For the disclaimer, please see the Authors Note at the beginning of Chapter 1
The Journals Of Elizabeth Anne Green
Chapter 2
Wednesday July 6th
I think I have a working laundry system. If I hang the sheets from two lines side by side and then hang sheets over both lines it takes up less space on the line and I can have a shady spot to read and write in. It channels the cooling breezes over to me and no one can see me. Table cloths work well too. The light through them is so pretty, like from the stained glass windows in the chapel of The First Southern Baptist in Newnan. I used to think Mama did this just for me because I liked playing hide and seek. Now I think she did it for the shade and breeze. While the linens are damp they cool the air a bit. Works almost like a swamp cooler.
Even at seven in the morning it was hot and humid. I get a little bored answering phones, making appointments, and taking payments at the clinic, but, I really enjoy the air conditioner. For the air conditioning I will clean out the cages and feed and exercise the animals. I would do it for free just to bask in the cool, but I won't tell Daddy that. Lammas spit, did you know that? Totally Gross! And they are not in the air conditioning. That's why I won't work for air conditioning, Because some times I have to go out of the air conditioning and catch giant boogies with my clothes and hair.
In Young Women we talked about the worth of souls and the divine nature of women. We are going to work on our Divine Nature Value projects. In Young Women we work on Value Projects kind of like merit badges. The values we work on are Faith, Devine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Integrity, and Virtue. It is to encourage us to be strong women and know the importance of our roles as women in the church.
This month we are working on Devine Nature. We were supposed to list ways to develop our Devine Nature and pick one to make a SMART goal. Having a divine nature means to be diligent in having charity for others. Charity is the true love of Christ so it means to look at people the way Christ would, with patience, kindness, and compassion. I think I need to be more diligent in being compassionate and patient with others.
I especially need to be compassionate toward Maggie. Maggie is Daddy's Prodigal Child. When she was a teenager she ran around with some rough people. She experimented a lot with drugs and sex. Mama and Daddy were worried. When she was 17 she got pregnant and didn't know it until she ended up in the hospital from an overdose and miscarried. It was the turn around she needed. She went to the Bishop and had counseling. She agreed to be disfellowshiped for a while, and chose to go through a formal repentance. People knew the shenanigans she had been up to. She hadn't been very discreet at all. Because of all that some people at church treated her a bit cold. That made coming back difficult for her. For a month or so Maggie quit going altogether. She turned 18 and was counted as part of the Relief Society. Because of encouragement and compassion from her visiting teachers and the Relief Society President She started coming to church again.
I think for my goal that I will try to be kind to everyone, Especially Brandy. To help myself do this I will write 3 good things about the people who I get annoyed with, and then try to focus on those things.
Specific-I will focus on 3 positive things about a person when I get annoyed with them
Measurable- Yes 3
Attainable- Yes
Relevant-Yes
Time bound Yes 2 weeks.
How hard can it be?
1.) Brandy is really good at drawing people.
2.) Brandy good at gymnastics.
3.) Brandy never backs down when she has an opinion.
By the way, took 20 minutes to find 3 things. I'm glad I didn't decide to do four.
Thursday July 7th
I finished embroidering the morning glories up the rip in my pants. I can't wait to wear them tomorrow. They turned out nicely. Shawn is hard on his clothes. I know why Mama was always complaining about him before he left now that I have charge of the mending basket. Has been back barely a week and has already ripped two shirts (one was just on the seam), and caught himself in the barbed wire while mending a fence ripping through his pants and underwear.
Mama said I am ready to put together my own sewing basket, because one day I will marry and move away and she isn't going to let me take hers. She bought me a blue wicker basket with a padded lid, satin lined on the inside and a tray with compartments. I will work on making a pincushion out of the left over Hello Kitty cloth if I finish the mending tonight. I might make a little sand bag as well.
Daddy, Shawn and Otis have made a lot of progress on the stable. It's all framed up and waiting to be inspected tomorrow. Shawn is working on a couple of last minute things, and will be in for dinner later.
I was grooming Nellie this afternoon and noticed she was skittish from the noise being made by the construction so I walked her to the south pasture and read "Tunnel in the Sky". It had a bitter sweet ending.
Some survival students were dropped on a planet for a survival test but the test administrators misplaced the planet they had been dropped on. The students realized they weren't going to be picked up because their transportation was super late so the students banded together and built lives for themselves. Anyway, I won't ruin it by telling the ending.
Other than the constant sounds of tools, it's been a peaceful day
Friday July 8th
Hello again. Since I've been writing my SMART Goals in here a suppose it would be a good place to keep my reviews in too.
