Poetry I Like: A Glad Heart: Some Folks by Ida R, Aldredge

This is from my Mother's Primary Book.  This is a look at people with different attitudes.

Some People

There were two people in our town
As different as could be.
The one was happy, cheerful, gay.
The next a pessimist was he.

One grumbled when the sun would shine
He grumbled at the rain,
No matter what the weather was,
He grumbled just the same.

He found fault with his neighbors, too.
It really was a shame--
No matter how they tried to please
He found fault just the same.

He grumbled till he had no friends
Folks didn't like to meet him
He made the day so dark and dreer
They hadn't heart to greet him.

The other one was full of fun.
He always wore a smile
In order to be with him oft'
Folks traveled many a mile.

The weather always suited him.
He never borrowed trouble,
He filled the darkest day with cheer,
Folks; pleasure he made double.

Just so we find them everywhere.
The cheerful ones and blue.
Now stop and think a little while--
Which kind, my friend, are you?

Carbondale, Ill Branch Relief Society and Outing.

We lived in Carbondale for my 5th and 6th grades, or 1966 to 1968.  We were members of the Carbondale Branch of the Carbondale District.  The President of the district lived in our ward.  Our branch president was Steve Nielsen.  My father served as scout master.  My mother was in the primary, and then was called as the relief society president.
I remember one week in church she was assigned to not buy anything as a family, and to just eat from our food storage.  We had a very small apartment at the time, and not much space for food storage.  We made it until we had the missionaries over for dinner.  My mom bought ice cream to serve them.
On of the high lights of her service as the president was putting on a Hawaiian luau party for the sisters.

Party

Inside the foyer, mom 2nd from left, Mardean Nielsen right

branch picnic (mom and Mardean)

relief society (mom 4th from left)

My Poetry: Mom's Grand Kids

I wrote this poem for a Valentine's Day card for my mother.  It must have been written 17 years ago, counting the number of grandchildren, 27.  There are 30 now, so this does not include Heather who is 16.  Also Anna and Tony make up the 30.  My best count is 25 great grand kids.

Mom's Grand Kids

Moms grand kids are twenty-seven
If you count Billy Boy in heaven.
Sara has six, Connie three, Weldon four,
Billy seven, Charlie four, Dianna three; any more?

Twenty-seven grand kids will there be another?
We're not announcing; but per chance is a brother?
Or maybe a sister has a baby in the oven,
Or adoption, when he/she gets here we'll love em.

But wait, twenty-seven grand kids quite a posterity.
One is bound to be great, wait and see.
Soccer, baseball, dance, brains, leadership; what talents?
Potential now, but multiplying, developing in balance.

Great grand kids are three.
I wonder how many there will be.

Poetry I Like: Smile for You

This poem was in an old Legacy: International Society: Daughters of Utah Pioneers.  I find it very cute, and motivational.  Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all passed on a smile or a bit of humor rather than a grumpy old face.

Smile for You

Smiling is infectious; you catch it like the flu,

When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin

When he smiled I realized I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile, then I realized its worth,

A single smile just like mine could travel round the earth.

So if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected

Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!

My Mother and Her Broken Neck

My mother came very close to dying in 2007 when she fell and broke her neck.  All my siblings went to see her, but for some reason I could not get away.  I was about to go, when we discovered she has headed to California for a spell while she recovered.  She stayed with Dianna most the time.  However I did travel with her to Utah for doctor appointment in January 2008.  It was while she was in Utah that these X-rays were taken.  She has a screw in her neck.  It is actually very large, about two inches.