Long Time

It's been a long time since I last posted anything. Not much has happened, but let me catch you up.

School: School is good. I have a good class this year although at times we struggle. I am happy how things are going and am slowly starting to catch up on my work. Just trying to stay in my own little spot in the school and trying to mind my own business.

Life in general: Have you ever heard that saying, "Life is like a roller coaster with many ups and downs." I have been "up" for a while and then crashed "down", but I think I'm slowly headed back "up" I think that things will be over soon and I am starting to see my rainbow at the end of the track. Just a few small dips left in the roller coaster I got on last. Sometimes you wonder why you got on at all because you didn't know that it would take so long and be such a rough journey, but in the end I will be greatful cause it has helped me out a lot.

Church: The church thing hasn't been going so well for me lately although like I said I think it's starting to get better. I still have a testimony and I love the gospel. I've noticed a difference in myself when I went visiting teaching which means I'm on the right path. I have a good visiting teaching partner and I am thankful to her. She reminded me what a beautiful place temples are and that they have sacred purposes where you should go and worship and not see it as a casual meeting place the comments helped me feel the spirit that I have not felt for a long time. I even almost cried.

Eureaka they found a probable name

My brother and his wife are expecting a new addition to the family around the first of September. They finally decided on a name that they liked. I am just going to mention the first name here. My nephews name will probably be.......... Ian.
I've been very busy lately cleaning, getting ready for school, relaxing, working on primary stuff, working on projects, cooking, visiting with friends and family, reading and just doing a lot of busy stuff. It's been fun being busy. Life is good. :)

Experimenting

I have been off for the summer and have really enjoyed the time off for the most part. I had a few set backs vacation wise, but have been doing so good. Lately while my sister has been gone on vacation I have been able to be my crazy self a little more. I have been jamming to music and experimenting with food and it's been a lot of crazy fun and I am very pleased with myself. I am taking my cousins bowling tomorrow and I am excited to be spending time with them.

Tribute to Grandpa and Random Stuff

A Tribute to my Grandpa:

Memories of Grandpa:
I know that there are probably some that I will leave out, but here are a few of my favorite memories.

Favorite Story: My grandparents used to have a ditch by there house and my brother kept playing in the ditch. My grandpa would tell him if you play in the ditch you are going to fall in. Well on day he did fall in (my grandpa pushed him in) then my grandpa saved him and said see I told you you were going to fall in. He would always deny that he pushed my brother in and he would always laugh when he told that story, but just before he died he did admit that he had pushed him in.

My grandpa always gave me compliments. He was always the first to notice a new hair do or outfit.

He used to tell me when I was eleven. I don't want you to grow up like other girls and wear so much make up I believe woman are pretty without all the make up and the fuss they shouldn't be afraid to show themselves.

I remember the day his dog brownie died. I was the first to find brownie. We didn't know what to do cause grandpa wasn't home. We thought we would hurry and bury him because we didn't want grandpa to be upset. Aaron tried so hard to hurry and dig a hole, but grandpa came home and he was okay.

I remember when he started coming to church. He even got up and bore his testimony a few times. I know that as he got older church was important to him and he wanted to make sure he paid his tithing. He also gave up smoking and drinking. I know that when he said prayers he had faith that heavenly father would answer them.

He was such a faithful home teacher. He helped many people through his home teaching.

He was a very smart guy and knew about many things. He would tell me things all the time about how to do things. I was taking a class in high school where we had to build a lot of different things and he was the only one I had to turn to so he came up to my classroom and helped me demonstrate a project he had helped me with.


I remember how well he took care of his mother as she got older. He set a good example for his family on how to care for the elder.

He loved to eat cheese and butterscotch candy.

We used to play checkers with him and I thought I should let him beat me because he is older and he would surprise me and jump me three times in one move.

Grandpa used to take us to girls camp. One time a trailor tire blew out on the way. They had never changed the tire before and the bolts were in tight,my grandpa was the only guy around and so grandpa had me stand and jump on his lug wrench so that we could change the tire.

