1 Hit and run

Claudia received a phone call from our daughter Anna on Tuesday afternoon, August 21. She was crying. She was calling to report that her husband Pete, while riding his bike to work that morning, was hit by a car that turned left into him. He was in the trauma unit up at the University Hospital.

Witnesses reported that the driver, a woman they guessed to be as young as 20 and as old as 40, got out of her car, looked at Pete lying unconscious on the ground, threw her hands up in the air, and then got back in her car and drove off.


Pete remembers seeing the car, which he thought was a black Celica, turning into him and waved and yelled at the lady. That's the last he remembers. The witnesses called emergency responders, and an ambulance came and whisked him off to the hospital. The Salt Lake newscasts that night reported that it was thought the car was a dark green Saturn.

Pete was pretty banged up and had a concussion, a fracture at the base of his skull, a compression fracture in his back, a chipped front tooth, and abrasions all over his face and on his left ankle. Fortunately, nothing else was broken. Had he not been wearing a helmet, he likely would not have survived.

As I was reporting all this to a coworker the next day, he put in in perspective: "So, all he has is a broken neck and a broken back, but basically he's OK." Pretty much.

Our daughter Eliza has a two-year-old son named Peter. He thinks a lot of his uncle who shares the same name. Eliza blogged from Georgia: "For those of you who may not know, my brother-in-law Pete was hit by a car yesterday while he was cycling to work. Gratefully he was wearing a helmet that literally saved his life. The woman that hit Pete got out of her car and looked at Pete unconscious on the ground and then she got back in her car and took off—which is completely unfathomable to me.

"My Mom said that Pete had a fracture at the base of his skull where his spinal cord meets his head. He also has some type of fracture in his back. At this point they don't think he'll need surgery but as of last night he was still listed as a trauma patient. Pete is going to be in a lot of pain but all things considered he's doing well. It's hard when things like this happen to your loved ones and you live so very far away and you feel like you cannot help. I'm grateful my parents are keeping us in the loop and giving us updates. And we are praying. Lots of praying here on Pete and Anna's behalf.

"Last night we told Peter what happened to his godfather, uncle Pete. We were using it as a good reinforcement of not running off into the parking lot (like a toddler loves to do) because you could be hit by a car and get very, very hurt.

"Peter asked a few questions about Pete and then he said, 'let's say a prayer for Pete.' And before we could even agree with Peter that saying a prayer was a wonderful idea, Peter had already folded his arms and bowed his head and was saying a prayer. It was a very sweet little prayer. I wish I could remember exactly how he said everything but it was so genuine and tender.

"Then this morning when Peter woke up one of the first things he told me was that Pete got hurt on his bike. Peter wanted to say another prayer. In his prayer this morning he said to 'Please bless Pete who got hurt on his bike. He in the hospital with blood. Help him be happy and get no blood so he can show me the monster again at his house, the nice monster. And no more blood and he be okay, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.'

"Paul, Peter, and I will keep on praying since we cannot help out much more than that from Georgia but we have a testimony of the power of prayer. We are grateful that Heavenly Father is watching over and caring for Pete and Anna. Any prayers from you readers on Pete's behalf would be more than welcome. I can't even imagine the emotions you'd experience to have your husband be struck by a car + throw on top of that some good old pregnancy hormones... so please pray for my sweek sister Anna too.

"And here's a picture of Pete and Pete, godfather and godson. I took this picture while we were out visiting Utah for spring break in March at Pete's house. Pete was teaching Peter how to do push-ups. This happened right before Pete showed Peter the 'monster' in the closet of his house. That was such a fun night!"

The news now reports that the police found and impounded the car they believe hit Pete. The car in custody is neither a black Celica nor a dark green Saturn. What they have is a 1999 green Plymouth with front-end damage consistent with hitting a cyclist. It was found in the parking lot of Salt Lake's East High School Tuesday afternoon. Officers say it belongs to a teen who attends the school, but they don't believe she was driving the car when it hit the cyclist Tuesday morning.

Pete was released on Wednesday evening, April 22, after spending two days and just one night in the hospital. He sports a neck brace and a back brace that he will be wearing for quite a few weeks. Or months. And he is going to be pretty sore for a while, but we're all grateful he's in as good a shape as he is.

2 Quote of the week

The process of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ that is commenced in the waters of baptism is continued and enlarged in the house of the Lord. As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple. As we partake of the sacrament, we look to the temple. We pledge to always remember the Savior and to keep His commandments as preparation to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in the ordinances of the holy temple we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ.

— Elder David A. Bednar, April 2009 general conference

3 This week in our family

Mon, Apr 27: Jason Foley's birthday [Gail]
Mon, Apr 27: Kyle & Melissa married 1990 [Kay]
Wed, Apr 29: Michael & Shauna married 1995 [Dean]
Thurs, Apr 30: Kris Foley's birthday [Gail]

Fri, May 1: Morgan's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, May 2: Cheyenne McKenzie Morgan Card's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, May 2: Family endowment session in Twin Falls Idaho Temple
Sun, May 3: Fast Sunday
Sun, May 3: Brendan Paul's birthday [Lyle]
Mon, May 4: Kelley's birthday [Gene]
Mon, May 4: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Report from Lyle
Lyle called last Thursday, March 23, to talk. He said his car had broken down between Nampa and Caldwell. He had it hauled back to Parma and was going to have it worked on. It appears the water pump went out. And he said he would be seeing a dermatologist early this week about the spots or rash he has. He hopes to get up to Spokane to see his grandkids there and to visit Uncle Bill Batt, who had either a hip or a knee replacement, he couldn't remember which.

