Some of the things we did when I was in grade school in Springville, Utah are uneventful, others were fun. I really liked being in the third grade. Made lots of friends and was a happy child. We played hopscotch, jump the rope, and dodge ball.
I had a very good teacher, Mrs Whitney, I learned to love math in her class along with American History, penmanship, and english.
It was a hard winter that year and my mom made me a good warm coat with a hat, mittens, a muff, and leggings. I looked a bit overdressed when I went to school but I sure was warm.
Primary was on Wednesday afternoon so I stayed and went to Primary before walking the 3 miles home. Mrs Harrison was my teacher there and she really seemed to like me. ( She loved all the kids tho and we knew it.)
I was a happy child at this time of life, i had good friends, I liked school, and church and for the most part I got along well with my brothers. We were very poor but I never felt like we were. The little house we lived in  was a basement home. Because of it being damp during the winter I was sick with a sore throat much of the time. I remember one time I had to leave school because I was so sick. My parents were both at work and I didn't know what to do so I started walking home. I don't know how I made it, I was so fevered I kept stopping and sitting down by the road until I could feel well enough to go a little further. When I got home finally, I layed down and was so sick for a week all I did was sleep.
When I was in grade school, up until the sixth grade I was known as "the little fat girl" and the boys always teased me about being plump. I was short and so I did look fat, during the summer of between sixth grade and seventh I really made some changes in how I looked.

My story may jump around a bit and not be in order according to years. I wanted to go back and  let you know something about when I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was almost nine years old, I remember looking forward to the day with great anticipation. I did worry about how my hair would look after getting all wet, but I soon forgot all about my hair.
I do remember feeling like I had a very close friend there, a brother that I had known before, I knew as soon as I came up out of the water that my friend was Jesus Christ, Himself. I have always, since that day, felt Him close to me. I feel Him in my heart as my Savior and my Redeemer. I know He is with me when I am troubled, tired, stressed or in need of a lift to higher ground. I also know He is with me when I achieve, am happy, doing good, and looking up. He is in my heart to stay. I am thankful that I know Him as my brother for I know that through Him I am greatly blessed each and every day of my life. I want my children and posterity to know that there is no doubt that He lives and loves each of us. His arm is outstreched always to us, He loves us and wants to give us all that our Father has. Let Him into your hearts and recieve His love into your countenance.

After moving to the "straightline" we had a very small home but it was home and we all began to heal. In this location in springbille the were two "hollows" or I guess it would be like small canyons. One was called big hollow and was near the Evergreen Cemetary. The other was called little hollow and it was south of big hollow and just a short way above, or East of our little home. as kids we all had alot of fun exploring little hollow and making forts, tree houses, and played lots of fun games there. In the winter we went sleigh riding down the hills of little hollow. We also went ice skating in the ponds that were natural water holes for cattle. The ponds were north of us and by Diane Childs home.

I had some very good friends out on the straightline. some of them were, Arlene Boren, my best friend, Bonnie Backus, Diane Childs, Utahna Sorenson, Elaine Ence, Jeannine Watts, and Billy Clark. We all hung around together clear from about third grade through high school. Great friends.

I may have found a way to continue my story blog.

My children have ask that I give the details of the tragedy of what happened surrounding my sister Sue's death. It is tramatic and therefore I do not want to offend anyone, only to tell the story.

One day when  everything in our family life was going along quite well and we were all happy, my Dad had gone to work, my Mother had gone to Salt Lake City to see Grandma Johnson, and we kids were left home to care for each other. Sue was 12 and was old enough to look after us. as we were playing one of my brothers was snooping in the closet and looked up on a shelf that they had to climb up to, just to see what was up there. He found my dad's 45 caliber pistol and the bullets to it. we all played with that gun all that day. when my parents arrived home that night I knew I should tell them what we had found. We were so happy to see them and have mama share about grandma that I forgot to tell them.
The next day the gun was again present in our playing around. We all decided to play cops and robbers, my brothers lined up the robbers, Jim, Sue and Me. the cop was holding us by pretending he was pointing the gun at us.
The gun went off as it was being waved around, it struck sue in the chest. she whirled around it seemed like several times, blood was spraying everywhere around the room and she was calling "help me, help me". Jim and I were so scared of what was happening we ran and hid in the next room behind the dresser. We knew we could not stay there so I ran back into the room where Sue was, she was sitting up asking for help, I ran over to her to hold her and got there just as she fell over. Blood was spurting from her mouth, nose, ears. and chest, it was everywhere.

