August Trip to Utah

I've been making hats this month. All different colors and types. Here is my cat Romeo wearing an owl hat. This hat was for Sawyer. I made one in purple for Lily and one in Pink and Yellow for Olivia. There is a story behind the hats. One night I was talking to Kristen. She sent me a picture of an owl hat and the elf hat in red and white below. Kristen wanted me to make these hats for her new baby and so I said of course I would learn how to make them. It took a bunch of trial and error crocheting but I finally perfected the owl hat enough to make a tiny baby one for Kristen in grey. I also designed the hat below after I learned how to make crocheted flowers.

After I was finished making the owl hats for newborn infants...I finally got the size right...I made a sock monkey hat for Kristen and Bryce helped me design a simple hat for him in black and green. He was thrilled to have something to wear hunting this winter. I also made a hat for Marva and one for my dad. Cherie has ordered a gray owl hat for herself. I will make one like Bryce's hat for Keith too. And if anyone else in the family would like a hat, I'm willing to make you one too. You just have to order it from me.

I loved my trip to Utah this month. Jenessa was going to get married in August but put off the wedding to a later date so she had more time to get ready for it. We decided to hold a family reunion on that date because we would all be in Utah together and we had a great time. Another benefit I had was to see my grandchildren. Here is little Olivia standing up in her crib. I was able to spend some time with her and watch her climb up on everything. I was amazed at how fast she is growing and developing. She even can say Hawooo! I was really surprised when she replied to my Hello,

Kerry and I started out our trip from Tumwater and drove to Portland. He had to be back early to speak in Stake Conference so we left his car at the Portland airport and rented a car to take on our trip. We began a day early so that we could attend the wedding of our nephew Chad Neilsen. Here he is with his bride Elise in front of the Logan temple. I thought that was a great day. We got to see a new family formed and visited with family we hadn't seen for awhile at the temple and lunch.

 The Logan temple is where my grandparents Derrick were married. There is a story about how my grandmother won a Model T and she gave it to her parents so they could go to the temple and do work. My mother was also born in Logan. When I was in the temple I was surprised at how it had changed since we had attended Brenda Koeven's wedding. The temple had been completely gutted and the only thing left were the front spiral staircases.

 After the luncheon Kerry and I took a trip to Smithfield which is about 6 miles north of Logan to find the childhood home of my grandmother, Eva Petersen Derrick. I had been to visit with my great grandmother Laura Merrill Petersen when I was about 4 years old and remembered staying in a little room in the upstairs. They had a clawfoot tub there that I could not crawl into because it was so huge for a little girl. I remembered the barn also and we went around the block to find it. I called my cousin John Dietz to verify that this was the house. He was happy to help and said that he has a picture of himself sitting on the porch eating an ice cream cone.

 We found the barn around the corner and we were standing in the driveway when the owner came home. He was happy to show us around the place and told us a few stories about the property. Behind the barn is an old tannery where he kept a few cows. I was surprised to find that the barn still stood. This is where my great grandfather fell and broke his back. Grandma D (Laura) had to take care of him and work to support the family. My mother also had great memories of this property and told us funny stories of how she and her cousin got stuck in the cow manure. They left their boots behind and had to get washed off with the garden hose.

The next day we began our family reunion. Here is Olivia wearing our shirts with the Miles logo on it that Kristen designed. Everyone gathered at Temple Square to play an adventure game that was based around things that our ancestors did at Temple Square. We found out that we had several generations that had been married in the Salt Lake temple. Irvin Derrick had been baptised in the Assembly Hall. Zachariah Derrick helped build the Eagle Gate and made the first artificial limbs in Utah. Margaret Glade Derrick made a flag to celebrate Utah becoming a state that was put up on the ceiling of the Tabernacle and hung on the side of the temple. We gave out nickels to people in front of the Lion House where Theone Koeven and Eva Derrick lived when it was a dormitory.

Next we headed over to the mall across the street for lunch. The children had fun playing in the play area while we relaxed there. We made a family video at the Salt Lake library. Jenessa was in charge and she did some corny shots of Kerry and I. I can't wait to see the video.

The next day we gathered for a hike to Stewart Falls. Kent brought everyone doughnuts and chocolate milk to give us energy for the hike. Not everyone made it to the end. Here is a picture of Keith, Sawyer, Cherie, Kent and Lily. Kent even went to the top area of the falls. Kerry and Bryce didn't come down to this area but headed back. After the hike we cleaned up and then Jenessa took a family picture.

I went to the quilt show last year and this year John suggested that we go again. I love to see the beautiful quilts at the Art Museum in Springville. This is an annual event and I remember going to seen the quilt show when I lived in Springville. There were some beautiful quilts there and I had to go and buy some fabric at my favorite quilt store in American Fork.