Lyle also reported that Randy has been laid off from his job at Micron.

Report from Jackie
I talked to Jackie on Saturday, March 25. She mentioned that Jolene's husband, Jeff Head, had run a half marathon the previous week. She also said that Jeff and Jolene, who were visiting in Utah this weekend, would be leaving in a couple of weeks and spending the summer in Virginia. Jeff has a job there for the summer.

She also reported that Dale and LeAnn work in the Boise Temple on Saturday mornings. And she said that Gene was currently in the hospital for what they think is pancreatitis. We hope all goes well with that.

Temple session in Twin Falls
From an idea that Jackie and I discussed last fall when she was here visiting in Utah, we have organized a family endowment session this coming Saturday afternoon, May 2, in the new Twin Falls Idaho Temple. As far as we know at this point, Jackie, Jolene, Dale, and LeAnn will be traveling the two hours from the Boise area, and Mary, Vince, Claudia, and I will be traveling the three hours from the Salt Lake area. We have reservations for the 3:30 endowment session. (Like many of the newer, smaller temples, the one in Twin Falls does sessions by appointment and does not have clothing rental facilities.)

Anyone else in the family (who is temple worthy and who has his or her own temple clothes) is certainly invited to participate, but we'd have to know immediately to add names to the reservation list.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the April and May 1959 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915-1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Apr 27. Wrote a 14 page letter to Jerry. Mother finished iorning & at 2: we went to Caldwell to bank. We went & got Kids & fixed supper & ate & Ivard, Mother, Jackie, Dale & I rode in to Nampa to depot & mailed Jerrys money & letter.

Tues, Apr 28. Ivard planted a row of rhubarb we brought from mothers. Ivard got home from court, he got fined $15. for hitting guy sunday pulling out from curb. We got kids out of school at 3:30 & went over to Homedale & watched Adrian get beat, when they were 6 ahead in last inning.

Wed, Apr 29. I came home from work & Ivard had chores done, & he spent all day planting peppers, tomoates, egg plant, & cucumber plants. Rays class went on their sneak up to Idaho City & went swimming then came back to Boise & ate & went to show. He never even got home until 2:30 A.M.

Thurs, Apr 30. Ray went over to Grange with neighbors to a banquet for 8th graders.

Fri, May 1. Ivard & I went to Adrian & got Kay. Gene stayed over to work for Lee.

Sat, May 2. Ray cleaned house & Kay spent most of day typeing & getting his lessons then mowed the lawn. Mother cut me out a dress & Jackie a dress & blouse.

Sun, May 3. Ivard, Kay & Ray went to priesthood I made suffle salad & 3 in 1 icecream then mother & I took Dean, Dale & Jackie to sunday school & left them & car & we came home in pick-up. I went to bed & Mother got dinner. They lost Jackie & time they found her sacrement had started so Ivard & little kids came home & went back & got Kay when meeting was out and we ate at 2: & Ivard went to work. I laid down while Kay got his things gathered up & at 4: Mother, Jackie, & I took Kay back over to Add's & picked some asparagus along way. talked to Gene a few min.

6 What in the world

What's that again?
"West Bountiful groundwater safe, but may still be contaminated," proclaimed a headline in the Davis County Clipper this past Thursday. That should make me sleep well at night, if I lived in West Bountiful.

What's in a name?
Terri Iligan, age 33, sold her name on eBay and received an offer. She will be legally named "goldenpalace.com" after the required legal work is complete. The casino owning the Web site paid $15,199 over the eBay auction service. She said that she got the idea when trying to find how much it would cost to send one of her children to a golf school previously attended by Tiger Woods.

7 A final word

An edited version of a blog posted April 25 by Anna Halverson, which she titled "Blessed," following her husband's being hit by a car four days earlier while riding his bicycle to work.

Thank you one and all for the kind words and support given to me and my small family over the past few days. Peter and I have felt the love and know that prayers have been answered on our behalf. We are so blessed.

For those not aware, my husband was hit by a car while riding his bike to work on Tuesday morning. The person driving fled the scene and thankfully because of witnesses the paramedics were called in. He spent the next 36+ hours on spinal precaution in the hospital. He was released earlier than I ever expected possible from an accident such as this with a fractured skull and a compression fracture on his back. He is home now and confined to life in a neck brace and a back brace for a while, but his spirit is not confined, especially when the meds are kickin' in.

Every time I think of how things so easily could have turned out differently, I get emotional. Every time I think of the blessings and the support of family and friends, I get emotional. Maybe it's all in the hormones.

But honestly, it is in moments of tragedy that you are reminded of the fragility and simpleness of life. How it can all be taken away at any moment. My heart aches for those who have gone through that. I was given a gift on Tuesday morning: continued time with my husband here on this earth. How precious that is. I know he has been watched over on more than this occasion. For this I am grateful.

