Merrills'N'More

HOLD ON - I AM IN

2011-10-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

Look! I am able to get to my web page. I am on another computer. Anyway you may get some news feeds from here if you keep watching. Right now I am trying to figure out why my Dell will not allow me to go to my blogsite. Happenings this month... On September I spent the weekend at the World Golf Resort in St. Augustine, Florida. St. Augustine is the oldes city in the US. The company fussed and layered all the amenities on thick in the hopes that we could bring the annual conference to them in July of 2012. Pools, sunshine, food, trip to Ripley's Believe it or Not and the Fort and the village there where I bought a lovely shirt. Then it was Annual Conference, and then it was off again to the Hyatt Resort in Clearwater Florida, and trying out all their amenities for our group. Then this last weekend we crowned it all with a trip to the Tradwinds Resort in St. Petersburg Florida and had 3 wonderful days of sun, food and presents that included a beach bag, a dressing gown, a beach towel and any other thing we wenated free of charge. I am not kidding. It was wonderful, with an ocean view on the 6th floor. I could get used to this life. The purpose of course is to try out the accommodation to bring our people to their resort and bring in business for them. It is a hard life, but somebody has to do it. I will have pictures another time. I do not want to jinx this at this time. My public await Lol :) :)

2011-03-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

It was the Relief Society Birthday and so I and the rest of the ladies donned hats and remembered the past RS Presidents with a "Tea" party. It was fun just socializing with the sisters. Good run!!!

THANKSGIVING USA

2010-12-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

After a spending lovely Thanksgiving Day with Rachel, Jeff and the five boisterous Browns, a perfectly joyful bundle, where Eli had his 10th birthday, Lizzie wants to dye her hair black, Bella would eat only Balogne every day of her life, Anna can be found at any minute in a fantasy world with Barbie and Oliver has learned to pull himself up, locks his legs and stands tall and straight and then does not know the next thing to do until rescued, so he is learning slowly but surely!

I traveled with Ben and Julie about 3 hours drive from Rachel's to Indiana, to Dan and Lilon's home where I met Ariana and Derick and family and where I met Mr. Noah Merrill for the first time. He has features like his Dad and brother, especially around the eyes,

but he is much more like his mother was at that age.

He just cuddled in beside me and I loved every minute of it.

There I also had the delight of seeing how much Ms. Ingrid had grown and enjoyed the company of the skallywags Cora and Janae.

Lilon outdid herself with a turkey to die for and cranberry sause made from scratch.

Ian obviously approved!!!!

We were all playing PIT, a favorite family game, when we turned around and there he was thoroughly enjoying himself!!!

Today ... May I...

2010-11-14T18:13:00.000-08:00

Today... May it be ab out Christ, not about me.
Today... May I lift someone up, not drag them down.
Today... May I check the mirror, before I judge others
Today... May I place another's needs before my own
Today... People are hungry, children are homeless, my troubles are small
Today... Before I say something unkind, may I put myself in their shoes
Today... May I be an ambassador for Christ in the world
Today... May I stop thinking about myself
Today... May I be Christ-like and selfless.

COUSINS YOU WOULD LOVE TO MEET

2010-11-07T14:53:00.000-08:00

Here are pictures of cousins you may never have met but who are part of this great Family Network. The funny thing is that I grew up all my life not knowing my cousins because we had no family living in Adelaide at that time and no blog to follow with their lives. I have cousins all over the world that I would not know if I fell over them. I just thought you would like to see pictures of those cousins you might not have met.

Uncle Steve's son Levi and his wife Rebecca and children Adelaide and new Baby
Jane...They will soon be living in Senegal.

Auntie Geraldine (Smylie) Dunbar 's son Joseph and his wife Carmen and their children.
They live in Queensland, Australia. This is a Noah as well !!!!

JULIE THE CAT

2010-11-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

Julie Merrill as the Cat with Alex the footballer.

October Breast Converence Tampa, Florida

2010-11-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

Debbie Nooft, Dinah Merrill and Karen Coyne at the Veteran's Affairs Hospital Annual Breast Conference where we all took part in the panel discussion on Breast Cancer and the data that needs to be collected so that research can continue towards a cure.

WHAT I DID THIS WEEK

2010-10-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

The letter will be short this week because I am trying to catch up at home with a deadline at work. What did I do this week?

Mainly I spent most of my time preparing for 2 committments on the same day as it turned out, though they were set miles apart in time. One was for the Cancer Committee which is held with about 20 physicians and administrators of which I am a part and I must report on many things going on during the last 2 months in the cancer program and I also have to take the minutes. So I am listening and reporting at the same time. I had 2 large studies to report on. I finished one covering 148 cases as to what treatment they received for their cancer and why 27 did not receive the recommended treatment. The 27 were the most controversial as I needed to get every detail of that right, for no physican wants to be the one not giving the recommended treatment. The other study was a five year lung study for the hospital which I have yet to do the final copy for. But the prelims look good.

I am not really educated in a lot of medical fields, but because the registry has to know surgical techniques, pharmacologic treatment and radiation treatment given to each patient, as well as labs and other testing, we have a complex range of knowledge and because we are the documenters we are in high demand, because our documentation is "evidence" that we are a high quality facility and that eventually means money in the physician's pocket because patients want to come to the best facilites and insurance companies want to pay for the best treatment, so suddenly we are in high demand because of our analysis of the data. I am not really as educated as I would like to be, but I have the experience in this field to show others how to garner the data and analyze it for treatment planning and marketing etc. Not a lot of power by myself, but the data is very powerful, so knowing how to get it right becomes very necessary. Things are changing so much with the human genome recognition, we can have targeted therapy depending on the genetic makeup of a person, so the documenter of the patient's picture becomes very important. Anyway for this reason I was asked to speak at a conference of physicians, nurses and registrars at the Veterans Hospital over a 2 day period. I only had to speak on one of the days :) So as soon as the Committee meeting was over I hopped in my car and sped off to the most lovely setting of the Hyatt Hotel that overlooks the Tampa Bay and took part in the conference.

But I was on pins and needles the whole time because Ariana had gone in to have her baby that morning and I was waiting all day to hear that Noah was here and me wanting to hop on a plane and go see her. He is definitely a little Merrill - a miniture Ariana as she looked when she was born. I am back to normal now with a more manageable schedule with only 2 more deadlines to meet by November 17th when we will have an audit.

Meantime, I am learning all about cub scouts, teaching in Primary and generally enjoying many a girl's night out. I am looking forward to seeing you all at Thanksgiving. We have much hugs and kisses to exchange. Love to each of your lovely faces. xxoxoox Mum

NOAH ARTHUR #10

2010-10-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

Well, Noah Arthur Graf was born on October 14, 2010 and I was on pins and needles all day. I was to speak in a conference and could hardly restrain myself from hopping on a plane to be there at his birth. All is well. He is here. He has beautiful brown hair. His picutres can be seen at http://www.bellababyphotography.com/. I will post picutres once I have some to post. Ariana is tired but well and Derick is on top of the world. I just love his name. It is so manly.

GRAND BABIES GALORE

2010-10-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

This is INGRID ELAINE MERRILL, 9th grand child to Ken Merrill and Dinah Smylie Merrill, and is the daughter of Danial Merrill and Lilon (Bunn) Merrill. If you are wondering why I am puting her geneaologic line here, it is because in 10 years time or 20 years, everone is going to say, who does Ingrid belong to again. This happens with the Soininen girls. My children are always trying to put Auntie Chris's girls and Auntie Shelly's girls with the right mother, not to mention their children with the right grandparents. Ingrid has 2 siblings, Janae and Cora. She was born to a very tiny mother but was a huge healthy girl. Huge is right 11 lb 3 oz. But she needed to be a large healthy child so that Janae and Cora could not break her so easily, for they do lots of holding and covering up and "taking care of" little Ingrid. We think she is going to be a real red head. Lets hope her dad is prepared for 3 firey daughters when they reach their teens.

The Baby Flipped

2010-10-09T14:59:00.001-07:00

I got a phone call last week from Ariana to tell me the baby was lying Transverse (which means across the womb from side to side) and that the doc was planning a C section if the baby did not turn to head down position. Well I come from good old Irish stock and somewhere had listened to all the stories that pass around in the family from time to time. Says I to Ariana, "You have to do flips and flip the baby". We laughed and laughed envisioning her on the trampoline and all sorts of things. But Ariana assured me it was not so far fetched and that she had heard incidences of this before and that she would go down to the swimming pool and do flips every day and would move on her hands and knees. (I suppose this confuses the baby as to which way is up :) or perhaps there is a more scientific formula like inertia and relativity, but not being a scientist, I will go with confused swimmer!) Happy ending is that the baby flipped and now has his head down and she will not have to have a C-section. I hope he is as good a spelunkar as he is a swimmer. (A spelunkar is a person who gets into and out of small spaces, like caves, very well)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2010-10-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

She is far away and I miss her so, and I follow her with all her friends on facebook and these two pictures popped up and I just loved them, so since it will be Halloween in about 25 days, I thought I would just put them in my journal of life and wish all an early Happy Halloween!!!!!

10 More Things I Love ...

2010-10-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

11. The way a crane stands very still and waits while you pass.
12. The smell of barbeque on a summer night
13. Wassal at Christmas time.
14. A wee voice saying "Hi Granny"
15. Fresh tomatoes with salt and pepper.
16. The smell of sun-dried bed sheets.
17. Newly baked bread
18. The smell of a sun-warmed peach.
19. The beauty of a hoar frost.
20. The silence of the forest.

