Thoughts and stories, by Pal

This is such an inspiring article, especially for mothers--who are tired!  I've been there for sure!  It does end, but not for quite awhile! Epiphany: Stunning Paradigms of Celestial Parenting By  Anne Hinton Pratt  · August 26, 2020 Cover image by  Caitlin Connolly . Anyone who has children knows that parenting is the toughest thing we ever do! Sometimes during that difficult journey of child rearing, we have epiphanies that  stop us in our tracks,   and redirect our course .  I’d like to share the striking experiences of four people… Like a Ton of Bricks Many years ago when my children were small I became very ill, and at one time I thought I might die.  As I thought about that possibility I began to freak out, thinking about my kids and what would be best for them.  I suddenly felt panicked to tell my husband, “If I die, you need to marry again!  Make sure you find someone who will to read to th...

To you poetry lovers out there!  My mother wrote beautiful poems.  This is blog #95, and it had 236 views in the past -- I'm sure you'll love reading it!  First posted February 12, 2014. My mother, Ruth Allen Miles, was a gifted soprano, teacher, mother, and also a poetess!   She wrote quite a few lovely poems, and I have a few of them.  I will include the poems I have in this blog.        While Ruth was teaching at Salt Lake City, the winter of 1945-1946, and going to the U. Of U. she was summoned to her sister Adelia’s back in the small town of Washington, near St. George.   Her mother, Levinah Emeline Wilson Allen had had a heart attack.  Ruth arrived there a few hours before she died.   This was taken of Levinah when she was about 20. In her history, Ruth wrote:  "She died as she had lived – Bravely, with no word of complaint.  Her last words were, “I’m glad to be here with my children.  Your ...

This article reminds us of what a great example we always are, whether we want to be or not! 4 Important Things Your Children Need to Hear (by Scott Groza) Posted by  Karen - Hey Sigmund A photo taken many years ago of some of our children, and their cousins! As parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and teachers, there is no more important of a job than raising the kids in our lives into successful adults. It would seem as if they are like little sponges, soaking up every bit of the environment around them. They will even pick up on things you didn’t realize they know about.   Being an amazing role model can often be difficult at times. How we react during times of stress, like those times in a fit of road rage or when we accidentally drop something on our foot, is how they will often react to those things too. Sometimes, we’re not exactly sure what to say or how to discipline. It’s not just our actions they take to heart, but how we talk to...

Just a week ago today, we were honored by our family, about our 60th Wedding Anniversary, which will officially be on September 24th.  We were married Sept. 24, 1955, in the St. George Temple.  This post tells some about the celebration on Sept. 5, 2015, last weekend, on the Labor Day weekend when all could come.  Most of the following is from an e mail I sent to family and friends, together with an update on my husband Wayne's health.  From left to right, Wayne M., Delsy, Anita, Allen, McKay, Pal, Wayne, Angie, Tacy, Pam, and Jeremy.  We are wearing the shirts they gave us 10 years ago on our Golden Wedding.  They have a picture of us when we were married and the inscription: September 24th 1955-2005, and also "The world is ours, we have each other".  That last phrase is from a song that Delsy and I wrote almost 40 years ago, when we lived in Sandy.  This is our "family song", in SATB.  If any of you would like a copy, I have a PDF ...

I'm reposting the article I wrote last November 25, 2013, # 15, on ideas of how to teach children to grateful.  I hope it gives us all ideas, as so many children these days don't learn to express or even feel gratitude! AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU DEAR FRIENDS, ALL OVER THE WORLD!               -------------------------------------------   I'm not sure how well we taught gratitude to our large family.  I do notice when a child or grandchild thanks me for something I do for them, (or anyone else.)  It's strange but we often will show gratitude to someone not in our family, and take our family members for granted.  It doesn't only apply to material things, but whenever a kindness has been shown, we should thank someone for it.   It is rather obvious that many children, and people of all ages today feel sort of "entitled" to things, and it is important to stop and appreciate them!  In one grandchild's Patr...

Originally this was blog # 120--updated a bit. I guess from time to time I should tell some about our own lives, Pal and Wayne Eckman.   Actually my full name is Paralee Miles (maiden name) Eckman, and Wayne's is Wayne D Eckman.   I was born Oct. 6, 1934, in St. George, Utah and Wayne was born Sept. 18th, 1930, in Murray, Utah, just south of Salt Lake City, in the same valley.  I have noticed some of our readers live in foreign countries, and that is fascinating to me!  How small our wonderful world is!   And I truly feel love and friendship for each one of you, whether we have met or not.  That seems to be something that comes with membership in the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!      This photo was on our wedding day, Sept. 24, 1955.  Since then we now have nine children, 29 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. I grew up in St. George, when it was only about 5,000 people, and the Temple was on the so...