My Precious Little Green Card

It has been nearly 48 years since this green card was issued to me. Several years ago my Mother gave it to me to keep in my possession. She told me that it was very important and to never lose it or 'let it out of my hands'. Today it came in handy.

The last several months have been kind of busy for me, so it came as a surprise when a few days after my birthday I remembered that my drivers license needed to be renewed and was now... expired.

I knew that there were some new requirements for getting a drivers license; among some of the items needed were my birth certificate or a valid passport or naturalization papers or a valid unexpired permanent resident card... It occurred to me yesterday as I was planning my outing to the Driver's License Division (DLD), that my British birth certificate didn't suffice. I needed one of the other items mentioned.

I called the DLD to verify my concerns (no help at all), I called my Mother about my naturalization papers (I don't have any of my own; that's my next project... to get them), I called both of my Irish born brothers to see if they had experienced similar situations, they both have valid passports; I called my attorney son to see if he could find me a phone number for the Ogden Courthouse where my parents became citizens, when I made the phone call the 2nd District Court couldn't help me; but... Andy did give me some good advice concerning what could happen if I was caught driving with an expired license (thanks son).

My Mother called me back and suggested that I take my green card, it should qualify. I knew exactly where it was, in my cedar chest under two piles of boxes in the garage. I quickly retrieved it (well, not too quickly... two piles of boxes after all).

Mike came on his lunch hour and drove me to the DLD. Of course you know what I faced there, tons of people all waiting for their turns. I filled out the necessary forms and stood in a short line at the first desk. The young woman there was very robotic as I heard her say the same thing over and over to each person she helped. No smiles, no emotion. When it was my turn and I showed her my birth certificate she wanted to know what state it was from. Ummmm... the state of Belfast, Northern Ireland state (I didn't really say that). Once she realized that it was from another country she quickly informed me that I needed a valid passport. I showed her my green card but no, that wasn't good enough.

My frustration that I feared would come was building. I know these employees are not the ones who make the rules, and they deal with a lot of grumpy people, so they are usually prepared with the answers. When she informed me that it was the law I said to her, "well who made that law?" Yes, I really did say that. Ummmm.... her response, "the Federal Government." No smile, no emotion from DLD lady.

I was told that I could get a temporary license until I got my passport. She took my picture (ask to see my picture, it reflects the way I was feeling at the moment) and gave me a number, I still had to wait for my turn at one of the windows. As I sat there I felt frustration and a bit of anger. I had never in my life felt like a foreigner in my own country. It hurt a little. I felt tears coming to my eyes (oh great, now I was going to cry), but I quickly composed myself.

When my number was called and I went to the window I quickly produced all of the items that I had brought. During the time that I had been waiting I decided that my green card was a valid unexpired permanent resident card and I was going to 'play it'. When I showed it to the woman who was helping me she showed a little bit of interest, but then told me that it wasn't a particular form as was outlined on the instruction sheet. I quickly (and kindly... things go better for you if you are kind) explained to her that I was issued this card 48 years ago and the form that she wanted didn't even exist 48 years ago. I held my breath as she turned it over to another woman who went into a back office for several minutes. When she returned she proceeded to make a copy of my card, I took that as a good sign, and was elated and very relieved when I was told it qualified.

After my DLD eye exam and paying for my new license I went back to where Mike was waiting for me. The room was still crowded and there were several people waiting at the desk of the first woman, the one who refused my green card. We had to walk past her in order to leave the building and as I walked by her desk I kept glancing her way hoping to catch her eye, suddenly I could hear Mike's lowered voice behind me, "keep walking, keep walking." He knows me and I'm sure he was expecting to see my new license being waved in the air for her to see and possibly some statement about 'freckles' coming from my mouth. I seriously wasn't going to do that... at least I don't think so.

Memories from the "Days of '47" 2010

"You can accomplish anything that you are asked to do; if you replace fear with faith, trust in the arm of the Lord and not in the arm of flesh, prepare for, seek for, listen to, and act upon personal revelation; and when the bit comes to the bit... just "do it'."



I was completely overwhelmed when nearly a year ago Mike and I were called into the stake presidencies office and asked to build a float for the "Days of '47 parade". How could I do this monumental task? Why me? Those are just two of the questions I asked myself. But it didn't take long for me to realize that I had to do this... I just had to figure out how.

We were blessed with an amazing committee (many of whom are pictured in my previous post) who worked long and tirelessly on this project for many months. Richard Rowe (who drove the float in every parade), Mike, and Keith Maloy (all three in this photo) along with Kim McKean transported the float 'to and from' six times in the past week, three of those times were to SLC, Sandy, and back to WB in the wee hours of the morning (when I say wee I mean 3-4 am; wee).