10 THINGS I LOVE

2010-10-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

1. The smell of a baby after a bath.
2. The feel of a newborn's cheek.
3. The earthy smell just after rain.
4. A field of sunflowers
5. The beach on a misty morning.
6. Airports, everyone is looking forward to something, either going or coming.
7. A good belly laugh, either within myself or to hear someone else really laughing.
8. The smell of a pinewood fire on a cold snowy night.
9. A star filled sky to sleep under.
10. When the voice on the end of the phone says "Hi Mum"

Cora turns 2

2010-09-23T17:37:00.000-07:00

I love Skype because I can hear my little Cora say "Bye Granny" from some 1000 miles away before she goes to bed the night before she turns 2 years of age. Everything is wonderful in her eyes and all is new and exciting and to be explored. She loves her little sister Ingrid and her big sister Janae.

Meet Ariana, REGISTERED NURSE

2010-09-19T19:29:00.000-07:00

In 2005 Ariana called me from Utah and says she "I think I want to go to nursing school." Says I, "Okay, come home to Greenville, live with me and I will help you achieve that goal if you go to the local nursing school at Edison College." When she graduated at the end of 2 years Mr. Ian Graf had been cooking for 8 months and was nearly ready for delivery, and now as you can see, Mr ______Graf has been cooking for 8 months or so and is ready for delivery. Anyways, last Friday Ariana called me distressed because she just KNEW she had failed her exams. The online examination computer had closed down after she had answered 75 questions. The computer is programed to stop if the student is not doing well and it is useless to go on OR if the student is answering so well that it is useless to go on for all 240 questions!!!!!. After a cruel weekend, Ariana called the testing company and they informed her she had PASSED. So she can now officially sign RN after her name. Congratulations darlin'. You deserve every bit of that title!!!!!

SUMMER IS SO MUCH FUN

2010-09-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

Oliver gets a haircut (and grows another inch!!!)

This is Eli and Oliver - Rachel's oldest and youngest

Ingrid, 11 lb 3 oz "wonder baby" only a few days old...

Dan's Cora and Janae

Oliver and his curls being gelled

Lizzy

Bella

Anna

Lizzy

Rachel's crew at the swimming pool

I did not take some of these pictures, but wanted to add them to my lovely quilt of life. They are some of my adorable grandchildren in all their summer glory 2010. I am richly blessed

2010-08-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

I just love this photo and wanted it as part of my journal in life. Matty and his new Fiance Freja Cross. I think Matty looks so happy. I can not wait to go meet Freja and all the family in November.

PRIMARY ACTIVITY DAY

2010-07-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

Tug-o-war, marbles, bandanas, crossing the plains, and learning about our pioneer heritage within the church was our Primary Activity Day. We had hot dogs and all things kid-food and enjoyed the whole morning. Jan Fleck, my Primary President, is an awesome woman. She really planned most of this and it went off very well.

PAINTING WITH JESSIE

2010-07-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Last week end I also had the wonderful opportunity of spending time with Jessie and doing come creative artwork with acrylic paints. We really enjoy making a picture together. Then this Friday night I went over again and Jess and I did some stencil work. It is fun to just relax with Donna and Jess and do a little creative stuff on the side.

TOUCHED BY BRILLIANT COLORS

2010-07-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went with my friend Vickie Enger to the Leepa-Rattner Art Museum in Tarpon Springs, Florida and I was amazed at the paintings. Rattner was a jew in Paris and was caught up in the fiasco of Hitler and the jewish people. He had established a reputation as quite an artist in Paris and Europe, with Picaso and friends of that time. He had to flee France as the Nazi's advanced. He fled eventually to America where he began to paint again. Only 8 of his original paintings pre Hitler have survived. But his other works on this side of the globe have been preserved. He hated war and what mankind do to mankind and these are two pieces of his artwork that moved me.

I was blown away by his bold use of color and how it affected my emotions.

IAN AND OLIVER TURN ONE YEAR OLD

2010-06-03T16:24:00.000-07:00

A little over one year ago I had a dilemma, "How do I tell my boss I need to be in Ohio in June and then again in July? Then as soon as I mentioned Grand-babies, he understood!
Funny how that is. Everybody loves babies and Grand-babies are the best babies of all.

THE NEW MOVIE AVITAR

2010-05-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

I am not usually a fan of Science Fiction and I usually do not endorse trendy pictures. However, I did enjoy Avitar and was facinated by the computer graphics and amazed at the scenery. Then I realized at the end of the movie that my facination with the scenery might have had a feeling of familiarity to me because a lot of it was shot in New Zealand, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and you all know my love of the Land of Arohanui. I can see why they won Acadamy Awards. I think we will probably see more of these "people" in a sequel.

MISS MATILDA MAE SMYLIE ARRIVES

2010-05-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

In case the Merrill family did not get a chance to see the latest on the Jake and Sarah Smylie branch, who are now resident in Utah, this is the latest addition to the Smylie Clan, Miss Matilda Mae Smylie, nearly 10 lb in weight and full head of black hair. This is Sarah and Jake's 4th little girl. Their names are Grace, Rosie, Lillie and now lovely Matilda. I love all these names. I just wanted to have a place for her in my blog as well as my heart.

2010-05-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

MISS LIZZY BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER

2010-05-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

On May 15, 2010 Miss Lizzy entered the waters of baptism. This is her posing in her beautiful dress. When I arrived at Rachel's house on 14th, she explained to me that she had wanted to have an heirloom dress to pass from girl to girl and that she had bought the material and cut out the dress and that she was hoping to sew it as a surprise for Lizzy. (A white dress on a kitchen table with five small children under foot! You could never say Rachel is not ambitious!) So while the children slept she and I sewed the dress and kept it a surprise from Lizzy until she had to try it on just before putting the zip in the back.

Now the zip is a story in itself. Rachel had bought an invisible zip, then she found out you had to have a special foot for your machine to put it in. So she bought the foot and worked out how to fit it to her machine. She then had to work out how to put the zip in. Lots of study and measuring and in goes the zip at about 2:00 a.m. Anyway, we were good to go! Sunday on goes the beautiful dress and before we leave for church I took all these lovely photos of Lizzy in her dress for posterity.

Now back to the zip... Lizzy goes up to the front of the chapel and is introduced by the Bishop and lookes angelic in her lovely new dress. She then returns to her seat and bends over to pick up a toy for Oliver and THERE GOES THE ZIP! The teeth opened and would not go back in line together. Finally Jeff had to take Lizzy home to change.

Rachel says she will fix the dress "sometime before Bella is baptized!"

This is Lizzy right after her baptizm and that is her cousin Janae standing beside her. The pink dress she is wearing was sewn for her by her Grandma "Suebrown" who is such a great Grandma to have close by.

SASSY AND DAN

2010-05-21T21:57:00.001-07:00

Who would ever guess that these two just love being together?

NUMBER TWO SON AND FAMILY

2010-05-21T21:49:00.001-07:00

Of all my children this is the couple that I see the least because of the time that they were away at BYU. Danny (born in 1982) and Lilon have 2 girls, Janae and Cora, who is going to be a red-head just like her mother. As you can tell there is another child on the way in this family. Danny is going to school in Purdue and has a teaching assistant position there while taking his Master's/Doctrate's program, if he passes all his exams, in physics no less. They live about 2-3 hours from the rest of the children in Indiana, but since none of the children live in the same town - all live about 2 hours apart from each other in different townships around the Dayton area - they all have to travel to see each other or myself when I come to town. I think Janae is very photogenic and will be a heart breaker when she is about 16! Cora has the most delicate eye lashes - soft red blond and looks at you with those wide open eyes, like saying "What? Tell me!"

NUMBER TWO DAUGHTER AND FAMILY

2010-05-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

Number two daughter was born in 1979 just after our house burnt to the ground, and the Lord knew that I needed a quiet smiling child, a peace-maker to keep me sane at that time in my life and so he sent me Ariana, who has continued on with those traits in life, having recently graduated from Nursing School and gone on to make a lovely home in the country for her little but growing family. Ariana and Derick are expecting another baby though you cannot tell from this photo. Ian, their number one son, is a delight. He immediately smiles when he sees the camera and will wave at you from across the room. He is very interactive. You can see how curious he is about the camera his Dad has between his legs to "hide" from view. Ian is working out a way to get his hands on it. In the backgrounds you can see Rachel's Anna enjoying the day

SON NUMBER ONE AND HIS JULIE

2010-05-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

This is Ben (born 1977) and Julie in the garden of Rachel's home at the baptism celebration of Lizzy. Julie has had some success with aerobics but her legs swell and cause a lot of pain. She tries to keep them up at all times when she is not walking, so that they can have better circulation.

He brought me flowers for Mother's Day, which Lizzy and I enjoyed and considered they were jointly ours.

NUMBER ONE DAUGHTER AND FAMILY

2010-05-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

Number one daughter, Rachel, is married to Jeff and they have the joy of Elijah, Lizzy, Bella, Anna and the latest tumbling bundle - Oliver.

Rachel is an accomplished person in her own right, being able to play the piano, is college eduated, able to sew and cook very well, as well as serve a mission in Arizona. However, her greatest joy is written on her face in this photo, she loves her familiy. She will tirelessly wash, clean, nurse, bath, polish, garden, teach and guide and quite often, all at the same time (no kidding!). I had the privilege of staying in her noisy, joy-filled home this weekend and you honestly could never get bored around such large spirits in such little bodies. I love them dearly and cherish the value of family when I am with them and long for them when I am not.

