An amazing discovery

A few weeks ago I was doing a search for some information and I put my dad's name in a Google search.  It brought up some interesting family history.  Among the amazing things I discovered was this link to a blog from a distant cousin.  I found out that we are related through our father's line to the little girl Emilie Parker who was killed in the Sandy Hook tragedy.  My heart goes out to the Parker family even more, knowing that we are distantly related. Be sure to read down several entries in her

blog to read some fascinating stories about Thomas Griffin and mention of our grandfather and our father as missionaries for the LDS church.  Good, good reading about family on my dad's fraternal side of the family.

I also found this interesting link to more family history on my dad's maternal side of the family.   Did you know that Andrew S. Heggie donated many of his pictures and journals/writings to the library at Utah State University?  I'm interested to go visit the library at USU very soon and see what is there.  Here is a link to some of the information that is contained in the collection. Here is a tickler of what is available:

Scope and Content:

This collection consists of the personal photographs and books of remembrance of Andrew L. Heggie and his wife Corinne Godfrey Heggie spanning from the late nineteenth century through the 1990s. A photographic record of LDS missions, LDS church activity, family, and friends are also included. Because of the nature of the books, many documents such as Birth certificates, school certificates, greeting cards, weddings announcements, and personal reminiscences are also included.

Biographical Note:

Andrew Loosle Heggie (1905 - 2001) and Corinne Godfrey Heggie (1911 - ) were lifelong residents of Clarkston, Utah. Both were born to prominent families in the area. Andrew Heggie was the oldest son and fifth of eight chidren born to Andrew Stewart and Mary Loosle Heggie. Corinne Godfrey Heggie was the second daughter and fifth of eight children born to Thomas Henry and Lucy Ellen Barson Godfrey. Andrew and Corinne Heggie were married on May 23, 1938, in the Salt Lake Temple. Their only son, Don, died as an infant. Andrew and Corinne both attended Utah State Agricultural College. Andrew graduating with a bachelors in 1933 and Corinne with a teaching certificate in English in 1932. Andrew Heggie also attended the General Motors Institute Auto Mechanics Training Program for teachers in Flint, Michigan, in 1938. Heggie farmed and taught a driver's education and automotive maintenance course at Bear River High School for seven years. In 1947, he served as mayor of Clarkston. Corinne Godfrey Heggie worked as a teacher for several years and also ran the Clarkston post office after her sister-in-law Mayme Heggie Griffin retired in 1973. Both Andrew and Corinne Heggie served in several LDS Church positions. Corinne Heggie spent many years as a teacher in the Sunday School. Andrew Heggie served as the bishop of his ward for seven years, as well as the Sunday School Superintendant. From 1927 to 1930, Heggie served a missionary in the LDS Swiss-German mission. From 1953 to 1955, Andrew and Corinne Heggie served full time in the East German Mission. They were also avid genealogists and this collection is an accumulation of their work.

Arrangement Note:

The collection has been kept in the original order as compiled by Andrew and Corinne Heggie. Boxes 1, 1a, and 3 are for the most part arranged chronologically by topic. The majority of the photos are identified and some are accompanied by descriptive reminiscences. Box 2 contains three tin-types from the late nineteenth century. Boxes 4 & 5 are arranged more sporadically. While the photos are identified, they do not appear to be in any particular order. The photographs are principally snapshots taken by Andrew and Corinne. Some professional photographs are included, usually in the form of missionary and engagement portraits. All descriptions entered in full quotations (" ") are taken directly from the albums. The photos are maintained in their original order and mounting. Andrew Heggie's book of remembrance has been removed from its cover with the original pages (in the original sleeves) in acid-free folders.

I had the thought while I was reading about these histories, that our ancestors blazed the trail for us to follow and it is our DUTY and PRIVILEGE to follow in their footsteps.  I'm so proud of my courageous and faith-filled ancestors and hope that I will always remain a strong link in the chain that connects the generations.  

It's never too late...