Also at girls camp it had been raining very hard and I was soaked. Lucky grandpa was there because he had an extra coat in his truck.

I remember one week during the summer I stayed with him because I had something going on and was leaving the next day and then my mom was coming back home. He had a doctor's appointment and he was on a very strict diet. I wrote up notes of things he could eat and couldn't eat because I was so scared that I would come home from my trip and grandpa would not be around because I hadn't explained to him what the doctor had said.

He loved Barclay where he grew up. At his and grandma's wedding anniversary his friends came to visit him from Barclay and he perked right up and went to talk to them.

He could make friends with people in no time. He knew how to chat with other s and become their friends. He always found someone to talk to.

He was a World War II vet. He guarded trains and was on the clean up crew on the ovens where they had gassed people. He wouldn't talk about the war much, but he did tell me a few stories.

-He would always jump ten feet when you would wake him up-it was an effect from the war. He had to always be ready to move.

He had a buddy in the war and they promised each other that if they died the other person would see to it that the one that died got sent home to be buried. My grandpa's friend died and he spent I think three nights with him in a train car in order to keep his promise.

Grandpa always showed respect for the flag and for our country and his patriotism is such an example to me.

He said that one time he was thirsty and wanted a big drink of water, but none of the village people would help him out. A little girl said she would get him the water. She left and brought back a lot of water. He drank it and gave her some money. The village people tried to take the money from her so grandpa stopped them and watched the little girl go all the way home with the money.

Sometimes they would have kids come and beg for food at their camp. Grandpa said once in a while he would go without eating so the kids would have something to eat.

We had a horse that we were trying to tame. I remember grandpa wanting to try. I watched the horse buck him off and I was so scared that grandpa was hurt.

I remember that one time when he had had a heart attack we were home and getting ready to go to the hospital. My mom was upset and scared and in the rush of things I said mom lets have a prayer before we go. We said a prayer and I felt that everything would be okay and grandpa pulled through.

He loved all of his family and would find quite times to tell you how much he loved you.


His job was to vacuum the house and he would every week. He said he was the oldest child in his family and he was known as the girl because he always had to help his mom with the chores, but he didn't mind.

He told me once of when he was baptized. He said it was in a place known as Charlie's Hole in Mesquite, It was a hole in the ground with water. He said that he remembered that there was a girl who was baptized with him and he was wanting his turn and he remembered that the sand was very hot on his feet.

He had sheep for a while and would care for the sheep. The sheep would be in labor often on Sunday's and he would stay home from church to make sure the momma sheep was okay and to help her in any way he could if they needed him. I remember being able to watch a baby sheep be born once and it was such a neat experience.

I remember making things for the kids so that he could take them and give them to the kids on his cross walk for the holidays.

I always thought he was so cute at night with his hearing aids out and his teeth out. He would talk loud and I loved his cute smile.

Sometimes he had a hard time pronouncing people's names so he would just make up a name for them.

When he sneezed he would sneeze three times in a row.

He used to scare us when he would sleep because he had a loud snore.

I remember the last time we took a trip to Salt Lake for one of Miles' boys baptisms we went in Kent's RV so that grandpa could come because he had to have a bathroom.


On time him and grandma had been fighting and I went over to his house and he told me try to cheer up grandma so I did.

I miss his hugs and I miss him. It still seems so different that he is gone.


Staci is going to be an Aunt news: My brother got a hold of me the other day. He had found out what they were having. They are having a boy. I am going to have a little nephew and I am so excited. It is due the first part of September.



New Church Calling: I got a new church calling. I am the primary chorister. I am not the best singer in my ward and I really don't know what I am doing yet. It's been kind of hard because we are practicing songs for our program, we have to sing a song in sacrament meeting for mother's day, and we have to sing a song in ward conference which is right after mother's day. The poor kids. We've been practicing forever and haven't had much time to have fun and play games. The kids are cute though and they do sing very nice in spite of my weaknesses.


