Nirvana, Estates, Ordinations, and Ancestors

If you don't recognize it, this is Nirvana!! Dad has found a new quarry and is, happily, hauling rock once again. In June, he found out that the quarry from which he took his tons and tons of rock for the rock wall had been permanently closed to the public!! However, after much searching, he has found a quarry in Carson which has the kind of rock he needs to finish the wall.


We stopped for a day in Oakley, Idaho where Aunt Joan and I were born, and where our father grew up. After a brief search, we found this old pioneer church--the very one mentioned in this story from church history:
"A small party of settlers from Tooele located four miles northwest of Oakley on the west side of Goose Creek and named the place "Marion" in honor of Apostle Francis Lyman. Here was erected a log schoolhouse that also served as an amusement hall, being just large enough to accomodate two sets of dancers. When this little edifice was abandoned in favor of a new church, money was very scarce, but "they had faith and worked hard," said Alfred Gorringe, adding that "when this building was nearly completed, Bishop Smith had ten dollars; he knew James Whitby had five and this was all the money these men had. Bishop Smith went to Brother Whitby and said, "If you will put in your five with my ten, we can get a front door for our building and hold church there next Sunday." And they did."Our next stop was a fun evening with Eric and Tobin, Taylor and Carter. We were impressed with the work they've done on their home. Dad, who's done lots of remodeling, said, in admiration, Eric's a master!! We enjoyed sweet little Taylor's chatter and Carter's smile. Tobin had taken the time to bake cookies for us, but we were so busy chattering that we forgot to eat them!!

Next was a stop at the Estate in the Desert's Shadow--Eric and Susan's home. We had a great visit and were impressed with the estate!! Toby was Dad's shadow. I think if Dad had let him, he would have come into the bathroom with him! At one point, Toby and I were looking at a book about the Columbia River, and I showed Toby a photograph of wind surfers on the Columbia. He studied it carefully and then said, "Can Grandpa do that?"

Our next stop was to Darla's. On Sunday morning, Dad helped Vale get appropriately dressed in white shirt and tie and dress pants that were a bit snug, so he could be ordained a deacon!!

Here's our proud deacon with his bishop and visiting teacher.

Next stop: Santa Rosa. Steve took us on a fun tour of Bodega, Sebastopol, and Santa Rosa. You may recognize the picture: it's the schoolhouse from "The Birds." It is a beautifully restored private home now. Close by is the church, Sisters of Avila, shown in the movie as well. We met Kobe's after-school teacher, Sue, and Kobe and I had an interesting talk about the difference between a "kit," which we're looking at in the picture, and a "kid," which Kobe proudly proclaimed he is.

Finally, let me introduce you to your great-great grandmother, Mary Hamilton Kennedy McInnes. I have been praying for some time now to be able to find some definitive confirmations about the true facts concerning this wonderful woman. Every bit of information we've had on her has been family stories and whatever tidbits Grandma could gather. She is our ancestor who came from Scotland to the wild, wild land of Nova Scotia with her husband, Donald, and her son, Donald. Her husband died shortly after their arrival, and Mary was left to adjust to the wild land alone. Eventually, she married a local tailor, John McInnes, and they moved to British Columbia. Donald eventually returned to Nova Scotia. John and Mary McInnes had several children, one of whom became somewhat famous/infamous in British Columbia history--Robert Thomas McInnes and a grandson who was a poet laureate in British Columbia--Tom McInnes. Imagine my surprise and affirmation last Tuesday when I found this picture of Mary on a website devoted to her first home in Nova Scotia--East Lake Ainslie. On that very same day, I found some information about Mary, which Dad and I intend to further research this winter when the storms are raging, and the quarry is closed. Mary was born in Paisley, Scotland, and her father, Captain Edward Hamilton, is a lineal descendant of the First Duke of Hamilton. Scottish royalty. Prayers are answered. It was so fun to share this wonderful news with Grandma. Then, the perfect cherry on top of the cake was a phone call from a man named James Kennedy from South Carolina. He is Dad's second cousin, and he is interested in doing Kennedy genealogy. Another cousin had sent James Kennedy a detailed family genealogy that Grandma Kennedy wrote over forty years ago, and James sent it to the curator of the very museum which had the picture of Great-great Grandma Kennedy. The curator was so pleased with the history that he would like to publish the piece in their local genealogical/historical society's magazine, in the local paper, and keep a copy in their local archive. One of the items on Grandma's "bucket" list has come true--she'll be a published author!! Life is so beautiful. We love you all. Mom