...to celebrate a special occasion! Our 34th wedding anniversary came along on June 16.  It was two days after Andy and Chelsea's wedding and also on Father's day.  Rick and I wished each other a happy anniversary and decided to celebrate it another day.  That day arrived last Friday, August 2.  We headed up to Salt Lake City and enjoyed some wonderful R & R time with just the two of us.  We've been going nonstop for months now and finally things are quieting down.  We found a great deal on Expedia at this wonderful hotel - the Hilton Garden Inn that had fabulous reviews.  It did not disappoint.  We finally went to The Roof restaurant to enjoy the $100 gift certificate that I receive from BYU with my award last year.  I've been waiting to enjoy it when my appetite was fully recovered and the time finally came.  The Roof buffet received the best buffet award in Salt Lake City for 2013.  No wonder.  It is fabulous.  Of course we over ate, but we seldom let ourselves indulge like that eating fabulous food.  The restaurant sets a 90 minute limit on the time you can stay, and we ended up staying almost the entire time.  My sweetheart wrote me a list of 34 items that he loved about me (and I also shared some things I love about him) and we just talked about our journey together.  It was a time to recharge, to appreciate our blessings and to celebrate our happy marriage realizing that the past year has brought us even closer. Happy 34th anniversary my dear, sweet husband!

The sisterhood of the traveling wedding dress(es)

Rick and I got married on June 16 of 1979.  At the time I was having trouble finding a wedding dress that fit and one that I could afford.  I was 5' 10" and weighed 120 pounds.  Not many wedding dresses were available off the rack that would fit such a frame.  I started looking in wedding magazines and came across this pictures of the dress I instantly fell in love with.  Since I was finishing up my final semester at BYU I didn't have time to sew the dress myself.  I found a seamstress and took the picture to her and told her that I wanted her to make the exact dress shown in the picture in the magazine.  She charged me $150 for the fabric and for her time and made me this beautiful dress that could be worn in the LDS temple.  The seamstress made the veil with a Juliette cap and I was so happy with the finished product.

January 1979

June 1979

The dress traveled on and some years later, my sister Lee was in the market for a wedding dress.  She and Mike were preparing to be married and she asked if she could wear my dress.  Since she was the same height and weight, the dress worked perfectly for her.  She added the white hat shown below and made it her own, just like the original picture.  She looked beautiful in the traveling wedding dress on her special day.

June 1985

After Lee wore the dress, I carefully packed it in my mom's cedar chest that I had inherited and it sat there for nearly 30 years.  I wrapped it in blue tissue paper that I was told would keep it from yellowing and put it in a box for storage in the cedar chest.  When our own two daughters got married, I didn't even remember that the dress was in my cedar chest.  I regret that we didn't even get it out and have them try it on!  It would have been fun for them to at least try it on, even if they wouldn't have chosen it for their own wedding dress.

Fast forward to February 2013.  My future daughter-in-law Chelsea was preparing to marry our son Andy.  We went out on a wedding dress shopping spree and she tried on several beautiful dresses.  She couldn't find exactly what she was looking for.  I asked her to describe what she wanted.  She described the lower half of my wedding dress.  She wanted a soft, flowing fabric that would look great at the beach in the breeze.  She didn't want it to be too fussy, and not have lace or beading.  She wanted a soft cross-over fabric top with a "flutter sleeve" that looked elegant and classy.  I told her about my dress and invited her to try it on.  The bottom half was just what she wanted!  I don't know why she didn't want the bell sleeves, stand up lace color and lace jacket with the pearl buttons all the way down the back that went with it, but alas, she did not.  I told her I could take the top off my dress and sew her a new top that met her specifications.  She was thrilled!  Through a series of miracles we found matching fabric and the challenge was underway to make my dress her own.  I'll admit that there was literally blood (needle pricked fingers), sweat and tears along the way by the seamstress, but at last, the dress of her dreams came to be! We took the Juliette cap off my veil and attached it to a new hair comb and the matching fabric from my veil was the final touch to go with her dress.  She looked beautiful in a dress that was 34 years old on the bottom and brand new on the top.  (Thank goodness the 34 year old zipper held up as well.)  She was the most beautiful bride I had ever seen on June 14, 2013 in the Los Angeles, LDS temple.

June 2013

Another family wedding dress has also had a great history.  In January of 2004 we were on the lookout for a wedding dress for Jordan.  Given her tall stature and slim figure, once again we were faced with a similar problem of finding a dress that fit.   After a fruitless search for a dress, I proceeded to make a wedding dress for Jordan and three months later, Claire wore the same dress. I was quite relieved that I didn't have to make two dresses since my two daughters got married three months apart.

