Memories from Mum

Here is another gem. These are my mother's (Dinah's) memories of Ireland, traveling to Australia, and of her childhood there.

They are just fragments, but I present them here in the hope that they will grow.
------------------------
(Dated: 7 Jan. 2004)

"As for Ireland, I am more Irish than the Irish, as they say, for I have retained all the brogue and the memories are only good. Yes, I remember Ireland.

It was very green, misty, always gently raining, damp and sparkling sunny after the rain, all in the same day. The sea was fierce and battering at the coastline. The emerald color was very real, not unlike Ohio . . . for it seems that there is moisture here all the time and everything is green. But we did not have the extreme Summer that they have here [in Ohio]. They have northern lights, and very long Summer nights---like the Sun will go down about 11:00 at night or 10:00 anyway---for they are much further north, I think.

There were mountains and forest---real ones that you could get lost in and every sound was shut out by the canopy overhead. Nothing was flat and I mean nothing! But where I lived has all been bombed out now. However, I still remember our 'tract home' (Housing Trust, government built, like most homes in Britain) two story house and sleeping upstairs and 'Father Christmas' ringing the bell downstairs and us having to 'Go to sleep!' (My mum and dad calling upstairs.) . . .

I remember the huge shipyard in Belfast and I remember getting on the ship to leave Ireland and my grandmother . . . Lizzie screaming for us not to go and leave her as we left the shore. For us children it was an adventure; I don't think we realized we would never see them again.

I remember her [Lizzie's] narrow house and as you entered the front door there was a room to the left and the stairs to the right hand, and as you passed the stairs, you went down a narrow hall to the scullery (kitchen) at the back of the house and on out to the little walled-in back yard and out the back yard into a lane. We played in the street a lot in those days, so I remember sitting on the sidewalk with all my friends and taking turns on a scooter or a bike (I am not sure which it was).

Yes, I remember smells and the feel of fabric; the smell of my grandmother and the feel of her cardigan on my cheek. Isn't that a funny thing to remember. Or the feel of the big bows my mother put in my hair because I had curly, unruly hair that she always tied in a bow. I remember The Mount, a big house they had turned into apartments for the missionaries at the top and the chapel and classrooms below with the baptism font built there too, and that is where your grandmother was baptized and where I first attended Primary. I remember rolling eggs down a very green, high hill on a branch picnic with all the Belfast people around; we were near a castle or some kind of large, stone building. I am sure your grandmother [Granny Smylie] would know better than me where we were. I remember taking the train to the coast to visit another family in the church for the day.

Fish and fish markets were an intricate part of our life, for fish was very plentiful in the North Sea then, so the sea is missed very much in my life---all my life listening to it on dark days or peaceful days. But that part you will not understand until you have spent some days near the sea. Ireland is surrounded by sea. Even in Australia my dad went fishing and my mum made 'Tommy Rough' (whatever king of fish that is) into 'North Sea Herrings'---those stinky things that you have seen me eat, but not quite the same. A good imitation.

Then there was being at sea for six weeks crossing to Australia. . . . But food is what I can remember well: boiled everything, sausage, ground beef, stew meat, vegetables, all of it. We eat so different in our home in the US and also different in my own home in Australia growing up, for I had lots of neighbors from across the world and they all taught my mother different ethnic foods. But Granny [Lizzie] cooked differently and so did your grandmother [Granny Smylie] when we lived in Ireland. I was 7 when we left and I was baptized in Australia, and that is another book."

Stories from Granny 4

(Dated: 26 Sept. 03)

"Today I think I will take you to meet your Great-Great-Great Grandfather as I knew him, heard of him, and some of the personal interaction I had with him. He is called Edward McKinny and came from a wee four cottage village in the coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The village was called Bony-Before and is a little way outside Cerrickfergus and Cerrickfergus is where my mother and father's (family) families originally came from.

My mother's name is Elizabeth Latimor Johnson and she was born in Cerrickfergus in a large terrace house opposite the Castle. Cerrickfergus is where King William, Prince of Orange landed and went on to fight and win the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 which enabled Protestants to live in Ireland in defiance of the Church of Rome. . . .

Granda McKinny married Jane Parker and at some time later left Cerrick and came to live in Mervue Street. His whole family must have come with him and his wife because they were all part of my life by the time my memory registers family and time.

I didn't meet my great grand mother nor have I seen any photos of either of them, but stories were told when we got together which was often. The one story of Granny McKinny isn't very kind to her memory was always told.

