Summer is winding down

It's a small world

A few weeks ago AJ was teaching a class in church.  He had brought my dad's autobiography with him and was sharing some of the stories.  After his lesson, a member of the ward came up to him and said that she had some connections to our family.  Her name is Patrice (Nielson) Lawrence.  She told AJ that her mom was my mom's best friend in Springville and was broken-hearted when Ila moved to SLC.  Her name was Ruth Nielson.  Even though Ila had moved, they stayed connected and remained friends and Ruth still considers mother to be her best friend.  Ruth is still alive at 102 and is living in an assisted living facility in Farmington.  But, said Patrice, "our connection doesn't end there.  She told Adrienne that her husband's uncle had been one of the first to respond to the plane wreck that killed Gene Bird.  He saw that Gene had a Book of Mormon, he picked it up and kept it.  He said it was inspiring to him throughout the war.  He had been surprised to find another serviceman who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  This man also wrote in his journal about the accident and finding Gene.  I believe the following have already been shared among our siblings.  Years later, this man searched out our family to return the Book of Mormon to Ila.  Upon returning it, he discovered, that Ila had married his first cousin (Vernon).  Adrienne has written down the name of the uncle, but she is out of town.  I'll have to include it here, later.  I don't know if you can read the pictures, but I believe someone in our family has transcribed these (Dave?).  

Patrice also mentioned that her sister, Jan, had been very good friends with my sister, Nan.  I know that some of my other siblings also had friends in this family.

Ukrainian Refugees

Adrienne had the opportunity to help some Ukrainian refugees this past week.  She let our family know of the need of these few families that are staying with someone in her area.  Crista immediately helped her girls set up a snow cone stand to sell snow cones to raise money for these families.  Adrienne baked 14 dozen cookies and had her kids ask in the neighborhood for donations.  Each time someone donated, they received a dozen cookies.  I love how my daughters included their children in raising the money.  We all know it's a lot easier to just write the check (so to speak, though no one writes checks anymore).  There were three families all together.  I think at least two of them were related.  Only one of the husband/fathers were able to come with the families and that's because they had three children.  After raising the money, Adrienne and AJ and several helpers went to the Nike store to get the kids new shoes and an outfit to start school with.  Below are some pictures of shopping at the Nike store.  As you can imagine, it was a little chaotic.  A couple of the adults spoke some English, but most of the group did not.  Imagine coming into a new country and leaving most all of your belongings behind.  Apparently they had some things when they arrived in Poland, but couldn't bring anything with them when they came to the US.

In the left picture is the one husband and father with two of his three children.  One of the boys was a cousin (I think). On the right everyone is standing in line to pay for the purchases.  Miraculously, the total was almost exactly what had been raised.

In the above pictures, Ollie and Ila are playing with the almost-3-year-old Zarina.  Ila said to Emmie Green, "She won't quit following me around!"  Emmie said, "she just wants to be your friend." Ila: "I already have SO many friends!" Emmie: "Well, maybe she needs a friend." Ila:  She already has friends."  Zarina was especially excited about going shopping with everyone.  She also put her trust into all of us strange adults who were with her.  She had Roy hold her backpack.  At some point she came to him to retrieve her backpack, but with the ball in her other hand she had to think about it for a minute.  I guess she decided he was trustworthy because she gave the backpack back to him to hold while she continued playing with the ball.

The three families with their new clothes (plus AJ, Adrienne, Adrienne's nanny/babysitter (next to Adrienne), Gunnar, Ollie, Finn and Ila.

Back to School for the Jacksons

Max and Mav started school this week.  Harvey and Bevy don't start their pre-school for a couple weeks more.

Last night Roy and I saw this perfect rainbow on our way to a  wedding reception at "This is the Place." 

 

A humorous video to finish the letter.  In Primary, Ila and Finn were given some interesting treats.  Things the pioneers might have had to eat.