March Events

Our daughter, Beth and her husband Mark Lenz, competed in the NM State BBQ competition in Rio Rancho this weekend. They won Grand Champion out of 67 teams. What an incredible win! This gives them an invite to the World Championship in Lynchburg, Tennessee this fall. At the competition in Rio Rancho, several former World Champions were there. Many of who you would know from the Food Network if you were a “cooking show” junkie! These teams come from all over the United States to compete in this event. I won’t go into their winnings, but it made it all worthwhile (and some!!). The kids compete in several categories, including pulled pork, chicken, beans, beef brisket, ribs. Sometimes they do oddball things like desserts, soups – all at the discretion of the host. This event is not something that is widely known, so few understand the effort, time and money it takes to do this. But many people have gained fame from this start. Many great BBQ sauces got their start here!

We may have to attend the World Championships, take motorhome and all! Beth and Mark – we are proud of you!! Congratulations.

In other bragging about this daughter, she works for the Council of Governments (Upper Arkansas Area) and was recently named program manager. Huge promotion! Yea Beth.

I am going to try to do this blog more often. I find as I sit down to use computer, the phone rings, or laundry calls, or dishes, or or or!

Yep, it's two or three hours later than when I started this. As with almost all women - am I this much busier than I was a few years ago - or are things speeding up??? I know why I love spending time in the motorhome - there are so fewer interuptions, no washing machine, no phones, (well - cell phones) so LESS of all these things that require my attention. OR is it that I try to get things done "now" rather than putting off until tomorrow?? Maybe it's all because I spend too much time thinking about the lack of time!

On to more serious things. . .! Carol was helping me with genealogy the other evening, we were chatting on the phone - both looking at Ancestory.com. I was giving her names and dates and she was filling in the blank spots. I got to the name of my g.g.grandmother and grandfather (Bennett and Sarah Swearingen). They had 12 children that we know of, of those, 7 died in childhood. As I read those dates to Carol, my heart broke for the pain these two parents must have seen. Some of the dates don't really look realistic to me, but I know dad did a lot of research on his family. But none-the-less, this family buried seven of their children, some only weeks before the next one was born. One baby (the first born) was just days shy of being one year old, one at ten years, one on the same day as birth (has a name so presume it lived for a time?) one at 5 years, one at 6 years, one at 10 months and another at 1-year of age. How did these kids die, what of?? Questions I really would like to find the answers. I know the ache of losing a grandchild at a young age - what must this have been like.

Genealogy is so fun, very addictive, frustrating and other emotions! I am so proud of my daughter who keeps finding more and more names and dates. I always seem to hit dead ends, where Carol knows other places to look I guess.

Original Fence

This is the fence that surrounds the Abington Parish Church where G. Washington attended church along with my gggggrandfather. The fact that my ancestors attended church on this very spot, walked through this gate in this very fence is wonderful to me, but to make it really impressive to others, I throw in the part about Washington! ; ) True story though. Now I need to figure out how to resize these pictures, and "wrap-around" text!

A huge thank you to Becky for instructions for this!

"Gloss-ter" County, Virginia 1653

I am doing this particular blog only as a test. Thanks to Becky, I may be able to figure some of this out. Funny, a few years ago I was the one everyone came to for help with computers. And now I have been away from it for so long, I about have to have someone turn the durn things on for me! Back in the “old days”, if some program was needed, no problem, I used DOS and did my own. Now I don’t think I can even get to DOS! (Do we even use DOS anymore??!)

The picture I am also attempting to send is the church in Gloucester, Virginia that my GGGG Grandfather (? Not sure of how many G’s) attended church with George Washington. The first church actually burnt and this was its replacement, where the bench is located in front is where the original church stood. But the fence and graveyard on the other side are original and I treasure this. I treasured my time there also. I feel I walked where my ancestors walked and they knew I was there.

Until then!

This is on Becky's Blog, I borrowed it from her, think it's neat! Thanks Becky! We could add some of our own questions to this!


