Once Upon A TIme . . .

I came across an old photo of one of the more well known "Mouseketeers." Namely, Annette Funicello.

She was popular as a teenager and had a career in those early years of her young adulthood. However, as she blossomed in those times, I was in Junior High and some in my circle thought I resembled Ms. Funicello. It is humorous now to recall and I post a photo of her and me to see if there is any agreement to that resemblance.

You be the judge.

Scripture Power~

II Nephi 31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.


These scriptures and chapter are some of my favorites. I appreciate the messages of the scriptures and the lift they give my Spirit! Chapter 32, 33 are some I can pick up and read and enjoy as I pass the time waiting for a appointment or at the temple.

The words penetrate my soul and give me great peace. I feel the love of the Savior for me, and it blesses me to share and give that love to others. God bless you all, who read this as well, I pray. Anna aka Mom

A Good Man to Remember. . . .Like Captain Moroni~

This short obituary does not even come close to describe the man represented here. He was a leader, father and example as I was growing up. I knew him, his wife, Dell Marie and first three children as a twelve year old babysitter. They lived down the street where I grew up. They were my first experience with a Latter-day Saint family. Brother Barlow was an energetic, hard working man in the insurance business.

Recently I made contact with the couple and was glad I did. I will write about it on another entry. Here is the tribute to him in the newspaper.




Howard King Barlow

1925 ~ 2010

Howard King Barlow, age 85, died December 2, 2010, in Springville, Utah. He was born July 15, 1925, in Tremonton, Utah, to Ona King and Fielding Burton Barlow. Howard was a World War II veteran and practiced estate and tax planning until his retirement. He served as Bishop of the Santa Ana 2nd Ward, as Mission President of the Boise Idaho Mission, and in many other callings in the LDS Church.

On March 6, 1952, he married Dell Marie Rose in the Logan Utah temple. He is survived by Dell Marie and five children: Kathryn Miner, John H Barlow, Paul David Barlow, Robert K Barlow, Mary Agrelius Davis and was preceded in death by daughter Ann Marie. He also leaves 23 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Thursday, December 9, 2010, at the Springville Utah 7th Ward chapel, located at 1785 E. 400 S. Viewing will be from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. with the funeral at 12:00 noon. For those who may be inclined to send flowers, Howard has asked that you make a contribution to the Perpetual Education Fund instead. Contributions may be made online in memoriam at www.ldsphilanthropies.org/perpetual-educationfund/. Interment will be in Springville, Utah.

No Comparison, You Had To Be There

This last week end was particularly outstanding for a couple of reasons. We look for those events that bring us great peace and joy. We also like the drama of attending a sports event or cultural ones.

But, there is no comparison nor feeling more fulfilling to me and speaks to my very soul to the core.

I was able to attend the temple on Saturday morning and did proxy work for my kindred and bind our ancestors as families forever for parents,couples and children.

It takes a lot of preparation to see come to fruition the blessings and joy that I feel when I participate with my children and those dear to me in the temple.

I know it is a "celebration" for them on the other side much like it is for us when we all go to support the one receiving their ordinances in life as missionary or in eternal bonds of matrimony or children to belong to their family forever.

The time was right and to be there in the right place as well, made my day. And does any day for those saving ordinances done in their behalf. I appreciate those who were able to be there and participate.

I also received a special priesthood blessing this week that my life was touched by the rich abundance of the gospel and how much it means to me each day. So many blessings were poured out upon me as I ponder this whole last week as I prepared myself for the culmination to be in the temple for those who have gone before.

I love this work and the opportunity it gives me to grow spiritually. The sacred work for our kindred is a hallmark for living. It is not hard to imagine all my ancestors who can gather on the other side of the veil and know on another as family of those who have gone before.

I reaffirm my witness that I know God lives and is there for me and for my testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ. He was that babe in the manger, but he also grew up to be Redeemer and atoned by all our sins as he gave his life in Gethsemane.