She was a born-again Christian and didn't allow dancing or singing as they were a sin. Drinking of strong drink was out and when movie pictures come along it was out too. Except Granda loved the movies and when talkies came along, he decided to hear Al Jolson sing 'Mammy' and he slipped away to see the show.

Somehow Granny found out and when Granda came out, she ran at him and started hitting him with her handbag, and when the strap broke, she started in with her umbrella. He waited a minute and then picked her up and carried her home. I passed the Cinema often and thought of the pair of them all those years ago.

They had a family of three girls and two boys."

Stories from Granny 3

(Dated: 5 Feb 04)

"I was born into the depression years which started in 1929 and ended with the declaration of War in 1939. These ten years were hard on adults although I can only say this in hindsight as I had a most delightful childhood. . . .

Granda McKinny went to sea at some time in his early life and his wife went with him. She expected to deliver a baby in San Francisco, but as the birth didn't come off he had a mesh wire cot made and a box for baby clothes. The cot hung on two upright ends---with a brass ring on the cot that hung on two knobs on the uprights. This cot swung with the waves and movement of the sea.

Many years later I would use this cot for the first five of my children. Your mother [Dinah] was first put to sleep by the swinging of this cot. I brought the box to Australia. . . . I asked about the cot when I paid a visit to Belfast in 1976, but it couldn't be traced. . . .

I will try to tell you some of Granda's stories as he grew older. When Chris was born, he asked to see her as she was his first G-G-Grandchild and we spent the day together---he walked me half way home pushing her pram. My regret is I didn't take a snapshot of that golden day for it was the last time I saw him."

Stories from Granny 2

(Dated: 16 Jan. 04)

"This is a little of the story of how the missionaries found us.

David (Granda) was a bus driver and worked spreads---this meant he worked early morning to 10:00 AM and evening from 2-10 PM. We had just moved into our first home and made friends with a family across the street called Alfred and Ray Nickels. Each morning Ray and I had a cigarette and coffee brake and it was a morning in March when I watched two young men talking to Ray. When they left and we were having our brake I asked who they were and she told me they were 'those Mormon fellows.' We laughed when I quipped that they had two wives and Ray thought we were clever when she told them to come back in the evening and talk to her husband.

The next day she told me they had called and it was interesting what they had to say. David had just come in from early morning spread when they knocked our door. It was late March 1951 and I had a new baby about a month before. Thinking to turn them away gently, after they had talked to David for about ten minutes, I said I must bath the baby to which one of them said he hadn't seen a baby bathed for ages and we invited them in. And just like that our lives changed for ever."

Stories from Granny 1

A few years ago, I asked Granny Smylie to send me stories from her life. She wrote me a couple of letters that I treasure. Since I don't believe the stories she sent me are known generally, I thought I would share them here with the whole family.

I've tried to make a faithful transcription, while only making minor corrections to punctuation and grammar.

-----------------------------------

(Dated: 21 Oct. 03)

"I was born in my Grandmother and father Johnson's home in ____ (UK). We never used the UK until we came to Australia. We eventually moved a little way up the street to ____ and there my two younger sisters were born, Mary (Molly) and Margaret. I already had a brother James. My father worked as a baker on the other side of the City and as there had been riots and a curfew, he had to carry a pass for the night work. One night someone hit him over the head and relieved him of his pass so we moved across town much nearer to his work. . . .

We were there for a few years when a builder started to build a row of new houses. My mother met the builder in the local shop and asked if she could have one of these houses and he promptly said yes---this must have been about 1935---so we moved into ____ . We rented this house until mid 1965, a few months after my mother's death in Dec. 1964.

I had such a happy childhood that even the war couldn't spoil it. And school for me was a dream of good friends and good teachers. I often wonder what happened to all the other girls and boys especially from the school.

My special memories are hard to pick. I could walk past the bakery where my Dad worked and shout 'Andy' and he would come to the loft and give me a wave. One day I was asked to take a pair of Wellington boots (rain boots) home to someone who had left them behind but I joined in a skip rope and left them on a window sill. Well of course someone pinched then and my Dad had to pay for them which put me in the dog house with no pocket money for a very long time.

When I was 12 years old, war was declared which caused an upheaval in our home. My Dad joined the Queen's Irish Rifles and my mother went to work in munitions and we hired a housekeeper---a 19 year old girl from Dublin, Bridget Murphy. When I first heard her speak, I thought she was singing in the Irish. But she soon had us all speaking with 'the tongue.' She stayed with us for two or three years and then married a Belfast lad. She had an Irish country wedding and I was her flower girl. The wedding went on for four days and only finished when the drink ran out. In Ireland, burying the dead was the same. One time my Dad went to a 'wake' to pay his 'respects' and didn't come home for nearly a week.

