If I could write a poem

I would say to you

All the love you have for me    

I have that love for you.

 

From the moment we received you

Our hearts were filled with joy

So happy to have a lovely girl

You were like a Christmas toy.

 

And as you grew from day to day

So joyous, happy and gay

You added happiness to our life



Vida & Ruth Haggard

In every, every way.

 

For you were all that we could want

A child could ever be

A heart filled with joy and love

For all the family

 

And as the years have passed away

You have always been to me

The same sweet daughter that I loved

In days that used to be.

 

Poem written by Walter Parley Haggard to his daughter Vida Haggard

Recipe Treasure

My Mama's Apple Sauce Cake Recipe


I found the handwritten recipe for Grandma Ruth Haggard's  applesauce cake in the back of her
The Household Searchlight Recipe Book 

It is amazing what becomes a treasure as the years pass.  Technology is wonderful.  Now we can scan a page, and edit the picture to make it easier to read.  I hope to update a few pages of the Thude family recipe book during Christmas break and will forward them to all interested family members(and possibly those not interested) as soon as they are complete.

A Child's Prayer

I have been going through family history records and found the following story.  When Shelby was in Young Women's and working on her Personal Progress she requested a story from her Grandma Thude.  Grandma wrote the following (I added the pictures):

A Child's Prayer
"When I was a girl of 10 or 11 years old I was invited to spend some time with my Aunt Beth, Uncle Henry and my cousin Billy on their ranch. It was called the UB, because that was their brand.



Vida - 1946

The ranch was in the mountains near the San Carlos Lake (We called it Coolidge lake in those days).

The homestead was miles back in the mountains. It was in a canyon with mountains rising up on both sides.

My cousin had a rug in his room that was made from the skin of a mountain lion, head still attached with glassy eyes that shone out at you that was killed out on their range.

One day after spending all day at the ranch with just Aunt Beth my Uncles Henry and Toad (David M.) and Billy came in from riding the range. It was late afternoon and my uncles decided that they wanted to go check the conditions in the little horse pasture. It was acres and acres big, small only in comparison to the Big pasture.

Since I had been home all day they ask if I would like to go. They didn’t plan on being gone long. I was happy to go and so we rode out.  

We went down the canyon and then took a trail up to the top of one of the many rolling mountains. After we got up there we looked around and my uncles decided they needed to go farther.

I was wearing light weight fabric slacks and the terrain was rough with lots of brush that could tear right through your clothes.

It was getting close to sun down and my uncles ask me if I would like to go with them (it would be after dark when they got home) or would I like to go back to the house. I chose to return to the house.

Uncle Henry told me to just follow the trail down to the canyon and then follow the canyon home.                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                            
I rode "Sparky" down the trail in one direction and my uncles went on in the opposite direction.                                                                   

The sun had gone down behind the mountain and it was dusk when I reached the floor of the canyon. I was confused, for of course the canyon went two directions, and I didn’t know which way was home.

I knew if you give a horse this head he will return to where he is used to being fed. But Sparky was often allowed to roam free in the small horse pasture, and so home to him was two different directions.

It was getting dark and I heard a coyote howl, his howl echoing down the canyon. I called my Aunts name, but no answer. Again the coyote howl echoed down the canyon.

Vida & Jim 1948

Vida - date unkown

In my mind I could see the mountain lion rug in Billy’s room and could imagine his friends scattered about in the nearby brush. It was getting darker. I called "Aunt Beth!!" no answer. My voice bounced off the canyon walls as it echoed down the canyon. Again a coyote howled..
I was truly frightened. I knew I needed to pray, but I was too afraid to get off my horse. So sitting in the saddle, I prayed to my Heavenly Father, a simple prayer, asking Him to get me back to my Aunt Beth.

 
I sat astride my horse and called my Aunt, my voice again echoing down the twilight of the canyon, only silence followed. Then suddenly Sparkly jumped as if he had been struck on his hip by a switch, and then he burst into a full gallop down the canyon. He ran and ran and didn’t stop until he come to a halt in front of my Aunt, who was standing in the front yard.


