Remember Journal Jars?

For years I have carried this jar from house to house as I have moved.  I have placed it on dressers, windowsills and bookcases with the idea that someday I will answer these questions.  I have dusted it faithfully.  I have even answered a question or two!

The illusive someday is here!

When I got a new journal for Mother's Day, I decided it would be my
 'Journal Jar' Journal!

To help me stick to this goal, I decided that I would post a question on facebook each week.  It is a blatant reminder and sometimes the family will add a comment or two, which brings a laugh or starts my thinking process!

There are about a hundred questions with a variety of topics. 

Although I haven't been doing this for very long, I have come to enjoy it.  Every once in awhile, as I close my journal I have thought... Wow, I didn't know that about myself! 

I guess I have not stopped to think about what I like, or what I am good at for a long time...  I am learning more about myself. 

A lot of the questions would have been answered very differently through the timeline of my life and that makes me think more about getting my personal history in order.  Another lofty goal....  Thank you facebook, for your timeline idea... it has been a great help!

Another reason I think I like it, is because I am very different from everyone else. 

I may not be as bright as some people, definitely not as beautiful and my sense of humor is a bit out of date; but it's okay to be me! 

Anything that helps a person identify with themselves, see their strengths and their weaknesses and discover their likes and dislikes is a good thing! 

I should have done this years ago!

“Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”

Do you ever get the feeling that something is about to happen?

I've had that feeling many times!  You continue your daily routine, but feel like something is around the corner and you want to be prepared; but prepared for what?  And then...

It's happened again!  Unexpected unemployment looming over our heads! 

It's not like I ever had control over anything, but now I feel totally out of control!

I feel like the navigator on an airplane that's falling from the sky.  What good am I?  Everything is in the pilot's hands right now, I just need to stay low, keep out of the way and cheer on the pilot to fix everything before we crash!

Yes!  I know it's not that bad...  but I am feeling useless. 

Roger will look at job openings and ask questions like:  Would you rather live in Georgia or New York?  How would you like to live in Wisconsin?  What do you think of the Philipines?

Then I realize how busy he is and see that no applications have been filled out yet, no resumes have been sent...   I have to bite my tongue and try not to worry! 

Of all the problems we could be facing in life, this is not the hardest; but it is the one we have to face right now and I can't wait for it to be over...  Have I been praying for patience?  I don't remember asking for that.  Ahh yes, faith...  Is this how you get faith?


Guess it's time to count my blessings!

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27.28.29.30. 31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.39.40.41.42.43.44.45.46.47.48.49.50.51.52.53.54.55.56...

John Edwin Carr

John Edwin Carr is my great grandfather.  He is the last known link on my Carr family line.  Beyond him, is still a mystery.  There are many guesses where he comes from and what age he was born, but conflicting records leave us with indecision.

At the time of his death in their Monthly Meeting Minutes, The Boise Society of Friends posted this note, "DEATH - John E. Carr died at his home Sunday evening Aug. 16, 1936. He was the oldest member of our monthly meeting at the time of his death, being 91 years of age."  Also found was a Record of Membership in Friends Church which lists his birth at Hull, England and the names his parents:  Christofer and Anna Carr.  This is the only clue we have of his parent’s names.  His obituary says that he was born in Liverpool England and came to the United States when he was 17 years old.

Timeline of his life:

22 Jan 1845 / 22 Jan 1848 – Birth.  Obituary gives the birth place as Liverpool, England.  Church record says Hull, Yorkshire, England.  His marriage application gives his birth as about 1851 and census records also vary.

1860/1883 – Immigration to United States.  Obituary says that he came to the United States when he was 17 years old.  Census records vary between 1860 and 1883.  The census records say that he had started filing for citizenship, but I haven’t found any naturalization papers at this time.

23 Dec 1887 in Ophir, San Miquel, Colorado John Edwin Carr married Josephine Mary Bly Wyatt, a widow.  On his marriage application he states that he was 36 years old, which would make his birth year about 1851. 

In 1900 John is listed on the federal census as J.E. Carr, born Jan 1853, age 47.  He was married for 14 years, (about 1886).  He and his parents were born in England and he states that he immigrated to the United States in 1883.  He was living in Mercur, Tooele, Utah and his occupation was a blacksmith.  He is living with his wife, Josephine; his stepdaughter Myrtle A. and his children, Sydney C. age 11, and Edwin age 8, who were born in Colorado; and his daughter Ethel age 6 and his son Shelby age 6 months; who were born in Utah.

In 1910 John is listed on the federal census in Fall Creek, Elmore, Idaho.  His age is 62, he was married once, for 22 years.  He and his parents were born in England.  He immigrated to the United States in 1861 and was a naturalized citizen.  [I have not found any naturalization papers.]  He was living with his wife, Josephine (it was her 2^nd marriage), and their children, Edwin, Sidney, Ethel Josephine and Shelby.  His occupation was farmer.

In 1920 John is listed on the federal census in Brandon, Sheridan, Madison, Montana.  His age is 75, he was born in England.  His father was born in Ireland and his mother in England.  He immigrated to the United States in 1878 and filed papers for citizenship.  He is living with his wife, Josephine and their sons Edwin and Shelby.  His married daughter Josephine is also living with him, as well as a grandson, Melvin.

