Richardson Review 7-19-08 (Snowflake Pioneer Days)

Richardson Review 7-19-08 (Snowflake Pioneer Days)

 

Dear Children and Grandchildren,

 

Growing up in Snowflake I always looked forward to the Pioneer Days.  This year I appreciate Ray offering to take his Mother up to the Celebration.  We always hold the Flake Reunion on the Friday before Snowflake Pioneer Days.  The celebration began with a Rodeo up at the Taylor Rodeo Grounds since the Grandstand has been taken down at the Rodeo Grounds in Snowflake where we held the Flake Rodeo. Laren invited us to a dutch oven dinner at his home before the rodeo so we were with my three brothers and their families which was nice.    My nephew, Reed was the announcer at the rodeo.  He is professional and announces at rodeos all over the nation.  I especially enjoyed watching Buffi and the horse drill team with the riders and their flags and their different drills.  Again we saw wild cow milking, bareback riding, ribbon roping, steer riding, grocery race, saddle bronc riding, parent/offspring roping, barrel racing, keg racing and bull riding.  During the middle of the rodeo they had a greased pig chase for children eight and under.  It was interesting to see hundreds of children come out of the grandstand down to the area to chase the pig, which didn't have a chance. 

 

We spent the night at Ted and Virginia's home and had a good visit with them and with LeRoss and Mabel Jones who were also up from Mesa to enjoy the celebration. My cousin, Mabel was celebrating her 65^th anniversary of her graduation from Snowflake High School.

 

Saturday morning we enjoyed the Pioneer Day Parade.  The theme of the Celebration this year was "Women The Heart and Soul of Pioneering".  Each of the Snowflake wards made floats and they had a band and other commercial floats.  The parade was pretty long.  Mary Louise Flake and her family had a float and all of their 80 posterity marched in the parade with shirts that said, "Thanks from Jake's Family".  After the parade we went to the Main Street Church for the Pioneer Day Program.  This was followed by a barbeque. 

 

Ray and I enjoyed the visit to the Pioneer Homes of our Ancestors.  We visited the William J. Flake Utah Log Cabin that was brought from Beaver, Utah and rebuilt in the back yard of my grandfather James M. Flake home.  We also enjoyed the Stinson Pioneer Museum built in 1873 and the oldest structure in town.  Two adobe homes that were in Snowflake when my great grandfather entered the valley were combined to make one home and is full today of lots of interesting  Wm. Jordan and Lucy Hannah Flake Family heirlooms.  We also toured the Jesse N. Smith Memorial Home built in 1906.  We especially enjoyed the room dedicated to my great grandmother Augusta Outzen Smith who was the 4^th wife of Jesse N. Smith.  My grandmother was one of 44 children. 

 

We enjoyed watching the matinee of the musical "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat" held at the High School Auditorium.  I have seen this musical a number of times.  The sound tract is always the same but the presentation is so different.  The Snowflake cast had lots of fun with this production.  We left to drive back to Mesa as soon as it was over.  It was great to be in my hometown again and to remember my roots.  I am grateful for my pioneer forefathers and their faith and sacrifice in settling Arizona.  I am grateful for the heritage they left me and my family..  I am grateful that I could honor those early pioneers who gave so much. We love your letters and your phone calls.  Please keep them coming.  Dad seems about the same and has some good days and others not so good.  He sends his love along with mine.  Our prayers are always for your well-being.  One of our greatest blessings is a righteous posterity.

 

Lots of love, Mom, Grandma, Lavona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Richardson Review 7-18-08- (Flake Reunion)

Richardson Review 7-18-08

 

Dear Children and Grandchildren,

 

It has been years since I have been able to attend the Flake Reunion held the day before the Snowflake Pioneer Day Celebration in Snowflake.  Ray agreed to drive up with his mother and we enjoyed all of the events that are the same every year

 

The first event of the day was the Flake Rodeo put on by the family of William Jordan Flake.  After the traditional foot races for the children they had all the events of a regular rodeo plus some other fun events that they do every year.  The rodeo began with children chasing after a steer trying to get the money pinned on it and then steer riding, keg races, barrel races, grocery race, rescue race, and ribbon roping when one man ropes the steer, another holds it while a child pulls off the ribbon from the tail and runs to the judge to see who has the best time.  These were all fun events to watch.