The day of my 14th b/day my mother took me into the City and took me into a Gents Tailoring Shop where I found out I would be apprenticed to making suits and 'finishing' waist coats. I had started another phase of my life and I loved my mother for knowing me so well. For I loved sewing---especially hand sewing---and was able to get work any where in the world."

#10

Noah Arthur Graf

October 14, 2010

9lbs, 8oz

Ingrid Elaine

On August 18th, another little girl joined Janae, Cora, Lilon and I (Daniel). She was really already a part of our family, but at 9:51 AM we finally got to meet this little spirit in the flesh. Labor went well and Lilon is recovering.

Ingrid Elaine
Height: 23 in.
Weight: 11 lbs. 3 oz.

In spite of the large dimensions, this baby was not born Ceasarian. Lilon birthed this baby without surgery. The weight surprised everyone. The nurses didn't believe the scales until Ingrid had been weighed a few times.

Janae and Cora are excited to have a new sister to play with, though they are impatient for Ingrid to get big enough.

Another engagement

I have known Freja Cross for over two and a half years and dated for quite a chunk of that as well.  On Saturday night, we went out for dinner, went to an amusement park, took to the sky and the rest is history.  She said yes!!!  We are both excited for eternity and love each other heaps.  She is beautiful in so many different ways.  Very driven, musically talented, bright and laughs at me, just name a few things.

It's still early days, as we haven't picked a date or a place, but we'll get round to more planning when Freja gets home from London and Rome in three weeks.  I'm sure the rest of the year will be a fun and busy time as we prepare for the big day.  Freja will be moving to Adelaide at the end of July and let the good times roll.

GREAT GRAND DAUGHTER BAPTIZED

Lizzy the oldest daughter of Rachel and Jeff was baptized on Saturday May 15, 2010. When her Granny Dinah arrived on Friday, Rachel had cut out the dress and wanted to keep it a surprise for Lizzy. So, she sewed and her granny sewed and between us we kept the thing pretty much a secret until Lizzy had to try the dress on. She looked like an angel and had it to wear on Sunday as she stood beside the Bishop in front of the congregation and was welcomed into her Huber Heights ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The Merrill Branch

In 1975, Dinah Smylie married Kenneth Talmage Merrill and begat five children in the ensuing years: 3 daughters and 2 sons. In the fullness of time, those children married and begat many sons and daughters. Here is a recent picture of the Merrill branch of the Smylie clan.
From left to right everyone is,
Back row: Derick, Jeff holding Oliver, Sariah, Benjamin, Daniel
Center row: Ariana holding Ian, Rachel, Isabella, Kenneth, Dinah, Julie, Lilon
Front row: Elizabeth, Cora, Annalise, Elijah, Janae

This picture was taken just after Lizzy's baptism yesterday (Saturday). At the time of taking this photo, both Ariana and Lilon are pregnant, so there are more children yet to be gat.

Happy Mother's Day

She was 15 when she met this handsome friend of her brother's named Dave Smylie when he stopped by to show Uncle Jim his new bike. They played cards and got to know each other and Dave fancied her. Dave was 21, it was his birthday! They began dating and then Dave realized she was only 15 and nearly died, but he went on seeing her and eventually they married when she was just short of her 18th birthday and the rest is history as they say!!!!!

Here are some of my fond thoughts on this Mother's Day...

• 24 years old she meets the missionaries, cannot stop smoking and has a special blessing just prior to going into the waters of baptism and never felt the urge to smoke again, some faith that!
• 29 year old, she is the mother of 5 children and with her Dave takes off on an adventure to Australia that turned into a life time of generous living. Nothing doubting huh?
• 30 years of age, is a good story... She is living with Dave in one room of another family home, (The dear Patrick family from Whyalla) but wanted a home for her kids and Dave so she sees an old home on Darling Terrace. Says she to the Housing Trust man, "Sir, can I rent that house on Darling Terrace?" Says he, "No it is condemed!" Says She "If we clean it up and keep the yard up can we live there just until you get the houses on Norrie Avenue finished"... Now you notice she did not put a date on that, just when he had the houses "finished". Smart woman...It was another 2 years before he had the houses on Norrie Avenue ready for migrant families and so we lived at 5 Darling Terrace for 2 years. The Whyalla Hotel was across the road and because there was no hot water in the house. An outside toilet we had, but no shower or bath inside the house. The hotel owner allowed us to go across the street to the hotel for a bath every Saturday night so that on Sunday we could all look good for Church, Dad was Branch President. We washed on other days in a large galvanized tub in the kitchen. But we were a family, together, living and learning the principles of the gospel.
• And the stories continued... until in 1964 she gave birth to the last of her biological children, (Mrs Sharon (Smylie) Scarlet to be) and helped Dave take her and the family and all the other Whyalla branch members who would travel with them to the Temple in New Zealand where she was sealed to her David and 7 children for time and all eternity.

