THE TABERNACLE CHOIR

THE AMERICAN CHOIR -- THE LDS CHURCH TABERNACLE CHOIR
The choir sings during the two conference's each year, April and October.
A two-day conference, with the pleasure of me sitting at home with my TV turned on.
Watching the talks researched and given by persons chosen by the Priesthood Quorum. The speeches may be by the Apostles, the Seventies, the Women's Organizations Relief Society and Primary), or just ordinary persons, who are members.

I could have gone by Trax-train to Salt Lake City and walked about a block to the main Conference Center, by getting off a the "Temple Square" stop. The Center Houses over 25,000 seats in several levels. There are two huge screens to show you the speakers -- just like you are in the front row. These screens televise the words to the songs that the choir and congregation are to sing.

The choir has 350 members. The ladies have costumes with selected jewelry in several colors. Everyone is dressed the same. When the ladies have on a certain color of dress or skirt and top, the men have on their black or grey suits with a matching tie -- the same color as the women's dresses.

The choir practices several times per week, before the conference or other event where they will sing. They also travel world-wide and sing for dignitaries, countries, and educational places. I heard that they pay for their own travel fees.

Each person wanting to be a member of the choir has to send-in a video and if selected also sing in front of judges. They only want professional voices in the choir. Singing in a choir during church does not count. They mentioned last week that student at BYU University in their choir may be professional enough to try-out for the Tabernacle Choir. The American Choir. Their voices meld together so beautifully with power and softness that is lacking in other choirs.

They are fantastic! When the have a soloist, the voice is trained and beautiful!

ACTION vs SPIRITUAL GROWTH

I was watching an old recording on TV of Women's Conference. It was very good. My eyes were opened with a few of their comments. I will share a few with you.

Going to church, saying prayers, reading scriptures daily, wanting to be good and do all the right things, even getting baptized and having a Temple recommend IS NOT what you are here for. OK- so you know you were sent to earth [after the great war in heaven against satan] to receive a body and grow spiritually. Now there is the rub. In getting your body, you did nothing. In growing your Spirit - it is all up to you!

Growing spiritually is so vague. What it really means is to become like Christ. To know Him. To make decisions like He would. To love others because He does. Of course, we remember that ANYONE can change and repent--therefore, all can be cleansed of all their mistakes and return to Heavenly Father (without our judgments or permission).

During sacrament weekly, we bow and pray for the Love of God and redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. Oh--you forgot to remember Christ in your prayer? You were just praying for your self or family? You were praying about a problem? You were praying for something you desire? Worst case - you were fighting with another or talking.

So have you got the message? The Sacramental prayer is meant to remember Christ! To be thankful for Christ and his sacrifice--not only in the Garden of Gethsemane, death on the Cross, in the Tomb for three days, and for the resurrection (which breaks the bands of death - for us earth-living beings to be resurrected) --we are to become LIKE Him, to think like Him, to live like Him, to love like Him! We have been told that we cannot become perfect in this life, because none of us is perfect. What does that mean?

First -- we sin [big or little, it doesn't matter for this writing], therefore, we cannot return to God. That means we failed the first part - not Celestial Kingdom. Even if we try real hard and are very good. OK, we make it to the Terrestial Kingdom. There the really good go. Yet, they wanted to be perfect! Their testimony was lacking, maybe not valiant. What was missing?

The body is made of materials found on the earth. The spirit is inside the body - not part of the body. The spirit gives us warnings when we are exposed to bad things in this world -- like, swearing, rated R or X movies, magazines or Internet that have pornography in them, incorrect or pre-marriage sex experiences, bad manners, bad moods, bad thoughts...all of these things are connected to the BODY. Christ died on the cross - his body was spent for us -- because we ALL fail to be perfect on earth. We all sin. We all broke our promise. We all need Christ!

The Resurrection allows us ALL to have the opportunity to be resurrected and receive the Judgement of Christ. If it were not for Jesus, we could not be resurrected. The body would decay in the grave (as it does now) and the Spirit would be lost-- Always separated from the body and not being able to return to Heavenly Father. This is, in fact, what happened to Satan. He lost his body and opportunity to come to earth and to have Christ forgive sins. He cannot return to God. He is cast out!

The Spirit is waiting for our growth - spiritually. When we pray to God, we do so through the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit resides with us constantly WHEN we are baptized, then receive the Laying on of Hands for receiving the Holy Ghost. Only then, is the Holy Ghost with us always, unless we sin, or go forward with bad things, bad thoughts, bad actions. Then we lose the Spirit [Holy ghost] until we repent.

