4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
Joseph Card (Lyle's great-grandson and Terry and Becky's grandson) has received a mission call to the California Roseville Mission. He reports to the Provo MTC on December 19. As Becky posted, "So very proud of our Joseph!!"

Jerry
We visited Jerry and Jim when we were in Boise a couple weeks ago. Just a week before Jim had suffered what they determined was a mild stroke. After a day or two in the hospital, he was back home, using a walker to get around and working with a physical therapist. Depending on the therapist's recommendation, he should soon be back to normal and able to drive again and such.

Dean's family
Claudia and I returned Tuesday evening from a week's visit in Atlanta, where we were staying with our daughter Eliza, her husband Paul, and their three children (Peter, Aaron, and Claire). We learned while there that a fourth child is on the way, due in March. (Talmage and Louise are also expecting another child in March.) While we were in Georgia, our daughter Rachael, her husband Robert, their four daughters (Claudia, Esther, Margaret, and Eleanor) drove down from Illinois for the weekend. It's about a seven-hour drive. And our son Michael and his son Jacob flew from Utah for the weekend to attend the BYU-Georgia Tech football game. We had a great time.

The day before leaving for Georgia, Claudia and I returned from Idaho, where we visited with everyone up in the Nampa and Boise area a final time before we leave on our mission in January. We saw Lyle and Nina, Jerry and Jim, Gene and Cheryl, Dale and LeAnn, Micah and Keisha, Rex and Jackie, Jared, and Jeff, Jolene, and Rayna. Friday afternoon, the day we arrived, we were able to go through the Boise Temple open house. The next afternoon Jackie, Gene, and I attended the Boise State-UNLV game. Most everyone got together after the game at the Chuck-a-Rama near the temple in Boise, and some adjourned afterwards at Dale and LeAnn's house in Nampa. We attended church with Jackie on Sunday afternoon. And left for home on Monday morning.

Dale's family
The weekend we were in Idaho, Dale and LeAnn left early Sunday morning to drive to Rexburg for a missionary farewell for LeAnn's nephew. Micah and Keisha went with them, and they met David and Kira on the way (at the Kimberley exit down by Twin Falls). They returned home that same evening.

That same Sunday, even though he wasn't there, Dale was released as ward mission leader after seven years and sustained as a Sunday School teacher of twelve-year-olds.

Jackie's family
Jackie had an operation on her foot last week for removal of a half-inch bone spur on the heel of her right foot. She is recovering nicely, without pain, but has to stay off the foot for two weeks. She has been using one of the little scooters that you kneel on to get around. She can't drive or return to work until it has healed. She was going to have the operation done later, but this way she will be recovered in time to help Jolene when she has her baby.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the November 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.

Thurs, Nov 1.  Jerry went job hunting & took an aptitute test at unemployment office. Mother is going home tomorrow so I laid off & we visited tonite.

Fri, Nov 2.  Ivard bid on a day job, vacation vacancy for 2 weeks & worked his first day today. At 4:30 Jerry left for Utah & took Mother home. Ivard & I went up & registered to vote.

Sat, Nov 3.  We got up at 4:30 AM & Ivard & I, Dean, Dale & Jackie left for Rexburg at 4:50. We stoped in Arco & had breakfast & got to Gene's at 11: but he had already gone to gym to rest before game. We went to game, started at 1:30 today. B.J.C. beat Ricks 23 to 14. Gene got hurt just as game ended, carried him off on stretcher. We went up to gym & Ivard went in for about hr. & Gene walked out with him. We left for home at 7: Got home at 12:30.

Sun, Nov 4.  Ivard & I got up at 12:30 & went to Testimony meeting & took Dale & Jackie, didn't wake up early enough to go to Sunday school. Dean went collecting Fast offerings then to Priesthood, S.S. & testimony meeting. After church we all went & had a Polio shot (3 drops on lump of Sugar) - Ivard & I, Dean Dale & Jackie.

Mon, Nov 5.  Gail & Lynda had baby girl. Jerry got home from Utah. Ray went to foot Dr & he operated on both his big toes. Ray has to lay with his feet up.