Well says you..."Is that the end of the story?".... "No", says I, but we do not have time to go into all the things that make up her life. But suffice to say that if there was one word that describes your Granny, it is the word

GENEROUS...

She had no sooner come home from the Temple with "all those children" when she opened her home to a wee five year old David Zajkovic Smylie and I might add, continued to open her home to those in need until she was in her 68th year when she was still fostering children who had no homes to go to.

She is your original pioneer, a lover of books and good learning, clean living and generous giving. She will fight you when she thinks she is right but will be the first one there if you should need her help, and she still dances each morning and talks to her David in the quiet of the morning.

Happy Mother's Day Mum and thank you for all the love, I only hope I am half as well thought of in my lifetime. God bless you so many miles away! Love and kisses xoxoxx Dinah

send me your addresses :)

So I'm having so much fun planning and dreaming about my wedding and part of that dream is to have you all there. Even though I know a lot of you wont be able to be there on the special day I still wanna invite you in case you just happen to stumble upon a blank cheque someday soon :)

So it would be such a great help to me if you could all comment on this and send me your addresses. or else you can email me at ellen.soininen@hotmail.com. I know I'm probably getting ahead of myself but I'm trying to get myself organised as soon as I can, the wedding is still in March 6.

Also if any of you happen to find yourself in Sydney on November 28th then please let me know because we will be having an engagment barbeque out in Cawdor (where I live now at Becca's).

Love you all and can't wait to hear back from you xoxo

Another Addition to the family

So guys as You may have found out through facebook or the grapevine … I’M ENGAGED. So his name is Regan Arthur and we went down to Adelaide the other weekend for him to meet my Dad and ask for my hand in marriage. So because I know you ALL want to know how he proposed … well we went down to one of the beaches that he used to surf at a lot when he was growing up. It was really dark and so he led me down the steps down to the beach where the tide had come right in to the rocks where we were standing. Across the harbour there were beautiful lights and we stood there being all cheesy and talking about lovely things about each other. Then out of nowhere he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him … and I said YES straight away So I’m super happy now and we plan to be married on March 6th next year which felt like so far away but I know that time is gonna fly away from me.
So I couldn’t be happier, it seems that moving to Sydney about 3 and a half months ago was the best decision I could have made. I met Regan 2 weeks after being here when I went to institute and we have been inseparable since, spending a lot more time with each other than is probably normal haha. Its because I dont have a job and he finishes work at 1 pm usually. But yes I am head over heals with this guy and he is just as crazy about me (sorry bout the mushiness). He is kind, loyal, hilarious, fun and spiritual.
So for some of you that don’t know, Regan has a beautiful 5 year old daughter, Ella, which means that I will be a Step Mum. This is something that she reminds me repeatedly and I keep joking around that I will be an ugly evil step mother and send her away to boarding school and make her scrub the floors with a toothbrush, to which she replied “NO, you will be a beautiful step mum.”
So now I am in planning mode and its exciting (for now until the stress kicks in) but yeah I’ll try and keep you updated.
Love you all

Ellen xoxo

Another boy joins the ranks

Ingrid, Neil & Olivia welcomed a beautiful bundle of joy into their family today, 6th August 2009.

Alexander Ronald Oakes

8lbs, 8ozs

Both Ingrid and Alex are well.

Dinah has another grandson!

Rachel and Jeff had their fifth...

Oliver Andrew

he is well loved by all his siblings! :)

Smylie Beach Vacation 2009

Steve, Donna and offspring spent a week on Madeira Beach, FL. Dinah, Sariah and Caitlyn joined us.

And it was lovely!!

xo

A Firstborn Son

Ian James Graf

born 25 May 2009

at 7:22 am

8 lbs. 11 oz.

Proud parents, Ariana and Derick, are recuperating at home and learning the ropes of first-time parenting! Congratulations!

Good News

WEDDING BELLS ARE GOING TO CHIME

Welcome to the family Callie.

Kent and Callie have decided to get married everybody.

Hooray!!

They called the family during the week to let us all know the news. They don't know for sure when or where but possibly in July 2010 and could be in Darwin where her family are or in Queensland where they live themselves.