Second - The Sacrament allows us to receive the Blood and Water which represent Jesus Christ. His body was shed for us, His blood was spilled for us. All of this for US to have the chance to return to Heavenly Father. This is our ONLY CHANCE! Jesus Christ!

If Jesus were on the earth today, He would break the bread at our Sacrament table and say that same prayer. The difference is that we would see Him. A few of the words would be different because He would be speaking for Himself to us. We are to take the Sacrament and give thanks to Jesus for all that He has done for us. Our lives then will be centered around God and Christ, and our thoughts would be toward them.

This makes marriage a triangle shape. Christ at the top with the man and woman across each other at the bottom of the triangle. This means that the couple pray together for everything in their lives. They grow with Christ into a solid and happy marriage couple. Children are the joy of marriage - the scriptures tell us. Happy is the man who has a quiver full of children. I must add - and can afford to house and to support them, the wife and himself. Note: even during consecration and plural marriage -- only those who could afford to work for the large family got the experience.

Our lives must be centered around Christ. He was perfect! He did it ALL for us because He loves US! The ultimate for us to become - here on earth - is to become like Him, to love as He loves, to forgive others and ourselves. To know that no matter what we do, Christ has paid the price for our sins. We can be forgiven and have the sins wiped out and never remembered again - when we repent and ask for forgiveness. Occasionally, we must talk with our Bishop when the sin is big. We must overcome unrighteousness in ourselves. We must work toward being perfect, so that when we see Christ, we will know Him, we will be like Him, and we will want to be with Him forever in the Celestial Kingdom - with a continuation of the family and having a growing family. To continue to give all the glory to God! Christ did!
For without the PLAN we would all be lost forever.

I love you! Choose the right! Continue to grow to become like Christ! I'll see you again!

BE CAREFUL AND BE PRAYERFUL

I was watching TV and the Internet yesterday.
I noticed some announcements about the end of days. I said to myself, Revelations should be re-read. The things that are happening now are foretold in Revelations.

Yes, it is the last days. I don't know how long these 'last' ones will take, but we need to be aware and prepared.

The announcement was about a person who calls himself Christ - claiming he came down from the mountains after much preparation. He has been appearing here and there and performing great miracles. OK - revelations tells us that in the last days, persons will appear that will preach Satan's gospel and will perform great revelations. So It has started!

Next, you will remember in Moses' time period that God gave him the staff that he could throw down and it became a serpent. Remember the Magicians could also throw down their staff's and they became snakes, too. Then remember that Moses serpent swallowed up all of their snakes.
Pharaoh was a descendant of Ham and was denied the right to the priesthood.

SOME of the predicted events to come -- have already been happening.
Knowledge to increase. Great inventions. Wars and rumors of war. Secret group saps Americas strength. Constitution to hand by a thread (upheld by the Elders of the church) - the Patriot Act now rules America. US to spend her strength warring in foreign lands - Afghanistan and Iraq. Wickedness to increase. Truce breakers. Un-thankful people full of pride, no natural affection, abortions, homosexual's, traitors, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Persecution of righteous people. Followers of Christ hated. World divided into two camps- righteous and wicked. Europe to be laid waste. Oil fields to be opened in Utah. Salt lake to become wickedier than New York. People to flee to the mountains with saints isolated in mountains from rest of nation. [JD 5:10] Gospel taught in Russia. Lamanities to rise. False christs and false prophets. Temple to be built in Jerusalem. Return of the 10 tribes. Other religious books to come forth.
A "David" to lead God's people in the Last Days.

Nature Signs:
Earthquakes, whirlwinds, oceans heaving beyond bounds and tidal waves. Ocean going to the North (for return of 10 tribes). Earth joined together by all continents. Mountains to be leveled. Ice caps to melt. Earth to rock to and fro. Dead Sea to be healed and become fresh water. Deserts to blossom as a rose. Rainbows to cease. Stars to fall from heavens. Sun and moon changes. Cities and crops to be destroyed by nature-earthquakes, fire, wormwood. Flies cause flesh to fall from bones with a desolating sickness. Destruction of wicked by fire. City of Enoch to return. Plagues. Grand sign of His coming in the heavens.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: The highest order a man can obtain on this earth involves his receiving the fullness of the Melchizedek priesthood. To that end, he must keep the whole law of the new and everlasting covenant. His role as a righteous proxy may then go beyond securing temporal salvation for others - in the temple, as a proxy or savior on Mt. Zion. Remember that Alma the Elder, through divine protection and intervention for Alma the Younger, brought him to repentance and full fellowship, with the Lord's assistance. Those who make sure their calling and election fulfill a higher proxy function in the Melchizedek Priesthood.

