Our Mom was the GRAND MARSHALL!

Well - Mendon City picked a winner this year for their 24th of July Pioneer Day Celebration Grand Marshall for the Parade. June Murray Hill Bowen - 7th great granddaughter of Alexander Hill, one of the original settlers of Mendon. Mom looked so beautiful and we were so excited that she was honored. She was riding in a velvet seated carriage with a driver (Mr. Perry - actually Bishop Perry from the Logan 17th ward). He looked amazing with his top hat on and great big smile. He really got the crowd going with "Look at this beautiful Grand Marshall!" The rest of the story is that Mom could not be found and the parade was starting in 7 minutes. We looked everywhere for her. Finally Terri said - "You might want to see if the car is still in the garage." That sent fear in my soul because that would mean that something was wrong and she was dead in the bathroom naked in the bathtub and that would NOT be a pretty sight for the Grand Marshall! When I arrived home to find the car in the garage my heart sank. But then out of the car came MOM - she had decided to take a little tiny nap while waiting for the parade to start. Pretty soon she'll be microwaving little kitties.... HELP! But non - the - less - it was the social stardom that only my mom could create in a town that loves her so very much. Congratulations mom - by the way - I do believe you are the oldest pioneer I know....

The rest of the day found Terri auctioning off her beautiful hand made quilt from the quilt guild she's from. (It was amazing!) Erin taking on the battle of the wards. Brandon starring in "7 brides for 7 brothers" at the Barn Live Theater. Eric calling out the championship games at the ball tourny. Heidi's co-ed team winning the tourny and taking home her own personal Tournament Award trophy for being so amazing. Other events were, a farmers market run in Logan for amazing bread and earings - ya weird but true. A 20 mile bike ride for Ashley and I and Ryan's first time riding - of which he was very good at! Oh, and also my 30 year class reunion from Sky View High School - Class of 78. Lyle Archibald was there - he was my first silly kiss - he now looks like President Monson - oh my. Fireworks and glowsticks finished off a perfect day. Picture perfect - mom... mom.... mom.... wake up - you are suppose to be in the freaking parade in 5 minutes!!!!!!

We love our Scotish Ancestors!

Well - it's Pioneer Day in Utah- July 24th - and only in Utah. Eat your heart out other states - but the Lord sent them here instead. (Other states were not as nice you see....) (Wait - I think we did get an official apology...) A couple of years ago I found this special headstone after looking and looking and looking in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. It is my mom's 8th generation grandfather - Alexander Hill Sr. - and his wife Elizabeth Currie. Since I live in Salt Lake and the rest of my ancestors are all buried in Cache Valley -I have adopted this headstone and sacred ground as my own. I take candles to this site on Christmas Eve - that's a freaky thing - but very spiritual as well. I take things on Memorial Day, and his birthday. I'm planting Lily's this fall and they will bloom there next year. This particular Memorial Day - there was a new plant there and I was curious to see who was also taking on MY relative. So this Pioneer Day I took our 10 generation line and laminated a card and attached it to the headstone with Red, White and Blue ties. I have included my e-mail and asked for anyone to contact me if they are related. I hope I get a response! Anyway - Mom to honor your Pioneer Heritage - I'll include pictures from that site. The Anchor on Alex's headstone represents his place in the Royal Navy - a captain of a 94 gun ship. He was a great seaman - and yet he came to the USA and was buried in the SLC desert of sort. But if it wasn't for him - I wouldn't be here.... Lucky me. I am grateful for all of their sacrifices and hope to live up to all they they would want me to be. I know - my mom has lived up to that!