Why I write! and Why it's in a Blog...

TOO MUCH INFORMATION, thats your CRY!

Writing your own history is very insightful
you think you know everything about yourself
and read things that you think uncool!
To acknowledge would only pull things down from the shelf
question and answers hidden deep in the mind
buried for protection and of friends, family and my own heart!
but also enlightens and a help to Remember my own part --
and the things that Mother taught and the lessons to find.
I notice that the world indeed has influence, the media I acknowledge every year it has it's place -
deciding and discerning are lessons and standards along life's journey that are in front of my face!
This blog is the prophecy fulfilled of the Book of Life
presented to learn, grow and too, hopefully 
listen and heed to avoid depression and strife --
to lend testimony and knowledge of the Atonement of Christ.
From the experiences had by family before;  which
will bring you closer to each other and turn on the switch
so that questions you'll ask and on your knees you will turn
for inspiration and guidance from Heavenly Father you'll yearn.
Don't judge how I write, but know it's how I talk!
Bishop Watson told me that once, I accepted it as a compliment!
Look beyond the words and story; for the feelings take stock --
the recognition I give to the leaders, friends and family that to me were sent, helping me along the road of Life, 
as often the road is a valley of great decent.
From the roots of the tree to the branches and limbs; 
Unconditional love always wins! of that I testify of that I am sure, 
Good is worth living for, looking for, striving for and that ain't no lie!
Each year (and each post) has a story, each picture a memory lent.
I post it now ... and find yet more;  so to that year I add --
thus please go back and read, as in life each story changes over time as an others' perspective lends itself to knowledge helping the process of improvement a tad!
I know I go on; but, have you met my Mom? If you haven't keep reading
if you have you know what I mean!  you will know us both;
we love our family and strive to climb 
to progress and achieve to know and return --  to you we are pleading...
This life is short and eternity long from the Savior we receive redemption,
"It's all or nothing!" thats my brand; may we use courage and faith
 to choose the best road, and from hell receive exemption!


so it's not great, but it's from the heart! sometimes I just have to document for myself why I am doing this I POaST about my life thing! I still don't know how to connect one POaST to the other so I am only doing it with the Labels, the keywords!  
WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL -YOU"LL BE GLAD YOU DID! 






In the Book of Mormon we read from Alma 26

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/26?lang=eng

 11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength,nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak;therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

 13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us,therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?

 14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

A letter from Iris ... Her 30th Mothers Day 1973

   

My Dear Kids, as this, my 30th Mothers Day, approaches it makes me more than aware of the responsibility that has been entrusted to me in the rearing of the four choice spirits that came into our home and of the failure I've made of that trust!
     There are several of the best known holidays that have always been special to me and that I've tried to help you kids and your father feel excited about.  Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July they all are very meaningful to me -- not just for the well known reasons, but because they are significant in drawing a family closer together if that family will allow the deep feelings to develop, that these days arouse.
     Perhaps the two days that really meant the to me, though, are Mothers Day and my own birthday. Believe it or not the two seem closely related -- Each year as my birthday comes I feel so grateful to my Mother and to all those that have helped my life amount to the little it does.  And since I've had you kids after I thought for so long that I'd be denied that privilege, I just can not express the gratitude I feel for each one of you.  And of course for Daddy for helping me to become a Mother!!
     As it is a special day for me I'd like to use it as an excuse to do something I try not to do and that is to say some of the serious things that are so often on my mind.  They are not new things nor are they different -- so if you do not want to read farther now is the time to toss this in the waste basket.
     As each of you has grown up and even matured a little most of the time I've felt pride in your endeavors.  Oh and of course there are the little things I've seen or known of that I'd like to change but until the past two years I've always told myself that soon you would remember who you are and why you are here on this earth and make an effort to live as you have been taught.  But as I've watched you all get farther an farther away, not only from me (and I do not mean in distance) but from every semblance of religion of worship of God I've had a hard time not doing some preaching!!  and some pleading!!  to beg you, each one of you to take a long look at yourselves and what you really want -- to realize how short a time the life we live on this earth is and how long the eternities will be and ask if it means nothing to any of you that we cannot be a family in the hereafter if we don't live more righteously and more unitedly here and now.  Oh my dear kids how I love you, I'd give anything I have to help you see what you are are doing, even my life if it would help.  No one of you is really happy -- no one of you is doing with his or her life what you really want nor what you have been taught and yet their isn't one of you that isn't specifically blessed in one way or another that could be instrumental in make your own life so much more complete.  If you'd just read your patriarchal blessing and try to live as you have been taught you'd be much more happy and probably more prosperous!!!  At any rate -- may I take this opportunity to bear my testimony to you that I KNOW that God Lives, that He hears and answers prayers and that "IF" we make the effort to keep our lives in tune with His spirit we will (you will) feel an inner peace and joy that nothing earthly can give to us.
     My love for each of you is more than I have the capability of expressing.  Sometimes I'm overwhelmed with the desire to just put my arms around you and weep with joy because you came into my life.  Thanks to each of you for the much happiness you give to me and for the opportunity to become a little bit more complete person because of the trials you've also brought into my life.  Please forgive me for the many times I've failed to give you the right kind of counsel, or been too strict or not strict enough, please know I've tried to do my best but not always been wise.

