Hello Dear Reader,
In the spring of 1970 Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was given a new assignment. He was now to visit all the stakes in Utah County, south Salt Lake County, and Tooele County, every month. He liked this area better as he didn't have so far to trravel, cutting down on the time he was on the road. He was pleased to have more time to spend on the remodel of his and Grandma's house. Grandma was also pleased and said, ". . . each room turned out to be a masterpiece of skill and individuality."
While they spent time on the house itself, Grandpa and Grandma acquired more property behind their home where they planted an orchard of fruit trees and berries. They also planted a wonderful vegetable garden in an ideal spot.
Grandma was especially happy to be close to Grandma (Caroline) Hall again as Grandma Hall was now in her eighties. The two women spent a lot of time together, visiting, quilting, working, and laughing--lots of laughing. Grandma Carter always loved her mother very much and thought she was one of the most wonderful people on earth. Life seemed full of happy changes for the Carters.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
A Chicken in Every Pot
Hello Dear Reader,
Dave and Marilyn moved to Utah in the summer of 1969 for Dave to attend BYU. Marilyn preceded Dave by plane as she was expecting her first child and the doctor was concerned about her traveling any closer to her due date. Grandpa (Wes) Carter worked hard to fix up the old farmhouse in the Riverbottoms so the young couple would have a place to live while Dave finished his degree. Grandpa installed new cupboards and fixed up the bathroom along with other improvements to make the old house more liveable. After Marilyn arrived she worked hard too, painting floors and walls. Grandma (Mary) Carter was working at Signetics.
Dave and his dad, Bob, meanwhile, were driving from Washington DC pulling a U-Haul. On the evening they were to arrive, Grandpa and Marilyn were heading home after an exhausting day. But Grandpa said he needed to go check on his rooster. He had given the bird a solid kick earlier when the ornery chichen had attacked him from behind. The workers were tired, sweaty, and dirty but the rooster was dead. There was nothing to do but to stop and pluck it before they could leave the farm.
Marilyn hadn't seen her husband for nearly a month and, needless to say, he and his dad arrived just as she and Grandpa got home. Marilyn headed for the shower and Grandpa, while visiting with Dave and Bob, put the chicken in a pot to cook. He made a wonderful meal of chicken and dumplings and soon Marilyn's humiliation of being sweaty, dirty, paint spattered, and close to nine months pregnant was nearly forgotten.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Dave and Marilyn moved to Utah in the summer of 1969 for Dave to attend BYU. Marilyn preceded Dave by plane as she was expecting her first child and the doctor was concerned about her traveling any closer to her due date. Grandpa (Wes) Carter worked hard to fix up the old farmhouse in the Riverbottoms so the young couple would have a place to live while Dave finished his degree. Grandpa installed new cupboards and fixed up the bathroom along with other improvements to make the old house more liveable. After Marilyn arrived she worked hard too, painting floors and walls. Grandma (Mary) Carter was working at Signetics.
Dave and his dad, Bob, meanwhile, were driving from Washington DC pulling a U-Haul. On the evening they were to arrive, Grandpa and Marilyn were heading home after an exhausting day. But Grandpa said he needed to go check on his rooster. He had given the bird a solid kick earlier when the ornery chichen had attacked him from behind. The workers were tired, sweaty, and dirty but the rooster was dead. There was nothing to do but to stop and pluck it before they could leave the farm.
Marilyn hadn't seen her husband for nearly a month and, needless to say, he and his dad arrived just as she and Grandpa got home. Marilyn headed for the shower and Grandpa, while visiting with Dave and Bob, put the chicken in a pot to cook. He made a wonderful meal of chicken and dumplings and soon Marilyn's humiliation of being sweaty, dirty, paint spattered, and close to nine months pregnant was nearly forgotten.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A Painful Experience
Hello Dear Reader,
After the excavation on the addition to Grandpa and Grandma Carter's house was complete, Grandpa carted a wheelbarrow full of debris across the trench when the barrow tipped into the trench pullling Grandpa with it. This accident caused a separation of his shoulder and arm (rotary cuff) and he suffered in a lot of pain for two weeks not knowing the extent of his injury.
When he finally went to the doctor he was told he would have to be operated on which he agreed was necessary. Following the operation he was put into a cast that encircled his upper body and arm, and which held his arm outward and upward. He was in the cast for nine very uncomfortable weeks.
The doctortold him that he would never again be able to raise his arm above his head. But Grandpa was determined that he would be able to use his arm and so, with faith, he proceeded to give himself therapy. He credited help from the Lord, self-determination, and a positive attitude with almost total recovery from a very painful experience.
Love,
Aunt Genni
After the excavation on the addition to Grandpa and Grandma Carter's house was complete, Grandpa carted a wheelbarrow full of debris across the trench when the barrow tipped into the trench pullling Grandpa with it. This accident caused a separation of his shoulder and arm (rotary cuff) and he suffered in a lot of pain for two weeks not knowing the extent of his injury.