D&C 128:8-14 What Elijah binds on earth is bound in heaven, and what he looses on earth is loosed in heaven. Temporal salvation, spiritual salvation, and celestial exaltation are each associated with a covenant, and are at the heart of the revealed gospel. We honor our Savior by keeping the commandments. The scriptures admonish us, and Jesus invites us to "come unto him and be saved".

It is predicted that many marvelous and deadly events will take place before Christ returns with all his angels to take us [who are living] with Him. When you read Revelations you will read about them in sevens, or 3 1/2 years plus 3 1/2 years.

The 3rd Anti-Christ will lead or reign during the foretold periods. In the beginning the world will think he is great and then the last half, every being will think he is rotten or satanic. We shall see - most likely in our own lives.
Rev 13: The devil works wonders and deceives many. He causes all to receive a mark in the right hand or in their foreheads - to buy or sell. Yes, Rev 15 tells us that there are those who overcome satan and do not get the marks.

Revelations 3:21-22 To him (and her) that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches.

Chapter 6 has already been fulfilled until you come to vs 9. this tells us of the apostasy of the gospel and then the restoration of the gospel -- Joseph Smith Jr. translated the book of Mormon from the gold plates into English for us to read and learn. Ch 8 is the opening of the 7th seal.
1. Hail and brimstone falls from heaven. 2. a great mountain burns with fir. 3.1/3 of creatures in the sea die and 1/3 of ships are destroyed, then wormwood star falls from heaven burning a a lamp which poisons the water and men die. 4. 1/3 of the sun is smitten and 1/3 part of the moon and stars are darkened and the day shines only 1/3 of the time. 5. Another star falls from heaven and is given the key to the bottomless pit to open. Smoke arises and darkens the sun and air. Then scorpions-like creatures fly to hurt those who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads. The king over them is from the bottomless pit -named Abaddon or Apollyon or satan.

The sixth angel releases four to slay 1/3 part of men. Then two prophets are sent to Israel/Jerusalem to prophesy 3 1/2 years. They have the power to shut heaven, that it rain not, power over the water, and to smite the earth with plagues. The beast from the bottomless pit makes war against them and will kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street for 3 1/2 days. The evil people celebrate. Then the prophets ascended unto heaven in a cloud and their enemies behold them Rev 11: 12 The same hour there is a great earthquake and a 1/10 part of the city falls and 7,000 men fall dead.

The seventh angel sounds with great voices in heaven, saying "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever".

Upon those who have the mark of the beast the following happens: Rev Ch 16 and 17
A grievous sore on men, the sea dies, the rivers and fountains of water become blood, then men are scorched with fire and they repented not, the beats groups are filled with darkness and they gnawed their tongues for pain, and they repented not. The water was dried up, then unclean spirits came out of the beast mouth to be devils which go forth and work miracles on the whole world to gather an army into a place called Armageddon. Then the voice from heaven said,"It is done". Rev 19:19 and I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. Christ was upon the horse. Christ was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called "the Word of God". All those who were deceived and the false prophets were cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. The remnant were slain and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Rev 20. An angel came down from heaven with the key of the bottomless pit. He laid hold on the dragon - which is satan the devil - and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit. Rev 20: 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth. Gog and Magog, to gather then together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. vs 9 And the went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. Then the devil and his followers are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Rev 20: 12-15 The dead small and great stand before God and the book was opened and another book was opened. All were judged from these books. The sea gave up her dead and they were judged. And they were judged according to their works. And whosoever was not found in these books was cast into the Lake of Fire.

Rev 21: 7 He (and she) that overcometh shall inherit all things: and I will be his God, and he shall be my son (and daughter). The earth obtains its celestial glory. There is no more sea.
the land mass is joined.

Rev 21 Describes the great city of Enoch descending out of heaven from God. It appears to be like a mountain a hundred and forty-four cubits, 1200 furlongs - (1500 miles high, wide and broad).

Rev 22 The saints shall reign in Celestial splendor - Christ shall come and blessed are they who do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

President and Prophet Howard Hunter said, "Let us be a temple-attending people. Attend the temple as frequently as personal circumstances allow. Keep a picture of a temple in your home that your children may see it. Teach your children about the purposes of the house of the Lord. Have them plan from their earliest years to go there and to remain worthy of that blessing.

No success will compensate for failure in the home!
Study and pray for your family, homes, extended family and bear our testimonies.

