Arlo and Gatha Vance family: Thanks for the Blog

I had hoped to see a lot of activity on our blog.  The ones that have posted have been very interesting.  I love my family and do like to know what is happening with everyone.



 I have been having atrial fibrilations.. I was in the hospital for a few hours.  Gloria came and took me home from the hospital, and took me to the places that I needed to go.  She is a great blessing to me.   I went to the doctor the next day and  he gave me some medicine and hopefully I will not continue to have such problems.



I was released as a Family Search Missionary.  I loved that calling and have found many things about our family. I have spent more time in the Temple.  That is a special blessing for me.  I have 900 names to do the work for.

Arlo and Gatha Vance family: Thanks for the Blog

Arlo and Gatha Vance family: Thanks for the Blog

Thanks for the Blog

I am excited to again have the blog.  It was a great blessing to me and I am glad that we will now have it again.  I had such a good time at the Larry and Jeanette reunion.  I enjoyed the children and everyone.  It was a great blessing to me.  I also enjoyed two days with Danette and Gary's family.  Gary, thank you for going out of your way to pick me up.  That was a nice 2 days.

Larry and Jeanette were so very nice to me.  They came on Thursday night and spent the night with me.  We left on Friday morning and visited with Anita and Arlo.  Their reunion was a lot of fun.  We stayed in a mountain cabin with Larry and Jeanette's children and grandchildren. There was a place to prepare meals and enjoy each other.  The games were fun and well prepared.  Thank you Larry and Jeanette and family. I felt great love there.

Larry and Jeanette picked me up at Danette's and went to Longmont, Colorado to the Gatha and Arlo Vance reunion.  It was at Andrea's home and hosted by Kent and Betty, though Betty was not able to be there, but Andrea was a great hostess.  I loved being there with all of my children and some of my grandchildren. It was a great time.  Thank you Kent and Andrea.

Saturday night, Kent, and Bonnie and Larry and Jeanette and I, went to Kent and Betty's.  It was so good to see Betty.  She was a wonderful hostess.  She made a place for us to sleep and fixed a great breakfast for all of us.  Kent and Bonnie and I left there, Sunday morning and we drove to Don and Gloria's.  Bonnie had left her car at Don and Gloria's, we spent what was left of that night at Don and Gloria's.  Gloria fixed a good breakfast for us.  Bonnie took her car and went to Shandi's to spent time with her family.  Kent and I drove through Zions, Canyon, on our way to St George, where Kent spent that week with me.  Bonnie, and Don and Gloria came and spent some time with us.  I didn't go to the Family History Library that week.  It was a great week with my children.  I spent three weeks with my children.  One of the great blessings of my life.  I love my children and am proud of all of them.

Talents

We have a talented family.  One talent can be enjoyed at this site:  http://danettejhansen.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/a-writing-prompt/

Danette enjoys writing, as many of you.  Anyway we would like to share this blog.

Newest Arrival to the Vance Family

Jason and Brandi Ensz welcomes baby Quierra Lynn Ensz on August 1, 2014!  Now Cory is a Grandpa Vance!  The whole family is excited about this addition.

Reunion 2014

We were packed in, but I really enjoyed seeing all who came.  I've been really hungry for family and I felt that I was well fed.

Summary of Arlo/Gatha Family Meeting

Written by Gloria Vance

Held on July 26, 2014 in Longmont, Colorado

It was discussed that we as a family we need to be in touch with each other to be closer together.  Grandma Gatha discussed how family members are her most precious jewels.  Discussed 4 main subjects:

1.        Organization of family and next reunion.

a.       Bonnie is in charge in 2016.  She suggested getting a spot in Brian Head in a friend’s cabin.  It will be held for 2 days, 1 night. 

b.      The date needs to be chosen and place early so others can make necessary arrangements before had. (by end of 2014) then notify family members.

c.       No annual dues will be required.  It can be paid on a volunteer basis.  The Secretary/Treasurer will be in charge of collection.

2       Communication between families

a.       The Arlo & Gatha Vance Blog will be activated once again for this communication.  http://arloandgathavancefamlily.blogspot.com/   It is wanted to be a private family blog.

b.      Gatha and each child will be administrators who can invite all their family members

c.       All need a gmail account to login

d.      Each administrator will be in charge of their family postings and review them before posting on blog.  They will be able to add or remove people or posts.

e.      The administrators need to contact each other at least every other month.

f.        Allow only family members to be able to access the blog

g.       Purpose is to keep the family in touch with each other and grow in relationship.

