1 New edition of family histories

A few months ago I received a telephone call from a cousin of ours, Ramona Batt Marshall, who lives in the Idaho Falls area. Ramona is a daughter of Melvin Batt, who was a son of Morley Batt and Minnie Lee. (Morley was William B Batt's brother, and Minnie was Hazel Jane Lee's sister, a case of two brothers marrying two sisters.)

Ramona was asking if I had any more copies of Batt & Lee Ancestors, the collection of family histories I published back in 2005. She explained that her branch of the family wanted some 30-40 additional copies. Her request started me on a journey that resulted in a new, expanded edition of this collection. I added a couple of new histories that I did not have back then and made some other changes to improve the book.

I mailed a copy of the second edition of Batt & Lee Ancestors as a Christmas gift to each of my siblings (Lyle, Lynda, Jerry, Kay, Gene, Sharae for Ray's family, Dale, and Jackie), to each of Dorothy's siblings (Bill Batt in Spokane, Berniece in Tooele, and Sharon Tovey Moss for Ruth's family), and to each of my married children.

As I wrote in the Christmas letter that accompanied the book, "Your married children and your grandchildren may be interested in a copy of this new volume of some of their ancestors’ histories. You or they can obtain additional copies by going online to lulu.com and ordering copies by simply typing either Batt or Batt & Lee in the search field. Single copies are only $8.12, plus shipping and handling. Ordering multiple copies at the same time slightly reduces the cost per copy."

To go to lulu.com, simply click on this icon.



Between now and mid-January, you can get 15 percent off the book by using the coupon code RESOLUTION305 at checkout. You can only use the code once. This great offer ends on Saturday, January 15, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

2 Quote of the week

"Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely.

"He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our resume but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.

"What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us."

— Dieter F. Uchtdorf

("The Love of God," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 22-23)

3 This week in our family

Our family's calendar for the next fortnight

Thurs, Dec 30: Rex Sayer's birthday [Jackie]
Fri, Dec 31: New Year's Eve

Sat, Jan 1: New Year's Day
Sun, Jan 2: Fast Sunday
Wed, Jan 5: Shellbi Jane Packwood's birthday [Gene]
Wed, Jan 5: Barbara died 2001 [Lyle]
Fri, Jan 7: JJ's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, Jan 8: Mandy Rankin's birthday [Gail]
Sat, Jan 8: Jason & Gena Tully married 2000 [Gene]
Sun, Jan 9: Marshal McAllister's birthday [Kay]
Sun, Jan 9: Mckenna's birthday [Kay]
Mon, Jan 10: Ethan's birthday [Dean]
Mon, Jan 10: Marta's birthday [Dean]
Wed, Jan 12: Next issue of newsletter

If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.

4 Bits and tidbits

JerryWe talked on the phone with Jerry on Christmas afternoon. He says he is doing well, has lost 30 pounds, which has brought his blood pressure down, and says he can walk easier, and feels much better. He reported that Jim's sister is really sick and in the hospital, which canceled some of their plans for Christmas day.

Kay's family
Austin Cleverly, son of Kyle and Melissa, received a wonderful gift a few days before Christmas. On Tuesday evening, December 21, he opened his mission call to the Paraguay Asuncion Mission. He enters the MTC on April 13. Austin is the first of Kay's grandsons to be called as a missionary and also the first in the next generation of the entire family.

This week Austin and his family are enjoying a trip to Disneyland.

We also talked on the phone with Kay on Christmas afternoon. He and Karen stayed in southern Utah for the holidays. Christmas afternoon they hosted a dinner at their place for 10 people in their neighborhood who would have otherwise been alone.

Dean's family
Andrew Cleverly, the eight-year-old son of Michael and Shauna, will be baptized and confirmed this coming Saturday in Layton. That is New Year's Day, 1/1/11, a pretty classy date.

Dale's family
We also talked on the phone with Dale on the evening of Christmas day. He reported that Keisha became engaged last Wednesday, just three days before Christmas, to Micah Asay, who is a brother of Kira's husband David.

Dale also mentioned that while working in the Boise Temple on a recent Saturday he met one of my missionary companions in Brazil from more than 40 years ago.

Jackie's family
Jolene Sayer Head graduated from Boise State University on Friday, December 17.

We also talked on the phone with Jackie on Christmas afternoon. She slipped and fell in a store parking lot a couple weeks earlier. Her knee was swollen the day after the accident, but everything seems to be fine now. Nothing broken or sprained.

Relatively speaking
We talked Christmas afternoon with Aunt Berniece Palmer, who lives in Tooele. She turned 87 in late November and says she is doing well and in good health. She has no intention, she said, of living to 99, the age her mother was when she died. She reported that her brother Bill Batt, who lives in Spokane, has been having some health challenges.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the December 1960 and January 1961 diaries 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, but were visiting Ken and Berniece Palmer and Grandma Batt in Grantsville, Utah.

Thurs, Dec 29.  Mother cut me out a new print dress. We put a jig saw puzzle together then Ivard - Dean, Curtis, Jackie & I walked up to store then we came back & had lunch & put another puzzle together. Kids played over to Bernieces most of day.

Fri, Dec 30.  Mother finished my dress & I pressed it & wore it home. We ate over to Bernieces & at 6: Ken & Berniece took us to Salt Lake to catch traine. the train left at 7:30. Jackie was crying with earache. I fixed her a bed & got her to sleep.

Sat, Dec 31.  We got to Nampa at 7:15 the train was over an hr. late. called Gene & he came & got us. I unpacked & Ivard took Ray over to the Bishops to go to Idaho City to church camp sleighing. Ray came home with a sore stomache, run in to tree & got a gash & bruise.

Sun, Jan 1.  Gene did chores and Ivard - Gene & Ray went to Priesthood & sunday school. Fast day so we didn't have breakfast. At 11:30 me & little Kids went to sunday school. Came home at 2: & cooked dinner & we ate. Gene showed Ray how to do dishes in new dish washer. Ivard & Jackie have such a cold they doctored & went to bed at 7: & the rest of us went to church. They ask me to be President of Gospel Doctrine class.

Mon, Jan 2.  I got up & cooked a big breakfast, bacon, eggs, toast, cocoa & grapefruit. Kids played games then went outside & played awhile. Ivard, Gene & Ray went to Middleton & Kids played Kuna & won. Gene made 28 points.

Tues, Jan 3.  Kids went back to school today, after holidays. Ivard took down Xmas tree. At 2: I went to bank & had Int. drawn up on all our bank accounts & put my dimes in bank $9.60. Went to sale & got Kay some ties & socks for his mission & Gene, Ray & Dean & got some for Genes birthday. Ray had supper ready. Ivard & I went in to ward leadership Ivard has to talk in church sunday nite & I helped him find books when we came home.

Wed, Jan 4.  This afternoon I got licence plates for car. Came home & Kids were home from school. Ray got supper & we ate. Gene took Ray over to a scout meeting.

Thurs, Jan 5.  little Kids got out of school at 1:30 for teachers meeting. We played scrabble then Ivard took little Kids to Primary & while he waited for them he got the licence for his pick-up. Ray went over to church after school to help primary kids learn how to tie knots.  We ate & Ivard & I took Gene & Ray & a load of Kids to Homedale to play ball I was score Keeper - Kids won.

Fri, Jan 6.  Ray got supper & we ate & Ivard Gene & Ray went in to High school game & I played Scrabble with Dean & Dale.

Sat, Jan 7.  Ivard & I took the icebox over to Ontario to G&B & left it to be fixed & they let us take one to use until it is. We bought Dean & Dale a bunk bed. stoped at Gails a few min. We came home & Ivard got called to work so I took him in at 3: We droped Dean off at Allens & he stayed all nite. We made the new beds & Dale slept in his.

