Unitah Basin Relay for Life 2008

JoAnn with our kids and Troy and Mary's girls.
Nikki, Cierra, JoAnn, Britany
Dalys, Shandi, Trevin, Layne


Our family had a really cool experience this weekend. We have worked with some other local businesses and put to together a Relay for Life team. Rick's mom (JoAnn) and sister in law (Mary) were our survivors. Everyone pitched in to raise money, we sold used tires, pumped gas and washed windows, did free haircuts, had a yardsale, etc. It has been a great way for our kids to feel like they are really doing something to fight their Grandma's cancer. Here are just a couple of quick pics of our weekend, it was cold and a little rainy, but all told our little family walked roughly 45 miles. Even Trevin and Layne walked with me until 1:30 am!!! We all had a blast and what a great tribute to ALL the people who have fought cancer.

Our Whole Team

Julia Hills Johnson

After reading mom's family history story I decided to share mine. Julia Hills Johnson is the mother of George Washington Johnson who is the father of Margaret Johnson who is the mother of Brig Young who is the father of Linda Bringhurst....I guess you can all make the connection.
Well, there is a series of books two of Julia's deendants have put in print. They are written in a novel style, but everything is very well noted from their emaculate journals(I know where Grandpa gets is from) and church history. Julia joined the Church in New York along with her older children although her husband Ezekiel did not. They followed the Saints to Kirtland and althoughEzekiel didn't agree with Mormonism he respected Joseph Smith and defended the religion. But eventually Julia and Ezekiel seperated to diminish some of the tension in their home. It was also during this time that Julia and Ezekiel lost 4 of their older children ( 18-30 years old) to consumption (David, Seth, Nancy, and Susan) within 2 years. As conditions in Kirtland deteriorated and some Saints were preparing to leave, the books talk of a time that Julia was in her cellar taking count of the food they had stored for the winter and as she felt so overwhelmed and alone she knelt down the pray. She was then filled with the comfort of the Holy Ghost and the thought came to her mind that she was laying the goundwork for many generations to come and that the Lord was mindful of her and the many lives she would affect through the years.
As I read this, I got goosebumps. How thankful I am for her sacrifices! I have also thought alot lately about the kind of groundwork I am laying for my children and so forth. Is what I am doing today worth the time it takes, am I making time for the things that my decendants will need someday? This is silly, but even as I have been teaching Trevin to tie his shoes, I've thought you know its these little things that matter. So each day I have tried to make sure I have done something that will last longer than just here and now.