We reckon either place is a great holiday destination so roll on wedding. But do we drive or fly thats the question of the moment for us.

A baby for Ingrid and Neil in August and a wedding in possibly July, what and exciting year this is going to be for the Grobins family.

Keep posted for future news love Shelley.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
It's 6:30 Christmas morning here in Adelaide and these are the trifles we will be eating in 7 hours.

Merry Christmas

From our family to all of yours we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Much love from the Black Family

Dear Cousins,
i am doing a report on Australia for school. i found a lot of answers on the .com but i couldn't find these...

Children go to school for _____ years in Australia.

Some common foods from this country would be:
1.______________ 2._______________

Could you please tell me?

Love,
Eli

Anyone Know?

A friend of mine sent me an email as follows. Let me know if you can help!!

Thanks and lots of love,
Sarah

"Looking for a certain brand name of licorice. So here's what I know about this delicious-can't-find-anywhere licorice from Australia. An old friend, Shirley Kilpatrick used to bring back a big suitcase full of it any time she went over there. I am determined to find it again but my Mom lost contact with all of her kids since they moved out of the area and I can't find it on the internet. It comes in a brown paper bag about 8 inches by 8 inches and it comes in large 1 1/2 inch (or so) ropes that are broken up into about 6 inch pieces to fit in the bag. It's so soft and so yummy unlike any of the other "Australian" licorice I've tried here in the states.
Maybe you could put the word out and see if anyone has heard of it. From my understanding it's pretty well known over there. I'm hoping I can find it on the internet somewhere if I can figure out the name. If this doesn't work I might have to plan a trip to Australian in the near future (In my dreams, maybe some day)."

URGENT! not life threatening...but urgent none the less.

we're a little stressed.

it always seems like it needs to boil down to the eleventh hour before i will finally face the inevitable and do what needs to be done. and sadly connor is becoming his mother's son in that regard. i was hoping the gene that causes procrastination skipped generations, like red hair or twins, but noooo.

connor has a BIG english project due in a couple of weeks. and i/we need your help!

he is looking for any stories and photographs from our family history. i know little bits and pieces. and i found some of the old newsletters from the mid-80's when we attempted that family group thing. (the correct term for it eludes me right now and i don't have time to think what it is. sorry) i have the dates of immigration for the family but need some more of the details like ship name, accomodations, amount of luggage, ages, things you brought, how much was the fare, etc. i also thought it would be cool to have each of you share a memory, a thought, or an experience from the trip. anything you might think to be of interest would be wonderful.

i would also like to include the story of the christmas/new years dad spent in japan at that orphanage. what was the name of his sub, naval id #, years of serivce. the button box?! stuff like that.

the full story of how mum and dad met, how long they dated, and the story of the white ribbon she was able to procure for their wedding day would be absolutely wonderful. will somebody relay this to mum. pleeease. i will give her a call. but maybe she could dictate a post if one of you were so inclined to assit her.

i know this is very last minute. but if you could all just drop what you're doing, put your own lives on hold for a bit, and attend to my needs, that would be great! i would love you all like no other if you could see your way fit to writing some of these experiences down. you could post them here for all to enjoy. or just email me. if you do the email thing then i'll be sure and add the stories to this page when we're done with the project.

also...yes, there's an also...PHOTOS. we need photos! photos and and certificates...any and all that might correlate with any and all stories. if you can scan them, and again, post them or email them, i can download and print them. it's fine if they are not the best quality or size. we just need the vizuals. connor has to have this project wrapped up and on his teachers desk by november 26th. just shy of 3 weeks away. i would love to have your contibutions by the 22nd, that will give us time to type them up and get any photos printed. have i mentioned how much i love you all?!

if those of you who read these posts regularly could perhaps send out my cry of help to those who don't i would be eternally grateful. and remember...

I LOVE YOU...VERY, VERY MUCH!

Another Soul Joins the Clan

The Happy Family

At 6:06 pm on Sunday evening the bulge previously known as Little Bean resolved into a beautiful, baby girl named Cora Nadine. Weighing 7 lb. 10 oz. and of 19.5 in. in height, she has bright, little eyes and flaming, red hair. Mother and baby are doing fine. Her big sister spent the weekend with an aunt and is missing her family greatly. We'll all be together again soon.