THE POOL

My parents had several houses. My dad loved the country life with its quiet, fresh vegetable garden and fruit orchard. They also owned business buildings and other rentals both next door and across town, for income. They had their house in town on Lester Street and after they retired they moved into the back house [that used to be used by their teen-age boys]. They added on some rooms and fixed it up. Then they rented out the front house. They also had a 6 house Court on Forgeus Avenue. It was located about a block away from their Tucson home. They rented out the Court, which had a separate laundry facility and a big pool.

This pool was built by my Dad. He wanted a pool that was different that any other pool in town. He had ideas and he wanted to invent or bring them into fruition. I saw the re-bar that he put into the sides of the pool for strength. It was an official lap swimming pool. It didn't have a diving board because it was not deep enough. It was totally fenced with a 6' concrete block wall. It was about 6 1/2 feet deep at the drain. Dad installed a pre-shower facility and a huge filter system. Yes, I was one of the lucky ones to 'get to' skim the pool of leaves and so forth. I also put in the chemicals for many years to keep it sparkling blue and not green with mossy stuff floating around. Yuck!

So far it doesn't seem unusual, right? Well, it got written up in the newspapers, as a dynamic idea. This idea was later used in places like Sea World, Disney Land and Disney World.

He investigated the weight of water on glass. He had many tests done to get the perfect math quotient. Finally, he got a special glass forged to hold the weight of the water on a 4' x 4' size glass. He had this installed in the south side of the swimming pool. Literally in the wall of the pool. He added stairs from the top of the pool to go down under the ground for people to look through the window at the swimmers. Around the stairs he built an enclosure of brick with a roof and door to protect the glass from too much heat. Out front of the enclosure he made a cute Irish Leprechaun that was fishing and had water shooting into the pool. There was also a 'huge light' installed under the water, on the east side of the pool, to see the swimmers at night.

I remember one night I invited some girl friends over for a sleep over and to go swimming . I knew we could see well in the pool and around the pool were also a set of bright lights. It was winter and although Tucson doesn't have cold winter weather, it was slightly misty on top of the water. It was so cool! It was like swimming in the Scottish lake with the Lockness monster lurking somewhere, eek! We had a great time and it was safe. We walked back to my parents house to finish the sleep-over. Aren't week-ends fun, when you are with friends?

Verna Louise Buskel Conlisk

My Mom was a pleasant woman who did all the things that society required of her. She was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. She and her sister, Janice Mildred, did a lot of things together, even double dating. Janice was a little larger boned than Verna and for some reason Verna always thought Verna was fat. Verna weighed in at 110 in High School and went on to Nurses training school and graduated. Verna was 5'2" in High School and grew 3" by the time she was 21 yrs old. Janice was always 5'6" or 5'7" tall. Like me Janice grew early. I was 5'5" in the 6th grade.
Their brother was Charles Alfred Buskel, Jr.

When Verna grew up there was a rabbit barn plus a garden to attend to in her back-yard. Her father, Charles Alfred Buskel, was a judge for the State Fair for Rabbits. Verna was picked to help her Dad with the rabbits. She changed their water and feed them and palled around with her Dad a lot. Hazel Mildred Wildey Buskel, was Verna's mother. Hazel was a multi-tasked and trained woman. Hazel used Janice in the kitchen for most of the cooking and chores. Verna claimed, later, that she didn't even know how to boil water in the kitchen. Lester Conlisk agreed and had to teach her how to cook, after they were married. During the time that Verna was in Nurses training, they decided to get married. However, they couldn't live together because of the rules at the Nursing school. It was difficult.

Hazel also was a beautician, knitted sweaters, crocheted throws for the bed or couch, tailored clothing commercially, worked with her husband in a candy factory and bakery, and ran most things. She had a quick temper and believed that all children should listen to their parents and JUMP UP whenever called to assist. She was an avid gardener and had prize roses. At her Tucson home, she had a pink-grapefruit tree and a Myer lemon tree. Myer lemon has a thin skin and makes the best lemon-aid and lemon meringue pies. She usually had a dog. I remember a Chow and several Poodles. Hazel was the one who made by prom dress. It was a lovely pale blue with white lace around the bodice. The sleeves were capped and the bow in the back was very large. I wore it for both my Junior and Senior prom. My mother, Verna, did not know how to sew. I always wanted my g-ma Hazel, to teach me what she knew, but it never happened. I learned to sew in Junior High and High school in a sewing class. The rest was experience and taking out stitches to redo a problem. I often gave myself little time to finish a project. I would rush and rush and then wear whatever I had finished. I always look chic!

Verna taught Sunday School when she was first married. The Southern Baptist Church did not allow their teachers to dance or appear to be having fun. They must be straight laced, so to speak. Verna didn't dance with my Dad while she taught the children. She and my Dad were excellent dancers. When ever they got on the dance floor, everyone else got off and just stared and looked and then clapped. My Dad learned every dance step when he was young. I think it went along with learning poetry and prose to spout-off, working hard, and impressing the ladies.