The next day my dad and I took a hike up to the cave on Mt. Timpanogas. He has hiked this trail 19 times this year and once with me. It took us an hour and a half to get to the top and 40 minutes to come down. I spent some time resting on benches. Dad lost one of his toenails on the way but never complained. Marva told me about this so that is how I knew. He didn't even complain...he never does. I needed the hike and was glad that I did it.

 One morning I went to the mall with Cherie's family to Build a Bear. Lily chose a pink bunny. John does this with the children so Cherie took him when they picked out their stuffed animals. It is fun for them and they had a great time. Here is Lily imitating her bunny with cute bunny glasses.

And of course we had to celebrate Jenessa's birthday. We went shopping together and then I made her a Rice Krispie treat cake. She saw a wedding cake in an add and wanted one for her birthday. I had fun picking out candy to put in and on the cake. Everyone had a great time at the birthday dinner. Cherie made a Chicken Ceasar Salad and Jonathan brought some Foccacia bread. I loved my trip and visit. My next vacation is going to be in Australia.

Lake Fair

MMMM. Greasy hamburgers and I'm on a diet. Lake Fair is going on right now. Last year we took Lily and she had a blast riding the rides. This year Kerry and I took a ride on the Ferris Wheel. It was a change of pace and I needed it.

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Baby Jonathan

This is a picture of Jonathan when he was a day old. Isn't he cute?

Great Family Times

We have had some wonderful times together as a family this fall. In November Kerry and I flew out to Utah to spend Thanksgiving with our family and especially to meet our new granddaughter Olivia Miles. As you can see she is an adorable little girl and we are excited to welcome her to our family.

We had the opportunity to have a 4 generation photo taken (John, Jonathan, Kerry, and Olivia). We think Olivia is a beautiful little girl, in fact Kerry keeps saying that and he can't get over how pretty she is. Here she is in her tutu. She is a budding ballerina and will follow in her cousin's footsteps. We have to introduce her to Angelina Ballerina now.

While we were there I was invited to have a Thanksgiving dinner with Jonathan and Janilee. That made my Thanksgiving day wonderful. I couldn't get over the delicious sweet potatoes that Janilee made. Maybe someday she will send me the recipe when she is not changing diapers, feeding, washing, and being a busy first time Mom.

I was so grateful for the hospitality I received while I was there. Especially when Jonathan got me tickets to see the Utah Symphony Messiah performed. I sang along in my off key voice with gusto. Kent and Jenessa went with me. They don't know the music yet so were there to just listen. We had almost front row seats (the 4th row) in the huge hall. It was packed. I told Kerry this morning that I want to go next year. He balked at the crowded airports, but for me it was worth the trip.

Of course I can't forget to tell you about the quilt I made for Olivia. The design was based on the fabrics in her designer nursery. What else could I do than use the French Toile background and find some beautiful pinks and greens to go with it. The bunnies are in honor of Jonathan whose great-grandmother Derrick gave him a bunny quilt that she made for him when he was born. I think of bunnies when I think of Jonathan's birth.

Oh, and last of all but not least important I would like to congratulate Jonathan on his promotion to Vice President of the Utah Symphony and Opera. Way to go Jonathan. We are proud of your efforts and love you.

He Loved It!!!

Thanks to all who contributed. Our book to Dad was a success!!

Dad Is Turning 80 This Year!!!!

We are awaiting my Dad's birthday and are planning a surprise for him. I hope that everyone who reads this will participate. Kerry's Dad is also turning 85 this year. I would like to do something for both of them. My thought is to make a dedicatory book to them. Everyone will do one page of the book (including Grandchildren). Each page will contain a picture of that person with a one page typewritten dedication. In this dedication you will tell a favorite (serious story, this is not a roast) of a time in their life when they either helped you or maybe a life event that was important to you that you would like them to remember. I am hoping that this will be passed on through the generations and will be a remembrance of the great person that our Dad is. I hope that everyone will participate and you will send this on to your children. Please send this by an attachment to an email to me at my msn address by the November 10th deadline so that I can get it printed and put into a nice book form for them. I am hoping that this book will be bound and that all the members of the family will participate (of all ages). For the babies a handprint and picture will be sufficient.

Grandfather Derrick's talk to the Balboa Ward December 23, 1962

One hundred and fifty seven years ago today an event took place, planned thousands of years before, or at least it had been foreordained. We know that it was prophesied of over 3500 years before it took place.

