I started this post on Mother's Day.  I want to share how much I love and appreciate my Mom.  She is an amazing woman.  There is no more difficult or important job than that of a mother and My Mom is the best.  She raised 8 children and now has 21 grandchildren that she stays very involved with.
My Mom has taught me many important lessons in my life.  She taught me to be respectful through example and insisting that her children treat everyone with respect, even each other.  She taught me to work hard.  I know few people who work as hard and accomplish as much as my Mom.  All of her children are very hard workers.  Mom taught me to have a positive attitude even when faced with challenges and difficult times.  She doesn't let things get her down very often.  She taught me that it doesn't do much good to complain.  When our family was going through a difficult time my Mom said "When you have to, you just do."
I admire my Mother very much.  I am the oldest child in my family.  When I was born I would cry.  I don't mean a little bit for a little while, I would really cry for hours.  I don't know how my Mother dealt with it except her attitude of when you have to you just do.  What really amazed me is that my sister, Heather was born 15 months after I was.

I included this four generation picture because as a family historian I've come to learn that we are influenced by those that came before us even if we never knew them or don't remember them.  I know that my Mother and Grandmother have had a great influence in my life and their mothers and grandmothers had a great influence in their lives.  That is how my Grandma Forsyth pictured here has had an influence in my life even though I don't remember her.

Sing me a Story

One of the reasons I moved from Logan, Utah to Cardston, Alberta almost two years ago is so that I would be close to family and I could be involved with my nieces and nephews.  This last week Todd's oldest daughter, Leah was in production called "Sing Me a Story".  It puts many of our favorite children's stories to music.  The members of the Cardston Carriage House Jr Theater or the children's theater sang and acted out these stories.  Leah has loved being a part of this group and it has been a great experience for her.  She did a great job being the mouse in the story of Thumblina and then being a dancing princess.
I am glad that I did move here and that I am able to support my nieces and nephews in their activities.  I wish I lived close to all of my nieces and nephews but I'm grateful to be as involved as I am with those that live close.

Update on Grandpa Purnell

I feel bad that I haven't posted in a while.  I have been really busy with work and helping my grandparents.  My Grandpa is still in the hospital and I have been spending as much time with him as I can.  He is improving but still has a long way to go.  Sometimes it's really hard to see how hard he is having to struggle.
It is such a blessing that my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Kevin came up for an extended visit just days before Grandpa went into the hospital.  I don't know what we would have done without them here.  The Lord knows what we need and puts things in place to fit those needs.  Uncle Kevin told my Dad last night that the timing of this trip was not their timing.
Two of my Mom's sisters, Margie and Sue came up this weekend to help move Grandpa and Grandma to an assisted living residence so that they can both get the care that they need now.  It has been a neat experience to see my Mom and three of her sisters together.  What a blessing family is at a time like this.
While Grandpa has been in the hospital I have been working on a history of my Grandparents.  It's neat how many stories and memories people are willing to share as they come and visit Grandpa.  It's also neat to see all the family and friends that come by to encourage and support my Grandparents through this challenge.  It is nice to know that none of us have to be alone through this struggle.
If everything goes as planned Grandpa will be able to get out of the hospital on Tuesday.  He is really looking forward to getting out.  He has been in the hospital for about a month and is getting really tired of it.  I don't blame him.  The hospital is not a fun place to be.

Childhood Neighborhood: Triads in Logan, Utah

The first real neighborhood I remember when I was growing up was the married student house we lived in in Logan, Utah while my Dad was going to school at Utah State University.  The Triads, or Agi Villiage as it is also called was an apartment complex close to campus.  They were red, rectangular, two story buildings.  Three of the buildings would form a triangle.  Inside this triangle was a large lawn and a playground.  I remember spending a lot in the playground.
I'm not sure how many of these buildings there were.  In this apartment complex was a laundry mat.  The was also a part of a building that people in complex could use.  I remember going to tumbling and ballet in this building. 
Our church building was not very far away from the apartment complex so when the weather was good we would walk to church.  The apartment was also across the street from the cemetery and deer would move in their during the winter.  Sometimes after church would drive through the cemetery and look at the deer.
The school I went to wasn't very far either and I would walk to school.  I went to my second year of kindergarten and to first grade there.

Stake Conference with Elder Holland

Today was the Cardston, Alberta Stake's Stake Conference and Elder Holland was in attendance.  My Mom and Dad, My brother, Todd and his wife Hanna were all in the special choir that was put together for this conference.  I got to tend Todd's three girls for an hour and a half before the meeting started and for just over two hours during the meeting.  I am very happy to report that all three of them did very well.
I got a surprise as soon as the prelude music started.  The first song began with my brother, Todd singing a solo.  How cool is that?
All of the speakers did a great job.  Of course the highlight was Elder Holland's talk.  What a powerful, motivational talk.  We are so blessed and have no reason not to reach out to others.  The gospel is so important in my life and I need to let others see the evidence of that.  The evidence of the gospel is what will bring others to Christ and his church.