Cora Nadine

I Love Family

I am here in Florida and settling in. A big THANK YOU to Jacob, Austin and Ladoux, Sarah, Ashley, Jessie and S Ladoux, and the girls and boys they have been blessed with and especially to Stephen and Donna.....my heart is full. What can I say. I could not have moved in without the wonderful help you gave me on such a hot blistering day. I promise you pictures when I get pennies to buy a new camera...until then my blurbs may be sparce...(not hooked up to internet yet)..using local library....I am safe, I am well, I have met my ward and begun to make new friends and I have begun work. The Lord is good to me and I thank him for my many blessings, especially family....love you all...di

my cup runneth over...

i was going to wait a little before i wrote this. i thought, "wait until you can write this without the fog of tears clouding your ability to see or think straight!". but i realized quickly that given who i am the possibility of me writing this without tears was about as likely as me using my gym membership...it's never gonna happen! i cried when i caught the first glimpse of caitlin as she headed toward me from the security gate. i cried a little more when i finally had her in my arms. i've since had a couple of really good cries as i've thought about everything and everybody she's left behind. and truth be told, i've even cried a few tears of jealousy at not having been there with her. and so before i even begin, i sit here with that familiar breath-inhibiting clenching of my throat. and the pooling in my eyes that makes it difficult to see, new glasses not withstanding. and a fierce, determined resolve to share what i feel no matter what. tears be dammed! please. (note the spelling...it's a request, not a declaration)

the words thank you hardly seem adequate. in fact they're so incredibly lacking that they don't even come close to expressing the magnitude of gratitude i feel. (i really wish that didn't rhyme). in the same way that you sometimes need words like ginormous and gargantuan and monolithic proportions in order to describe something that is bigger than big, larger that just large, there has to be a word that is more expressive that just thank you. what word, real or imagined, is the thank you equivilent of monolithic proportions? for the first time in my life i am lost for words. if it wasn't for the fact that i am typing this i would actually be speechless.

thank you, to the power of monolithic proportions, for all the love, time, effort, money, food, acceptance, caring, petrol, vacation days, hugging, resources, warmth, organizing, house cleaning, laughter, selflessness, sharing, and the calling in of favors on caitlin's behalf. thank you for all the reigning in and the letting go. thank you for all the anythings and everythings that took place to ensure caitlin felt welcomed and instantly a part of her vast irish-australian heritage. thank you for proving me right in everything i'd told her to expect. i gave her fair warning that she'd fall in love with you and vice versa. she came home having had the experience of her life. experiences she can hold and cherish for a lifetime.

as different family members have come to visit the various families here in the states i have been constantly amazed how quickly we have all fallen into place with each other. seamlessly. effortlessly. each time i've been surprised by this seemingly strange phenomenon of instant connectedness, as if we were all just picking up where we'd left off the last time: except there has never been a last time for my kids. and yet each and every time, regardless of who, regardless of age, regardless of time, quick visits or extended stays, weather through blood or marriage, the knowledge that we are family seemed to bind us instantaneously. i used to think it was something inexplicable, some force of nature, but as we drove with ellen to levi and rebecca's wedding and were discussing this 8th wonder of the world, i suddenly had the thought that we had indeed all met before; we were family in the pre-existence, we've known each other forever already. i thought that as each of us meet for that very first time, a gracious Father in Heaven parts the veil just ever, ever, so slightly, and just quick enough for our souls meet again and say, "oh, i remember you!". while i understand this theory probably isn't in any theological resource material held at byu or church headquarters, i like to believe it is one of the Lords many tender mercies. don't correct me if i'm wrong...just leave me to my fantasy.

regardless of which continent you're on....i love you all beyond anything you could ever know; more than i could ever adequately express. until we meet again, may the Lord keep and bless you.

thank you.

i love you.

forever,

sharry.

Girls night

Ever wondered what we talk about when we get together. Well here's a list of the things that might be covered in a 5 hour girls night.
1. Birth (Cesaerian vs Natural vs Epidural)
2. Moral decline of society (Parents need to stop buying porn star clothes for their 5 year olds)
3. Rap vs Pop (Lovers of pop music are not creative)
4. Foreign affairs (Just how drunk was Lillie Allen?)
5. Current affairs (Whether or not Georgia should be worried about her swollen feet)
6. Entertainment news (How packed the royal show was)
7. Weather (Caitlin should come back in February)
8. Kids (Yes we will always love them)
9. Work (Some of us just have to)
10. Family relations (Mother-Daughter stuff)

There is one subject we do not talk about. We do not talk about our husbands with one very funny exception, thankyou Kent.

Thanks Girls for another good Girls Night Out.

Some Good Oldies For All To Enjoy

Guess Who?

I found this in my photo box and thought you all would enjoy this priceless bit of childhood.

Morialta Falls with Caitlin in Oz

Some of the Aussie mob at Morialta Falls with Caitlin last Saturday....

