In January, 1839, Joseph Smith along with Hyrum, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin and Alexander McRae were incarcerated in Liberty Jail, Missouri. They had previously been imprisoned in the Richmond jail with Parley P. Pratt and George W. Robinson, but the group was divided, some going to Liberty and some remaining in the Richmond jail.
Our family visited the Liberty jail when we took our first Church History trip in 1985, right after Joel's graduation from high school and just before Nathan left on his mission. Some of you might remember, but Thomas, who was just barely 4, and Mary, who was 18 months, surely don't. However, we visited again in connection with our Branson vacation in 1997. One can't see the recreated conditions in that place without feeling sorrow for their suffering.
This is Thomas in front of the Liberty Jail visitors' center
Several of our very important family members started 2020 with birthdays.
Jovie turned 3 on the 2nd.
Shad's birthday was the 7th.
Rebecca and Scott's anniversary was the 7th.
Our newest family member, beautiful Baby Steele Jonathan Carey Sherwood was born on January 10th, this month. He was 8lb, 8oz! A big chunky boy for such a tiny little mother.
Connie's birthday was the 14th.
Reygan turned 22 on the 20th.
Albert turned 20 on the 25th, in California on his mission.
And Raymond and Alonzo turned 11 on the 29th. I like to get separate pictures of these twin boys so they can each have their own post, but this was such a darling picture that I couldn't pass it up.
*OUR JANUARY*
Mary gave us this calendar for Christmas and I think...if I remember to...I'll post each month's picture. January featured the Nathan and Shauna family.
January has had some really lovely, drizzly days, with a lot of snow in the mountains. We've also had warm, sunny weather in the 60's...the kind of weather that brings people to Arizona in January. I have even seen some paper narcissus blooming already! They usually bloom in February, so they are a couple of weeks early.
This is a picture of the Celestial Room of the Lisbon Portugal Temple. We are getting so excited to go there in July and see it for ourselves...Thanks to Mary and Tyson and Edward Jones.
On Thursday, the 2nd of January, Lindsay came to do baptisms at the Temple. Thursday is our Temple day and it is also the Richins grandparents' Temple day, so we were all able to be there to see her be baptized for the dead for the first time. She was so excited and had the whole baptistry to herself until she was all finished and getting dressed. Then a huge group from Globe came. President Kartchner spoke to her all by herself. I'm glad she got to have all the personal attention this time.
On Friday, January 3rd, the next day, we made a quick trip to Gilbert so Dad could participate in the ordinations of Soren and Bridger. Soren was ordained a Deacon and Bridger a Priest, both by their dad. It was especially touching to see their brothers also stand in the circle. Harrison participated in Bridger's ordination, and then Bridger and Harrison both participated in Soren's. What a blessed event.
Afterwards, we all went to eat at a Thai restaurant. It was very good.
That night, Thomas and Thomas Wyatt and Hyrum and Kirtlyn came to a Suns game. I think they even won! Kirtlyn hung out with Ellie while they were at the game. Then they stayed at Lydia that night, and in the morning we all ate breakfast at the Farmhouse restaurant in Gilbert on our way home. Gilbert was crazy! There was some kind of flea market thing going on and hundreds of people...maybe thousands...were thronging the tiny streets of old town Gilbert. We drove around and around trying to find a parking spot, and finally the kids found one and stood in it until we got around again and could park.
We came home the next day so that we could be there on Sunday. My friend, Nikki Joe, had asked Dad and Thomas to give her a blessing and we arranged for it to be that Sunday after church. Then we had Thomas and Jenn and their family over for dinner.
On Tuesday, the 7th, we celebrated Shad's birthday and Rebecca and Scott's anniversary by having a delicious corn beef hash dinner at Thomas and Jenn's house.
On Friday, the 10th, we went to Gilbert again, this time for an appointment with Dad's eye doctor. He said his glaucoma is not getting any worse, in fact the pressure was down a little. I was glad to hear that. I guess the eyelash-growing drops are doing the job they were designed to do.