He is the lucky one. He will heal. It is his quiet strength and good attitude that have helped him this far. He is home. He can get around for the most part. This is not a chronic condition. He is lucky.

And we are blessed.

1 Springtime

"Today after stake conference," wrote Keisha (Dale and LeAnn's family) yesterday afternoon, "our family went for a walk around the temple grounds!!! It was sooooo beautiful!!! They planted the most amazing flowers!! It was so pretty and today is gorgeous outside!! Mmm . . . it is a good day!"

2 Quote of the week

"One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are."

— Elder Jeffrey R. Holland at the Sunday morning session of the April 2009 general conference

3 This week in our family

Tues, Apr 21: Jeff's birthday [Gail]
Wed, Apr 22: Bill & Tami Riley married 1991 [Lyle]
Wed, Apr 22: Karen's birthday [Kay]
Fri, Apr 24: Chad Higley's birthday [Kay]
Mon, Apr 27: Jason Foley's birthday [Gail]
Mon, Apr 27: Kyle & Melissa married 1990 [Kay]
Mon, Apr 27: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Ouch!
Mary Oveson (Dean's family) posted on April 10: "Last night, we had to take Vince to the ER. He plays basketball every Thursday, and last night just came down on his foot + ankle completely wrong. By the time he got home, all the instant care facilities were already closed but the pain was unbearable, so our only option was the ER.



"My poor guy was in such terrible pain, he could barely sit still! The doc told him it was sprained, and that he will need to see an orthopedic doc about it this next week once the swelling goes down to make sure there isn't anything they missed."

Salt Lake Marathon
This past Saturday, April 18, was the Salt Lake Marathon. Talmage (Dean's family) ran the half marathon (13.1 miles) in just a little over two and a half hours. It was the first long-distance running Talmage has done since high school over a decade ago.

Anna (also Dean's family), who has run nine previous marathons in six different states but is now expecting her first child, only ran the 5K, which she completed in 30 minutes.

Nicolle's tribute to Rhett
Yesterday was Rhett's birthday. His sister Nicolle (Kay's family) posted this tribute: "Rhett helped me with my taxes this year and that was totally awesome. Thanks again for that. Also this morning I remembered when he was at Ricks College he made me this huge birthday card and mailed it to me. I thought it was the coolest card. So when I was looking through my pictures, I picked this one because I think it is awesome how my brothers had cool matching shirts for the first day of school and also because Rhett is looking at me in the picture."

The picture was taken on the first day of school in 1982. Left to right are Brandon, Chad, and Rhett. Nicolle is in front.

Andrea goes to Chicago
On April 16 Andrea (Kay's family) reported on her blog a recent weekend trip to Chicago with some friends. She got to ride in a limo for the first time, saw a Broadway production of Mary Poppins, did lots of shopping and helped out Chicago's economy, did a sealing in the Chicago Temple, and a bunch of other fun things. Pictures and explanations can be found at her blog site.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the April 1959 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915-1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Apr 20. I came home from work & changed & packed a bag & we left for Manan to help mother move. left at 9:30. We got up to Mothers at 3:30 & she wasn't there so we went back over to Minnies & she wasn't there either so we went over to Bud's & pretty soon Mother & Ken got there from Utah so we went on over to her place. I was dead, working all night & rideing all day.

Tues, Apr 21. Gail & Lynda had baby boy. We got up & ate. I sure slept, even lost my teeth in bed for first time since I had them. Ivard & Ken loaded all mothers stuff in Pick-up & U-haul. We packed dishes & bottles for me & we had our pick-up loaded with stuff Mother gave us.

Wed, Apr 22. We got up at 6: & Minnie got breakfast & we ate & Ken left for home at 7: We did dishes & we left at 7:30 & mother came with us. We had a tire wreck at Craters of Moon then we stoped at Bliss & ate. We got home at 3:30 & I took Mother & we went & got Kids from school.

Thurs, Apr 23. I came home from work & went to bed and mother tended Jackie. I really slept. Jackie came to bed with me for her nap & I didn't even know it. I got up at 4:30 & made meat loaf & Ray baked potatoes & cooked cauliflower & carrots & peas & made cookies & we ate at 7:

Fri, Apr 24. I came home from work & put stew meat on & we went to bed. I got up at 1: & put Veg. in stew & at 4: I went & got Kids from school & we ate & Ivard & I left for Adrian & went up to Ad's & got Kids clothes. We were going to see Lynda & new baby but they'd gone back to Vale. We went to ball game & Marshing beat by 1 point It was tied 2 innings. Gene stayed over to Ad's to work.

Sat, Apr 25. We ate & I iorned awhile then at 10: Mother Kay & I went to Nampa & ordered Kay a 5 rose corsage then went to Caldwell & Kay got a beautiful suit at Adrians for $85. then he got a white shirt & belt & they gave him a 2.50 tie. He got a $17. pr. dress shoes. Came home & he bathed & he left for Adrian at 6: for Junior Prom & banquet. My nite off.