Oliver does have a birth defect which is called Dysgenesis Corpus Colosum - (DCC) which means one side of his brain has trouble communicating with the other side of his brain. This can affect his motor skills, slow his learning skills and cause other problems. Right now he is very interactive and can certainly "tell" you how he is feeling, but he is slower in his motor skills. Having said that, he has worked out a way to get around, he has not connected all the skills involved in crawling yet, but he realizes that if he wants something he can throw his hips from one side to the other, roll over and "Bob's Your Uncle!" get anywhere he wants to. So although his mile markers cannot be measures as other children's are, (you know doing this by this age and this by this age), Olie, I think will work these things out in his own time. He has been placed in the right family who love him and will get him all the things he needs. The truth is, we really do not know what Olie may or may not accomplish in his lifetime. We just know that he is the sweetest, lovingest litte guy who has come to bless our family.
The children in order ....Elijah, Lizzy, Bella, Anna, and Oliver .

SHE DUN GRAD'YATED WITH HIGH HONORS

2010-05-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

Back when Sariah was in high school she expressed a wish to go to College, and I, of course, said I did not have the money but would help her any way I could. She graduated from high school with a 3.8 in the top 10 of her class and won a scholarship to Edison Community College in Piqua, Ohio. After two years of hard work there, she graduated with an Associates Degree on May 14th, 2010 with high honors, meaning she had a grade point of higher than 3.7. These are the before and after pictures. She will go on to BYU this fall to pursue a BA in the arts field. The man in the picture is her friend Kaisa.

A personal note to Sassy...

Your family are so proud of you for your hard work and dedication and continued pursuit of higher learning and the things that are right and good in life. I love you dearly and wish you only continued success as you strive to do what is right.

You GO girl!!!!! love, Mum xoxxo

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

She was 15 when she met this handsome friend of her brother's when Dave Smylie stopped by to show Uncle Jim his new bike. They played cards and got to know each other and Dave fancied her. Dave was 21, it was his birthday! They began dating and then Dave realized she was only 15 and nearly died, but he went on seeing her and eventually they married when she was just short of her 18th birthday and the rest is history as they say!!!!! Here are some of my fond thoughts on this Mother's Day...
24 years old she meets the missionaries, cannot stop smoking and has a special blessing just prior to going into the waters of baptism and never felt the urge to smoke again. Talk about faith!
29 years old, she is the mother of 5 children and with her David takes off on an adventure to Australia that turned into a life time of generous living. Nothing doubting huh?
30 years of age, is a good story... She is living with Dave in one room of another family home, (The dear Patrick family from Whyalla) but wanted a home for her kids and Dave so she sees an old home on Darling Terrace. Says she to the Housing Trust man, "Sir, can I rent that house on Darling Terrace?" Says he, "No it is condemed!" Says She "If we clean it up and keep the yard up can we live there just until you get the houses on Norrie Avenue finished"... Now you notice she did not put a date on that, just when he had the houses finished. Smart woman...It was another 2 years before he had the houses on Norrie Avenue ready for migrant families and so we lived at 5 Darling Terrace for 2 years. The Whyalla Hotel was across the road and because there was no hot water in the house, an outside toilet we had, but no shower or bath inside the house, the hotel owner allowed us to go across the street to the hotel for a bath every Saturday night so that on Sunday we could all look good for Church. Dad was Branch President. We washed on other days in a large galvanized tub in the kitchen. But we were a family, together, living and learning the principles of the gospel.
In 1964 she gave birth to the last of her biological children, (Mrs Sharon (Smylie) Scarlet to be) and helped David take her and the family and all the other Whyalla branch members who would travel with them to the Temple in New Zealand where she was sealed to her David and in order of age...Christina, Dinah, Andrew, Stephen, Shelley, Geraldine, and wee Sharon for time and all eternity.
Well says you..."Is that the end of the story?".... "No", says I, but we do not have time to go into all the things that make up her life. But suffice to say that if there was one word that describes your Granny, it is the word

GENEROUS...
She had no sooner come home from the Temple with "all those children" when she opened her home to a wee five year old David Zajkovic Smylie and I might add, continued to open her home to those in need until she was in her 68th year when she was still fostering children who had no homes to go to.
She is your original pioneer, a lover of books and good learning, clean living and generous giving. She will fight you when she thinks she is right (which seems like most of the time) but will be the first one there if you should need her help.
Thank you Mum, for all the love, I only hope I am half as well thought of in my lifetime. Happy Mother's Day.

MOTHERS DAY AND BIRTHDAYS

2010-05-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

On Mother's Day in 1977 (May 8th) to be exact, I had just come home from church and lay down for a rest. I gets off the bed and WHAM! Contraction City! No lead up, no niggles, no "I am on my way!" Just WHAM! First contraction was transition! Oh boy! The hospital was half an hour away. Says I, "I'll just have a wee bath to relax me and maybe this will stop!" I was a bit naive don't you think :) ! So Ken gets the car out and we race down the road with the baby almost crowning. Now we have to go through many streets in Denver on the way to the hospital and there are many stop signs and lights and I am trying to breath naturally and not look like some mad women as I pass other cars on te road, all the while saying "Its coming Ken, I know it is coming!" and Ken hyperventilating on the way...Well we got there and the Doc came and I held on. Good strong membranes I can tell you, for the only thing holding that baby in place was the sac! So he came...Mr. Benjamin Perehama Merrill. He has been a delight to me ever since. He is a gentle, quiet spoken man, who lives the gospel and searched all his life for his Julie, who was born 2 years 2 days earlier than him. He was attracted to her but there were hitches. (There are always hitches at the big decision crossroads in life!) However, he waited and bided his time until Julie was ready. I could not be prouder of either of them. Benjamin (and his Julie) are the best Mother's Day present I could have been given. I love you both. Have a very Happy Birthday both of you two!!! xoxox

Treasure Island at sunset

2010-05-03T16:42:00.000-07:00

I was having fish and chips at Caddy's at the Treasure Island Beach on the east side of St. Petersburg and the sun is going down and I just took this shot. Sariah and I love to swim in this water. Donna and Steve stayed at Madiera beach which is up the coast a little from Treasure Island. If you travel from the north Madiera beach then along the coast you come to John's Pass Beach and then Treasure Island, and then on down to St. Petersburg Beach. You think you are going along a continuous line of coast as you take the Gulf Blvd from one beach to the other, but you really are traveling through a lot of outer islands that are joined with bridges and causeways and you never even know that you are going from one to the other. A map is really the only way you can tell you are passing from one to the other. Hence the different names for each beach, because originally you would have boated from one beach to the other along the coast. Have no idea who the man is, but I wanted to get the color of the water for some painting I am doing and the sand really is quite white though looks a little gray in this picture, but that is just the lighting from the sun in the background.

St. Petersburg Primary

2010-05-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

My friend Jan Fleck and I wanted to make a quilt for Tara (2nd counc in primary presidency - Jan is President - I am the Sunbeam teacher). Anyway I had the children print their hands on strips that Jan had planned out. Jan put the quilt together and I did some hand quilting and some tying off. We had a picture of the primary children in the middle of the quilt. On Sunday we took a picture of Tara and the children with the quilt. The three little ones in the front who look like they are statues are my little ones in Sunbeams. Caleb is the boy on the right and Emmy is in pink and Angelina is in yellow. They are so adorable and will not say a word in the big primary, but never stop talking in our little classroom. The other children are in the back. They are the Valiants as we have no CTR's in between right now, but in Primary the motto is "Just wait until tomorrow. It will all change again." That is Tara in the picture. She is gorgeous and so dainty as a pregnant mother. I remembered that I always seemed to look like two women in one body, I would get so big, but Tara just has this little bump in front. Our Primary is very small as we are mostly a ward of older people. But though small in size we are mightly in heart!!!

Do you know how proud I am of you?

2010-04-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

Ben and Dan hated being called "the boys" as they were growing up as opposed to be individuals and have many stories to tell of me always calling them "the boys". But I just want them to know how proud I am of them. The bottom picture is of Julie and Ben now 4 years married and living near Dayton, Ohio. Julie has been having very serious chronic problems with sympathetic nerve syndrome and thank goodness Ben is the kind person that he is and has been able to help her out for Julie has been confined to a wheelchair from time to time as her legs have given her such pain that she cannot walk. She is taking some acquatic exercises in an effort to control whatever it is that triggers the nerve to fire off pain whenever it feels the need to do so and no one knows why. Julie is a school teacher of special needs children and there will probably have to be adjustments with her classes in future as to how she will accommodate her own physical needs with their needs.

Lilon and Dan (top photo) are expecting their third child. Dan is schooling at Purdue on his Masters/Doctrate program in physics. They have been blessed to be able to buy a home there in Lafayette as they are prepared to be stationed there for quite a while. They have been painting and learning all about plumbing and electrical systems in houses besides quantum physics and food preparation and entertainment for 2 hungry, intelligent little girls with another on the way in the Fall of 2010. I love "my boys" and just wanted them to know it..............xoxoxxo Mum

Taking Care of Cancer Care

2010-04-18T18:03:00.000-07:00

I take my job very seriously, but once in a while we have to let our hair down and just have a good time. This is a picture of some of the girls I work with who got into the spirit of dress up week and really set the office to laughing. Every day it was great to see what would be the next surprise as we came to work each morning. It was a fun week for everyone

MY THOUGHTS ON APRIL 15

2010-04-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

Today is tax day and I am bummed. I have worked so hard and there it is on paper, I am not worth a whole lot :) The IRS does not allow me to deduct for things I value, like plane rides home to see all my lovely children and grand children or gas spent on visiting teaching, nor hours spent on preparing primary lessions, and certainly nothing on hours in learning how to splash color on a canvas! Oh well, someone must keep the wheels of big government turning (sigh), someone must lead out in the work-force and add to the billions (sigh). That is a 1 with zillions of zeros that Mr. Obama keeps shelling out to this program and that.

But I am reminded that the Lord said "the earth is mine and there is enough, and to spare." I am healthy and glad I am able to earn and the Lord is in charge and in His tender mercies He provides for my every need. So what the heck....Mr. Obama, here is my tax return, use it wisely and remember that we really are a blessed nation, under God - from whence cometh all our wealth!