When he finally went to the doctor he was told he would have to be operated on which he agreed was necessary. Following the operation he was put into a cast that encircled his upper body and arm, and which held his arm outward and upward. He was in the cast for nine very uncomfortable weeks.
The doctortold him that he would never again be able to raise his arm above his head. But Grandpa was determined that he would be able to use his arm and so, with faith, he proceeded to give himself therapy. He credited help from the Lord, self-determination, and a positive attitude with almost total recovery from a very painful experience.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Monday, September 19, 2011
Really Home
Hello Dear Reader,
By the time spring rolled around, Grandpa, Grandma, and Billy moved back into their home. They were finally really home. Grandpa immediately began remodeling and adding on. Their home was in terrible condition after such a long absence. I don't know how many renters it had seen but renters are notorious for not taking care of a place and the family was disappointed to find many of the treasures they had thought were safe behind locked and boarded up places were either gone or ruined.
Grandpa added a new family room, kitchen, and utility room. Above the addition he constructed another bedroom and bath. He tore out the old kitchen and stairs leading to the girls' room and made a big living room and dining room. The family had fun picking out brick, paint, paper, carpet, lighting, and other materials to show off the antiques they had accumulated in their travels. It was a labor of love. They were truly really home.
Love,
Aunt Genni
By the time spring rolled around, Grandpa, Grandma, and Billy moved back into their home. They were finally really home. Grandpa immediately began remodeling and adding on. Their home was in terrible condition after such a long absence. I don't know how many renters it had seen but renters are notorious for not taking care of a place and the family was disappointed to find many of the treasures they had thought were safe behind locked and boarded up places were either gone or ruined.
Grandpa added a new family room, kitchen, and utility room. Above the addition he constructed another bedroom and bath. He tore out the old kitchen and stairs leading to the girls' room and made a big living room and dining room. The family had fun picking out brick, paint, paper, carpet, lighting, and other materials to show off the antiques they had accumulated in their travels. It was a labor of love. They were truly really home.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Seven Years Later
Hello Dear Reader,
In October 1968, Grandpa (Wesley) Carter received a telephone call from Salt Lake City. It was Earl Monson, manager of the Operations and Maintenance Department, asking if Grandpa would be interested in returning to Utah to work for Operations and Maintenance. Grandpa and Grandma "were overjoyed," to use Grandpa's words, so they packed their belongings in a church truck and their car, and headed for home. It was nearly seven years since they had left to go on their mission.
Because they still had renters in their house in Provo, they temporarily moved into their duplex at 607 North 750 West. Grandpa's new assignment included the southern part of Utah and Nevada. This area encompassed 34 stakes that he was required to visit every month. It didn't matter! They were home at last.
Love,
Aunt Genni
In October 1968, Grandpa (Wesley) Carter received a telephone call from Salt Lake City. It was Earl Monson, manager of the Operations and Maintenance Department, asking if Grandpa would be interested in returning to Utah to work for Operations and Maintenance. Grandpa and Grandma "were overjoyed," to use Grandpa's words, so they packed their belongings in a church truck and their car, and headed for home. It was nearly seven years since they had left to go on their mission.
Because they still had renters in their house in Provo, they temporarily moved into their duplex at 607 North 750 West. Grandpa's new assignment included the southern part of Utah and Nevada. This area encompassed 34 stakes that he was required to visit every month. It didn't matter! They were home at last.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Everyday Life--or not
Hello Dear Reader,
Life settled into a routine for Grandpa and Grandma Carter except that they moved from a house in a nice neighborhood into a condo--also in a nice neighborhood, still in McLean. The condo was a townhouse which meant it was pretty much straight up and down. There were a couple of rooms on each floor and stairs, stairs, stairs. I wish I had a picture to show you. It was quite charming, although hard on the knees.
Billy was very active in scouting and made the 50-mile hike he had been training for. The trail was along the Potomac River and Billy was the first from his group to finish. He finished in 20 hours! Quite an accomplishment! We were all very proud of him.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Life settled into a routine for Grandpa and Grandma Carter except that they moved from a house in a nice neighborhood into a condo--also in a nice neighborhood, still in McLean. The condo was a townhouse which meant it was pretty much straight up and down. There were a couple of rooms on each floor and stairs, stairs, stairs. I wish I had a picture to show you. It was quite charming, although hard on the knees.
Billy was very active in scouting and made the 50-mile hike he had been training for. The trail was along the Potomac River and Billy was the first from his group to finish. He finished in 20 hours! Quite an accomplishment! We were all very proud of him.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Friday, September 16, 2011
Carter's Hotel
Hello Dear Reader,
Lots of people visited Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter while they lived in Virginia. And who wouldn't want to, with their living so close to Washington DC? Carol flew out in 1967 with her three children, Scott, Kris, and baby Brett. They were such cute children. We all loved them and enjoyed their visit.