Sun, Apr 26. We ate & Ivard, Kay & Ray went to Priesthood in pick up and Mother & all the rest of us went to sunday school at 10:15. Ivard had to go ward teaching after & as he was pulling out from curb he hit a car & bashed whole side of it in & our front fender. Came home & I fried shrimp & Mother french fried onions & we ate & Ivard left for work at 2:45. At 5: Mother & I took Kay back to Adrian & talked to Gene awhile.

6 What in the world

What's in a name?

Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116 (pronounced "Albin") was a name intended for a Swedish child born in 1991. The boy's parents had planned to never legally name him at all, as a protest to Sweden's naming law.

When the parents failed to register a name by the boy's fifth birthday, a district court in southern Sweden fined the parents 5,000 kronor (US$682 at the time). Responding to the fine, the parents submitted the 43-character name in May 1996, claiming that it was "a pregnant, expressionistic development that we see as an artistic creation."

The court rejected the name and upheld the fine. The parents then tried to change the spelling of the name to A (also pronounced "Albin") instead. Once again, the court rejected the shortened name, this time because of a prohibition against one-letter naming.

We could not find out the final resolution between the parents and the court. Presumably, the now 18-year-old young man goes by Albin.

7 A final word

It's Sunday night, and all the kids have just left, the five that live here in the area, together with their spouses and children. Twice a month they come for Sunday dinner, and we visit and laugh and eat from what everyone has contributed.

It's good to be together. We love to have our family here. The house gets pretty crowded when everyone can make it, twelve adults and nine children under the age of 13, the children contributing a full measure of the energy and commotion and noise that typically prevail. Today was a pleasant spring day, and we were able to spread out on folding tables and chairs set up in the back yard until the shadows lengthened and the evening got too cool.

Other families have other patterns, other rhythms that work for them.

"The family is ordained of God," latter-day prophets teach. "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities" ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World" [1995]).

Respect, love, compassion—these are a part of the glue that holds us together. Faith, prayer, covenants, and ordinances—centered in the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ—these make families eternal.

1 An Easter message

Yesterday was Easter. We share here the Easter message issued by the First Presidency over the signatures of Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf. The picture shows the tomb in Jerusalem where the body of Jesus Christ is believed to have been laid.

At this Easter season of hope and renewal we testify of the glorious reality of the atonement and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The empty tomb brought comforting assurance and provided the answer to the question of Job, "If a man die, shall he live again?" (Job 14:14).

Because of the Savior’s resurrection we will overcome death and become the beneficiaries of His mercy and grace. In a world of trouble and uncertainty, His peace fills our hearts and eases our minds. Jesus is in very deed "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).

We give our sure witness that Jesus is the Christ. Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit. To each member of the human family He stands as our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend.

2 Quote of the week

From Elder Neil L. Andersen, the newly sustained member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, from his maiden address on Sunday, April 5, 2009

I take solace that in one qualification for the holy apostleship where there can be no latitude extended, the Lord has deeply blessed me. I do know with perfect and certain clarity through the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, the Beloved Son of God. . . .

Brothers and sisters, He lives. He is resurrected. He guides His holy work upon the earth. His prophet is President Thomas S. Monson. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

3 This week in our family

Mon, Apr 13: Mandy's birthday [Gail]
Mon, Apr 13: Andrew Riley's birthday [Lyle]
Mon, Apr 13: Kay and Karen being sealed in Lima Peru Temple
Wed, Apr 15: Tax Day
Fri, Apr 17: Luke DeMartini's birthday [Ray]
Fri, Apr 17: Doni Rene Riley's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, Apr 18: Marc's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, Apr 18: Melissa's birthday [Gail]
Sun, Apr 19: Rhett's birthday [Kay]
Sun, Apr 19: Shauna's birthday [Dean]
Sun, Apr 19: Wyatt Lee Packwood's birthday [Gene]
Mon, Apr 20: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Rough couple of weeks
On Tuesday, April 7, Shandi Burdett (Lyle's family) posted: "Man its been crazy around here the past couple of weeks. Saturday March 28th Shawn was in a car accident and totalled my car :o(


"He was all right except for a few bumps and bruises. So we have been dealing with insurance companies and finding a new car. We had a small savings built up that we were trying to save up for a down payment to buy a house . . . well that will be put on hold for awhile now. We went and bought a Ford Explorer, it was a 1-owner car and Shawn had it checked out and seems to be in perfect working order :o) We've had it since Sunday and everything is going great with it!!

"Also last Wednesday I ended up in the hospital with a kidney infection and kidney stones :o( Not fun stuff, but I am feeling much better now. I have to go see a urologist soon to figure out what the cause of my stones are/were."

Coloring eggs
On Thursday, April 9, Nicolle Higley (Kay's family) posted: "As a kid I loved to dye Easter eggs. As an adult I still really enjoy it. Last year Easton thought it was cool but just dropped all the eggs in and we were done in like 5 minutes. This year Easton was a lot slower and enjoyed it more. Gretchen learned that the higher your hand is the bigger the splash. She was done in no time flat. I got to do like 5 eggs. I was sort of sad. Oh well it was still fun. Maybe I should buy some dye and do some of my own eggs when they are both sleeping."