Four weeks ago one of my goals was to improve my work ethic by being less lazy, so:
1.) Get a Job…Accomplished
2.) Washing…Been doing it. Mama has come to expect it so I doubt I will have any success getting out of it.
3.) Ironing…See #2
4.) Mending…it's work but it doesn't really seem like it. I've gotten to spend time with Mama and it got Mama teaching me to sew. As a mater of fact I've bought another pattern and intend to cut it out Monday. It is a button down shirt that I can make with long or short sleeves, and has three collar options.
My other goal was to be a better listener. I really wasn't sure how I would do with this one but I think I've done really well. I have learned a lot by waiting a few seconds after other people stop talking before I begin. I've had less misunderstandings with people. I also am able to communicate better by taking time think about what I'm going to say before I say it. Shawn noticed that I'm not rushing in to run my mouth so much. He thinks I matured while he was gone, and I have no intention of telling him it is the result of a very recent goal.
Well, I had better get to bed. There is a youth temple trip to Atlanta in the morning and I have to be up at 4 to do my chores and get ready to go. Jennie is going to pick me up at 6:45 so we can meet up for the carpool at 7am in the church parking lot.
Saturday July 9th
I had such a wonderful time. We stopped at Bo-Jangles for lunch on the way home. Sister Fansler brought cookies for every one. Big, soft, chewy, peanut butter cookies with peanuts in them. Jennie, Amy, Nicole, and I rode with Brother and Sister Tucker. Sister Tucker was wearing a lavender pillbox hat that had a curly lavender feather in it that bobbed up and down the entire car ride.
Brother Tucker told us stories about his time in the navy after WWII, he was old enough to join up the day before it all ended, so he did. He missed WWII but he did a lot of transport during Korea and Vietnam. He was in for 40 years and spent most of his time stationed in Okinawa. That is where he met Sister Tucker. They held hands almost the whole time. She calls him Koi, and he calls her Love, even though her name is Yukiko and his is Willy. When they talk to each other their sentences come out half English and half Japanese. They are so cute. I hope when I'm old my husband and I will be just as in love.
Brother Tucker likes to listen to Car Talk on the radio. There was a News of the Weird story on after Car Talk about a drunk homeless guy who was arrested for biting someone at a national park in Missouri. He had been living in a cave and may have been delirious after having survived being mauled by the bear who was in it. There was also a story about an artist who built a scale model of Paris out of bubble gum and uncooked spaghetti. She spent four years working on it and it is going to be on display at the Smithsonian next month. The final story was about a woman who had 96 cats and had taught them all how to go in the toilet and use the flush handle. If I had that many cats I wouldn't want to scoop that much poop. I hope it works for her. Maybe I can figure out how to teach Barney to do that since Daddy is having a bathroom put into the stable. Then I would be able to get rid of Barney's litter box.
Sunday July 10th
This mornings Sacrament meeting was different to say the least. Young Women's Camp was canceled. How could it be canceled? Jennie and I look forward to it every year. They also announced a series of special broadcasts at the stake center Saturday, One for Priesthood (Men over the age of 12), one for Relief Society (Ladies Auxiliary) and one for everyone. They also announced that next Sunday would be a Stake sacrament meeting.
A ward is a congregation, usually several congregations or wards will use a chapel. Each ward has a three hour time slot. The times rotate every January so eventually everyone has a turn going early in the morning and everyone gets a turn going in the evening. The ward you are in is determined by the geographic area you are in. Stakes are what we call several congregations. Stake meetings are crowded. The curtain that divides the chapel from the gym is opened up and folding chairs are set up close together and in narrow rows. The stage in the back of the gym (for skits and talent shows) is sometimes filled with folding chairs and used for seating if necessary. Once when I was little it was so packed that people were standing in the hallways and the speaker system in the classrooms were used. That was for President Hunter's funeral.
Bishop Jennette talked about everyone setting their affairs in order, keeping our gas tanks full and harvesting what we can now. I'm sure he was speaking figuratively bur he looked much different than his usual happy go lucky self. Brother Abrams talked about the Law of consecration. (Sharing what you have with people who need it). Sister Jones talked about visiting teaching. Usually the speakers all have the same topic. We had combined Sunday school, the youth and adults men and women all met together, and the topic was preparedness and self sufficiency. At the end of the meeting Bishop Jennette asked everyone to "Please make sure the people on your Visiting and Home Teaching routs know about the broadcasts and Stake meetings. Make it your priority. Know what their needs are, and extend them a ride if they need one. If you are unable to help them attend call your Priesthood Quorum Leader or Relief Society President so that we can arrange transportation. The broadcast will not be available online, so please make arrangements to attend. Sister McLean, Would you please offer our closing prayer?"