3       Officers – elected

President – Larry; 

Vice President – Jeanette; 

Secretary/Treasurer – Gloria; 

Historian – Kent

       

Some family members may not want things posted as far as family information, we are to honor their request.

The administrators need to contact each other in September, 2014. 

Gloria will keep record of any money given to be used for the family in reunions, or other necessary items/projects. 

Gatha's Life

    I was born in Antonito, Conejos, Colorado on 24 October 1928.  I am the second child of James Edward  Bingham and Cora Emily Dunn..  I have a brother, Keith Edward, who is older than me, he was born in Manassa, Colorado.  Next in line is  Teddy Leon, then Barbara Ann, Cora LaRue, and Last Doris Faye.  We lived in Antonito a very short time.My Dad worked for a grocery Store there.  We moved back to Manassa, where Leon was born.  All of my siblings were born in Manassa.

    Before I went to school, my dad worked for a man in Saguache, Colorado.  While we lived there Keith and I were playing on a two wheel trailer and I fell off and cut my head.  I still have a scar where it was cut.  Keith broke his arm while we lived there.

   We moved back to Manassa, where I went to school until I was in the 4th grade.  Through that time, we lived across the street from Helen Culler's family.  Helen and I were good friends.  

   The year that I was eight, our family, (except for Doris Faye, who wasn't born yet), and Mom's  sister Doris, went to Los Angeles, California.  My dad's aunt Mattie had a home there. She died and left the home to Dad and his sister May.  We went there to settle the estate.  On the way home to Manassa, we went to Mesa, Arizona to the temple, where we were sealed as a forever family. That was one of the great days of my life.

   When we got back to Manassa, Mom and Dad decided to buy a 60 acre farm two and a half miles from each Romeo and  and Antonito.  That was the home we spent most of our lives in.  We went to Romeo to School and to church.  We were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (The greatest blessing of our lives). I don't believe there is anything on the Earth that compares with it.  We belonged to the Romeo Ward.

   Our school was in an old bank building.  It had two stories.  The top was a stage, a bathroom. a kitchen, where our school lunches were prepared and a class room.  There was a floor with basketball standards on the East and the West ends. Assemblies and dances were held there. There was a bus garage connected to the building.  The first and second grades were in one room.  The third and fourth were held in one room. the fifth and sixth were in one room and the seventh and eighth were held in one room.  The high school was held in three rooms. The year after I graduated from High School, The building burned down.

   In 1944, my Mom was hurt, while riding on a tractor with my Dad,  They were combining a field of grain and when they stopped, as my Mom was getting off of the tractor, the power-takeoff broke and swung around and cut my Mom's leg from the knee to the hip.  It was a cut almost to the bone.  She had complications from that. She lived for about a month, and infection set in and she died.  She died on the 11th of October 1944. That has been the hardest thing I have ever gone through in my life.  Today it has been sixty eight years and it still is hard to talk about.  My Mom was one of the best people I have ever known.  She was a gentle patient mom.  She taught me so many things and especially how to behave..

   I was still in high school.  My Dad was so unhappy.  He could not stand the farm that he had loved because he and Mom were so together. You hardly saw one without the other.  They were and example of the kind of love that makes a happy home.  He sold the farm and we moved into town of Romeo.  In the short time there we lived in three different houses.  I was the oldest girl and the responsibilities of the home were in a way on me.  I did not make a good mom to my  brothers and sisters.  They didn't want my telling them what to do. My Dad never got over grieving for my Mom's death.

    When I was a senior in High School I met and Married Arlo Vance. on the 30th of May 1946.  I was still in High School.  We moved to LaJara, and I either drove to Romeo to school or rode on the train, which ran from Alamosa to Chama New Mexico in the mornitng and returned at night. I graduated from High school in May 1946  I had been married for three months when Dad checked himself into the hospital in Alamosa,  Arlo and I drove him there.  He had a hernia which he need to get repaired.  He had complications from the surgery and had another surgery.  He got lockage of the bowels and died on July 11, 1946.

