Sunday Song Mary, Did You Know?

Happy Mothers Day!
This Sunday Song is dedicated to all mothers... our babies are special, with a God-given mission to do.
Mary, Did You Know?

State Convention

Jay and I spent almost the entire day in Salt Lake City at the State Democratic Party Convention. The theme was Hope not hate. We left the house at 8am, parked at the LDS conference Center and walked over to the Salt Palace. We registered as delegates and separated to go to our difference Caucus Meetings. Jay attended the Labor Caucus and I attended the Women’s Caucus. Mostly it was different candidates coming in and introducing themselves. It was interesting to learn more about each of them. The main meeting started, this included many committee reports, the keynote speaker (Congressman Steny Hoyer) and nominations of candidates. Are you surprised to learn the meeting went into overtime? We cast our votes for the only race had a voice in: Christopher Stout and Sam Granato.
Here is the link to the Utah Democratic Party
We went to lunch at Lamb’s Grill on Main Street. It is a nice, quiet place with wonderful food. It is plain torture to watch my husband eat the delicious looking bread, but when my salad with pepper chicken, I didn’t care. It was terrific!
I hope you participated in the political process, regardless of which side of the Salt Palace you were on. The candidates need more than your vote on Election Day, they need to hear from you long before then. Put signs in your yard. Offer to drive elderly to the polls on Election Day. Get involved in whatever way you can. Our country needs our involvement… badly.

No TV Zone, Day Five

We are adjusting, but I allowed the kids to watch a movie (a DVD, not cable TV) when I had to be gone all morning yesterday. They are now watching another movie, as I am getting ready for work. We have four TVs. I’m seriously considering getting rid of half of them. I admit I miss my TV keeping me company. It is a good thing that I unplugged it, because there have been a few times when I’ve sat down and started looking for the remote before remembering: It is No TV week!
What did you ask? Where did I go yesterday? My son had a test he needed to take for his online school. I drove him to Salt Lake City, found the address (only had to turn around once) and dropped him off. I spent a little time at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building working on family history. I connected a few people in my family history file and requested that my new ID that came with the new.familysearch.org be merged with my old ID from the old website. This will allow me to work with the file easier. I’m excited that they have already approved the request. I’m taking little steps toward working on my family history!

Where is my Clarion?

I am the editor for ICAN’s newsletter, the Clarion. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that since we haven’t had an issue out since the fall. It was supposed to go out a couple of months ago. The printer decided she couldn’t handle our needs anymore. This meant calling new printers, asking questions, getting bids, applying for a new post office mailing permit and just when I thought we’d pulled it altogether the new printer drops a bombshell: they don’t want to do the layout. Yes, on the phone they said they could do it, but really, they don’t have the time. Guess what I discovered? I have Microsoft Publisher on my computer. I hadn’t ever used it before this week. Now I have many hours of experience on it. The newsletter is almost complete, just making the final edits. This is one project I will be glad to have off my hands… until the next issue. The second time doing something is usually easier than the first, I’m hoping. 

The answer to "Where is my Clarion?" "in the mail (soon, I promise)"

No TV Zone

I’ve declared my house a No-TV zone for the week. This announcement was met with groans and some unhappiness. The kids seem to be adjusting okay, but I’ve had a larger than normal amount of requests to go places or have friends over. Usually the answer to that is no. I tell the kids, “find something to do or I’ll find something for you to do.” If I find them something, it will usually be cleaning. They are avoiding that at all costs. My husband is annoyed that No TV doesn’t also mean No Screen. No screen is no computers, no mp3, no DS, no video games, no electronics, period. I didn’t go that extreme, though I did take away the Wii. We’ll see what happens this week. So far they are spending more time outside. But then today is a nice day. I’m not sure what tomorrow will look like, since I haven’t watched the news… maybe that is why I’m in a better mood.

Sunday Song 3: High on the Mountain Top

I’ve heard this song several times recently, in different places, and love it. I think this version is as beautiful to watch as to listen to. Hope you enjoy it. High on the Mountain Top

Family History Miracle

Tonight, our church announced a new local program focusing on family history, Strengthening Your Link. This will be a long term program, unlike the Elijah project we did a few years ago, which was fast and furious work. The Elijah project was my first dive into family history. When my dad passed away in 2002, he left me all his genealogy work he had done. I dug this out when we did the Elijah project and over the past four years, have added names to my file during two family reunions, when I went to my grandfather’s funeral and during a research trip back east. I gradually stopped working on research and let the file sit. Then my computer’s mother board burned up last fall. I was able to take the hard drive out and transfer the info to my new laptop, but seemed unable to find many files, including my PAF file. PAF stand for Personal Ancestral File. I tried not to panic about it, choosing instead to believe it was around somewhere. I should have it on a jump drive, too, but I could not seem to find that, either. Two weeks ago I felt strongly that I needed to stop wasting time on stupid things (like games on facebook) and use that time more wisely (like on family history). I deleted my games and prayed that I would be able to find the files. I couldn’t bring myself to start over—there was too much information that could not be gathered again easily.
As I sat listening to the wonderful talks on family history, I knew I needed to pick this hobby back up and make it a part of my daily life again… if only I could find my PAF file. I again prayed I’d be able to find the file.
I came home, read a book to my kids and tucked them in bed. Then I pulled out my laptop to try one more time to find the PAF file. I opened the program and directed it to search out any files, like I had done many times before, only this time I chose a directory where I recently found other files I needed. It soon popped up. I had found the one I needed! I know it was an answer to a prayer, because of a desire to reach back to find my ancestors and make a connection. There are 1,280 names of my family in that file. I’m doing the happy dance and saying a prayer of gratitude. Thank you!