School:
School has been kind of frustrating lately, but we only have four weeks left. We have been trying to decide what to do this summer and I think we will be going to Hawaii. We also have a reunion in July in Arizona and we might make another trip to Disneyland. I am trying to get ready to say good by to my fifth graders. Most people would say oh I am so glad to get rid of my students, but I have my students for 5 years and by the time they move on you kind of start thinking back to all the fun times you have had and how much they have learned and you kind of start to miss them. I was able to take a break from my frustrations and go on a field trip with my fifth graders. We went to Lake Mead on a paddle boat to learn about the geography of Lake Mead. It was such a perfect day. Sorry I can't show you any pictures of the students, but below are landscape pictures. It was so much fun.

My Journey's

Disneyland: Disneyland was a lot of fun. We met my cousin and her family up there. We had so much fun just spending time with them. The two girls favorite ride was autopia. We rode it once then went back at night and rode it twice in the rain and got soaked and they wanted to ride it again.

Magic Mountain Six Flags: We also went to magic mountain six flags which is about an hour away from Disneyland. I had never been there. They talked me going on the X2 which is the scariest rollorcoaster I have ever been on. It goes 76 mph and you are hanging off of the edge of the track and it flips you around so you don't know where you are headed. I didn't enjoy it, but I did enjoy all of the other rollorcoasters.

Sick: After I got back from Disneyland I was yet sick again. I usually only get really sick like once during the school year, but this was like my fourth or fifth time. Anyway I went to the doctor and got some medicine and I am felling much better.

Zion's National Park: Our trip to Zion's was very nice, relaxing, and fun. We stayed in the hotel behind the Imax theatre (highly recommended) The rooms were very nice. We played games and visited. My sister and brother and I hiked up to the overlook. You could see all the snow still and it wasn't cold until we got up on top. It started to snow on us -not much. We stayed up on top for a little while my brother took some pictures then we hiked back down. We had such a nice time that we want to go back in the spring sometime.

Hospital: My grandpa is in the hospital with pneumonia. He has had quite a time in the hospital, but will hopefully be released soon. Nancy my dad's wife has also been in the hospital because she had an infection in her good foot. They released her yesterday. She had one minor operation and in a couple of day will do another minor operation. She has a wound Vac. I have been helping by watching grandma at times which is quite interesting and helping to cook. I have also been very busy at school with report cards, paperwork, and meetings and have had a hard time keeping up it is my busy season. Hopefully all will go well.

Updates

Updates:

I haven't posted for a while. I have been sick. My computer has been down and I just didn't know what to say. I decided to give you updates on my family and how we are doing.

Mom: Mom is doing well she is faithfully taking care of her parents, working, and has been riding her exercise bike. She is also gearing up for her class reunion this next weekend in Zions National Park. She still loves her church calling as the ward librarian.

Jamie: Jamie is still exercising and looking good. She is getting ready for her Birthday! We will be going to Disneyland for her birthday she is so excited. She has a tradition of celebrating her birthday like all month long. She gets tired sometimes of being the only organist in our ward, but enjoys playing she also is the Webelos leader and is very organized.

Staci: Me. Well school is still frustrating, but things are getting better. I have been exercising also and getting ready to just go along for the ride both to Disneyland and Zions National Park. I am really enjoying my primary class and learning about the old testament I learn new things each week. My class is very smart and talkative and pretty well behaved.

Kent and Lindy: Working and getting ready for the new little one. Kent keeps teasing us by telling us if it is a boy they are going to name him Indiana so he will be Indiana Jones. Ha Ha Ha. That poor kid.