   That was a hard time for all of us.  There was never after that a place to go home to.  Keith retured home from the Navy (World War II).  I got a wire from him that he had been discharged from the Navy and was on his way home. Dad had just died.  There was no way to warn Keith.  Someone met every train and bus that came into Alamosa, (the only way to get home).  He was home in time for the funeral.  

    Doris Faye came to live with Arlo and me, Leon went with Aunt May, Barbara went to California to live with Aunt Ethel and Uncle Don.  LaRue stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Dunn.  Keith went to Los Alamos, New Mexico.  After six years all of my brothers and sisters, except Keith were living with Grandma and Grandpa Dunn.

    When Arlo and I were married on the 30th of March 1946, Doris Faye came to live with us in July and Donnie was born on the 28th of January 1947,  Arlo and I had lived with Grandma Vance and in Isabel's little house.  He went to work for Guymons. Donnie and  Kent and Bonnie were born as we lived there.  In about 1952, we left Guymons, We lived for one year in a farm house between Bountiful and Sanford.  From there Arlo worked for Thales Haskell and we lived on a farm Northwest of Romeo.  We lived there for a year.  Larry was born there, Donnie was born.While we were there Arlo had back problems.  Richard and Roxanne (Arlo's brother), came for Christmas.  When they left, they drove Arlo to the veterans hospital in Grand Junction, where he was intraction for a month and they transfered him to Denver, where he had surgery on his back.  While he was there, we had to leave the farm where we lived.  I moved my family to Manassa, where we lived until 1983.

Mama's Coat

I understand that when I was a little boy, my mother took her own winter coat and cut it up to make a coat for me.  Mom, can you tell me more about that?

Early Trips to the Mountains

We lived at Guymon's place and drove the Model A. We went to LaJara Creek. I don't know if we ever went there after we moved away from Guymon's. It was in LaJara Canyon. Arlo liked to fish there and Doris Faye and Don and Kent were the family then. We went there one day and spent the day. Arlo fished until dark and we started home. It started raining and it came down very hard. The storm followed us all the way out of the canyon and to our home. We couldn't see rain in front of us or after us, but the roof leaked, it came down so hard and fast. It was like the rain was our best friend or worst enemy. All of us were wet when we got home.

Fishing was Arlo's favorite thing to do.

He also enjoyed a ride in the mountains and to follow roads to see what was at the end of the road. We wandered all over the mountains. One day I went with him in the Jeep station wagon. He liked to sight see along the sides of the road. We rode up a high mountain road, where you felt like if you fell off, you would land in China. As we were going down the hill, the car hit some loose gravel and we went off the road and rolled down the hill. He said we rolled twice, I'm not sure we did that, but we landed on all four wheels and had a hard time driving out onto the road again. We did get back on the road and drove home. As we rolled, I hit the ceiling and my seat folded up. I landed on the folded seat and had a fish hook in my bottom. That took some effort to get out. Didn't feel good. We got razzed when we got home. There was no denying that we had rolled. The jeep had gravel on the roof and some dents.

We did have a few adventures.

The Death of Arlo's Brother, Melvin and our trip to Washington

Arlo's brother, Melvin, lived in the state of Washington, he died there, It was requested that a family member come to Washington to identify him and prepare to bring him to Colorado to bury him. Arlo and I, (Gatha), and Earl and his wife, Augusta. (is first wife). went to Washington.

Kent was a small child and I was still nursing him. Grandma Dunn tended Don and Kent, so I could go with them to identify and prepare Melvin to bring him home.

Melvin and his dad weren't very good friends. Melvin left home when he was young and the family didn't know where he was for many years. He had never married and Arlo hadn't seen him for a long time. He joined the army and was finally in touch with his family. He came to LaJara when Grandpa Vance, Arlo's dad, died. Arlo didn't know him when he saw him.

On with the story. Arlo, Earl, Gus and I drove to Washington. It was January and it was a very cold and snowy time. Idaho was snowed in, so they decided to go through Arizona and Nevada. Flagstaff was snowed in. There were drifts on the sides of the road, so high that we hardly saw any homes in Flagstaff. We went a hundred miles into Nevada and the pass we had to go through was closed, so we drove the hundred miles Back to Arizona, and drove through California. We did finally reach Washington. Arlo and Earl took care of the business of getting things ready for Melvin to be shipped by train to Alamosa and on to LaJara, where the funeral was and he was buried in the Manassa Cemetery.