Remember
I love You,
 Mother

Where Much Is Given, Much Is Required - Boyd K. Packer - October 1974 Ge...

I "POaST" about my life ... 73-74 Junior Year!

Music; In addition to the perfect music already listed in 71-72 blog; Babs, Abba, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, The Jackson 5
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivYzpTDc4A0&list=PLBCE7A9F9D30DD790

TV; Rockford Files, Brady Bunch, Mash, Hawaii Five 0, Bob Newhart, Kojak, All in the Family, Happy Days, and American Band Stand to name a few off the top of my head! 

Movies; THE WAY WE WERE, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, The GodFather, The Great Gatsby and James Bond! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivYzpTDc4A0&list=PLBCE7A9F9D30DD790


So this is the year of "throw my hands up in the air"! It looks as if in my journals that school is taking a second fiddle to dance and boys and that dance and boys are bumping each other off every now and then!   Ricky and I started dating. Ricky started taking the missionary discussions and chose to be baptized.  That night, it was like a dream, I felt like we were floating.  The baptism seemed hazy, only at the time I thought it was because he was sad that he'd chosen the church and me over his parents and his siblings.  The program was nice. The spirit light and I thought inspirational.  When he came out after getting dressed into his dry clothes he just burst out in tears and hugged me and really cried. Like I said I thought he was sad his parents didn't come or something. He attended Youth Conference and all the extra youth activities, but often seemed to be late for or not at Church at all. How'd I miss that?   He was controlling and jealous, I was flattered he cared enough to be so. Looking back, I did talk to and flirt, but in an effort to find someone who loved me.  Thus we see; I guess I felt I deserved this treatment. I really just loved life and wanted to play and do things, he never saw it that way. Being just a tiny bit afraid of my Daddy, I am thinking now, that might have made me think I was suppose to be just a tiny bit afraid of my boyfriend.  WARNING WARNING WARNING: Don't go steady in high school, don't tell one boy that you love him and make your priorities something that you will ever sooner or later regret, you know - just go to class and be honest virtuous and trustworthy.  Remember this; that I believe in High School you are creating a PATTERN for the rest of your life. Make it a pattern that fits and doesn't need altering, And if it now needs altering the atonement is a great Tailor thru Jesus Christ...and that's all I've got to say about that.  
  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coef8G5ax6E

I've had a job since I was 12 doing one things or another ... mom made me walk around selling Christmas cards personalized with  embossed lettering - door to door when it was 120 degrees in August!, I babysat ALOT! and I worked at the Willis Linen Company where mom worked. I worked in the office or in the back wherever they needed me.  But when I was actually old enough to legally work (16) I worked 3 to 5 hours everyday after school washing and folding school towels.  These people at this place were like a second family. My ward, My Mesa 3rd ward being my first.   Note here...that Gas is SUPER EXPENSIVE now and the lines are monstrous even waiting hours sometimes just to buy gas.  If I drove moms car too many miles I would have to sit in one of those lines to replace the gas I'd used.  I remember it being ridiculous.    

