This is what I do when I'm home alone.........

My Yesteryears
By Janette
I Ponder and think and look back on my days
There’s lots to remember, some things are a haze,

But there are those times when in the back of my mind
I dig deep within myself for treasures to find.

My Mom and my Dad played a very big part
In my life’s journey, they gave me my start,
There were four of us girls Mom & Dad was so blessed
Dad feeling out numbered but loving it,….he confessed.

Growing-up on South Main was filled with lots of fun
We had plenty of space to walk, skip and run,
Lots of games we would play, one was “Red Rover, Red Rover”
It was always so fun to send someone right over.

Having the hollow to play in was the best by far
Playing down there was better than going for a ride in the car,
It was a whole different world down in that hollow
Through the brush, mud and water it was fun just to wallow.

At night on the grass in our bags we would sleep
Didn’t take long before we were counting the sheep,
But we’d look up and see the bright stars and the moon
Knowing that morning would come all too soon.

My parents were the best, they sacrificed what they could
To make sure their girls had every thing they should,
There were swimming lessons at Lagoon and matinees to see
We would anticipate weekly the movie displayed on the marquee.

There were music lessons to be had for Cheryl and I
Didn’t do much good to be timid and shy,
Me with my mandolin, her with her guitar
Entertaining we did, we were near and went far.

A new house Dad bought, was pleased as could be
To be able to move his whole family,
To a new home on three-fifty South
He was so proud when he bought that brand new house!

In February of nineteen-sixty one,
The BIG move started, it had already begun,
When Dad said out loud, we have had some luck
“Get packing”, he said “get your stuff on the truck”!

These are just some of the memories I have shared
In the back of my mind nothing can compare,
To what I remember and what is in my heart
Yes,….my Mom and my Dad played a very big part!

I’d like to say more but no more will fit
One of these days there will be more to submit,
To my friends and family I’ll be ready to bare
More of my memories to those who care.

It’s time to stop, and stop I must
There’s things to be done, and things to dust,

Washing the dishes and cleaning the floor
It’s time to start and get on with my chores!

Here's more of Nettie's Stuff

I was going through some "stuff" today and came across this Primary talk that Ashley had given when she was ten years old. The subject was: "I can feel peace in knowing I am a child of God". She started it by saying the words to the song, "I Am A Child of God".

I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here;
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words
Before it grows too late.
I am a child of God,
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will,
I’ll live with him once more.
I am a child of God,
His promises are sure;
Celestial glory shall be mine,
If I can but endure.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way,
Teach me all that I must do,…
To live with him some day.

"When I was a little younger than I am now – I would get ready for bed at night,….tell my mom I was ready for her. She would come in to my room. I would say my prayers. She would tuck me in my bed, then lay down beside me, and we would sing together the first verse and the chorus to “I Am A Child Of God”. Every night after singing the song with my mom – and right before I fell asleep, a sense of peace would come over me. I knew I really was a child of God. And I knew he would watch over me through the night, and take care of me, and bless me. And help me get up the next morning to start a brand new day. I knew that then,…and I know it now. And even though my mom and I don’t sing the song at night anymore, I still get ready for bed, --- I call to her and tell her I am ready for her, --- she comes in and sits with me and listens to my prayers. She gets up and tucks me in, then bends down to give me a kiss goodnight --- and tells me she loves me. She quietly walks out of my room. I lay there and still think about this song, and I still feel the peace in knowing that, … and that he is still there to watch over me. I know my Heavenly Father & Jesus loves me. {Ending normal for a church talk}