Verna was a quick learner. She followed any and everything that Dad wanted her to do. I'd say very obedient. She told me to do whatever my husband wants to keep him happy and at home. Verna said that this is what her mother told her to do, too. At church functions she would be the one who stayed last to be sure everything was cleaned up and put away. She also did this at any other function she attended. I had to stay with her often to complete these tasks.

When my Dad, Lester Conlisk, joined the Tucson Jaycees, Verna joined the Jaycee-ettes. She held many offices there and was once the President. Verna never tasted or drank liquor. Verna played the role of 'Carrie A. Nation' when she was in plays at Old Tucson. Remember, Carrie was one of the women's sufferage society that went into the bars and smashed everything -- against prohibition. Verna's father, Charles, had her sniff whiskey as a young girl, while telling her of its addiction. Because of his advice and the burning inside her nose, she couldn't stand the smell.
I had the same problem with beer - I couldn't stand that smell either and threw-up immediately after smelling it. I have never had any beer. My brother Sidney tried drinking and he also threw up when he tried to taste any of it. He actually swallowed. My other brother, Lester Charles didn't seem to have that same problem. I think he thought that drinking was a social event.
After his divorce, from the woman he loved so deeply, he drank too much.

The Tucson Jaycee-Jaycee-ettes did many county and city functions for charity. they had the Christmas gift buying event for the children whom the schools listed as those who couldn't afford it. They had the "Welcome Traveler". They would stop a car, with out-of-state license and invite them to a party and free hotel - to stay for the week-end in Tucson. This was usually done around February. The Tucson Rodeo and Parade was at the end of February. My Dad was the Rodeo Manager and my Mom was in charge of ushering. She had the other Jaycee-ettes to assist her and also me. After ushering, I got to sit in the bleachers and watch the Rodeo. My first strange event was when I was using the bathroom. I was asked to come with these two ladies to their place. They said they would take very good care of me, pay me money, and that they needed me. I quickly went out and found my Mother and told her what they said. They were arrested for trying to solicit porn with youngsters.

Verna was also the President of the "Women's Business Group". They met weekly, had lunch and discussed business and how to achieve their goals. They awarded her a gold bracelet for her significant service, just before she died, but she never received it.

Verna was one of the envelope stuffer's for the March of Dimes drive. She would take a room full of paper and envelopes and we ALL would help her stuff them. Verna also volunteered to make animals and puppets for the children in the hospital. She brought home cloth and a pattern. I helped her cut them out and sew them up. She helped with stuffing and putting on the face. One thing I learned from my Mother was to keep busy and you can get so many more things done.

Verna also took oil painting classes with her mother Hazel. They both painted a Sonora Arizona Cathedral Mountain picture.. I have them both handing over my stair case. Of course there were many other paintings done.

Verna, Hazel, and Janice went golfing together. I never was invited. I don't know how well they played. Hazel said it was good exercise. Hazel also had a kiln for pottery. She hand-made and fired and then painted many items. Her garage was full of paint powder and pottery molds, when she died. Verna took them to her home. I don't know what happened to any of it.

Verna also taught dancing to the women in the Jaycee-ettes that wanted to perform. they danced the Can-Can at Old Tucson and on parade floats. I also was on the parade floats; once as an Indian, once as a Hawaiian, and many times dancing the Can-Can on the floats. They always won first place when I was on the float. Probably because I never stopped dancing - even if my sides were hurting. They even went to Mexico and around the cities of Arizona with their floats in many parades. I was usually there with my parents. Once they had us perform at the Military post. That was different. More eyes on each dancer. I kicked off my leg band for them.

Verna did the bookkeeping for Dad when he was Lester Construction Company in Tucson, Arizona. She had about 7 file cabinets full of papers for employees and payroll. I think she fitted in her bookkeeping work around all her other social events.

Verna had many friends. One of them was Mary Brees, who lived across the street. I will write about Mary later.

Verna and Lester also rode horse back. They owned three horses. When they bought the home at 2570 E Lester Street, they had horses in their back yard. With the building of the city, they moved their horses to Ft. Lowell, where there was a riding stable and Homer Cummings.. One of the horses was named "Little Britches". That is the horse that I rode. My brothers usually rode double on their horse. They would come over real close to my horse and whack it in its flanks, so it would buck. I got real good at hanging on, but I often fell off and hit the ground. I would get up, stamp my feet, and say I'm getting right back on. My dad was always proud of me for getting back on. My first incident with a horse was when I was 3 yrs old., My Dad put me on a stallion and he reared. I hung on, for dear life, and I didn't fall off. My Dad smiled and said I was the best rider he had seen. What a compliment! I have many pictures of my parents on horses.