Mom Ricky and I went on trips in this car to Texas to meet Kathys family (Timmys wife), and to Rocky Point to see Sis and meet Jorge.  Now that's a funny story!   We went to surprise my sister, she now lived and worked in Puerto Penasco Mexico.  She worked for the Shrimp plant U of A ran on the beach there.  She lived in Cholla Bay.  What was my Mom thinking? We drove down after she got off work one Friday night when we got there it was dark the roads are sandy and it's amazing we didn't get stuck some where! Anyway we found her we knock on the door to her little blue and silver trailer and - yep! she was surprised!!! We quickly met the love of her life and he went running on down the road! It was a picture I never forgot.  But now I see my mom was heart broken and for a year or so I see nothing in her journals or writing. She felt like a failure all of us dumb kids were not being who she wanted us to be.  Her example of not ever giving up, of always going to church, always giving 100% to her calling and her visiting teaching and loving me unconditionally, holding FHE and saying prayers with me - she will be blessed for that, even if if at the time I wasn't paying attention.   Anyway I digress.  Rocky Point was fun and seeing Sis was so exciting (I was 16!) she took us to her work, we went on a tour, we went to the bars, the restaurants, we went shopping for deals and we shot off fireworks.  A bottle rocket blew up in the face!  Rocky Point was where it was at! 

I had gone out on a few dates with Jim and I really liked his sister Sue. That was one of my problems, I loved the families of the guys I dated. Anyway... His Dad died and he went to California he sent me these beautiful flowers. Merry Christmas!  Not too much after that.

Betty and Stan Abbott lived in the trailer court with us across the street, by now Timmy is living there but I haven't mentioned them much and I just want to say here we love them.  Betty was "like a sister to me" she is "always there for me and she listens and gives advice that is prayerful and kind". To compliment her Stan is a good guy and nice to Mom and I.  Betty was my first beehive teacher, Camp Mom, and friend.  I Never gave her any trouble!!! ;)

Jane

Janeece Powell moved into the ward my junior year. We probably didn't hit it off at first. Me (I'm sure) doing all the judging - her being blonde and from California and all!!!  She and Jane became very close very fast.  It was the first time the 4 of us girls had had another girl and it mixed up the mojo for a bit, not that it wasn't already a little haywire us being in high school and girls and all!!!   Sheila was the straight laced I've got my life together one. She was a rock, she held us together and I am sure prayed for all of us to get our acts together!      Jane she was the brain the school is important and I do well and am involved in anything "greek", (if in High School there would have been anything greek)!  She dated Jim for a little bit and so did I. She and I had lots of "life experiences" to bond over.  She is a great friend and really made an effort to get me involved and keep me out of trouble. Some of us, just don't listen or appreciate the good friends that we have.

Shelia

Debra Lynn Harper

Debbie well Deb, she was my buddy, my pal. I loved her and her family. I spent alot of time at her house.  Who was Debbie? she was the take charge point everyone in the right direction girl.  She dated Dale Stark and so did I!  In fact it was probablly our biggest fight ever! I thought I was "going out" with him and she showed up at the Seminary Social with his class ring on! Really Kel, how many irons did you have in the fire!!! How was I mad at her? I don't know but I was, but wait,  I thought I was dating Ricky, no wait was it Jim I'm pretty sure I didn't know what I wanted, I only knew what I had wasn't right and I didn't know how to get away from it...and thus kept searching for Mr. Right.    Speaking of Mr. Right, the other thing I didn't note earlier is that My Mr Ricky Right would never take me to a dance or in fact to anything "public" and we fought at every dance we ever went too.  

Please note I have mention several red flags in this blog, Give heed!