Joel and Stephanie invited us to dinner that night and we got to play with Junie a little bit. She is not exactly warming up to me yet, but she doesn't act like she's afraid of me any more. Progress. I'm determined to make friends with her. And what a lucky girl; Stephanie has a little kitchen all set up for her and she loves it. She opens doors, turns on the sink, turns knobs and acts like she knows what she's doing. Such a smart girl.
While we were in Gilbert, Isabel was in the hospital starting her labor. She was in labor all day long, with support from her family and especially from Logan. He stayed with her, coaxing, comforting and teasing her through it all. Then at almost midnight, little Steele Jonathan Carey Sherwood was finally born. It was a slow day, but a frantic, hurried delivery, resulting in an emergency c-section. Isabel's heart rate and Steele's heart rate both dropped dangerously low after her epidural, so they rushed her into surgery and delivered a beautiful, healthy, 81/2 pound boy.
We drove home that morning and stopped on our way into town to buy some flowers, then went straight to the hospital to see our 10th great grandchild. I knew he would be beautiful...how could he not be with such beautiful parents?...but I expected Isabel to be wasted and unaware of her surroundings. I was glad to see that she was alert and looked happy with her baby and happy to see us.
The next day, Sunday, January 12, Carson was ordained a Teacher by his dad. Dad got to participate in that ordination as well, as did His Richins grandfather and great grandfather. Four generations of Priesthood. All these Priesthood ordinations of our grandsons makes us so happy and thankful for their worthiness to act for the Savior in their Priesthood responsibilities.
Afterwards, we had dinner at Mary and Tyson's house.
On Tuesday, the 14th, we celebrated Connie's birthday by taking a medicinal milkshake (aka blizzard) to Isabel. They seem to be getting used to parenthood and Steele is getting used to this cold, hard world where he has to work to get his nourishment.
On Saturday morning, we attended Jared's basketball game in Thatcher. Good little player.
Then that afternoon we attended a Ward Temple session in preparation for Ward Conference the next day, then ate at El Charro afterwards. Thomas came and sat with us although he didn't eat. It was good to have time to sit and visit one on one (I guess two on one) for a change.
On Sunday, Rachel invited us over for dinner. Whenever you eat at Rachel's, you have a gourmet meal, and we did...and it was so delicious. It was good to be with her family, which has become much bigger lately. It was especially good to get to see Baby Steele. He was so good and so cute and so cuddly.
That night, the Richins and the Biggses came over to visit. We played "Which ancestor do you look most like?" I have had so many people tell me I look like Grandma Hiatt that I thought for sure that is who Family Search would pick for me, but I was wrong. They think look most like Grandpa Hiatt.
Dad looked most like his dad, Ellis. Of course, Dad's picture was taken in 2004 when he was 63 years old, and Ellis' was taken when he was just in his early 40's, but you can see the similarities.
Treasure box time
We ate popcorn, and it got spilled all around, so Thomas and Tyson stepped up and cleaned it up for us.
On Monday, MLK day, we took a field trip to Willcox to see The Thing. All my life I have wondered what it was. When I was little, I would ask Grandpa Hiatt to stop and he never would because Grandma convinced him it was just a scam and not worth it. Then I could never convince Dad to see it either. Even after the Dairy Queen was connected to it, we would stop for ice cream but never to see The Thing. So when Dad said we ought to go on a field trip, I said I wanted to see The Thing. Rachel's, Thomas' and Mary's families all agreed to go with us and we really had a good time. I did, anyway, and was glad I finally know what all the mystery is about...Aliens have been responsible for all the good and bad things that have occurred in the history of the world. Really, the actual Thing is interesting in itself; a mummy of a desiccated mother and baby. The whole alien thing takes away from it's authenticity a little bit, but it was fun to go through the museum and see all the historical artifacts they have gathered.
Dad and I have decided that sometime when we are in Gilbert we need to get the Mesa/Gilbert kids together and go on a field trip down there.
We stopped at McDonald's in Willcox for lunch on the way.
And then we had a treat at the connected Dairy Queen after we had seen it.