Sun, Jan 8.  Ivard - Gene & Ray went to priesthool & sunday school. I washed my & Jackies hair then she bathed with me & we went to sunday school. I took charge of class, I'm new President. After sunday school Ray went to Parma to "Order of Arrow" meeting. Gail, Lynda & Kids came just as we got home from church. I cooked dinner & we ate. Gail & Gene froze a freezer of icecream. We all went to church before Gail left. Ray was youth speaker & Ivard had to talk 10 min. on genelogy. They did good.

Mon, Jan 9.  Gene stayed home today & worked on his lessons all day. Dale was home in bed with bad cold.  Dean & Jackie vomited.

Tues, Jan 10.  Kids went to school. Dale was home again in bed. I went to relief society.

Wed, Jan 11.  Gene was only one that went to school today & he didn't feel very good.

6 What in the world

Bowl games
BYU beat UTEP 52-24 in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, December 18. BYU ended its 2010 season much stronger than it began. And Boise State beat Utah 26-3 in the Las Vegas Bowl on Wed­nesday, December 22. Utah ended its 2010 season much weaker than it began.

A white Christmas
Our daughter Eliza and her family enjoyed a white Christmas in Atlanta. Enough snow fell, with the ice beneath it, that church meetings were canceled the next day. Reports were that this is the first white Christmas in Atlanta since the 1980s. Meanwhile, back here in Utah, where in the valleys it had been raining much of the week before Christmas, we had a drab Christmas. Snow did fall the day after Christmas.

7 A final word

A thought from our daughter, Rebecca Cleverly Hoff, entitled "New Beginnings," posted on her blog Way to Be! on Sunday, December 26

 

And so the countdown to the new year begins...

I love this time of year with its fresh beginnings. It feels so hopeful. "This year I can change. This year I can make a difference," we tell ourselves. It's our big chance! We make our lists. Our goals. Our hopes and dreams. Inevitably though, most of us never reach those goals {or so they say}. We end up falling off that proverbial wagon.

But life is really about new beginnings all the time. Sure we have the biggies like New Years, our birthdays, or the beginning of a new school year. But you have a fresh slate

every

single

day!

Isn't that glorious? No matter how much you screwed up yesterday, you can always start fresh again today! You can pick yourself back up and try again. You repent of your past wrong doings or mistakes and just keep trying every day to be a better person! It's about eternal progression. Every day you just "try a little harder, to be a little better" and then one day you find that you have come farther than you ever imagined you could!

1 Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

One hundred and twelve years ago arguably the most famous editorial ever to be published in an American newspaper appeared in the New York Sun on September 21, 1897, under the heading “Is There a Santa Claus.” After his death on April 11, 1906, the Sun broke its policy of editorial anonymity to announce that Francis P. Church had written this editorial. We share it here for your delight at this holiday season.

We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

“Dear Editor: I am 8 years old.

“Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

“Papa says ‘If you see it in The Sun it’s so.’

“Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

“Virginia O'Hanlon.

“115 West Ninety fifth Street.”

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

A very merry Christmas to you all. And God bless us everyone.

2 Quote of the week

"The Atonement is the ultimate gift of both the Father and the Son: of the Father because He allowed His Son to suffer; of the Son because of what He did for us."

— Rollin H. Hotchkiss

(BYU Magazine, Fall 2010, 56;

from a devotional address on Dec. 8, 2009)

3 This week in our family

Our family's calendar for the next two weeks

Wed, Dec 15: Chad & Melissa married 1994 [Kay]
Thurs, Dec 16: Kira's birthday [Dale]
Fri, Dec 17: Ivard & Dorothy married 1934
Sat, Dec 18: Shandi Cleverly-Burdett's birthday [Lyle]
Sun, Dec 19: Brian & Kate married 2003 [Gail]
Mon, Dec 20: Brandon & Nicole married 1997 [Kay]
Mon, Dec 20: Adria Janelle Kersker's birthday [Lyle]

Wed, Dec 22: Doug's birthday [Lyle]
Wed, Dec 22: Crystal Price's birthday [Lyle]
Thurs, Dec 23: Joseph Smith's birthday
Thurs, Dec 23: Dakota's birthday [Lyle]
Fri, Dec 24: Christmas Eve
Fri, Dec 24: Richard & Angie Craine married 2000 [Gail]
Sat, Dec 25: Christmas Day
Sat, Dec 25: Shawn & Shandi Burdett married 2000 [Lyle]
Sun, Dec 26: Jacob Robert Rankin's birthday [Gail]
Tues, Dec 28: Terry & LaWanda Packwood married 1990 [Gene]
Wed, Dec 29: Next issue of newsletter published

If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
The last time Lyle posted on Facebook, he wrote: "Enjoying trip up to Washington, been here in Aberdeen area since Nov. 12. Will fly back home the 11th of Dec., so missing the snow we are getting in Idaho but they got some here in Washington. A lot of places set new records for month of Nov."

Kay's family
Chad and Nicolle had a baby girl on December 11 at 3:37 a.m. Kinslee Higley was 5 pounds 15 ounces and was 18 inches long. Nicolle reported, "We are both doing good."

Dean's family
Talmage and Louise blessed their baby, Olivia Louann Cleverly, on fast Sunday, December 5.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the December 1960 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.

Thurs, Dec 15.  Kay called, he got engaged Sunday. We took Jerry to Boise to air force recruting station to take his physical. Ivard, Jackie & I spent all morning Xmas shopping. We met Jerry at noon, he didnt pass his physical - too nervous so he won't go for at least a yr.

Fri, Dec 16.  I came home from work & got most of my Xmas cards ready to mail, wrote notes in a lot of them. I went up to Dr Lee's & made an appointment for Kay during holidays, mailed cards & got $30. worth of groc.

Sat, Dec 17.  My 26th wedding anniv. Gene was in bed sick all day. Ivard, Ray Dean, Dale & I went to town & got school presents, Xmas tree (4.75) & mailed Lyles Xmas pkg. We ate & they decorated tree.

Sun, Dec 18.  Gene is still sick, flue, I guess. Ray went ward teaching. We all got ready & went to church but Gene came home at 9:30 & I went to bed until time to go to work at 11:

Mon, Dec 19.  Gene was home in bed again today. Ray went to Mutual. They played ball & got beat for first time - Gene is their whole team. Had Turkey dinner at work.

Tues, Dec 20.  Gene still in bed, feels better. Ivard & Jerry went to town to see about the payment we can't make on place & they won't extend it, looks like we will loose it. I made a beanie & apron for Deans school play. Had gift exchange at work, I got a Tussey set.

Wed, Dec 21.  Kay got home tonite. I made the blouse for Deans school play. I never got to bed until after I took Dean in to church to go Xmas carroling & sunday school party. Kay called just as I was leaving for work & Ivard went & got him.

Thurs, Dec 22.  Jerry went & got little kids from school at noon. They woke me up at 3: & I took Kids in to Primary. Kay went to see Bishop & I went & got feed and groc. & Dean a hammer for school play. Ivard, Jerry, Jackie & I went to Kids Xmas school play & Gene & Ray went & played ball. Kay stayed home & watched T.V.

Fri, Dec 23.  We got off work for Xmas holiday don't have to go back until Jan. 9th. I came home & Jerry took Kids to school. I went to bed awhile then I took Jackie to school to Dales party for mothers. brought Kids home & got Ivard & Kay & we went & Paid lites & phone & went to bank & got out laways then went to Caldwell to Gold & Green stamp redemption stores but they were about out of every thing. did some Xmas shopping & came home & ate & all of us but Ivard went in to church Xmas programe & santa clause.