Although my uncles assured me that my horse brought me home safely, I was there and I know without a shadow of a doubt that my Heavenly Father answered my prayer, a cry to Him for  
help from a child of His in need. I have had a testimony of prayer all of my life and I bear my testimony to you that I know that God hears and answer prayers."

                                                                                         Your loving,

                                                                                          Grandma Vida Haggard Thude
                  


 

I was playing on Family Search this morning adding memories and pictures.  While going through pictures I found these and decided to share.

 Eddie, Joanne, Morgan, and Randy September 2010

Everyone is looking good for the picture, the reality is Eddie wasn't feeling good and Morgan was recovering from a car wreck.  Morgan and Eddie spent the morning on couches while the rest of us went to church, both recovered and we have several more year of happy family time before Eddie's passing.

 Joanne & Randy October 2011

 

 

 Morgan & Shelby - Carr Canyon September 2010

 

 

Dean grilling burgers.  He grilled a GOOD burger.  The album is 2009.

Friday Family Fun

Friday Night Sleepover Fun !

All four grandchildren joined us for food and fun on Friday.

 Learning to play checkers this summer.

 Back yard play time with Papa

 Two girls at once.

 Garden watering and weeding.

 Grandkiddos with the favorite Aunt.

 Some more S'mores.

 Cycling fun.

                                                          One, Two, Three, Wheeeeeee!

 Playdough play=Magic Cookies

Just lounging around.

Library Para

Summer is coming to an end and I will be returning to work soon. This marks the start of my 3rd year as an Elementary school Library Para.  I enjoy my job and the excuse to read more books.  As a bookmark said,  "So many books,so little time"  Listed below are my reading logs since starting my job.  Many of the novels Randy and I have listened to on CD during our travels.  I also listen while cleaning and sewing.  Which reminds me, I have a date with C.S. Lewis and some seat covers for Shelby's classroom.

Ms. Ruthie’s Reading Log 2013-2014

Easy Fiction

Our Gracie Aunt – Jacqueline Woodson

The Shelf Elf – Jackie Mims Hopkins

Each Kindness – Jacqueline Woodson

The Librarian from the Black Lagoon – Mike Thaler (read aloud)

Rockwell: A boy and His Dog – Loren Spiotta DiMare

Me I Am! – Jack Prelutsky

Lucky Morning – Sally Noll

Tale of Despereaux: A Hero’s Tale – E TAL

The Perfect Pumpkin Pie – Denys Cazet

Ish – Peter H. Reynolds (read aloud)

Anasi- Folktale

ByeBye, Mom and Dad – Mercer Meyer

Llama, Llama Time to Share – Dewdney

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World – Marjorie Priceman

The Remarkable Farkle McBride – John Lithgow

A Carousel Tale – Elisa Kleven

Tattered Sails – Verla Kay

Clara and the Bookwagon – Nancy Smiler Levinson

Lucille Camps In – Kathryn Lasky

Book! Book! Book! – Deborah Bruss

Llama, Llama Red Pajama – Anne Dewdney

Into The Night – Deborah Heiligman

Silly Sally – Audrey Wood

Chrysanthemum – Kevin Henkes (read aloud)

Applesauce Season – Eden Ross Lipson (read aloud)

Martha in the Middle – Jan Fearnley

That’s When I’m Happy – Beth Shoshan

Daddy – Jeannette Caines

A House Is A House For Me – Mary Ann Hoberman (read aloud)

The Salamander Room – Anne Mazer

Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet- Jane O’Connor

Fancy Nancy Fanciest Doll in the Universe – Jane O’Connor

Turkey Pox – Laurie Halse Anderson

Christmas Day In The Morning – Pearl S. Buck

A Christmas Dress for Ellen – Thomas S. Monson

Merry Christmas Strega Nona – Tomie DePaola

Night Tree – Eve Bunting*

I’ve Seen Santa! – David Bedford

Snowmen at Christmas – Caralyn buckner

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy – Jan O’Connor

Mr. Putter and Tabby Stir the Soup – Cynthia Rylant

Down the Road – Alice Schertle (eggs & apple pie)