Easter egg hunt
Nicolle also posted: "This year Andrea had her Easter egg hunt, but it was way low key. In fact, it ended up only being Melissa and her girls, Andrea and her kids, and then Gretchen and Easton. It was just candy thrown on the grass, no Easter eggs. It was still fun.


The Easter bunny
Yesterday Eliza Challis (Dean's family) posted: "Since the Easter Bunny is a pretty busy fellow and not quite up to par in speed and efficiency like Santa Claus, he comes to our home on Saturday instead of Easter Sunday. He knows that we like to keep the Sabbath Easter celebrations focused on the true meaning so he comes a day early which lightens his load for Sunday.

"On Friday night Paul told Peter he had to be good so that the Easter Bunny would bring him presents and candy. Really Paul simply wanted Peter throw some garbage away for him and was using the Easter Bunny as good motivation. Except that it slightly backfired. Peter was freaked out by the thought of the Bunny watching him to see if he was being good or bad. He snuggled up close to me and told me he didn't like the Easter Bunny and he kept looking over his shoulder to make sure the Bunny wouldn't get him.

"But Saturday morning Peter woke up earlier than usual and ran into our room and with excitement said that we had to go see the candy the Easter Bunny left him. He totally remembered and was much happier about the idea in the morning. The holidays just keep getting more fun now that Peter is a little bit older and knows more what is going on.

"My favorite part was seeing Peter discover all the candy the Easter Bunny had 'hidden' around the room. His eyes just lit up in excitement. Aaron enjoyed sucking on the toy dinosaur that the Easter Bunny brought him. (That Easter Bunny sure was smart to give him the dinosaur because that will conveniently come in handy for this month's Cub scout Pack Meeting that is dinosaur themed.)"
Spring has sprung
Several weeks ago Crystal Price (Lyle's family) posted: "At our house we don't do the typical Easter celebration. We want to spend the time really reflecting on the death and resurrection of Christ rather than bunnies and baskets. So I stole this idea from a church friend who's blog I've been lurking on.

"Last Friday, being the first day of Spring, we had a Spring Celebration! We had 'spring' decorated donuts and fruit smoothies for breakfast. Then I had an appointment that morning. Came back home and had a little egg and candy scavenger hunt.



"The boys thought this was so much fun. We had to have it inside due to the weather. In Washington even when it's spring it is too cold outside sometimes.

"For dinner I made salmon, baked red potatoes and corn...oh and snail dinner rolls. Look you roll them up and they look like this . . .

"Sorry the pics fuzzy. I got a glare off my stone. The antenna are carrots. The boys really enjoyed these too!"

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the April 1959 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915-1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Apr 13. Ray stayed home to help Ivard do ditches & little Kids were to school when I got home from work. little Kids came home from school again they aren't haveing school for a couple of days because so many are out sick. I got up at 3: & Ivard & Ray had gone to Marshing to watch J.V. get beat. Gene was catch.

Tues, Apr 14. I came home from work & went to bed & Dale tended Jackie. Ivard, Dean & Ray cleaned corrigates all day & started to water beets. I got up at 3: & Ivard & Kids hauled the cans up to garbage dump then we all went to Nampa and Ivard bought us all a hamberger french fries & root beer for our supper and we went home & had a big dish of icecream.

Wed, Apr 15. Sent Lyle a 14 page letter. We changed our 2 new tires & put old ones on pick up & went to Dobbs Motor & traded it in on a 1958 pick up & Ivard got the Idaho licence for it.

Thurs, Apr 16. I came home from work & Ray was home sick, he said. I laid down an hr then Ivard Jackie & I went to get a load of hay. We came home at 2: & Ray had house all scrubbed & cleaned good & another batch of clothes washed & both hung out. He fixed lunch & we ate & I went to bed at 3: & no one woke me up until time to go to work at 10:10.

Fri, Apr 17. Got letter & picture from Jerry. Ivard took new pick-up in to have lights checked & fixed & got his drivers licence (Idaho). We went & got kids from school & had ice cream on way over to Notus to ball game. Adrian won. Kay wasn't there, he had flue.

Sat, Apr 18. Kay was in bed all day with flue.

Sun, Apr 19. I came home from work & went to bed. Today was conference & no one went. Ivard tended water & him & Gene went over & got their last load of hay over to Symiths. At 6:30, after Gene got chores done, I took Kay & Gene over to Ad's.

6 What in the world

Planning ahead?
It seems that Pope Benedict really plans far ahead. A story out of the Vatican that ran in Saturday's Deseret News said that "Benedict plans to tour the area of Italy's worst earthquake in three decades after the Easter holiday." Thirty years from now? The airlines in Italy must really be booked.

The sentence might better have read: "After the Easter holiday Benedict plans to tour the area of Italy's worst earthquake in the past three decades."

One other oops!
On April 6, the day after general conference, a caption in the Daily Universe at BYU accidentally misspelled the word "apostles" as "apostates." An unfortunate error indeed. And most embarrassing for the student writer and editors who missed the mistake.

