Tribute to Jack Parshall Brooks

Kathy, Jack & Shawna's daughter, wrote this tribute to her father a year after his passing.

His philosophy of life was reflected in his actions. 

National Puppy Day

There's never been a cuter one.

I love you Gryffin.

Oldest LDS Chapel in Mexico

Spencer sent this picture of this chapel in Dublan, the oldest LDS chapel in Mexico.

I was very interested in seeing this because I felt it had a connection with my family.  My 2nd great grandfather,* Archibald Waller Overton Buchanan, took his fourth wife, Caroline, and left Glenwood, Utah in the spring of 1890 to escape the marshals who were trying to arrest those practicing polygamy.  

Archibald was ill with mountain fever during part of the trip so Caroline had to drive the team most of the way.  It was a long, hard trip.  Before they could cross the border into Mexico the Mexican officials checked everything they had and branded the letters A.F.A. on each wagon.  Archibald laughed and said the letters stood for "another fool arrived".  

They spent New Year's Day 1891 in Colonia Dias, a small community of Mormon people who had gone to Mexico that they might live in peace with their families.  After two more days they arrived in Dublan, their destination.  They had nothing.  By October 25, 1891 they were living in an adobe house as twins, Earl and Myrle, were born there.  

This information, along with other interesting stories are from the history of Archibald Waller Overton Buchanan by his grandson, Golden R. Buchanan.  

Another story about Archibald that Golden included is: "One night while irrigating in Dublan, he lay down on the ditch bank to sleep for awhile.  When he awoke he had a rattlesnake coiled up beside him.  Somehow the snake left without striking.  When asked if he killed the snake he replied, 'If the snake was good enough not to hurt me, I wasn't going to kill it.'  He never did kill a snake after that." 

*Archibald and Helen Amelia Whiting Buchanan (first wife), were the parents of Theda Jane Buchanan Oldroyd, the mother of Hazel May Oldroyd Turner, the mother of Hazel Dawn Turner Mangum, my mother.

Dax is Nine

Time passes so quickly.

Madeline Jane Mott is Two

She is brilliant and adorable!  What more can I say.

Gardeners

We planted lots of beautiful flowers at our St. George home.

They all died.

I think we need to change some soil.

Mason's Homecoming Celebration

We had such a nice gathering at Chantel & Dave's to welcome Mason home.

Mason gave a really great talk in Sacrament Meeting and I was so glad to have been there. 

Plenty of great food was prepared for all of us.

Chantel, Cabo and Chase

A truly memorable highlight for me was listening to Katelyn and Mason

sing several hymns in Spanish.

They both have exceptionally good voices.

Seth, Bo and Ciera

They are extra special.  They treat us so well when we come down to St. George.

It was good to spend time together, especially for those who do not see each other often.

 

Hayden will be our next missionary.  He's ready.

Steven

Paige, Julie & Tom

 

Kim, Chantel, Julie, Claudine

So good to be together, even if it does make us miss Cherie more.

Chase and Juan -- Chase and Zack 

Mason and Ciera

Felines of a Feather Stick Together

Are we related?

Mason Returns with Honor

I was so excited to greet him at the airport on his return from Chile. We both cried.

Chase surprised him by going on to St. George with him.

Chantel was so anxious to have him home.

Eloise Dawn Mott is Five

She is so beautiful and so smart.