Good News/Bad News

Last Friday was a busy day.  Here are just a few of the ups and downs.

Good News:  We got a big bag of hand-me-downs from Molly. Lavender was thrilled to wear her nieces' clothing and was especially excited about these kitty-cat shoes.

Bad News: The kitty shoes are just a tad too small.  Lavender learns the hard lesson that the cutest shoes are usually the most uncomfortable.

Good News:  She also inherited a pair of sparkly, gold sandals that were perfect with her red fur coat.  Obviously the right outfit for a morning walk in July!

Good News:  Evan was prepping for a trip to Palmyra, NY where he would attend EFY (a church youth conference) with his cousin Alec. 

More Good News: He got to go for a bike ride in the hills with his friend Jacob.

Bad News:  During the downhill portion of the bike ride, Evan crashed and flew over the handlebars.

Good News:  We were able to get a doctor's appointment within 45 minutes.

Bad News:  The doctor suspects that one (or two!!) of his arms is broken.  I tell her that his flight leaves Sunday morning. She informs us that in order to get a cast (or two) in time, we will need to head to Children's Hospital and camp out in the ER.

Good News:  The x-rays show that Evan's arms are not broken!

Bad News: Evan landed on his hands with his arms outstretched so the bones are compacted (not a medical term) and his elbows are very swollen and will take a week to 10 days to heal.

Good News: With Evan safely resting at home (playing on the computer while icing his arms and taking Advil) and no need for a trip to the ER, John and I head to the beach for a walk, a game of frisbee and a beautiful sunset.

Hope your weekend had more ups than downs!

Busy Season - Part 4 of Ann Phillips' Mission Journal

This series shares excerpts from the missionary journal of my great, great grandmother Ann Elizabeth Rasband Phillips who served in Laie, Hawaii 1900-1902. Click to read previous posts:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

For many years I told my family that the late spring was my "busy season."  We were wrapping up the school year and I had so many things to take care of: Shakespeare plays, recitals, end of the year activities, training new mentors, planning for the upcoming year etc.  I think this post shows the busy season of Annie's mission. She is really in the thick of things now. She is living in a strange land far from her family.  She has a baby, many household responsibilities, teaching and administrative responsibilities and her husband is gone most of the time. Don't forget that she is only 21 years old. Keep reading to learn more and see a cute picture of my great grandma.

April 6th - Went to one meeting. Bro. Phillips stayed home with baby.

April 13th – Mission fast day. Held meeting in the Pule room.  All bore honest, faithful, good testimonies of the truthfulness of the Gospel and the goodness of God to us all.

April 15 - Bro. Phillips, along with others left for Honolulu ready to take the boat for Hawaii for six months.

April 17 - The natives came to the mission home to have a farewell entertainment before our Brothers and Sisters left.  The evening was spent in singing and music.

April 20 - Sister Madsen very sick.  Gave birth to a baby boy at six months.  I tried to work and do all I could for Sister Madsen.

June 4th - A  9 ½ pound boy born to Bro and Sister Cole. All well.

June 28th – Went to a feast given by the school as it is the last day.  Let my baby fall out of bed at 5 o’clock this morning. Sister Madsen and I have been doing the work in the kitchen this week.

July 24 - Sister Madsen and I are the only sisters at Lani Huli this week.  Left with all the work.  Washed and mended bed ticks for all the beds.

Aug 1st – One year since we arrived in Hon[olulu]. Went out to Waikiki with Bro Beliston and Sisters Madsen and Cole to visit the Releaf Society.  All bore our testimonies in native. After meeting rode around the Kapiolani Park, by the Moana Hotel and around the city.

Aug 2nd - Bro. and Sister Cole went back to Laie. My baby is quite sick.  Bro. Beliston administered to her twice.  She is much better at 10 o’clock.

Aug 4th - Fast day. Witnessed a baptism. Went to Sunday school. Baby not better yet so could not go to meeting.

Aug 8 - Went down to the wharf to see the elders off. Went through the Ship Searrea.  Saw a woman whose husband had jumped overboard between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Aug 9 - Finished the house cleaning.

Sept 5th – Sister Madsen and I went out visiting the natives.  Saw a native woman 101 years old. Went to see Nalia the old blind woman who has been to Utah and through the temple.

Sept 15 - Had the pleasure of meeting the Hawaiian ex-Queen.  She visited the mission house.

Sept 16 - Helped to quilt a quilt for the primary.

Sept 23 - Bro. Phillips arrived at our mission home in safety. Went to the ocean with Bro. & Sister Madsen & Bro. Phillips for a bath. Left Leisle with Bro. Musser.

