I Can't Help It - I Think She is Adorable

Ellie Dawn Mott

Thanks to Julie & Tom for a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Uncle Mark

I have always liked my mother's brother, Uncle Mark.  Perhaps because he would tease us when we were kids by spurting water between his front teeth and hitting us squarely in the face. His aim was incredible and the distance he achieved was always surprising. In addition, he was very handsome and had a great smile. His passing last Wednesday, November 3rd, has caused me to reflect on his life. He was born, raised, and lived his entire life in a small, peaceful, country town, Lyman, Utah. He spent his life farming and caring for his wife and five daughters. But during World War II, his life was anything but peaceful.

Partly because I was raised in a military family, I have enormous respect and admiration for those who have served to defend our country. Uncle Mark was drafted into the Army in November 1942 and served until October 1945, participating in some of the very worst battles in Europe. His unit received four Presidential Unit Citations; Uncle Mark was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. It took 50 years for him to be able to talk about the War because "it was too painful" and did so only by the persuasion of his daughters because they wanted his grandchildren to know what a hero he was. Uncle Mark stated at the end of his interview granted in 1990 about his military service, "There were a lot more close calls that I had, but I was trying to forget them which was very hard to do. I still have bad dreams of the war even now. I know I was really blessed to come out of it as well as I did.  My shoulder (having been shot through by a German soldier) hurts all the time but you can learn to live with pain."

He went on to say, "I was with the 2nd Armored Division, better known as the Hell on Wheels Division. It was quite a fighting outfit. Everybody that was there very long had been wounded two or three times." He served honorably and well and we owe him and so many other Veterans so very much. I certainly will be thinking of him and my father this Veteran's Day.

A Quintessential Autumn Day

 Is there anything more fabulous than a beautiful, mild autumn day at a football game.  My grandson, Spencer St. John, is #78 and such a great kid. The weather this autumn has been exceptional. 

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