Sat, Dec 24.  I got up & wrapped presents all morning & helped Kids wrap theirs. Lyle called & told Jerry he was comeing up so we got a few things for his Kids. I wasn't supposed to know he was comeing. When we got home Gail - Lynda & Kids were here & brought their presents. They gave me a picture of the 3 Kids, we didn't open any of the rest. I let Debbie & Jeff open one of theirs too.

Sun, Dec 25.  Ivard started on his weeks vacation. Gene got up & did chores then we all got up & opened our presents. We had a good Xmas. I was really surprised I got a deluxe hot point dish washer. Kids were real surprised with record player. Kay played records all day. We ate breakfast & all went to sunday school programe. Lyle, Barbra & boys got here from California about 2:30. They opened their presents & looked at ours & we visited awhile & I fixed supper. I called Gail to tell him Lyle was here & he said for us all to come over tomorrow.

Mon, Dec 26.  at 11: we all got ready & went over to Gails. Lyle & Barbra were already over there. We visited & Lynda fixed dinner & we all ate. Kay was mad at me because we wouldn't go to Salt Lake & I was mad at Ivard. When we got home Ivard said if you're going to Utah you'd better hurry - so we packed like mad & at 7:15 Gene took Ivard & I - Ray - Dean - Dale & Jackie into depot & we caught the traine to Sale Lake. Never even told Lyle goodbye.

Tues, Dec 27.  We got to Salt Lake a 7:30 A.M & I called Ray then called Berniece & she came in from Grantsville & got us at 10:30. Kay called Petersons & they came & got him, he's going to stay at Ruth & Rays & go back to school after holidays with one of professors. We saw what they got for Xmas & visited. Mother fixed lunch. Kids played over to Bernieces most of the day. We went over to Bernieces & had supper & Kent showed us some of their home movies. We all slept over to Mothers but Dean & he stayed with Curtis & Kent.

Wed, Dec 28.  Lyle went home & Jerry went with him.

6 What in the world

First Presidency Christmas message
"In celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ our thoughts turn to that sacred occasion when He was born 'The Prince of Peace' (Isaiah 9:6). He promised: 'He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life' (John 8:12). Truly, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer who was 'wounded for our transgressions . . . and with his stripes we are healed' (Isaiah 53:5).

"Our prayer this Christmas season is that the light and testimony of the Savior's divine mission will come into our hearts and be reflected in our lives and in our homes.

"May each of us be blessed, not only at this Christmas season, but also throughout the coming year. May our faith in Jesus Christ increase as we follow His example in all we do and say."

Bowl games
The first bowl game of the season will be in New Mexico on Saturday, December 18, at 2:00 p.m., with BYU meeting UTEP. Boise State will meet Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on Wednesday, December 22, at 8:00 p.m. Both games will be carried on ESPN.

Wacky weather
So, what's up with Atlanta being colder than northern Utah? And snow dumping all over western Washington?

7 A final word

We are just ten days away from Christmas. The day we celebrate the birthday of Jesus. A magical time for children and all the young at heart. A holy time for faithful followers of the Savior. A time for family and traditions and joyous music. A season of service and hope and good will. A time, hopefully, when our better natures prevail.

We take this opportunity at this holiday season to wish all of you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. And, as expressed by Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, "God bless us, every one!"

1 Is there room in the inn?

The Christmas story, as told in the book of Luke, tells of Joseph and Mary traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem and, while they were there, Mary bringing forth her firstborn son and laying him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (see Luke 2:4-7; emphasis added).

Each of us, some two thousand years later, plays the role of innkeeper. Each of us decides whether there is room for Him in our hearts and in our lives.

What? you may say. No room for Jesus?

Yet, we may unwittingly, unconsciously leave no room for Him because of the cares of daily living, the very busy-ness of our lives, especially at this hectic season of the year.

If we ignore the needy and less fortunate, the lonely and suffering, the aged and the children, or those whom Jesus referred to as the least among us (see Matthew 25:40), then we are saying we have no room for Him.

If we fail to keep His commandments (see John 14:15), which center in loving and serving God and in loving and serving our neighbor (see Matthew 22:36-40), then we are saying we have no room for Him.

If we forget to take time to ponder and pray and to thank Him for His abundant blessings and tender mercies (see D&C 59:21), then we are saying we have no room for Him.

As the final verse of one of our beloved carols, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," reminds us,

How silently, how silently
The wondrous give is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav'n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

Our Christmas wish is that our inns will not be too full and that we will allow the dear Christ to enter in.

2 Quote of the week

"The Atonement has been written about for centuries by prophets both ancient and modern, but is it written in our hearts? The Atonement is not an academic abstract that is learned like the multiplication tables. If we are prepared, . . . the Atonement can sink deep in our hearts and fill us with wonder."

— Rollin H. Hotchkiss

(BYU Magazine, Fall 2010, 55;

from a devotional address on Dec. 8, 2009)

3 This week in our family

Our family's calendar for the next two weeks

Thurs, Dec 2: Talmage & Louise married 2006 [Dean]
Fri, Dec 3: Hannah Grace Kersker's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, Dec 4: Curtis's birthday [Ray]
Tues, Dec 7: Brian's birthday [Gail]
Wed, Dec 8: Aric's birthday [Lyle]
Wed, Dec 8: Dustin & Michelle Duay married 2002 [Gail]
Wed, Dec 8: Aaron Challis's birthday [Dean]

Thurs, Dec 9: Chuck McAllister's birthday [Kay]
Sun, Dec 12: Ronnie's birthday [Gene]
Sun, Dec 12: Tanner Hoff born and died 1995 [Dean]
Sun, Dec 12: McCall's birthday [Kay]
Tues, Dec 14: James died 1999 [Dean]
Wed, Dec 15: Chad & Melissa married 1994 [Kay]
Wed, Dec 15: Next issue of newsletter published

If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.

4 Bits and tidbits

Lynda's family
Angie "believes cousins are the first friends of our lives." She continued in her Facebook post: "When you grow up, they are still your friends. Repost this if you have some of the best cousins in the world!! They may not be part of your daily life, but they are never far from your thoughts and memories!! Love You ALL."

On Thanksgiving evening she posted: "What a great day! We didn't get to go to Laramie for turkey; however, Dick and I cooked and took a plate to Grandma Lynda and Aunt Debbie." She went on to explain that Lynda has a broken ankle and Debbie had had two molars pulled the day before.

Dean's family
Claudia and I flew home Sunday morning from a week visiting Paul and Eliza and their two little boys in Atlanta, where Paul is in his third year of pharmacy school at Mercer University. A week ago Sunday, the one just before Thanksgiving, our four-year-old grandson Peter was in his first Primary sacrament meeting program and, of course, was absolutely darling. And on Thanksgiving morning Paul ran the Atlanta half marathon with his best time ever (01:49). He certainly earned his Thanksgiving dinner.

Pete, Anna, and Miles returned Tuesday afternoon from their visit with Rachael, Robert, and their four girls in Illinois.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the December 1960 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.

Thurs, Dec 1.  Got home from Salt Lake. I got in to Nampa on 6:30 A.M train & had call boy call boy Ivard at Boise & tell him to pick me up, he was just leaving for home.

Fri, Dec 2.  Gene went to work with Ivard & sold candy bars. Jackie got me up at 1:30 & we went after Kids, got nearly there before I found out it was only 1:30 so we came back & I got diary up. I went after Kids at 3:30.