So When Jim asked me to go to Prom caring flowers and promised a good time, I said YES!  It was a great evening and we looked good!  He also asked me to marry him - ring and all! I am not sure what happened maybe it scared me and I ran??? I do that!  Once Jim and a bunch of us went out when I was suppose to be at mutual when he took me home mom grabbed me out of that car and kickkkkkked my butt all the way into the house! For heavens sake I was 17! Come to think of it, maybe that is the reason!!! Maybe he ran! 

Tami Lea and Tim - Timmy and Kathys Kids pay a visit.

Aunt El writes... Feb '74

Dear Kelly Sue - I wish you could only know and realize what I feel in my heart to tell you. I had such a strong desire to tell you a few things when I was there but I couldn't and didn't and can't yet express to you my feelings.  I always hated and resented my mother and my sister preaching gospel to me - yes or anyone else for that matter - why? because I wasn't doing or living the way I should, I knew it, but I didn't do anything about it. I am sure I never had and still don't have the knowledge of the gospel that even you have, however this is not excuse. But how I pray that you will have the desire to go to the Temple with your companion to be married, when you get married - not a year or two or more later but at the time you decide on. I also pray that the Lord will give you the strength to control your emotions and your passion and that you will find a priesthood holder to help you fulfill this great privilege. Ah how I wish you and your Mother could have witnessed George O'Briens marriage by Elder Marion D. Hanks ... It was beautiful!!!

  Kelly Sue please pray sincerely, earnestly and humble for the great blessing.  I promise you it is worth it.  I love you Kelly Sue and am concerned for you.  Be wise avoid addictive habits, please run the other way from them.  Love Aunt El

P.S. Please don't be mad! I plead with you as I was pleaded to but Kelly Sue I didn't listen - please profit by someones
 wrong doings.     Love You!!!! Aunt El.

Oh have a mentioned that my sister is pregnant? Parents not happy, but very excepting of a new grandchild.  My junior year was a mess at home. I am sure Timmy had done something and was somewhere he shouldn't have been, He is divorced now.  The kids came to see us.  I love them.  I  took them and we went to parks and movies and horse back riding while they were here.  I want to be a Good Aunt!  Tom, well Tom is a no show pretty much all the time. He and his ranches, rodeos and romances!  I'm not sure now if it's Val or Nanci????

I "POaST" about my life .... Festivals ...

 The Dance Festivals

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints


When I was ages 12 - 18 the Mutual organization I went to every week (youth group) held Speech Festivals, Roadshows (mini plays that traveled from church building to church building) and dance festivals that I could be involved in.  I loved it, I really did. I liked giving talks I was in speech classes always in junior High and High School, believe it or not I had a memory back then and memorized speeches that were informative, poetic, drama driven, and testimonial.  The roadshows were super fun and drove our leaders crazy because getting thru each and every practice might have driven them a little insane!!!  But the Dance Festivals they were huge back then and even traveled to Salt Lake - it was Clean outta sight!!!

Roadshow

When the boys and girls are 12 they participate in dances such as Square Dancing and line dances!  I was highly insulted because I wanted to dance with the Boys!  But the guidelines are such in the Church that boys and girls dance together after they can date! Well that abit exaggerated group saturday night dances are held and can be attended when you are 14!  It sounds absolutely ridiculous writing it out here but thems the rulz and I lived and died by them, or I didn't!

this is me when I was in the all girls square dance the pic on the right is Sheila, me and Deb

All I can tell you is these activities hold great memories and bonds with people I may never see again but influenced me for eternity friends and leaders that went and still go the extra mile to serve, teach and go the extra mile.   If you have the opportunity to either be in one of these as a youth or a leader I suggest you jump on it #ShareGoodness!   I had the best time dancing, I loved it no matter when where or how.  I may have mentioned that a few times in this life story of mine. (well maybe not I note here that it is not already a search/label word I need to go and fix that!!!).   Dancing was my life from as long as I can remember and thru my college years.  Anyway...I regress....

We danced both of these dance festivals at the Sun Devil Stadium and some groups were chosen to go to Salt Lake and perform, I went one year to watch.  It was most exciting.

