Here's more of Nettie's Stuff

I was going through some "stuff" today and came across this Primary talk that Ashley had given when she was ten years old. The subject was: "I can feel peace in knowing I am a child of God". She started it by saying the words to the song, "I Am A Child of God".

I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here;
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words
Before it grows too late.
I am a child of God,
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will,
I’ll live with him once more.
I am a child of God,
His promises are sure;
Celestial glory shall be mine,
If I can but endure.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way,
Teach me all that I must do,…
To live with him some day.

"When I was a little younger than I am now – I would get ready for bed at night,….tell my mom I was ready for her. She would come in to my room. I would say my prayers. She would tuck me in my bed, then lay down beside me, and we would sing together the first verse and the chorus to “I Am A Child Of God”. Every night after singing the song with my mom – and right before I fell asleep, a sense of peace would come over me. I knew I really was a child of God. And I knew he would watch over me through the night, and take care of me, and bless me. And help me get up the next morning to start a brand new day. I knew that then,…and I know it now. And even though my mom and I don’t sing the song at night anymore, I still get ready for bed, --- I call to her and tell her I am ready for her, --- she comes in and sits with me and listens to my prayers. She gets up and tucks me in, then bends down to give me a kiss goodnight --- and tells me she loves me. She quietly walks out of my room. I lay there and still think about this song, and I still feel the peace in knowing that, … and that he is still there to watch over me. I know my Heavenly Father & Jesus loves me. {Ending normal for a church talk}

I was not able to be at church the day she gave this talk because I was out of state on training for my job with BLM. I did help her put it together before I left, but with the subject that it was,....it was her idea to talk about our nightly activities when she was younger. I was told by all that did get to hear her talk that she did a wonderful job and she had all kinds of people in tears. She truly did know that she was a "Child of God" and when she presented it, they say that the "spirit" was definitely present. This talk was given about a month before she was hit by a car while we were living in Kemmerer, WY. She was a real trooper during the whole incident from the time the lady got out of her car and ran over to where Ashley lay to when the police got there (her daddy was at home getting ready to go on duty when he got the phone call) and to the hospital in Kemmerer, then the whole trip down to SLC in the ambulance. She didn't shed one tear the EMT's told me even tho' she was in horrific pain after I met them at Primary Childrens. I was already in SLC when the accident happened and met the ambulance there. Anyway,....when she lay there and the lady that hit her tried to move her, she had enough wits about her that she told her just to leave her where she was. She also said (by the way, this accident happened about 2 months after her Grandpa Sprankle passed away) that her Grandpa was there and he told her to just lay still and everything would be ok. She knew with her Guardian Angel (Grandpa) there and Heavenly Father, she was going to be taken care of and that she really wasn't afraid. When she told me this about Grandpa, chills ran down my spine. I truly feel that the same "sense of peace" she felt in knowing she was a "Child of God" came upon her again after she had been hit and she knew she would be ok, just like Grandpa told her. My Mom and Dad came to the hospital and when the doctor showed them the xray that had been taken, Dad said that it reminded him of a broken tree branch with all the splinters sticking out from it. (It was a compound francture of both the Tibia and Fibia (sp?) bones. Soon my sisters came and some of my nieces and was there with Dave and I when they took her in to surgery, which lasted about 3 hours or so. Anwyway, I just started thinking about all of this after finding her handwritten talk today and wanted to share it with whom ever read it. It certainly was a hard day and six more months to get through but I realize no matter how hard some things are for us to bare during our lives, there are always other's that have challenges to face that are much worse than our own and our's really aren't so bad.

Happy Anniversary to Ashley and Joey

Just wanted to wish Ashley and Joey a Happy Anniversary!!!! It's hard to believe that it has been three years already since your BIG DAY. I'm posting the poem I wrote for Ashley's wedding. Sioux read it for me at the bridal shower at Whitey's house. I knew I couldn't have gotten through it myself, and although she didn't volunteer to read it, she was kind enough to read it for me when asked.