The Unbeatable Bread – Lyn Lettlefield Hoopes

Tack the Penguin – Helen Lester (read aloud)

There’s a Nightmare in My Closet – Mercer Meyer

Walter the Baker – Eric Carle

Substitute Groundhog – Pat Miller (read aloud)

Duck on a Bike – David Shannon

The Rain Came Down – David Shannon

The Lemonade Club – Patricia Polacco

The Rusty, Trusty Tractor – Joy Cowley

A Giraffe and a Half – Shel Silverstein

The Giant Hug – Sandra Horning (read aloud)

Froggy’s Worst Play Date – Jonathan London

Someday – Eileen Spinelli (read aloud)

The Trek – Ann Jonas (hidden picture book)

Froggy Eats Out – Jonathan London

Dragons Love Tacos – Adam Rubin

In My Pocket – Dorrith M. Sims

Aunt  Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) – Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard

On Mothers Lap – Ann Herbert Scott

Chicks and Salsa – Aaron Reynolds

The Children We Remember – Charia Byers Abells

Cliffords Manners – Norman Bridwell (read aloud)

Mr. Putter and Tebby Bake the Cake – Cynthia Rylant

Sloppy Joe – Dave Keane

I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! – Dr. Seuss (read aloud)

 Oh the Thinks You Can Think – Dr. Seuss  (read aloud)

Scrambled Eggs Super - Dr. Seuss

Charlie Goes to School – Ree Drummond

The Frog with the Big Mouth – Teresa Bateman (read aloud)

The Giving Tree – Shel Silverstein

Chester Cove – Tim Egan

Flatulent Fred – Kathy Wuertz

April Foolishness – Teresa Bateman (read aloud)

The Class Trip – Grace Maccorone (read aloud)

Making Friends Is An Art! – Julia Cook

Our Granny – Margaret Wild

But No Elephants – Jerry Smath

Chrysanthemum – Kevin Henkes (read aloud)

Grandad Bill’s Song – Jane Yolen

Knuffle Bunny – Mo Willems

The Important Book – Margaret Wise Brown

Making the World – Douglas Wood

Locust Pocus – Douglas Kaine McKelvey

Harold and the Purple Crayon – Crocket Johnson

Rainbow Joe and Me – Maria Diaz Strom (read aloud)

Mary Smith – A.U. Ren

Stella Lou Ella’s Runaway Book – Lisa Campbell Ernest

Just the Two of Us – Will Smith

The Wonderful Book – Leonid Gore

Laura Charlotte – Kathryn O. Galbraith

Enemy Pie – Derek Munson

Fiction

Out of My Mind – Susan M Draper

Mary Marony and the Chocolate Surprise – Suzy Kline

Mary Marony Hides Out – Suzy Kline

Jigsaw Jones:  The Case of the Christmas Snowman – James Preller

Eggs – Jerry Spinelli

Everything on a Waffle – Polly Horveth

Gingersnap – Patricia Reilly Giff

Enders Game – Orson Scott Card

Call Me Francis Tucket – Gary Paulsen

The Midwife’s Apprentice – Karen Cushman

Island of the Blue Dolphins – Scott O’Dell

Eragon – Christopher Paolini

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June – Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Because of Mr. Terupt – Rob Buyea

Found (The Missing #1) – Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Year of Billy Miller – Kevin Henkes

Sent (The Missing #2) – Maragret Peterson Haddix

Non Fiction

The Reading Promise – Alice Ozma

When Everybody Wore a Hat – William Steig (read aloud)