The next night, we treated the Sister missionaries to dinner at El Charro. They cover several Safford and Thatcher wards, including ours, Rebecca's and Mary's.
Carl Brooksby, Kent's dad, passed away on the 27th. He was such a cool man, so much like Kent. He was Grandpa's counselor, I think, or executive secretary, when they were in the same ward. This picture is of him with Emily, Melissa and Cynthia. He was 96.
One day, Dad texted Rebecca and said, "Is it time for lemon meringue?" Well, you know Rebecca, she would do anything to please Dad, so she came right over the next day and brought two beautiful, delicious lemon meringue pies. She brought two so Thomas could have his own and not eat Dad's. Rachel comes on Tuesdays to bring Sara Konopnicki for her occupational therapy, so she got to be in on the special treat. She brings Sara over every Tuesday and I love having that time to visit with Rachel. We've had some really thoughtful theological discussions. She's a deep thinker.
That night, the 28th, I went to the Relief Society progressive supper. We started with appetizers in Heather VanHouten's house, then the main course in Janae Lines' house, then dessert in Jenn's house. In each place, they gave us a lesson on one of the points of self improvement that President Nelson is encouraging the youth to do: physical, intellectual, and spiritual. I guess they figured we already had social covered because we were all there together. It was fun and I'm glad I went even though I didn't want to at first.
*NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY*
~NATHAN AND SHAUNA~
Jovie turned 3 while she and her parents were in Omaha for the winter break from dental school, so she got to be spoiled and pampered by two families. Nathan has been sick off and on during the whole month, but has had so much work and traveling to do that he had to go in spite of not feeling 100%.
They went to the Omaha zoo, which, I must say, is one of the best zoos I have ever seen.
A view at Nathan's front door courtesy of his Ring camera. Wild turkeys. How cool is that?? Mary also caught some wildlife with her Ring camera. Check out her section.
When Joshua was in Omaha for Christmas, he got pictures of some of his favorite old buildings.
He has found some very interesting historical buildings in Indianapolis too.
I actually don't think this was in January, but it was posted this month by her friend, so I captured it for the January blog. I guess Hannah was the matron of honor and gave a tribute to the couple.
~JOEL AND STEPHANIE~
They are having their pool completely redone from under the ground up.
They spent some time in Pine when it was covered in snow.
Darling Junie playing with her kitchen, and her adoring uncles...
...And her loving Grandma.
Levi has been busy and having some success.
~DANIEL AND CONNIE~
I found this gorgeous picture on line this month.
Shadrach and Hannah Joy had an open house in Colorado. Aila loves her new aunt and wants to be just like her. It's no wonder, Hannah Joy loves Aila and is so sweet with her.
They decided they wanted waffles for their open house, so Daniel got a commercial waffle maker and kept up with the waffle demand. They even made a waffle wedding cake!
Shannyn dressed Aila up for winter, 80's style.
The girls made this funny cake for Connie's birthday. I think it's a dryer? Or a washer? From experience, I know that laundry is a big part of her life, so whatever it is, it is meant as a tribute, I'm sure. Anyway, it's cute and Connie appreciated it. She has been sick for quite a while, since before Shadrach's wedding, if you remember on the December blog, but has been taking medicine that has helped her feel a little better. She finally was able to get someone to do some tests and they found that she has an infection in her stomach and so now they are giving her medicine specifically for that. We've been praying that she will soon be all well and back to her normal superwoman self.
She wanted toys for her grandchildren for her birthday, so she got this cool red truck.
And this is Raymond's gift...it was a remote control car with a card and flowers.
Albert's birthday was the 25th, and even though he wasn't home to appreciate it, Shannyn made him a birthday cake...in the shape of California, with a star where he is, in Santa Rosa.
These Amazing Connie cakes were for Raymond and Alonzo's 11th birthday. I can't even comprehend the creativity and work that went into creating these cakes...truly a labor of love.