From the top: Matt and Ethan
Second row down: Zac, Dee, Sarah, Sophie and Catilin
Third row down: Zac, Kate, Gus, Ben, Poppy
Front row: Elijah and Mattie
(I think I have them right - apologies for any wrong names or spelling)

Matt, Zac, Zac, Catilin, Ben, Ethan, Elijah, Sarah and Kate

Dee, Trish, Chris, Emma, Kelly, Amilia, Caitlin (honorary Aussie) Shelley and Poppy (Dee's little one).

If you are interested you can catch some more of the mob here: http://andydigital.blogspot.com/2008/08/morialta-falls.html

Kinlay Rize Smylie

Well we have a name and some pics to show the world.

Kinlay Rize Smylie

David and Andrina's 3rd son and our 10th grand child. What a blessing.

His full name: Kijnlay Rize Smylie
Date of Birth: 3 July 2008
He weighed just over 8 pounds at birth.

Kinlay and his very proud older brother Jayquin

aussie, aussie, aussie, oy! oy! oy!

she's headed your way!

-:-

the nerves and trepidation she might have felt for the past couple of days didn't hold a candle to the excitement and realization that she was ACTUALLY GOING!!! it has been so long in coming it is almost surreal to think that even as i write this caitlin, my baby, is gingerly, independently, making her way from LAX Domestic Terminal 1 to the qantas check-in at International Terminal 4. she will leave u.s. soil at midnight. it's a good thing the Lord made mothers' hearts are so strong.

-:-

she has the latest twilight book squirrelled away in backpack. her ipod is loaded for bear. her father gave her a blessing. her mother hasn't miss an opportunity to offer any and all pieces of council, information or dire warnings she deemed important. prayers have been offers. blessings imparted. phone numbers listed. and goodbyes said. she's yours for the next month...and ONLY the next month. she will not follow in my footsteps and break her mothers heart. love her please, but send her home...pretty please?

caitlin happy, happy, happy...izzy feeling introspective,and a little blue.

Old Whyalla Church Photos

Our Ward in Whyalla has been doing a lot on family history recently, and one of the former members, Sister Chris Hannan (nee Eacott) dug up these wonderful photos .....

Grandad looking very suave....the other 2 are Sis Nell Eacott and Bro Cliff Pope.
About this picture ....dinah remembers....
Uncle Cliff Pope... When we first moved to Whyalla there were 2 missionaries and 2 sisters, one was Sister Eacott and one was Sister Pope. Sister Una Pope had grown up in Adelaide in the Prospect Ward area and had been great friends with Dudley and Jan Tredrea and ran around with that crowd as a teenager. She married this nonmember Cliff Pope and moved to Whyalla and had 3 boys. One of the missionaries was the Branch President when the Smylies arrived with 5 children, the youngest being Shelley at 5 months old. Well, Dad was called as the Branch President and the Popes made us a dear part of their family, but Uncle Cliff never joined the church. Time passed and a couple of girls joined the Pope family and Gerry was born to us(see picture below). The branch grew and grew and we did lots of things to fund a Chapel and Uncle Cliff laughed and said to your Grandfather "You'll never build a Chapel Dave!" Well time passed (some 22 years of marriage now) and Daryl went on his mission and then Brenton came up for leaving on his mission and the now President Tredrea was sending Una's sons off on missions so there was still a connection with the old Mission Field (Branches) and friends. On the way to taking Brenton to the see Pres. Tredrea Uncle Cliff asked would Brenton baptize him when he got to Adelaide. Of course he would and so that is how Uncle Cliff joined the church....but the best part is that he was then called as the Branch President in Whyalla and the Smylies were called to Adelaide and Uncle Cliff built the church with love and care for his carpentary skills were stunning and the doors of the chapel were his very own handywork, lovingly handcrafted. So Dave did not build the chapel, (Pres) Uncle Cliff Pope did!

Granny, Grandad and Aunty Gerry at some sort of Ward function

Primary at 57 Gowrie Ave Whyalla (the Eacott's home)

At the back left to right: Sylvia Liddle, Nell Eacott, Dinah Smylie, Wendy Eacott, Marion Quick,
Middle Row left to Right: Chris Eacott, Betty Boylan, Andrew Smylie, Bill Liddle, Steven Smylie,
Front Row Left to Right: Margaret Boylan, Steven Filapek, and the other two are Filapek girls (I don't know their names)

I'd love to hear if anyone has any stories to go along with the photos. Love Amelia XOXO

Our 'Umble 'Ome

Some time ago Dee asked us about our homes and I wanted to share what my home is like in Greenville, Ohio, This was taken in the Autumn when Rebecca, Morgan and children came to visit. I was very sick and literally had to be held up by the van when taking that picture, but I had got them all Ohio Buckeye shirts and thought they looked great. Thought you might enjoy a little part of their visit, though I was the worst host, I was thrilled that they came to visit me. The homes in Greenville are of every shape and size and very different architecture. My house is very old and has a lot of upkeep that needs doing. The garden is lovely.