Jane Goodall – Erin Edison

Abraham Lincoln Comes Home – Robert Burleigh

My Great Aunt Arizona – Gloria Houston

Wilma Mankiller – Linda Lowery

Barbara Park – Molly Kolpin

Dav Pilkey – Kelli L. Hicks

Jeff Kinney – Kelli L. Hicks

Mo Willems – Abby Colich

Clara and Davie – Patricia Polacco

From Cow to Ice Cream

Summer Reading-2014

Easy Fiction

Amelia Bedelia’s First Library Card – Herman Parrish

The Little House – Virginia H. Burton

Thunder Cakes – Patricia Polacco

Fiction

Olives Ocean – Kevin Henkes

A Corner of the Universe – Ann M. Martin

The Remembering Box – Eth Clifford

R is for Rachel – Patricia Reilly Giff

Smiler’s bones – Peter Lerangis

Elephant Run – Roland Smith

Esperanza Rising – Pam Munoz Ryan

The Cay – Theodore Taylor

The Magician’s Nephew – C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis

The Horse and His Boy – C.S. Lewis

Non Fiction

The Boy on the Wooden Box - A Memoir Leon Leyson

Ms. Ruthie’s Reading Log 2012-2013

Easy Fiction

The Napping House – Audrey Wood                      

The Boy Who was Raised by Librarians – Morris

Library Dragon – Carman Agra Deedy     

I’ve Got Your Nose – Nancy Bentley                       

The Christmas Ghost – Pearl S. Buck       

Don’t Forget the Bacon – Hutchins                          

A Picnic in October – Eve Bunting                             

Bears Picnic – Berenstain                                             

Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory – H. A. Rey               

Put It On The List – Darbyshire                  

The Wolf’s Chicken Stew – Kasza                             

Love and Roast Chicken – Knutson                          

The Relatives Came – Cynthia Rylant      

The Patchwork Quilt – Valerie Flournay

Best Wishes – Cynthia Rylant                     

Something Special – McPhail                     

Mis Dorothy and Her Bookmobile – Houston      

The Library – Sarah Stewart                        

I.Q. Goes to the Library – Mary Ann Fraser                          

Miracle Melts Down – Rosemary Wells

Gingerbread Baby – Jan Brett                    

Llama Llama Holiday Drama – Dewdney

A Farm Country Christmas Eve – Gordon Frederickson  

When I Am Old With You – Angela Johnson

When I Go Camping with Grandma – Marion Bauer

Thank You Santa – Margaret Wild

Night Tree –Eve Bunting

Dewey There’s a Cat in the Library – Vicki Myron

Dewey’s Christmas at the Library – Vicki Myron

Cobweb Christmas – Shirley Climo

Arnie the Donut – Laurie Keller

Eat Your Peas. Louise – Pegeen Snow

Mara in the Morning – C. B. Christiansen

Bah! Humbug – Lorna Balian

Wild About Books – Judy Sierra

I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! – Dr. Seuss

Library Lion – Michelle Knudsen

Alison’s Zinnia – Anita Lobel

All the Places to Love – Patricia MacLachlin

You’re All My Favorites – McBratney

All I See – Cynthia Rylant

That Book Woman – Henson

Hooray for Reading Day – Cuyler

Stuart at the Library – Susan Hill

How Rocket Learned to Read – Hills

Homeplace – Anne Shelby

I Already Know I Love You – Billy crystal

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Arizona – Jennifer J. Stewart