Sat, Dec 3.  I came home from work & went to bed & Jerry woke me up at noon when him & Ray got home from selling Xmas decorations & cards & we went to Adrian  & Nyssa selling cards. Jerry Ray, Dean & I. we went to Gails awhile & they sold him 2 boxws cards & a Xmas decoration.

Sun, Dec 4.  Jerry - Gene & Ray went to Priesthood at 9:15. Ivard got up & took little Kids to sunday school & I never heard any thing. Jerry got dinner & woke me up at 2:30 to make gravy. Ray delivered fast offerings

Mon, Dec 5.  Bishop called to say Kay was going to Andes Mission.

Tues, Dec 6.  I had to get pushed clear to Caldwell to start car & it was so cold & wind shield was froze up. Ivard took car in to Dobbs & waited until they tore it down, needs a complete overhall. I went to Wards & bought bought a Sterio-hy-fy for Xmas. Went to Dobbs & looked at new cars, they let us borrow an old one while they are fixing ours.

Wed, Dec 7.  The car Dobbs lent us froze up on me & I had to stop at Service station & have it thawed out. I was froze to death. I made some pop corn & got warm. Ray went in & had physical for basketball then they went roller skateing with Owyhee ward sunday school class.

Thurs, Dec 8.  Called Kay to tell him he had his mission call to Andes Mission.

Fri, Dec 9.  at 5:30 Ivard & I went in to garage & got car then bought a couple of 29 cent presents for gift exchange at Mutual officers Party at church. We went at 7:30 & had barbacue Turkey supper & danced & had gift exchange. My nite off.

Sat, Dec 10.  Ivard got home at 6: & put his cold feet on me. Gene did chores & made hot cakes for breakfast. Jerry - Gene, Ray & I went to town Xmas shopping. We came home & I mixed up a freezer of icecream & Ivard froze it while Jerry fixed hambergers & trimmings & punch for supper.

Sun, Dec 11.  Jerry - Gene - Ray - Dean & Dale went to Priesthood and sunday school. made no bake cookies & a freezer of icecream & Gene & Jerry froze it & we ate when Ivard came at 4: then they watched "Wizzard of OZ" & I wrote Mother

Mon, Dec 12.  I got up at 2:30 & went to town & mailed Kays mission call & went Xmas shopping.

Tues, Dec 13.  Jackie & I went to relief society work day & Xmas party & Jerry went up to see the air force recruiter. We had a Turkey dinner & all the trimmings furnished by the Presidency, sure good. Had a programe & made Xmas center pieces. I learned how to make a towel pillow.

Wed, Dec 14.  Jerry went to see the air force guy. He was only one out of 7 to pass test yesterday. He failed misserably, the guy said, ont he electronic & mechanic part. the office part he was highest in area.

6 What in the world

College football
Auburn, Oregon, and TCU are the top-ranked teams across all the polls. Utah (now ranked 20th in the BCS standings) beat BYU last Saturday by one point, 17-16.

Christmas devotional
The annual First Presidency Christmas devotional will be held this coming Sunday, December 5, at 6:00 p.m. MST. The devotional will include Christmas messages from the First Presidency and music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. Originating from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, the devotional will also be available on various broadcast, cable, satellite, and Internet television stations and broadcast, satellite, and Internet radio stations throughout the world.

7 A final word

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving. And now our attention turns toward Christmas. We think about and hopefully are grateful for the many gifts in our lives, the tender mercies that come in unexpected moments from our Heavenly Father.

Of course the greatest gift of all is His sending His Son into mortality. What a remarkable gift! That is, after all, the reason we even celebrate Christmas. And it is by far the greatest evidence of His love for us.

But there are daily reminders, the spiritual gifts He sends along the way to lift and bless our own lives and to help us be more profitable servants in lifting and blessing the lives of those about us. Such gifts, the Lord has said, "are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do” (D&C 46:9).

There are many kinds of gifts. The scriptures mention some common ones found among true disciples of the Savior: faith, testimony, hope, charity, administration, teaching, wisdom, knowledge, the faith to heal, the faith to be healed, the working of miracles, prophecy, the administration of angels, discerning of spirits, tongues, the interpretation of tongues (see, for example, 1 Corinthians 12­–14; Moroni 10:8–23; and D&C 46:8–26).

Five marvelous chapters in the scriptures (1 Corinthians 12-14, Moroni 10, and section 46 of the Doctrine and Covenants) contain the most comprehensive listing of spiritual gifts.

Elder Marvin J. Ashton, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1915–1994), on one occasion pointed out some less con­spicu­ous spiritual gifts that we may enjoy: “The gift of asking; the gift of lis­tening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding con­tention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repeti­tion; the gift of seek­ing that which is righteous; the gift of not pass­ing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of be­ing a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing mighty testi­mony; and the gift of re­ceiv­ing the Holy Ghost” (“There Are Many Gifts,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20).

And a final gift that is worthy of particular mention this time of year: the loved ones in our lives. Family members. Friends. Associates. Let us during this holiday season and always treasure those relationships that enrich and bless and lift our lives. Let us be grateful for the people who make our journey through life worthwhile.

1 A psalm of praise

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

— Psalms 100:1–5

2 Quote of the week

"Gratitude is a divine principle. . . . Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate  our blessings. . . . Our lives are blessed in countless ways."

— Thomas S. Monson

("The Divine Gift of Gratitude," Ensign, Nov. 2010, 88)

3 This week in our family

Our family's calendar for the next two weeks

Sat, Nov 20: Ivard died 1988
Sun, Nov 21: Clifford Rankin's birthday [Gail]
Mon, Nov 22: Dean & Claudia married 1972 [Dean]
Mon, Nov 22: Keisha's birthday [Dale]
Thurs, Nov 25: Thanksgiving Day
Fri, Nov 26: Cade & Rebecca Hoff married 1994 [Dean]
Sun, Nov 28: Melissa's birthday (Chad's wife) [Kay]
Wed, Dec 1: Next issue of newsletter published

If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
Lyle called on Tuesday, November 9, to report that he was leaving that day to fly to Seattle to visit with his kids in Washington. Doug was getting married on Friday, November 12. Lyle was going to be staying with Stan's family and Terry's family until after Thanksgiving. His kids didn't want him to be driving that far, plus he probably wasn't really up to it after his recent surgery (he had four stents put in).

Kay's family
On Monday evening I spoke with Kay to wish him a happy birthday. It had been a good day, he said. He had heard from his children and from Jerry, who had kindly called him that morning. He and Karen had spent much of the day digging Christmas decorations out of storage and starting to decorate for the holidays. They had gone into town and had lunch at the Red Lobster.

For the Thanksgiving weekend Kay and Karen plan to drive to northern Utah next Wednesday and spend the holiday at Andrea's place. All of Kay's children who live in Utah, except Rhett, will be together for Thanksgiving dinner. Rhett and Celeste will be going to be with Celeste's father.

Kay works two mornings a week, from 6:00 a.m. until noon on Thursdays and Fridays, as an ordinance worker in the St. George Temple.

Dean's family
Claudia and I flew to St. Louis on Thursday, November 4, rented a car, and drove the two and a half hours to Robert and Rachael's place in Harrisburg, Illinois. We were there to meet our newest granddaughter, Eleanor Adelia Hodson, who had been born the previous week on Friday morning, October 29, in Evansville, Indiana. Paul and Eliza and their two boys also made the seven-hour drive from Atlanta to spend the weekend with us. They returned home to Georgia Sunday evening. Claudia and I flew home to Utah Tuesday afternoon.

For the past while I have been publishing the newsletter weekly—sort of—with some gaps here and there occasioned by travel or sickness. I have decided that beginning this month I am now going to publish every other Wednesday. So there will yet be three more issues between now and the end of the year: December 1, December 15, and December 29.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the November 1960 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.