Aunt Angie (Angela Cameron) was another visitor who we enjoyed very much. She was always so kind and grateful for anything anyone did for her. She had a talent for making everyone feel loved and happy--just like her older sister, Deon.
When Kent came for a visit before he went south to work in Macon, Marilyn met him in DC and took him on a tour. It was rainy and cold that day but they got to see lots of sights including a tour of the White House which they both enjoyed very much.
The family had missed their relatives terribly and felt so blessed to have time with them when they stayed with them at Carter's Hotel in McLean, Virginia.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
More Weddings
Hello Dear Reader,
About a year and a half after the family moved to McLean they learned that Kent had married LaGena Bowen. Grandpa (Wes) Carter had just had a hemmorhoid operation and couldn't travel to Macon, Georgia where the newlyweds lived and where a wedding reception had been planned for them. Grandma (Mary), Billy, Marilyn, and the man she was dating, Dave Cassidy, left Virginia for a weekend and drove to Georgia for the celebration.
Six months later Marilyn was to marry Dave in the Salt Lake temple. By this time Grandpa had recovered from his surgery so the family piled in the car once more and made a trip to Utah for their wedding.
Grandpa and Grandma decided to buy some property while they were in Utah and bought an old farm house on three acres of land in the Provo River Bottoms. Soon after that Aunt Deon (Smith) accompanied Grandpa, Grandma, and Billy on their return trip to Virginia. A lot had happened in that six-month period of time.
Love,
Aunt Genni
About a year and a half after the family moved to McLean they learned that Kent had married LaGena Bowen. Grandpa (Wes) Carter had just had a hemmorhoid operation and couldn't travel to Macon, Georgia where the newlyweds lived and where a wedding reception had been planned for them. Grandma (Mary), Billy, Marilyn, and the man she was dating, Dave Cassidy, left Virginia for a weekend and drove to Georgia for the celebration.
Six months later Marilyn was to marry Dave in the Salt Lake temple. By this time Grandpa had recovered from his surgery so the family piled in the car once more and made a trip to Utah for their wedding.
Grandpa and Grandma decided to buy some property while they were in Utah and bought an old farm house on three acres of land in the Provo River Bottoms. Soon after that Aunt Deon (Smith) accompanied Grandpa, Grandma, and Billy on their return trip to Virginia. A lot had happened in that six-month period of time.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Saturday, September 10, 2011
McLean, Virginia
Hello Dear Reader,
The Carters began attending the McLean Ward and, Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter were called as Sunday School teachers--Grandma in Junior Sunday School. Billy was still in grade school but soon became active in scouts and began training for a 50-mile walk. Marilyn went to work at the Stanwick Corporation in Falls Church, Virginia.
Grandpa recalled, "I had to fly a lot as I had such a large area. The thing that stays in my mind most is sitting in airports waiting for fog to lift." There were two main airports that Grandpa flew into and out of. Grandma recalled, 'I worked in the school lunch [program] at the Churchill School and made some very good non-member friends." At first, the family lived in a very nice house that they rented in a beautiful neighborhood.
We were adjusting to McLean very well.
Love,
Aunt Genni
The Carters began attending the McLean Ward and, Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter were called as Sunday School teachers--Grandma in Junior Sunday School. Billy was still in grade school but soon became active in scouts and began training for a 50-mile walk. Marilyn went to work at the Stanwick Corporation in Falls Church, Virginia.
Grandpa recalled, "I had to fly a lot as I had such a large area. The thing that stays in my mind most is sitting in airports waiting for fog to lift." There were two main airports that Grandpa flew into and out of. Grandma recalled, 'I worked in the school lunch [program] at the Churchill School and made some very good non-member friends." At first, the family lived in a very nice house that they rented in a beautiful neighborhood.
We were adjusting to McLean very well.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Friday, September 9, 2011
Tourists Once More
Hello Dear Reader,
Once again the family was able to travel and visit places of interest. We were especially happy to be in the nation's capital where we could learn more about the history of our wonderful country and visit the sites associated with historical events. We also loved visiting the surrounding areas like Mt. Vernon, Appotomax, Fredicksburg, and Montecello. We had all developed an appreciation for antiques which seemed to increase as we travelled and shopped all along the east coast. On one particular trip to New England we stopped at an auction, a memorable event. It was a beautiful autumn day and we gathered under some lovely trees. We soon overcame our natural shyness and joined the fun of bidding for items we fell in love with. We each ended up with some treasures made all the more special because we had been there together as a family.