I loved, loved, loved Paris!!!

2010-04-11T17:56:00.000-07:00

I never did put my feelings about the trip to Paris into my blog. It was the BEST, BESTUS, GOODEST most TERRIFIC thing I could have done. (There are just no perfect words to describe how great it was). I will have memories of that trip for ever. We did the Metro, Versailles, Mont Matre, Notra Dame, D'Orsey and every other side street you can think of. The free trip around the streets of Paris was the greatest little side gift and the commedienne was soo FRENCH and so funny. I need to mention here for posterity about leaving my green card in Florida in the drawer in my kitchen and not being able to get on the plane because I must look very much like a terrorist or something because my passport says that I am a resident ALIEN of the US and they (the French or US govt) would not even give me a visitors visa to fly into the US and get my greencard from the drawer. NO.....I had to wait four days, forfiet my flight, pay for a hotel, pay for an inquiry as to whether I was a terrorist or not or on the 10 MOST WANTED list or something, pay for more photographs, to make sure I look like my passport - WHAT ARE THEY - BLIND? and how Rome (that is where the US Homeland Security for Europe reside) knows whether I look like my passport from the Embassy Desk in France I have no idea. But even then with all the walking from the Jardin du Luxembourg (sp?) to the Plaza d'Concord each day and being treated like a disease, I had a great time. I met Mary Knudson from Arizona and her son John and saw how the rich live in Paris in townhouses over the Plaza d'Concord and over the Rue de Rivoli. It was all only icing on the cake after having had some wonderful 5 days with Chris, Rebecca, Kelly and Erin in gay Paris and lets not forget sweet William - what a good baby! I am planning something else in about five years, so girls look out for some great trips to the Greek Islands, or maybe Alaska! Maybe my girls can join us then. Thank you for the memories.......xoxox

GRANNY SMYLIE AT 83

2010-04-11T17:37:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of your Granny Smylie and your cousin Emma Green (Uncle Andy's and Aunt Trish's daughter). Emma is about five years older than Rachel. She was the flower - girl at your Dad and Mum's wedding. Granny is 83 in this picture and it was taken at a shower for your cousin Ellen who was married recently in March in the Adelaide Temple.

SARIAH GRADUATES FROM EDISON

2010-04-11T17:12:00.000-07:00

This little baby came into my life at a time of much turmoil and sometimes she was the only reason I got out of bed each morning at that time in my life. She learned to roll with the good times and the bad. Sometimes she let me know in no uncertain terms that she thought her life should be different, more like the other teenagers in Greenville, who had cell phones, and cars, and WI's and other game systems. Oh well baby, for all the things you did not have, you certainly had a lot of love and laughter with your old Mum. I am so proud of you as you finish the first 2 years of college and graduate with your Associates in Fine Arts from Edison College, Piqua, Ohio on May 14, 2010 and will then head for Brigham Young University in the fall. Congratulations m'darlin' - I had no doubt you could do it. You have worked hard and you deserve the very highest honors. You will always be my baby though, even when you are 65! So never doubt that you are loved and thought of daily. May the Lord bless and keep you in all your honorable dreams......xoxoxox Your ever lovin' MUM xoxoxx

THERE ARE IRISH PEOPLE EVERYWHERE

2010-04-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

This is Karen Coyne, my Irish freind from Dublin, and another friend Joyce Allen, both belonging to the Cancer Registrar's Association here in Florida and we are at a meeting in the lovely Radison Inn in Orlando near Disney World in March planning the State of Florida educational forum for later in the year. Karen will be president 2010-2011 year and I will be president the 2011-2012 year. They twisted my arm, but I said I would do it only if they were on the council with me. I may not live that long anyway. hahaha

FROM THE SCRIBE'S PAINTBRUSH

2010-04-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

Well it has been months since I blogged, but thought it would be good to use as a journal of things I am doing here in Florida. I, of course, am still painting and these paintings are not finished, but it is fun to see them take shape. The tree picture is a recycled canvas project that had a previous southwestern looking window and cactus and I am trying to see if I can make something of old canvases. The balloon picture is another that I was experimenting with saving a previously painted on canvas. It had some huge flowers on it but I decided to do something simple for my primary class to hang in their room......It may or may not work out but I am having fun seeing the end results. I have a couple of new canvases going on, one with the yellow abstract flowers and the other is a boat and water scene. With oils you can have three or four canvases going at once because they take so long to dry and I do not want to make mud so I let it dry and paint in stages. No matter if it does not work out. The canvases only cost me a couple of buck as opposed to $50 - $100 for the large 2 inch stretcher board canvases. I may just be making brilliant messes, but I am learning a lot.

Life gets away from you...

2009-09-12T09:49:00.000-07:00

Good morning all: Iam finally able to get back to the blog scene and catch up on all the goings on in the family. I have made good friends here in Florida and one lady (Marilyn) and I end up painting together quite a bit. I met her at St. Pete Clay when I took that class with Sassy and she paints and has a simming pool too, and so after work about 2-3 days a week, I get in my ten laps and a couple of hours painting lessons with either me teaching her or her teaching me some technique in painting we have mastered. I am determined to put my work in a juried show come this time next year and have joined the local art guild. Ariana and Sassy, you should do the same and Rachel should put some of her handiwork in too!!!!
HOWEVER, my best news is that I am GOING TO PARIS to meet up with Auntie Chris, Kelly, Rebecca and Erin as they do Italy and Paris. I know! I could not come home for Christmas and now I am off to Paris. I have laughed about that ever since. I will still come see you all in Ohio in the spring, but this is a once in a lifetime chance to visit with A/Chris and the girls. My ticket fare was a bonus they gave me at work for doing well during the year. I thought and thought for about 10 MINUTES and then I decided to use it to go to Paris instead of Ohio...Lets see Paris in Autumn or Ohio in WINTER!!! No contest. Sorry kids. New grandbabies and all!
But I have to say that I have kept up with you all thru your blogs. It has been especially nice to have Rachel and Ari work out how to blog and e-mail me the blog at the same time, this way i can read it thru e-mail at work and download any photos I want instead of waiting until I get to the library to read the blog as they will not let me use the blog site at work. You know, social sites are banned in work places. So Dan if you can work out how to e-mail me your blog, that would be so good. I had a lovely labor day with your cousins Ashley, Austin, Sarah and Darrell at A/Donna's and Uncle Stephen's house (note the correct spelling of Uncle Steph's name...It was a dumb mistake on my part in the last blog - sorry Steph) and anyway all the little kids were there too and I went in the pool and played with the kids and caught lizards etc and enjoyed myself tremendously. Both Austin, Ashley and Sarah and I even think Darrell have been to Paris so they all had advice about buses and trains and sights to see. I am so excited. I cannot wait.
I have not seen A/Chris for 10 years. Talk about cruel and unusual punishment. But that is life kids, hang on to the opportunity you all have to see each other every weekend if you are able and make time for each other in your homes. Use the holidays or birthdays as days of celebration to unite the family so that you all grow up knowing each other and each other's children. I love you all dearly, miss you like crazy and can hardly stand the distance some times. I want you to know that you have richly blessed my life and I am so proud of each of you and the choices your are making. Now before i start crying...I am going to sign off until next time. God bless and keep you and the next blog will probably contain a lot of pictures from Paris....so stay tuned......xoxoxoxox Love Mum

2009-07-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Family: What a year this has been! January winter was sleeping under the stars with the tree frogs for company. February and March whizzed by with me travelling to Denver for a conference and to meet up with old friends... Elaine Bailey whom Rachel's middle name comes from and her family. We had not seen since Rachel was born when she was returning from her mission. We had met at CCNZ and had been room mates during those days, then had moved on into young adulthood and were room mates in Wellington New Zealand when I met your Dad. Needless to say we talked and talked and are still talking via the internet! I also had the opportunity to visit with Becky Queen in Denver and have lunch together and see Uncle Bill and Aunt Delores. Aunt Delores has a room FULL of genealogy and I would love to take a week and just stay with them in Denver and do genealogy. April whizzed by and we were intoMay with Ariana and Derick's wee boy(Ian James) arriving and a trip home to see your lovely faces. I then had a lovely visit with Sariah and we tried to fit in lots of different activities even though I had to work during the day, but we also had a lovely week with Caitlin and Aunt Donna and Uncle Steven and all the family. I got a good dose of the sun and looked like a lobster for about a week or so. Saw Levi and Rebecca and Adelaide, Ali and Ben and baby, and Eliza all of whom I had not seen for some years. Sassy and I did the art museum bit, the beach daily, and even took a clay class to learn to throw a pot. I think Sassy could get used to St. Pete's. I will be up to see you all again now that little Olie has joined the club and I want to hold him so bad. I also need a dose of all your faces again. See you on 24th.......xoxoxoxoxo Mum

La Rondine by Puccini

2009-01-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

A friend gave me the opportunity today to visit the theater that had Live from the MET which was the Metropolitan Opera being broadcast live in HD all over the world (a new thing to expose children all over the world to opera) and the opera today was La Rondine (The Swallow). It was so beautiful. If you ever have the chance to go to see a beautiful opera this would be one that is for the young. It is lighter and a simple, very passionate and very sad love story. I actually cried at the end. Angela Gheorghiu and her husband Roberto Alagna sang/played the parts of the lovers who have to part in the end and I was just thrilled. I have been to live theater and there is nothing like that in the world but this was the next best thing to it. It was like sitting the MET audience. We clapped and stood and did all that in our theater and it was the most thrilling performance I have been to in a long while. I was able to go because the cost was kept very low due to senior citizen status. See there are some really good things to look forward to about getting old (ha ha ha). I so think of Levi and Rebecca being able to go to the real thing there in New York and envy them that chance, but today I had the next best thing.

