Thoughts and stories, by Pal

This lovely Christmas story was posted last December 24, 2014.  The update on my husband is what is happening at this time --- WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014 319. From Meridian Magazine, "Beggars at the Manger" -- on showing compassion. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL YOU DEAR PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.  I HOPE YOU HAVE YOUR HEARTS DESIRES, AND KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU! Today is Monday, December 21, 2015.   and our grandson Cameron's birthday.  Two Bulloch brothers -- Austin on the left, and Cameron on the right (the birthday boy today).     When Cameron was just around 4 days old, Austin developed a severe respiratory infection, and was in the hospital for several days.  I went up and took care of Cameron as a newborn, as his parents stayed in the hospital with Austin a lot, and I loved it so much!  It is our daughter Pam's birthday, today also! Married over 22 years ago!  My husband Wayne is doing oka...

What You Didn't Know About Emma Smith by Jannalee Rosner  | Dec. 14, 2015 Mormon Life Emma Smith, first Relief Society President and wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith, had many incredible and difficult experiences in her life. Her mother-in-law, Lucy Mack Smith, said of her: “I have never seen a woman in my life, who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship, from month to month, and from year to year, with that unflinching courage, zeal, and patience, which she has ever done; for I know that which she has had to endure … she has breasted the storms of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and devils, which would have borne down almost any other woman.”  Find out a few things you may not have known about this prominent woman in Church history. 1. She was the only Hale child not named after a family member.  Emma's brothers and sisters were all named after family members, either on her mother's si...

40 years ago today, our dear father, Orson Pratt Miles, passed from this earth into his Eternal Life. There are many stories about his life that you can find in the "Labels" list under "Miles Orson Pratt", and "my father Pratt".  Today I'm including parts of previous blogs which include memories of his last days and moments, and give both my parent's testimonies.  Also below is a treasured hand written letter with his testimony. Below are my parent's testimonies, written in blog # 318. (First my mother's) Ruth Allen Miles , "I intended to spend the rest of my life in the Temple.  This I have done as much as I can.  My walking isn't too good and I sometimes have to be taken in a car.  I am now 85 years old. I want you all to know, that I know the Gospel is true.  I know, that I know, that I know it is true, and I know that my Heavenly Father, knows that I know it is true.  That Joseph Smith Jr. is a true prophet of God to...

More family Christmas stories is a blog I repeat each Christmas.  It was published last year as entry # 304, and I have added more pictures this year.  More Family Christmas Stories, first published Dec. 3, 2013. This was posted last year on December 3, 2013, as blog # 24.  I hope you enjoy these family Christmas stories. The "Pull Out The Rug" story down a bit, is about our son Allen when he was about 8 years old.  The picture above is when he was a navigator in the Air Force, and his wife, Holli.  He served for almost 7 years, also in Desert Storm. There are several stories about Christmas in our family, and you may enjoy these: ----  (The photos are different from last year.) My mother, Ruth, was just 6 years old when her father passed away.   In the summer of 1914, her father, John Butler Allen, got a sliver in his eye.  Later a horse switched his tail and a long hair cut through his eye again.  These accidents c...

This a true Christmas story, from my childhood. The Christmas of 1939, here in St. George, Utah, was going to be quite humble at our house. My father had been in World War I and had suffered off and on with "shell shock", which now is called Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He had been in the Veteran's hospital in Salt Lake City during the year, and my mother, Ruth, had given birth to my sister, Mavis, on December 1st. In those days, mothers stayed down much longer with a difficult birth. My mother had been allowed to turn over in bed on the 10th day, and got up on the 17th day, so Christmas found her very weak. My grandmother, Ruth’s mother, was living with our small family, and helping after the new baby. She stayed with us each winter and was a Temple Ordinance worker in the St. George Temple, spending her summers in the cool town of Panguitch, near the beautiful Bryce Canyon in Utah. My parents had followed the admonition found in Doctrine and Covenants s...