Great Day

 Thanks everyone for making my birthday amazing.  It started off with my seminary room being filled with balloons. I am holding my gift from the Magnussons - a solar shower bag and pan. I came home to this delicious breakfast left for me from dad.  (Does dad know me or what???)  I had a day full of calls, a video, well wishes, cards and gifts.   Dad and I ended the day at the temple.  Sure is fun to get old when you are treated like this.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Recently in Boston

 

We have been a busy bunch over here.  I thought I would just throw a few pictures on the blog of what has been happening at our house lately.

 

This is Emary at the back door.  Outside you might notice our neighbors dog- Darcy.  I took this picture because Emary was pressing her face against the glass whispering, "don't worry-I'll get you out of there." It was pretty hilarious.

 

Bennett thought Alden would enjoy a pirate hat during tummy time.  It was too cute!

Bennet soon took back the hat and put Alden's toy to good use!

 

 
 

Alden is just getting more and more cute!!

And of course so is Emary.  I love having some time with this little lady while Bennett is at school and Alden is taking a nap. Man I wish I had her energy! 

We are just living the dream here!  I love these three sweeties so much!!

Elder Scott

I have really enjoyed reading a bit more about Elder Scott.  I highly recommend reading this! I especially enjoyed reading the experiences of his father joining the church and his conversations with his boss prior to becoming a mission president in Argentina.

Elder Scott was the first apostle I was able to shake hands and speak with, I was about 15 and it was right beside the hill cumorah and he was exactly as loving and compassionate as I imagined he would be. I will always cherish his words!

My Overseas Adventure: Week 4: BARCELONA!

My Overseas Adventure: Week 4: BARCELONA!: This week was just wonderful because we went to Barcelona. I don't know why but this trip definitely felt different than the others...

AWAY WE GET TO CENTRAL CA

When dad was called as Bishop (in 1999) the Stake President counseled him to take his wife on a getaway at least every 3 months. With 6 children at home, that was good counsel. There is probably no counsel dad ever received from a priesthood leader he followed worse.   Dad promised mom that a grand getaway would certainly be forthcoming at the end of his service as bishop. That end was extended a couple of years longer than anticipated and then the extension was followed by a "few" more years of commitment and service. So, dad has quite a bit of catching up to do in the getaway department.

One of mom and dad's favorite sports to watch is BYU Women's Soccer (FYI, mom likes sports. . . A LOT.) The team happened to be on a California swing this past week so dad invited mom on a getaway to San Luis Obispo, 3 1/2" north of L.A. where BYU was playing Cal Poly Thursday night.   With mom's birthday in the next few days it was a pre-birthday trip as well.

On the way to the stadium mom and dad stopped at a local hot dog eatery, "Franks".  (Not quite as good a "Dirty Franks" in Columbus.)  It was a wonderful surprise to find the LDS Institute right across the road from the stadium which made for handy (and free) parking.  It was fun to see the Lady Cougs in person.  But alas, the final score, after two O.T.s -- a 1-1 tie.

 

One of the attractions of this little trip was the chance to stay of the world famous Madonna Inn.  On mom and dad's honeymoon trip from Salt Lake to Tahoe, to San Fransisco, to Monterey their last stop before Monrovia was at the Madonna Inn. Each room is uniquely themed.  (Google 'Madonna Inn' to see the outlandish rooms of the Inn.) 36 years ago mom and dad stayed in the "Rocky Mountain" room.  That had to the room they stayed in this time too.  After the game, the warm weather was perfectly accommodating for a moonlit dip in the hilltop swimming pool.

View from the veranda

In the morning, a stop at the Madonna Inn bakery seemed like the perfect breakfast which was enjoyed on the pool deck.  Following breakfast came a walk on a nearby trail.  Returning to the Inn the warm morning prompted a quick refreshing swim and shower in the rock waterfall just before check-out.  Soon they were on the road down the 101.  There was stop in Summerland a little beach town, just south of Santa Barbara for lunch.  The beach really was deserted.

Our big Guy

Our baby is getting big. He loves sitting up more and more on his own.

Sarah + Barcelona

When we Skyped with Sarah today she told us of her arrival in Barcelona.  She will be there for the next few days.  It happens to quite a festive week - see here - http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/events/la-merce/barcelona-la-merce.html

Five Year Old Birthday Party

I don't remember one thing about this party, not a person, not a present, not a game, but I am thankful for a couple of things - that my mom was sweet enough to give me a party and such a fancy party - did you see those cups???  I am glad that I had some friends to come to my party and I am glad that my dad or mom took some pictures.  Happy Birthday to Me!!

Stefanie Comes to So. Cal.