Bobby, me, Sheila, Deb (why do you have curlers in your hair?!), Jane, Leslie,Susan,Danny,Christine,David,Lyle,Timmy,Terry and Eldon
Pretty cool I did that without making it bigger or looking them up!

 THESE ARE MY PEOPLE!

I do not know why Urlene isn't in the group pic, maybe she was younger and they had a different group.

I POaST about my life ... 1972-1973 10th grade

Where to begin?

Lets start with the Music #Media ... the best ever in time! Anything you could play with "air guitar!"   8 tracks and Billboard Radio  ...  Here's my playlist....

Spirit in the Sky, songs like Dead Skunk, Killing me softly, I can see clearly now,

Just one look at you, Whats going on, 

any thing Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Pink Floyd, Carol King, Van Morrison, AeroSmith, Cher, CCR, ELO, Neil young, Jon Stewart, Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, Elton John, Steppenwolf, Stevie Wonder, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd Three Dog Knight (I had all of these posters in my room the dogs playing poker were my favorites) and Eric Clapton just to name a few
But then I had a whole different playlist for MowTown I still love it from the 60's especially for dances... Aretha Franklin, Sly and the Family Stone, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Jackson Five, and Lionel Richie!  I would much prefer going over to Westwood and seeing my friends from Franklin for Dances!! 
Best dance and love music ever!!!

I can see that just conjuring up the names brings memories that have been buried pretty deep.  In fact I remember going to a few firesides that year where they would talk about music and the evil thereof! I would go home and give my records away, I don't look back longingly or do I?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8ZDMXvzzgQ  enough about that!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1973/10/inspiring-music-worthy-thoughts?lang=spa&clang=eng

I seemed to miss class alot this year! We made lots of trips around town in Jims'  Chevy Biscayne.

The first day of school I was tempted to leave campus and miss a few classes and choose to do so!  That was the beginning of the end for me and High School.  Always go to class!  I am sure that I have a learning disorder!  Knowing that Then might have helped me, I don't know??? This is the year that Algebra was introduced into my life, I did not understand why we were adding numbers and Math was over for me, Mr Devo and I did not hit it off!  English, also, as you can tell I didn't do well here either, I liked to write, but I wanted to write the way I talk, as I do here in my blog.  That didn't go over well for getting good grades!  I did pretty good in my other classes and did enjoy going them except seminary.
During one hour a day (as in my freshmen year) I had Seminary, only now the building for seminary is directly across the street from the High School and between me and the building was 20 to 50 kids standing by burn barrels or in corn fields smoking, mocking me for "going to church" during school. Some times it was too hard for me to Stand Alone, stand tall, walk thru them and go into class.  At times I would join in the crowd versus just Inviting them to go with me!  Only once did I try to smoke too, I thought it would be great to have something to do with my hands! UKE! I hated it. It burned all the way down my throat and into my lungs. I wrote in my journal "I don't know why Daddy or anyone wants to smoke." ????  Out in the corn fields around the seminary building the kids would sit in circles and smoke pot.  I had good seminary teachers that looked after me.  Brother Kendrick especially, I knew that he noticed when I wasn't in class and that he cared about me as a person I always appreciated that.  When he wanted to talk to me about behavior he came to me, he didn't call my mom or send home letters like the school did!  All I remember is that he only wanted me to succeed, cared about me, and that he had a testimony of Jesus Christ and the Book Of Mormon!!

The kids I hung out with were not all members of the church although most that I went to church with for the most of part that were in my stake or ward went to High School with me.  The problem looking back, was when I started High School I had become friends with the kids that were older than me and brushed off Debbie, Jane Sheila and Urlene somehow. They could date, they could drive, they had jobs and could get away with not going to class, they had friends who didn't have the same standards that momma taught me! Like Dr. John sang... "it was the right place wrong time" -- nope it was all wrong!!! So if you can learn from me anything to help get thru High School learn this ... go to class it is the foundation of the rest of your lifes education and education matters in everything you do - for all of your learning it effects your family, career and self.