Childhood Heroes

I've been working on writing a personal history for a long time.  I have several books and searched several websites about writing personal histories.  As you can imagine, by now I've got quite a collection a ideas and questions to help write my personal history.  I've decided to use some of them to help me write these blog posts.  The first one is going to be about childhood heroes.
I can't really think of any particular heroes.  I guess the people that meant the most in my life while I was growing up would be my heroes.  My parents are the first people who come to mind.  They have always been there for me.  They have been a huge part of my life and have been great examples to me.  Their, values, ethics, faith and love have been a stabilizing influence in my life.  I would not be the person I am without this influence.
My parents are both very hard working and very talented.  They are both intelligent and well educated.  I am definitely blessed to have such great examples and support in my life. 
As I mentioned before I grew up very close to my Grandpa and Grandma Purnell.  They have also been a big part of my life.  They have had a big influence on me and as you have seen from my other posts they have been great examples to me as well.
There has also been other family members, friends, church members, and teachers, who have been examples and influenced my life.  I will have to think more about this and may write more later.
As long as I can remember I have had heroes from the scriptures.  I remember beginning to read the Book of Mormon when I was about 9 years old.  I remember reading about Nephi and Lehi.  They became my heroes because they were so strong and faithful.  I wanted to be like them and always follow the Lord and keep his commandments.
In Primary I learned from the examples of Moses, David and Daniel, and of course Queen Esther.  I grew up knowing of the great lives this people lived and knowing that I should try to follow their examples.  What greater examples can a girl have.  I still try to live my life based on the values I learned from my childhood scripture heroes.  

Indexing calling

I have been into family history since I was a teenager.  I have served as a family history consultant in many wards for many years.  This year I was called to be the Indexing Coordinator in my ward.  Some people think that if you are good at family history you are good at indexing.  I can tell you that is not the case.  I do a lot of family history but I haven't done much in the way of indexing.
For those of you who don't know what indexing is I will explain.  The LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake has Billions of family history records such as census records, military records, parish records, land and probate records, ect.  A few years ago the church decided to digitize all the records they could and make them available online.  They also wanted to make sure these records were searchable so that's where the indexing came in.  Volunteers all over the word get on line and index the information on all of these records.  This is an on going project and they are always looking for volunteers.  My calling is to help and keep track of the people in my ward that are indexing.  
The people in the ward that have callings that had to do with family history had a meeting with the bishop last night.  They included my indexing calling in that group.  It was a very good meeting.  I'm glad that my bishop is so excited about indexing and family history.  I am now more committed than ever to learn more about indexing and get more involved in that project.

Learning about relationships

My Grandpa, Glen Purnell, has been in the hospital this last week.  It has been hard on him and on the rest of the family.  Watching the interaction between my Grandparents these last few days has taught me a lot about relationships.  Last night it was my turn to take Grandma home at the end of visiting hours.  My Grandpa did not want us to leave.  I think he was about in tears.  He just wanted Grandma to stay with him.
Watching Grandma hold Grandpa's hand, kissing him and encouraging him to do what the doctor says so that he can get better because she wants him with her is such a tender experience.  I am so blessed to have such a great example of what a good marriage looks like.
My Grandparents have lived an amazing life.  They have lived in four different countries.  Grandpa has held many important jobs, and Grandma was always right there with him.  They raised 8 children, have 46 grandchildren and around 50 Great grandchildren.
Grandpa has had several strokes and Grandma has dementia.  For the last few years they would work together and help each other.  Grandma would help Grandpa with the things he had difficulty with and Grandpa would help Grandma remember the things that she would forget.  This worked well for a long time and was really sweet to see.  It's sad to see them struggling so much now.  They both need more help than the other can give.  
What a great example these two wonderful people have been in so many people's lives.  I love them so much and I'm praying that my Grandpa will recover and get better soon.  We all need him.  He is such a strength to our family.

Glen Rex and Mary Donna Fosyth Purnell

My Grandpa, Glen Rex Purnell has always been a big part of my life.  For most of my life we lived very close to my Grandma and Grandpa Purnell.  They lived in Cardston, Alberta most of the time that I was growing up.  We lived on a ranch just on the US side of the boarder.  We went to school and church in Canada.  The Carway boarder closed at 6pm and didn't open until 9am in the winter time.  If we had any activities before or after school we would stay at Grandpa and Grandma's.
Just over a year and a half ago I moved back up to Cardston to be close to family.  It has been wonderful to be able to spend so much  time with my Grandparents.  I have been able to contiue to strengthen the relationship I have with them.  They are such amazing people.
I wanted to do this post about them today because my Grandpa is in the hospital and is not doing very well. My Grandma has dementia and needs more looking after herself.  I'm very glad that I made the decision to move up here and that I get to spend this time with them and be here for them.  It means a lot to me and I think it means a lot to them.
I have been trying to put together a history on Glen and Donna and I even started a blog about them. I've been posting pictures that I got off their computer on facebook so that others could enjoy them and hopeful share comments, stories and memories with me that I can add to their history.