Daddy was in a meetings with the High Priests Quorum and Bishopric. He wouldn't talk about it much. This is so weird. Instead of making dinner Daddy announced that we are fasting instead. Something big is happening. I wish I knew what.
Monday July 11th
This morning was business as usual except that we fasted for breakfast, but Mama had tortilla soup on the crock pot with cornbread on the side when Daddy and I came home for lunch. I did the ironing and didn't scorch anything. Shawn intends to cut the east alfalfa field with Otis tomorrow morning. The stable passed its first inspection. Shawn spent the better part of the day putting on the sub layer of the roof and the sheathing on the exterior.
I cut out two blouses. They will be western style button down's. One is plaid in shades of blue and purple with thin silver threads. It will have short sleeves. The other is pale green with yellow and blue dots. That one is long sleeved. Mama said I did really well. Tomorrow I will do the button holes, set the sleeves and hem the bottoms.
Mama and Sister Bradley did their visiting teaching rout. Mama spent the morning baking peach cobblers to get their feet in the doors. Visiting Teaching is how the women in Relief Society fellowship each other. The ladies are assigned a partner to go visit three or four sisters with. Most all the ladies have assignments. Every month they visit their sisters and fellowship. They are also supposed to make sure the sisters they visit have everything they need. If they can't figure a way to help then they tell the Relief Society President, Sister Marshall, and she uses church resources to help. Home Teaching is about the same but the men do it. Daddy and Shawn left half an hour ago to visit the families on their rout.
Maggie is in charge of family home evening tonight. I wonder what she has planned. I'm making brownies for after. They will be done soon so I had better go back downstairs.
Tuesday July 12th
I wanted to drive to the drug store in Senoia to pick up feminine supplies after work and Daddy wouldn't hear of it. He insisted that he come with me before going home or that I drop him off at home and then take Maggie or Mama with me. Then he's all, "I don't know what you're being so secretive about, but, if you have to keep it a secret then you probably ought not be doing it." And I'm like "I need maxi pads!" and he's all, "No need to yell, Bethy, I understand you're a young lady. If it will make you feel better I'll stay in the car and read the Gazette."
Then I felt bad for yelling, and being disrespectful. It's just that Daddy is so old fashioned. I was born late in his life. He was fifty-two, and Mama was thirty, so I guess he was brought up in a different time. A time when young ladies did not go off on their own. Mama backs him up and is always saying, "Safety in Numbers". Daddy and Mama were the same with Maggie except that they let up on her when she turned six-teen, however, because of her getting into too much trouble I don't think they will ever leave me to my own devices. I know they do it because they care about me and worry about me but come on.
At least I can ride Idabel by my self, and here I am in the old tree house while she is munching the grass, occasionally flipping her tail at flies. It is so peaceful. I like it here because I can see most of the farm from up here, over towards Doss Acres Lake to the south east and Keg Creek towards the north. I can also hear the traffic on Reese road.
Daddy and Shawn built it a year or so after he and Mama got married. I keep a few blankets and a camp cot up here, along with a few snacks. It's a great place to be quiet and read. Shawn quit using it shortly after he started Middle school because it was "Immature." I don't think he even remembers that its here. It has withstood several hurricanes, a testament to Daddy's solid construction skills. I kind of doubt Daddy even remembers that its here. Here, is the thin line of trees that separates the south pasture from the south field. Right now the south field is planted in corn. This section of the tree line was abandoned to the kudzu years ago and I think it is also part of what keeps this little floating hideaway hidden. It has so completely overgrown the wooden slats nailed to the tree that an aluminum chain fire ladder is the only way up and down.
The sky is starting to turn pink. I should head back soon for dinner. If I'm late Mama will worry. I started writing this all mad at a Daddy and my goal is to think up three good things about people I am annoyed with. Writing about Daddy building the tree house and being frustrated made me realize that I shouldn't complain. I'm really blessed to have a father like Daddy is. A lot of people have awful parents. My grandpa Green was an awful man who treated my Daddy, my Uncles and my Grandma horribly. Daddy won't speak of him ever. Last summer I asked Uncle Linden about him and all he said was, "When the moonshine got a hold on him he, he was violent drunk. When he wasn't at the bottom of a bottle he was as mean as a rattlesnake. The past is best left there, so let it alone."