Oct 4th – Our conference opened this morning by the choir singing a native hymn. Prayer by Bro. Kekanoha. Choir sang again. Bro Woolley gave an address of welcome to the saints that had assembled for conference.  He also stated that there had been more tithing and more baptisms than any other one term. Other elders took up the time. General Meeting in the afternoon.  Mutual Improvement in the evening. I sang with Hattie & Ivy Kekuku, Jenny George and Poi Kekanoha & Bro George Davis “Utah, We Love Thee.”

Oct 5 - Opened meetings for the day with exercises from the Releaf Society. I was called upon to speak. Sunday schools of all the branches in the afternoon. Laie Sunday School at night.  My class gave an exercise.

Oct 6th - General meeting.  Bro. Belliston was first to speak Bro. Phillips second.  The time was taken up by others of the elders.  Sunday afternoon and evening: General Meeting. We all met in the Pule room after supper for our appointments.  Bro. Phillips goes out to North Hawaii as president of the conference with a native companion.

Oct 7th - Held meeting for all the Releaf Society Officers on the Islands.

Oct 8th - Held meeting in the Pule room and received many good instructions from those who spoke to us. All were filled with the Spirit from Heaven which makes us very happy.

Oct 14th - Bro. Phillips left our mission home for his field of labor.  Spent the day in working and in the evening Bro. Bush came in and talked a while.  He spoke very well of Bro. Phillips. It made my heart bound with joy.

Oct 15th – Sick all day. Very lonely without my sweetheart. Very sick at night.

Oct 16 - Better to day.  Helped with the washing.  Made some cream pies.  Sister Madsen came back from Honolulu and brought me some candy from my sweetheart.

Oct 17 - Made six quarts of Guava jelly and some preserves.

Oct 20th – My birthday, am 22 years old.  Went to Sunday School and Meeting and then to mutual.  Did the work in the kitchen with Sister Madsen.  Held meeting in the Pule room.

Oct 28 - Left Laie at 9:00 o’clock to go to Honolulu. Arrived here about 4:30.  Had a very pleasant trip. Went down town and had Leisle’s picture taken.  Came back bought me a hand bag.  Met Mrs. Lucas, went in and had dinner and spent the afternoon with her.

Oct 31 - Left Honolulu at 9 o’clock and arrived at Laie safely at 6 o’clock.  Found every body well. Two letters from home and one from Bro. Phillips waiting for me.

Island Baby - Part 3 of Ann Phillips' Mission Journal

This series shares excerpts from the missionary journal of my great, great grandmother Ann Elizabeth Rasband Phillips who served in Laie, Hawaii 1900-1902. Click to read previous posts:  Part 1, Part 2

Since the last post ended with Annie making baby clothes, I'm sure you can guess where this post will end. I have been doing a bit of research online to learn about some of the people and places Annie mentions. I found several pictures of the Mission Home (the Lanihuli house seen below) in Laie, Hawaii where Annie lived during her mission. I also learned that Samuel E. Woolley (who Annie argued with) was the mission president for 24 years from 1895 to 1919! His wife Alice is often referred to by Annie. She was a midwife and I'm sure Annie was grateful for her skill.

Oct 22nd - Walter went to Honolulu ready to take the boat Tuesday. Anointed my two boils with oil and pray that they might stop right there and go away.  One went away but the other one is still sore.

Nov 2nd - Received news of Grandma Rasband’s death. Died Oct 15, 1900.

Nov 10th - Bro and Sister David H. Madsen arrived at Laie.  Called as missionaries from Provo.

Nov 18th - Sister Mattie Bush arrived at Laie.  Come to accompany her husband home.

Nov 25th - Held sisters meeting in Sister Woolley’s room.  Sister Bush said she never in her life met sisters that seemed more united and humble.

Dec 1900

9th - Bro. Phillips and Bro Pendleton walked from Honolulu to Laie.  It rained all day. They arrived here at 12 o’clock at night.

12th – Jubilee begins. It is the 50th anniversary of the landing of the first L.D.S. missionaries on the Hawaiian Islands. Pres. George Q. Cannon, Bro. W.W. Cluff and wives were present. The Jubilee was held at Honolulu. Bro. and Sister Pendleton, Bro and Sister Madson, Bro. Phillips and myself stayed at Laie.  We had a good time.

19th – Bro. Phillips left me again to go to his field of labour. Early in the evening, Bros. Cannon, Cluff and wives arrived at Laie.

21st - Received a Christmas present from the Park City Sunday School. $10.

22nd – Bro. Woolley and I had some pretty hot words, but they ended in peace.

