Brian Reagan - Names

Brian Reagan - Names

I watched NICO on the Hart Blog today and had to laugh, and was immediatly reminded of this short segment from the comedy of Brian Regan! He is the best! Our family loves to listen to him :-) Enjoy.

Rock Band II

On Bill's 16th birthday, he and his crew (the "Legends of Rock") won a $300 first prize for their performance at the Rock Band II competition at the high school. It was a fundraiser for the marching band. There were 22 groups competing, lots of screaming fans and everyone had a lot of fun :-) ** IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHORT VERSION-- Start the video at about 5:30.

Hooray! The Valley!

We finally made it to the Salt Lake Valley! The kids were delighted! We took a look at the LDS Church History Museum, had a good lunch at Siegfried's Delicatessen (a family favorite) and then caught the new movie at the Legacy Theatre (at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building). Then we headed to provo to hang out with Grandma and Jenni for a couple of days. It was good to just "hang out!" The kids were so happy to just stay in one place for awhile :-)

Green River!

We spent some time visiting Green River, where dad grew up. We went to the cemetery and to two of dad's childhood homes, one across from the old Lincoln School (which is no longer a school) and the other along the old main strip in the older part of downtown. Mike, in particular, thought Green River was "way cool" and he said he would love to live there, referring specifically to all the wide open rocky hills, cliffs, and caves he could explore! It certainly is the place for an adventure and I shared with the kids all the stories dad has told about his adventures as a kid. We even saw a few Magpies at the cemetery, which seemed funny to us at the time, considering dad's Magpie days :-) It was still pretty cold, but it was a beautiful clear day. Green River has really grown since the days of my youth going to visit Grandma and Grandad Anderson. We had a hard time deciding where to eat! Who would have thought???

Independance Rock and Devil's Gate (Near Martin's Cove)

We were delighted to have weathered the huge snowstorm / blizzard we encountered all across Nebraska on the way to Martin's Cover, where the Martin Handcart Company met with such difficulty and had to be rescued. It was certainly an appropriate irony. We were able to read first hand journal accounts of some of those in the company while travelling to Martin's Cove. It was incomprehensible what they had to endure, and many were not able to endure. It was a powerful place to visit. One of Brad's (and Alex's) ancestors, William Burt Simmons, was one of the rescuers of the Martin Company. His name was listed on a plaque on the wall at the visitor's center.

From the written history of one of William Burt Simmons' grandchildren, "to grandpa Simmons, the plight of the handcart companies held special concern. He had experienced the open plains which provided no protection from the bitter cold and driving snow. His cattle had frozen to death as he and his family had huddled together in blankets lying in the bed of their wagon with scant protection of canvas between them and the storm as they awaited the expiration of the ferocious wind and snow.

He was urged on with the realization that he was one of the few ready to leave for the rescue. Burt had set aside funds, a new stout carriage, and the best of harnesses and horses and ample provisions necessary when the call might come from church leaders to return. He had built a special shed in which to store his carriage and provisions from the elements. Ever so often he would see that his equipment was in the best of order. he would putter, repaint and repair and do what was necessary to keep everything in top condition for an expected journey back. He always kept his best wagon stored and kept all the equipment and provisions rotated. He did this for years. He also kept his best animals in good shape so that they could make the hurried trip, if necessary. Some folks talked or even joked about Brother Simmons, his team and stored provisions, and would ask, 'is he doing this all for naught?' He always replied, 'I heard the prophets voice and I am ready!"

In response to the promptings of the spirit, and knowing he was prepared and had the ability and capacity for service, he volunteered at Brigham Young's call and was one of the first wagons to leave.

The sight that Grandpa Simmons saw at Captain Martin's camp was overwhelming. Some of the people were dead, awaiting a meager funeral from the people who were too weak to dig them even a shallow grave. Many were too starved for food and weak from exposure to rally after relief had come, many dying during the night. All were suffering from frozen limbs and were emaciated from starvation rations."

Martin's Cove was a very powerful reminder of the strong faith that the saints had and the unbelievable suffering that they experienced while trying to cross the plains.

Temple and Cemetery at Winter Quarters

Carthage Jail

NAUVOO!

Images, top to bottom: Seventies Hall, Nauvoo Temple, land and homesite of William Burt Simmons (next door to the boot shop and John Taylor home and print shop, and one block from Joseph Smith home), Heber C. Kimball home, Brigham Young home.

For the interested historians, I have nine direct line pioneer ancestors (grandparents of various generations) who joined the church in Great Britain and made the voyage across the ocean and then crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. They are: Ann (Adams) Boyd, George Alfred Boyd, Elizabeth (Hollis) Roe (died en route- either near Mormon Grove, near Atchison, Kansas or near St. Louis, MO), Isabella Jane Roe, Caroline (Richan) Fenton, John Richan, Margaret Rayne (Wardell) Richan, Elizabeth (Hutchison) Moyes (joined the church in 1840), and Margaret (Moyes) Anderson.

Brad has 21 direct line pioneer ancestors (grandparents), 10 of whom were in Kirtland, and 15 of whom were in Nauvoo, 6 of whom joined in Great Britain and made the journey across the ocean to join the saints, and some of whom died before the journey across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. They are: Catherine Martha (Eller) Stoker (died in Iowa), Barbara (Graybill) Stoker, Michael S. Graybill, Sr. (died in Iowa), Enoch King, Sr. (died at Far West, MO), Rebecca Angelina (King) O'Brien, Thomas Jefferson King (joined the church in 1830), Zibiah (McCarley) McDaniel, James McDaniel, Jane (McDaniel) Stoker, Harlon Edward Simmons, William Burt Simmons, Amanda (Chipman) Simmons, David Stoker, Michael Stoker, Sr., John Stoker, James Hepworth, Thomas Hepworth, Mary (Fletcher) Hepworth, Charles Kidgell, Sarah Ann (Cashmore) Kidgell, Sarah (Kidgell) Hepworth.

Adam-on-Diahmen

Crusing America in an RV......Not What It's Cracked Up To Be!

Well, there's something to be said for being able to keep you car from blowing off the road in high wind, and being able to drive 75, at will :-) We had the RV from H___! We picked it up on Monday afternoon about 1pm in Lawrence, Kansas, about 40 miles from the Kansas City Airport and then drove back to the airport to return our SUV. After that, we thought we were on our way! We got about an hour down the road when one of our rear tire completely exploded. Not only that, but the blow out was poerful enough to dislodge the gas tank, and tear out the generator cables and part of the generator itself! When picking up the RV in the first place, we had been told during the orientation that in the event of a flat tire, we would need to call a special number for someone to come and fix the tire. Due to the nature and size of the vehicle, they did not furnish a special jack or anything. Someone with special expertise would need to come. This NEVER happens, of course. So, needless to say, we waited by the side of the road for about 4 hours, until a guy came to change the tire. In the meantime, Brad noted that 3 of the other back tires (dualies) were nearly bald. We were disgusted. The vehicle had almost 100,000 miles on it, as well. Given the damage, we knew we couldn't continue with it, so we had to drive back to the airport, rent another SUV, and spend the night in front of the "Crusie America" place until they arrived again the next morning. We were never so glad to unload the beast and get back on our way! We later encountered so much snow and wind that we were grateful to have the little four-wheel drive SUV instead!

Tree Falls On Brad's Mower

We had a huge windstorm just before we left on our Pioneer Trail trip. Unfortuantely one of our smaller trees in the backyard came down, right onto Brad's mower. The good news is that it didn't harm the moter (just an inch away), it just destroyed the hood. So, isn't the worst case scenario :-)