Wednesday July 13th
I finished my shirts today. They turned out really pretty. I'm making Mama and Maggie shirts with the pattern too. It's going to be a great surprise. I only had time to cut them out. Maggie's is a dark blue and grey plaid, and Mama's is red gingham.
YW meeting was interesting. We talked about emergency preparedness and 72 hour kits. Sister Compton came tonight to talk to us about camp sanitation, foraging food, water sources and purification, and how to avoid predators in while in the woods. It was very business as usual, since camp was canceled. I guess they didn't have anything else prepared and just went with that anyway.
Thursday July 14th
I realized that I only wrote down one goal and looking back I came to my list of qualities in a husband list so my next goal is to have more gratitude towards others…so:
Specific: I will remember to say please when making requests, thank you when appropriate, and to write one random thank you note for someone every day.
Measurable: Yes
Attainable: Yes
Relevant: Yes
Time bound: Yes one note per day over four weeks.
I wrote my first note to Mama after I finished sewing the last button on the shirt I made for her. I thanked her for teaching me to mend and sew. I left it on her pillow for her to find latter tonight. Also, made a pincushion and little sandbag out of the Hello Kitty scraps and it turned out soooo cute!
Daddy brought every ones 72 hour kit upstairs from the basement. He put them in the hall closet so we can get them quickly without cluttering up the hall. He wants every one to make sure there are three outfits in their pack, plus extra socks and underwear.
Friday July 15th
Jennie and Shawn picked out rings today. Her engagement ring has a polished round fire opal with three seed pearls on each side on a thin gold band. The wedding bands are simple plain gold bands. I thought they were old fashioned but I think the rings really suit them. Especially the fire opal, it flashes glints of orange and yellow kind of like Jennie's no nonsense fiery personality.
Today I wrote a thank you note for Maggie. She is always willing to give me good advice when I need it. I am almost done with her shirt, I hope to get the buttons and button holes done tonight so that she can wear it with her grey pencil skirt to the conferences tomorrow.
The radio had a report about how the authorities in Missouri are worried about how there may be a new party drug that is making people really sick and violent. There have been 5 people affected. Apparently they hurt a few people really bad. I'm glad I don't have to worry about Maggie doing drugs and taking something that would make her hurt anyone. I feel bad for them. They probably felt awful about what they did when the stuff wore off.
Somehow I feel like something big is going to happen. I'm really anxious. I was reading Psalms 31 this morning. It was about having faith in the midst of adversity and how God will always help us. Verse 24 has been running through my mind all day. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
I think I'm going to go sit on the porch and work on Maggie's shirt while I enjoy the sun. Even with the window open its just too hot in here.
Saturday July 16th
Every one is being asked to go to Utah. Leave our houses, drop everything and go to Utah. There are dedicated places on each continent and ours is Utah. And avoid Missouri. Apparently people in Missouri were asked to go to Utah last Sunday.
Daddy was in meetings again with Bishop Jennette and with Stake and Area leaders. They are organizing things so that everything will go smoothly. They are also making sure that everyone has the means to get there and getting area assignments so that we will know where we will be settled at when we get there and what we will do when we arrive. Tomorrow we will find out what our stake and ward departure times and routs are, how much we can bring, and what to bring.
Jennie and Shawn have stepped up their wedding plans. Jennie already has appointments to see Bishop Jennette's Second Councilor, Brother Workman, and Brother Stark in the Stake presidency for a temple recommend. The wedding will be on Tuesday at the Atlanta Temple. The reception will be here on the farm that afternoon. It will be announced tomorrow during the stake meeting.
Mama needs me for something.
Sunday July 17th
We're not going to Utah. Daddy has been called to stay and help arrange caravans, supplies and contacts for other people going to Utah. Daddy is also going to be a councilor, teacher and Patriarch to everyone in the area of our stake. A Patriarch is someone who gives blessings and is a special representative of G-d.
Jennie and Shawn are not the only couple moving their wedding date up. 43 other couples will be going to get married over the course of the week. The Atlanta Temple is going to be open 24 hours a day until the end of next week. After that it will close except by appointment and be kept up by the Temple President. Everyone with a recommend is being encouraged to go before heading west.
After Shawn and Jennie are married, we will have a reception for them in the yard. I still get to make the cake and Gertie and I are going to go to the little boutique in Newnan across from the Win Dixie for our bride's maid's dresses. Jennie was planning to wear her mom's wedding dress so we will drop it off at the one hour cleaners before we start shopping. We are going to order her bouquet from Win Dixie; they actually make really pretty flower arrangements. Jennie and Shawn have no idea that Gertie and I are planning this for them.