Thurs, Nov 17.  Gene did chores & him, Ray & I ate & They went to Nyssa to play Gails team basket ball & I went to bed. When Dean, Dale & Jackie came from Primary Dean fixed them something to eat. Gene stayed over to Gails after game.

Fri, Nov 18.  I came home from work. Ray didn't go to school. He helped me & I made 4 apple pies, & 8 cinnamon rolls & he poped corn & we baged up 6 bags of carmel corn & 11 of green mother goose corn & got it all ready to take to bizzar then I went to bed for 1 1/2 hrs then at 4: Ray, Jackie, & I took stuff to church to bizzar & Ray stayed to help. Ivard did chores & took Kids in to church & they ate & saw show & had fish pond.

Sat, Nov 19.  Ray took Kids & went to school Karnival & opening of new Scism lunch room building. He won cake.

Sun, Nov 20.  I came home from work & went to bed. Ivard took Kids to sunday school. I got up at 2:45 & Gail & Lynda had brought Gene home. Ray had made hambergers.

Mon, Nov 21.  I came home from work & took Dean to school. Dale was sick & didn't go.

Tues, Nov 22.  Jackie & I went to relief society. We came home at 12:30 & went to bed at 1:. They were through with beets when we got home & Ivard was in with last load. They didn't do very good, too weedy. Ivard - Gene & Ray went to Caldwell to play ball. Kay called at 11: & I went out by Kings & got him.

Wed, Nov 23.  I'm off until Sunday nite. I came home from work & Kay took Kids to school & I hurried & made 5 pumpkin pies & Kay took 2 of them to school for Kids Thanksgiving dinner. Gene didn't go to school, he picked a load of corn. Jerry rode up from Utah with Verl Cleverly & Kay & Kids went in & picked him up at 6: Ivard killed & cleaned a turkey & cut Kays hair.

Thurs, Nov 24.  I got up at 8: & made biscuits & cooked eggs & had grapefruit & we ate when Gene got chores done. Kay took Gene in to ball practice at 9:45 & he went over to Caldwell to be interviewed by President Isin for mission. When Kay & Gene got home at noon we all got ready & went over to Gails to Thanksgiving dinner, Turkey & all the trimmings. sure good. The Blanch's were there too, 19 of us.

Fri, Nov 25.  I put a turkey in oven & washed & iorned all morning. Ivard had to be at Small claims court at 10: about a bill we owe co-op. Kay went to hospital & had a blood test to go on mission. Ray went selling the Xmas centerpieces he makes & Dean made a cranberry Jello salad & I made dressing & cooked yams & when the guys came home ate our Thanksgiving dinner & Ivard & I, Jerry & Kay went over to Nyssa Stake House to Pete Bryce & Mair Bair's wedding reception had fun dancing.

Sat, Nov 26.  I got up at 5: A.M & fixed Kay a lunch & took him in to catch the bus for Rexburg. He had to be back for conference to be interviewed by general athority. The bus was an hr. late. Jerry & Ray went selling Rays Xmas centerpieces then Ray came home & made 3 more & went & sold them.

Sun, Nov 27.  I made turkey soup for supper & we ate when Ivard & Kids got home. Mother called about 10: from Idaho Falls to say aunt Pearl died, Mother sold her place.

Mon, Nov 28.  real frosty this morning, could hardly scrape it off car windows. I came home from work & Jerry changed beds & did the washing & made some cranberry sauce & cranberry bread. Gene did chores then I took Gene -  Ray & Dean to Mutual. Court of Honor & Dean pinned 2nd class badge on me.

Tues, Nov 29.  Jackie & I went in to relief society conference & work day. droped Jerry off at unemployment office, he didn't find any work. Had good dinner. I had bath & packed bag & cought 8:30 traine for Salt Lake.

Wed, Nov 30.  I got in Salt Lake at 7:30 A.M & called Ruth & Ray but they were already to work so I called Ruth C. & she came & got me & we visited awhile & I changed & at 10:30 she took me up to Bountiful Mortuary & I met Mother & them. We stayed there until 11:45 then went to Bountiful 4th Ward to Aunt Pearl Batt Hulse's funeral. they are takeing her to Rigby to bury tomorrow. We went back to mortuary awhile then up to my cousins Beth Hulse Pearce & then Ken, Bern. & Mother took me down to Ruths & I changed & they droped me off at Deseret Book store on their way home to Grantsville at 5: I bought a few things & walked 4 blocks down to U.P. Station & got a mag. & read until 7:30 P.M. when I cought train for home.

6 What in the world

Football rankings
Boise State (with a 9-0 season thus far) is ranked 3rd in the AP, USA Today, and ESPN polls, and 4th in the BCS Standings. Following two weeks of losses, Utah (now with an 8-2 record) dropped in the polls to 23rd in the BCS, 24th in the USA Today, and 25th in the AP. Oregon and Auburn are 1st and 2nd in all the polls.

New handbooks
On November 13, the Church held a worldwide leadership training broadcast for stake and ward priesthood and auxiliary leaders to introduce the new Church handbooks. The archived broadcast is available for viewing at a link on lds.org

7 A final word

How easy it is in times of ease and pros­perity to forget the Giver of all good things in our lives.

The Lord warns us: "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments" (D&C 59:21).

Abraham Lincoln said essentially the same thing in these words: "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in number, wealth, and power as no other Nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multi­plied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the de­ceitfulness of our hearts, that these bless­ings were produced by some superior wis­dom and virtue of our own. Intoxi­cated with unbroken success we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us.

"It behooves us, then, to humble our­selves before the offended power, to con­fess our . . . sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness" (Abraham Lincoln, Man of God, John Wesley Hill, 391).

Though written a century and a half ago, these words fit our situ­ation to­day as much or more so than they did in 1863. Let us be grateful. Let us keep His command­ments. Let us, as the ancient pro­phet urged, "live in thanks­giving daily" (Alma 24:38), not just at Thanksgiving time but every day of our lives.

The reminder is timely. It was reiterated by our living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, in his main address on Sunday morning of general conference. "A grateful heart," he said, "comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for his blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives" ("The Divine Gift of Gratitude," in Ensign,  Nov. 2010, 89).

Apparently we could all be a little more grateful than we have been—both to our gracious God and to family, friends, and associates who bless our lives in so many ways.

A happy Thanksgiving to you all.

1 Election results

Sixteen years ago, during the midterm elections of 1994, the Republicans gained control of the U.S. House of Representatives. It was in the middle of Bill Clinton's first term as President. And it was the first time the Republicans had held a majority in the House since 1954, forty years earlier.

By the time I went to bed last night, it appeared history was again repeating itself. The Republicans were projected to regain control of the House in the middle of Barack Obama's first term. (Some, of course, would hope to insert here his only term, but we will have to leave that to the future to determine.)

The Tea Party movement certainly had a marked influence on yesterday's outcomes, as well as broad unease about the economy and widespread and deeply felt concern about the overall direction our country is headed.

According to an early report in the New York Times, "California voters rejected a ballot initiative on Tuesday that would have legalized marijuana for recreational use. . . .

"Across the country, voters in dozens of states weighed in not just on candidates but on all matter of issues large and small, more than 150 of them in all. In Rhode Island, voters decided not to change the name of the state, which is officially 'Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.' Arizona put an end to affirmative action programs. Oklahoma made English its official language. There were municipal initiatives as well, including a zany one in Denver that called on the city to set up a 'extraterrestrial affairs committee' to look into UFOs.

