The proposal

Jennie said yes.  I can hardly believe it.  We have set the date for June 24th.  I had to ask permission from her eldest brother, David.  Of course he rehearsed to me the speech which her father might have given had he been alive!  He very emphatically let me know that she was her father's favorite, his pet if you will.  

I tried to remain calm during his dissertation. He insisted I tell him a little bit about "my people".

I recited the following, "
My father, Hyrum Franklin Stoddard was serving as a bishop when he passed away. They say it was the small pox.  My mother was five months shy of giving birth to me.  My grandfather was  Charles Stoddard.  His parents joined the church and then joined the Saints in Illinois where I was born."

 Of course, he reminded me that I was boy who worked on the rail and Jennie of course was the youngest daughter of prominent Logan citizen and pioneer, Thomas X. Smith. "Jennie has been to college," he said. Finally, he shook my hand an offered me his congratulations.

  I smiled and   thanked him wholeheartedly and then ran to find my soon to be bride.   

A Forever Spring

It is March and spring in Idaho. My thoughts drift often to Jennie as I am here in Pocatello on a rail run.  There are so many daffodils.  I imagine her twirling endlessly. 

 It would be nice to come home on nights like this and have a nice warm supper and a cheerful rosy cheeked little wife welcoming me. I see pictures of Jennie in my head- they are beautiful.  I imagine a future with her.  

"We are sitting down to supper alone.  We start talking about the "little ones" who will add to our happiness.  We smile and exchange glances. 

"What happiness lies a head for us Jennie." I say.  

She smiles and nods. Her beautiful blue eyes lock on mine."  

A future such as my day dream- I can only hope. I can hardly believe a city girl like Jennie has fallen for a "railway man" like me.  

Return to the Rail

After our first date to the Blue Bird, Jennie was all I could think of... I was reprimanded a few times on the job for having my head in the clouds.

I found it difficult to concentrate on my life on the rail. All that kept me going were the letters we exchanged.

Pocatello Idaho
March 2, 1914
My Dear Jennie,
While I sat thin this evening of you, I decided to write my thought to you such as they are.

I am very tired this evening having just arrived from Huntington Oregon at eight p.m. and dear as my thoughts are of you always.  I I sincerely wish you were near me all the time.

Perhaps you can realize what it is to want for something especially someone who is most dear to you and can not go to her.

Well dear, I live in hopes that I will get my little friend someday and dear the sooner the better as I know I will be better off and as I can keep someone I want you, just you.

Isn't it the most glorious thing this love one gets for another.  It appears most heavenly it its mission, and dear I enjoy it more and more every day.And it is getting almost unbearable.  Can't you come, won't you come dear, as you have stolen into my life it appears that you have become a part of it, to leave as silently as you entered it would nearly break my heart. I do believe.

I will try and bear it until the spring dear, and won't you come to me as I have before stated you are the missing link of the chain to my happiness.

Love,
Ed 

Wednesday Write- Bargains with God

  The blossoms are breathtaking and the blades of grass are beginning to shoot up through the barren ground.  Spring is coming.... feels so refreshing as winter seems to have zapped joy and gladness.  Love the daffodils and Tulips as they dance and giggle and spread gladness.   

Although I love winter and its incredible beauty, I am always ready for spring.  I wonder if we bargained with God and said "we would take winter, but please don't make us miss the spring."  

I think we may have said the same thing about tragedy and adversity,  "We will take them Heavenly Father, but please remember to send the blessings and  the tender mercies- the joy."

  Monday, I was able to attend the court proceedings of the adoption finalization of my cousin's twin baby girls. 

I was overwhelmed with emotion as I sat in the courtroom and witnessed the event.  No longer were they baby girl one and two- they had names on the records of the court- Bellamy and Dempsey.  

Even the judge became emotional.  I am certain for him with all the "winter" he sees, witnessing "spring" is a rare and beautiful blessing.

The adoption was joyful, but my cousin, and her husband have experienced more than their fair share of "winter."  This day they stood strong.  They don't take parenthood for granted and they are totally a team.  

I was so grateful to witness the strength that stood behind them in the courtroom- brothers, sisters, grandparents, great grandparents, cousins, friends. The feeling in the air was palpable.  What a joy to see them all enjoy a little bit of spring as "winter" has been hard this year.

When the barren branches of winter are sprinkled with snow dust next year, I will draw upon the strength of this day and its dancing daffodils and laughing tulips.  It will allow me to see the goodness of the white winter world.  

First Date at the Blue Bird

I looked for the daffodils on 100 East as I approached the Smith home.  Taking the daughter of the late Thomas X. Smith on a date was a little more than intimidating.  

My thoughts drifted,
"What on earth is a poor railway boy from Uintah doing taking out the daughter of one of Logan's Finest citizens?"

My rail stop in Logan wasn't  long, but long enough to grab an ice cream at the Blue Bird.

Jennie bounced out her front door giving a slight wave of the hand to me and then eagerly hooked her arm in mine.  It felt so right having her by my side.  We chatted a bit as we walked to the Blue Bird.  I was a bit of the quiet type, but she made up for the both of us. She told me a little bit about her family, Fannie, David, Eugene, Mabel, Patience, and her favorite, Marie. And then of course she sighed,

"Then there are the other wives and my 17 other siblings." she giggled, "Poor Annie (her mother)!"