An article about the blunder appeared in the April 7 Deseret News. In that article the final paragraph began, "No matter how the hollowed word was mistakenly replaced with its rogue opposite. . . ." Hollowed word? Were they suggesting that the word "apostles" is hollow, empty, and devoid of meaning? I think they meant "hallowed."

7 A final word

The spring and fall general conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are among my favorite times of the year. They are like having two extra Christmases every year. The rich spiritual banquet we were served a week ago was no exception.

My mind reverts to an experience I had attending conference sixteen years ago. For a number of years in the 1980s and 90s a small group of us with ties to Brazil would meet on Temple Square and attend conference together in the Tabernacle. Wives sometimes participated, particularly those who traveled from out of state. As the years progressed, a number of our children also joined the group.

One year one of my fellow missionaries and I had a touching experience while waiting to get into the Taber­nacle before the Sunday morning session of the October 1993 conference. Even though we had arrived by 7:45, we had to get in the line outside the north gate of Temple Square and there was some doubt about whether we'd get inside the Tabernacle.

Two ladies from Clinton, in the northern part of Utah's Davis County, were standing behind us in the line. As it became in­creasingly uncertain that we'd get in, even though we all had priesthood leader or partner tickets, the ladies made some com­ment about how the origi­nal two people in our group had grown to about ten or twelve people, and they hoped we weren't the last ones let in. We had them get in front of us, and as we visited with them found out they had never been to a general conference before and they said, with­out ever revealing why, that it was critically important that they get in.

One of the ladies was a sister to Kent Hood, the bishop in the 36th Ward in our stake who had died of cancer. Bishop Hood had been Kay and Claudia's bishop.

When it became clear that we would not get in, a couple of us walked over to the head usher, Gary, whom we'd be­come acquainted with over the years as we'd come to conference to­gether, and explained the situation and asked if there were any way he could get the two sisters in. After the session had started, Gary asked each of the approxi­mately fifty people in front of us if they'd mind if these two ladies went in to the two remain­ing seats he had inside. No one ob­jected, so he took them in, and their tears and gratitude compen­sated fully for our not getting in.

They found us after the session and gave us big hugs and, with tears streaming down their cheeks, thank­ed us again for help­ing them get in. It was a wonderful experience, far more than this rough account of the experience begins to convey.

A few weeks later I wrote the following thought in the little newsletter I then published for my own family: "Elder Neal A. Maxwell has writ­ten, 'The very usefulness of our lives depends upon our willingness to serve others' (Even as I Am, 62). . . .

"This past week I saw another ful­fillment of that true principle. A couple weeks ago I reported an expe­rience [we] had the Sunday morning of general con­fe­rence while waiting to get into the Tabernacle. By talking to the head usher, we were able to help two ladies from Clinton get into the morning session. One of those ladies, Marsha Hamble­ton, sent me a nice thank-you letter this past week:

"Dear Brother Cleverly,

"I wanted to send you a note to thank you for your great kindness, rendered to myself and my friend this past conference.

"I am one of the two ladies you helped get into the Tabernacle on Sun­day morning of general confe­rence.

"I can't begin to tell you the great impact of your service. We were to attend that particular session of con­ference under divine instruction. Little did we know just how divine it would be. Though I can't share with you the details of why we were to attend that conference, I will tell you that if it hadn't been for you and your associates we would not have been able to enter.

"The work of the Lord is in full force and sometimes a simple act of service and sacrifice can mean a great deal to someone. That particu­lar morning you did an act of service which meant the changing of a heart.

"I can't express the gratitude we felt. As we sat in that con­ference with tears stream­ing down our faces how thankful we were to the strang­ers still waiting in line out­side. The Lord, personally, had you and your friends help with that task that morn­ing to meet both a promise and a gift of love. You will never know the ex­tent of your kind­ness, but believe that on that morning you and your friends were serving the Master.

"Thank you for being the kind of men that can feel the Spirit and then respond to it. Thank you for being the kind of men that the Savior would guide and direct. Thank you for your rescue!

"Thank you again for your great act of kindness. It will never be for­gotten, neither by me, my friend, nor by the Lord. You were truly an instrument in His hands that day.

"Please extend our gratitude to all involved. God bless you always.

"Isn't it wonderful how the Lord focuses on little details, on quiet whisperings of the Spirit that nudge us to be in the right spot at the right time, on simple impres­sions to be doing some little thing for another person, on incred­ible little coinci­dences that are a part of His divine tapestry."

1 Another mention of Cleverly Crossing

There is a historical marker located at 800 North 3100 South in what is now North Salt Lake marking the spot of the District School of South Bountiful. In last week's newsletter we showed a picture taken in 1913 of the second school built at this site. It was not far from the old Cleverly farm in South Bountiful. The marker mentions Cleverly Crossing.



The full text of the marker (with the reference to Cleverly Crossing highlighted in red) reads:

"In the early 1880's a one-room school was built on this site: a triangle of land between Onion Street and Highway 91. It was constructed of lime-cement and rock and measured 16 feet by 25 feet. There were six windows—three on the north side and three on the south side. The entrance faced west. A coal house was attached to the building. A potbellied stove stood in the center of the room with a long stovepipe reaching to the chimney on the east. There were three rows of desks on each side of the stove.

