I have to say that I have discovered that Ruth is a party girl! She has some great friends and they are always making plans to get together for some fun. Her next party is Winter Formal which was a girl ask boy. So she initiated the invitation and her date Sam responded. After winter formal she will be leaving for Chicago with the Highland High Orchestra for four days. What can I say...that's what party girls do!
23 Years Old
After the dinner was done the family enjoyed some fun in St. Louis. They got to see Owen perform at a jazz jam session. They visited the zoo, and other sights around the area before heading home. Miriam is back at school, Evangeline is in Hawaii, and Jeremy shared a drink concoction on their way home.
It was time to leave pumpkins behind and bring poinsettias in. I have a wonderful neighbor who is all in for adding to the holiday spirit. We spent the morning at Hobby Lobby finding just the right combination of holiday cheer to welcome people to our apartments. I love how everything turned out.
Today I took Brigham into the barbershop for a trim before he leaves for California tomorrow. I have to admit it was a much more pleasant experience than when I went to the barber with Grandpa. As it turned out the man who cut Brigs hair was the same one who was so kind to Grandpa when I took him in. I did get a little chocked up remembering what a struggle it was for him and how nice it was to watch the barber and Brigham carry on a conversation. And best of all there was no yelling!
The great day arrived for Jane. Today she is now able to smile and people will see her teeth!
This week Jeremy performed in a play at the high school. He was Gambler 12 in "Guys and Dolls." Aunt Becky said he did a great job and I know that is true. He's a natural--actor, not gambler!
If you ever wonder what Uncle Bill does in his spare time I think that the truth should come out! You think that he is busy teaching college classes, writing articles for the Sutherland Institute, and working hard on various projects involving religious freedom, and serving in the church. You'd be right but his true passion comes when he can dress down and cut a rug!
While Brigham was out with the missionaries last night I was able to attend Eden's second grade performance. It was full of fun songs that I remembered from my days in elementary school. Eden did a great job!
I got this picture today from Sheila Watts. Sheila and Barbara have been friends for many many years and I love them both. Barbara is now in her 90's and Sheila just a little younger than me. Both are incredible women who have always set an excellent example of how to serve others.
Elder Duncan just completed his second week at the MTC. It think it is safe to say that he has gone from the first week that could be described as a roller coaster ride and now finished his second week on the Jungle Cruise! This week has been smooth sailing with an occasional hippopotamus, crocodile, or poisonous darts being shot. Honestly the difference this week has been inspiring. Each day he does companion study with two other Elders and I hear a great deal of laughing and joking and then it will get really quiet while they start working together on their studies or planning. He has been teaching investigators to get the opportunity to present the various lessons from Preach my Gospel. Some of them are members in disguise but others are actually people investigating the church. His confidence level continues to grow and although he misses his family and a special girl he left behind he is staying focused and giving his all to his mission. The highlight of this week has been actually going out with two Elders assigned to our ward. They picked him up on Tuesday about 3:30 and brought him back at 8:30. He told me he felt like that helped him more than anything else he has been able to do. One more week and then he will head to San Jose, California. I think he is going to be a great missionary!
Good morning. Scott was my junior companion in Frauenfeld Switzerland May 12 - July 14 1967. I really enjoyed working with him. We had some great experiences together. The last couple of months I have been in the process of trying to locate all of my missionary companions. I was shocked to learn Scott had passed.
Two other companions have passed also. The last time I saw Scott was at the Chuck-A-Rama in Salt Lake City. Your family was there on vacation or something. My mother's name was Elaine! I have a couple more pictures of Scott. I also have some other information if you are interested. I just sent some things off to one of my other companions last week. I could even add a few things about Scott and I from my journal. Jeff Williams
"My grandpa was dying. I watched as his body continued to function, but his mind deteriorated due to Alzheimer’s disease. My grandma selflessly served as his primary caregiver, but as his needs became overwhelming, my family supported her in caring for my grandpa. I am the oldest daughter in my family, and I realized that I was not content with sitting idly by as the adults in my life shouldered the responsibility. Instead, I found myself in a unique position where I could do a vast amount of good.
My grandpa’s condition caused him to become irritated, restless, and prone to outbursts. Some people felt uncomfortable around his unusual actions, but I never did. I made a point to engage him in conversation whenever I saw him, smiling along to his rambling speeches. Every time I walked into the room, he smiled, pointed at me, and called me his “buddy.” I helped when my grandma needed a break by staying home with my grandpa. We would watch shows and movies to keep him calm. His favorites were “The Greatest Showman” and “Coco.” When they came on, he exclaimed, “I love this one!” He enthusiastically sang along to every song. Many times he was brought to tears, singing in a quavering voice the songs that he enjoyed. When he was feeling agitated, I sang to him. When he heard my voice, he looked in my eyes and fervently said, “I love that one.” I often held his hand and he held back tightly, clinging to my comfort. When I spoke with him, I suffused my voice with as much gentleness and enthusiasm as I could muster, assuaging his fears.
My grandpa needed patience and comfort, and I realized I had the capacity to grant it to him. My actions were small, but to my grieving family and frightened grandpa, they were invaluable. In April 2020, I lost my grandpa to his debilitating disease. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to serve him in his final years and to witness God’s love as he chose me, a humble and imperfect vessel, to serve such a profound role in His plan." Ruth Whitney
At the Whitney house there was a pirate, a tooth fairy and of course, Mandalorian! Eden and Duncan did their trick-or-treating on Saturday night and raked in quite a haul. Sadly, the pirate was sick and missed his opportunity. On Monday they all came over to Grandma's house for an after Halloween dinner of Blood and Brains! and a quick trick or treating at my neighbor's apartment and at mine so Graham could enjoy the brief moment of knocking on doors and getting some candy all because he pretended that for a moment he was a pirate!
Elder Duncan successfully maneuvered through his first week at the MTC. I am so proud of him and impressed with the growth I am already seeing. Between his various classes and meetings he was able to also attend the Mesa Temple Open House with Aunt Amy and the youth from her ward. He met a mother there who has a daughter serving in the mission he will be going to and she said that her daughter loved her mission president and that they do lots of service projects which Brigham is excited about. He helped a little with Aunt Amy's box project, got some exercise in, went to south mountain, and kept really really busy! Here are a few pictures.