In Support of Large Families

2009-01-02T14:35:00.000-08:00

I have had the opportunity to make many new friends during this move to Florida.

Among them is an Irish girl from Dublin and she is culturally so like me it is not funny. In other words she and I share the same humor.

Anyone who has traveled to another country will understand that statement.
Humor is the one thing that, unlike music, that sometimes gets lost once it crosses borders.
Anyway we were talking about the current statistics in Ireland with every home only having 0.8 children, which means only one household in 8 has a child. This is very different from the 1950’s when there were 8 children to every household!

It has really become of critical concern in Ireland (and Japan) now.
Anyway where am I going with this thought?

I had the opportunity travel home to Ohio December 6th and spend time with my lovely children, be treated like royalty and feel like the gracious

queen and rejoice in the news of new babies to come.
Eli, growing into a lovely little man, was baptized,

Lizzy renewed her plea to visit the beach,

Bella assured me that she would come too and

Anna just loved being a princess and fairy.
When I came home I had the opportunity to spend Sunday evening with

Donna and Stephen and their ever increasing family; with new

babies on the way, Ruby and Rosie playing imaginary games,

Lillie grinning from ear to ear...

and Simone loudly voicing

her opinion in very definite “baby-talk”.
The boys and Stephen had gone fishing and they, the children, came over to cook the catch and serve supper and enjoy the fruits of their labors.
What a joy and how rich are our blessings to have grown up daughters
and sons with families of their own.
I say, bring it on. The Lord knew what he was doing when he said
“Multiply and replenish the earth…”

SO HAPPY NEW YEAR TO

ALL THIS BIG FAMILY OF MINE!

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

2009-01-02T14:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas… was so different this year, and here are my thoughts on the situation…
Christmas… only works when there are people to share it with.
Christmas……… must include family and those you love.
Christmas is only Christmas when there is laughter of children and
shining eyes that go with the ripping of wrapping paper and the rustling of tissue paper.

However,
December 25th, the day representing the birth of Christ,
can be the loveliest day when spent alone.
It can be the most spiritual as you sit in the sun with your feet up and read the story of the Nativity,
contemplate the blessings He has given you,
and the opportunities He has opened up for you.
It can be the most peaceful as there are no phone calls, no television, no deadlines to meet and no hurried places to get to. It can be the most secure as you sit reading all the cards you have received, letting you know that you are loved and thought of and remembered with fondness.
This year was very different, but very satisfying and although I would not want to do this every Christmastime
I was so grateful to have the opportunity to contemplate the security and safety of the family I have and the knowledge that I was born of goodly parents, and
to know that I am loved and have a knowledge of the Lord’s plan,
and a family to love and remember at such a
Joyous Season

May He keep and bless you all!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MISSIONARY WORK

2009-01-02T14:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I told you that I had a flat tire.
I had to take it to the shop and have 2 new tires placed at the sweet cost of $300.00.
But, bear with me, the real story is coming…
I had to leave my car, have someone take me back to the hospital, and then get a ride back to pick it up later in the day.
Well this nice black man, tall and thin, soft spoken, rides me back 50 blocks to the hospital, about 15 minutes. We talked a little, he asked me to visit his church, I told him I was LDS and he ASKED for a Book of Mormon!
I dropped it off to him with my testimony and the missionaries phone number inside.
Could be a whole lot of reasons I am here in Florida, and could be that this was just one of them…Who Knew!!!!!

THE PARABLE OF THE ACRYLIC NAILS.

2009-01-02T14:24:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we perceive ourselves as very strong, especially within our comfort zone.
We can take anything the world can throw at us because we have built up our resources around us within easy reach and we can duck, laugh, stand back or come out swinging as the need arises. However, once our façade has been removed, once our familiar walls have been taken down and our familiar resources have changed we can find ourselves somewhat weakened and not as strong as we thought we were.
What brought these deep thoughts on?
Well after 6 years of having acrylic resin painted over my own nails, which gave me incredible strength to do anything with those nails, I went and had them removed.
You see, I want to take a pottery class and I need sensitive fingertips for the making of pots.
So anyway, I had them removed.
And what did I find.
My own nails had been weakened to the point of being paper-thin, like a new-born.
So although the façade looked great, I was really being weakened daily underneath.
But only in the nail department I tell you, because, as has been proven with this move to Florida,
David and Jane (bless their ever-loving souls) Smylie
had taught me not put my strength in anything that is a facade,
but in the Lord and His truths, which do not weaken us
but make us stronger each time.
I had a flat tire! Whom did I call – my home teacher who helped me get help.
I needed help moving in – who came to help me move, family and my Bishop!
I lost my wallet -with green card, social security card, driver’s license
(FOR WHICH I NEED A GREEN CARD TO REPLACE)
and all my other stuff.
I lost it for 2 days and prayed like I had never prayed before and just KNEW as I got ready for work that I would have to call for replacements once I got to work.
I found it as I walked out to my car to go to work, it having slipped down into a little well at the front of the arm rest between the two front seats.
I had looked and looked all over the car for 2 days…but there it was once I had asked in fervent prayer.
NOTHING DOUBTING!!!
Amazing what strength we have when we use the Lord as our constant resource!

Cyber hugs and kisses

2008-11-13T14:03:00.000-08:00

Dear all: I have had my nose to the grindstone for the first month getting an office that had been let go for 2 years without anyone there, and now had to be brought up to standard for accreditation. I am happy to say that this will not always be the case. I have been able to work very hard with the help of some great staff and get some shape into the office so that it now has some processes in place, some productivity plans and some light at the end of the tunnel. We cannot be totally accredited until March of 2009 due to the restrictions placed on us for not being up to scratch, but by then we will be the shining light. I just wanted you to all know that I have not been totally lazing in the sun and letting you all freeze in Ohio, I really have been working very hard. I will be coming up for the Baptizm and b'day celebration of Elijah and plan to fly in December 4th and leave December 8th. We will have an early Christmas. However, lest you think I have been only working....last week end I did take the Saturday with some sisters from Church, some new friends, and we all went to Siesta Beach, white sands, clear water, and tons of little nick nack shops that I was getting ideas for Chrissy presents. I am so happy about the baby news from both Ariana and Rachel and so happy that Sariah was not hurt in her accident. I think it is a good idea for her to live in Piqua thru the Winter, as Highway 36 is just a menace with ice and drifting snow and she can have all her classes there and be five minutes from school. This will not be the last accident Sassy, but we all have to learn how easy it is to be involved in one. I am at the library once again and they book you in for a half hour's time so I wanted so bad to take this time to let you all know that I love you very much. I miss you terribly. I will probably have T/Giving with Uncle Steve and Auntie Donna and family and there have been lots of invitations for other stuff here so do not worry about me being too lonely. The people at church are not family, but they are the next best thing. We even have an Aussie brother and sister (newly married) who are from Melbourne and will go back to Aussie later with the World Tennis organization.....lucky people....I suggested they get me as a towel carrier or water girl...who knows. I love you all dearly. Thank you for your sweet phone calls, your concern and your love.....I will collect hugs and kisses first weekend in December....see you all then....will write again next week. Don't hold your breath, but I might have pictures too by then. Cyber hugs and kisses from afar for now........much love..........Mum/Dinah

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM GECKOS

2008-10-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

Be energetic.
Be friendly.
Always look like you are going somewhere important.
Be interested in people.
Look like you know what they are talking about.
Always wear a smile or look like you are smiling anyway.
Don’t say much, just look bright and intelligent.
Make the wardrobe casual and stay with the basic earth tones.
Watch for larger things coming your way and move out of the way fast.
If you lose your tail,

never mind,

life is just as happy without one.

This is serving me well in my new job. I move fast and with “purpose” and stay out of the “big guys” way. I look like I have it all together and have something secret to smile about and people are drawn to find out what it is that keeps me happy! Nothing special,
I am just following the Gecko’s lead and who doesn’t love a Gecko?
The hospital’s tropical landscape is full of Gecko’s and I love them.

Love and miss you all terribly, but I am cozy warm and making friends……mum…xoxoxo

Come Visit

2008-09-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

I have arrived. Your father and I made it down by Saturday at about 10:00 and Uncle Stephen and Auntie Donna and their children came down to help. The Bishop came and another Tongan brother and they worked like slaves in the hot sun to unload everything. I have been having fun since unpacking boxes and finding places to nest it all. I have beds, rooms, and love for anyone who comes my way. I have begun work and will let you all have pictures in a few weeks when I get a little more settled. I give thanks for family every day, my own and the extrended family I have been blessed with. Get out your keyboards or writing material and e-mail me at dismylie@yahoo.com. so that I can give you all my address as I had all of your e-mails at UVMC and am not their anymore.....I love you all dearly and will see you all in December for Elijah's Baptism if not before......your mum...xoxoxoxoxox

The Saga Continues...