My parents also joined the Square Dance and Riding Club. There were many square dancing events and even the horses were taught how to square dance to perform during the Rodeo's.
I remember doing the dance "Put Your Little Foot" with many of the male-parents, while my own parents were dancing together. I loved to dance.

Another thing that my parents did was to decorate the house -- inside and out-- for Christmas. Dad would spray paint the yard green. Pull the tall trees by the front door together for a huge bow. He painted and sawed out Santa and the Reindeer for putting on the roof. Of course, he added Rudolph with his blinking nose. Mom had a creche over by the tall pines with a star that shown for blocks, up into the sky. They had music playing. There were carolers, too and lots of candy.

The front room was strewn with crept paper billowing from one end of the room to the other, with stars, bells, and candy canes. there were always two trees. One was a tumble-weed that my Dad would go out into the barren land and find the biggest one there. He would paint it white and decorate it with blinking lights. Mom's tree was always at least 6 foot tall and over in the corner near the baby-grand player piano. It would have every light, bobble, and glittery thing that she packed away and then added to each year. We had hot apple cider with spices and orange slices. We had fruit cake, egg-white puffs, fudge, and many other delicacies.

Pies were always baked for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Home baked bread was my job and some of the pies. Mom would always do the turkey or ham with a vegie plate and pickles. Aunt Janice would bring the mac-n-cheese and g-ma Hazel would bring the cole-slaw and German potato salad. What a feast was had by all. Dishes were immediately done after eating - due to Hazel, who wanted everything in its place ASAP.

My Mom was always looking at her figure. She would jump up-and-down in her room to get exercise. She would get on a bike, out in the back yard, and peddle it until she got tired. Of course, she danced with my Dad at all their meetings, and danced the Can-Can with the ladies. She wanted to be 110 again. She made 125 just before she died, however, she usually weighed in at 140 lbs. My daughter June is about her same size, except she is lighter. Verna would look at the other ladies and see how nice they looked. Then she wanted to look at least that nice. Of course, my Dad would always say "how nice" those other ladies were looking. I think this bothered her a lot. She didn't want any competition.

Verna bought many clothes from 'Rumage Sales'. She wanted to have many changes of clothes, and not have to pay much to get them. She knew just the right areas where they had the best buys for the highest priced clothes. She always looked real nice. Verna had her hair long, all her life. Lester insisted of her keeping her hair long. He said it was sexy. She went to the hair schools to get her hair done every week. She would have her hair put up in barrel-rolls on top of her head and pull the sides off her face. She also hired maids to clean her house. In the last few years of her life, I did my Mom's hair. When she died, I re-did her hair in the same style that she always wore and those viewing her said, 'she just looked asleep and beautiful'.

My Mom and I lived together for the last few years that she lived. My husband had died in 1985 and then her husband died in 1986. She was lonely and missed Lester very much. She didn't want to live without him. I did the most I could to be with her during her last years. She and Janice, and I went out to eat at the Buffet on Speedway. We had so much fun talking together and going every where together. We became great friends and family. When Janice died she left me all that she had in her will. It was too bad that my brothers sued me to get it from me.

Our family has been filled with great women!

LESTER and his father ARLIE CONLISK

My wonderful and talented parents. Always doing the impossible and inviting others to enjoy it all. My dad, Lester Conlisk, was an incredible man. It is hard to start to speak of him because it is so wide and various. Pick a subject and he had some input into it. He had only a high-school education but he was incredibly smart. He had a sense of humor, told stories, and had a quick response to any quip.

He memorized many sonatas and published prose. He could recite them, at will. He could draw animals on paper or your back, and did even on my own children's backs. He could wiggle his ears, nose, eyebrows, and blow smoke out funny. He studied under a magician as a child and could do many slight-of-hand tricks--including draw a quarter out of your ear or a flower from his coat. He was a hunter and fisherman.

He hunted for animals to catch and donate to the growing Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. It was located outside of Tucson, near the Old Tucson Movie site on the north back-side of the Tucson Mountains. As a child we would go there every week-end. Lester was the Mayor of Old Tucson, before it became a movie set. He enlisted trick riders, indian tribes to dance, musicians to play for square dances, Jaycees-to act out shoot-em-up scenes in the streets, the women (Jaycee-ettes) to bake pie and pastries in the pie shop and other stores for food, art work, carvings, jewelry and caged animals to study.