"In Washington state, voters rejected an initiative creating the state’s first income tax, exclusively on individuals who earn more than $200,000. . . . In Massachusetts, voters endorsed wiping out the sales tax for alcohol, but rejected rolling back the 6.25 percent sales tax to 3 percent.

"Three ballot measures in Colorado that would have cut the state income tax and sharply restricted government borrowing and property taxes for schools were overwhelmingly defeated. Voters also rejected an antiabortion amendment to the Colorado Constitution that would have conferred rights 'to every human being from the beginning of the biological development.'

"In Arizona and Oklahoma, voters approved measures aimed at preventing President Obama’s health care legislation from going into effect. Colorado voters rejected a similar measure."

2 Quote of the week

Ben Franklin, already into his 80s and the senior statesman at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, made the following observation concerning the newly adopted Constitution that has now survived for more than two centuries.

"Our new constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

— Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

3 This week in our family

Our family's calendar for the next two weeks

Thurs, Nov 4: Andrew's birthday [Dean]
Thurs, Nov 4: Vince & Mary married 2006 [Dean]
Fri, Nov 5: Liz's birthday [Gail]
Fri, Nov 5: Angie's birthday [Gail]
Sun, Nov 7: Fast Sunday
Sun, Nov 7: Dayvis's birthday [Lyle]
Mon, Nov 8: Michael Duay's birthday [Gail]
Tues, Nov 9: Paul Challis's birthday [Dean]
Tues, Nov 9: Garrett Reher's birthday [Ray]
Wed, Nov 10: Nevaeh Jennavieve Peterston's birthday [Lyle]
Thurs, Nov 11: Kay & Karen married 2006 [Kay]
Thurs, Nov 11: Veterans Day
Mon, Nov 15: Kay's birthday [Kay]

If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
Tami Riley posted Monday on Facebook that she is having her gall bladder removed next week on the 8th. We wish her well.

Gail's family
We do not know all the details, but on Saturday Angie posted on Facebook: "What an eventful week this was! Michelle and her babes were here. Zander broke his mommy's nose (Michelle), and my mom broker her leg on Thursday. She will be seeing the doc on Monday and then we will know when she will have surgery. What a silly old girl. She forgets that her body is a lot older than her mind."

Gene's family
We did not know Kimberley had been in the hospital, but she also posted on Facebook on Saturday: "I am so glad to be out of the hospital. Five days is way too long! On the good side, I will be fine (well, maybe a little crazy for 30 days). No cancer. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Love ya."

Dean's family
Rachael gave birth to Eleanor Adelia Hodson last Thursday, October 29, in Evansville, Indiana. Little Eleanor weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. Mother and baby are doing fine, but they did not get to return home until yesterday, November 2, because of the baby's low blood sugar. Claudia and I leave tomorrow to go visit them in their southern Illinois home (hence no newsletter will be published next week).

Jackie's family
Sunday was Jackie's birthday. I called her that afternoon to wish her a happy birthday. She said that Jeff and Jolene had come to visit from Emmett and were fixing Sunday dinner for her.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the November 1960 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.

Thurs, Nov 3.  Kids got home at 1:30, teacher meeting - Dean & Dale. I got up at 2:15 & took Kids & went to bank then took Kids to Primary. I felt so bad I had Ray call in & lay me off.

Fri, Nov 4.  Got note from Kay. I got up & helped Kids off to school. I did 6 qts cauliflower & put in freezer & Jerry made a German choclate cake & I frosted it then at 1: Jerry, Jackie & I went to Caldwell & took our 7 Gold Strike books & 6 green stamp book & got Xmas for Kids. took Jackie to see toys in Sears & drug Store. Gene did chores & went in to game, beat Boise 22 to 6. The rest of us went over to Owyhee ward to home comeing party & programe on Jerry. Ivard & I had to talk.

Sat, Nov 5.  I got up at 8: & fed guys. Ivard didn't do beets today. He watched game & fixed car & water & drain. I went to bed at 6:30 but never did get to sleep. Kids came in then Gail Lynda & Kids brought Jerry home & it was so noisy. Ray made pop corn & had mess all over.

Sun, Nov 6.  I came home from work & went to bed. Gene & Ray went to a meeting before priesthood. Ivard - Jerry & little Kids went to priesthood & sunday school.

Mon, Nov 7.  Jerry - Gene & Ray went to Mutual.

Tues, Nov 8.  I came home from work & Ivard was home & in bed. There wasn't any water so I got him up while I got ready he took pump motor off & I took it to town to be fixed & went to relief society work day. I made a rose corsage for bizzar. We had a real good dinner. At 6:30 Ivard & I went over to Homedale church to Stake genelogy Turkey banquet. It was sure good. We got home at 10:15 I laid down 1/2 hr. & went to work at 11:

Wed, Nov 9.  Kennedy got president of U.S, demo.

Thurs, Nov 10.  I got up at 3: & took Jackie in to Primary. Put a big pot of beans in oven to bake all nite. Ivard & I went over to Bishop Madison's to genelogy meeting.

Fri, Nov 11.  Kids took Dean selling Xmas cards & Jerry borrowed his money & went to Utah about 2: I got up at noon & Ivard & I went to Caldwell to last foot ball game of Season. Nampa won 27 to 6. Gail was to game & went home & got Lynda & Kids & came over & Ray tended Kids & we went bowling. Ivard & I won both games & didn't have to pay.

Sat, Nov 12.  Ivard got bumped & is now on extra board. Ivard went to work at 3:30. At 6:30 I took Gene in to John's to stay all nite & go to Stake dance. I went to show "Psyco," pretty good. My nite off.

Sun, Nov 13.   Wrote Lyle 14 page letter Ray took Kids & went to priesthood & sunday school. This afternoon I made some no-bake cookies & Ray made some cracker Jack pop corn. I wrote Lyle all afternoon.

Mon, Nov 14.  didn't mail Lyles letter, no stamp

Tues, Nov 15.  First Snow storm. mailed Lyles letter. Ray went ward teaching. Jackie & I went to relief society. It snowed hard all morning & most of afternoon but melted tonite. Ivard laid off & went to Father & Sons foot ball banquet.

Wed, Nov 16.  Mrs Schroll came selling Avon for about an hr. & I bought $17. worth for Xmas.

6 What in the world

Giants win World Series
This year's World Series began Wednesday, October 27, and ended Monday, November 1, with the San Francisco Giants winning 4 games to 1 against the Texas Rangers in the best-of-seven series. It was the Giants' first World Series win since 1954.

Utah moves up in polls
Utah, ranked 5th in this week's BCS standings, showed up 6th in the AP Top 25, the USA Today, and ESPN's polls. Boise State was ranked 4th in the BCS standings, 3rd in the USA Today poll, and 2nd in both the AP Top 25 and ESPN polls. Oregon was ranked 1st in all four polls.

7 A final word

If you're a normal, sane person, then you probably agree that it's nice to have the political wrangling and contention over for a season. Of course, there are still the pundits who will have all the answers as to why this candidate or that lost the election or as to why this measure or that failed at the ballot box.

But for now, let's put the boxing gloves away and all be Americans for a while.

As a matter of principle, I happen to believe the Constitution of the United States was inspired of God. Under the umbrella of that inspired document, our whole system works, for better or worse, insofar as we care to abide by the foundational principles that undergird it and insofar as we elect honest, wise, and good people to administer it. And while there seem to be notable exceptions on both sides of the aisle, I have come to conclude that neither of our political parties has any monopoly on honesty, wisdom, or goodness.

I think, by and large, we pretty much get what we deserve.


Please note: There will be no issue of the newsletter next week. Expect one again in two weeks (on Wednesday, November 17).