80----------continued----35         THINGS I HAVE DONE WITH MY FAMILY

                                                        Temple Trip

  I think one of the things I remember most is when Arlo and I took our family to Mesa Arizona to the temple to be sealed as a family forever.
     Several things happened before this happened.  Our ward in Manassa had a special program to prepare families to go to the temple.  It was before Monday nights were set apart for home evenings.  We had a meeting each Monday night to help us prepare for this great blessing.  We had been married long enough for Donnie to be getting ready to go on a mission, and I felt so strongly that if we didn't go to the temple before he left home that possibly we would never get out family all there for the sealing.  I was so very anxious for this blessing that I fasted 2 days a week for many weeks, possibly as long as a year.  I started my fast on Sunday morning and broke my fast after we had refreshments after our Monday night meeting.  It was not hard to do this as I wanted the blessing so badly that I was glad to do it.  I fed my family and didn't even feel a need to eat.
     After the lessons were all given,  Elma, my aunt taught a special class on preparing families to go to the temple and challenged the class to prepare to go to Mesa, Arizona to the temple, on the 15th of February 1966.
     We borrowed Elma's car and drove to mesa and were sealed in the temple on that day.  That was one of the greatest blessings of my life.  I pray always that all of us will be worthy for that blessing for eternity.  Donnie had his endowment on the same day.  He was prepared to go on a mission.  He went to the Central American Mission.

                                                       Trip to Los Alamos

     Arlo never seemed to be able to get off work to go with us, so I took my children, Don, Kent , Bonnie and Larry and went on several trips.  The one I will tell you about was when we went to Los Alamos to spend some time with Keith and Erma and their family.  Arlo's brother, Earl, gave Arlo a blue Volkswagen pickup.  It had a back seat.  We had a great time with Keith's family.  Los Alamos, at that time was a restricted city.  We had to have Keith's family come to the station at the gate and make it possible for us to enter.  Keith took us to his work place, where there were interesting thing about the making of the atomic bomb.  It was interesting.  We also went to some Indian ruins, Bandalier.  It was an Indian village built on the side of a mountain. That was fun.

                                                          Trip to Pueblo

       My children and I decided to go to Pueblo, to visit my friend, Nona.  That was a lot of fun.  Nona and I had been friends since I was in the fourth grade.  We had a lot of fun, but when we started home, our car broke down.  Arlo had to come and get us.  Tom Rogers picked our car, (the Volkswagen pickup),on one of his trucks. and brought it home to Manassa.  He later took it to Santa Fe to have it repaired.

                                                   A trip to Los Alamos with my sisters

       My sisters, Barbara, LaRue and Doris Faye, and our children piled into our old car and drove to
 Los Alamos,  We were a little crowded, but it was fun.  The seat belt laws were not in effect then.  At that time all of my sisters lived in Manassa.  As I remember it, Barbara lived in the old Christensen house,  Harold was overseas and LaRue lived in a trailer  house on the lot where we lived and Doris Faye lived in her home there.  I hope my memory is right.  We had a lot of fun together. 

Helen and Gatha

This video was shot at Thanksgiving this year.  The quality isn't the best, but I'll learn to take better videos.  I'll also learn to edit and handle them better with time. 

The Vances have known the Cullers for many years.  Mom (Gatha) and Helen knew each other as children.  Gatha was a Bingham and Helen was a McKenzie.  The Cullers came to visit us in Manassa when Kent was just a teenager.  I imagine that is where Don met Gloria. After Don and Gloria married, some of us Vances went with them to Farmington to visit the the Culler family.  Visiting in Kanab was a lot of fun.

Conejos County Library

In the early 1970s I ran a small lending library in an old building next door to Conejos County Gas and Oil. The Alamosa Library brought books for us to lend. I did that one day a week, for several years. Our Conejos County Commissioners decided to build a library by the LaJara High School. They asked me to be on the planning board. We worked on plans for it for several years. I went to Alamosa and prepared some of their old books to be used in our library. Now that they no longer brought books to Manassa, they sorted out many duplicates and sold them to the Conejos County, to be used in our new library along with many new books.