2008-09-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

Did not leave on 11th as planned. Sharon Yingst my long-time friend who was planning to be travelling with me came down with a strange eye condition which had apparently been building up for several months, but only in hindsight did she realize what was happening. Anyway she lost the sight of her right eye and has peripheral vision only, so she could not drive with me. (I am totally bummed about all this....and not just because I lost the nonrefundable flight, but Sharon losing her sight is terrible). So I called on Kenneth to take me down as he has the ability to take those three days off. The irony is that we will come out of court on the morning of 18th having disolved our marriage of 32 odd years and then we will spend the next three days taking a trip together. (The Lord does have a sense of humor, I know!!!). I will email you all with my new address. The newer car ( a 2006 Chevy Malibu - silver with only 40,000 miles) came through too so we will be pulling that with us. I did break down and get a 26 foot truck since Ken was driving. I was too chicken to do that on my own. I have very mixed feelings about leaving everyone here, but I am excited about this new door that has opened and I hope it all works out to my advantage and to the family's too, since if mamma is happy then all will be happy! It may be some time before this is hooked up again but I will keep you all posted once I am settled. More later...love you all.....mum

2008-09-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

Ken aged 5 Ken age 12

Ken as a senior Grandparents Carl and Edna Ferguson

Your mother aged 4 and 7 months. (Your Granny Smylie probably knit the cardigan) Iam on holiday at the farm where Aunty Chris used to like to go for a walk and "smell the pigs".....love mum

Eleanor Ferguson and Kenneth Talmage Merrill

2008-09-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of your Grandpa Kenneth Talmage Merrill when he married Edna Eleanor Ferguson at age 18 when they lived in Holyoke, Colorado. G'pa worked for G/G'pa Ferguson's farm on Wages Route, Holyoke, Colorado. G'ma went to the one room school house that is across the road from our property in Colorado where we lived until the house burnt to the ground in 1979, due to high winds and sparking electric lines. I can see Ariana's face and Danny's dark eyes in this photo.

Zella (Wakefield) Merrill

2008-09-04T15:01:00.000-07:00

These pictures are of Zella Wakefield at 2 years of age, used in my header this month, at 11 years of age with the big bow in her hair, and at 16 with her first two boys, John and Douglas on the running board of an old Ford.

Zella Wakefield is the mother of your grandfather, Kenneth Talmage Merrill and the wife of Kenneth Amanuel Merrill. She married him at age 13 and had three children. One morning just short of her 17th birthday she was lighting the fire for breakfast and tried to encourage the fire with kerosene and it blew up on her, causing her night dress to catch fire. Unfortunately she ran and was overcome by fire and smoke and died from her wounds, leaving a 5 week old Kenneth T. and two brothers John and Douglas alone with their father, Kenneth A. Merrill. Kenneth A. later married Grandma Lavern who raised the boys and had Uncle Evert and Aunty Delores (Young) as well. I was given a scanner and am going to scan in a lot of old pictures from our family files for your enjoyment......

Eeny, meeny, minee, mo....

2008-08-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

Well I have been in St. Pete's since Tuesday and have been searching for a place to live.
1. I have found a three bedroom apartment that might fit the bill, but ....the place is in a huge complex, like a concrete jungle and no hook up for washer and dryer...use of laundromat on grounds is the expected norm....that gets expensive.
2. Then there is another granny flat (ONE BED - ONE BATH) that is really cheap but it is tomb-like cause everyone is 55 and up.
3. THEN the best place is a town house, twice the price, but oh so beautiful. Near the water, not quite a beach front view but within 5 minutes walk of the marina (about 5 streets) and on down the coast is the beach. This is the one I want, but it is the most in price, so I am weighing up all the options. It is also the closest to downtown and work, so the car and gas would be less than if I took the cheaper one, making the cheaper (3 bedroom one) not really so cheap. I have been looking at houses too, but they are about the same price as the townhouse and would include the yard. Well I have not had much time to visit family because I have had appointments all day with real estate agents, but will call S/Donna tomorrow and touch base. I figure if I get the town house they can all come and celebrate with me....xoxox ...dinah

Car shopping

2008-08-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

Well what do you think? Think I would look good in this little red number? I am second hand car shopping so that I will not break down on the way to Florida in my goodie but oldie Chevrolet....These are missionary cars that sell really fast as they only have less than 50 miles on them, but they are good if you can get them. I will let you know...boxes awaiting to be packed...love all ...di

2008-08-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

Sister Eacott was my Primary President and we met in her house. Your Grandfather, David Smylie was the Branch President and he is about 40 years of age and I loved to hear him lead the singing. Sister Florence (Flo) Quick would play the organ. Aunt Una Pope and Sister Eacott were the only members in Whyalla when we first moved there. I think Sister Quick played the organ for us long before she was a member. We would meet in Hockey House, a sports club and have to clean it out from the drinking parties the night before prior to holding Sunday School in the morning and then we had Sacrament at night. Christina was called as YW Pres at 16...(reminds me of Nephi!). Great examples of leadership to grow up with,

2008-07-30T17:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I got the job and I gave my notice so there is no going back now. I am trying to get the stuff packed and out of here by September 1st or at the very least October 1st. The picture is of Don CeSar Hotel just above the St Petersburg beach on down the coast about half a mile. I did not take this and do not know who the people are but took this off the internet because i lost my camera somewhere in the trip.But we went in here like we owned it and it really is beautiful. I am madly packing and seeing if I can make arrangements for a place to live down there. The stay with Donna and Steve was wonderful and I am looking forward to building on that short visit in the future. More later folks....di

Luxury Plus!!!!!!

2008-07-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the inside of the Hilton, and I must say that my room is really nice and the setting for the hotel is wonderful. I have been dined and not wined in a Colonial English pub where I had curried lamb (very good), Southern Cuisine restaurant where I had fried sweet potatoe chips(deadly good), A Greek restaurant where they did the handkerchief dance) blackened salmon (mmmmmm) and at Y'Bor City (which is a "little Cuba" with lots of little shops and artsy places) I had a very special Cuban bread sandwich with a palm leaf cooked into the top of the loaf.

I don't have pictures of the beach developed yet, but this is where I am staying. The heat will knock you down at about 3:00 in the afternoon but mornings and evenings are great. It rains every day and cools everything off. I felt the interview went well and I think they will make me an offer that I hope I can accept. Of course I had my heart in my mouth, but I know my stuff and at least as far as the registry needs I knew more than they did, so I looked like I really had it all together, when I really only was one step ahead of disaster really. Seeing the ocean again was wonderful, and splashing and tasting the salt was so wonderful. I could not stay as long as I would have liked, but since I was in my host's company I acquiesed to her wishes and we went looking around all the little places in St .Pete's.

Sariah will love this. It is such an artsy place. I have already met an art group I can join.

Well off to see Steve and Donna in the morning. I can't wait!

Oleander and Lantana!!!!!

2008-07-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

Oleander, Lantana, Canna Lillies, Bird of Paradise, and cranes in my back yard!
I took a walk around Debbie's neighborhood and was so thrilled to see Oleander growing and Lantana. I remember walking home with Despina Parouskivopolous in Whyalla and trying not to crush the Lantana as we walked by because it gave off such a pungent odor. And Oleander was for your hair if you picked a blossom or two and did not get the sticky sap all over you. These things do not grow in Ohio and we certainly don't have cranes right in our back yard. This crane just stood and watched me and I almost wanted to explain why I was in his territory. And the grass is that old "buffalo grass" that is all spongy like a carpet. It is hot, and I did not walk far, but a dip in the pool when I got back was heaven. Debbie will be home shortly and we will go out to dinner some place and then I will get all my stuff ready to go to the hotel tomorrow and meet with my "new boss" I hope. He will take me out to dinner and then the morning after we will go to the hospital where I will meet all the staff and be under the microscope. This is up to the Lord, I have got myself this far, the rest is up to Him.

Then I spend Saturday and Sunday with Steve and Donna and I am really looking forward to that. If nothing else comes from this trip, I will have had the chance to see the family. I am so excited. What a lovely bonus in my life this is going to be.

Should I part with this, what will I do wtih that?

2008-07-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

Well I am sitting here getting ideas.

Debbie's home (an old girlfriend from Dayton in the same line of work as me) is so upscale. Tile, baskets, wood, pool and a white couch! I swam in her pool at midnight last night and loved the idea.

So...

If I make the move to Florida and they want me to work for them in St. Pete'...

what will I bring with me in furniture?

I have some really nice pieces and a lot of junk, but even my junk has great potential in the right setting, but there is just too much of it. For years I have been collecting blue and white china,

you know willow pattern, courier and ives, old english scenes and even some chinese blue pieces. Now you can buy this stuff in any decorating shop, but when I first married this was very hard to come by...(China - where the china blue dye first came from - was in the outs with the world in 1975.)After collecting it for some 32 years I want to keep it, but I think I will have to be

selective. This is hard because there are so many memories attached to the pieces that I feel like I am destroying that memory if I get rid of the piece.

And, what about pottery? (And Andy's bowls)I have Rachel's plate (that I love) and vase that she made in high school and Ben's jar (that I cherish) and all the other "stuff" as well as some really well made pottery pieces. Well I will be looking at places to live in the next few days, and I think I will look at nooks and crannies and be very very selective about what I bring.

And I still love quilts and cannot get rid of those,

they just look so colorful in the wintertime and to cuddle up in front of the TV with....

but how cold does it get in Florida? Still a cotton quilt will freshen up a room even if it is 100 degrees outside.

And then there is cookware?

Who am I going to cook for? An army? The army has disbursed with families of their own, perhaps they have need of five and ten quart pots. Yes, I used to cook like that all the time. Every day! I love to cook, there is such pleasure in adding a little of this and a little of that!

Mainly I like to eat well, so I cook well :) So, I shall just have to have the missionaries over.

Those boys can eat home cooked food like an army and bless their sweet souls I am just the girl to feed them. And I could have parties with new friends from work and Church and feed them too! Better keep the cookware, but perhaps be a little selective in what I keep.

And books?

Oh my goodness! I love to read...what will I do with all the books? Morgan lives too far away to come and share them with him! He took a couple home when he was here so I know we have similar tastes in reading matter. I get this reading gig from my mother. Thank you Mum! Well Friends of the Library can have some of them to raise money for new books. But I have some first edition Jack Higgins, whom I love (and by the way so did Dad). I think he was Dad's favorite author. But I have read all his books that I have about ten times and Maeve Binchy has been read and reread ad infinum.