An Interesting Conclusion and Excitement, and Gift of the Spirit of Elijah~

These last few weeks I have been going to volunteer at the Family History Center near my stake. It is a new assignment that I was asked to do and I am so blessed.

Each week I come home so excited to find another ancestor that "pops up" in my genealogy records and links me to the past. This week I added a set of third great grandparents' names to my pedigree and found more family members from Guanajuato. Some of the information had already been extracted and linked to my line as I filled in those two people. I found more after that in my own files besides.

I was thrilled beyond words. Now, I also have been copying photos on a digital camera at the Family History Center on a zip drive. I need to perfect that so I can use those photos to post. It takes time to learn a new skill and actually master it.

I found a copy of some photos and information I got from my own grandfather, Ricardo Rodriguez back in 1970. I found an 8 x 10 photo copy of a scrapbook page that he had made for me. I saw as I photographed it, the names of both my third-great grandparents names. Two couples actually. They (names) were parents of Clemente Ulloa and Maxima Munoz. I had left off their parents names on my chart unintentionally.

Well, I am here to tell you, that as this work progresses I feel they are working on the other side in my (our)behalf to bring to bear the information about them for this work to continue forward. I have a feeling my brother, David is helping me with the renewed interest to work on these lines. No small wonder.



Eufemio Canchola--I think I found one of my paternal grandmother's father's siblings that I didn't know existed also!! I knew of him, but not his own brothers and sisters. I have to admit that I was really not the one who found them, I was just shown where to look. I have a testimony that someone else did the finding on the other side and showed me (prompted me)how to access them. Incredible. I am so grateful to be the instrument. Those who have gone before can only do so much without our help here, they are powerless. Right? Saviors on Mount Zion.

I give a special thanks to those on the other side who are "trying" to prod me to do more, and help me too. I can feel the Spirit of Elijah to further this work.

This I Know . . . .

There is such a wondering awe in going up to see the North Visitor's Center at Temple Square. I still feel like a four year old might feel in going with great anticipation to see the Christmas lights displayed there in Salt Lake City on the temple grounds at night. Several choral groups were there to perform and added to the beauty in song in the Visitor's Center. We were able to have seats inside and hear the groups sing Christmas carols.



The weather was perfect and cooperated as thousands, literally were there to see the same thing we were there to see. The (recorded) message from President Thomas S Monson was uplifting.

I loved every moment. Please take a few hours to take your families if you are in Utah and enjoy the Spirit and message of the Christ child and Savior of the world.

Imagine the "Rush"

Jimmer Fredette in action:



This last Saturday I went to the BYU-Arizona game at Energy Solutions in Salt Lake to witness the game where this picture was taken. There was a excitement there that the crowd was ecstatic and electrified by the players. Kay had four tickets for the game and had Aaron and Candice go with us. Actually we rode with them and had a great evening, then went to dinner afterward.

It is fun to be able to go to the BYU basketball games. It has been way too many years since I was last able to do that. I remember the fun times when our family had the privilege to go see Tanise play basketball in her high school and college career years.

Go Cougars!!!! Rah, Rah Rah!!

Awesome Presentation~ A Huge Warm Fuzzy!

The show was great. We all had a great time and loved the feeling of the Spirit of Love and the Savior that permeated the show. Michael McClean outdid himself and had added so much to the story for clarification. It has been about ten years since I had seen it.



I like the way the story flowed and how the music was so amazing. The sound effects and background was incredible. I like how at the end of the show the sweetness of the occasion left of all of us with a calm and joy of the Christ-mas spirit.

We all had a great time and enjoyed a fun evening together. A special thanks to Kay, too.

Forgotten Carols

Michael McLean's touching Christmas tale has become a timeless classic. It tells the story of a nurse whose empty life is changed by her patient, John, who expands her understanding of Christmas. The Forgotten Carols are original songs from the perspective of characters such as the innkeeper who turned the young couple away or the shepherd who slept through the angel's announcement. Their personal accounts, until now, have been overlooked or ignored. Together, John and Constance discover what the world has forgotten about Christmas.

Going to see this with my family this evening....watch for more comments.