Tues, Nov 6.  Ray was home in bed all day with his feet & teeth. I took Jackie to Dancing class, after I brought her home  & went & voted then I went to hospital to see Lynda & baby, looks like the rest of them. Jerry & Ivard went & voted.

Wed, Nov 7.  I came home from work froze to death. I turned blanket on high & went to bed. Rays head still pains so he went back to Dr Lee & he ex-rayed all his teeth & he had a cavity on inside of a top & bottom tooth, he'll go & have them fixed in morning. Aunt Vene called from Boise & said Uncle Ward died this morning.

Thurs, Nov 8.  Gail left at noon to take Lynda home from hospital. Ray was at Dentist when I got home, got 2 teeth filled.

Fri, Nov 9.  Ray went to foot Dr. at 1: He went to work at 3:30, first time this week. Hes been in bed all week with his feet & head (teeth).

Sat, Nov 10.  Jerry & Dale went Xmas card selling. Dean scrubbed & waxed floors & cleaned house. I don't feel good, bad cold. My nite off.

Sun, Nov 11.  Jerry & Dean went to Priesthood & Sunday school, Ivard took Dale up to S.S & went to store for me. I cooked dinner & we ate when they got home. I wrote to Gene, Lyle & Kay & Ivard took me up to R.R. to mail them.

Mon, Nov 12.  Ivard went to Caldwell at 1:30 to Nampa, Caldwell game & got home at 4:45. Jerry made potatoe soup & Dean made blackberry upside down cake & we ate at 5:30. No Mutual. Jerry & Dale went selling cards.

Tues, Nov 13.  I came home from work & went to bed. I got up at 2:00 & took Jerry up to work at D.Q. from 2:30 to close. Ivard worked all day. At 3:15 I took Jackie to dancing class & at 6: I took Ray to work at Dairy queen till close.

Wed, Nov 14.  Jerry went to a Party. Dale went to cub Scouts.

Thurs, Nov 15.  Lady called & said they were going up after her daughter & would bring Gene home so I wrote him & told him. Jerry & Ray went ward teaching.

Fri, Nov 16.  Gail & family was here, stayed all afternoon. We droped in at our ward Bizzar. Dean had Sat. work done.

Sat, Nov 17.  First snow storm.

Sun, Nov 18.  Sunny - nice day - snow melted. I came home from work & went to bed at 9: & got up at 11: I cooked a round steak with Potatoes & carrots under. We ate at 2: when Kids got home. Jerry had to speak at 2nd Ward with high council.

Mon, Nov 19.  Ray had feet operated on. Got letter from Kay.

Tues, Nov 20.  I came home from work & went to bed at 10: Ivard was in bed too, he doesn't feel good. I woke up at 1: Ray feels pretty good but dizzy.

Wed, Nov 21.  I came home from work & Ivard was gone breaking to New Meadows until tomorrow nite. We have the next 4 nites off. Jackie tended Ray. I went & got $25. worth of groc. got a 16 lb. turkey. Sis & I ground cranberries & made relish & ground bread crumbs & made 3 big carrot puddings. Dale went to Cub Scouts. Mrs. Kotter called & said Gene had hitch hiked home so I called Rexburg but Mrs. Peterson said he left Monday then I was worried. Gene just walked in while I was talking.

Thurs, Nov 22.  We had breakfast & I made cranberry Jello salad & put Turkey in to roast. We played games. About 4: here come Gail Lynda & Kids, uninvited, I was mad. They brought Gene & stayed for Thanksgiving dinner. Gene got home from Rexburg Monday nite & went on to Nyssa.

Fri, Nov 23.  I have such a cold & its settled in my Sinus' I feel awful.

Sat, Nov 24.  Jerry made waffles for breakfast & I cooked them. Dean cleaned house. Ivard got home at 9: from New Meadows & went right to bed, been drinking. We all went to bed about 10:30 after I packed Genes suitcase. My last nite off.

Sun, Nov 25.  Gene went back to Rexburg. I got up at 4:15 A.M. & fixed Gene & Marvin breakfast & at 4:35 Kotters came & took them & Kurt to Boise to catch the bus for Rexburg. Ivard took Ray & Dean to Priesthood & went up to Rail Road & placed himself on Herder job. He came home & got ready & him & Dale went to Sunday school.  I laid off, didn't feel like going to work.