24th - Went to a feast prepared by the natives for Br. Cannon.  All sat on the floor cross legged and ate chicken, fish and poi.

25th - Christmas day.  Never felt quite so slighted and down hearted in my life.  Had a fine dinner.  Bid Bros. Cannon and Cluff good-by.  Made candy in the evening and had a fine time. Received $1.00 from uncle Joe Rasband.

31st – We sisters made pies for the natives.  Over 250 were made.

Jan 1st 1901

1st - Had fine exercises in the meeting house in the morning.  Went down to the dancehall where the sports took place.  In the evening went to the meeting house to see the views Bro. Beesley had. A pie was given to every one present.  Also an apple.

15th – Had sisters’ meeting.  I had a lecture on Jerusalem of the Eastern Hemisphere.

23rd – Washed and anointed by the sisters.  Sister Cole and Eldredge performing the ordinance.

Feb 21st - A fine dinner was given at the mission house by Poi Fat’s company who lease some of the mission ground.

March 4th – Br Phillips arrived at Laie at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.  At 10 o’clock at night a darling little baby girl weighing 7 ½ lbs came to brighten our lives.  All well and happy.

March 12th – Br. S.E. Woolley blessed the baby giving her the name of Anna Leisle Phillips.

Eighteen!

Our beautiful Marianne celebrated her 18th birthday yesterday. She will be heading to NYC next month to do even more celebrating with her cousins, aunt & uncle who were kind enough to invite her to visit. I am blessed to have such a wonderful daughter! I hope her little sister follows her example.

Annie and Walter - Part 2 of Ann Phillips' Mission Journal

This series shares excerpts from the missionary journal of my great, great grandmother Ann Elizabeth Rasband Phillips who served in Laie, Hawaii 1900-1902. Click to read previous posts:  Part 1

The last post ended on a sad note with the death of Annie's father.  In contrast, this entry begins with the happiest day of her life and ends with an exciting announcement.  In between, there is illness, thievery and even a foreshadowing of tragedy.

According to Annie's journal, she wasn't just accompanying her husband on his mission. She too was called and set apart as a missionary. This wasn't common practice at the turn of the century, but the Hawaiian mission seemed to be ahead of the times.  In the mid to late 1800's sisters were called and set apart with and without husbands to serve in Laie.  See this article and this one for more information about sister missionaries in Hawaii.

Now that you have a little background, let's get started with the first official entries in Annie's journal.

On June 9, 1900 my sweetheart [Walter Freeman Phillips] and I received a letter from box B.  We were called on a mission to the Sandwich Islands.

June 11, we went to Salt Lake City and on the 13^th we were married.  My name is now Anna Phillips.  The day we were made husband and wife was the happiest day of my life.

Annie and Walter around the time of their marriage.

July 5^th, left home in company with Mamma, Sister Phillips and Bro Allen, for Salt Lake to be set apart for our missions.  Were set apart on July 6^th by Pres. Kimbell and Wells.

July 9^th – Left Salt Lake for San Francisco

July 11^th – Arrived in San Francisco.  Should have taken the boat on the 12^th for Honolulu but thru some mistake could not. Stayed in San Francisco two weeks. Walter was very sick while in S.F.

July 25^th – Boarded the steam ship Australia for Honolulu.  Sea sick all the way over.

August 1^st – Arrived in Honolulu.  Received at the Mission house by Br. William Waddoups.

Aug 11^th – Left Honolulu for Laie.  Met all the sisters and a number of the elders all well.

August 26^th – Walter left for his field of labour.  Was called to labour on the Island of Qahwat Kaalaiia and Kahana.

Sept. 8^th – Sister Pendleton made some current pies to send to Bros Phillips and Pendeton.  In the evening we put up a lunch to send to them and when they got it the pies had been taken out by some one but we don’t know who.

Sept. 27^th – Washed and ironed.  My dear husband helped me. Got letters and good news from home.  Was so happy had a good cry. Throat very sore.

Oct 8^th – Had a lovely meeting in the Pule room for the Releaf Society Sisters.  Walt went to Goat Island with the other bros. Had a very bad dream about Walt.

Oct 17^th – Started to make baby clothes.

Introducing Annie - Part 1 of Ann Phillips' Mission Journal

Have you seen this video? I love it!  It introduces the history of some of the first sister missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

When I watched the video for the first time, my mind was flooded with thoughts of my Grandma Phillips who served as a young sister missionary at the turn of the century. Ann Elizabeth Rasband Phillips is my maternal great, great grandmother. I blogged about her several years ago in this post. She died nearly 40 years before I was born, so I never had the chance to meet her. Yet I feel very close to her, almost like I know her.  Why?  I have a copy of her missionary journal!

