Touching lives for good-- "You see". . a tribute

Notes from my journal today:

There are not too many people I know who have a similar drive, or passion for learning that I enjoy and embrace myself. She always said she wanted to be here for the Millennium but "it didn't come before she died," her niece said. Her mission completed it could be said of her by the Savior welcoming her into his arms, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." So it was, the passing of Marilyn Ellsworth just this last Saturday, December 15, 2007. She was 80 years old in February this year.

I was able to go to the first hour of her funeral today. I had another commitment that I was only present for a portion of it. Her children spoke very highly of her. One told that Marilyn served several missions. One as a young single sister in Mexico and the other two were centered around Family History as a senior sister.

She did much temple work, several times a week; she cared for her sister's elderly (97 yr old) mother-in-law so she would not have to go into a nursing home and so her sister could have a respite and go away for a week. Marilyn not only took care of her for that week, but stayed on to help much longer until the woman passed away.

Such an example of selfless love; she had a great love for children and had a sweet, loving way with them. It was a lovely tribute from her family like a farewell for having completed her earthly mission. I know she will be missed by them all.

Redeeming our Kindred Dead--

There is a project that I am particularly enthusiastic about and that is the Family Search Indexing program. It can be done online and registered rather easily. This project assists the descendants of those whose records on the U.S. or Canadian census' or death records from the UK. I am currently working on some Irish records from the 1860s to 1880s. I KNOW these people are aware of the contribution made in their behalf. I have done the indexing for many of these records since July now and input just over 10,000 names.

Just this morning I had the TV on the KBYU cable network. "Christmas Around The World" was rebroadcast from an earlier live performance. There were so many Irish dances, with the bagpipes, and authentic costumes. My favorites were the red and green tartan plaid kilts worn by the young men and women on the dance teams. There were Russian dances as well as from other countries represented.

It was interesting because as I was watching these folk dancers perform, I was doing the input for the Irish death records at the same time. It was inspiring and blessed the rest of my day.