I'm pretty sure Gertie thinks we are all crazy, but she is being a really good sport about everything. The conversation went mostly like this:
Me: Hi, Mrs. Palmer, is Gertie there?
Mrs. Palmer: Wait just a sec Shugga.
Gertie: Hey Bethy, what's up?
Me: Shawn and Jennie have finally set a date!
Gertie: Well, it's her news; shouldn't she get to tell it?
Me: No, and I'll tell you why. It's gonna be Tuesday so we got to put it together fast. She isn't expecting anything but going to the Atlanta Temple for her vows or whatever they do.
Gertie: What do you mean, "or whatever they do." You mean you don't know?!
Me: Of course I don't. I've never been to do endowments and what not. Just baptisms. I figure I'll find out when I need to.
Gertie: But why are they…Oh my Gosh! She's not pregnant is she?!
Me: Of course not. If she was, they wouldn't be able to go into the Temple. You have to be chaste to go in.
Gertie: Well, then, why Tuesday. Is someone dying?
Me: No… (Here I paused. Gertie has always been intrigued by our religion but sometimes thinks Jennie and I are … different … in a good way)
Gertie: Come on, Spill. If she ain't pregnant and no one is dying why the urgency?
Me: Well, the Prophet and his councilors have said it is time for all of the members of our church to gather together in Utah.
Gertie: (silence)
Me: Gertie? Are you still there?
Gertie: Yes, I'm still here.
Me: So will you help me surprise her with a real wedding?
Gertie: Back up. Are you telling me that my two best friends on the planet are going to Utah? Is this for ever or just a visit because I don't think Jennie would upset her applecart for a visit and if ya'll are leaving for ever then I'm going too!
Me: I'm not going. Daddy has been asked to stay behind and keep an eye on the chapels and keep records. Jennie and Shawn haven't decided whether to go to Utah with her family or stay with ours, but, for either option they need to get married. She can't stay with us, and he can't travel with them, if they don't,
Gertie: Ok, I'm in.
Shawn just got back and it seems hard that he will probably be going with Jennie's family to Utah. They haven't decided what to do for sure, but they better think fast. The first groups are leaving on Wednesday. If they drive in shifts they can be there Saturday. Groups leaving Thursday Friday and Saturday will bring tents to camp in on Sunday. Any group scheduled to leave on a day that will end up camping over Sunday will take a Boy Scout trailer. Every ward has one or two, depending on the size of their Pack.
I think I hear Daddy pulling up in the drive.
Monday July 18th
We (Gertie and I) got every thing taken care of. We let Mama and Sister Short (who says I should call her Megan since we are going to be related soon) in on what we are up to and they are going to get some food cooked and call Shawn and Jennie's other friends, relatives in the area and members of our ward to come. Sister Short even gave us money for the dry cleaners, flowers, and decorations. We will set everything up in the yard as soon as they leave in the morning.
I had never seen Sister Short's dress before but it's gorgeous. It is very antebellum with its full sweeping skirt, square collar, and long sleeves. It is entirely overlaid with re-embroidered lace and embellished with seed pearl and crystal beading. The veil is of matching lace and beadwork set on a crystal and bead tiara. I swear the box it was all in must have weighed twenty pounds. The petticoats and crinoline are huge. Inow know why Jennie's mom gave us so much money. The dry cleanerswanted $145.00 to clean it and they said it would take three hours not one because it is so big.
Gertie and I found the perfect dresses and they match. We also got one for her sister Beatrice and one for Maggie, but we are not going to tell Beatrice about it until she gets here tomorrow because she couldn't keep a secret if her life depended on it. They are a shiny gold color underneath with sheer layers of orange, yellow, and red. They are tea length with asymmetrical hems, v necklines, cap sleeves and fitted bodices that flair into the skirts.
The bouquet will be of circus roses. Those are the yellow ones with the red tips. They happened to have them in stock. It will also have yellow and orange spider mums, and carnations and ivy. We also ordered matching corsages for the mothers for the bride and groom. We also picked out button hole corsages for Shawn, Daddy, Brother Short, Jennie's three brothers and Shawn's best friend Jonas Jones the 4th. No one actually calls him that. He is called Brownie. I don't know why he is called that but I have been told he will commit murder on anyone who reveals how he got that nickname.
We were able to get paper plates, plastic wear, napkins, paper table cloths, battery operated strung paper lanterns with LED's and paper center pieces in yellow and orange. Gertie is going to make a balloon arch with fishing string and yellow and orange balloons. She says it will take about an hour.