When they were ready to open the library, thy asked me to resign from my post on the planning board and to go to work as a librarian. I was not qualified to be the head librarian and they hired Marie Deherrera to be head librarian. I had worked in the Alamosa Library long enough to have a good understanding of the work as a librarian. Marie had not been trained in library procedure. I thaught her many things. Later our planning board members said the wished they had hired me to be head, but I was glad that they didn't, because I didn't want the responsibility. They hired Vangie, I can't think of her last name. The three of us ran the library for seven years. I loved that job. When Arlo and I were called on a mission and after he had heart surgery, we were on our mission in the Arizona, Holbrook Mission for a year, I was not at the library for that year. I returned to the library for 2 months then Arlo died. I stayed on for another year and then moved to Mesa Arizona.

Gloria and I painted a mural on the West wall of the library. Gloria is the one who knew how to pain them, but I helped. The last time I was there part of that mural was still there. They built a room on the West sided of the building and it took some of the paintings of the door.

The library was a blessing to the county. I felt that It was like my library. I put a lot into it. Arlo and I were alone and this was a blessing to both of us. I didn't make much money, but we did ok. It helped.

A Proposition

 I have finally found a way to scan and share some of our old family photographs in the form of slides that have been in boxes for years.  I am interested in seeing them and sharing them.
  

It would be fun to share thoughts and stories.

If I post the photos, would you be willing to comment with what you remember?

Things I have done

I copied this from an old Personal Record page, written many years ago.
My name is Gatha Bingham, daughter of James Edward Bingham and Cora Emily Dunn.
I was born on the 24 October 1928 in Anotnito Conejos Couunty Colorado.
I was blessed on 2 Decenber 1928 by Simeon Harmon Dunn (my maternal grandfather), in Manassa, Conejos, Colorado.
I was baptized on 1 November 1936 in Manassa, Conejos, Colorado, by E Clay Rogers.
I was confirmed on the November, 1 1936 by Simeon Harmon Dunn.
I married Donald Arlo Vance on 30 March 1946 in manassa, Conejos, Colorado, by Bishop Chris Harmsen, at the home of my grandparents, Simeon and Annie Dunn.
I was endowed and sealed to Donald Arlo Vance, in the Mesa Arizona Temple on
15 February 1966.
I received my patriarchal blessing, 23 July 1944 from Levi Dunn

The schools I attended were; Manassa grade school from first grade through third, from third through twelve grades in Romeo. I was one of three who graduated from Romeo High School. Dorothy Sorensen and Joe Casias, were the others. It was during world war II, and most of the boys were in the service. The girls were in other schools.
I taught Sunday School one year in Romeo. I was secretary of WYMIA in Romeo Ward, while I was in High School.
After I was married and we moved to LaJara, I was a counselor in the Primary for a short time. I was teacher of a Bluebird class for 2 years, and I taught a Sunday School class for 2 years.
We moved to Romeo Ward and I was a Primary teacher for a year. We moved to Manassa in March 1955, while Arlo was in the hospital in Grand Junction and had back surgery in Denver.
I was a counselor in the Primary with Evelyn Anderson as president and Elsie Sellers as the other counselor for 2 or 3 years. I was the Trekker leader for 3 years and a den mother for 3 years.
I was called to be the Social Science leader in the Stake, for 7 years, under presidents, Verla Crowther and Thelma Crowther. I had the blessing of going to Relief Society Conference and General Conference for 6 years.
I was the stake scouting director in the Primary for three years under Geneva Guymon and from February 1969 , and then under Marie Ryker, In January 1972 I was call to be a counselor to Marie Ryker in the Stake Primary, until we were released several years later. I had the blessing of going to Primary Conference and to General Conference, for the 7 years I was on the Stake Primary Board.
I taught Sunday School for about 6 years and served as Junior Sunday Coordinator for 2 years. I taught in the nursery for a time. and I also worked in the ward Library for several years.
I went to girls camp for several years and was the Stake Camp Director for 2 or 3 years. I went through all of the things that the girls had to do to pass their camping awards.
As I was in the Stake Primary, I was in charge of Day Camp for the Oldest boys in Primary
That was a big responsibility. I also worked with the Scout program. I earned a District Award of Merit.

