Thoughts and stories, by Pal

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 ...

Today my dear father Orson Pratt Miles would be 124 years old.  There are many stories about his life that you can find in the "Labels" list under "Miles Orson Pratt", and "my father Pratt".  Below is a treasured letter with his testimony.                                                                   Dad in World War I                       Above is a treasured letter giving his testimony.                                                                                                    ...

This is beautiful counsel from Maurine Proctor to her daughter who will soon be married.  It is wonderful counsel for anyone getting married!  And tomorrow is our celebration of 60 years of marriage!  Ups and downs, but true happiness!  Our day is actually Sept. 24th, but all our 9 children will be here tomorrow, and many grandchildren, and great grandchildren! MARRIAGE To Our Daughter about to Marry: 7 Ways to Happiness By Maurine Proctor  · September 3, 2015 In a few days you will be married and I will watch you close the door on your childhood with poignancy. You will pack your youth away like a dress you outgrew, and I confess I will miss everything about your presence in this house. I think I will run into your room to tell you something, and I’ll be surprised that you’re not there. I want to give you a parting gift—my thoughts on how to be joyfully happy in marriage. These keys are easier to say than to accomplish, but I trust th...

This was originally blog # 120, published on March 25, 2014.  I will update it some at the end, and leave the first as originally written. 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 14 great grandchi...

Piano, and music lessons in childhood develop many abilities!  I have read before several articles on the benefits of musical training to a person's life in many ways.  This is important reading for any parent!   Science Just Discovered Something Amazing About What Childhood Piano Lessons Did to You This is a photo of our living room years ago, which has always included a piano.  When my parents were married, my mother had a piano already, and as a baby she put me in front of it in my high chair, to plunk on the keys to amuse me.  Later I took lessons 12 years. If your parents forced you to practice your scales by saying it would "build character," they were onto something. The Washington Post reports that one of the largest scientific studies into music's effect on the brain has found something striking: Musical training doesn't just affect your musical ability — it provides tremendous benefits to children's emotional and behavioral maturatio...