What did your grandfather do for a living?

I can only relate to my mother’s father. My father’s dad died when I was 5 and my dad left home when I was 10. So I do not know too much about him.

My mother’s father’s name was James Loren Christiansen. He was born in 1898. In my eyes he was a great man. He raised 6 children. Two of the three boys went on missions. Two served in the military. One was the dean of students at the University of Arizona (or Arizona State). They all eventually went to the temple.

Grandpa was originally a farmer in Moreland Idaho. He also worked at what was called the AEC [Atomic Energy Commission] site west of Idaho Falls. Then after he retired, he drove school bus for the Moreland Elementary School.

He always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye and loved to tease his wife, Thelma, my grandma. He also was always working. So was my grandma. They taught their kids to be hard workers, too. They, in turn, taught their kids to be so, too. I know when you show by example how to work, the people around you tend to learn it and follow your example. I am a hard worker. My kids all do a great job at their jobs. Example is truly the best teacher.

One of the things I always think of Grandpa is when I was staying at their house, I got up early one morning and found his teeth in a glass of water in the bathroom. How shocked I was. I did not know anything about false teeth up until then. I started screaming and ran out to my grandma and asked what they were and why were they there. Grandpa was out getting wood for a fire. Grandma went to the door and yelled, “Jim, get in here and put your teeth in. You scared Peggy half to death!” I ran to the bedroom and waited until I heard him go into the bathroom. I sure did not want to see him without his teeth in.

Grandpa and Grandma celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They were such a wonderful couple. I loved staying with them when I was little (when I was older, too). I was always scared to go to my own meetings at church. Grandma always taught Gospel Doctrine, so I would go in with her. I was always so amazed that she knew scriptures as well as she did. Grandpa would even help her with some of the concepts. They made a great team there as well as at home.

Grandpa had a stroke and then another one. Grandma kept him at home and helped him take care of his needs, as he continued to have strokes. My brother, Bob, was visiting one day when Grandpa had another severe stroke. He picked him up and drove him and Grandma to the hospital in Blackfoot Idaho. Grandpa died there that day. I was always so thankful that Bob was there to be of assistance to Grandma.

My family was a young family at the time of Grandpa’s death. Due to financial constraints, I decided not to attend Grandpa’s funeral in Idaho. We lived in California. I have regretted it ever since. That is one of true regrets I have in my life. He was a wonderful man, and I did not take advantage of saying goodbye to him one last time.

I loved my grandpa and still miss him. Though I do not want to pass away soon, I do look forward to seeing him again someday.

1st Journal Entry

Question: What do you think about television?
I LOVE it! And I HATE it.
Hate first: it takes too much of my time. I hate commercials, especially anything that makes me blush or cringe depending upon who is sitting next to me. I hate remotes, especially in the hands of a man. Men tend to change stations whenever a commercial comes on and then forgets to put it back to the original show until five minutes later—thus missing part of the show. I also hate that when I love a program I will watch the same episode over and over again until I can start saying what the characters are saying until it starts to drive others crazy. I hate that the news shows have turned from giving us the news whether it is bad or good. Instead they have become more like a gossip/entertainment show or, worse yet, a let’s see what the host(s) are going to do today—like bungee jump, hide in the world, dance at the Olympics, etc. I could go on.

Love next: I love to watch history shows, especially about the Civil War. I love nature shows. I love shows like Burn’s National Parks series or any of his other series—especially his baseball version. I like Law & Order (the original version) and other cops and law shows, except any of the CI shows. Too graphic. I love NPR. I love the TMC old movies—especially because they do not have commercials. Gil and I watched Ben Hur the week before Christmas. It was the one done in the late 1920s and was in black and white and had sub-titles. It was great. I love that I can get the LDS conferences on it now. I love that I can put a movie in the DVR, put a fire in the fireplace and sit down to do hand sewing/quilting/crocheting and have a great afternoon or evening all by myself or with someone special. I love the company it gives me when I am alone, even if I am not watching it. I love putting in a musical when I am cleaning the house. I get done faster and love to sing along with the musical. My neighbors might not like it, but I do.

Like everything else in life, TV comes with good things and with bad. We just have to regulate ourselves so we do not become obsessed with it. I need to work on my obsession.

Getting started on your journal

Easy recipe:
Bring in your life history.
Add a bit of nostalgia.
Put in several facts and feelings.
If you follow the above recipe, you will have a wonderful, interesting personal history.

All you have to do is answer the questions given or create one of your own. Spend a few minutes after reading the question/rememberance. Let the memories flow enjoying them. Then write down what has come to mind. Remember you do not have to write down the sad parts, if you do not want to. Just remember your life journal will not be complete without at least a mention of hard times. Just do not write anything that will hurt anyone that might read your journal.

This journal that you will write will help preserve your life by helping you to write all your homemade memories. The best gift you can give yourself.
Good luck and happy writing.