Preston's Hands

Melena related the following story about her son, Preston. She said, "Preston keeps looking at his hands and studying them. I finally asked him what he was doing. He said "my hands mom". And I said "you have such nice hands Preston". He then said "look no hurt". And I looked over his hands and noticed his scratch was gone and said "your skin healed it Preston". He looked a bit frustrated with me and said "no... no hurt... where's the hurt?" I realized that we must not be talking about the same thing. And I said "what hurt Preston?" He said "the hurt like Gesus mom... my hands like Gesus... no hurt mom". I finally got it. His lesson on Sunday was about the hands of Jesus and how each one of them has hands just like Jesus. Only thing is Preston realized his hands were NOT just like Jesus... as they were missing something major... a hurt."

Graduation Day

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Sometimes Family History Needs a Laugh!

"I'm My Own Grandpa" - Lyrics by Dwight Latham and Moe Jaffe

Oh, many, many years ago

When I was twenty-three,

I was married to a widow

Who was pretty as can be.

This widow had a grown-up daughter

Who had hair of red.

My father fell in love with her

And soon the two were wed.

This made my dad my son-in-law

And changed my very life.

For my daughter was my mother

'Cause she was my father's wife.

To complicate the matter,

Though it really brought me joy,

I soon became the father

Of a bouncing baby boy.

This little baby then became

A brother-in-law to Dad,

And so became my uncle,

Though it made me very sad.

For if he was my uncle,

Then that also made him brother

Of the widow's grown-up daughter

Who of course is my step-mother.

My father's wife then had a son

Who kept them on the run.

And he became my grandchild

For he was my daughter's son.

My wife is now my mother's mother

And it makes me blue

Because although she is my wife,

She's my grandmother too.

Now if my wife is my grandmother

Then I'm her grandchild,

And every time I think of it,

It nearly drives me wild.

For now I have become

The strangest case you ever saw

As husband of my grandma,

I am my own grandpa.

CHORUS

I'm my own grandpa

I'm my own grandpa

It sounds funny I know

But it really is so

Oh, I'm my own grandpa

Installation of Officers- Federated Garden Clubs, District IV

Left to right: Elaine DiPietro, Pat Wania, Heather Cushing, Mary Leonard,
Meri Rees, Pat Leonard Missing from photo: Sue VanOmmeren

The District IV installation of officers took place on May 5, 2009 at The Great Escape Lodge in Queensbury, New York. The theme was, "Gardening- 50s Style" We were encouraged to wear hats and gloves. Thanks to Mary Thornhill I was able to wear a real 1950s hat!

Stake Enrichment Event

The Wards were responsible for the centerpieces- they represented service projects that had been done this past year. Everything was lovely.

A Garden Club Member's 80th Birthday Party

Wonderful Tribute

I attended the funeral of a Garden Club member today. I have never met this woman as she joined my Garden Club in 1954 and served as president in 1955. With time she lost her husband and began to show symptoms of Alzheimer's. In 1998 she moved from New York to South Carolina to live with her son. I didn't move to New York until a couple of years later. I had heard stories of this fine woman but it wasn't until I attended her funeral that I felt I really knew her.

The pastor spoke eloquently of her life. Her son and her daughter both spoke. I remember phrases like, "Best Mother", "could see a coat in a NYC storefront and go home and make it", "went to Cornell at the age of 16", "married at 18", "had first child at 20". They related stories and fond memories of a good woman. It was mentioned that even with her Alzheimer's decease she always remembered two things: the Garden Club and her faith in Jesus Christ.

The thing that impressed me the most however, was a simple statement by her son-in-law. He said, "I don't have much to say but I think I want it said that you hear a lot of jokes about Mother-in-laws. None of them applied to "Ga". She was a fine Christian woman". What a summary of one's life; What a tribute.

Rest in peace, dear lady.

Hmmm, do you agree with the face recognition software?

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Antique photographs - Ancestors

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebs - Collage - Morph

Who do they look like?

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Geneology - Family tree chart

From the Blog of an online friend...

Diary of an unborn child

September 19:

Today my life began. My parents do not know it yet, but it is I already. And I am to be a girl. I shall have blond hair and blue eyes. Just about everything is settled though, even the fact that I shall love flowers.

October 3:

Some say that I am not a real person yet, that only my mother exists. But I am a real person, just as a small crumb of bread is yet truly bread. My mother is. And I am.

