F.A. Cup (or England's Super Bowl)

This is the oldest Football tournament in the world. It started in 1872. It is a knockout format. Every team from the Premier League teams to the lower league teams are in the running. All of the teams are represented by a number, the numbers are placed in a bag and two numbers are pulled and these are the teams that play against each other. Often the lower league teams play against the Premier teams and can give the premier team a scare.Well today was the "match". Everton a Northern team against Chelsea a Southern team. Alan was cheering for Everton, unfortunately they didn't win although they did score a goal in the FIRST minute.
Lesley and Lilian came at separate times towards the end of the "match" and thought it was "tender" that Dad had his friends come to watch with him, I made them breakfast. Well, "kickoff" was 8 o'clock in the morning.


Alan has always played football(soccer)and at 15 was the captain of his school team. When we came to Utah he played every Saturday with various teams locally.(not all at the same time!)In his mind he is still playing. A definite case of "the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
Back in 1987 we went on a trip to England and visited "WEMBLEY STADIUM" which is "sacred" ground to football lovers. We took a tour of the grounds and the guide turned on the "sound" of the crowd's roar as we emerged from the "tunnel". (brought tears to our eyes). And at the end we took the walk and climbed the stairs to receive "THE CUP" (a replica of course) As the crowd roared (again) Alan kissed the CUP and held it up for the fans to see. Every English schoolboy's dream. It was a pilgrimage.

Our favorite vacation spot.....

In a few weeks we are off to our favorite vacation spot. Our boy Alan created this video to get us excited? As if.... We do NOT need any encouragement :o) but the video is GREAT. Watch and enjoy. He was able to get all of us in here someplace. I hope you recognize some of the family.

Another this date in history segment...

On this date in history, May 10th 1955, Alan reported for his National Service to Imphal Barracks, York England, the home of the 1st Batt. West Yorkshire Regiment. For the next three years he was in the service of Her Majesty The Queen. He was in York for 16 weeks for basic training. At the end of this time his Regiment was stationed in Omagh, Co. Tyrone Northern Ireland, just about 80 miles from Belfast where a certain Irish girl lived. ME!!!

Just ask me....were we happy? our answer was, (as they say in Yorkshire,) "were we what?"

He was later transferred to Palace Barracks five miles from my home. He was later transferred to Ballykinlar about 25 miles away. Later he served in Egypt, and was then stationed in Colchester in Essex.

In April of 1958 he was finished with active service, and came home to Belfast. The rest is history, known or unknown.

MOI !!!

A little over a week ago I had a call from our hometown newspaper to say that I had been selected as our City's "Mother of the Year". To say I was shocked is to put it mildly. And, when I told the "children" they laughed. The "Davis Clipper" invites it's readers to submit a nomination of someone to be the "Mother of the Year" and the entries are then sent to the local Mayors in 10 communities to choose who will represent their city. Lesley submitted an entry of 100 words max. and I was chosen. I, along with the other "winners" was feted at a luncheon sponsored by the newspaper and received some gifts from local merchants. I also "get" to ride in our city's 4th of July celebration parade. How can you qualify as M.O.T.Y.? Good question, when you remember I left my 6 week old baby girl in the laundromat, fortunately she was there when I went to get her much to the joy of another woman in the laundromat. :o) And then, as if that wasn't bad enuf I left her at the Church when she was three years old and was just counting heads at home when the neighbors brought her :o). I never would look at the kids mouths when they had their wisdom teeth out etc. I told them looking at their bloody gums was not a requirement to prove my love for them. And when one asked why we had to have snow(he was shovelling at the time) I told him so we could have water in the summer to water the grass so he could mow. :o) But, we all survived, we love each other, and are friends. It is/was a family effort, and I love to remind any who will listen that without MY ALAN I wouldn't be a Mother. So, M.O.T.Y. ? MOI? as one we all know and love would say, It is just a pleasure being nominated.

Singing in the Rain

We went to the Jr. High the other night to see"Singing in the Rain". What a great show. This a picture of our Granddaughter Chelsea, (the blonde cutie in yellow) she was in the chorus and played her part very vigorously. The only thing this production lacked over Broadway was, Broadway. The talent and enthusiasm of the cast was "first class". It will be interesting to see their talent grow with more experience. Chelsea has a fabulous voice, and I'm not even prejudiced.

My View

What a thrill to sit in the Marriott Center at BYU with 18000 LDS women. We sang a lot of hymns and from my previous posts you know I love the hymns of the Church. We started singing about 10 minutes before the meeting was scheduled to start, it takes a long time to get women to stop talking :o). During the opening session Sister Rogers the Conference Chairman was the speaker and she had asked Sister Merilee Webb to lead us in singing "Now Let us Rejoice". Well, Sister Webb does not just get up and lead the music, she gave us some background to the writing of the hymn. During the persecution of the Saints in Missouri, they were driven from their homes in the dead of night, the men were tarred and feathered and the women and children sent packing in what they stood up in. Their blood stained the snow and this song was written during that very trying period. After knowing the history it is almost impossible to sing without tears. But is was written as a song of thanksgiving and as you read/sing the words you can feel them. The third verse reads/sings:

In faith we'll rely on the arm of Jehovah,
to guide through these last days of trouble and gloom
And after the scourges and harvest are over,
We'll rise with the just when the Saviour doth come.
Then all that was promised the Saints will be given
And they will be crowned with the angels in heav'n
And earth will appear as the Garden of Eden
And Christ and His people will ever be one.!

That set the tone for me and although I went to various classes and enjoyed them and learned, for me my greatest learning and feasting came thru singing the Hymns of Zion.
The theme was, "In the Strength of the Lord". As we read/sing the hymns and focus on the words with new insight, we will gain comfort and strength.