This was so different than my upbringing.  I had only Margaret and Hyrum as siblings. Of course,  My father passed away before I was born and my mother remarried so I had a half sister Hazel. But there was no polygamy.


I could feel the sunshine on our backs. I smiled as we opened the door to the Blue Bird.

Jennie's eyes

Note- I am working on a writing project. This story is based on my great grandparents Edwin and Jennie, but circumstances of their meeting is fictitious.


I saw the girl dancing with the daffodils tonight.  My buddy Art convinced me to check out the Dansante Dance Hall in Logan on one of my rail runs- best decision I ever made- she was there.
She was a "stand out" among the "stand outs."

It was late April and beautiful. The frigid winter temperatures in Logan had delayed the spring blossoms, but tonight the scent of the tulips and daffodils lingered. I loved the smell and the scenery of the evening was even more promising.  She was wearing blue.  I spied her from across the dance floor.  The color of her dress matched her piercing blue eyes.  I was mesmerized.

Silently thinking, "I wish Art were here to dare me to ask her to trade a dance with me."

Suddenly, I decided to dare myself and before I had a second thought I was making my way across the dance floor.  She was in the circle of a group of friends.  Their laughter shook the dance floor.  I directed my gaze to her as the band paused before beginning their next number,
" May I have this dance?"
She responded, "yes, but your name please?"
"Edwin Cleveland Stoddard... and you- you are the girls who dances with the daffodils."
"I thought I recognized you," she replied.
Her bright eyes teased me and suddenly I felt my face grow red.

Adventures in Motherhood- Prom 2017

While there are many adventures I have on my bucket list, I never seem to get to them. Because as a mother of five great kids, I don't need to make a list of adventures- they just seem to happen.

Yesterday, I ended up in Snow Canyon State Park with Emma on a field trip.  Little did I know that I was going to be in charge of 17 of students. Yep, they handed me a map and 17 of the best kids ever and said we'll see you at the campground for lunch.  Little did they know that I get lost in a parking lot (Rigby is my compass).  But we had a great adventure and lots of laughs- not to mention I wasn't the only one to get their group lost- yep four other groups did too!

 Then today,  Rigby and I had a date planned for this evening- a steak at Milt's sounded so yummy-just the two of us.  But it seems Stockton's group didn't quite have their plans together, so Rigby and I ended hosting dinner- salad, artichokes, asparagus, homemade rolls, chicken, ribeye, mashed potatoes, and cheesecake.  We shopped, cooked, and cleaned most of the day, and even had some fun- baseball with Emma and Maleck and an early morning tropical smoothie.

 You know what, this adventure turned out pretty great- the six couples were a lot of fun- gorgeous girls, great guys and the best part was I spent most of the day with my  Rigby- I even let him boss me around. Twenty-six years ago he took me to our junior prom- looked how great that turned out.

Thanks for letting us be a part of your day Stockton and congrats on being in the Prom Royalty! #2ndattendant #onehandsomedude

Edwin's sunshine

The first time I saw Jennie she was literally dancing with the daffodils.  It was spring in Logan and I had a few minutes before I had to get back on the rail and load baggage, so I decided to take a short walk.

Just off 5th and North street is where I found the daffodils and Jennie. Her home was surrounded by a beautiful garden, and she was right in the middle of it. I had to stop myself from staring. I could tell from her surroundings that she was out of my league.  After all, I worked on the rail.

All I could think about that day was
"I love daffodils!"

Dancing Daffodils

I tried planting  my own daffodils in mother's garden.  I wanted to have a real life  reminder of my dad Ed.  I worked all day in the warm autumn sunshine trying to get the soil just right.  I even went down to the neighbor's corral and got some manure for fertilizer and then soaked the ground before I planted the bulbs. 

I woke up early the next day to check on my little "forget me not," and it was gone. 

Mother said, "It must have been a dog."

My lips quivered and I turned away quickly.  
I softly muttered, "we never have dogs come into our yard."

The weather soon turned and I didn't get another bulb planted.  I wanted daffodils for spring- I wanted to see them dance.

Wednesday Wander- Little Jamaica

 I always feel better after a wander.  A short break from the routine of a life raising 5 children warrants one every now and again.  Before Madsen's baseball games Saturday morning we packed the other three in the "burb" and went searching for Little Jamaica.

 I was somewhat dumbfounded by the oasis in the desert we found.  Rigby was kind enough to guide us on the adventure.  Little Jamaica is part warm springs, part man made pool, part river.

 I only wished we had more time and a picnic to thoroughly enjoy the experience, but now a days, we will take what we can get.  

 But this hidden gem proves to me once again just how amazing the southwest is!

 Info on how to get here - credit Jordan Abel- Dixie Sun News

 To get to Little Jamaica, drive south through the Virgin River Gorge and take Desert Springs Exit 9 in Arizona. Then, take a right off the freeway exit and an immediate left. Next, go under the overpass and take a right onto a dirt road and find one of three paths that lead to the parking area. If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, feel free to go straight. If not, test out the second or third paths.

From this point, go through the break in the gate toward the west and follow the path until you can see and hear the water. Follow the water until you find the pool.

To take a four-wheel drive vehicle down by the river, follow Fleet Street around until it becomes Anderson Lane. Take the next left and find a dirt road on your right that should take you down by the river.

 Just another reason I love to wander- CARPE DIEM!

Love our Youngers!