The "Mini" Mission

Written by Uncle George:  April 26, 1907 Rose soon after 5:00 a.m.  Albert Thatcher, janitor of the "Rock Church" (RLDS) assisted me in getting ladders and to the top of the two-story brick building and I secured some negatives.  Very difficult climb we had in the church tower.  I have felt all day that I should have more time to get views of the important points in Church History; so telegraphed W.C. Spence (transportation agent for the Church).  Bed about 10:30 p.m.  Still cold.  Weary tonight. Val:  April 26, 2012 I was not a "water girl."  I was a "water distribution engineer." Apparently, someone somewhere saw me chug more than my fair share of the crack-laced BYU hosting punch on April 25th because today I had water duty at the temple open house. Me and Adam Sandler, we get each other. No one lavishing me loving punch-craving looks.  No one in my debt for distilling that nectar of goodness. "Water?"  I said with my...

Written by Uncle George:  April 25, 1907 Dull and cloudy and some mist.  At temple ground, then to class meeting.  Civil and religious law continued by Elder Evans.  President Bennion asked me to be the mouth in prayer.  Made view of Examiner office and Liahona office and the Reorganized Stone Church.  Wrote up diary for the past two days.  I feel so impressed with the necessity of making the views.  I can see what a blessing they would be to our people in arousing an interest in this land and the work that is before us as a people in the building up the center stake in Zion. Let me just say it.  Those last two sentences have hit me right between the eyes.  Which, by the way, is currently pretty sunburned. Feeling " so impressed." The word "necessity."   (insert dramatic music here) I have had THE exact same feelings...which began in October 2010. They weren't my feelings, actually.  I borrowed them initially from...

Dear Uncle George: I have a problem with too many buttons.  I mean so many options and a girl  likes options.  Except when it is necessary they be in order so that they can make things "go." I don't like to be bothered with making things "go," so 16 years ago tomorrow I had a son so he could do it for me.   You know, turn on the TV.  The DVD.  Movies.  Nothing you know anything about, but trust me, worth it.   It really has worked out well for me. All I have to say is "Make it go" and the men in my life hop up, thrilled that they can serve me at anytime and my every whim.  :)  Not. "Mom, can't you learn to do this yourself?"  But I know I have succeeded in my mothering when he says "I know, make it go"  BEFORE I ask.  Who says all that brainwashing I did when he was young didn't paid off? How does one retrace someone else's steps 106 years after the fact?  How does someone make a journey like this "g...

Dear Uncle George, You know, this is not the first time I have thought long and hard about you and your photographs. It was March 2011. Sorry I didn't really think more about you since then, but I have been busy cruising the West Indies and surviving trying to cross the street in Calcutta.  And don't forget figuring out the new name of our 6th rescue cat (and before you get all judgmental on me, I didn't bring him home and he doesn't live in the house....I just give him little snackies so he will perhaps stop gnawing on his lower leg.  See, not my fault). As I am known to do, I took myself on a little day trip to the nearby, but not to be confused with some amazing metropolis like Gower (no offense), town of Richmond. As I wandered about, I took photos for fun.  No project, no purpose.  At that time, I was fully immersed in shooting the construction process of the Kansas City Temple, and visually, just needed a break.  If you want to refer back to it's...

George in Independence/Kansas City:   April 24, 1907 Rose about 5:30 am.  Washed my feet.  Prayer with Elder Harris.  He then took me on to the Temple Lot.  This is a beautiful place--quiet and pleasant.  Agreeable to the eye.  I felt it a privilege to be in this land which the Prophet of the Lord designated as the center stake of Zion.  I arranged to make a picture of the mission home, when the instrument was blown over and so damaged by the wind that I could not make the picture.  I went to Kansas City.  Very windy all day. Supper at the mission headquarters and then to the office to assist with the mail.  They sent twelve sacks today. Val:  April 24, 2013 Dude, have you heard of OCD?  It is a behavior for folks who struggle getting past certain fixations?  I think you have it.  You seem to be concerned with the cleanliness of your feet.  Just the night before you washed your feet to refresh ...