FALL IS WANING???

This seems to be one of the most glorious autumns we've had for many years. One doesn't feel like he can get enough of the beauty of incredible colors.

The picture is the back yard and Dad's rockpile. He has hauled in tons and tons of rock from the quarry. Recently, I've been doing a lot of genealogical research on the Hamilton family and found this interesting passage: Mr. Hamilton was a lowland Scotsman, who seemed to know the mysteries of successful farming. His stone residence was an eye-opener to his generation at East Lake, whilst his neat, skilful and enduring stone fences are subjects of commendatary remark to this day. His labours at the Lake, even at this distance of time, give evidence of care, skill, taste, neatness and intelligent industry. It is a pity he and his household all have left. This Mr. Hamilton is Dad's great-great uncle!! Seems that working with rock is in Dad's blood.

As I said, I've been doing a lot of research on the Hamilton family. (In this blog, when I talk about our ancestry, I reference all ancestors to their relationship to Dad or myself, so that each of you, who are related in various ways, can orient your own relationship to them.) Donald Kennedy and Mary Hamilton were Dad's great-great grandparents and the first Kennedy Scots who immigrated to Canada. Mary's father, Captain Edward Hamilton, is said to be a lineal descendent of the first duke of Hamilton. It's that descendancy that I'm trying to find. They lived in Paisley, Scotland. You might look up some history of Paisley and the Hamiltons. It's interesting. I've found their family motto interesting: It's simply "Through." One Hamilton descendent said he thinks the modern equivalent is "Keep on Keeping On." I find it interesting that the Kennedy motto is "avis la fin," meaning "Consider the End." Both mottos are advice worth taking. Life is good. We're doing well. Life is good. We hope, all of you, no matter what your circumstances will tough it "Through." Love, Mom

TEMPLE TOURS, GLITZ, AND AN APOLOGY

Two weeks after our two week vacation, we decided that we needed to get away!! So, we took a temple tour of the temples in Washington. What fun!!

First stop was Bremerton to spend a little time with Grandma Kennedy!! I was very excited to take the picture I posted last week of your dad's Great-great Grandmother Kennedy to show her. Imagine my shock and disappointment when Grandma showed me the original picture!! The lady in the picture is actually Dad's Great-grandmother Catherine Whitehead Kennedy not Great-great Grandmother Mary Hamilton Kennedy McInnes, as I thought. I have to, then, apologize for my last blog entry where I stated that Grandma is struggling with her memory. She may be struggling with her memory, but, in this case, I mistook her hesitation concerning the picture for forgetfulness. She just hadn't believed that I could have found a picture of Mary Hamilton Kennedy McInnes, and she was right on. Dad did lots of little "fix-ups" for Grandma, and we had a wonderful meal and a fun chat. We gave her an early Christmas gift of a cable tv "package," so she'll have BYUTV. The thought of being able to watch conference in her jamies brought her great delight.

Early Tuesday morning, we attended a session in the Seattle Temple, which brought back many wonderful memories. It's always peaceful and quiet in the temple, and there's usually time for personal reflection. We then spent the day driving from Seattle to Spokane. We had to make a stop at our favorite Swiss village--Leavenworth. Although the colors aren't quite full, they were gorgeous. Equally as beautiful, in a different sort of way, were the wheatfields of eastern Washington. The fields, I think, were mostly harvested, so they were variegated in color, and it was so quiet!! There were hardly any people in the towns, and they were sweet and serene. Early Wednesday morning, we attended a session in the Spokane temple.

Our trip from Spokane to Aunt Joan's took us through more wheat country, sleepy villages, and spectacular sweeps of wooded areas. We stopped in the town of Palouse, where Mother's grandparents homesteaded and did dry land wheat farming around the turn of the century. We found the graves of my great-grandmother, Margaret Elizabeth Clark Cocheran and Great-great grandmother, Millia O'Donnell Cocheran. It was chilly and windy at the cemetery, but we took a moment to stand at their gravesite and honor them. At Aunt Joan's, I couldn't wait to show her my newest quilting project and get her advice. This is the middle of Harmony's quilt. I have plans to bead this section of her quilt and add three bright borders. Aunt Joan generously loaded me down with beads and glitz for this and other projects I'm working on. We found Uncle Garth recovering well from his heart surgeries.

Our final stop, Thursday, was Kennewick for a session at the Columbia River Temple. On Friday, we attended the funeral of a longtime friend, Louis Berge. He had lived through 2 broken backs, open heart surgery, 3 cancers and died from a 4th bout with cancer. A good man who certainly brought new meaning to the term "enduring to the end." He continued through all those illnesses to work as a logger and to do many service projects for the elderly. I remember one of my dad's relatives saying that his wife often prayed that there would be a death in Oakley, Idaho, Grandpa's home town, so they could come for a visit. That's sort of how Louie's funeral was--lots of former ward members came for a visit and to honor him.

Now, we're settling down for winter--I think. We would still like to complete our Oregon temple tour by visiting the Medford Temple before the snow flies. We're well and happy and hope all of you are as well. Love, Mom

BEADS, BIRTHDAYS, AND BLESSINGS UNNUMBERED

Fall is showing her multi-faceted face once again. The beauty of the season is has brought much-needed and welcomed rain. Just as we despaired over our slowly dying rhododendrons which have suffered from the water problems in the area, the pounding rain of the last fews day has revived them. Dad has stacked wood all around the yard, and we've even had a fire or two. One of the most busy stores I've been to isn't the grocery store or Walmart filled with shoppers re-stocking their dwindling larders for the cold winter months, it's the quilt and fabric shows!! Quilters know that those blissfully long days of winter mean many opportunities to quilt or sew some "treasure" for their famililes. I recently took a quilt beading class and promised the instructor that I would practice my newly learned skills at home. I had made cross-stitched welcome signs for two different newlywed couples from our LaJolla days, so I practiced on them. For the blue and white sampler, I did my usual beading--conservative, in the lines kind of thing. For the other one, I'd cross-stitched seashells, dolphins, sandy beaches, ocean waves and palm trees on a welcome sign to welcome visitors to their college apartment in San Diego, which they call the Thack Shack. Hmmm...by the time I finished everything but the lettering was a beaded wonder. When I showed the finished product to Dad, he just smiled. I asked if it was tacky or bling, and he wisely just smiled again and said, "It's nice!!

We have two birthdays in the family this month. Darla turns 30 something tomorrow. She says she's doing well-- involved in a big project at work which keeps her hopping. Kahlil turns four for his birthday, and he requested a parade of bikes, strollers, etc. to the local school lot to play a baseball game. In this day and age of theme parties, I thought that was clever and creative.

Dad and I have been sobered by the health problems that Uncle Garth is experiencing. He is back in the hospital because his heart hasn't been functioning as well as it should . He'll probably have a pacemaker implanted this morning. Aging is certainly not for sissies. Almost overnight, Grandma Kennedy lost all of her hearing in one ear, and all the wonderful news I mentioned about family history in my last blog, I've had to tell her about again--her memory is faulty. I admire the courage of those who are aging and coping with the physical losses of old age. It's difficult to be graceful when you're struggling, but our family members are doing so. We are blessed beyond measure--an autumn that is breath-taking, family prayers together praying for our loved ones, the rich companionship of each other, and each of you to buoy us up. We love you. Happy burrowing in for the winter ahead. Love, Mom

“Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities but pray for abilities equal to your tasks.Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle but you will be the miracle.” Thomas S. Monson