PATRIARCHAL BLESSING: Let's go back to a time almost 600 years before the birth of Christ. A great patriarch gathered his children together to give them a father's blessing. Just as you brethren, who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood and are heads of families, have the right on special occasions to lay your hands upon the head of a member of your family00a son, a daughter, or your wife--and pronounce a blessing. This is a great privilege and a father that does not do it is not taking advantage of his rights and powers as a Priesthood bearer and father. It is a means by which his family may be blessed.

SPEAKS TO HIS CHILDREN: This great and faithful leader spoke to his children about the things that were close to his heart--the Gospel, and then said: "And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

"And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.

"I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation (you see, he was about to die); and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls.

"Can you see this father with his sons gathered around him. And then father Lehi--for it was he, the Book of Mormon Prophet--turned and I can just see him taking young Joseph by the hand, or placing his arm around him, as he turned to his youngest son.

"And now I speak unto you, Joseph my last born. thou wast born in the wilderness of mine afflictions. Yea, in the days of my greatest sorrow did thy mother bear thee.

"Then he must have placed his hands upon the boys head in the usual manner and said...(see 2 Nephi 3)

In Sharon township, Vermont, a son was born to a man by the name of Joseph Smith, and the name of his son became Joseph. The birth of Joseph Smith Jr. was in fulfillment of prophecy.

We find the Smith family 15 years later living about two miles outside the town of Palmyra, New York, on a farm.

This was a time when thee was a joint revival in the neighborhood between the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians and they had succeeded in stirring up quite a feeling, and after the meeting the question arose which church should have the converts. Rev. Stockton was the president of the meeting and suggested that it was their meeting and under their care and they had a church there and they ought to join the Presbyterians, but as father did not like Rev. Stockton very well, the Smith family hesitated and the next evening a Rev. McLane of the Methodist preached a sermon on "what church shall I join?"

"And the burden of his discourse was to ask God, using as a text, "If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally." Joseph Smith Jr. went home and looked over the text of this sermon and in his own words said: "Never did any passage of Scripture come with more power to the heart of man that this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of Scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible."

Little did he know as he went into the grove on that beautiful May morning in 1820, when only 14 years of age, that he was an instrument in the hands of the Lord, fulfilling the prophecy which his namesake (Joseph who had been sold into Egypt) had made thousands of years before.

"A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins."

Is it any wonder as the young man knelt in the grove and for the first time to pray vocally that he was immediately attacked by "some power which entirely overcame him, and had such an astonishing influence over him as to bind his tongue so that he could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around him, and it seemed to him for a time as if he were doomed to sudden destruction, but, exerting all his powers he called upon God to deliver him from the power of this enemy.

Is it any wonder the Adversary would attempt to stop the great thing that was about to take place, the appearance of God the Eternal Father and His son Jesus Christ to this young man, who was to be the choice Seer raised up and that he would be commanded to do "none other work except that work which the Lord commanded him."

Almost from the time of Joseph Smith's first vision his life was dedicated to the restoration of the Gospel, building the Kingdom of God, and preparing the way for the return or second coming of our Lord and Master in all his glory.

Again in fulfillment of prophesy, "And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. And I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work."

Young Joseph was tested the next few years. In fact he was tested from the time of his first vision until he sealed his testimony with his own blood when he was martyred at 38 years of age. Seldom was there a time when he was not persecuted.

He had to say about his persecution. "It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of most bitter persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself.

I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two personages and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying so, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.

And Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, further testified as follows:

"But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins--and not to the bringing forth my word only, said the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.

"Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; (Judah was Joseph's brother. Both were sons of Jacob, later known as Israel) that that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

"And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.

Again the Prophet Joseph Smith was an instrument in the hands of the Lord in fulfilling this prophesy. A history of the fruit of the loins of Joseph was kept, hidden away about 400 AD by Moroni. These records kept on plates were revealed to the Prophet Joseph by Moroni, and later taken and translated by use of the Urum and Thummin. Here is the result, The Book of Mormon which goes hand in hand with the Bible--or a history of the fruit of the loins of Judah--again fulfilling prophesy.

A man would have to be great in the eyes of God to have been chosen to open the dispensation of the fullness of times, to prepare the way for the second coming of His son in all his glory.

Just as sure as these prophecies have been fulfilled, the Savior will return and those who are his at his coming will be caught up to meet him. As Latter-day Saints we know through the revelations of the prophet Joseph Smith that the birth of the Savior was actually in April 6, although it is celebrated throughout the Christian World on the 24th of December.

The season has become one of materialism. As members of Christ's Church we should especially at this time of year be thankful for all the blessings he has bestowed upon us, for the gift of life, for our understanding of the Gospel, for those things that it brings into our lives. We can best show it by living his commandments.