It is a good thing to write the things you do. I had forgotten several of these things.

Gatha

See how good lookin' I am to have a 64 year old son!

welcome to Elaine

We want to welcome the newest member to the family for joining us here in this earthly estate! Elaine Garcia we are happy to have you.

Summer activities 2010

It has been neat to see the family this summer.

Here are some pictures of Kent's family when they visited.

We visited the 'Skinny Caves'. The kids really enjoyed the play

entitled 'Tarzan' at Tuchacan. Thanks Grandma for the tickets.

Father's Day Reflections

At church today, there were three speakers whose topic was Father's day.  It was a really uplifting meeting that helped me remember my own father.  My father and I didn't always see eye to eye.  For many years, I was quick to find fault with him, but I have some very strongest memories of him and his teaching.  

I was about ten when he told me to fix a flat tire on my mother's car.  I had never changed a tire and didn't know what I needed to do.  Dad pointed to the floor jack on the cement floor of the service station and then he pointed to the pointed to the star wrench that hung on the wall.  I took them and did the best I knew how. Putting the jack under the back of the car, I raised the car with ease.  Unknowingly, however, I had put the jack under the gas tank which was not designed to sustain the weight of the car.  That caused some damage to the car that Dad had to repair.  I felt his frustration in my lack of knowledge.  I worked with him in his service station when I was 17-19.  During those years, my feelings about him began to change.  Although there were times that he expected me to know things that I had never been taught, I learned a great deal from him during those years.

When I was a young man and about to marry, Dad felt some reservations about the  wisdom of my choice.  I have a letter from him in which Dad told me in a loving way about his concerns then tenderly he allowed me to make my own decision.  

Years later, on the day of the wedding, he slugged me on the shoulder and said, "Well, son, if you don't know now, it's too late."  

He was a loving Grandfather.  I remember one morning what Rob was just a little guy, he was out watching Dad burn trash in the trash barrel.  Dad came in, then we had a fire in the back yard that brought the fire department.  When I was ready to give Rob a spanking for causing the fire, Dad interceded and told me not that it was his fault. 

Many years later, when my wife and I were going though a troubled time, I saw Dad as I will always remember him.  He spent a short time with us, but taught us a lot.  He shared regrets with us about the things he had done wrong as he gained his years of experience as a husband an father.  He expressed his love and confidence in each us.  That was the last time I ever saw him alive.  I sometimes have a hard time remembering the details of Dad's face, but I will never forget that tender lesson.

Arlo Vance Rendezous

REMINDER: On the side of Hansen Mountain we are gathering for the Vance Rendezous on Saturday, August 7th. the big events will take place. We will start the gathering on Friday 6th. We will be sending out more information later, so please check with your family so we can get an idea on how many we can plan on. Thanks.

Mom's histories

I have thoroughly enjoyed my mother's posts on her parents' BLOG.

• Part 29 Sewing I have done
• Part 28 Life Goes On
• Part 27 My Life Changed 
• Part 26 Angels in my Life 
• Part 25 Great Grandchildren 
• Part 24 Tender Mercies from the Lord
• Part 23 The House on Third Street
• Part 22 A mission to Arizona
  
• Part 21 Camping
  
• Part 20 Wedding Bells
  
• Part 19 Wandering Sisters and other things
  
• Part 18 Our House by Maggie Weston
  
• Part 17 After Arlo Died
  
• Part 16 Grandchildren are our treasure
  
• Part 15 Arlo and Gatha Called on a Mission
  
• Part 14 The First Grandchildren
  
• Part 13 The older boys go on a missions, marry
  
• Part 12 Everyone Had Their Friends
• Part 11 Things Come in Threes
• Part 10 Trips with the Children
• Part 8 The Move to 3rd Street
• Part 7 The Christensen House
• Part 6 The Lucille Jackson House
• Part 5 The Move to Manassa
• Part 4The Guymond Home
• Part 3 Two Lists of Eighty
• Part 1 The First Epistle

A picture is worth a thousand words

I have been gathering information about my family for years. I have known dates and places, but my ancestors are in a big part unknown to me. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes, however, it just opens more questions.

This is a picture of my great grandfather, William Thomas Beals. I never knew him personally. I can look at this picture and see hints of the faces of other family members.