By this time our neighbor had heard the shot and came running over to see what was going on. when he saw us all spattered with blood, he ran into the house and saw the scene with Sue. He immediately took us over to his house to his wife. she cleaned us up as best she could while he talked to us to find out where our parents were. (they had gone to an afternoon movie in Provo). He took Richard and myself and went looking for mama and daddy. when we found them I went in to tell them to come home, at first they didn't want to come but said they would come when the movie was over. It was then I told them Sue had been shot, they came and left so fast that they forgot Richard and myself and we rode home with Mr. Springer. (our Neighbor). when we all got home and went into the house Sue was still there lying in a great pool of blood on the floor. My poor mother was beside herself and was screaming and crying over what was happening.

I guess my dad and Mr. Springer called the Mortuary to come and they came and took Sue away. Then  mom and I were mopping up sue's blood and putting it in a big pan, we would take it outside and go up the hill where we poured it out by a large bush. It took several trips to get it all cleaned up. After it was cleaned up by then Grandma from Springville, and some of the other relatives begin to arrive. This was when aunt Frieda and Uncle Dick arrived and took me back to Salt Lake City with them. I do not know where Richard and Jim were taken nor where mamma and daddy went. I did not see them again until Sue's funeral.

At the viewing that was held at my Springville grandma's house I did not feel comfotable going to the coffin to see Sue. It scared me and I felt really upset over everything. Grandma johnson from SLC, took me by the hand and insisted I tell Sue goodby. I did not want to do it. so she picked me up and took me to the coffin, she pushed my head down and made me kiss Sue goodby, I was so frightened theat I do not remember anything after that. I probably went and hid somewhere. I just do not know. 

Within a week we had moved from "Ironton" out south of Springville to the "Straightline" it was a good place to live and we began to heal from our tragedy.

Carole's Story

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Gender	Female
Astrological Sign	Aquarius
Industry	Real Estate
Occupation	Realtor - Broker
Location	Hurricane,Utah,United States
Interests	Love to hike in Zion National Park
Favorite Books	Il Divo, Tabernacle Choir

End of War, Beginning of grief, heartache and learning to survive.

January 8, 2012

End of War, Beginning of grief, heartache and learning to survive.

Shortly after my dad came home from the war times were tough in SLC and he thought we could find a job and a home if we moved to Springville, and so we did.
We moved into a small home in "Ironton" just north of Springville. He found a job at Provo airport. My mom went to work picking strawberries. she was able to take us kids with her and we were able to eat what strawberries we wanted, as long as we did not get roudy or cause any problems. So we played and ate our fill of those delicious strawberries. Life was good that summer. Until.........

One day early in August 1944 tragedy became a part of our families life and changed each one of us forever...

My older sister Sue was taken from this earthly life, way too soon,
by a tragic accident that happened within our happy family. I will forever be grateful for loving grandparents on both my Mother's and my Father's side of the family. For my aunt Frieda and Uncle Dick who took me to their home and kept me until Sue's funeral. they were loving and kind and did everything they could for me.
I know my children want to know "how did I feel at this time" all I can tell you is I believe I felt anger, shame, fear, guilt, confusion, and hopefully and mostly love, and forgiveness for my siblings and my parents. It was a very difficult time. I may write more about this later, just not now.

(Feel free to comment or ask questions, I will answer them to the best of my memory in a truthful way.)

Good way to start the New Year of 2012

Friday, January 6, 2012

Good way to start the New Year of 2012

Loved this........so I'm sharing it. Stole it from a friend.
This little quote is one reason I want to share my life story with my family. Thanks Kathy for posting this.

Loved this........so I'm sharing it. Stole it from a friend.
Welcome to Flight #2012. We are prepared to take off into the New Year. Please make sure your Attitude and Blessings are secured and locked in, in upright position. All self destructive devices should be turned off at this time. Should we lose Altitude under pressure, during the flight, reach up and pull down a Prayer. Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith. Once your Faith is activated you can assist other passengers. There will be NO BAGGAGE, allowed on this flight. The Captain has cleared us for takeoff... Destination GREATNESS!!!

My Siblings, One and all.

My Siblings, One and all.

