1 The end is here

The end is here. No, not the end of the world. Planet Earth will still be spinning beyond whenever the Mayan calendar was supposed to have ended. But, as you may note in this issue's Final Word, we are discontinuing the Cleverly Newsletter, after 39-plus years, to go serve a mission. This is our final issue. Maybe.

While we are serving as missionaries, we will be unable to continue bringing you reports on what is happening in the family that has grown from Ivard and Dorothy's original nine children to probably a couple hundred people spread now across multiple generations. Or bringing you excerpts from Dorothy's diaries of 50 years earlier. Or sharing pieces of family history.

Some elements of the newsletter will actually still be available to you in different formats: Dorothy's diaries, for example, have already been available at the blog site Dorothy's Idaho Diaries (click on the link or go to http://dorothy-idaho.blogspot.com/). The posts there are the complete entries she wrote half a century ago, not just the excerpts I've shared in the monthly newsletter. I hope to prevail upon one of my children to continue that daily labor of love.

I have compiled a collection of my little Final Word essays from the nearly four decades I have been publishing the Cleverly Newsletter in a book, A Final Word: Messages to My Family. It is available at Lulu.com in paperback for $16.00 (order through me, and I can get it for you for $11.00). It is also available on Amazon.com for the same $16.00. You can search for it by title or its ISBN (978-1-105-88652-2).

Similarly, the collection of family histories I completed some years ago and distributed fairly widely, Batt & Lee Ancestors, is also available at Lulu.com as an eBook for $1.99. 

I do not see clearly what the future may hold. Perhaps after our two-year mission to Winter Quarters we may revive the Cleverly Newsletter in some form, although Claudia and I are hoping that this is just the first of multiple missions we might serve. 

I currently plan to send our immediate family a weekly e-mail reporting on our mission. At this point, I plan to send it as an e-mail, not publish it as a blog. If you care to be added to that mailing list, send me an e-mail saying so and giving me your current e-mail address. My e-mail address is dcleverly@gmail.com.

It's been fun. 

2 Quote of the month

There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ. . . .

Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christ.

— Thomas S. Monson

(First Presidency Christmas devotional, Dec. 4, 2011) 

3 This month in our family

Everybody!
Sun, Dec 2: Fast Sunday
Sun, Dec 2: First Presidency Christmas devotional
Fri, Dec 7: Pearl Harbor remembrance day 1941
Sat, Dec 8: Hanukkah begins at sundown
Sun, Dec 9: Joseph's missionary farewell
Mon, Dec 17: Ivard & Dorothy married 1934
Fri, Dec 21: Winter solstice (shortest day of the year)
Sun, Dec 23: Joseph Smith's birthday 1805
Mon, Dec 24: Christmas Eve
Tues, Dec 25: Christmas Day
Fri, Dec 28: Full moon (Cold moon)
Sun, Dec 30: Dean & Claudia's missionary farewell
Mon, Dec 31: New Year's Eve

Lyle's family
Mon, Dec 3: Hannah Grace Kersker's birthday
Sat, Dec 8: Aric's birthday
Sun, Dec 9: Joseph's missionary farewell
Tues, Dec 18: Shandi Cleverly-Burdett's birthday
Thurs, Dec 20: Adria Janelle Kersker's birthday
Sat, Dec 22: Doug's birthday
Sat, Dec 22: Crystal Price's birthday
Sun, Dec 23: Dakota's birthday
Tues, Dec 25: Shawn & Shandi Burdett married 2000

Gail's family
Fri, Dec 7: Brian's birthday
Sat, Dec 8: Dustin & Michelle Duay married 2002
Wed, Dec 19: Brian & Kate married 2003
Mon, Dec 24: Richard & Angie Craine married 2005
Wed, Dec 26: Jacob Robert Rankin's birthday

Kay's family
Sun, Dec 9: Chuck McAllister's birthday
Tues, Dec 11: Kinslee Higley's birthday
Wed, Dec 12: McCall's birthday
Sat, Dec 15: Chad & Melissa married 1994
Thurs, Dec 20: Brandon & Nicole married 1997
 
Gene's family
Wed, Dec 12: Ronnie's birthday
Fri, Dec 28: Terry & LaWanda Packwood married 1990