 

We were happy to see aunts, uncles and cousins and strengthening family ties.  My brother Rey and Margaret had all of their family there except for Ryan.  I am attaching pictures of Merlin and Ellie, Laren and Buffi and Marcia with the youngest two of their six children.  They are so cute and really have the Flake resemblance.  Maria shown with her sister Melanie came with her family from Seattle for the reunion.  We were happy to be included us in some of their family reunion events.  I also enjoyed a hug from my brother Keith and a visit with my Aunt Fern, my Dad's youngest sister who is full of family stories to share.

 

After the rodeo we had a potluck barbeque on the lawn at the "Big House".  This is what they call the home of my grandfather, James M. Flake.  The family is restoring Grandpa's grainery that stood in back of his home and we all got a tour of what they were able to restore.  I remember the deep well they uncovered and the good water we were able to get.  I enjoyed going down into the cellar and seeing hundreds of bottles of bottled fruit some that had the date of 1935 written on them.  They were all neatly stacked on shelves.  I guess they didn't rotate their year's supply. 

 

A Flake Program followed this with a roll call from my Aunt Fern having representatives from the different families stand and then talent numbers from different members of the family.  The Schnebly families which includes lots of adopted children from Russia presented part of the program that they performed for the Russian Embassy in Washington DC last summer.  It was very entertaining. Afterwards Ray and I took advantage of the opportunity to visit some of the Snowflake Pioneer homes of our ancestors, which I will tell you about in the next installment.  I need to stop now so that I have room to send some pictures. 

 

I wish you could have been with us.  Maybe someday you can go with us to Snowflake and see all the family history sights there.  It was indeed a trip down memory lane for me.

Dad sends his love.  I shared all of my pictures with him when I got home.

 

Love, Mom, Grandma, Lavona

 

 

 

 

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Impressions of Israel

Dear Children,
 
To help you get excited about our planned trip to Israel I copied a poem that Dad wrote about his impressions of Israel.  I hope you enjoy.
Love,
Mom
 

 

 

                   IMPRESSIONS OF ISRAEL

 

 

My impressions of Israel?  Well, I was only there three days,

But Israel impress me? Let me count the ways:

     Jerusalem, that holy place, not seated on a plain,

     But built upon the tops of hills, in rocky, rough terrain.

 

While limestone walls and homes and stores, constructed sound and strong,

So rich or poor, all sheltered well, whatever comes along.

     Soldiers, armed and stationed throughout all the land,

     Shall be 'till Jew and Gentile can walk forth hand in hand.

 

"Old Town" crowded, so confined, with arched streets, traffic slow.

Venders willing, showing all their wares, as long ago.

     Bustling downtown centers, loud buses, traffic's din,

     People busy, friendly, to stranger as to kin.

 

Smiling old Baghdadi, giving honest trade,

Friendly to the Mormons (on whom his living's made?)

     Ramat Rachel, that haven, home for students and their guests,

     A friendly kibbutz where Israel's families function best.

 

Ads and signs throughout the land, in Hebrew language shown,

But with English subtitles that help us feel at home.

     Parched hills, barren, dry, but for the workers' droves,

     Whose hands created terraces, and planted olive groves.

 

Holy sights and remnants, from scenes of Bible lore,

Some preserved, but mostly hid by churches builded o'er.

     There's the western wailing wall, the Temple Mount's display—

      Asking God's deliverance, the Jews advance to pray.

 

The Moslems' silver, golden domes, where Abraham sacrificed,

Then Solomon's Herod's temples, this sacred site did grace.

     The Orson Hyde Memorial, near old Gethsemane,

     Its ancient olives there where Christ sweat blood for you and me.

 

Nearby old Golgotha, Calvary's lonely hull,

Still desolate, its mark still seen, and called "Place of the Skull."

     The Garden Tomb, most hold play, there's no commotion here,

     Where angels said to Mary, "He's risen, He's not here?"

 

A tour to northern portions of Israel's holy scenes

Brings to mind old stories of ancient prophets, kings,

     Bethel, Shiloh, Shechem, Cana, Jacob's well,

     Mr. Ebal and Gerizem, on Bibles stories dwell.

 

Mt. Tabor, where Jesus was transfigured and did spawn,

Faith in His apostles, Peter, James and John.