Stefanie came to Disneyland in Anaheim and also the Disney Studios in Burbank for the past few days as part of a mommy blogger tour of some upcoming Disney products.  At the end of Stefanie's obligations mid-day today mom and dad picked her up at the Alameda gate of Disney studios to spend a few hours prior to her flight back to Missouri.

The three went to lunch at a favorite place at Americana on the Brand. in Glendale.  Oh.... those sweet potato fries.  A couple of blocks up the street is the marvelously famous Portos, Cuban bakery.  The group came away with a couple of bags and boxes of AMAZING pastries.  Some were for Stefanie to take home for Jason and the kids.

After a very enjoyable few hours mom and dad dropped Stefanie off at LAX.  These blogger Disney adventures are prittee fun.

My Overseas Adventure: Week 3 : Simply Wonderful

So I decided not to get behind another week, so here are 2 back to back, I hope you enjoy!



My Overseas Adventure: Week 3 : Simply Wonderful: This last week wasn't full of any big trips or really grand events, but it was a week that I truly enjoyed. Our first outing was a...

My Overseas Adventure: Week 2 : The Beach, France, the french beach and m...

Sorry that it is a little late, I was under the weather this week!

My Overseas Adventure: Week 2 : The Beach, France, the french beach and m...: Here is a picture of me in La Plaza de Cervantes.  It is the main hubbub of our little town of Alcala. I thought you all would live to ...

Go Cougs!

ON THE JOB

 Today we are going to feature George Mitton Spencer Sr. (not on the fan) father of George Mitton Spencer Jr. (on the fan - next to  Eliza Ann Smith who is featured in dark orange).  George Sr. and George Jr. were both farmers.  He and his father were born, raised, farmed and died in Edenham, Lincolnshire, England.  They raised crops such as potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, wheat, barley and sugar beets.
George Jr. died when he was 32 years old, several years after he married Eliza Ann Smith, two years after his first son George was born and two months after his son, William James Spencer was born, pictured below (our ancestor).  With his young widowed mother and slightly older brother, this small trio managed to get to the Salt Lake Valley.  William had many jobs in Utah.  He served in Johnston's army, did some farming, building and supporting of his mother.  You remember that his mother, Eliza Smith, became the plural wife of Joseph Harker (dad's relative).  Joseph Harker was off on missions and William and his brother George really provided for their mother.  Eliza Smith worked as a part-time teacher to help the family.  William continued to work in various jobs.  He held public office, he was a road supervisor and supervised and built the South Jordan Canal.  He was a Justice of the Peace and was said to be just and fair.  He was a school trustee and built desks and classrooms to support the growing number of children in the Taylorsville area.

William James Spencer

John Shirley Cornwall.

With Grandpa's birthday tomorrow I thought we could throw things back to a family portrait taken shortly after he was born.  He was the sixth of seven children born to J. Spencer Cornwall and Mary Alice Haigh Cornwall.  Grandpa is in his mother's arms.  This would be in late 1927 or early 1928.  His mother was always surprised that he didn't go by Shirley. 

A SIGNIFICANT GOING

In the spring of 1999 the Cornwall family started on a journey that ran until yesterday.  It was really dad’s path, but all the family where in tow for the ups and downs and turns of the trail.  Dad was called to serve as the Bishop of the Monrovia II Ward in May 1999, replacing Bishop Harry P. Terrill.  The Cornwall’s eldest child, Jason, had just returned from his first year of college and was preparing to leave on a mission the next month.   Robb and Katie were in High School; Jeff was in Middle School and ‘the little girls’ were at Mayflower Elementary. Sarah had just turned 7 and Mom was finishing her 4th year of teaching early morning seminary.

Being the Bishop took dad out of the home most week nights, all day Sunday and to many other Church activities: Youth Conference, Great To Be Eight, Firesides, Courts of Honor, Priesthood Preview, Girl’s Camp, New Beginnings, welfare visits, funerals, callings, baptisms, Missionary for a Day, and a lot of meetings.  Mom got wiggly little ones and moody teenagers to Church, mutual, practices, lessons, games, plays and seminary all by herself.  Sunday afternoon Family Councils were always to plan “A Big Week”. 

One particular stretch of the road was a 7 month period at the end of 2003.  Dad did what Bishop’s do for 6 families who had a death in their family.  The passings included mothers, fathers in their prime, new wives and young sons and most were from quickly progressing illness’s.  Deep worry developed with anyone in the Ward who had a slight pain.  Dad even ended up at a cardiologist himself because of a sharp, worrisome pain.  Blessedly it was nothing serious and it subsided in a few months of adjusted diet and activity.  When asked what the malady was, the doctor said, it is what Mormon Bishops get in the their first year or fifth year of serving as Bishop.