Living a little farther north afforded us the opportunity to visit many church history sites and feel the spirit as we listened to the events that took place in Vermont, New York, Ohio, and Illinois. The Church was just beginning to acquire and restore places of interest in church history. Grandpa (Wesley) Carter, of course, was supervisor of all restoration of such sites within his area.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Once again the family was able to travel and visit places of interest. We were especially happy to be in the nation's capital where we could learn more about the history of our wonderful country and visit the sites associated with historical events. We also loved visiting the surrounding areas like Mt. Vernon, Appotomax, Fredicksburg, and Montecello. We had all developed an appreciation for antiques which seemed to increase as we travelled and shopped all along the east coast. On one particular trip to New England we stopped at an auction, a memorable event. It was a beautiful autumn day and we gathered under some lovely trees. We soon overcame our natural shyness and joined the fun of bidding for items we fell in love with. We each ended up with some treasures made all the more special because we had been there together as a family.
Living a little farther north afforded us the opportunity to visit many church history sites and feel the spirit as we listened to the events that took place in Vermont, New York, Ohio, and Illinois. The Church was just beginning to acquire and restore places of interest in church history. Grandpa (Wesley) Carter, of course, was supervisor of all restoration of such sites within his area.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Changes
Hello Dear Reader,
Brother Wendall Mendenhall, head of the Building Missionary Program, was released in 1965 so the program in the United States was discontinued. All building missionaries were released and the building supervisors went home. The Church began a new system of using building contractors rather than missionary laborers. This led to the close of the Atlanta office and Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was assigned to be the new area supervisor for the eastern United States.
The family was transferred to Virginia and chose to live in McLean, a beautiful wooded area. This was a more central location for Grandpa because he was now over all church construction east of the Mississippi River from Puerto Rico to Nova Scotia. McClean was across the Potomac River, fifteen minutes from Washington DC.
The changes were hard because Grandma had just had major surgery and Marilyn needed to stay in Atlanta for an additional six weeks to complete her schooling. But by the end of the summer Marilyn had graduated, the family was reunited, Grandma had recuperated, Billly was in school, and Grandpa was becoming familiar with his new position and his new area.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Brother Wendall Mendenhall, head of the Building Missionary Program, was released in 1965 so the program in the United States was discontinued. All building missionaries were released and the building supervisors went home. The Church began a new system of using building contractors rather than missionary laborers. This led to the close of the Atlanta office and Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was assigned to be the new area supervisor for the eastern United States.
The family was transferred to Virginia and chose to live in McLean, a beautiful wooded area. This was a more central location for Grandpa because he was now over all church construction east of the Mississippi River from Puerto Rico to Nova Scotia. McClean was across the Potomac River, fifteen minutes from Washington DC.
The changes were hard because Grandma had just had major surgery and Marilyn needed to stay in Atlanta for an additional six weeks to complete her schooling. But by the end of the summer Marilyn had graduated, the family was reunited, Grandma had recuperated, Billly was in school, and Grandpa was becoming familiar with his new position and his new area.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Thursday, September 8, 2011
I'm Back
Hello Dear Reader,
Have you been wondering what happened to me? This has been quite the summer but between family things I have been working on the Dempsey Hood/Charity Hill line. Last fall when I took Southern Research I had a disappointing semester--not grade-wise--I did ok there. But I was disappointed in my final paper. I kept having computer (and other) problems and I felt that my results were definitely lacking. So I have been working to make up the lack. Now another semester has begun and I must put my efforts to rest for a while.
I am feeling good about what I've accomplished on this line so far but I'm not sure I'm ready to put it out there for everyone to view just yet. If any of you would like to see my paper you can let me know and I'll email you a copy. The paper may give you leads for further research. I'm finally feeling that I have a good grasp of who the Hills were although no direct evidence has been found to tie Charity and her sister, Prudence, to their parents. There is circumstantial evidence though, and sometimes genealogy is proved by using such evidence.
Tomorrow I'll continue Wes and Mary (Hall) Carter's story.
It's good to be back.
Aunt Genni
Have you been wondering what happened to me? This has been quite the summer but between family things I have been working on the Dempsey Hood/Charity Hill line. Last fall when I took Southern Research I had a disappointing semester--not grade-wise--I did ok there. But I was disappointed in my final paper. I kept having computer (and other) problems and I felt that my results were definitely lacking. So I have been working to make up the lack. Now another semester has begun and I must put my efforts to rest for a while.
I am feeling good about what I've accomplished on this line so far but I'm not sure I'm ready to put it out there for everyone to view just yet. If any of you would like to see my paper you can let me know and I'll email you a copy. The paper may give you leads for further research. I'm finally feeling that I have a good grasp of who the Hills were although no direct evidence has been found to tie Charity and her sister, Prudence, to their parents. There is circumstantial evidence though, and sometimes genealogy is proved by using such evidence.
Tomorrow I'll continue Wes and Mary (Hall) Carter's story.
It's good to be back.
Aunt Genni
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