The picture to the right is of my paternal grandfather, Charlie Bertie Vance, his brother, Luther Monroe Vance and some of their cousins. We get hints from their pictures about their lives and their interests. Stories to go with those faces would be so very valuable. Once in a while, I hear one their names mentioned, but I am hungry to know more about them.

I've occasionally heard my mother speak of Dad's grandmother, Julia Emeline McClurd, but to me, she was no more than a name and a few facts about her life. This picture to the left makes her more "alive" to me. Although the image is not really clear the photograph sends my imagination racing. What kind of life did she lead? What was she known for.

When some think of pioneers, they think of the Mormons that came across the plains in covered wagons and handcarts and eventually to the valley where our family grew up. This couple came from North Carolina with other families who left the southern states in search of religious freedom. They came in trains. Some of their families stayed in the San Luis Valley, and some moved on to settle in Arizona.

My wife has inherited some of her mother's many photo albums. It is fun to go through the pages of the old albums in an attempt to get to know her better. My favorite is one of her climbing a clothesline pole wearing a dress. It gives us a glimpse of her tom-girl need to compete with her brothers.

I love listening to the stories that always are shared when we get together as a family. They help to engrave in my mind and on my heart memories of the tender relationships that exist in our family.

BLOG Book Published

I have captured the pages of the Dunn, Bingham, Kent Vance, and Arlo and Gatha Vance BLOGs in a hardbound book that can be purchased at Lulu.com


http://www.lulu.com/content/hardcover-book/family-blogs-%28combined%29-2009/8185321

a new beginning!

We ended the year with those we love and missing those we could see. But with our running shoes on we were able to start a new year! 2010 IS HERE!

MAY YOU ALL RECEIVE THOSE BLESSINGS YOU SO RIGHTEOUSLY DESERVE AND DESIRE! LOVE YA ALLL....

My heart turns to family

This morning, my heart turns to my family wherever they may be.  I am truly fortunate to be a member of a wonderful family.

Merry Christmas!!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! Everyone be safe if you have to travel!!

Thoughts

Future in the Past...

I remember going to Manassa as a child and playing in my grandparent's yard!! I remember when Arlo was just a baby, and driving Uncle Larry's El Comino with Aunt Jeanette! Those days were so coool. Riding on the fiberglass garage door down Uncle Don and Aunt Gloria's road. Riding at what felt like 160 MPG on the back of Core's dirt bike with Forrest! I closed my eyes and prayed that I would make it another day! I did...

Grandma's Garden was cool. I remember harvesting lettuce out of it, once. I also remember having to wash every single utensil that was used because Grandma insisted that knives, spooks and forks were required for cearal and oatmeal! lol ;o} I think I do the same thing now! Who knows what you will need when you are eating breakfast!

Robert caught their [G'ma and G'pa Vance's] yard on fire when he played with the burning garbage. He did that as well at my Mom's parent"s house at the Lake [OSAGE BEACH/LAKE OZARKS, MO]! Mom and I were running to get the hose to put it out!! I always laughed that he caught our FIRE CHIEF grandfather's yard on fire! It went fast, and I can see how quick a brush fire can be created!

Anyway, went of course for a second.

I loved seeing my grandpa in the Pioneer Day's Parade! I loved hanging at the Garage and smelling the different smells that were there. One time, saw dust, mostly in the back of the garage; in the front, oil products. I loved getting the little bit of time with Grandpa Vance, [ARLO] he was fun to be around. I know there is a picture of me being held by him somewhere! I'll have to see if I have it!

I enjoyed spending time with my Aunts and Uncles, and experiencing their world, which was a bit different from my own! Marcy always referred to me as the City Mouse. I know I've said that before.

When visiting Grandma Gatha [Bingham-Vance-Wilson] in St. George, I was reminded that she always grew a nice garden. Black dirt, red dirt, she's done wonderfully everywhere she's built her garden.

I know I'm late....

The week came and went! I know that one of my favorite brother-in-laws had another birthday and I didn't get him called.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LARRY!

may the year ahead be one of happiness and lots of fun! sending our love....

can not believe you are another year older! lol

Together brings strength

Together the family stands strong
the truth is great when they bond,
the path of life can come along
which will always last forever and beyond.