Mon, Nov 26.  I got up & fixed breakfast & Dean & Dale went to school. Ray went back today. I don't feel good, didn't do any thing all day. I addressed Xmas cards. Ray went to Dr. & had his bandages changed. Jerry & Dale went card selling. I went to bed until time to go to work. I still don't feel very good.

Tues, Nov 27.  I came home from work & went to bed at 9:30. Ivard was to work. Jerry tended Jackie. I got up at 3: & took Jackie to dance class.

Wed, Nov 28.  Came home & I went to bed, but I never could go to sleep not one second today. Dean fixed hot cakes for supper.

Thurs, Nov 29.  Got letter from Kay. Ray had stitches out of feet. I came home from work & went to bed at 10: Woke up at 12:30 & that was all the sleep I got today, 2 1/2 hrs & none yesterday.

Fri, Nov 30.  Ivard took car up to Dobbs at 8: AM & they had it all day relineing brakes. I came home from work & went to bed until 3: My nite off.

6 What in the world

Tropical storm Sandy
Starting in the Caribbean as a hurricane, this massive storm moved north up the Atlantic during the final week of October and made landfall in New Jersey and New York, where it combined with a wet storm coming from the west and a blast of cold air coming from the north. It eventually affected some 20 states with massive flooding, huge waves that destroyed beaches and seaside homes, horrific winds that toppled trees and widely disrupted power to millions of homes, dumped incredible amounts of snow in higher elevations in West Virginia and surrounding areas, caused gas shortages, and resulted in closure of the New York Stock Exchange, cancellation of tens of thousands of flights across the country, and postponement of the New York Marathon. The barometric pressure was the lowest ever recorded in New England. That was some mega-storm, and our prayers and best wishes are to all those who were affected by it in any way.

Don't forget to vote!
The campaigning is nearly over. Many have already voted early. The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 6. Remember to vote.

Boise Temple open house and dedication
The open house for the renovated Boise Temple continues another week (through Saturday, November 10). The cultural celebration will be held on Saturday, November 17. And the rededication will occur in three sessions on Sunday, November 18. The temple will open for ordinance work on Tuesday, November 20.

7 A final word

We apologize for our delay in publishing this month's issue of the newsletter. Chalk it up to our being on back-to-back vacations, first to Idaho and then to Georgia. But now we're home for a little while.

The same day we returned home Claudia and I went in the evening to cast an early vote for the candidates and issues of our liking. A benefit of early voting is that you can with good conscience totally ignore the obnoxious TV and radio ads, the campaign literature that shows up in the mailbox, and the annoying political phone calls.

Someone once said that democracy is a messy business. It is indeed. And though there are calls from both sides of the aisle for more civility in our public discourse, the discord is certainly not new. At least real or perceived affronts these days are handled with attack ads and not public duels, as in the early days of the Republic. Historically, we have been arguing, attacking, slandering, and disliking our opponents at least ever since John Adams became the second president of the United States. John Adams (the second president) and Thomas Jefferson (the third president), once close friends, became completely estranged and did not communicate with each other for years. Fortunately, they reconciled sometime before they both died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

History, it seems, is more cyclical than linear.

But however much we pay attention to or ignore the political wrangling that precedes an election, it is our duty to go vote this coming Tuesday if we have not already done so. Voting is the price of our citizenship.

In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith in August 1833, the Lord outlined an approach to the kind of candidate we should support and our approach to constitutional government in general:

And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.

And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.

Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;

And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.

I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.

Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.

Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil (D&C 98:4-10).

We are to seek for and uphold candidates who are honest, good, and wise.

Some 40-plus years later, as our nation was celebrating its 100th birthday, James A. Garfield (who went on to become the 20th president of the United States) said much the same thing: "Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. If [one hundred years from now] our next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces" ("A Century of Congress," in The Works of James Abram Garfield, ed. Burke Hinsdale, Boston, 1883, 2:486, 489).

And to all of that we add, may the best man (or woman) win.