99 Things Meme
Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice. (Does Las Vegas count??!)
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

2009

A new year is here, I really should "blog" something I guess. I find I have so little time for this, so few hours to just sit here and write. Went out and took a few pictures today then this evening I have been out shooting the moon since it's the biggest full Moon of 2009. It's a 'perigee Moon' as much as 30% brighter than lesser Moons we'll see in the months ahead.



I love space, the moon, the stars, the planets. I wish I could just fly around out there and really look at things. I would love to belong to a "Star Club" or even better, have my own deep space telescope. One of my most wonderful memories is attending a "Star Party" and looking through many scopes - all night long! The best though was the deep space. All those pictures you see in books, and was taught in school - that is just how they look. All those beautiful colors, and designs. When we were in Del Norte this summer, I found out they have a very active club with a good observatory. A small town like that - but at one time they had one of the biggest scopes in the state, in a large observatory. So that interest has been in that little town for many many years.

I just realized that when a comment is made, unless I look for it, I don't see it. Still trying to figure this program out. As I looked back over the few I have done, I am wondering where and when I get to see "Ego Trip" or "It's all about ME"??! Think both titles are so good! I asked Tom is he would like to "blog" and he said: No. Knew that answer! I love Becky's, what a lady she is. I honor her and respect her for all the genealogy work she does and all the knowledge she has and more than willing to share. And Trenya, I wish she had more time to write, what gifted ladies we have in our ward!

Until next time.

Things Are Getting READY

As December comes in, I remember last December. I was still fairly new in my calling at church and December seemed to be non-ending. I found it difficult to even have time to do my own Christmas things last year. We had so many people sick last December and have prayed that does not repeat this year. Now, after talking to others who have had this calling, I find that what I experienced is common - I sure wish I had been warned! This is the time of year that all the flu and colds, pnemonia and the like, hit the hardest. Not that I am prepared for it this year, but just knowing it can happen helps me a lot! This year I am not going to do the big Christmas tree - or decorating. Besides not having the room, it's so time consuming and I might just need that time for others.


The title of this is "Things are getting ready" - and it's just that. I think things are getting ready. For what I don't know. I have a feeling of apprehension, not dread, but more like a calm wait. Is it just that it's December - or is it more?? Time will tell, but just wanted to go on record as saying this! And if nothing happens in 2009 - YEA!


Thanksgiving is past, Tom and I celebrated our 43rd anniversary last month. Almost 50 years, I don't want to be that old. Was it really that long ago that I thought I knew it all??! Was I really that young, how could I have possibly known that was the right thing? I remember as my dad walked me down to "give me away", it really struck me - I was Getting Married. I thought I was going to pass out. Now why did that realization not "hit" before then?? Life sometimes plays funny jokes on us! But I went through with it, Bishop Shepherd of Monte Vista stood in front of us and moved his mouth. Did he say anything - neither one of us can remember, I think we were both too terrified! We survived, and now I remember when my grandparents celebrated their 50th, they were SOOO old! And my own parents were old on their 50th. And as I see my own grandchildren reaching adulthood and beyond, how could this be? I am quite certain I must have slept through some years there, do I really remember every day - do I rememeber every week or even month?? Well, if not, then just where did they go? Precious time has been taken from me - it could not have passed that fast.


This reminds me of my facination with ancient calendars - I just wish I could understand all I have read about them. I do know that on the Myan Calendar, my birthday is 11 Reed 6. That tells the day, month and year. Somewhere I have detailed lessons on reading the Myan calendar, although much of it is possibly (probably?) theory?? One of the most fascinating writers I have ever studied is John Pratt and his studies of this subject. And yes, he's related to Parley! And the study of the stars in ancient time - I think they had a far advanced knowledge of the heavens than we do. I think that all that ever was, is, or will be, is written in the stars. We just no longer have the ability to read it.



Not much to BLOG about - so that's all she wrote for now!