No blog would be complete without telling you about my sister and two brothers. Sue, as we called her was the oldest of the clan. She was a good sister, liked to take charge of us all and often did. Sue was a quiet child and never made waves with mamma and daddy. It is hard to remember alot about her as she left this life way too soon. Next in line was Richard, he was always full of life and had new things to try, do or make up. He was good at fixing almost anything or building something from almost nothing. Richard was a big tease and I am sure he kept me crying alot of the time. Then I am next in line and after me came my younger brother Jim. I felt really close to him because we got along well and thought alot alike. I am sure there will be many more times that the reader will be introduced to all of us as we weave our way through this lifetime.

My Mother January 4, 2012

Carole's Story

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

My Mother January 4, 2012

I thought since I had told you a little about my dad that I should also tell you about my Mother.
My Dad went by the name of Bill and my Mother went by the name of Jenny, She was a quiet, soft and kind lady. My mom was an excellent seamstress and when she worked, (except during the war) she was a Tailor for Utah Woolen Mills in Salt Lake City. She made all our families clothes including coats, boys suits, dresses and anything else we needed. All were made to perfection. In fact all she did was always done to perfection. During World War 2 while my Dad was gone, Mama moved all of us in with her cousin and their family. We were crowded and it was ok because we always had someone to be close to. Times were hard back then and we lived mostly on S&H Green stamps. These were stamps the government gave each family so they could buy sugar, flour, gas, tires for cars and other things. All of the products we could buy were rationed by the government and they were in scarce supply. when we did not need our stamps for things like car tires, we could trade them to someone who needed tires for their stamps for sugar, coffee, or other things we needed. We made it through the War years by surviving. My Mother was very frugal and could make do with almost anything. Through it all she remained positive, kind, thoughtful of our needs, and those of her parents. We were blessed beyond belief during those hard years. Later she went to work for some of the finest Men's stores in Salt Lake City and in Provo doing alterations on men's suits. (During the War Years mama went to work in an Arms Plant in SLC, amking ammunition for the war effort.)

I have to tell you about the blackouts during the war. In all Western large cities it was manatory for people to block the windows of their homes so no light would shine out at night. In Salt Lake City everyone would block the windows at night. It was common place for air raid sirens to go off and scream all over the Salt Lake Valley if there was any indication that there might be any incoming airplanes that could be enemy planes. Sometimes we would hear them at night, when we did all lights had to be turned off in the house. The City became totally dark. I remember times when this happened that we would block the windows, turn off the lights, and turn on a small radio searching for news. When we did this we would huddle around the radio and hide the small orange light it gave off for fear that it could be seen outside. When these very loud sirens would go off it was very scarry for we young children, (we were 9, 7, I was 5, and 3) I remember hiding and crying from being so scared of them, I had nightmares for years well into my teen years because I was still afraid the Jap fighter planes would come and bomb us. Thanks to my very kind Mother, who always tried to comfort us, I did get passed being so afraid.

New Years Day, January 1,2012

New Years Day, January 1,2012

I promised some of my children I would write my story for them. so this is the beginning of Carole's Story.
Having been born of Goodly parents on a cold and wintery night in Salt Lake City, Utah on f\February 2, (Ground Hogs Day, no less) 1936 I entered the family of William (Bill) Richard Devenish and Emma Genevieve Johnson. I am the third child having an older sister, Essie Mae or "Sue" as we always called her and an older brother, William Richard Devenish, Jr. 2 years later a younger brother was added to the family, James Merrill Devenish.

I told my children I would write the good, the bad and the funny life I have had, so with some of my earliest memories that I personally can remember here goes.

Some of my earliest memories are of playing with and enjoying my siblings, I remember a time when "Poor old grandpa and Poor old grandma came to stay with us and grandma would take me on her lap and rock in the rocking chair with me, grandpa walked around the house on his cane. These were my Grandma Johnson's parents and they were old.

I remember that we lived upstairs in an old farm home on East 21st south, the home belonged to a german couple by the namd of Bargeer. I really life Mrs Bargeer because she would let us go out with her to feed her animals. She had ducks, geese, rabbits, chickens and goats. The goats were my favorites because they would climb everywhere and would play with us. During this time my parents had an old car and daddy would take us to Liberty Park for picnics that momma had fixed, and that would be our entertainment for the week.