     The valley of Jezreel, its fertile peaceful scenes

      Belie the coming horror Armageddon's screams.

 

Nazareth upon a hill, where once an angel came,

Announced to Mary, blessed events, and gave a Savior's name.

     And here a humble carpenter plied, his honored trade—

     A youth soon to become a King there as his faithful aide.

 

Then blessed Sea of Galilee, where Jesus loved to be—

He stilled the storm, He bade Peter come walk upon the sea

     Capernaum, nearby the Mount of the Beatitudes,

      Where Jesus preached, and then with faith, fed all the multitudes.

 

River Jordan, Jericho, where Joshua, one recalls.

Marched around all seen times till then came down the walls.

     Bethlehem, that blessed town, once lighted by a star

     Heralding a baby's birth, led wise men from afar.

 

The Shepherd's field, now lonely, but nearby bleating sheep

Still seek the sparse thin blades of grass under their shepherds' keep.

     Oh, Israel, Jerusalem, so rich ad yet so poor,

     The world pays thee such honor, and shall forever more.

 

From thee hath come great heritage, the gospel, scriptures, law,

Abraham, Jacob's promises, a Savior's grace for all.

     My memories of Israel? Let me count the ways:

     A blessing to have seen her—blest memories all my days.

                                                                   --Jay M. Richardson

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                          

         

    

 

 

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Richardson Review 7-17-08

  

Richardson Review 7-17-08

 

Dear Children and Grandchildren,

 

We are grateful to welcome another grandson home from his successful missionary service.  Carl arrived home from his mission in Albania on July 9^th.  We enjoyed going over to the Ellingson's home and hearing some of his experiences and seeing his souvenirs.  I have attached pictures of a cute hat they wear in Albania and Carl holding the Albanian flag.  Carl gave a great homecoming talk in Church on Sunday on the importance of prayer and testimony.  I was especially impressed with the emotion he showed as he bore his testimony in Albanian.  It was easy to tell that he has a great love for those people and served a great mission as he gave his whole life to bringing the gospel message to them. 

 

Amy used her week vacation to work on decorating her home.  She said that one day she spent eleven hours straight painting her living room, dining room and kitchen.  I helped her cover some pillows for her living room to bring out her accent colors.  Amy is doing a great job fixing up her home and yard and we enjoy visiting her. 

 

Last Friday we attended the temple wedding of Neil Sundberg and Tina.  Tina is from Jakarta, Indonesia and we know lots of the same people.  Some of you will remember the Sundberg family that lived across the street from us when we lived on 11^th Street in Tempe.  The four Sundberg boys, Eric, Neil, Mark and Emory have all been special friends of the family.  I attached a picture taken at the temple after their wedding with the newly weds, Tina's 14 year old daughter, San San, that was sealed to her parents after their wedding, President and Sister Jensen, our Indonesian Mission President, and Ed and Carol Provence who Carol married after Brother Sundberg passed away. 

 

They had a beautiful wedding reception for Neil and Tina at the Beck Street Chapel.  Amy went with us as you can see in the attached picture.  Tina had a Indonesian wedding dress, cake and refreshments that brought back lots of great memories of the many wedding receptions we attended while serving as missionaries in Indonesia.  We felt like honored guests with our picture mounted on the picture wall at the reception.  It was fun to be good friends of both the bride and groom.  We look forward to some special Indonesian nights with them.  We plan to show them our DVD of our Indonesian Mission and enjoying with them some Indonesian food.

 

Last Sunday we were thrilled to be invited to dinner at Amy's home and then have visits during the evening from Ray, all the Mortensens and the Ellingson's that are in town.  Fred and Rauna and family were just leaving when Mark and Marlene and family arrived so we took a picture of all of us together. 

 

Dad/Granddad continues to have headaches and dizzy spells.  I think though that the pacemaker is giving him a little more energy.  We appreciate so much your visits, phone calls and letters.  This is the bright spot in the day for him and for me also.  Please continue to remember him in your prayers.  Hope you all have a great week.

 

Love,

 

Mom, Grandma, Lavona

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Gardens created for 2008 Summer Olympics

Dear Family and Friends,
 
I enjoyed these pictures of the gardens created for the 2008 Summer Olymnpics in China and thought you would too.  Hope you are having a great day.
 
Love,
Mom, Grandma, Lavona Richardson

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