Ray's family
Tues, Dec 4: Curtis's birthday

Dean's family
Sun, Dec 2: Talmage & Louise married 2006
Sat, Dec 8: Aaron Marvin Challis's birthday
Wed, Dec 12: Tanner Hoff born and died 1995
Fri, Dec 14: James died 1999
Sun, Dec 30: Dean & Claudia's missionary farewell

Dale's family
Sun, Dec 16: Kira's birthday

Jackie's family
Sun, Dec 30: Rex Sayer's birthday

4 Bits and Tidbits

Lyle's family
As we reported last month, Joseph Card (Lyle's great-grandson and Terry and Becky's grandson) has received a mission call to the California Roseville Mission. He speaks in sacrament meeting on Sunday, December 9, with an open house that evening, before he reports to the Provo MTC on Wednesday, December 19.

Jerry
We spoke with Jerry on the phone on Friday, November 30. We were down visiting Kay and Karen in Hurricane and had made contact with Nancy Shahan (who as Nancy Blades joined the Church in 1964 in Nampa, and Jerry and I were her first home teachers). She now lives in Hurricane, and we looked her up and invited her over to visit. She walked in Kay and Karen's front door as I was on the phone with Jerry, so I handed the phone to Nancy, and she talked briefly with Jerry. We had a nice visit with Nancy catching up on nearly half a century. I had probably last seen her in the mid-1960s.

Kay's family
On Thursday, November 15, Kay celebrated his birthday. On Friday, November 16, he had surgery for an esophageal diverticulectomy. The doctor found a hiatal hernia while in there, so he fixed it also. Karen posted on Saturday, November 17, "Kay's surgery went well. This morning I get to take him home. For Thanksgiving dinner he gets only soft foods. He has not had to take any pain meds at all. We are so grateful for the priesthood and the blessings they administer . . . and the power of prayers. Thank you everyone." 

Claudia and I drove down to Hurricane on Wednesday, November 28, to visit Kay and Karen before we leave on our mission. We arrived there that evening, not long before Kay had to go off to tithing settlement. The delicious meal of soup and salad was Kay's first eating of solid food since his surgery. Karen works all day in the St. George Temple on Thursdays, so that afternoon Kay, Claudia, and I went through an endowment session, which ended just as it was time for Karen to be through. On Friday we visited with Nancy (as reported above under Jerry) and then went exploring: to Pine Valley up behind Pine Mountain, to the site of the Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857, and back to Tuhacan, where in the evening we watched a live enactment (with live animals, a donkey, some sheep, and a camel) of the Nativity. We concluded the evening driving around looking at Christmas lights in St. George and Hurricane. And then Saturday morning, December 1, Claudia and I got in the car and headed home to Bountiful. It was a wonderful few days together.

Chad and Melissa's girls did well at the North American Western Regionals Oireahtas on Saturday, November 17. Danielle place third and Mckenna placed fourth. Melissa posted, "SOOOOOO proud of them. We love you girls."

Dean's family
With our visit these past few days to Kay and Karen in southern Utah (as reported above under Kay's family), we have now had an opportunity to see all our family before we take off for two years to serve at the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters (in Omaha, Nebraska). We visited our daughter Rachael and her family in Harrisburg, Illinois, for a week in September; the family in the Nampa and Boise area (Lyle and Nina, Jerry, Gene and Cheryl, Dale and LeAnn, and Rex and Jackie) in mid-October; and our daughter Eliza and her family in Atlanta, Georgia, right after that October trip to Idaho. And then Kay and Karen. Our travels are now through.

We are excited, however, that both Rachael's and Eliza's family are coming to see us at Christmastime for a week each: Eliza arriving on Christmas Eve and flying home on New Year's Day, and Rachael arriving on the night of Christmas Day and flying home on January 2. They will be here for when Claudia and I speak in sacrament meeting on Sunday morning, December 30, before we enter the Provo MTC on Monday, January 14.

Our son-in-law Cade Hoff has accepted a new job in southern California, a contract position working for the military at Camp Pendleton, which he begins on January 2. (He had been doing a similar job, something to do with computers, for the military at Hill Field here in Utah.) So, the family will be moving from Layton to California just before we take off for our mission.

Dale's family
Dylan and Sarah are expecting their second child this coming summer—at least that's what their Christmas card announced. Exciting!

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the December 1962 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 Colorado Avenue in Nampa, Idaho.