1 My first bike

I remember getting my first bicycle. It was on Thursday, June 11, 1959, my brother Jerry's twenty-first birthday. He was off serving a mission in Canada at the time. (I know the date only because my mom recorded the purchase in her diary.)

I had been earning and saving money, selling greeting cards, thinning sugar beets, and other such stuff a nine-year-old boy was able to do. On our farm we used to get paid for thinning or hoeing sugar beets, something like 25 cents a row, as I remember. And they were long, long rows. I don't think we were paid for anything else around the farm. Except grades. I think in an effort to en­courage Ray and Dale to get better grades at school, my parents used to pay for each A on the report card. I didn't need the encouragement, since my report card was typically filled with A's, but I reaped the benefit since they had to be fair about it.

Finally, after a lot of time and effort, I had accumulated the $50 I needed. Well, I actually had $28, and my brother Gene loaned me $22. We went to the bike store in Nampa to pick out my bike. I chose a blue Schwinn. A one-speed.

And then, to my wounded sense of fair play and justice, my parents pro­ceeded to pick one out for Dale, who was seven. His was a red one. A little smaller than mine. He hadn't earned a penny toward his, and here they thought if I had one he should too. Because he was littler than I was. How unfair can life be?

I didn't appreciate it at the time, but my bike was far more fun to have because Dale had one too.

I don't remember particularly when or where I first learned to ride a bike. But I remember clearly that first day we were home with them, and we started circling the open yard where the cars and pickups and tractors and other stuff parked, and seven-year-old Dale was headed straight toward the side of the barn yelling, "How do I stop this thing?" For­tu­nately, neither boy nor bike was too seriously injured as a result of his collision with the barn.

2 Quote of the week

"The liberties of our country, the freedoms of our civil Constitution are worth defending at all hazards; it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors. They purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood. It will bring a mark of everlasting infamy on the present generation—enlightened as it is—if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of designing men."

— Samuel Adams (1722-1803)

3 This week in our family

Thurs, Oct 28: Andrew born and died 1966 [Kay]
Thurs, Oct 28: Meghan's birthday [Dean]
Thurs, Oct 28: Christopher & Camilla Taylor married 2004 [Dean]
Thurs, Oct 28: Nathan & Amber Thomas married 2006 [Lyle]
Fri, Oct 29: Bobbie Real's birthday [Gene]
Sat, Oct 30: Randy's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, Oct 30: Jeremy Harned's birthday [Gail]
Sun, Oct 31: Jackie Sayer's birthday [Jackie]
Sun, Oct 31: Jaxson's birthday [Kay]

Mon, Nov 1: Dorothy died 1982
Mon, Nov 1: Dylan Rager's birthday [Dale]
Wed, Nov 3: Stan & Patty married 1978 [Lyle]

If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.

4 Bits and tidbits

Haven't heard much from anyone in the past week or so. Hope you're all doing well. Tomorrow evening, unless it happens before then, our daughter Rachael will give birth to her fourth daughter, Eleanor Hodson. That's when the doctor will induce Rachael since hers is classified as a high-risk pregnancy. Little Eleanor will be Claudia's and my 20th grandchild.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the October and November 1960 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.

Thurs, Oct 27.  I came home from work & got Kids & took them to school. Ivard was home & gone to do beets again. I ate & went to bed until 2: then I took Jerry in to Dr. he didn't see him, left after sitting an hr & half. I took Jackie & bought her 2 pr. shoes & lad her away a Xmas dress & took her to Primary.

Fri, Oct 28.  I made 3 pumpkin pies & 4 pie shells & Jerry made chilli. I laid down an hr. & got Jackie to sleep then I went to town & got feed & Ray & Dean went & got stuff to decorage for haloween then they decorated front room. My & Ivards nite off. We all went to foot ball game but Dean, Dale & Jackie Homecomeing, beat Twin Falls It really poured on us on & off. had nice half time 26 floats & 11 queen canidates.

Sat, Oct 29.  Jerry - Gene & Kids cleaned the garage most of day. I made 4 lemon pies & washed cloths & iorned all day. This afternoon Jerry & I went to town & got favors & stuff for Jackies birthday party. Gene & Ray went to Stake dance.

Sun, Oct 30.  We all got ready & went to Stake Conference but Ivard & Jackie. It sure was good. Harold B. Lee was up. We came home & hurried & fixed lunch & Ivard & Jackie went with us to afternoon Session. Jerry had to talk this afternoon. Made gum drop men for favors for Jackies party.

Mon, Oct 31.  Jackie is 4 today. I came home from work. I laid down an hr then went to town & got Jackies haloween birthday cake & 2 dz. cup cakes & icecream & came home & Jerry had house all cleaned up. At 2:15 Lynda brought Debbie, Jeff & Kristine to Jackies Party & at 2:45 Helen Kotter came & brought all the other Kids & we had Jackies Party 9 girls & 4 boys they had a lot of fun & got a lot of things. We gave her table & chair set, chrome. gave each girl a watch & the boys a stage coach & they were really tickled. We had a family party & barbacue & Gene took little Kids trick or treeting then him Jerry & Ray went to Mutual Party.

Tues, Nov 1.  I came home from work & Jackie & I went to relief society. then we went to bank & I started a new Pioneer checking account. Jerry washed & cooked supper.

Wed, Nov 2.  I came home from work & Ivard was home & laying down. Jerry & I had a malted milk & I took pick-up in to service station to have brakes fixed. They let me take a pick-up to come home in & I went in at 5:30 & got ours & picked up Gene & neighbor from ball practice.

6 What in the world

World Series
Game 1 of the 2010 World Series begins tonight with the Texas Rangers playing the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco. This is the first time ever the Rangers have played in a World Series.


Football rankings
Boise State is ranked 2nd in the AP, USA Today, and ESPN polls. They are 3rd in the BCS standings. Utah is ranked 7th in the USA Today poll and 8th in all the others.


Groundbreaking for new temple
President Thomas S. Monson, joined by civic leaders and other Church leaders and members from Italy, officially broke ground this past week (on Saturday, October 23) for the new temple that will be built in the suburbs of Rome. First announced two years ago in the October 2008 general conference, the Rome Italy Temple will be the twelfth in Europe and the first in Italy. It will serve some 25,000 members of the Church in Italy, as well as members from other areas throughout the Mediterranean region.

Temple open house in Hawaii
The public is invited to tour the recently renovated Laie Hawaii Temple, the first temple constructed outside the continental United States. The temple was completed in 1919 and originally served the entire Pacific and Asia area. There was not another temple in the Pacific basin until the Hamilton New Zealand Temple was completed in 1958. Today there are five temples in Australia, three in Japan, two in the Philippines (with a third one just announced in the October conference), two in the state of Hawaii, and one each in Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The public open house in Laie runs from Friday, October 22, until Saturday, November 13, except Sundays. The temple will be rededicated on Sunday, November 21.

7 A final word

Last week I shared a piece by Charlie Reese about the mess our politicians have put us in. And then I invited you all to cast an informed vote in next week's elections.

Just consider the following that accompanied Charlie Reese's piece:

Sales tax
School tax
Liquor tax
Luxury tax
Excise taxes
Property tax
Cigarette tax
Medicare tax
Inventory tax
Real estate tax
Well permit tax
Fuel permit tax
Inheritance tax
Road usage tax
CDL license tax
Dog license tax
State income tax
Food license tax
Vehicle sales tax
Gross receipts tax
Social Security tax
Service charge tax
Fishing license tax
Federal income tax
Building permit tax
IRS interest charges
Hunting license tax
Marriage license tax
Corporate income tax
Personal property tax
Accounts receivable tax
Recreational vehicle tax
Workers compensation tax
Watercraft registration tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Telephone Federal excise tax
Telephone state and local tax
IRS penalties (tax on top of tax)
State unemployment tax
Federal unemployment tax
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone Federal universal service fee tax
Gasoline tax
Utility taxes
Vehicle license registration tax
Telephone Federal, state, and local surcharge taxes
Telephone recurring and nonrecurring charges tax

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you spell politicians?

