The last few days I have been working on genealogy. I have been checking my submissions with the new.search.org site. It has been very time consuming and confusing keeping tract of all the families and their spouses and parents. I had to merge some families and add a few. I have been doing this only for the Lipps line on my father's side. My dad's grandfather, William Ernst Lipps, came from Gottsburen, Germany as a stow away on a ship in 1838. He married and ended up in Gonzales, Texas and raised 10 children. I have gone through the families of all 10 children and then did the Lipps line back to 1601. I am so grateful for the genealogy work that a cousin in Germany did. Without his effort, this line would have ended with just the 10 children. Then I'm grateful for the temple work my brother did for the men and for the temple work my stake did to get this work done.
Read about William Ernst Lipps and his families on my website, http:www.downthehallway.com. I really have an interesting family. Genealogy is addicting.

My First Commission

I received my first embroidery machine and I am having so much fun. Expensive? Yes, but to me worth it. So to help (a very small help) I received my first commission to embroider some towels for a primary CTR baptism. I'm taking classes and learning this new machine and really enjoying it. Here are some pictures of the embroidery and finished towel.
I thought the little saying that goes with the towel was good.
My Baptism Towel
This towel is to help remind you
Of your baptism day all the years through
When you come out of the water all clean and pure.
Dry off with this towel and you can be sure...
You are as clean as this towel is white.
And the Holy Ghost can be with you both day and night.
For the Holy Ghost is a gift after the laying on of hands.
Your comfort and your guide when obeying God's commands.
The CTR emblem will help remind you always to be strong
As you continue growing and learning right from wrong.
When your towel becomes soiled, remember that we, too.
sometimes make mistakes, but you'll know just what to do.
Just as you wash your towel so it may again be clean.
The wrongs you make can be forgiven, never again to be seen.
Your Heavenly Father loves you, remember always to pray.
And He will be beside you for forever and a day.

Cactus Patchers Auction Quilt

My friend, Mary, from Cactus Patchers volunteered us to put together the Fall Getaway Quilt to be auctioned off in September. The theme has to do with pirates and treasury. We thought this quilt titled Bermuda Triangle would be appropriate for the theme. Here we are putting up the individual blocks we previously sewed, on Mary's design wall. It looks complicated and a little confusing. Can you see the stars and the secondary design and how the colors progress from light to dark? We used batiks in blues, purples and greens. I think it has a calming effect just as the ocean can be. We still have the borders to add. Then when we get it all together Mary will do the quilting on her Pfaff Grand Quilting machine and I will do the binding. We have to have it finished by the middle of August so it can be displayed in our Cactus Patcher's meetings and start collecting tickets. I think everyone will like it. I'll show a picture when it is all finished. This is a sneak preview.

Fourth of July

Julie Hartman, Ron Hall, Janice and Jerry Hartman, Jimmy and Julie Patten

What a fun time we had on the 4th of July. We went to Lakeside and spent the 4th at my cousin, Jimmy Patten and Julie's home. They have a lovely home among the pines. It was so nice there and cool. We were able to sit out on the front porch in the cool of the evening and not be bitten by mequitos. Jimmy gave Jerry and my brother, Ron, the grand tour of Lakeside, ShowLow and Snowflake with a visit to the temple. We also were able to visit and see another cousin's home. This was Gary and Kathy Allen's home built just behind Jimmy and Julie's home. We really appreciate the hospitality of dear cousins.

Our group

Janice Hartman, Shawn Wheeler, Julie Dunn, Joni Taylor, Terry Donnelly

What fun we had attending the Snowflake temple. The temple is beautiful. The Celestial Room was awesome with the most beautiful candelier. You could look at the mirror on the wall and the candelier was reflected back many, many times.

Snowflake Temple

The water fall was so peaceful.

Flake Home

This is the Flake home and museum. This home has 3 stories and 16 bedrooms. The son of James M. Flake lived here with his wives and children. What fun it was to see all their pictures, furniture and memorabilia. Years ago it must have been a beautiful and exciting place to live.