~REBECCA AND SCOTT~
They have had a lot of sickness this month...mainly pneumonia! First Rebecca got it, then Scott, then Polly and finally, DeWitt. They have had to quarantine themselves somewhat, so they couldn't even go on our Thing field trip. Thankfully, everyone is well now, at the end of the month. I sure hope February is better for them. Polly and DeWitt have been hired by American Airline at Sky Harbor as baggage handlers, so they and their parents get free flights wherever they want to go!
DeWitt went to Disneyland with Rachel Rose's family. Then when he got sick, she came to Safford to comfort him.
After Polly was well, she went to see Baby Steele. Scott and Rebecca went too, but Scott just saw him through the window because he was still recovering.
Before they all got sick, they spent a week in Rocky Point and saw my cousin Florence Brinton Hatch and her husband at church.
I love these posts from Sara. That's how I keep up with Parley and their family a little bit.
Lillian and Kellin in the Southern Utah desert
Lucy is obsessed with Frozen.
Rebecca sent all her snowbound kids (Allison, Dallin, and Lillian) a "sunshine box." It was full of yellow, happy, sunny things including cookies shaped like cacti and suns. They loved getting it. What a neat mom/grandma she is. These are screenshots from videos they sent to her.
~JEREMY AND ERIKA~
Posted by Jori. I love their calendar. I can't wait to see the pictures on the rest of the months.
Daynen worked on a major film with a producer. And he also made amazing films for Joel's Pearl Harbor commemoration event. I was so impressed by the professionalism of the films. But more than that, he touched the heart of the event, with the students who participated and also with the survivors. Everyone who watched it was moved, some to tears.
These are screen shots from both videos.
But creating amazing films is not always easy with a baby on your lap.
Even if she is the joy of your life.
It's so interesting to watch as Jeremy and Erika make improvements to their home. Erika built this box to cover the box springs of their bed. Unbelievable...if I hadn't seen all the other things they have built.
In Boston, she was fascinated by all the interesting, beautiful doorways she saw. They certainly made their own doorway and entry beautiful.
Reygan celebrated her 22nd birthday with her family, cake and Mexican food. Good way to celebrate!
Hayden loves sunflower seeds, so he's thinking about harvesting the seeds from this giant sunflower.
~RACHEL AND TONY~
On the 7th of January, Isabel was more than ready for her baby to come.
On the 7th of January, Isabel was more than ready for her baby to come.
He came on the 10th.
She spent a whole day in the hospital, just waiting. She was induced that morning and he didn't come until nearly midnight. Her family and Logan patiently waited with her.
Logan even clowned around for her, trying to divert her attention...she was less than impressed.
Then toward the end, things started to get a little frantic.
Her heart rate and Steele's heart rate plummeted, so they did an emergency c-section. The family all waited and were so relieved and happy to see Logan appear with a healthy baby. Isabel needed a little more attention, however, because her heart rate continued to be low. They finally stabilized it and she was exhausted but fine.
Typical...The parents are exhausted and the baby is wide awake!
I remember doing this with my new babies. Just watching them breathe and sleep.
Steele Jonathan Carey Sherwood. He is named for his father, whose middle name is Steele. It is a family name, I think. They probably don't know this, but Steele is a Biggs family name too. One of Dad's ancestors was Tom Steele.
First bath. See Isabel's foot by Rachel's head? She was standing in the water.
Rachel brought Sara Konopnicki to visit.
A delicious dinner with the grandparents
Rylie's new house in Pima is progressing quickly.
At McDonald's on the way to The Thing
At The Thing
We have another artist in the family. This was drawn by Camille. I am very impressed and hope to see more from her.
Their family finished reading The Book of Mormon together. They, and Luke came to the temple to do baptisms this month. They came on a Thursday, so I was able to go in and watch them. It was a thrill to me to see Luke baptize his sisters and others. They did family names and one of the ones Luke did, from Dad's line, was a Blackfoot Indian named Walking Foot who was born in Virginia in 1746.
~ESTHER AND SHAD~
Marlie and Polly
Harrison and Sydney riding their ez rollers
The traditional birthday picture on Shad's birthday
Brody drew these! He's only 10.
Does this little kid look like someone who could draw like that??