Sat, Dec 1.  Jerry had an appointment with lawyer about his car. I didn't do anything all day, played Scrabble, watched T.V. & washed a batch of cloths. Jerry went to Boise Xmas shopping. Ivard took Dale & Jackie up town to see Santa come on helicopter. My nite off.

Sun, Dec 2.  Jerry took Ray to work at D.Q at 9:30 to 6: Ivard, Jerry, & Dean went to Priesthood & sunday school & Fast meeting. Ivard came home at 11:45 & got Jackie & Dale. They got home from church at 2:40 & I had dinner all on table. I wrote letter to Kay & Gene.

Mon, Dec 3.  Ivard took car up to Dobbs for Motor tune-up & few things fixed. Ivard went to work at 3:30. Ray went to foot Dr. after school. Jerry made a beef stew & I made biscuits & put on top. Jerry took Kids to Mutual & went up town Xmas shopping.

Tues, Dec 4.  Took Jackie to her dancing class. Joe Metcalf brought our pick-up home from Lyles & our Xmas presents from them. Ivards day off, he went up this morning & made a loan at Bank to pay Dobbs for fixing cars. We ate & Ivard & Ray went to Middleton to ball games, wouldn't take Sis after he promised her, she was heart broken.

Wed, Dec 5.  I came home from work & went to bed at 9:30. I woke up at 2: & Ivard was asleep & Jackie was out burning garbage. I cooked a pork loin roast & made dressing & gravy & Ivard cooked mashed potatoes. Dale went to Cub Scouts & when he got home we ate.

Thurs, Dec 6.  Jerry went selling Xmas cards all day. Jerry took Ray to Dr to have bandage on feet changed & took Jackie to Primary. I bought a genealogy book for Lyle for Xmas & Dean typed some things & put in it.

Fri, Dec 7.  I came home from work a half hr. late, made the riders waite out in cold & fog while I borrowed $350. from Simplot Credit Union. Jerry wrapped presents & tended Jackie while Ivard & I went to bank, pd. bills then we went to S&H & Gold Strike Center & got some Xmas Presents. We went to Bullocks in Nampa & bought Ray a gold watch & band for Xmas & Gene a new watch band. got Dean a Elgin watch with Stamps.

Sat, Dec 8.  Drive shaft broke on pick-up so he had Dobbs tow him in & they fixed it. I iorned all afternoon & Jerry took Dale Xmas shopping. Dean scrubbed & cleaned house & changed furniture around. Ray worked at D.Q. 10: to 6: At 2: we all went up & had our 2nd Oral Polio but Ray & he's going tomorrow. Jerry went to work at 6: till close.

Sun, Dec 9.  Gene got picked on Junior College All Star team. was in Paper today. Jerry had to speak in 3rd Ward with High Council. I wrote to Kay & Gene.

Mon, Dec 10.  Ray didn't get up in time to go to school so he stayed home today & decorated the mantle & made a decoration for T.V. & made 2 to sell. I got up at 3: & went up town with Jerry & Ray. We bought a Xmas tree & Ray got a little one & told Kids that was all we were going to have. We hid big one till Xmas eve.

Tues, Dec 11.  Took Jackie to dancing class. We stoped at D.Q. & had a Sundee got home at 6: & Jerry had supper ready. Dale went to cub scouts after school.

Wed, Dec 12.  Never did get to sleep (today.) I got my Xmas cards all done up

Thurs, Dec 13.  Got letter from Kay. I came home from work & watched T.V., messed around until 11: then took Jerry to work at D.Q. & we went on over to Nyssa to see Gail but they weren't home. Got home at 3:30 & I went to bed until time to go to work. Dean fixed supper. Jerry & Ray went ward teaching then Ray went to ball practice.

Fri, Dec 14.  I came home from work & Ivard went up & got his check biggest hes got for years. $346. I figured out what to do with it then Ivard and I Jerry & Jackie went to bank & paid some bills then we went to Caldwell & put $20. in Kays Savings account for his birthday & Xmas & got Dale a watch at Gold Strike Center then we went to Boise & had dinner at "Louies," chow mein, then we went Xmas shopping all afternoon. it was 6: when we got back to Nampa & I was dead so we stoped at Dairy Q. & had supper & Ivard went down & brought Dean & Dale too. Ray was working - till close.