To Ashley With Love
From your Mother
On November eleven, nineteen-eighty-three
The Sprankle family was jumping and shouting with glee
Born to Dave and Janette a perfect little girl
She certainly had our hearts in a whirl!
This new little life to us all did touch
She had her two big brother’s hearts in a clutch.
Christopher and Nathan were so proud of their sister
Often they would argue who was going to hold her.
You could say she was Christopher’s 10th birthday present
Nathan was excited and much in amazement
Daddy was the proud Papa, she was the “apple of his eye”,
And well Mommy, she was so happy all she could do was cry.
You’ve added sunshine to our family in so many ways
Your cute little smile lit up all our days
Everybody loved you and thought you were special
You surrounded us all in a colorful dazzle
The years have come and the years have gone
It’s been over twenty-one-years, you’re ready to move on
You have met your soul-mate and ready to be his wife
His name is Joseph,…no doubt he’ll make you a happy life
When I think of the wonderful new life you will live
I think of the happiness and love to Joey you’ll give
So go on, be happy and never have any doubts
He is the one you have chosen, it’s time for a new route.
Never forget the dreams you have always had
Always remember the love of your Mom and Dad
We are giving you to Joey who will love and protect
But never forget we are still here in every aspect.

Ashley, we want you to always be happy, and no matter how old you grow, you will always and forever be “Daddy’s Little Princess” and “Mommy’s Little Girl”. Remember I love you all the way to Heaven and back, and always will!!!

Love you,
Mom
10/2005

Fall

Fall Is A Beautiful Time of Year
By: Janette
Pumpkins, Pumpkins everywhere
The smell of Fall is in the air.
Vibrant colors all around
On the mountains and on the ground.
Orange and brown and yellow and gold

Not much longer til’ it is cold.

Shorter days and longer nights

Gives us lesser broad day light.
This is my favorite time of year
When the harvest moon appears.
Crunchy leaves under my feet
Yes it’s time to turn up the heat.
When the wind begins to blow
Pretty soon,… here comes the snow!

These Are The Boots That Our Dad Wore

The weekend before last I was sitting at the computer thinking a lot about my Dad, in fact I'm always thinking about him. It's hard not to,.....especially this time of year when the annual "Pumkin Pickin Party" is in the works and plans are being made for the event. Last October was the first one without Dad. Mom was a real trooper and was out in the pumpkin patch standing in for him. Pictures were taken of all the great-grandkids that live down here and Mom with their pumpkins. A group picture was taken of all of them sitting on the lawn with Mom behind them. What memories come to mind! I'm not sure, but I believe this will be the 6th party. It's scheduled this Saturday the 18th. The first party was Clydene's grandchildren I believe, and now it's every year with as many of the greats that can come. What fun it is too! Anyway while I was at the computer I started thinking of this poem that involves Dad's work boots. KC had taken a picture of both boots Clydene planted with geraniums in them in the Spring. Now that those flowers are gone, Clydene made arrangements in them,....one for her and one for Mom. So I started thinking that I'd like to get pictures of all three arrangements. Then Clydene said she would try and put an arrangement together that would represent Winter since we felt we had the Spring, Summer and Fall ones,... and that she did! (Or we thought the four pictures could represent us "4" girl's birthday months,...December {Cheryl}, August {Janette}, November (Denice & Clydene}. Anyway, KC was kind enough to put my poem with the pictures of Dad's boots. She did about 4 different styles. This one in my post is the picture Mom liked most. (Here's to you PaPa,...bet you never thought a picture of your boots would be on a Blog with flowers in them, eh? We love ya!) I hope you all can read it. I thought you could double-click on it to make it bigger, but I don't think it works. I may need some help in figuring it out. I inserted the poem below the picture if you do have a hard time reading it.
Here it goes,......
.....

These Are The Boots That Our Dad Wore
By: Janette
When he worked in the garden outdoors,
And When he went out to do all his chores.
In the yard when he planted the old tree stump,
And when he took the rubbish to the dump.
When the horses he would help feed,
And in the garden planting his seeds.
When he took the dog for her walk,
Or when he unloaded his boat from the dock.
When he was outside to those who passed by,
With those boots on he would wave and say “Hi”.
Now they are a beautiful planter,
With flowers planted inside of all colors.
Yes,…these are the Boots that our Dad wore,
BUT NOT in the house on the floor!

