Thoughts and stories, by Pal

This photo of Wayne doesn't go with the article, but I really like it.  This was when he was writing his memoirs for our life story book.  He found the cap from the "Gripsholm", the ship he sailed in to and from Sweden for his mission there in 1950-1953.  Also, Jasper, sitting in the chair, is what Wayne found at a yard sale once, and he loved to put him out on St. Patrick's Day.   13 Different Ways to Practice Mindfulness – And the Difference it Can Make Posted by  Karen - Hey Sigmund What if there was something that could give you a stronger, healthier brain, lower your stress, help protect you against anxiety and depression, give you a better sleep, and improve your mood – all without any side effects except a happier, healthier, calmer version of you? What if science could back it up its restorative, protective, healing powers with countless research studies? And what if this remarkable, restorative gem was in your hand...

This true story about my Christmas when I was 5 years old, is truly a favorite.  Reposted from:  #  555. A Child's Christmas Prayer Answered -- first written on December 1, 2013, on blog # 21. 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 worke...

Today I want to honor my father, Orson Pratt Miles.  He was born in St. George, Utah on September 7, 1891, and saw this town from basically the pioneer days.  He received a pension for being disabled, after his time in World War I, and being on the front lines there.  He was such a gentle soul, and seeing people dying around him, and having to take someone else's life was just too much for him to handle, and be normal after that time. My father, a true gentleman who always wore a tie, and a hat when he went outside! A repost of blog # 37, which I first posted on December 14, 2013.      This post is a bit longer than most.  It tells of my father, Orson Pratt Miles's time in the army, and the heart touching story just before he died.  In 1987, Mavis’ son Russell was living with Ruth Miles, his grandmother, attending Dixie College.  He was in the “middle bedroom” and in cleaning out the closet he found an old box.  It contai...

This is an extra today!  I have another entry I will also do today.  The concert in the St. George Tabernacle on June 30, 2013, was truly enjoyable, and I will post other numbers in the future.

My daughter Anita's son, Ben Lieske, sang in a concert here in the St. George Tabernacle on June 30, 2013, just before he went on his LDS mission to Taiwan.  I am accompanying him.  He now is married, and both he and his wife are going to Southern Utah University to become music educators -- teaching choir in a high school, etc. Both Ben and his wife Ashlee have great voices, and Ben has had several tenor leads in operas and musicals, both in college, and in high school.

This is a short part of the video we took on my husband Wayne's 70th birthday.  It tells a well-known family story of when he and his twin brother Blaine were in the army.

I was privileged to be there last Friday night, December 9th, 2016, and enjoy this beautiful and entertaining program!  My son Wayne is still in the Tabernacle Choir.  Then Saturday we had a most delightful session taking family pictures with our son Wayne and his children and grandchildren.  The new baby was 3 days old!  Sunday I also went to a great concert with 3 of my grandchildren in it -- a full orchestra and choir.    I have tried to upload photos from my cell phone, and can't make it work.  More to learn for me! Mormon Tabernacle Choir Performs Annual Christmas Concert By The LDS Newsroom  · December 11, 2016 Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE Thousands of people gathered in downtown Salt Lake City Thursday night for the first of three live performances of the 17th annual Christmas concert held in the Conference Center by the  Mormon Tabernacle Choir , Orchestra at Temple Square a...