It is just a little photocopy with a cardboard cover and it details less than two years of her life, but it is a treasure to me!  I read it for the first time many years ago and I've looked at it occasionally. I have shared a few quotes from it during lessons and talks. A couple of months ago, I even helped Marianne find some excerpts to share in her religion class. Now something is different. I keep feeling an insistent prodding that I need to do more. So here's what I have planned:   A short series of posts with excerpts from her journal.  I think you'll find them interesting even if you're not a relative!

To get us started, here is the little life history she wrote at the beginning of her journal.  It's pretty short because she was just 20 years old at the time.

My name is Annie.  I was born in a log house owned by my Grandpa, John M Murdock, in Heber City, Utah Oct 20, 1879. My fathers name is Heber Rasband, my mothers Sarah J Murdock Rasband.  I ha­­­­­­­ve one brother and two sisters.  Ray, Embell and Jennie.  

Annie at 3 years old

When I was eight years of age our family moved to Park City. My father was in the butcher business with his two brothers Jim and Fred.  We lived about a mile from town on a ranch.  Our nearest neighbors were China man, a family on each side.  My father was the butcher and many times I have seen him lie flat down to keep from being gored to death by wild hog he was about to kill.

The butcher shop in Park City Utah

Lily Duke lived with us for a long time.  She and I went to Heber with my uncle Fred Rasband and family to visit her mother, aunt Mary Duke on the 7^th of Sept 1889.  I was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints, Sept 8, 1889 by H.L. McMullin and Alax Forti. That evening we started home. On our way we lost our valise containing many clothes of Lily’s and a few of mine.  We never heard from it nor found it.

In 1896 we moved up town.  My father was one of the policemen.  We rented a house for a year in the meantime built one of our own and moved into it in June 1897. In August 1898 I went to Provo to attend school.  Ray, Ma and aunt Net were with me. I met my old chum Minnie Brown from American Fork.  She was going to school too.  We boarded at Mrs. Hoydes. Had a grand time and liked school very much.

Annie at age sixteen

On July 2, 1899 I was called to mourn the loss of my darling father.  He fell down a shaft in a mine and was killed. He was 40 years old. That was the greatest sorrow of my life.

At her father's funeral

Recently

We have had some extremely important events take place in the past week.  I thought you'd want to be the first to know!

1.  We cleaned out the closet under our stairs (AKA Harry Potter's room)!  This meant we could get to our puzzles and legos while the girls stayed with us.

2.  John worked hard to clean out the garage.   For the first time in several years, we can park my car there! (This may not sound like a big deal to those of you with 2 or 3 car garages, but we have a small garage that houses a refrigerator/freezer and doubles as our laundry room and storage area.)

3.  All three girls sat still at the same time for at least 30 seconds.  Actually, they did better than that. Once we optimized the sleeping arrangements, they took a nap (at the same time!) for 2+ hours every day.

4.  Evan got his braces off!

Cheese

We got a short visit from Carolyn and her mom today. Carolyn says that everyone's birthday is in July. Seems like a great strategy to make sure no one is forgotten. She brought the girls their birthday gifts and they were thrilled and had to try them on right away. I've never seen them this excited about pajamas before!

I took the pictures below about 15 minutes apart. When I was looking at them later, I noticed that two of these smiles are just alike. Do you think it has anything to do with being two years old?

Maaaa!

We've lived in our nice, quiet neighborhood for 18 years. Nothing much happens here and we like it that way. Of course, there was the weird lady who wore a headlamp during her walks and shined it in my kids' windows every night. Oh, and once we watched as a (non-headlamp-wearing) neighbor was arrested and taken away in handcuffs. But really, these noteable incidents are few and far between.

Tonight we had another memorable moment. We were surprised to find a truck full of sheep and goats parked next to our house. This seemed like the perfect opportunity for a private petting zoo, especially since we are babysitting our granddaughters. All three little girls were already in bed though, so it was up to Evan to welcome the animals to the neighborhood. That big one really seemed to like him!

The Liberty Tree

Can you guess when this was written?

"We see many signs of weakness which we lament, and we would to God that our rulers would be men of righteousness, and that those who aspire to position would be guided by honorable feelings—to maintain inviolate the Constitution and operate in the interest, happiness, well-being, and protection of the whole community. But we see signs of weakness and vacillation. We see a policy being introduced to listen to the clamor of mobs and of unprincipled men who know not of what they speak, nor whereof they affirm, and when men begin to tear away with impunity one plank after another from our Constitution by and by we shall find that we are struggling with the wreck and ruin of the system which the forefathers of this nation sought to establish in the interests of humanity. But it is for us still to sustain these glorious principles of liberty bequeathed by the founders of this nation, still to rally round the flag of the Union, still to maintain all correct principles, granting the utmost extent of liberty to all people of all grades and of all nations."

