forth across the canyon floor in 1856. The main trail crossed Echo Creek over a dozen times. In the heavy snow, the river crossings would have been even more difficult than usual. The journal confirmed that the road was particularly bad at the river crossings. The journal writer commented even more harshly on the campground. It was on the west side of the Weber River in the river bottom. It was late at night when they stopped and it had snowed all day. The snow-covered grass must have been particularly difficult to sleep on with their thin bedding. "

 Julie Rogers is a contemporary artist who paints pictures of stories of the pioneers and the selflesss acts that they did. She painted 3 of Archibald and his story. They are below.



Bishop McPhail by Julie Rogers




The Light Comprehendeth by Julie Rogers

  


The Light - Archibald and Jane McPhail by Julie Rogers

Sources:

• Mary Harper, “History of Henrietta McPhail Eckersell Utah Pioneer 1856,” Daughters of Utah Pioneers Library, Salt Lake City
•  http://tellmystorytoo.com/julie-rogers/sacred-sacrifice
• http://handcart.byu.edu/Default.aspx
•  http://www.authentiquegallery.com/Artwork-Detail.cfm?ArtistsID=53&NewID=184
• Artwork by Julie Rogers

Cowgirl Wedding

You know how I feel about sunflowers so this fabulous cowgirl wedding was right up my alley!  I've loved Jackie since she was a little girl- she would show up to church with orange and blue cowboy boots and a pink shirt and a plaid skirt with a green tutu and pants underneath and hair every which way.  I was so surprised but her mom, Nancy, said "I can't keep fighting with her about clothes!"  I was impressed.  That is also a sign of confidence (since everyone in the family looks a little movie-star-ish)

 

But of course, Jackie grew up beautiful.  Inside and out. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, OOMS (our own Martha Stewart- Lisa( (and her twinner) did the décor.  Dance floor with the bridal couples initials on it.  The place setting favors were filled with trail mix.

 

 

 Favorite cupcake holder ever.  I'm gonna have to make me one!

 

 Wedding party doing Miley Cyrus's Hoedown.  Delightful!

 

 

Tru Luv- sigh.....

 

Muchier

So, on the 4th of July...we didn't do this (we always do a little float for our Granite celebration)

or this
 
 
 
 
 (Dav id's trying to be so brave in this picture because he is mortified Annee painted the horses hooves pink and braided their manes with ribbon!)

And T and T's family had a ball tournament in Park City so they weren't with us.  Boo-hoo!  (a reason why we didn't do the float.  The kiddos said several times during the day, "I can't believe it, we didn't do a float this year and Grandma didn't even cry....")

 

 

But we did do this

 

 
 
 

 

 

and this....

 

 

Heidi was born on the 4th of July- Ellijah on the 5th (and Ben on the second!)

 

Heidi (age 10) made the flag salad  (note:  Brandi made a delicious Maison salad for the 4th.  Recipe on the cooking blog.)

  Kiddos scambled for piñata candy

Everyone had plenty of cake and Italian ices and yummy lunch and lots of swimming.

Fun.

Whew!  There are so many things I'm behind on but I just don't think I'm gonna get caught up.  Every day on my calendar there are so many things written I cannot even read them but other than a special day with BFF Penny and another with Cathy and painting Gracie's wall (and a much needed trip to the temple with D.) - I can't think of what I've done.  It is HOT, HOT, HOT!!!  (OVER 100 DEGREES) (so I have spent a great deal of time melting)....but I want you to know I have ridden my bike 5 miles each day!!!!

 

(good thing my room is air conditioned! :)

 

I've decided I needed a new word.  I've had felicity for 3 years now- meaning, among other things, appropriateness in all things.  I haven't mastered being appropriate in anything so I thought I'd try on a new word.  I ran into someone I haven't seen forever and she said, "Do you still do everything and I imagine you are involved in a million things ?"   No.  I'm pretty much a slug now.  I used to be muchier but I have lost my muchness.  (and it isn't so much being busy doing things, it is finding joy in the busy-ness.)

 

I'm going to get better.  I'm going to be better.  Thanks, Mad Hatter.

Wedding Party

This past weekend I helped BFF Cathy with food for a wedding celebration at their home for one of her nieces.  It was an informal affair but plenty wonderful. 

 

 

 

 

I made flavored waters and stuffed tortellini salad (recipes on the cooking blog)-

 

and I'm anxious to get this raspberry jam cookie recipe.

They served pulled pork sandwiches with slaw and chips

 

and cute fruit skewers with hearts on the bottom.  Or top.  Whichever.....

Italian sodas were a big hit.  They do theirs a little differently than I do mine (I make mine with vanilla ice cream but this looks like a winner) and I loved the fun blackboard instruction sign that daughter Erica did.

Love, love, love parties.  Loved helping Cathy.  Love her family.  Loved being at my old house and yard....sigh......