Dad, Nancy, and Dylan: Went to support Dylan at his last basketball game in town against the bulldogs. I know I know people kept wondering why we were sitting on the Pirate end of the bench, but we are getting used to it by now. Anyway here is the question Did Dylan's coach let him play in the last game of the season? The answer is::::NO. We are not to happy with his coach. I really look up to Dylan though for sticking it out all season even though he has been a bench warmer most of the time. We might not understand it now, but maybe it will help him later in life.


Other things:
The Olympics started and I am so excited to watch them everyday. I saw some people commenting on the athlete that died and they were wondering where he is now in heaven or where? I so wanted to comment and tell them that I know where he is and about the gospel, but I really just didn't know what to say. I am so thankful for the gospel in my life and for the knowledge that I have. We are going to be having our own winter Olympics at school this week and I have been trying to get my students excited about it. Some of our teachers will be taking the students and playing the games with them while the teachers have their daily planning time.

Jamie and I celebrated President's Day today by donating blood. Jamie was unable to donate and is going to try again tomorrow. Her iron was to low. I was able to donate and it felt good to do my duty as a good citizen. Afterward we went out to eat and met a cute old couple who had donated blood also. I felt good when I told them to have a good day and they smiled.

Happy Valentines Day! Happy President's Day!

A very uneventful week

This week has been very uneventful. Mostly this week I have noticed that I have been getting very frustrated and it all boils down to this:

I NEED TO HAVE MORE PATIENCE!

One good thing did happen this week I went to Smiths to do some grocery shopping and when I was finished putting my groceries in the car I turned my cart around and thought I don't want to walk my cart back to where it is suppose to go , but then I saw another lady with her cart heading my direction doing the same thing. I was going to be polite and take her cart too, but she beat me and asked if I wanted her to take my cart. She even stopped to talk to me for a few minutes. It goes to prove that there are still some good people out there in this crazy world we live in.

Stake Conference

We had Stake Conference today and it was a wonderful meeting. I always enjoy it when I leave the meeting not wanting to leave just wanting to stay and feel of the spirit and learn more. Some of the things that they talked about were:

1. Increasing your Faith in the Savior
2. Doing missionary work
3. Attending the temple
4. The sacredness of motherhood
5. Preparing yourself and acting on things in your patriarchal blessing so that the blessings you were promised will come to you.
6. Pay your tithing
7. Be healthy

I decided that I want to work on two things to better my life right now. The first I am already trying to work on and that is be healthier and exercise. The second is reading my scriptures.

Aunt Staci

Well things this week have been kind of busy, but nothing much to write about. I got a new student at school this week after Christmas break he is very cute, but a ball full of energy. My students keep me pretty busy.
The most exciting news came on Friday night after school. My brother called up and told me that he and his wife are expecting their first child. Can you believe it?
I AM GOING TO BE AN AUNT!!!!!
I am so excited. I want to be such a good Aunt like my aunts have been to me.

Our Adventure

Happy New Year everyone!

This week: My dad called me up on Wednesday and wanted to take some pictures of the places where my Grandpa Jones and he grew up. We traveled to Bloomington, St. George, behind Bloomington, tried to look for Atkinville and went to Littlefield and Beaver Dam. I will do my best to explain these pictures and remember the things he told me, but he could tell you more if you want to know more. I also took my video camera and got some video.

This is where my Grandpa Jones grew up as a kid. This house is in Bloomington. It was down a street called Manzinita Drive. You had to turn left onto Manzinita from the main road.

This was Grandpa Jones' neighbor across the street. My dad said that Grandpa Jones told him a story once of a skunk getting into this house and the lady picked the skunk up by the tail and threw it out and the skunk didn't even spray her.

Another picture of the neighbor house.

This is the road we came down and dad said it used to be the main road in Bloomington.

This is not a good picture, but where this house sits it used to be the old school house.

My dad and I found this park in Bloomington and behind this park up on the hill he said it used to be where one of his uncles used to live. I think he said Uncle Afton, but I could be wrong. He said that your house was the only house on this side of the river and your uncles house was the only house on the other side of the river and you could tell when he was home at night because you could see his outside light on. He said we should have a little Jones party at this park sometime.