Sat, Dec 15.  Jerry & I took Dale up town & bought him basketball shoes, sock & shorts for little legue ball & a pr. new sunday shoes. Got Mother's Xmas present & a few other things. Ray worked at D.Q. all day & Jerry worked 6: to close.

Sun, Dec 16.  Jerry & Dean went to Priesthood & sunday school. I cooked dinner & spent all afternoon wrapping Xmas presents, until my back killed me, got them all done. It was 7: time I got done & I went to bed until time to go to work, me & Sis. Jerry - Ray- Dean & Dale went to church.

Mon, Dec 17.  My 28th wedding anniversary & Ivard never said a word, didnt even tell me goodbye before he went to work then for supper Kids gave me a present he left for me - a Westinghouse Hair dryer. I left him a card on pillow with $10. in. We mailed Lyle, Mother & Donna's Xmas pkgs. Kids did some shopping. Ray & Dean went to Mutual.

Tues, Dec 18.  Took Jackie to dance class & Xmas party. Ray stayed home from school today sick, cold, then went to work tonite 6: to close. Went a half hr. early to go tell his girl goodbye before she went back east. Ivard - Jerry & Ray got the big Xmas tree in & got it decorated.

Wed, Dec 19.  Dale came home & got money & went to Cub Scouts, Dean went to cub S. from school, hes new den chief. Ivard got off work at 9:00 P.M. & I took his cloths up & we headed for Rexburg to get Kids it was foggy nearly all the way - I laid off.

Thurs, Dec 20.  We got to Rexburg at 3: A.M & woke Kids up & headed back home & it was real foggy all the way. We got home at 9:30 & got Jackie & headed for Nyssa. never even stoped for anything to eat. We went on to Gail & took their Xmas presents then Gene took Marvin home. We went to store & got a bunch of groc., a ham & turkey, for holidays. When we got back Lynda had dinner ready & we ate & left for home. Got here at 3: & I went to bed until time to go to work.

Fri, Dec 21.  Mother was supposed to get here today but had an attack of gallstones & couldn't come, had note from Berniece. We got laid off today for holidays & when they go back Jan. 7 there will only be about 50 men. I doubt if I work again this season. We got Gail & Lynda a 6 place setting of Melmar at Safeway for extra Xmas present. Got 16 volume set of Natural Science books for Dean. When we got home Gene had left for Nyssa. Kids got out of school for holidays.

Sat, Dec 22.  When we woke  up Jerry was gone to "Pine Top" to spend the day. Dean moved all the furn. different & scrubbed & waxed the floors, Ivard helped him move stuff. I washed cloths & went up town & got a few things. Jerry came home & fixed supper & made a cake. Ray worked at Dairy Q. all day then they closed for holiday week. Gene got home from Nyssa at 5: he stayed home alone & Dean, Dale, Me & Jackie went up to ward Xmas Party.

Sun, Dec 23.  Ivard, Jerry - Gene, Ray & Dean went to Priesthood & sunday school. Jackie, Dale & I went to sunday school. We all came home & Jerry - Ray & Dean went to Stake House to meeting for hr. I fixed dinner & we ate & Ivard went to work. Jerry - Gene, Ray - Dean Dale & Jackie went to church I didn't feel very good so I stayed home alone.

Mon, Dec 24.  Made cookies & candy & fixed a bowl full & took Kotters. Wrapped last few things. Ray had to work at Dairy Queen all day cleaning up. Gail, Lynda & Kids came for couple of hrs & brought our presents & Gene went home with them to see if he could get on at Sugar factory. Jerry took me up town to get a few things for socks & some groc. he bought, I was broke. At 8:30 Jerry, Ray & Dean got Alice & Pat & Forrest, & Phill & Murry girl & went to Nyssa & got Gene, he didn't get on. They got home about same time as Ivard.

Tues, Dec 25.  No one woke up until 7:45. Ivard made a fire in fireplace & we opened our presents. We all really had a good Xmas. Ivard & I cooked breakfast, bacon eggs, toast, cocoa & grapefruit. We played games & records.