The indians built bread ovens near the square-dance site, to sell for the onlookers. Of course, there was a 5 and dime store to pick out souvenir's and get some food. He would have us collect the glass coke bottles and turn them in for a cold drink. Each week hundreds of families would come for a picnic-type fun event. Lester put a donation box at the front gate and families put their donations (of any amount) in them. He would take the donations and buy clay, straw, and dirt to build the adobe bricks. Then he would take the bricks and construct old looking buildings. The original spot, called Old Tucson, was a fallen wall of adobe bricks. The entire rest of the city, including the famous church, water tower, and street buildings were built by Lester and his Jaycee friends. It was like a family project. all of them had children and they wanted a safe place for them to play. The buffets were huge lined with parents and children.

As a child Lester enjoyed the wealth of his parents. He had opportunities that most men only dream of -- and these came about because he thought everything through and worked hard. When no work was available except ditch digging, Lester dug ditches for money. He would work longer and harder than the other men, who would complain about their circumstances, and the boss would pay him something extra.

Even as a young child, when his parents would send Lester off by train, to visit cousins in other cities, he would remember what he was told and then he did it correctly. His mother put a string around his neck with his stop location on it to be sure he didn't get lost. She called him 'sonny-boy'; his friends called him 'speedy'. He grew tall late in life. He was very short in high school. The basketball team teased him about his height. He said it made him tougher. My mother, Verna, also grew late in life. She grew from 5'2" as a young student to 5'5" tall after she reached age 21. Even her size 5 shoe size changed to a larger size. Verna had legs and long hair.

During the depression his family, like others, ate from their gardens. They had planted turnips and onions and potatoes. He said he would have gotten tired of eating them but the alternative was to go hungry. He also ate bread with milk on it for breakfast cereal. He said eating hard bread, or wheat grains, will keep your teeth hard and strong. He had no cavities until he was about 74 yrs old. The dentist said his teeth were so hard he broke several drills trying to fill the small cavity.

His mother, Blanche, bartered with neighbors - that means you trade one item of equal value for a different item that you need. Blanche would baby-sit the neighbors children and receive eggs, flour, butter, or meat. She would weed someone's garden for part of their produce, or help pick fruit from trees and then help them can or bottle them for receiving a few bottles for her family. When she lived on the farm she would take her home-grown garden items to the store and trade them for other items that she needed to make supper.

Blanche would also take out the stitches of old clothes and either make a new item or use the cloth for a quilt square. Blanche was an accomplished pastry chef. She could put on a great spread that would cause you to lick your chops! She would mop the floors every day and always have the beds made. He home was immaculate. When someone had a birthday, friends and family would travel to their home with homemade foods or constructed items that they thought the person would enjoy. It was all about sharing and finding happiness in the little things. She had a big heart and gave away many things to others, as she got older. One person came with two empty suitcases to get her share, when Blanche lived with my father. Blanche loved jewelry. The bigger the diamond the better.

Arlie was busy and educating himself, all the time. Back in those days they had a mud-room porch so you could get out of your dirty shoes, hang up your coat, even wash up before dinner (supper). The men would come home and expect hot food on the table. Women didn't work outside of the home in offices or factories back then, until the War.

Arlie was an inventor. One of his inventions was a harmonica that played all the wind instruments in an orchestra. Why, Arlie said, any one could play the harmonica - even kids!
I have some newspaper articles about this invention. He studied all the time. He learned about crops and rotating crops for the best yield. He would buy up a failed farm and turn their crop all under, then plant a new crop for sale. The yield would be superior. He also planted with the moon. Plant above ground seed-crops when the moon is reaching full. Plant below ground crops when the moon is dark with no light. This is a secret that people have forgotten. I even personally called the scientist that found Pluto in our universe and asked him about the plant cycles and he said YES! Planting crops with the moon will bring the greatest yield.

Arlie (born 1886) became a real estate investor. Then, because of the farmers complaints, he became a lawyer. He had a lawyers license in 7 states. He didn't stop there. He was a Medic in the Army-Aircorp in WWI. He was a pilot (like his son Lester Abraham Conlisk). During the 1918 Flu epidemic Arlie used homepathy remedies to cure the soldiers. These remedies he learned from his grandmother Mary Williamson Thompson, she learned from her father, Levi Williamson (died 1892). Arlie saved many lives, however, the military wasn't happy, due to the fact that their standard prescription was to take 2 asprin and call in the morning.