Family

Family is awesome.  I don't know what I would do without my family.  They are always there for me no matter how dumb or stupid I'm being.  I don't think I would be into family history as much as I am if I didn't come from an amazing family myself.  My extended family is great as well.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding was one of my favorite movies because it reminds me of my family.  One of my favorite parts is when the main characters were standing on a bridge talking about their families.  He has a very small family and she says she has "27! 27 first cousins alone"  That would make me laugh because my Dad's parents have 41 grandchildren and my Mom's parents have 46 grandchildren.  I think I beat her with cousins.
I have been blessed to know my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins very well.  I had all four of my grandparents until I was 30.  How cool is that?  I am also blessed to know a lot of my parent's cousins and my second cousins.  I think of this when I hear people say that all of their family history has been done.  I love doing decadency research.  All these people are part of my family.  They have an impact in my life.  I want to be close to all of them forever.

Turner's Syndrome

A few years ago my brother told me about a book he and his wife had read called "The Miracle of Meghan"  It is written by the Mother of a girl who has Turner's Syndrome.  She found out before the baby was born that she would have Turner's Syndrome.  Todd thought I would be interested in this book because I was diagnosed with Turner's Syndrome when I was 11 years old.
I finally got this book out of the library and finished reading it last night.  Reading about about this Mother's experience was very interesting to me.  I saw myself in a lot of things this woman experienced with her daughter.  I learned that a lot of things that I struggle with have to do with this birth defect.  I am happy with who I am and if I do say so myself I have dealt with my challenges and short comings very well.  I will never use my diagnosis as an excuse but learning more about Turner's Syndrome does help me learn how to better adjust and face my challenges.
I am not Turner's Syndrome but Turner's Syndrome is part of who I am and I have to live with it, make the best and try to grow from it just like anyone else does from their challenges.  Having Turner's Syndrome effects me everyday but I don't let if run my life.  I can use my strengths to help me overcome my weaknesses.  Yes, I do have a lot of strengths and I try to use them to improve my life and the lives of those around me.  My Mom thinks that having Turner's Syndrome has helped me to be more patient and understanding with the challenges and short comings of others, especially the elderly and those with disabilities.  I think she may be right. 
One thing I would like to do is get in touch with other girls and families that are dealing with Turner's Syndrome.  I feel like I could help them and they could help me.  Support is always so important.  I know that reading this book helped me feel better about my self and I don't feel so bad about the things I struggle with that are related to having Turner's Syndrome.
I was very blessed to have a Mother that helped me grow up to be a well adjusted and capable adult.  I owe a lot of who I am to her.  We didn't find out I had Turner's Syndrome until I was 11 so she had no idea what she was dealing with for a lot of my growing up years.  Even when I was diagnosed there was not a lot of information available so she still did not know what she was dealing with.  I am so grateful that she is my Mom and that she has had such a wonderful influence in my life.
The rest of my family have been a great support to me as well.  Everyone struggles with different things and as a family we deal with it and support each other the best we can.  My Turner's Syndrome has just been one of those things.  I know it has effected my whole family even when they didn't know that some of the things they have had to put up with from me had to do with my Turner's Syndrome.  It didn't matter.  They all love me, accept me and support me anyway.

Tea Time

Last Month I had my nieces and my cousin's daughter over for a tea party.  We had miniature pizzas, miniature muffins and grape cool-aid. After their snacks they all sat on the couch and snuggled in blankets.  They had a blast and I enjoyed bonding with these cute girls.  What a fun day.

How it all got started

At the Roots Tech Conference this year I took a class about blogging.  One of the things that was stressed is that a blog is good way to keep a journal.  I have been really bad about keeping up on my journal the last few years so I thought I would give blogging a try.  I spend a lot of time on the internet doing family history research so I thought this might be a convenient way to keep a record of my life.

I do believe in keep a journal or a history of my life.  When I was younger I did a really good job at it.  As I got older I got busy and involved in other things and kind of let if slide.  I'm going to try to fix that starting now.  

Some of the things that keep me busy in my life now are my job, my family and family history.  I work at an assisted living residence.  Most days I enjoy my job and it definitely keeps me busy.  My parents, Grandparents, and three brothers with their families live in the area and I am very blessed to be able to spend time with them.  I get the opportunity to babysit my nieces and nephews on a regular basis.  I love being a part of their lives.

One of my biggest passions is family history.  I have been involved in family history for about 20 years now.  I love doing research and finding out more about my family.  I'm trying to help my aunt write a history of my Grandparents and just started a blog to help with that.  The blog is glenandonna.blogspot.ca.