I think that each member of the committee became attached to 'our float'. Mike named all of the kids. Here we are posing for a picture with 'Jim'. That is 'Hank' in the background, ever vigilant in pushing the handcart, and always with a smile on his face. You can't see 'Sally' in this picture, but she is there too, pushing at the back.

On Saturday July 24th I arrived (alone) at our staging area between 1st and 2nd south on West Temple, at 3:30 am. Our float (with the men previously mentioned) would not arrive for another hour (float transporting is time consuming). Once I established where our float would be, I settled myself on my blanket on the grass of the Salt Palace. I lay there and looked up at the stars in the night sky, it was beautiful and so peaceful. Although I could hear the quiet hum of voices as people were milling around the floats, I felt like I was all alone. I don't imagine that I will ever again be lying on the grass on West Temple at 3:30 am. It was an experience that I won't soon forget.

When the transport team arrived they quickly began putting the float together.

This is a man who has been up since 2:30 am and just returned from a 7:30 am meeting in front of the conference center where he received his official badge. Did you see him on TV? Twice last week!!

About 5:30 am more people began to arrive, including youth and children. Judging would begin at 6 am and any floats that had people on them or walking beside them needed their people to be in place for the full effect. Promptly at 6 am, small clusters of official looking people with clipboards began moving about the floats. At 7:45 winners began to be notified of their awards. There was no big gathering or announcement, members of the parade committee just came up to you and gave you your award. Shortly afterwards, a large banner with the name of the award on it arrived at the winning floats. The banner would precede the float in the parade so that everyone would see that it was an award winner. Mike and I and Keith were the only ones there when the religious float chairman came to us at our float and presented us with the 'Theme Award'. We were very happy, I was particularly happy when our banner arrived. You may remember a previous post when I mentioned that I didn't care too much about awards... it turns out that I did.

As our time to enter the parade drew near, Keith and I followed the float up West Temple to 1st south, it then turned east and went to State Street and then north to South Temple. Our float entered the parade on the corner of State Street and South Temple at 10:27 am. Seven hours after my arrival at the staging point.

It was an amazing moment seeing our float enter the "Days of '47" parade and hearing the announcer introduce it.

There are our cute little boy scouts (we only met hours earlier) Mike and Martin carrying our 'Theme Award' banner.

This was my last view of the float in the parade. After it disappeared from our sight, Keith and I walked the city blocks back to where our vehicles were parked. I then drove to Liberty Park where the parade would end. On the way there my emotions overcame me and I alternately wept and laughed. We did it! The float was completed. It was in the parade.

Eleven months ago I was overwhelmed with fear and anxiety as I faced a challenge that I wasn't sure I was capable of. Today I am overwhelmed with gratitude... gratitude for those pioneers whom we honor by participating in this parade. Gratitude for new friendships formed. Gratitude for those who were there just when we needed them. Gratitude for the tender mercies of the Lord. Gratitude for the knowledge I have of who was really in charge. I will never forget this experience... Onward and Upward.

A View From A Parade

Last night I took the opportunity to walk with our stake float through the Bountiful Handcart Days Parade. It was so fun seeing all of the people and how much they were enjoying the parade. There were people applauding and cheering for our float, calling out our names, congratulating us on a job well done... it was awesome. I decided that it would be fun to show the view that we parade participants get.

Brent, Mike (under Brent's arm), and Keith just before our turn to enter the parade.

Here we are; floating down Main Street. One of our tender mercies; we were right behind the bagpipes (Mike and I love hearing the bagpipes).

Walking past The David Group; it is TDG that offered us float making classes (which we attended), sold us lots of styrofoam and shimmery stuff, and gave us moral support.

My parents; cheering for us (and taking pictures of course).

My cousins Alex and Bob (waving).

Foster and April (on our committee); rock sculptors extraordinaire.

Natalie and Debbie; family members of our mechanic/driver Richard (drove in three parades).

My kids; Andy and Kristin, and three of the five-handsomest-grandsons-ever.

Elwood and Colleen; proud parents of our designer/artistic director Keith.

More of Keith's family in this crowd.

Laurie (another committee member) and her family. Laurie's husband Doug carved our children and most of our creatures.

Steve and Carol (committee members) waiting for us at the end of the parade.

I did take a lot of pictures during the parade; but as you probably noticed I only published the ones of our committee and their family members. I guess you could call it nepotism... 'cause it is.

Stay tuned for pictures from the big parade that our float was actually built for.

You're All Invited

It's wonderful. It's amazing. It's incredible. It's our float, and... It's FINISHED!!!

You are all invited to come see it at the Float Preview Party on Monday and Tuesday July 19th and 20th at the South Towne Expo Center. The party begins at 11 am and ends at 9 pm on both days. And best of all... it's FREE!!!