The cake layers are cooling now on my dresser and desk. They smell so good and are making me hungry because I have to keep smelling them. Mama helped me air out the downstairs so that Shawn wouldn't come in and smell them. They are lemon which is Shawn's favorite. Usually he could sniff out a cake from a mile away, but he is still downstairs with Daddy so we must have done a good job of removing the evidence. I'm going to put orange marmalade between the layers and I picked up crystal clear orange flavoring to put in the butter cream frosting. I will put a thin sealing coat of the frosting on the cake layers in an hour or so.
I'm so glad I took the Wilton classes last summer. I'm going to pull out all the stops. I brought home a dozen of the roses and a dozen and a half of the spider mums for the cake because they are all edible. I dipped the flowers in a really light sugar syrup and when it was almost dry I sprinkled sugar on them so now they sparkle. I painted the rose leaves with white chocolate and let them cool, peeled the leaves off and painted them again with milk chocolate and then did it again with dark chocolate. I don't have a topper so I'm using the flowers and chocolate leaves to spill off the top and cascade off the tiers.
Well, they seem cool enough to frost so more later.
Tuesday July 19th
Well, everything went off without a hitch. Jennie was super surprised when her mother presented her with her clean and pressed wedding gown. She had been up most the night re-hemming it so that Jennie wouldn't trip over it.
As soon as Mama, Daddy and Shawn left I brought the thinly sealed cakes down to the kitchen to and began to put them together. Three 24" layers with marmalade between them, then three 12" layers likewise, and lastly, three 6" layers. It took me five tries to get the frosting to go on to the bottom tier smooth and seamlessly because it was just so big. The flowers turned out beautifully, shiny and sparkly, the chocolate leaves were not perfect but they didn't look bad either.
While I was decorating the cakes Gertie and Maggie were setting up the tables and putting up decorations. The balloon arch was so elegant. It was made with two T-ball stands that she borrowed from Sam and Lila. She unscrewed the handles off of her Mom's broom and mop and then she stuck them in the T-ball stands. She used them as improvised pillar frames and somehow wrapped the balloons around them. For the arch on top she used fishing line to hold them together. She, Sam and Lila strung lights on the trees behind the tables and hung the Chinese lanterns from the branches.
Maggie was nice enough to go to Win Dixie and pick up the flowers. They turned out just like the pictures in the idea book except that they were in the colors that Gertie and I asked for.
Mama had prepared crock pots to cook most of the food last night. She had borrowed a couple from Sister Short and one from Gertie's mom, plus her three for a total of six. She had chicken wings, cocktail sausages in peach preserves, pulled pork barbecue, blond chili, and little potatoes with pearl onions and brussels sprouts in butter sauce, and steamed shrimp. All I had to do was take the crock liner bags out of the fridge and put them in the pots. Mama had already written me a schedule for when to turn everything on, whether they should be on high or low, and when to change the temperatures on everything.
After Maggie and Gertie finished the decorating and I finished the cake, we put together a couple of veggie trays with dip and trays with cold cuts and crackers. Then Gertie and I drug Shawn's speakers and sound system outside. We put together a play list and decided it was finished.
About 30 minutes before any one arrived we quickly got dressed and did each others hair. We finished right as Gertie's family pulled up in their green Astro mini van, followed closely by Jennie's sister Beatrice and her boyfriend Scot. Maggie quickly pulled her aside and got her into her dress. Mrs. Palmer helped me carry out the cake and set it up on the clear plastic tiers. Gertie started the music, and soon more people started to arrive. Everyone in our Young Women's group and their families. A lot of the ladies brought side dishes, deserts and pitchers of Kool-aid and punch.
As soon as the Short's and our cars were spotted everyone gathered by the drive way. Jennie was so surprised she started to cry. When we gave her the bouquet and passed out the corsages and button hole flowers for the wedding party she cried because they were so lovely. When she saw the decorations she cried because everything was so beautiful. When she saw the cake she cried because it must have taken forever to do so perfectly. When Gertie played "Keeper of the Stars" for the opening dance she cried because she hadn't told us what their song was. (Mama found out on the ride home and had texted it to me.) When we made sure there were three father daughter dances so all of her sisters would have a chance to dance with their dad she cried because we were so thoughtful. When Shawn's best friend Brownie Jones gave a speech that offered marriage advice that included being sure to remember that "Yes Darling" was the most important phrase he would ever learn, she laughed so hard she cried. When we told her in unison to "Remember Dr. Laura's advice about the sandwich!" she blushed so hard we thought she was going to cry but she didn't. When Maggie caught the bouquet she didn't cry either. Gertie and I forgot about the rice so we quickly grabbed a bag of birdseed out of the shed and passed it around for the kids to throw at them on their way to Shawn's car. It was covered in toilet paper and had soda cans tied to the bumper with "Just Married" written on the back windshield in shaving cream. I think Shawn almost cried to see his car so disrespected.