Number 10

Well since Dee broke the news I will come clean and announce that we (Trish and Andy) have a new grandson - Number 10 grand child.

We got a phone call from a very excited David about 9:30 pm last Thursday evening - 3 July 2008. Their baby boy had arrived safe and sound about an hour before.

His weight?? BIG and beautiful !
His Name?? Haven't got that far yet!

Mum (Andrina), Dad (David) and the baby (???) and two big brothers (Joaquin and Zaeland) are doing well.

That's all we know at this stage.......... will post more and pics I hope as soon as we know more.

Congrats too to Jake and Sarie on the birth of little Lillie. Beautiful.

Love to all
Andy & Trish
OXOXOXOX

isn't she lovely, isn't she wonderful...

jake and sarah are proud to present....

::

Lillie Donna Smylie

::

::

Lillie arrived safe and sound, June 28, 2008

weighing 9lb 2oz

::

::

as with all good baby deliveries there's a story behind her arrival.

safe and sound, yes...without incident, no.

for more beautiful pictures and the full play by play head over to sarah and jakes.

smyliesforever.blogspot.com

be warned...it isn't for the faint of heart.

welcome to the family Lillie.

we are in love with you already.

Two Weeks

It's good to work in a school. My holidays started with a cleaning day. In the next two week I would like to take the kids to the theatre, movies, library, a couple trips to the park, railway museum, maritime museum, the lighthouse and port river dolphin cruise. For me I want to catch up with friends, read a new book and finish my cross stitch. And have a family sleep over at Strathalbyn the weekend before I go back to work.

Sounds like I should get a plan.

Rocky Rye Bread

i ran out of whole wheat flour, which i normally bake bread with, and i was hunting around for other recipes which led to my attempt at rye bread. it looks like a brain, it weighs a brick, and even after baking it an hour the middle is still doughy. A total flop! it does smell good which only makes me sad because i like rye bread and usually my bread turns out well. i stick to about three tried and true recipes and mix the dough in my bread machine. So i was wondering if you had a good rye bread recipe, especially one that fits in a bread machine (i don't like touching sticky dough), could you post them for me, please?...And... i bake them in the oven so i need temp and time for that modification too.

Love,

the helpless baker of rocks.

Mum/Granny's memories per phone call....

I know you have seen this photo before, but here is a story about these people...Last Thursday night I called Mum and she shared the following with me....feel free to update the story and get the facts right...

I asked, "Mum, how old were you when the war broke out?" (meaning WWII) and she said, "Twelve", which made me really stop and think as Ireland was bombed a lot during the War, as Belfast was a ship building port. Anyway. I said, "What was Granny Johnson's address"? and Mum said, "121 Mervue (I am not sure of the spelling) Street, Belfast". "Tell me about her during this time" said I, to which Mum said, "One night her house was bombed and damaged when I was about 14." "My Mum, (meaning Granny McCracken) sent me and Jim (meaning Uncle Jim McCracken) over to see if she was okay. On the way we were stopped by a crowd because a huge bomb crater had been made in the middle of one of the streets and Jim and I stopped to see what was there." "Then my Dad (Granda McCracken) came up and said, "What are you doing here?" (He was in uniform as one of the city malitia?? and Mum said he was so handsome and it was the first time she had seen him as something other than her Dad.) Anyway, she went on to tell me they went to find Granny Johnson and she was okay and they moved her into 123 Mervue Street, next door, until she later went to live with Aunt Molly Kane (who had married Uncle Harry Kane) who lived across the street on Mervue Street. Apparently Granny Johnson had/ran a "penny shop" at 121 Mervue. What a "penny shop" means I have no idea but that was Mum's name for it.

I share this only because these stories will be lost if they are not recorded....so enjoy a little of the history of our family...love.............di xo x o

Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Graf

Friday 06/06/08 Ariana and Derick were married in the Columbus Temple and became Mr and Mrs. Graf. The day could not have been more beautiful. We had the sealing at 1:00 in the afternoon, took pictures in the Temple grounds and then all went out to dinner at the Spagetti Warehouse.