October 7:

My mouth is just beginning to open now. Just think, in a year or so I shall be laughing and later talking. I know what my first word will be: MAMA.

October 9:

My heart began to beat today all by itself. From now on it shall gently beat for the rest of my life without ever stopping to rest! And after many years it will tire. It will stop, and then I shall die.

October 17:

I am growing a bit every day. My arms and legs are beginning to take shape. But I have to wait a long time yet before those little legs will raise me to my mother's arms, before those little arms will be able to gather flowers and embrace my father.

October 27:

Tiny fingers are beginning to form on my hands. Funny how small they are! I'll be able to stroke my mother's hair with them.

November 4:

It wasn't until today that the doctor told mom that I am living here under her heart. Oh, how happy she must be! Are you happy, mom?

November 9:

My mom and dad are probably thinking about a name for me. But they don't even know that I am a little girl. I want to be called Kathy. I am getting so big already.

November 24:

My hair is growing. It is smooth and bright and shiny. I wonder what kind of hair mom has?

November 27:

I am just about able to see. It is dark around me. When mom brings me into the World it will be full of sunshine and flowers. But what I want more than anything is to see my mom. How do you look, mom!

December 8:

I wonder if mom hears the whispering of my heart? Some children come into the World a little sick. But my heart is strong and healthy. It beats so evenly: tup-tup, tup-tup. You'll have a healthy little daughter, mom!

December 12:

Today my mother killed me.

(Anonymous 1978)

Welcome To Earth, Tessa Jean!

National Popcorn Day!

January 19th is National Popcorn Day. Celebrate well.

A Drive in the Country; Upstate NY

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Rowan's Baptism

Autumn Days

Summer flew by and I am afraid my favorite time of year is doing the same thing. Thought you'd like some pictures...

Mysterious Stone Chambers

Dev and I have been researching the mysterious stone chambers that are in abundance in NY and New England. There are over 160 in the Hudson Valley. When I saw the pictures I knew that I had finally solved the mystery of what I had seen as a little girl in Germany outside the town of Landstuhl. All the chambers are built alike.
Speculators say that colonial farmers built them [but they have been dated to as early as 10,000BC], some say that were built as root cellars [but they are above ground and are facing the elements] and some say they were built by Druids [because they are all over Europe]. Some say they were built by Native American Indians but they worked in wood- not stone. Further speculations say aliens built them [that is an out of this world idea!]. Whoever built them they remain to this day.
We found three within a short distance of each other near Kent, NY. Here are pictures of what we found.

Twilight Zone

I accidentally found another Rees family with Utah roots while looking up something online. They have a son named..yep, you guessed it...Logan!

http://thereesboys.blogspot.com/2008/04/happy-birthday-logan.html

Pioneer Day Thoughts

Sunday I attended Greenwich Branch. The theme of sacrament meeting was the faith of the Pioneers. An elderly gentleman spoke; it was obvious that he had not studied the pioneers and the sacrifices they made in great detail before preparing for the talk but he spoke with such passion, admiration and love for those people that it really touched my heart. He broke down several times during the talk as he related stories of the early Mormon pioneers- particularly those who were in the Martin and Willie Handcart companies. I couldn't help but think of the pioneers in my family and how grateful I am for them. I appreciate their huge sacrifices for the gospel and I am so thankful to be the beneficiary of the blessings that have rippled down to me.

I see the lives my children and grandchildren are living and the love that each of them have for the gospel and I can't help but think that our ancestors are being blessed beyond their wildest dreams.

I believe our ancestors continue to be a part of our lives. I know that they were present when each of my children went through the temple the first time. I know they have urged us on from beyond the grave when things seemed darkest in our lives. How grateful I am for them and for their faith in us. I pray we may be found worthy of their sacrifices...

The Dark Knight

I am rarely at a loss for words but The Joker part in the Batman movie, The Dark Knight has left me completely speechless. Played by Heath Ledger, the evil, diabolical character of the Joker unfolds into complete insanity.

I am still, the morning after overwhelmed with the fact that the character was played by Heath Ledger... All through the movie I kept looking for signs that it was indeed Heath. He had transformed himself out of his pretty boy self and into the crazy, soul starved arc nemesis of Batman!

Only once did I catch a glimpse of the actor I am so fond of. The only thing I can say is "Wow!" That is what I call acting...