Our Eastern Trip

The purpose of the trip was to meet our relatives. We enjoyed our
trip to Pennsylvania, passing through Gettysburg with a brief stop. The first night we had dinner with the cousins on the Meacham side. Valerie and Alan Stein met us for supper in New Hope. They live in Ringoes NJ and it was amazing that after I contacted her about family history we were visiting with the "rose" people across from the Boise temple and found out that Val's mom was in the man's class in Reno, Nevada and her dad was his scout leader. He is still a scouter at heart even though he is in his 80s.

The next day we met with Lois and Grant Faunce and had a great time visiting with them. They live in Warminster, Penn. We loved seeing her quilts she had made and the beautiful plants he cares for. He gave me a start of a Pilea. We next visited Betty Ruth Doak Lindsey who is Lois sister. We found out she sang in Operas herself. Well at least one. Amaul and the Night Visitor which was a short Christmas opera. She was the mother.

The next day after enjoying the Amish country (sorry the pictures don't do justice) we went t0 West Virginia. I loved seeing the children working and playing. We decided to do laundry in West Union where Doaks lived. I asked a lady in a parking lot where the laundromat was. After laundry we went to the Newspaper office where a Diane Doak worked according to the men at the Senior Center. At the Newspaper office I was surprised to find out that Diane was the same nice lady who had told us how to get to the Laundra mat. There is a lady I had talked to a few years ago by phone since she had done a bunch of genealogy. I had emailed her saying we were coming on Sunday but we had to change plans and would be there earlier. I hadn't heard from her and was concerned that I wouldn't be able to talk to her. As we were rounding the corner on the way to Arnold's Creek Cemetary I told david to pull over at this flower stand. I asked the lady there if she knew this Frances Hurst
and she said that she was right there. She made benches that glide and so we were able to sit right there and visit. She had even brought the Tyler County history book that she had written many stories in. We agreed that God had led me there. That night we stayed at Wyndam motel in Ohio and Elise was happy that Goodwill was just next to the Motel. I called some Doaks we had met when David was a baby and they had planned an outing for their Mom to Bob Evans and most of the family was there so we met them there and had a nice visit.. The son Fred had visited us in Alaska and he remembered the names of all the children and wanted to learn about them. He said Elizabeth was the most capable 11 year old he had seen. I think she was 9. We were so surprised he could remember after all these years. He had taken little David to see the Muskoxs as he was a teacher and much interested in Biology. It has been an amazing time.

Personal and Family Preparedness

We loved seeing the chickens besides seeing the fam. We are happy the Berhans are taking measures to becoming more prepared by raising their own chickens. Some things we do is more for practice when we need to do them. Yesterday we had an old fashioned Relief Society where we were taught meat canning, soap making and seed starting. We also had a fun program put on by the Singing Mountain Man. His wife is the Thrifty Mama. The family consisting of 7 children have learned to live on very little and they are a good family. The daughter is in our ward and she gives us 5 tips from her mom on saving money. One thing I had never thought to do is save the waxed paper from cold cereal boxes which was a rare occasion and not the sweetened kind. She used it to line pans when baking so the breads and cakes may come out easier. It is a little extreme but why not.

We got to visit Jon & kids

Lydia in her Ballarina dress

Hyrum was so kind to offer his grandma tea which he made in his Santa

cup. We picked up Craig from college and he helped his Dad spray weeds

in Fruitland. The speakers in the Fruitland ward was a couple of returned missionaries from Ontario, an older couple. They were a couple of friends Linda introduced while at BYU and they actually got married.

Ben's Beard

Ben has been growing a great beard. It will be perfect for the gunfighter act he is invited to be in. The group teaches kids gun safety before every show. The only thing is I'll have to get him a gun. That is the agreement.

Commemoration of Pony Express 150th about 10 miles away

Saddle where they put the Pony Express mail. The Pony express

was only active for something like 18 months when the Railroad

took it's place. It was so dangerous as the Indians burned their stations, etc. They were on the watch out for the riders. They had only 2 minutes to transfer the mailbag.

Saturday we went up to Fort Churchill between sessions of conference. It was interesting and I had always wanted to go to the Museum which we drive by on a regular basis. The speaker said how much regard Abraham Lincoln had for the people of Nevada. He addressed his letters MY DEAR FRIENDS which he didn't normally do.

Key Lime Pie

1 8 oz container whipped topping
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 c. fresh lime juice ( can use the frozen concentrate)
small dash of green food coloring (optional)
1 prepared graham cracker pie crust or other

Whisk together whipped topping, condensed milk and lime juice. Spoon into crust. Set in freezer about 30 minutes. Sprinkle lime zest on top.

Jacob Ryan Jensen was born

Jacob Ryan Jensen was born late Monday night. Liz was induced and so she had it on her Dad's birthday which made for a great birthday for him. He was 20 " 7lb 15oz. We are so happy to have him here. Her labor wasn't too hard.