And so it goes.

So I am sitting here making lists of those things that I must have to live (bed, dresser etc) and some things that I must have for the soul (blue china, quilts, etc) and some things that I just can't part with (Ariana's and Sariah's artwork, etc.) This is going to be a long list and I am going to have to erase items several times.....

What fun!

I love the excitement of a new adventure.

2008-07-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

About once a month I used to have Rachel's children come and stay, at least two of them at a time, but because of the wedding and Sariah's graduation and work I was really missing seeing the children and so last week end I had the children (all four) come and stay Friday and Saturday night. Lizzy is the creative child who has all these projects lined up that we are going to accomplish while she is visiting. Bell likes to decide what we are having for breakfast and Eli likes to find stuff on my computer that he can play with

Do I have a Box of Treasures for you!!!!

2008-07-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Because I have it in mind to maybe move if they offer the position to me in Florida, I have been cleaning out all the old stuff that is of no earthly use, but that has been labeled with the famous "I may need that someday".

I have made several trips to Goodwill and donated my treasures to whomever can use it and each time I come back home the piles begin to grow again. I think they multiply when I am not looking. A lot of the stuff are things that people gave me and foolish me said I would take it because I could see a need for that "one of these days". Well at 60 years of age I have finally learnt that one of these days is never going to come and all I am doing is creating a fire hazard so I have been madly sorting and boxing and cleaning.

Friends are no help! They come by to box stuff and say "Why are you throwing that out, you may need that someday!" So they go home with a box of stuff that I gladly let them have because "they may need it someday".

This is only the stuff that I have stashed, this is not the stuff I have to pack and move...that will be a ginormous project in itself. Hopefully the kids will take some of the extra-good stuff to use in their homes, or I may have a garage sale, though that thought sounds like too much work. They may not offer me the job and I may be just left with nice clean cupboards for once in my life. Only the Lord knows what is in store for me. But one of the sisters did come forth and ask to rent my place if I was in that frame of mind. So only He knows what the next step will be and I am glad I am in His hands.

Spring in Ohio

2008-07-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

I know it is winter in Aussie right now, but here it is spring and planting time and Mr. and Mrs. Graf have been getting their home in order and trying to find places for all the new stuff and generally having fun setting up house in their lovely little farmhouse about 5 miles north of Greenville.

Derick came over and tilled my garden. They have planted their garden twice. The first time the farmer sprayed his corn and all their garden began to die, so they moved to another spot and put in a garden. Then Ari came over and put in the garden for me. In my patch of garden things just like to grow. I put rabbit manure out for about 5 years and the plants really enjoy the nutrients and if I don't plant it the weeds like the nutrients just as well.

I gave Ariana my canning equipment and she is going to try canning some of her produce later in the summer.

Ahhh ...I can now blog....the adicts joy!!!!

2008-06-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

For some reason my internet provider has been on the blink adding some update to our e-mail system, and I am no longer able to read my blogs at work as the hospital has put a ban on "social blogging", so I have felt like an addict, unable to get to my blog sites and see all my family. It has only been a week, but I have been sweating it.

Well Wednesday 17th I saw Sariah off to BYU with her cases, violin and debit card, all set to get a job and begin classes. She called after arriving in Utah where Lilon met her, and though she was "scared for a moment or two" a couple of times at changing flights or at arrival, she reported that she did really well. She was interviewing for a "environmental science" (cleaning) job and thought she had it pretty much in the bag, and her classes had begun, and she was all full of shopping for all the things she needed for her appartment and that Lilon had taken her shopping for them. (That debit card will get good use!!!)

As for me....I am having a quiet home, the first time in my life that there is noone in my home and I can have any channel I want and sleep in any room, on any bed, and talk on the phone all night if I want. I have been helping another sister sew her temple dress so I have not been without something to do.

I also have a possible job offer in Florida. I have been keeping mum about it as I would not like to begin something that does not come to pass, but it looks like this is going to happen or at least I will get a free trip out of it. They are flying me down to Florida (St. Petersburg) at the end of July and I will of course get the opportunity to visit with Donna and Steve and all the wains there, and even if I do not get the job, it will be wonderful to see the family.

I was not planning on getting another job, but the Lord seems to have other plans for me and kept putting this one in my way and so far they seem to want me to come work for them. It is the same job as I do here - manage a cancer registry, (that means collect data on cancer patients and analyse it for trends in cancer diagnosis and treatment, which really does lead to changes in how we approach this disease), which sounds fancier than it really is, but this job would be for a larger registry, a much better paid position AND no snow or ice in the winter!!!!!!

I will keep you all posted as the time comes nearer. Other than that I am saving, saving, saving (as I am totally broke after a wedding and graduation). I am saving for that trip to Ireland in 2009....SO all you original Smylies save your pennies too and lets have a reunion there.................what do you say????? ..............Love ya all...........di

Be careful what you wish for!

2008-06-15T20:49:00.001-07:00

Friday, the day of the temple wedding was wonderful. We had sun, so much so that we wished we could have a little less so that we were not squinting in all the photos. Well, be careful what you wish for....

Saturday it blew, it stomed, it rained in sheets, it drowned Nancy and Greg Graf's garden that we were having the reception in, it drowned the road that Ben was trying to reach us on and made it impossible for him to get through that way, it blocked the sun and raged on and on all day so that at 2:00 in the afternoon we panicked and thought to move the reception to the nearest "big chapel" about an hour away, but logistically that would have been impossible. So we moved it to our local "little chapel" With over 70 to 80 guests, it was standing room only and very little room to put your plate down or visit with others, but our friends did not seem to mind, they came one and all. We were calling all over the place, telling them of the move and the brothers and sisters in our little branch came through and helped set up last minute ideas for decorations and tables in the hall and prepare food endlessly and generally step in and take over the whole thing and make it be a real "love fest". Derick was so funny and said no matter what, meaning because we started late, he was leaving at 8:00 because they were going to Mertyl Beach, an east coast beach area, for their honeymoon and he was leaving dead on 8:00, and by golly he did, whooping and hollering all the way out of the parking lot.

Thank goodness for my sisters, both in the branch and my own. I was so thankful to have Sharon there, she truely came through and kept me sane. Her humor and ability to pitch right in was just what I cherish about having a sister. We did not have a lot of time together when Sharon was growing up and I keep hoping to have more time with her to sit or do things with each other, and one of these days we will just do that without weddings or graduations or kids birthdays or whatever, and we will just pick up where we left off and talk and talk and talk. She counselled the kids - Sariah, going off to Brigham Young and Ariana, going off on her honeymoon and she did it with humor and that good old Aussie wink. I did not wish for rain, but how else would we have gotten all those lovely nonmember friends into our chapel...it worked out great! AND I could not have wished for a better sister. Thank you so much Sharon. I love you dearly............di

Presenting Mr. and Mrs Graf

2008-06-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

The day could not have been more beautiful. The sun was shining. The grass was green and the couple were so happy as you can see from the smiles. They could not stop smiling the whole time. The princess and her prince in the woods on the Columbus Temple grounds.

2008-06-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

This is the japanese sword that Sariah made in welding class. She was teasing Ariana and said she had made it to cut the wedding cake with. She was displaying it here at her graduation party.

We just had an open house after church on Sunday with all the food under a net awning and we all sat around under the trees and had a lovely time just visiting. The Queens came from north of Lima, about 2 hours away. Brad is 18 and he and Sariah were in nursery together when we lived in Celina and attended the Lima ward. and now he is waiting for his mission call. It was great to see them. Some of the people attending were the Justine Yantis family and Julie and Caitlin Yantis came, Jenny Sullivan, Sharon and Charlie and Marilyn, the Lloyds with Molly and Josh, Michael, Ben and Julie, the Daily family and her Dad. Rachel could not make it as Lizzy came down with a high fever that morning and a sore throat.

Ariana's wedding shower

2008-05-30T05:52:00.000-07:00

The girl is setting up house in a big way! Rachel put on a shower for Ariana at the beginning of May. She asked everyone to bring a gift that dealt with a certain time of the day or night, and it became really good fun as the gifts were unwrapped. Of course Ariana cannot help but ham up the scene and she did so in a big way with ribbons and bows and other unmentionables. Derick will have his hands full with this girl!!!!

ANZAC BISCUITS AND ALL

2008-05-30T05:47:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Bro. Daily, who is in our Branch Presidency, enjoying the ANZAC biscuits

Earlier this month we had a “round the world” festival at church and I, of course, was asked to do Australia. (No one thinks about me being Irish, they know, but somehow it is Australia that comes to their mind when they have one of these things). Anyway I made Lammingtons, ANZAC biscuits (well Ari made them from my recipe to help me out) and I made little Aussie meat pies, in the shape of pasties as they were easier to handle that way. It was a lot of fun and everyone thought the food was delicious. Ariana said “you have not made these for years” and Sariah came back with “I cannot remember you ever making them”…..that last child syndrome! She has no memories of all sorts of things the others did as kids.

2008-05-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Way to go Ariana.......Congratulations!

Ariana recieved a $500.00 scholarship from Edison College School of Nursing for her acedemic work during the last year which will surely help her during the coming year as she still has one more year to go before she can call herself an RN.

This picure was taken in Chicago during the summer of 2007.

As the spirit speaks...

2008-05-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

Derick will go through the Temple on May 17, 2008 for his own endowments prior to the wedding sealing on June 6, 2008. He has waited a long time for this. He is the kindest most generous gentleman I have come to know. He is so kind to Ariana and the rest of her family. He is nonjudgemental and loves the Lord with all his heart and has taken to the gospel of Jesus Christ like a duck to water. Our branch loves him and are all thrilled to have him join Ariana in marriage. Way to go Derick….I am proud of you!