Ricky owned a Blue International Pickup 3 speed on the column.  He taught me how to drive it on the back roads of the canal banks during several classes that I'm sure I was suppose to be in!

This is the year that I met Jim, Robert and Ricky, hung out with Susan and Kristine, had Dance at school (yeah! so excited), hated choir, tried to be a missionary (a story for later), felt judged by the "mormons", rebelled a little because of it giving them something to talk about (didn't hurt them only hurt me- stupid move). My friends were all searching for who they were in this great big High School, some how I lost track of Sandy and Nancee, in fact half way thru the year Nancee told me she was getting married - WOW! was I ever shocked.  She who never ever wanted to get married, she wanted to go to school and be a Doctor.  
My sister is living in Rocky Point Mexico, my brothers have disappeared from the family social network, Vietnam doing a number on their psyche! Daddys' Horse riding Stable is running full swing on 1st St. in Tempe town!  Mom works 60-70 hours a week. Computers are being introduced to the office, she is taking classes at night too!
I race home often to beat the notes and report cards in the mail box before Mom gets them. She is often in "tune" with the fact that I haven't been to class (it's very annoying). 
My Mia Maid class is the 4 of us Debbie, Jane, Sheila and my self. The four of us however non associated at school have each others backs and know that we are one and truly friends more like sisters.  Urlene is staying with her Aunt I miss her. She plays Basketball can you believe it - "she's short" (recorded in my journal!!) "is all I'm saying! Man I miss her"  Went to the Temple to do work there I did the baptisms for 15 names.

I had Biology with Mr. Atkin (is that right?) anyway this kid Darcy King was in my class and the best Mormon I knew!  He was an example of what I wanted, but seem to not have. He and I went to CO-Ed dance, we doubled with Suz and Terry. We went to the dance and then out to eat at a little place in Mesa.  It was delicious! Then we  went to Farells for ice cream. I actually fell asleep on the way home, I guess I was so content.  What a great guy, Darcy was very real and very good and very nice. I believe he went with me as a gesture to "save me from myself" No one really liked where I was going with Ricky. My sister thought Darcy was the neatest!

I had several leaders that went the extra mile!  This one would pick me up and take me on dates!  I remember one particular time when we went to Bobs Big Boy on Main Street.  I wrote in my journal... "She was 'super cool and seemed to me to be a real lady" - 

Dear Kelly,

Portland Temple August 1989

You have been in my thoughts quite a bit these days. I thought I might write you a few lines to express some of them. During our association in MIA, I have watched you change from a child to be a beautiful young woman.  I have looked on while your thoughts grew into mature ideas. I have been happy during your accomplishments and I have cried during your heartbreaks. Although I have only known you for a year and a half I almost feel as though I have watched you grow up entirely. I am trying to say that over this short period of time I have grown very fond of you. Perilous times lie ahead, but I have faith and confidence that you will make the correct decisions in the years ahead.  Be strong enough to make the proper decisions under the guidance of your Heavenly Father. When the time comes be wise enough to follow the decisions of your worthy husband in that he has seen fir to place himself under the guidance of our Heavenly Father.

Scrutinize your dating partners - if they don't measure up, use extreme caution in allowing the relationship to proceed farther. Be choosy - don't cheat yourself of any of the wonderful things that can be yours.  I know that Heavenly Father is pleased when you care about other people enough to want to help them to do good. But Heavenly Father cares about you very much and he would not be pleased should you accidentally sacrifice yourself in such an endeavor. Although I will not be teaching you next year, I hope that we will continue to grow closer and that you will share your life with me.  If I can ever be of service to you in anyway, please let me do so. You are a beautiful person, Kelly.  I enjoyed having you in class very much. When time for marriage arrives I pray you will invite me to be with you in the beautiful Temple.  I very much desire to witness the beginning of your eternal marriage.

I love you --

Jill

She was very intuitive and insightful with her words and guidance. If only we could listen and heed the already planted, tried and true home grown testimonies of others.  The scriptures are full of these types of stories and examples of righteous leaders.