May 2004

August 2004

Six years later, my niece Jessica was looking for a wedding dress.  Coincidentally, she is the daughter of my sister Lee who wore my dress all those years ago.  She tried on the dress I made for Jordan and Claire and loved it.  She made it her own my adding the red ribbon and the white fur cape for her winter wedding.  She looked stunning. 

December 2010

So, that's it. The end of the story of the sisterhood of the traveling wedding dress(es)...or is it?  Two dresses...six weddings.  Each look unique and beautiful.  Will the dresses travel on?

5 years and counting

Happy birthday to my blog!  It's 5 years old today.  I still enjoying writing on it and posting various things I come across that are interesting to me.  Granted, I don't post as often as I use to, but I still plan to continue on.  I know that blogs are losing their popularity, but I plan to keep on posting.  It's interesting to me to hear from various people who say they follow my blog and that I should continue to write and to post.  It's amazing to see from Google Analytics all the people who read my blog from around the world.  Occasionally I'll get a comment from some random person about something I've posted and I enjoy hearing from them.   I'm not a journal writer, so this is at least one way I can preserve some thoughts and feelings on various topics and to share what is going on in our family with those who are interested.  So, happy 5th birthday little blog of mine.  I hope you enjoy your creme brulee! It's one of my favorite desserts...

July 8, 1983

My dad has been gone for 30 years now.  30 years.  Think of all the living, all the loving, all the adventures, achievements, heartache, set backs and milestones that have been experienced in that time.  He missed it all and we have missed his influence and his participation in our lives all those years. I do like to think that he is aware of us and our happenings, to some degree.  It's sometimes hard to not think about what might have been.  My children didn't even get the chance to know him and that makes me the saddest of all.  Rick knew him and loved him and for that I am grateful.  He understands when I speak of him in glowing terms and he agrees with the accolades.

Dad passed away on July 8, 1983.  He was only 61 years old and our mother was 56. I was just a kid at 28 years old.  Rick and I had our two little children, Jordan and Claire who were three years old and a year and a half.  It was a busy and stressful time for us. Rick had  graduated from BYU law school and he was preparing for the bar exam.  I was still working trying to make some money to make ends meet.  Dad had been diagnosed with cancer growing on his spine in October of 1982.  From that point until the end of his life we had hope and prayed that he would beat it somehow.  It wasn't to be.  He passed away in our home in Rupert early on a hot summer day.  We were all surrounding his bed, knowing that they end was near.  His mother was still living and it about killed her to bury her oldest son.  Our mom tended to his needs for those long months of his illness, surgeries and treatments and it was the hardest thing she has even done to lose her sweet husband.  The pain of separation was raw and real and it lasted a long time.  His siblings, my siblings, their spouses and the other grandchildren all wept and suffered greatly at his passing.  It was a staggering loss for all of us of a dear, sweet, kind man who had influenced our lives for good in so many ways.  It was hard to understand.  I miss him still.  I'll miss him always until I see him again.

And this is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!  I can see him again!  I believe that he is in a place where he was been busily engaged in a good cause for these past 30 years.  Although we can't see him, we know his spirit still exists and that someday it will be reunited with his body.  I've always had the desire to see him again, to be with him again, to hug him, to see his clear blue eyes and to dwell where he is.  I know it is possible.  I have to do my part.  I have to follow God's plan and to follow the example of the Savior.  I need to apply the atonement in my life and repent of my many wrong doings.  I need to strive to be all that I can and work towards that goal.  If I do what I can, the Savior will make up the rest and my dream of seeing my father will come to pass. We have to do, not just believe for faith without works is dead.

I've been reminded of these core principles as we've been with Rick's dad these past many weeks.  His 89 year old body is failing. His spirit is strong, but the flesh is worn out.  He keeps sharing little pieces of advice like "it doesn't matter how long you live, it only matters how you live."  "Do your part so that we can be together as a family always."  'I love you all." 

It's an amazing thought to realize that I was only on the earth for 28 years with my dad.  Four of those years overlapped when I met my father-in-law or my dad #2 and got married.  The last 30 years I have only had my dad #2.  It's been a longer space of time that I've been without my dad than I was with him.  That is kind of hard to believe.  I just know it's been a long, long time since I last saw my dad, by I'm very glad that I've had the influence, love and support of my dad #2.   These spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical giants are/were in our lives to make them better and to be examples of how to live life well. I'm so grateful for a father and a father-in-law who have had a tremendous impact of my life for good. I'm just feeling so grateful right now.  Very, very grateful.