"Students furnished their own books and slates. Children who could not attend regularly, due to the farm work, had to bring their own desks. Each night a bucket of fresh water was carried from the Burtenshaw Well across the road for the children to drink the next day. A bucket with a clean dipper was placed on a table for their use.

"This school was used until 1898, when it was torn down and a red brick, two-room school was built on the property.

"About 1920, this location was renamed Cleverly Crossing by the Bamberger Railway Company and was a designated stop. Here a shelter was built for waiting passengers. In 1935 Onion Street, named for the onion trucks that came from the farms to the crossing every Friday, was redirected. After the change it crossed the old school grounds to enter Highway 91 in North Salt Lake."

The Bamberger line between Salt Lake and Ogden was completed in 1908. The pictures we showed last week, which were taken in May 1913, included a photograph of the Cleverly sign at the railroad crossing and suggests the area was known as Cleverly Crossing at least as early as 1913.

The marker does not specify when the second school was torn down, unless it occurred in 1935 when Onion Street was redirected. We do not know if Ivard, who was born on April 7, 1915, and would have started school in about 1921, attended it. He probably did. He stated in the brief history he wrote in the early 1960s that he attended South Bountiful Grade School, if that is referring to the same school.

2 Quote of the week

"The happiest individuals are those who do the most to make others useful and happy" (Booker T. Washington [1856-1915], Up from Slavery: An Autobiography, chapter 4).

3 This week in our family

Mon, Apr 6: Jason Tully's birthday [Gene]
Mon, Apr 6: Sunshyne Kersker's birthday [Lyle]
Mon, Apr 6: Brooklynn's birthday [Kay]
Tues, Apr 7: Ivard born 1915
Tues, Apr 7: Ike's birthday [Kay]
Tues, Apr 7: Rhonda's birthday [Gene]
Wed, Apr 8: Michael Ellis's birthday [Gene]
Wed, Apr 8: John & Morgan married 2006 [Gail]
Thurs, Apr 9: Jacob's birthday [Dean]
Fri, Apr 10: Celeste's birthday [Kay]
Sat, Apr 11: Madison's birthday [Kay]
Sat, Apr 11: Micayla Wilke's birthday [Lyle]
Sun, Apr 12: Easter Sunday
Mon, Apr 13: Mandy's birthday [Gail]
Mon, Apr 13: Andrew Riley's birthday [Lyle]
Mon, Apr 13: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Temple sealing
On Monday, April 13, Kay and Karen are being sealed in the Lima Peru Temple by the temple president. Kay wrote, "It is a Monday evening, and they are opening up the temple just for us. President Elmer [our mission president] said that we could invite the office staff and a handful of sister missionaries that we are particularly close to. There will be 10 or 11 American couples that are working here in different capacities and missions that will be there. I really feel good about this decision and doing what the Lord would have me do."

New baby
LaWanda Packwood (Gene's family) posted a message Facebook on Monday, March 30: "I wanted to tell you Ronnie and his girl friend Brittany had a baby girl today. She was born at 11:45 a.m. March 30 in Boise at St. Luke's. Her name is Roxy Michelle Cleverly. She weighed 6 lbs. 8 oz. and was 20 inches long. They are all doing really good. They will be home on Wednesday. The baby is about 2 weeks early.

Update on Gene and Cheryl
LaWanda also reported on Gene and Cheryl: "Mom and Dad are doing good. Mom is almost done with her radiation. She has 12 more days of radiation."

Our Palmer cousins
On Tuesday, March 31, Kent Palmer (oldest son of Ken and Berniece Palmer) called me to chat, which he does from time to time. He updated me on some of his family. His oldest son, Keith, has always wanted to become an Army chaplain. He signed up for a couple of classes at the junior college, but next semester he wants to take only one class. He has done well as an Army recruiter, but he doesn't want to continue doing that. James, another son, lives in Denver and works at the airport there. David, his youngest son, works in Pueblo, Colorado, in flight training.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the April 1959 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915-1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Mon, Apr 6. Ivard met me at work & we took Gene over to Adrian to school. stoped in Wilder & got $50. worth of syphon tbes & went to Caldwell to bank & I got Jackie 3 pr. panties, 2 T shirts, & sun suit & Ivard a pr. overalls for his birthday. We went to Kuna & paid our water bill.

Tues, Apr 7. Ivard is 44 today. I made Ivard a birthday cake & fixed his dinner then Jackie & I went to bed after I fixed scalloped potatoes & carrots ready to cook & put them in ice box. Jackie has a feaver. We ate at 6: Ivard did chores & I went to bed about 9: They woke me up Gail, Lynda & Debbie came to see Ivard for his birthday & brought a gal. root beer.

Wed, Apr 8. I came home from work & took kids to school. I went right to bed & Jackie went with me, she doesn't feel good. I got up at 12:30 & we went over & got a load of hay & got some aspargus along bank went to dairy & got 4 1/2 gal. of icecream for freezer, cheese, & milk bucket. Came home & fixed supper. had cheese burgers & olives potatoe chips, lettuce, wedges, punch & icecream. Ray went swimming at Givins with school class.