Everyone was really nice and helped with the cleanup before leaving. The Relief Society Sisters washed the dishes and made sure everyone got their pans and stuff back before leaving. Gertie and I made sure most of the left over cake was cut up and sent with the families that came. Daddy and Brother Short directed all the guys in taking down the decorations but left the lanterns up at Mama's request. Gertie's family was the last to leave because it took about five minutes to talk her Mom and Dad into letting her stay the night. She fell asleep about ten minutes ago. I guess she got bored watching me write all this down. I can hardly wait to go to Newnan tomorrow to get the pictures developed. Its not every day that one of your best friends or your brother gets married and both happened today so of course I need to write it all down. One day I will be old and decrepit and forgetful and need this to remind me.
Oh my gosh it will be midnight in 3 minutes.
Wednesday July 20th
Well its back to the business at hand, almost. Shawn and Jennie are at a hotel in Newnan and won't be home 'til later tonight. Shawn and Jennie are not going to Utah so Sister Short, Mama Maggie, Beatrice and I spent the morning cleaning their house and moving their stuff into it. There are three bedrooms in it. Jennie's bedroom furniture was moved into on of the small bedrooms and Shawn's bedroom furniture was moved into the other. Jennie's family is leaving tomorrow and wont be able to take all of their furniture with them so Brother and Sister Short are giving them their bedroom furniture, their kitchen table and the benches that go with it.
Maggie is going to go with me to Newnan to get the pictures developed so the Short's can have copies to take with them. We are going to go straight to their house after we get them. We are going to help them get things ready so they can leave tomorrow.
Dr. Pierce seemed to be real annoyed with Daddy because he hasn't been to the clinic since Friday. I heard him talking to Daddy in the study this morning. He thinks Daddy is being foolish to take time off to help people pack and get ready to leave "…on the foolish whim of a senile old man, and rushing you son into a marriage with a girl who is too young to know better if he hasn't got her knocked up is just silly. " Daddy didn't loose his cool though. He just replied that Dr. Pierce had no stake in the clinic and if he wanted to quit he could, so, Dr. Pierce said Daddy could "…consider this my two weeks notice then!" He also said a bunch of other stuff I'm not going to repeat here.
I need to hurry and bring in the laundry before Maggie decides its time to go.
Thursday July 21st
Jennie's family left at 6am with the 37 other families in our ward. She cried as they pulled out of the church parking lot but Shawn was good and hugged her. It was so sweet to watch. I never noticed that he could be so sensitive before.
I really don't know why I'm writing all this. Sister Fansler is on her way to Utah and I don't think she is coming back just to give me cookies. I miss her already, even throwing chalk. I will miss seeing everyone in Sunday meetings and Wednesday Young Women's activities. Thank goodness there is Face book.
They are going to drive in caravan in 4 hour shifts with 30 minute breaks in between so people can get out and stretch and use the bathroom. Everyone promised to call Daddy daily to check in daily. Another ward left at noon, and one left at 6pm. Tomorrow three more wards will leave. On Saturday three more will go. Sunday will be a stake sacrament meeting for those who remain. Monday the area presidency will give Daddy the keys to all the stake center and meeting houses before the last two wards leave. Every family that hasn't left with a caravan by then will get a phone call and directions to the farm and gather into stragglers' groups consisting of three to four families at a time.
Friday July 22nd
Daddy has been at the stake center all day. The 6 o'clock groups arrived at four so that everyone could be put on a roster, cars checked and any minor repairs done, and trailer loads inspected and tied down securely. The bishop made sure every car had first aid kits, fire extinguishers, coolers of sandwich fixings, bread and bottled water. Mama, Maggie, Jennie, Gertie and I packed bagged breakfasts of orange or apple juice boxes, a package of pop-tarts, and breakfast burritos wrapped in aluminum foil. The noon departure group arrived at 10am and it was the same except that Mama, Maggie, Jennie, and Gertie packed bagged lunches with a can of soda, a bag of chips and a turkey or ham sandwich in a zip bag. The 6pm departure group arrived at 4 pm and they packed the dinners based on the meal plan for lunch.