2008-05-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

Julie with some neighbor's children who are Indian at their wedding or engagement party.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE AND BEN

2008-05-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

Almost a year ago I acquired another daughter. She is the quietest, gentlest and most loving young woman. She and Ben are such an industrious couple. They have their own home in suburbia – Englewood, a small town near Dayton. She is a special ed’ teacher and has the patience of lamb. Ben works in a electronics-age parts business and together they have a busy life being active in the Englewood Ward. Ben has just been called as scout-master. Today is Julies birthday (29) and tomorrow is Ben’s birthday (31).

Aspiring ...

2008-05-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Ariana is working hard at her school work and is taking exams this week. She is really trying for the highest grade she can achieve and thereby have the opportunity of a scholarship. Every little penny helps when you are first married. In the down-times she loves photography and takes every opportunity she gets to use her equipment and "play". She was inspired by her Uncle Andy and his talents and aspires to be "just like him." The wedding is one month away and she and Derick have a little house and lots of furniture to put in it from various family sources and Ari can't wait to set up her own little home.

Senior pictures

2008-05-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and the lilacs are blooming (and the dandelions). Sariah is preparing to leave for college and we are trying to cover all the bases with senior pictures and plane tickets and tuition and a wedding too………….so many things to do, so little time to do it in ……..but it keeps us healthy.

Heart stopping!!!

2008-05-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

Most kids learned to drive when they are 16 in America and they usually were able to take the driving course as one of their high school classes. However, the year Sariah turned 16, they changed the rules! You had to pay an outside firm to take the classes and you could technically not get your license until you were 18 unless you otherwise took the drivers education classes. Well we live 2 blocks from the school and Sariah had no need of her license and no money for a car or insurance anyway so she delayed until she was 18 to take free lessons in my car and on my gas of course!!! But she is doing very well, though I think my heart will stop one of these trips!!!!

A haircut can do wonders...

2008-04-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

Sariah wanted to do something different with her hair for her senior pictures and to mark the right-of-passage as she gets ready to leave for BYU. So she allowed me to take a couple of inches off the bottom the first hour and she wore it that way for a little while. “Okay,” says she, “now take a little more off it and I will see if I like that.” So out came the trusty scissors and off came another few inches until she was satisfied with the results.

I think she is very grown up and very sophisticated with her new “do”.

By Emily Dickenson - whom I love to read...

2008-04-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chilliest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

The other side of the story.

2008-04-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my very own beginning of daffodil principle and they are blooming.

The other side of the story (from the blog below) is that some years ago there was a huge forest fire around the Bauer home and several thousand acres and homes were lost to the fire. Everyone thought “What a loss….the daffodils are gone!”

Then the next spring there they were poking through the blackened earth and amongst the skeleton blackened forest, acres and acres, all yellow and sunny and bringing cheer to many who had had such a loss during the previous summer.

You can now see Mrs. Bauer's garden as the Daffodil Garden in Running Springs, California, a commercial park that began all those years ago and brings so much pleasure each year.

The Daffodil Principle

2008-04-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

Winter was so long this year, lasting into the middle of April and I was so tired of ice and snow that I began longing to be home in Australia by the beach (it was not the family I was longing to see at this time, but the sun.) and longing to see the daffodils which in Ohio herald the end of winter.

Then I heard about the “Daffodil Principle”. In 1958 a lady named Mrs. Bauer who lived in a very ordinary neat little farmhouse in the hills of California, surrounded by forest and farmland, began planting daffodils in her yard “one bulb at a time”. She continued to plant bulbs until 40 years later her daffodil garden covered over five acres of land and people would drive for miles to “see the daffodils bloom” at the beginning of spring.

Amazing what "one bulb at a time" can accomplish.

Prophet's Song

2008-04-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

Some of your heritage

2008-04-11T11:18:00.001-07:00

Here are the “Smylie Children” …Christina, Dinah, Andrew, Stephen, Shelley, Geraldine and Sharon (David Zajkovic was in Alice Springs), Summer of 2000 in Adelaide, Australia

Hurry, they are coming!!!!

2008-04-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

The wedding is fast approaching and we have guests coming from all over the place and they are going to stay at our house. You have to understand, our house is under constant construction. These are pictures of Derick when he and Aria took on the task of our bathroom during last summer. We still only have one bathroom, but at least it will be a nice cleanly plumbed-and-painted one. You can see why Ariana thinks he is a keeper.

We have also been doing up Sariah’s bedroom which has been “early getto” style since Ariana was a teenager and I decided it was about time she had a “real” room (now that she is about to move out!). But Sariah also took this on as part of her YW project for her medallion and it is coming along nicely. Only problem, we could not get the bed up the stairs, the doorway was not wide enough in this old house, so we may have to take out the window to get the bed into her room. Ooooh Derick!!!!!
But plaster and paint and all, we are all getting excited and scared at the same time for the time of the wedding is fast approaching and it will be so nice to visit with all the guests (and get some of these projects finished) :) :)

Sariah rocks!!!!!!

2008-04-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

She did it! Sariah was given a full (2) year scholarship to the local college (Edison) where Ariana is going right now. She will have a second year if she keeps her grades up, which she will do I am sure. She will still go to BYU for the summer and if her finances, grades and desires workout she will stay there, but if not she can come home and have her schooling paid for locally. She wants to get out into the world and I cannot blame her, but she also feels that living at home saves some money and with the cost of schooling in the US, the decision to stay locally for the first couple of years has its advantages. Anyway, congratulations my darling, you worked hard for this.

Warts and All

2008-04-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have had a wart on my finger for years and have been trying to remove it recently with this wart remover chemical burn stuff that is highly toxic to my olfactory nerves and would get me high with five good wiffs. Anyway there is something that I want to add to the family blog about warts.

I have lived away from the core Smylie family for well over half of my life, (no comments on how old I am please), but somehow I was always secure. I don’t know how Mum and Dad made us feel this way. I do not know what secret formula they came across and injected into our everyday life. But somehow they gave each of us (all 8 brothers and sisters) the confidence that we could do anything and go anywhere and be secure in being loved.

Well, perhaps that was it!

Perhaps just knowing that we are loved was the key.

We were taught not only that they loved us, but that the Lord loved us and that we should love life, love music, love books, love our ourselves and this good earth the Lord has given us, so that when we went out on our own that love would give us confidence that no matter who should see our warts (and we all have them in some form) we would know that we had tasted love and were okay having others see our faults.

I feel truly blessed to be a part of a wonderful family, warts and all.

Art show

2008-03-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

bThe Smylie clan have produced some talented people during the years and this one is no different. This Smylie-Merrill is a very talented artist who loves to think outside the box. She is a very unpredictable artist and has done some stunning work.

The words that mythology have mythologic creatures throughout them. The painting in red is of Jimmy Page of Led Zeplin and she has been invited to enter that in another juried art show. The lion is lead-glass mosaic. The paper cut sculpture is a spider web over and over that she took hours to cut out. The "iron thing" is a winged figure (bird, person?) that is really expressive when you look closer at it. She wants to go to BYU and has been accepted for the summer classes and will go out to Utah for a few months to see if she likes that and then decide on long term schooling out there or closer to home.

Highlights in life

2008-03-28T06:05:00.000-07:00

Well we have survived the ice storm and the very cold weather. During the ice storm they would not let you leave your house except to go to work if

you needed to and they will arrest you if you are just driving

around. There was great damage done to all the trees around
the town, large tall trees crashing down on cars and porches and house roofs. We sustained no damage thank goodness.

Of course nothing looks better in an ice storm than a beautiful girl with a red hat and red berries on frozen in time. Sariah is 18 and loving every minute of life. She has done some very impressive artwork and has been asked to be placed in the County Art Show, which is an honor. (This has been the hardest part of corresponding while living in America... spelling. Honour or honor depending on who is reading it I am a terrible speller when I actually do quite good in both languages, ha ha ha). The children just think it is hilarous that I don't know how to spell at my age.

2008-02-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

OHIO POEM
It's winter in Ohio
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.
Oh, how I love Ohio
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.
Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave Ohio
'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!

Another Day in the Frozen North

2008-02-29T06:34:00.000-08:00

Since this is a leep year, I thought I would just post a little note today since I cannot do so on this date for another four years. Winter continues to be long and cold here with ice and snow in every crevis. Our home is warm and we have food on our shelves so with ther Lord's help we will weather any storm ahead. Ariana continues to plan for her wedding with small lanterns made of canning jars and votive candles all tied up with wire and beads, really creative. She and Derick have put their wedding forward into June, so that Sariah can have her graduation over with before the wedding and thus their mother can attend both

Engaged Couple

2008-02-28T13:30:00.001-08:00

I now know why they call this period of time engaged. This couple are truly engaged in planning, scheduling, running here and there checking. We have more silver at our home than any girl ever needs for one wedding, and candles, they are everywhere and wedding fru-fru. It is truly great though to watch them. They are so in love and right for each other. They are a joy to be around.

The Dan Merrill Family

2008-02-28T12:11:00.000-08:00

This is Dan's latest picture of Janae born in May of 2007. She is going to be a holy terror when she is 16 and wants the car keys. Lilon and Dan are living in Utah and Dan is trying hard to finish his Bachelor of Science Degree and go on to another university to begin his Doctrate program in Physics. He is absolutely thrilled and excited about math and problem solving. Lilon finished her Masters Degree in July of 2007 in Food Science and one day will be able to work for a food company on quality control of their products or continue to just be able to tell if the milk is sour or not and what microbes are growing in it to make it sour :)

Just getting started

2008-02-28T11:48:00.000-08:00

Well all: this is the first time I have been able to learn all about this blogging.