Thurs, Apr 9. I came home from work. Ray was home in bed with bad cold. We went right to bed & Ray watched Jackie.

Fri, Apr 10. I came home from work & Ivard was home & through with chores & in bed with Jackie. I went to bed & we all slept until noon then we went to Nampa to get Idaho Income tax filed, had to waite for guy until 2:30, filed ours & Jerrys & he gave me blanks for Oregon so we won't have to go over there. We went to Middleton to base ball game. Adrian won 15 to 7. Gene cought last 4 innings & looked real good. Gene came home with us & Kay went back to Adrian so he could go to class play (Junior). Gail & Lynda came for little while.

Sat, Apr 11. I came home from work & Ivard was in bed asleep, he got home at 6: I went to bed & we got up at 11: & the pump was borke & no water. Ivard & I went to Nampa & got a motor for it & came hme & he changed motors but it still wouldn't work & he had to go to work & I called H. Electric & a guy came out & it was just a long fuse blew out but it was letting a little juice threw. My night off.

Sun, Apr 12. Mother called from Manan & wants us to come up the 20th & get some stuff when she moves.

6 What in the world

A new apostle
Elder Neil L. Andersen, age 57, who had been serving in the presidency of the Seventy, was sustained Saturday morning as the new member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He fills the vacancy created by the death of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin in December.

Elder Andersen was born in Logan in 1951 and was raised in Pocatello. As a young man he served in France as a missionary. He and his wife, Kathy Sue Williams, have four children. Later, he served as president of the France Bordeaux Mission. As a General Authority, he has served in the presidencies of various Church areas, including Utah North, Utah South, North America Southwest, North America Northeast, Europe West, Brazil, and Idaho. At the time of his call he was the senior president of the Seventies Quorums.

Other new General Authorities
In the Saturday afternoon session of the 179th annual general conference several new General Authorities were sustained.

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, who had already been serving as a Seventy, was called to serve in the Presidency of the Seventy in place of Elder Andersen.

Five brethren were called as General Authorities to serve in the First Quorum of the Seventy: Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, Seoul, Korea; Elder Brent H. Nielson, Twin Falls, Idaho; Elder Dale G. Renlund, Salt Lake City; Elder Michael T. Ringwood, Salt Lake City; and Elder Joseph W. Sitati, Nairobi, Kenya. Also called to the First Quorum of the Seventy was Elder Mervyn B. Arnold, who had served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy since 2003.

Seven brethren were called as General Authorities to serve in the Second Quorum of the Seventy: Elder Wilford W. Andersen, Mesa, Arizona; Elder Koichi Aoyagi, Chiba-ken, Japan; Elder Bruce A. Carlson, San Antonio, Texas; Elder Bradley D. Foster, Rigby, Idaho; Elder James B. Martino, Aubrey, Texas; Elder Kent F. Richards, North Salt Lake, Utah; and Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer, Salt Lake City.

The Sunday School and Young Men general presidencies were also changed.

7 A final word

Excerpts taken from an e-mail Kay sent to his family on Thursday, April 2

Mom and I were sealed in the temple for all eternity. We were morally clean when we knelt at the alter. Each of you were born under the covenant. We are an eternal family and will always be so long as we are faithful to the covenants that we made. Each of you started your own family units and the girls will always follow the line of the husband, Andrea with the McAllisters and Nicolle with the Higleys. And so will my granddaughters.

When I married your mother we started a new eternal family unit, just as each of you did when you were married. We will continue this on the other side of the veil.

Even though I married Karen that hasn't affected in any way our eternal family unit. When I interviewed with Bishop Vince Humphreys before she and I were married, he said that we should be sealed to each other. Bishop Moon strongly suggested that we be sealed to each other. When I prayed to know whether I should marry Karen, I received a very strong feeling that I would be helping her more than she would be helping me. She was divorced and has [had] a
cancellation of her sealing to her first husband.

I have talked to President Bauman, temple president of the Lima temple, and President Elmer, Mom's first cousin, and they both strongly recommended that we be sealed to each other. President Elmer said that I have been so richly blessed to have been married to two such wonderful woman.

So after much prayer and fasting, Karen and I [have decided that we] are going to be sealed in the Lima Peru Temple April 13, 2009, by President Bauman. It is a Monday evening, and they are opening up the temple just for us. President Elmer said that we could invited the office staff and a handful of sister missionaries that we are particularly close to. There will be ten or eleven American couples that are working here in different capacities and missions that will be there. I really feel good about this decision and doing what the Lord would have me do.

Like I stated, this in no way affects our family unit with your mother. I know this will be hard at first for most of you, but think about it and pray about it. I know that it is the right thing to do. Karen is not taking the place of your mother. That has never been her intention. I ask that you support me in this, as this is what the Spirit has dictated to me.

I love each of you individually. You each have many strengths and are blessed of the Lord. I pray for each of you and your families individually each day. I miss you all, and this is the one downside of being a senior missionary. But I still look to my grandfather with love and respect and revere him for his service and example for going on a senior couple mission when I was in high school.

We are absolutely thrilled at the thought of Kay and Karen's sealing. We wish them well and only wish we could be there too for the wonderful occasion.