Robb lettered in several high school sports and mom and dad never missed a game.  Katie had leading theater roles and mom and dad never missed a show.  Robb went to college for a year and then left on his mission.  Katie left for college. The whole family of 8 went to pickup Jason from his mission. Jason soon married.   Mom approached her 10th year of teaching Seminary.  In 2003 the whole family went to Atlanta to pick up Robb from his mission.  Jeffrey, Rachel and Sarah were continually in theater productions and school societies.   Mom and dad never missed a performance and helped with most of the productions.

The traditional ending tenure for a Bishop approached and dad was asked to be the Bishop of a new Ward, combined from parts of the Monrovia 1st and 2nd Wards.  Every position in the new ward would need to be filled from scratch.  Mom was dad’s counselor for the months prior to the change as they planned and positioned for the move that happened in 2004, exactly on dad’s 5th year anniversary of being a Bishop.  Almost every Sunday thereafter the Cornwall’s had folks over for dinner to help assimilate the new ward family.  For 2 ½ years dad ministered to the new Monrovia Ward.  It was a wonderful ward and the overflow was opened nearly every week in the beginning.

Jeffrey went away to college for a year and then left on his mission.   Rachel had the leading role in two of the biggest productions in Centre Stage and MHS history.  Mom and dad didn't miss a performance.  They also regularly traveled to see Katie perform on stage and with the Young Ambassadors.

Katie, the first daughter, married the first week of August 2006.  Robb got engaged two weeks later for a winter wedding in Boston.  It came time to reorganize the Arcadia Stake Presidency the 2nd weekend in August.  Dad got a call to come and meet with Jeffrey R. Holland of the 12.  Dad accepted the call to serve as first counselor in the new Stake Presidency.  It would be about 6 weeks before a new Bishop of Monrovia Ward could be called.  Dad’s first counselor had moved a few months before so dad and his second counselor ran the ward as dad did double duty with his new stake calling.

Dad’s assignments in the stake presidency had him over the Youth and Primary and Scouts so he continued with his involvement in Youth Conference, Great To Be Eight, firesides, Courts of Honor, Priesthood Preview, Girl’s Camp, as well as Funerals, visits, baptisms, Missionary for a Day, Seminary graduation, Standards Night, YW in Excellence, Seminary Breakfasts,  P.P.Is,  plus overseeing the Stake Musical every other year, Ward Conference, Eagle Scout slide shows, helping initiate Handcart treks, waitering R.S. dinners, Fathers & Sons, setting apart missionaries, calling stake leaders, veil working, attending auxiliary in-service meetings, weekly temple recommends, planning and speaking in Conferences, teaching, training, bi-annual audits, and a lot of other meetings.

The whole family, which had grown to 13, went to pick up Jeff from his mission and stop by Disney World on the way home. Mom and dad drove Jeff back to college.  Rachel graduated high school and they drove her up to college.  As Sarah was finishing high school she had her run in leading musical theater roles. Mom and dad didn't miss a'one.  In 2010 mom and dad drove Sarah up to college. Rachel went to study-abroad in Paris and then decided to go on a mission to Brazil.

Mom and dad  traveled to Kansas, Massachusetts, Oregon, San Jose, Illinois, Missouri and Provo on the occasion of baby blessings and baptisms.  Jeff graduated college. The whole family traveled to Washington State for Jeff;s wedding. A year later Rachel married and moved to Ohio. A few weeks after that Sarah left on her mission.  In the fall of 2014 the whole family of 2 (i.e. only mom and dad) drove up Interstate 5 to Santa Rosa to pick Hermana Cornwall up.  It was the same route to get their baby as they had taken in 2001 to pickup their eldest from his mission in Eugene.  Within a few weeks mom and dad drove Sarah up to her final semesters of college.  Mom was in her 20th year of teaching seminary.

Year after year Dad’s assignments included regular early morning Sunday meetings and visiting other ward’s Church services for the past 9 years. Mom’s single-handed role of getting 6 children to Sunday meetings evolved as the years ebbed by that one at a time each child left to college, mission and/or marriage so that by the fall of 2010 she was coming to Church by herself.   It was the only time in the whole journey that mom ever said anything was hard.  In mom and dad’s 36 years of marriage thus far, dad sat on the stand, apart, for 18 of them.

That era has COME to an end.  On Sunday, September 13, 2015, the wheels softly rolled to a stop on the journey that took dad so many places.  The stake presidency was released and Harry P. Terrill was called as the new Stake President.  At the end of the Stake Conference session there was nothing much else to do than for dad to take mom’s hand and walk down the quiet corridor GOING out the back door of the Stake Center.  They took the first steps of their next journey.