Willie’s Not the Hugging Kind – Joyce Durham

Big Bear Hug – Nicholas Oldland

The Giant Hug – Sandra Horning

Counting Arizona’s Treasures – Terri Fields

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – Judi Barrett

Ready for Anything – Keiko Kasza

Terrible Storm – Hurst

The Wild Woods – Simon James

The Biggest, Best Snowman – Margery Cuyler

If You Give A Cat A Cupcake – Laura Numeroff

Great Day for Up – Dr. Seuss

Pigs in the Pantry – Axelrod

Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato – Tomie DePaola

If You Take a Mouse to School – Laura Numeroff

Strega Nona – Tomie DePaola

Strega Nona Her Story – Tomie DePaola

Georgia Music – Helen V. Griffith

Birdsongs – Betsy Franco

Sassafras – Audrey Penn

Katie’s Sunday Afternoon – James Mayhew

Blueberries for the Queen – John and Katherine Paterson

Madeline –Ludwig Bemelmans

You’re Only Old Once – Dr. Seuss

Quiet Bunny’s Many Colors – Lisa McCue

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse – Kevin Henkes

Three Ducks Went Wandering – Roy Ron

Duck! Rabbit! – Amy Rosenthal

Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden – Edith Pattow

Pink and Say – Patricia Polacco

The Hickory Chair – Fraustino

A Three Hat Day – Laura Geringer

Chicken Sunday – Patricia Polacco

I’m Going to Grandma’s – Mary Ann Hoberman

Sweet Dream Pie – Audrey Wood

Christmas Tree Farm – Ann Purnell

Granddad’s Fishing Buddy – Mary Quigley

Curious George and the Pizza – Margaret & H.A. Rey

Paulie Pastrami Achieves World Peace – James Proimos

I Will Never NOT Ever Eat a Tomato – Lauren Child

Bringing the Farmhouse Home – Gloria Whelan

My Garden - Kevin Henkes

Through Grandpa’s Eyes – Patricia MacLachlan

The Keeping Quilt – Patricia Polacco

The Trees of the Dancing Goats – Patricia Polacco

A Million Fish…More of Less – Pat McKissak

Fiction

Mary Marony and the Chocolate Surprise – Susie Kline

Hatchet – Gary Paulsen

Walk Two Moons – Sharon Creech

If That Breathes Fire, We’re Toast – Jennifer J. Stewart

The Bean King’s Daughter – Jennifer J. Stewart

Close Encounters of a Third World Kind – Jennifer J. Stewart

Code Talker – Joseph Bruchac

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup – Sharon Creech

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, The Diary of Bess Brennan – Barry Denenberg

Finding Zola – Marianne Mitchell

Unbreakable Code – Sara Hooglan Hunter (picture book)

Rose Blanche – Roberto Innocenti (picture book)

Wonder – R. J. Palacio (summer read)

Non Fiction

M is for Mitten: A Michigan Alphabet – Appleford

G is for Grand Canyon: An Arizona  Alphabet –Barbara Gowen

Laura Ingalls Wilder, Author of the little House Books – Carol Greene

The Invisible Thread – Yoshiko Uchilda

Picture Book of Louis Braille – Adler

A is for Arches: A Utah Alphabet – Becky Hall

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow – Susan Campbell Bartoletti (summer read)

Church Talk

I was asked to speak in church this afternoon.  I will attempt to attach a copy of the talk to this blog.  Those who dislike lenghy pictureless blog need not read.

July 14, 2013 – Our Priceless Heritage Talk

I have been asked to share with you the talk Our Priceless Heritage by President Ezra Taft Benson given in October 1976 (Ensign Nov. 1976) near the end of our nation’s Bicentennial celebration.  I am grateful for this opportunity to reflect on my heritage, my citizenship in this great nation, and my membership in the restored church of Christ. 

The freedom and abundant blessings we enjoy today are because of the faithful deeds, the noble lives, the courage, industry, self-reliance, integrity, and faith in God of our forefathers.

President Benson paid “honor to the founders of our beloved republic”.  He says, “The Declaration of Independence to which these great men affixed their signatures is much more than a political document.  It constitutes a spiritual manifesto – revelation, if you will- declaring not for this nation only, but for all nations, the source of man’s rights.”

“Fifty-six men signed the document on August 2, 1776, or, in the case of some, shortly thereafter.  They pledged their lives! – And at least nine of them died as a result of the war.  If the Revolution had failed, if their fight had come to naught, they would have been hanged as traitors.  They pledged their fortunes! – And at least fifteen fulfilled that pledge to support the war effort.  They pledged their sacred honor! – Best expressed by the noble statement of John Adams.  He said: All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope, in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I begun, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration!  It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment, Independence, now, and INDEPENDENCE FOR EVER.”