This quotation above seems to describe the feelings of many Americans today, but these are the words of John Taylor from July 3, 1881

Here's a quote full of imagery from the prophet Joseph Smith.

"The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner; it is, to all those who are privileged with the sweets of liberty, like the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a great rock in a weary and thirsty land. It is like a great tree under whose branches men from every clime can be shielded from the burning rays of the sun."

Read more patriotic quotes at 

http://ldsmag.com/article/1/14573

Melanie

Roxy - part 3

The dog's yelping brought my family running immediately. To my horror, it was true. I had backed the car over Roxy. The kids had put her in the house like I asked, but she had escaped out the back door. Just like the other times she was hit by a car, she didn't seem to have any broken bones, but she was obviously in pain. We followed the practical advice my veterinarian brother-in-law always gave us. "See how she does overnight and then take her to the vet tomorrow."  The vet couldn't tell us much and took a "wait and see" attitude, but I knew Roxy would be okay the following morning.  I was getting ready to head out for my morning walk.  As usual I grabbed her leash. Sure enough, she staggered to her feet and took a few steps. She wasn't really up to a walk yet, but we knew she was on the road to recovery.

Roxy put a lot of miles on those short little legs of hers.  Besides her daily walks, she loved to chase the kids around the yard or run back and forth in the hallway between two kids (one of them likely being John) who yelled encouragingly, "Come on, Roxy."

Roxy really did love our family. During vacation we always left her with friends or family so that she wouldn't be alone or cooped up in her kennel. She seemed to have a hard time while we were gone and my dad suggested we look into a "doggie anti-depressant" for her.

By the time Aaron left on his mission in 2011, Roxy was slowing down a bit. She was especially close to him, usually sleeping on his bed, and we hoped she would be here to welcome him home. First she welcomed Lavender to the family and she adjusted very well to having a little one around. In fact, she was always gentle with our granddaughters too. When they got to be too much, she usually left the room or climbed under the coffee table where they couldn't reach her.

In 2012, Roxy couldn't make it for the whole 3 mile walk. We usually looped by the house after a mile and she seemed satisfied. Eventually, even that became too much for her.  She could no longer climb the stairs and started sleeping downstairs. Her walks became shorter and shorter until finally she ventured just a few yards out the door onto the grass. When Aaron arrived home in late 2013, he was really sad to see her decline.

It seemed fitting that he was the one to find her the morning she died. He got up around 5:00 AM to let her outside and at first he thought she was just sleeping. We were in Chicago, but Ryan came over to help bury her and say goodbye.

I am grateful we had Roxy in our home for 11 years.  She was a sweet dog and we will always remember her and miss her.  John won't miss the vet bills, but you notice that in the end, Roxy left so peacefully that we didn't need to take a trip to the vet.  I guess that was her way of saying thank you.

Roxy - part two

Francie's small car looked like PetCo on wheels. The car was packed full with a kennel, dog bed, leash, dog toys, a brush, pet shampoo, a 50 pound bag of food, dishes and Roxy's up-to-date vet record. She explained to John that she knew owning a dog could be expensive and she didn't want us to have to spend any money for quite awhile.

By now the kids were begging us and we finally relented. We would try it out and see how things went. Of course, there was no turning back. Roxy loved running and playing with the kids. She loved to be held and petted and yes, she really did seem excited about family scripture study.

She certainly was loveable, but as the months passed we found that she frequently needed attention of another type--medical. Roxy was hit by a car two different time and had to have Foxtails surgically removed from various body parts on several occasions. She even had a glandular issue, but I will spare you the details. Then she developed epilepsy and had frequent seizures. John claimed she was the most expensive "free" dog ever!

One summer day I was getting ready to leave for a reunion with my girlfriends from high school. I was rushing around taking care of everything and I noticed that Roxy was snoozing in the shade of the care. I cut that dangerous habit short by asking one of the kids to take her inside. A few minutes later I hopped in the car and began slowly backing out of the driveway. Then I heard a terrific squeal from a dog. I immediately slammed on the brake, not sure what to do. What had happened? Was it possible I had backed over a dog?

Her Latest Talent

She started out tearfully clinging onto mommy, but in the space of fifteen minutes she was splashing around the pool saying, "don't touch me."