Wed, Dec 26.  Never got up until 9: then I made biscuits & we ate about 10: Jerry didn't get to eat a bunch of Gleaners came & got him & they went to "Pine Top" & spent the day, got home at 6: Ivard went to work at 3: was home by 10: I iorned 36 pieces while Ivard & Kids played games. Ray went with bunch of Kids all afternoon playing basketball & over to Stake House decorating. Dean fixed supper & we ate at 5: & him & Dale did dishes. We watched "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" lasted till 2: A.M. Dean, Dale & Jackie went to bed at 9:

Thurs, Dec 27.  Ray left for Utah. Gail - Lynda & Kids came & they played games & Jerry & I went to Caldwell & got my check from Simplots the went & bought $35. worth of groc. Came home & fixed supper but Gail didn't stay. We ate at 6: They came back about 9: & took Jackie home to stay all nite. Ivard took Ray up to catch the 8:20 train for Salt Lake. Jerry has bad cold.

Fri, Dec 28.  Jerry was sick & laid down most of day. Ivards day off but they called up & wanted him to mark up on brakemans board, They needed men, so he left on Wilder local at 3: We were going to Gail. At 3:30 Gene - Dean & Dale left for Nyssa in Pick-up. At 9: Ivard called & said he was off but had run out of gas. I went & got him & we left his car at work & headed for Nyssa; got there at 9:45 & Lynda had supper ready for us, Kids had eaten. We ate "Anchalatas"? mexican. Jerry stayed home in bed.

Sat, Dec 29.  Got letter from Kay. I got up & took Ivard up to Round House. He got called brakeing to McCall at 9: until Monday. I washed some cloths & played games with Kids. Hales came & fixed dryer tonite. Jerry went to decorate for New Years Eve dance.

Sun, Dec 30.  Jerry & Dean went to go to Priesthood but couldn't start car so Jerry stayed home, he doesn't feel good any way. Mr. Gragerson came & took Dean to Priesthood. Dale walked up to corner & met Perrys & went to Sunday School. Jackie is sick, I kept her in bed all day. Jerry got car started at noon.

Mon, Dec 31.  Played games with Kids. Jerry went to D.Q at 11: until 5: getting ready to open tomorrow. Jerry went to Stake House to M-Men Gleaner dance & Party after at Alices. I wrote Kay, didn't get it finished. I spent New Years Eve alone with Dean & Dale. We watched "Broadway Melody" on T.V. Kids went to bed at 12:30 & I burned 1/3 pkg of tea & waited a hr before it cought on & finally burned, fire place fire was about out. I've made up my mind to stop breaking the Word of Wisdom & recking my health with the awful habit I've had for 10 years of drinking iced tea. Another New Years resolution, I'm goint to try very hard to loose a lot of weight starting in the morning. Jan 1st, I also am going to write my history this year & try very hard to do a lot of genealogy. I'm going to try very hard to be a better wife & mother and go to church more. I pray the lord will help me to keep these resolutions in this brand new year. It is now 2:20 A.M. already that old, I hope it is a good year for our family. I'm going to bed now & will pray that it will be.

6 What in the world

Boise Temple
The remodeled Boise Idaho Temple was rededicated in three sessions on Sunday, November 18 (the Sunday before Thanksgiving) by President Thomas S. Monson. The dedicatory sessions were broadcast to stake centers throughout the area.

Meridian Temple
The Meridian Idaho Temple is currently in the planning and approval phase. It will be built on a 12-acre site on Linder Road in Meridian, approximately 12 miles from the Boise Temple. These two temples will serve to meet the needs of the Saints of the Treasure Valley and its surrounding region. The temple in Meridian will be Idaho's fifth temple. Temples were completed in Idaho Falls in 1945, Boise in 1984, Rexburg in 2008, and Twin Falls in 2008.

7 A final word

When I was a child growing up in southwestern Idaho, I remember watching cartoons of a fat little pig, a Looney Tunes character named Porky Pig. At the end of each cartoon short, Porky Pig's signature ending was a stuttering "Th-th-th-that's all folks!"

Just a wee bit of mid-twentieth-century Americana.

Well, after 39-plus years of publishing the Cleverly Newsletter, representing 418 separate issues spread across four decades, we are discontinuing the newsletter to go serve a mission. This is our final issue.

And with this issue, in addition to wishing you a merry Christmas and happy new year, we also say so long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye, ciao, sayonara, adieu, see you later, happy trails to you, adios, take care, toodle-oo, God be with you, catch you later. Or, as an Irish proverb goes:

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rain fall softly on your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Th-th-th-that's all folks!