Columbus Day - Oct. 12th

I often wonder what it might have been like if Columbus didn't leave to come and discover America? Would things have worked out the same as they did if it had not been him who sailed the ocean blue? It's funny the difference in the stories and how they go,....some of them. I'm greatful that it was he who discovered the lands that he did because without him , how long would it have been before America was actually discovered? The year 1492 is so long ago,...like was there really that time in time that we hear so much about today? I wonder. I enjoy that we will be off work this coming Monday. And I enjoy the fact that I may get to see some of my kids because I'm not working. I remember back in 1980 for the Columbus Day holiday, I packed my two little boys up in our Toyota station wagon and headed for Fort Indian Town Gap, PA (from North Carolina) where Dave had been for a while after the new Cuban exodus started on April 23. He originally was in Miami, FL for quite some time until they started disbursing a number of the Cubans around the United States. He ended up in PA which was good because it had been 15 years earlier when his family moved from there to Utah. Even though the reason he was there was not a pleasant one, it was nice that my little guys and I could drive up there and visit Dave and some of the relatives and friends that were still there at the time. (If there are any of you traveling this weekend, we hope that you drive safely and return back home again soon enough to get rested up and ready to start the rest of the week in whatever way you spend your weeks). I know where I'll be after the weekend. Below is the complete 1492 poem. I couldn't remember it all,....never did memorize it I guess. Maybe when you start reading it, it will take you back to that period in time and you can reflect on "Columbus Day" and what it means to you. Enjoy the story (Columbus Day History) from the "Alphabet-Soup" website and the poem I "googled" for. Have a goodnight all! (READ ON)

COLUMBUS DAY HISTORY: Christopher Columbus was a great explorer who lived long, long ago. He traveled across a big ocean with three ships called the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. The three ships traveled together so that if one had trouble, the others could help. At night Columbus used stars to find his way. In the daytime he used a tool called a compass.Once, after sailing a long time, Columbus and his men thought they had landed in India. Columbus called the people he met there Indians. But he wasn't in India at all. He was in America. The year was 1492 and the date was October 12. He landed on an island now known as San Salvador.In 1934 President Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as Columbus Day. It is now celebrated throughout the Americas, in Puerto Rico, Central and South America, and Canada. Columbus Day is now observed on the second Monday in October.

IN 1492

In fourteen hundred ninety-two

Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

He had three ships and left from Spain;

He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.
He sailed by night; he sailed by day;
He used the stars to find his way.
A compass also helped him know
How to find the way to go.
Ninety sailors were on board;
Some men worked while others snored.
Then the workers went to sleep;
And others watched the ocean deep.
Day after day they looked for land;
They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.
October 12 their dream came true,
You never saw a happier crew!
"Indians! Indians!" Columbus cried;
His heart was filled with joyful pride.
But "India" the land was not;

It was the Bahamas, and it was hot.

The Arakawa natives were very nice;
They gave the sailors food and spice.
Columbus sailed on to find some gold
To bring back home, as he'd been told.
He made the trip again and again,
Trading gold to bring to Spain. The first American?

No, not quite.But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.

FOR COLUMBUS DAY - Long ago most people thought the world was flat.....we know it's not. Columbus said, "The world is round!" that's how America was found.

The Nina, the Pinta and the Flagship, Santa Maria

UPDATE ON SADIES DIET - FIRST FOLLOWUP VISIT

Does this look like a happy pup or what? I know you have all been anxiously awaiting results of the first followup visit for Sadie's diet,....right? Well, I know she wanted to tell you all herself, but she's pretty tired tonight and asked that I give you all her news. Ashley and I went over to Dr. Moss at the Kaysville clinic. Izee had to have stitches removed from her spaying surgery that didn't totally dissolve. Harlee was in for her first round of shots. The doctor had us put Sadie on the scale, and much to our amazement it appeared that she had lost 6 1/2 lbs.! WOW! But that concerned Dr. Moss. He didn't want her to lose that much that quickly. So we weighed her again. Our little darlin' had actually only lost 3 1/2 lbs., which is still really good according to the doctor. She started out at 51 1/2 lbs. on September 1st. She went back in yesterday for her followup visit and after weighing her a second time, she weighed in at 47 1/2 lbs. ! ! ! ! So folks, you can see how excited we must be. We are trying to decide where she has lost this few pounds. I was thinking it may be at the base of her tail on her behind,....it doesn't seem like the roll of fat is there anymore. Or, I told Ashley it may be in her neck because her chain collar doesn't seem to be as tight. Oh well,...maybe it's just too soon to say for sure, ya' think? Anyway, the doctor seemed quite thrilled with the results, and told her to keep up the good work. His first goal for her is to weigh 40 lbs. Once we get her there, he may want her to lose another 5 lbs. for a total weight of 35 lbs. We'll see! Stay tuned,.....next update towards the end of October. Good girl Sadie, we are soo proud of you and we love you!