Our float was the first to arrive early this morning; we have the #1 spot so it should be the first one you see when you enter. At 4 am this morning Mike, Richard Rowe, Kim McKean, and Keith Maloy hitched up the float and towed it to the Expo Center where it will remain until 4 am next Friday morning when they return to bring it back for the Bountiful parade.

Mike was approached by the man in charge and we were asked to be there at 5:30 am on Monday morning to be interviewed by channel 2 news. So... we'll see what happens, maybe we'll be on, maybe we won't... but I'm going to set my DVR just in case.

Come to the preview party and vote for our float in the People's Choice and the Children's Choice categories.

Gotta run... I have a huge clean-up to do over at the shop.

My So Cal Vacay

We recently returned from a wonderful vacation in Southern California. I have been coming to this area in So Cal for 42 years; my parents brought our family for the first time during the summer of 1968. Mike and I spent our honeymoon in San Clemente, and first brought our children to the beach house in 1984. We've enjoyed many visits since and look forward to many more.

This was the first time that we have stayed in this particular beach house. The bottom window is G'pa and G'ma's room and Caitlin's room is just above. We were very lucky and got to stay in the upstairs master bedroom at the front of the house; facing t'ocean.

Every morning Mike and I enjoy our daily walk down Beach Road. On this particular morning we walked across the Pacific Coast Highway, up a steep road and into the community just above us. This overlook is directly above the beach house.

Our beach house is in the center of the picture, just two houses away from our usual house. Directly below us is the Pacific Coast Highway, the railroad tracks, and Beach Road (private road). There is a brick wall that runs the length of Beach Road separating it from the tracks. As you can see our front yard is the beach.

San Clemente is our neighboring community and we love to spend time there each time we go to the beach house. We love to walk on the pier, swim in t'ocean, shop.... Mike and I love to eat at the Fisherman Restaurant (on the pier) every time we visit; it's our favorite vacation restaurant.



This year we did something that we have never done before in all of the years we have come here... we went on an ocean cruise. I.LOVED.IT. It is one of the funnest things that I have ever done. I love t'ocean and I loved being out in the middle of it.

We saw hundreds of dolphins, the captain told us that for every one we see on the surface... there are seven just below.



Here we are arriving back at Dana Point Harbor. Mike stood in this spot at the very front of the boat for the entire two hours. It was an amazing ride.

My nephew Michael and his little friend Jack. They each seem to be missing something.

Caitlin enjoying her time in the sun.

2010 Strong

This morning Caitlin left for our stakes youth conference; 2010 Strong. For the next four days they will be re-enacting what life was like for the people in The Book of Mormon.

This youth conference has been in the works for a year, and for several months the youth have been involved in rehearsals of re-enactments from The Book of Mormon which they will perform while they are there.

This morning the entire stake was invited to come witness the first re-enactment scene before the youth left for Zarahemla (our stake camp). In this scene, Lehi's family were sitting in their living room listening as Lehi told them that they must leave Jerusalem before it is destroyed. Lehi's family danced around their sofa as music began to play and Alex Boyer... yes, I said Alex Boyer (well known LDS recording artist, I've watched him perform at BYU Women's Conference for the past four years) came out and sang the theme song (written by him) for the youth conference. After singing, he spoke (powerfully) to the youth. What a way to start a youth conference... our kids are in for a great week.

Dress Rehearsal

Our float made its debut today in the West Bountiful parade. It isn't quite finished yet, but being in our communities parade was a goal of mine since the beginning of the project.

We had just inches to spare as the float was driven from the shop where we have been building it. The first attempt caused some paint to be scraped from a wing tip, but... that is one reason why we have a dress rehearsal.

Once the float was safely out of the shop, we had to re-attach the handcart wings and re-attach the wording on the sides of the float. Those items had to be removed in order to get the float through the doors.

None of the children or the creatures had been permanently attached yet, due to the fact that we still have to get back up onto the float and do some work, so, once we arrived at the line-up we had to do a little repair work. One of our boys broke his arm en route and the other children fell. We did a little taping and re-arranging and they survived the parade route.

As we turned this corner we took our place in the parade, and the minute we did the car stopped... we ran out of gas. There are no gas gages on these float bases, but... Mike had a gas can in the car, as soon as the engine started the crowd cheered and in just minutes we were "floating" down 800 West.

We have a little "tweeking" to do which includes, getting our seagulls in the air and our fringe around the bottom, as well as our handcart wheels turning and wings flapping. We will also have some sound effects. But tonight I am a happy, satisifed, and tired camper. I am going to rest from my labors for the remainder of the holiday weekend.