THE NAUVOO TEMPLE

Is this not one of the most beautiful places to be?  We've been fortunate enough to have visited there multiple times now, and hope to go at least one more time before moving out of state.

The edifice, itself, is breathtaking, but the Spirit inside is indescribable.  The spirit of peace and holiness, shutting out the cluttered world of everyday life, if for only but a few hours.

I know it's not the original, but being built to almost exact duplication, I could not help feeling the spirit of my kindred dead, who had, perhaps, sat in the same pew as I--or at least in the same room--over a century ago.  Someday, I will get to meet them and listen to all they can tell me about the daily happenings in their lives, living with the Prophet Joseph Smith, in Nauvoo. 

 

The Printing Office in Nauvoo

 

POISON IVY 10....CALAMINE LOTION 1

LETTER TO MY SISTER...
This itching has been driving me crazy, so I pretty much do just
what has to be done, ice my arms and legs down, slap on calamine
lotion, hold my arms out straight for it all to dry, and pull my tops
away from my stomach so the fabric won't make it start itching
again! :-) It has been SO fun! It is going away, but it is SO SLOW!

I went into your favorite store yesterday--Dick's 5 & 10--to see
if they had received their order of Fels Naptha soap. Remember
that from getting ready for Girls' Camp? We had to have a small
piece of it in our First Aid Kit in case we got into poison oak. Anyway,
their order had not arrived so the nice clerk showed me their hand-made bars of lye
soap, made right here in the Ozarks. I was desperate, so I bought
a bar. Did you know it's good for poison ivy and you can even use
it for catfish bait? Who'd a thought....

So I scrubbed my arms down with that, and now I look like a fish!
It did help the itching and swelling, but it made my skin look all
scaly and dry. I'll take that for now, because it's better
than the itching!

People have been looking at me a little strange, probably wondering
what skin disease I've contracted. It's kind of fun to see the
expressions on their faces.

Nighty-night for now!
Love,
Rache'l
oxoxox

BIRTHDAY FLOWERS FROM MY SISTER...

Happy Birthday to me! Yes, the day has come and almost gone! Thanks Mom and Dad, because if it wasn't for you, I would not be celebrating this day! You are the BEST parents in the whole world! It was a low-key day, due to an unwelcomed attack of poison ivy, but not to worry, as my mother brought us up right; celebrate your Birthday for a least a week--if you can get away with it! So that's what we'll do.

My sweet hubby fixed me my FAVORITE breakfast: waffles and sausage! I know...I can hear you all gasping, "What was she thinking, having all that sugar and yummy stuff!" Well, I look at it this way: we've REALLY been good, not eating any of that "stuff", so maybe a once a year treat won't due too much damage. So it's back on the "wagon" tomorrow!

Thank you sweet sister Cheryl, for the BEAUTIFUL flowers! I always like to photograph flowers because of their beauty--just like you!

HE'S ARRIVED!

He arrived this morning...our 35th grandchild! We are so happy! He is: Trevor William - 9lbs. 3oz. - 20 inches long - born at 3:22AM, August 21, 2009. Welcome Baby Trevor! We love you, Grandma Rache'l oxoxox

MEET SOME OF MY GRANDKIDS!!

More pics to come of my other grand-kids! I love you and miss you all! Waiting any minute now, to hear about the arrival of our newest grand-baby: "Trevor"!
Thank you to all my kids for e-mailing these photos to me, so I would have them for my blog! Love, Grandma Rache'l oxoxox




Here we have Zach! He's 6 yrs. old now and just started first grade! He also plays on a soccer team, which his dad coaches. How fun is that? Good job "Coach Mathieu"!





Here we have Zach, Katie, and Josh, who all belong to Mathieu and Jessica. Katie is such a little ham...Notice the "pool-pose". Josh is learning to crawl. Way to go Josh! And Zach just started the 1st grade! All right Zach!! Plus, he plays soccer and his dad coaches the team! I love you all, Grandma Rache'l oxoxoxo

MEET SOME OF MY GRANDKIDS!!

Here's Tyler-man at 2 yrs. old! He belongs to Addam and Christy! Don't you love sharing the popsicle with the dog? He's going to be a "big brother" any day now, when Trevor arrives to his earthly home. You'll be such a good big brother too! Love you, Grandma Rache'l oxoxox

OUR HOME FOR SALE - Flyer

Okay...This is it! I finally finished it! After many days of preparation--mostly clearing out the non-essential "stuff", and getting the photos taken, the flyer is DONE! Now I feel like we're really on our way. My office--of which there is no photo--is the last room I have to organize. It will take me several days, I'm sure. I have actually dreaded the day I would have to pack it all up to move, so I think that's why I left it to last. Do you know anyone who needs to buy our home??? (Double click on the photo to see it larger).

BIRTHDAY #4 CONTINUES...

My mother always taught me that your birthday celebration should last at least a week, so she started us out "young". Not sure if this was before my party, or after. I'm standing up holding the apron. I wonder who gave it to me? That's my Grandma Beck (my dad's mother) coming in on the right and my mother and sister Cheryl seated on the floor. My mom is holding my only brother, Cliff, and he's just two days shy of being 3 mos. old. The other little dark-haired girl is the mystery girl; we don't know who she is. Isn't this fun?

MY 4TH BIRTHDAY PARTY!

Yes...I know. But you must indulge me a little longer. I have discovered all these pictures and I am compelled to share them with anyone who wants to stop and set a spell. Were you born in the 1940's? Oh dear! Now I'm giving away my age, but no matter. I don't feel anywhere near how old I really am. Back to the photo...I didn't know I had that many friends when I was 4! That's me, sitting on the grass with a balloon. I don't remember any of them, but I don't remember much at all until I was at least 5 years old. Ah...Kindergarten! Do you remember nap time on a towel on the floor? And graham crackers and milk for a snack? Had I known that was coming in the next year, I would have rushed "5" right along!

MORE BLASTS FROM THE PAST...

Here we are enjoying scratchy lawn in our Sunday duds! Aren't we cute, all curled up for church--well, at least Cheryl has curls in her hair. I don't think I had much hair yet. This was at our first home on Raposa Drive, in Oakland, CA. Cheryl on the left and me on the right. I think about 1948/49.

Okay, here are some lovely bathing beauties! I don't know where this place is, but I think it's somewhere in Big Sur or Santa Cruz, CA. My sister Cheryl is on the left, my mom (lovely beauty) is in the middle, and little ol' me is on the right, about 18 mos. old - 1948/49. I still have those short legs!

WHO WOULD IT BE?

If you could spend 24 hours with someone living, who would it be?

MY SISTER BEAT ME TO A FIRST BLOG POST!

My dear sister beat me to getting a first blog post up and running! I can't believe I am that far behind the times! Everyone, practically, that I know of, has one of these so I have now joined the ranks.
Here's my dear sister and I when we were just mere tots, enjoying life before it got all complicated.
She's on the left and I'm on the right, about 3 years old. And that's our dog "Tricksey".