Now, of course, our governments at Federal, state, and local levels need money to operate, but this list seems a bit over the top to me.

Yes, please vote on November 2. Let me say that one more time: VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2! It is one of our fundamental duties as citizens of a free land.

1 Some fun with math

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111 
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111 
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111 
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111 
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111 

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888 
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888 
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888 
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888 
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888 
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888 



Look at this symmetry

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121 
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321 
11111 x 11111 = 123454321 
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321 
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321 
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

2 Quote of the week

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the satisfaction that your vote is never lost.

- John Quincy Adams (1767-1848)

Sixth president of the United States (1825-1829)

3 This week in our family

Thurs, Oct 21: Joshua's birthday [Gail]
Sat, Oct 23: Gena Tully's birthday [Gene]
Wed, Oct 27: James Talmage born 1999 (died 7 weeks later) [Dean]
Wed, Oct 27: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
Lyle called last Wednesday afternoon to report he had just come home from St. Luke's Hospital in Meridian, where he had four stents put in. On Monday, while he was getting potatoes out of his garden, he started feeling dizzy and was sweating and could tell something was wrong, so he called for an ambulance. He had a blocked artery. By the time he called me, he was feeling tired but otherwise pretty good. He said he was told he could not drive a car for three or four days.

Dean's family
The Great Harvest bakery in Everett closed its doors last night for the final time. Chris and Camilla, who will be visiting us here in Utah next week, now move on to the next chapter of their lives. In the short term Chris for about three months will help get a new Great Harvest bakery in Olympia up and going and Camilla will continue as the office manager (or whatever her title is) in the apartment complex where they live.

We forgot to report that nearly a month ago (on Thursday night, September 23) our 19th grandchild was born. Olivia Louann Cleverly was born to Talmage and Louise in Ogden, Utah. She weighed 7 pounds 6 ounces and was 20 inches long.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the October 1960 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.

Thurs, Oct 20. I came home & took Kids to school. Ivard had come home & was gone to do beets. He got home at 7: Gail & Lynda brought Jerry home.

Fri, Oct 21.  I came home from work & went to bed. got up at noon & took Jackie to bed & never woke up until 4: I took Ray in to help on school float & at 5: & went to church & helped with 70's annual banquet until 8:30. Ivard & Kids came in & ate at 7:30. Gene left for Pocotello at 9: this morning. We heard game tonite & they tied 13 to 13. The banquet really went off good this yr. no confusion like last.

Sat, Oct 22.  Jerry & Kids cleaned yard & he made 4 Jello pies. Ray cleaned house. I made a meat pie with biscuits on top & we ate at 7: Ivard & I took Jerry in to Hennis's to go on a blind date with a girl from Melba they went to square dance.

Sun, Oct 23.  Jerry - Gene and Ray went over to Owyhee ward to Priesthood & sunday school. I came home from work & went to bed. at 3:15 Dale & I went in to church to his Primary class party & he got his top pilot wings. at 6: we all went over to Owyhee ward to Jerrys home comeing. He gave a real nice talk. Ivard & I had to sit on stand.

Mon, Oct 24.  I came home from work & Ivard had already come home & taken Gene to school for 8: test & gone to do beets. I sorted cloths & Jerry washed all day & I went to bed. Gene & Ray went to Mutual.

Tues, Oct 25.  I got ready & Jackie & I went in to relief society at 10: Gene went selling candy bars for scouts.

Wed, Oct 26.  A bad wind came up on way to town & about blew me off road, so dusty I had to turn lites on & it really turned cold.

6 What in the world

Football rankings
Boise State (with a 6-0 record this season) is ranked 2nd in the AP Top 25, USA Today, and ESPN rankings and 3rd in the BCS rankings. Utah (also with a 6-0 record) is ranked 9th in all four of the polls. BYU (2-5 for the season) decided not to show up this year.

Early voting
Two-thirds of the states allow registered voters to vote early. For example, family members who live in Utah can vote early starting yesterday through Friday, October 29 (you can find times and polling places at http://vote.utah.gov/). For those of you who live in Idaho or Washington or other states, check locally to see if that option is available to you before the normal election day on Tuesday, November 2.

7 A final word

The elections are soon upon us. I am not endorsing any specific candidate or political party here, but I was impressed when I read the following piece, entitled "545 People," by Charlie Reese, a veteran journalist for 49 years, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel.

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
           
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
           
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
           
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
           
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
           
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
           
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
           
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
           
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
           
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
           
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
           
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
           
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. . . . The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
           
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
           
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted--by present facts--of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
           
If the Army and Marines are in Iraq, it's because they want them in Iraq. If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
           
There are no insoluble (inexplicable/mysterious) government problems.
           
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
           
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
           
They, and they alone, have the power.
           
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
           
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
           
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Now that's a fresh perspective. Please vote on November 2. And cast an informed vote. It could well be the best thing you could do for your country right now.

1 We're still here

Alert readers have pointed out that it's been nearly a month since the last issue of the newsletter was posted. We missed three weeks (the September 22, September 29, and October 6 issues). Blame it on our travels out of state and then my getting sick, leaving me little energy or interest in publishing.

On Thursday afternoon, September 16, Claudia and I flew to St. Louis (and then drove for two and a half hours) to visit Robert and Rachael and their three girls in Harrisburg, Illinois. We got to see their new home, a 107-year-old mansion on a quiet, tree-lined brick street, which they had just moved into a couple weeks earlier. On Sunday morning of that weekend we saw Claudia Sue (age 7) and Esther (age 6) in their branch's Primary sacrament meeting program. Rachael, who is the Primary president, organized the program. Claudia and I returned home to Utah on Monday evening, September 20. [That little trip wiped out the September 22 issue of the newsletter.]

On Friday evening, September 24, Claudia and I flew to Seattle to visit Chris, Camilla, and Sam in Everett, Washington. The Great Harvest Bakery that they have owned there for the past two and a half years is closing its doors for good on Tuesday, October 19. A combination of Everett demographics and a slow economy combined against the bakery's survival. On Sunday morning of that weekend we saw Sam (age 4) in his ward's Primary sacrament meeting program. Camilla, who is the Primary chorister, lead the children in all the songs they sang, including renditions of "I Am a Child of God" in French and Spanish. Claudia and I returned home to Utah on Monday morning, September 27. [That little trip, plus the cold that developed from burning the candle at both ends, wiped out the September 29 issue of the newsletter.]

And then, still dealing with the nasty cold, on Friday evening, October 1, my right knee became inflamed, red, and painful. It kept oozing some combination of chalky white goop and blood. After visits to two different doctors, I am still not sure if it was something like gout (which I can assure you from previous experience is very painful) or an unusual flare up of the calcium deposits I sometimes get from the scleroderma (an autoimmune disorder) that I have had for many years. The symptoms of the two alternatives are apparently pretty much similar. My best guess, based on the progression of the symptoms compared to what I've researched online, is that it's calcinosis from the scleroderma. [That little adventure, wiped out the October 6 issue of the newsletter.]

So, here we are back again. Later this morning I go to the Wound Management Center at LDS Hospital to see what's up next with my angry knee. Stay tuned. Maybe we'll have something further to report next week.