Sugar, It's in Our Blood!

I am taking a family history class this semester, and today we learned about doing research on our ancestors. So I typed in a few names and got a couple of hits. I found 2 really cool things though. They're not hard to find, and I'm sure many in my family have seen or already know this stuff but I thought it was crazy!!

Any who, I looked up Oris R Wallwork, my great-grandfather and there he was on a census record! Along with his brother and sister-in-law. It's so cool to see his name in print!

It also gives you the occupation and various other details. Referring back to the title of this post, sweets have always been a big thing in my family. We love chocolate, pie, cake, ice cream, cookies and especially carmel corn. Seriously though, my family is famous for its treats. I don't know if my love for sugar is bigger than the next guy, but sweetness is one of my favorite tastes.

It turns out, that right there in print, nestled between the unemployed and a book keeper is Oris. As a sugar boiler. We literally have sugar in our blood! How insane is that!? I love it! I'm finding out the craziest stuff about my heritage in this class and I'm loving it!

My 2nd cool find is the World War 1 draft card registration from my great-grandfather on my mom's side. Nephi Spendlove Workman registered for the draft at age 21. He had blue eyes and brown hair. He worked for his father, Nephi Johnson Workman, and was not disabled in any way. I can just imagine him filling out this form, just like we have to fill out forms today. It's crazy!!! This guy is my family, and I found a little piece of him. :)

In Remembrance

As a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho, I have the amazing opportunity to take a Church History class. When I first added this course it was because I had dropped my insane online World Civilizations class and I needed to replace the credits with a class that didn't screw up my schedule too much.

Church History was that class.

I didn't go into this class thinking about the people I would be learning about. The people whose very existence are the reason for my own. These incredible pioneers. These saints on earth.

As I was reading my assigned chapter for next class I was hit hard with the spirit. It threw me off at first. I'm ashamed to say that I am out of practice and was not expecting to feel much of anything. But after reading of a 10 year-old girl's feet being amputated because they were frozen, and the heartbreak of a father who had to leave behind an infant in a grave on the plains, only to return for the body to find that the wolves had gotten there first, I was humbled.

All day today I have been complaining about how much I hate the snow and slush that seeps into my shoes while I sat in a heated car that takes me wherever I need to go. The early pioneers didn't have cars, and many didn't even have shoes for the slush to seep into. They were entirely at the mercy of the elements and had to rely on themselves to get where they were going.

I'd like to say that from now on I'll never forget what luxury I have, but the likelihood is that I will. Just for tonight though, I want to honor those that have come before us and helped build up this incredible Gospel. In comparison to their sacrifices, nothing I will ever do can possibly compare.You are better than I can hope to be, If I ever have a quarter as much faith as you did to leave your home and travel across the frozen plains to a place sight unseen, I will be blessed beyond measure. I love you and thank you.