Behind the park.

Behind the park.

My dad said where this brown house is up on the hill was about the spot that his uncles house was.

Behind the park.

My dad said this is something that Grandpa Jones used to call the Dug Way.

More Dug Way.

And more Dug Way.

This is the old bridge in Bloomington. My dad said that it used to be the only way to cross the creek.

Side view of the same bridge.

This is in St. George. This is the house that Grandpa Jones used to rent.

This is also in St. George. This is a picture of three houses. The first house the brown house is where my Great Grandpa Jones my dad's Grandpa Jones' house used to be. The next house was Great Grandpas neighbors and the third house behind the tree is a house my Grandpa Jones built.




This is another view of the house that my Grandpa Jones built. Dad said that after it was built the family was eager to move in because it was Christmas time and on Christmas Eve the roof collapsed right on top of there Christams tree and everything and Grandpa had to go clean it up right then.



This is not the best picture either, but this is the house where one of my dad's unlces lived I think he said Uncle Ordell. We passed by another uncles house in St. George also I think he said Uncle Chester, but didn't stop and get a picture.

We stopped at the St. George Visitors Center. Dad said that his Grandpa Jones worked at the old visitors center. This is called a Cannon. I will expalin in the next picture.


This is a picture of them using the Cannon at the St. Geogre temple sight. Dad said that the south side of the temple and the south side of St. George used to be in a swamp. They would bring some kind of gravel or granite or something in and smash it down with the Cannon on the south side of the temple to build it up before they built the temple. Dad said that they wanted to move the temple sight because of the swamp, but President Brigham Young wouldn't let them. He also said that the temple prophesy was that the temple would be in the center of town and every one thought that that was crazy because the south side was all a swamp.

Some of the tools used to build the temple. Dad said that the park behind the temple that my Grandpa Jones was the one to level the land for a park. He also said that the hill that the airport is on that my Grandpa Jones was the first to run water up to the top of the hill.

This is my dad's house in St. George when he was little. There is still some origional brick on the side of the house.

Another view of the house.

This is back behind Bloomington. We took the new overpass that they built before you get to St. George and went all the way until the road stopped and we found Grandpa Jones' old farm land.

This is a drop off that became a pond where they would take the cows.

This is a drop off where down below was the old pig pen. If you look close at the picture you can see an old tire dad said that it might be an origional tire where the pig pen was.

Just a picture of the fields.

Dad said about where these houses are sitting was your old dairy barn. I enjoyed hearing some of the stories my dad told about the farm. He showed me the bend where Uncle Jim crashed and broke his hand when he was coming home on leave from the military. He said one day he was out working with Grandpa in the fields and the ranger came by and Grandpa told my dad to go tell uncle Jim that the ranger was out. My dad said he walked a very long way then climbed the steep hill up to the house and when he told Jim all Jim said was well what does he want me to do about it. He told me that once him and Uncle Ray built some stilts on tin cans out of wire or string that they used on the hay and they crossed the river on the stilts. He also said that one time him and Ray rode their bikes clear to the dump and on the way one of Uncle Ray's pedals broke and so they found some wire and dad towed Ray to the dump on their bikes then they called Grandma Jones and she wouldn't come and get them so my dad towed Ray all the way back home.

This is the old elementary school where I went to school in Littlefield.

A house in Littlefield that my Grandpa Jones built.

Grandma and Grandpa Jones' house in Littlefield.

This is not a good picture but I can't remeber what my dad called this, but it kind of looks like a wagon and he said that him and his brothers and sisters used to all pile into it. Still in Littlefield.

Another picture of the Littlefield School.

I think my dad said this was the old hay bayler. Still in Littlefiled.

This is a house that was down by the river down the road from Grandma and Grandpa Jones' house in Littlefield.

Last but not least, this is our old house in Beaver Dam where I grew up.