I didn't help in the kitchen with lunch and dinner because somehow I ended up getting drafted with some of the other young women to entertain the kids. They sang the Primary songs I played for them on the piano. Mostly the ones about the pioneers, including "The Oxcart". I think they just like making their voices really low as they sing "It's pulled by an ox of course you know" squeaking at the "creeek, creeek, creeek, creeek," part and dragging the creeks out as long as they could. After the noon group I decided to only play that one three times because more than that just might make my ears bleed.
While I was doing music for the kids the other young women also organized and refereed several games of tag, a dizzy contest that won't happen again because three of the kids threw up from spinning in circles too long for their tummies to handle, hopping on one foot contests and other challenges of balance, playing kick ball in the gym and a story time. The kids were in four groups to make them easier to handle and were rotated the activities.
Gertie has been quiet about the whole thing really. She wants to help out and has been a great blessing to have around. She seems fascinated by how quickly everything has been organized and how everyone has been working together. She told me that if her pastor told everyone they needed to move cross country in a week or less he would be laughed out of the church. She seemed surprised when I told her that about half of the people in the wards were staying because they think it is silly or had no desire to go for any reason.
Daddy told me the other night that many people had requested that their names be taken off of the rolls since Saturday. And that more would probably follow suite in the coming weeks.
That's all for now.
Saturday July 23rd
Today I did the some thing I did yesterday except at 4:30 a couple of people who had decided not to go came and tried to talk the people going into staying. No one changed their minds. Everyone seemed excited and happy to go. After about 5:15 someone started yelling awful rude things so I took the kids inside to play in the gym instead of in the sunshine. At least there were no violent mobs like in the 1840's.
Jennie's family got to Utah with no problems. Everyone from our ward made it just fine. The are being redirected to Lebanon Colorado. They will stay in Westwater Utah until Monday.
Sunday July 24th
The Sunday service was somewhat unpleasant.
It started in the normal way, people from the Grantville Ward mostly but enough people from other wards that for whatever reason hadn't left yet began to come into the chapel and take a seat as the Sister Gleason the organist played the prelude music. The Stake Presidency filed in with the bishopric of the ward and took their seats on the stand. The Stake President, President Smyth announced the beginning of the meeting, the opening hymn "Come, Come Ye Saints", and invited Sister Fry to offer the opening prayer. President Smyth went through the announcements, including the final departures tomorrow, who to contact if you need assistance, and new callings to be set apart. Shawn was to be called to be Daddy's Second Councilor, Uncle Otis would be his first Councilor, Mama was to be the area representative of the Relief Society with Aunt Patricia as her First Councilor, and Sister Bell will be her Second Councilor. This was followed by singing "There is a Green Hill Far Away" and the blessing and passing of the sacrament.
Almost as soon as the deacons were instructed to rejoin their families several people entered the chapel and began to cause a ruckus about going to Utah. I really don't understand why people get so upset about things that don't effect them. How is one person, or even a hundred people moving out of a county going to effect the people who stay? They might miss someone who moves away but isn't that why there is Facebook?
Needless to say, the people who wanted to go still intend to go, and those didn't won't, but those are personal decisions that no one can make for anybody else. That is what self determination and free agency are all about. The gift to make our own decisions and take responsibility for our actions. They were asked to quietly sit down and were invited to speak with the Stake Presidency after the meeting so that their concerns could be addressed.
Daddy was in meetings most of the afternoon as was Shawn. Jennie came home with us for the afternoon and for dinner. She and Shawn went to their home soon after he and Daddy were done with their meetings. Tomorrow will be much like yesterday I suppose, and then Daddy and I will go back to work at the clinic, Maggie will continue her distance classes, Shawn and Daddy will finish building the new stable.
I better get to bed, tomorrow I will be entertaining the kids again.
Monday July 25th
I do believe everyone who was going to go has gone. The only difference today was the reporters. Legally they had to stay off of church property. President made a brief statement that they were indeed going to Utah. After about 3 minutes he directed them to go to the church's official website.
Because of the reporters calling out questions to the kids, I took them inside to play. They had fun and I let them each pick a toy from the nursery to take with them since there won't be any kids to play with them once this group is gone.
I really enjoyed taking care of them. One day I hope I have a ton of kids, 7 or 8 would be good. That last group had 97 kids between 18 months and 11 years old divided into 5 groups by age. Some of the kids were worried leaving their friends behind but were excited about going on an adventure as well.
Those kids really tuckered me out.