At the ordination of Bridger as a Priest and Soren as a Deacon
We enjoyed a visit with the family when we went for the ordination
Esther said this is date night with friends...I can only assume husbands were there too.😊
Brody is playing basketball.
Soren's cool science fair project
Bridger is feeling pretty good after doing a ton of yard work.
Shad was released as Bishop of his ward this month.
They, along with much of the rest of the family suffered colds and flu. When Esther was sick, Mary sent the pizza and we sent Chick fil-A.
~THOMAS AND JENN~
Thomas and Thomas and Hyrum at a Suns game.
The next morning while they were waiting for us to find a parking place, they visited the Giving Machine in Gilbert. It was still there a few weeks after Christmas.
Hyrum won the Ruth Powell School spelling bee and will go on to compete in the county bee. He was so calm and cool about it. It's not surprising that most of the kids, though good spellers lost just because they were so nervous.
At McDonald's before The Thing.
at The Thing
Thomas' 8th grade boys' team won the district championship!
A new door on the El Charro bathroom. Very classy.
Jenn was hostess for the dessert portion of the Relief Society progressive dinner.
Thomas just got hired as a tennis coach for Safford High School. A good sign for their success this year. Kirtlyn is on the team and Thomas will be coaching her.
~MARY AND TYSON~
Mary brought her family over to help us take down and put away Christmas.
It’s time to put away Christmas;
Put it away ‘til next year,
The tinsel, the wreaths and the holly
All things that brought Christmas cheer.
But do I put away Christ with the holly?
Do I think of Him just once a year?
Do I need nativities and carols
To remind me to keep Jesus near?
If I live as the Savior has taught
If I faithfully follow His light,
I’ll feel His spirit inside me
Just as much as on Christmas night.
Then I’ll never really put away Christmas;
It will stay in my heart all year long.
I’ll still feel the spirit of Christmas
As if I just heard a sweet Christmas song.
This has been a banner month for Lindsay. She went to the temple for the first time, to do baptisms for the dead; she got braces; and she started Young Women.
At Carson's ordination as a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood.
At dinner afterwards
At Jared's basketball game.
Carson's robotics team got to go to the state competition at ASU. Although they didn't win, they did well. They built their robots out of Legos. I was amazed at what all those kids could get their robots to do. These are screenshots from the video on Youtube.
At McDonald's before The Thing.
At The Thing
Mary's frequent visitors are a mother and baby javelina.
Learning about The Book of Mormon on FHE with magnet stories. I love it.
Carson is learning to "fiddle" on his violin.
~MISSIONARIES~
I love it that we got so many pictures from Docker this month. I will just include a few so that I can save some for when I might not get so many 😉
Celebrating Chinese New Year
With his district, loving Chinese bread. I didn't even know that they ate bread. I have never seen it in a Chinese restaurant.
Albert found this shirt. I'm not sure why it was special enough to keep, but I was glad for the picture anyway. He looks good and I know he is doing well in his work.
This is Harrison with his district on their Temple day this month. I almost couldn't find him because I didn't recognize him with glasses!
And with one of his kids at the school where he works.
I thought you all might be interested to know about Diane, Bob and Carolyn's daughter, who is serving, with her husband as president of the Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission.
~SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT~
This happened a couple of months ago, when bees were still out and around, but for some reason it just never got on the blog. It's still funny (scary) though. That bee was on the inside of Rachel's glasses and she didn't notice it until she put them on! It stayed put, thankfully, even while she was taking its picture.
When I see something online that strikes a chord with me, I include it here.
Smart, thoughtful Alex.
Parley had a tea (cocoa) party and Sara told him he was supposed to raise his pinky. She showed him how to do it, and this is how he copied her.
I tried this and I think it actually worked!
~LAST WORDS~
If the rest of the year goes as well as January...except for all the colds and flu and pneumonia...that is, we will have a terrific year. And no matter what the year brings, it will be better if we keep in touch with each other and with the Lord. Never lose sight of how much He loves you and wants good things for you, as do we. Happy New Year. 2020 is going to be a great year for the Biggs family!!
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