Arlie and cousins also ran the wheat combines across the plains of America, during harvest seasons. They obtained the huge machines and made arrangements with the farmers to cut.
Arlie liked the nice things of life, because he worked very hard to obtain the finances to purchase them. His wife, Blanche, however, said he had a stubborness and temper that caused their marriage to crumble. You can guess that Arlie wasn't home every night, like most husbands. He was working or studying. Back then, the man got the divorce. The woman didn't have the rights.
The vote came in the early 1900's for women. Women before that, couldn't even own land.

Arlie built large buildings, office buildings, hospitals, telephone buildings, electric buildings. He and Lester built houses, too. when Lester was 16 years old, he decided to tell companies that he was Arlie and he built two large buildings in San Antone,Texas. Once they were comleted (he said it took lots of work and learning) he could give his own name for the contractor of the buildings he would build. Lester built most of the beginning of Tucson, Arizona. He started in 1944. He checked out Tucson for opportunity and climate, and moved his family there in 1945. He and Arlie built San Manuel, Arizona. It was there that Arlie died in 1954. Lester worked with several partners in his building career. He also had his own contracting buisiness and had Sidney work as his Superintendent. It was Lester Construction Company. Lester's other son, Lester Charles became an Accountant. Lester A. always wanted his children to assist him in running his business. Sidney was the only one who worked with him.

-I'll continue this story on the next blogg -

LOVE TO ALL GRANDKIDS

I want you to know that I love each and every one of you.
It doesn't matter if you are or were an "A" student or not.
I know that deep within each of you is the POWER to be MAGNIFICENT! You are born from a 'King'. Christ is your older brother, also a King. You will live forever; you have lived before in the pre-existence and will live again after this life. We were sent to earth to gain a body and to overcome obstacles, trials, hardships, and to learn everything we can while here on the earth. We take back with us all education, knowledge, intelligence, family, filling our lives with love, kindness, goodness, and beauty that we obtain while here. The commandment is LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, in the scriptures. Love is BIG! It means ALL! Even EVERYONE!

All of our ancestors were very religious. They came from many different religions and from many different countries - mostly Germany, Ireland and England. OK, one French, Scottish, Canadian, Netherlands, maybe more places?? They all loved America - land of the FREE!

You come from a family of super individuals. Many inventor's - They didn't just sit around, they read, studied, learned, prayed, and thought of new ways to have "whatever" they needed personally, or they realized that they could sell this item on the open market for money.
Always look for new ways to improve a product or invent one that works for you and can be sold.

Some ancestors were farmers - but not just farmers. They started the market for shipping their produced product across the country. Another had a secret gold mine claim and instead of going for broke and spending it, they used only what they needed for their daily living. Many were pilots, contractors, medical persons, military, writers,poets, attorneys, realtors, artists, musicians -most played the piano and at least one other instrument, one opera singer that I know of (Ilia), some professional dancers, a few magicians, one clairvoyant, all were very hard workers. No slackers in our family. All were beautiful inside and outside. All intelligent!
I know that our family has a high IQ (Intelligent Quotient). Most over 126, 138, and above.
I always wanted to be invited into the MENSA society. I needed an IQ of 136-148 as a child.
Alas, I never had mine tested. My brother was 126 in High School. John was 138 in 2009.

It was once said that Irish heritage brings the laughfter, the light and spirit, the play, the hugging, the stories, and the family closeness to a family - as their origin. They are the artists, the painters, the writers, the singers, the poets, the actors, the story tellers that bring life to LIFE! Without them, life would be dull! The English bring in the seriousness, the sticklers for what is right. They become the lawyers, policemen, the accountants, the intricant house keepers, where everything is in place and all children behave. The Germans are the hard workers, the cooks, the gardeners, the farmers - with animal husbandry, the horticulturists, the agriculturists, the doctors and the scientists.

I have NOT written all of the family histories. I wish I had them all ready for you to read. I think they would give you the confidence, inner-peace, and valiant willingness to succeed at any and everything that you do. Let me tell you, YOU CAN!

I want you to rise above the rest of your friends. I want you to be more intelligent. I want you to work hard--not be a slacker. I want you to always be nice to others, but be careful not to be deceived into lending money or anything else to others. I'm sorry but they just don't return any of it. I have lost my retirement income due to lending money to others for opening a new business, purchase of a computer, home or car repairs, loans they couldn't pay off, child support they owed, IRS owing to prevent garnishment of income, clothes they couldn't buy so they would look good for the job interview, etc. My heart has always been too BIG and I careed TOO much for others. This is my weakness. I am giving you a warning NOW so you will have money that you earn legally to use for your own retirement. After working for 45 years, I have loaned away my retirement, but I'm not stopped. No Way! I am still working.

Learn more and more. Be greater in the eyes of God as you live on the earth at this time period.