“How fitting it is that we sing:

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more that self their country loved,

And mercy more than life! – America the Beautiful, Hymn 338

“Their lives should be reminders that we are the blessed beneficiaries of a liberty earned by great sacrifices of property, reputation, and life.”

President Benson went on to say, “Other great stalwarts who also pledged lives, possessions and their sacred honor were the Mormon pioneers.  This they did by covenant before God when they came to membership in His kingdom, ‘to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places…even unto death.’ (Mosiah 18:9)”

“Our Mormon forebears covenanted their lives! – And not a few gave them.  They gave their fortunes! – And many, if not most, lost their lands, homes, and businesses.  They gave their sacred honor! – this by covenant to God.”

“Today we live in a choice land, yes, a land choice above all other lands.  This because of the heritage bequeathed to us by our forebears, a heritage of self-reliance, initiative, personal industry, and faith in God, all in an atmosphere of freedom.”

In Ether 2:12 we read, “Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.”

“Were these Founding Fathers and pioneer forefathers to counsel us today in their fundamental beliefs – so manifest by their acts – what would they say to us?’

“First:  They would counsel us to have faith in God.  It was by this faith that both were sustained in their privations, sacrifices, and sufferings.  They placed their trust in God.  He was their defense, their refuge, and their salvation.”

“Second:  They would counsel us to strengthen our homes and family ties.  Though they did not possess our physical comforts, they left their posterity a legacy of something more enduring – a hearthside where parents were close by their children, where daily devotions, family prayer, scripture reading, and the singing of hymns was commonplace.  Families worked, worshipped, played and prayed together.  Family home evening, now a once-a-week practice among the Saints, was to our pioneer forebears almost a nightly occurrence.  Were we to pattern our homes accordingly, family unity and solidarity, crowned with love and happiness, would prevail.”

“Third: They would counsel us on the dignity of work, to practice thrift, and to be self-sustaining.  Theirs was a philosophy that neither the world nor the government owes a man his bread.  Man is commanded of God to live by the sweat of his brow, not someone else’s.”

“And finally:  These noble Founders and pioneers would counsel us to preserve the freedoms granted to us by God.  They knew that the foundation of this nation was spiritual, that the source of all our blessings was God.  They knew that this nation can only prosper in an atmosphere of freedom.”

“Those intrepid forebears knew that their righteousness was the indispensable ingredient to liberty, that this was the greatest legacy they could pass on to future generations.  They would counsel us to preserve that liberty by alert righteousness.  Righteousness is always measured by a nation or an individual keeping the commandments of God.”

A dictionary defines a pioneer as “one who goes before to prepare or open up the way for others to follow.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “We need to walk together as today’s pioneers, living Christlike lives, supporting good causes in our communities, and strengthening our families and homes.”

“The suffering of the pioneers forged a strength in their lives that has been passed on to us.  We face different challenges today.  Our struggle is found in living in a world steeped in sin and spiritual indifference, where self-indulgence, dishonesty, and greed seem to be present everywhere.”

“We need to commit to serve the Lord and our communities with the same diligence and faith that the pioneers had.  We must ever be on our guard that we do not become casual in keeping God’s commandments, in abiding by His laws, and in being honest and trustworthy in all that we do.  We must avoid the entrapments of evil found on the Internet, so readily accessible through our computers, tablets, and cell phones. If we become casual in these things, Lucifer will find a way to dull our commitment and destroy our faith and our love for the Lord and for one another.  Avoiding the temptations and evils of the world requires the faith and fortitude of a real modern-day pioneer.”

President Thomas S. Monson in this month’s First Presidency Message (Ensign, July 2013) has asked, “Can we somehow muster the courage and steadfastness of purpose that characterized the pioneers of the former generation?  Can you and I, in actual fact, be pioneers?  I know we can be.”

I am grateful for the counsel of prophets past and present, to remember and learn from the past.  To have faith in God, strengthen our homes and families, to keep the commandments and “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.”

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ’s church, restored upon the earth today through the prophet Joseph Smith.   I know that Thomas S. Monson is called of God to be our prophet today. 

These things I say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.