I was not able to be at church the day she gave this talk because I was out of state on training for my job with BLM. I did help her put it together before I left, but with the subject that it was,....it was her idea to talk about our nightly activities when she was younger. I was told by all that did get to hear her talk that she did a wonderful job and she had all kinds of people in tears. She truly did know that she was a "Child of God" and when she presented it, they say that the "spirit" was definitely present. This talk was given about a month before she was hit by a car while we were living in Kemmerer, WY. She was a real trooper during the whole incident from the time the lady got out of her car and ran over to where Ashley lay to when the police got there (her daddy was at home getting ready to go on duty when he got the phone call) and to the hospital in Kemmerer, then the whole trip down to SLC in the ambulance. She didn't shed one tear the EMT's told me even tho' she was in horrific pain after I met them at Primary Childrens. I was already in SLC when the accident happened and met the ambulance there. Anyway,....when she lay there and the lady that hit her tried to move her, she had enough wits about her that she told her just to leave her where she was. She also said (by the way, this accident happened about 2 months after her Grandpa Sprankle passed away) that her Grandpa was there and he told her to just lay still and everything would be ok. She knew with her Guardian Angel (Grandpa) there and Heavenly Father, she was going to be taken care of and that she really wasn't afraid. When she told me this about Grandpa, chills ran down my spine. I truly feel that the same "sense of peace" she felt in knowing she was a "Child of God" came upon her again after she had been hit and she knew she would be ok, just like Grandpa told her. My Mom and Dad came to the hospital and when the doctor showed them the xray that had been taken, Dad said that it reminded him of a broken tree branch with all the splinters sticking out from it. (It was a compound francture of both the Tibia and Fibia (sp?) bones. Soon my sisters came and some of my nieces and was there with Dave and I when they took her in to surgery, which lasted about 3 hours or so. Anwyway, I just started thinking about all of this after finding her handwritten talk today and wanted to share it with whom ever read it. It certainly was a hard day and six more months to get through but I realize no matter how hard some things are for us to bare during our lives, there are always other's that have challenges to face that are much worse than our own and our's really aren't so bad.

These Are The Boots That Our Dad Wore

The weekend before last I was sitting at the computer thinking a lot about my Dad, in fact I'm always thinking about him. It's hard not to,.....especially this time of year when the annual "Pumkin Pickin Party" is in the works and plans are being made for the event. Last October was the first one without Dad. Mom was a real trooper and was out in the pumpkin patch standing in for him. Pictures were taken of all the great-grandkids that live down here and Mom with their pumpkins. A group picture was taken of all of them sitting on the lawn with Mom behind them. What memories come to mind! I'm not sure, but I believe this will be the 6th party. It's scheduled this Saturday the 18th. The first party was Clydene's grandchildren I believe, and now it's every year with as many of the greats that can come. What fun it is too! Anyway while I was at the computer I started thinking of this poem that involves Dad's work boots. KC had taken a picture of both boots Clydene planted with geraniums in them in the Spring. Now that those flowers are gone, Clydene made arrangements in them,....one for her and one for Mom. So I started thinking that I'd like to get pictures of all three arrangements. Then Clydene said she would try and put an arrangement together that would represent Winter since we felt we had the Spring, Summer and Fall ones,... and that she did! (Or we thought the four pictures could represent us "4" girl's birthday months,...December {Cheryl}, August {Janette}, November (Denice & Clydene}. Anyway, KC was kind enough to put my poem with the pictures of Dad's boots. She did about 4 different styles. This one in my post is the picture Mom liked most. (Here's to you PaPa,...bet you never thought a picture of your boots would be on a Blog with flowers in them, eh? We love ya!) I hope you all can read it. I thought you could double-click on it to make it bigger, but I don't think it works. I may need some help in figuring it out. I inserted the poem below the picture if you do have a hard time reading it.
Here it goes,......
.....

These Are The Boots That Our Dad Wore
By: Janette
When he worked in the garden outdoors,
And When he went out to do all his chores.
In the yard when he planted the old tree stump,
And when he took the rubbish to the dump.
When the horses he would help feed,
And in the garden planting his seeds.
When he took the dog for her walk,
Or when he unloaded his boat from the dock.
When he was outside to those who passed by,
With those boots on he would wave and say “Hi”.
Now they are a beautiful planter,
With flowers planted inside of all colors.
Yes,…these are the Boots that our Dad wore,
BUT NOT in the house on the floor!