18 Dec 1924 a Record of Membership in Friends Church, Boise Idaho was received by request.

In 1930 John E. Carr is living with his son Sydney C. and his family in Boise, Ada, Idaho.  John’s age is 84 years, he married at age 20.  He and his parents are from England and he immigrated in 1860 and is a naturalized citizen.  His occupation is dishwasher in a restaurant.

16 July 1936 - John Edwin Carr died in Boise, Ada, Idaho.  He is buried at Morris Hill Cemetery. 

The sources for my information can be found on my family tree posted with ancestry.com.  There is a link provided to this tree posted on my blog.

I am interested in any additional information about John Edwin Carr.

On the Road!

Roger and I just took a whirlwind road trip to North Carolina!  Stephen will start school at Wake-Forest in June.  It took us about 35 hours for three people and two cars.  I don't know why, but I always imagined the country to be more crowded!  There is a lot more farm land and more small towns than I realized.  I noticed this even more as we flew home.  Most of the land looks like a checkerboard.  I really enjoyed the trees and all the greenery!

Alyssa and the kids flew in after we arrived and everyone is settled in their beautiful new home!  I think they are going to like it there!  Alyssa is really good at sharing lots of pictures of the kids and we have not lived very close by for awhile, but it felt like a long goodbye.  I hope we can go visit them again soon!

We are now in the process of shuffling our storage around and doing some yardwork on the house, so Mike and Celeste can move in.  I have been surprised at how much 'stuff' I don't really miss!  Besides a few pictures on the walls, I have been able to leave it behind without a thought!  I'm hoping to visit a few friends and spend some time with Mike and Celeste before we leave. 

We've done so much driving we are planning on making the trip home in two steps.  I think Roger's biggest plot is to be in Buckeye with extra time to take Alex to the movies!  I must admit, I was hoping to stop by on the way home, since we couldn't on the way to Utah!  We left home at 2am and no one wants company that late!

Karyn and Sean have announced that 'It's a Girl!'  The name they have chosen is Elise Mckenzie.  (I may not be spelling her name right!)  Time to look at patterns and do some shopping!!!

I am going to need to rest after this vacation.  But all in all, it has been a great trip! 
 

I think journals help us see ourselves. It is the pondering part of the day.

Have you ever had one of those journal days where you reflect on the past and wish you had done better as you faced the challenges of your life?  I always seem to end with a list of goals and a statement of beliefs.   

My 15 statements  of belief:

I believe in going to bed before you are too tired to pray. 

I believe in reading your scriptures first thing in the morning is best.

I believe that I am precious to my Heavenly Father.

I believe in letting others know that God loves them as much as he loves me.

I believe in Jesus Christ.  He is my Savior, my Redeemer, my strength and my light.

I believe that I must live the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to be happy and successful

I believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church upon the earth today. 

I believe that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God.

I believe the priesthood has been restored, with all the keys and authority necessary to prepare us to return home to live in heaven with God.

I believe that everyone must learn for themselves what is right and true and we must be patient until they find it!  I hope and pray they will be patient with me too!

I believe that most people are doing the best they can.

I believe the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  It is scripture, saved for these latter days and a second witness of Jesus Christ:  that He lived and died and was resurrected, that He is the Son of God. 

I believe the Bible to be the word of God and it speaks to my heart and I find comfort in its pages.

I believe that the plan of salvation was prepared before the world was created and if obedient to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will  live happily ever after.

I believe that if faithful and obedient, all the sorrows, trials, pains and heartache of this world will be compensated for and some day we will look back at this life and say that it was all worth it; every day and every hour.

Reflection

I can really relate to Nephi's statement that I don't know the meaning of all things, but I do know that God loves His children. 
It is such a blessing to see how much preparation and planning goes into the stories in the scriptures.  We are given a glimpse of the hand of our Father in Heaven in simple and in profound ways.  Nothing ever surprises our Heavenly Father, or takes him off guard.  He has preparations underway before we even know there is a problem. 
I can see His hand in my life.  What is impossible to see in the moment, can sometimes be seen clearly in retrospect.  I can see the reasons for the yes's and no's to my prayers and can say 'Thank you'. 
I only hope that I can continue to remember this as I face the challenges of tomorrow and be a witness to others that Heavenly Father knows each one of us and loves us.  If we will follow His commandments and worship Him, He will keep His promises.
He knows the beginning and the end and we can trust Him.  He only wants what is best for us.  Everything that He asks of us, is for our own benefit.  When we truly believe that, commandments seem more like the gifts they really are!

Life Is Good!

January was a terrifice month for me.  I had some great opportunities come my way and so many prayers were answered.  I feel like my insides are smiling bigger than my outsides and my heart is full of love for everyone!   I know I should feel this way all of the time, but when special moments come they are particularly strong!  I want everyone to be happy too!
This month I have been focusing on our Savior's last message before his death.  Love one another as I have loved you.  This is a step above the Golden Rule of 'do unto others as ye would have others do unto you'.  His love is a perfect love, accepting us with all our faults and sins.  Inviting us to join Him, to be like Him and to share with Him all that He has.  It does not excuse our sins, without repentance.  We must work hard to be like Him, but His love gives us hope and faith and strength to surpass all of our weaknesses.  If we could only see ourselves as He sees us, we could do anything! 
If we could only love others and see them as He sees them, our world would be a perfect place. 
My world is a better place when I try to be more like Him!