Today I turned 24! I've decided that 24 must be a good age because 24 is the name of the world's most exciting TV show, there are 24 hours in a day, 24 is the atomic number for chromium (which prevents corrosion when applied to certain metals), and Willie Mays was #24. Also, June 29 is a good day to have a birthday because it is Independence Day in the Republic of Seychelles--an archipelago nation of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Today is also Veterans Day in the Netherlands. Sounds like a great day for a party!
Speaking of parties, we've had some pretty great ones around here lately. Yesterday we had a lot of fun outside when Miss Eliza discovered sprinklers! She had so much fun running through the water (and trying to drink the water as she went). I'm sure that her diaper weighed about 10 lbs. after she was done because of all the water it must have absorbed!
Today has been a very fun day. I got to go to Nate and Lindy's ward to give a presentation about Joseph Smith and the pioneers during their combined RS and priesthood meeting. They have a really nice ward, and everything went well with the presentation. Then I had a good long birthday nap, then we had our fun combined Lindy and Tiffy birthday party. Lindy is surely nice to always share her birthday party with me. I got some fun Southern belle and Southern humor birthday cards, a beautiful necklace, a book, a fancy apron, and one of my favorite movies: "National Treasure 2." Thank you for all of the wonderful presents everyone! The family made all of Lindy's and my favorite foods for dinner--and we even got two kinds of desserts: strawberry shortcake for Lindy and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cake for me!
It was so fun to be here for the birthday festivities this year because for the last two years I have been in Natchez, Mississippi on my birthday. I still had fun, even when I was away, but it wasn't quite the same as being here at home. Last year's birthday was especially memorable because the Barretts sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers which was delivered to Melrose. Then, one of the interns, Mary, made me a birthday cake (pictured on the left) in her microwave using a rice cooker! It didn't turn out quite like she had planned, but it was really nice of her to make the attempt. It was a pretty solid block of chocolate, and the sprinkles which were supposed to be on top ended up inside the cake, but it still tasted yummy. And, Mom sent me a delicious Miss Grace Lemon Cake in the mail which I and my fellow rangers enjoyed very much! So, I've had a lot of fun birthdays, but it was great to be home with my family this year. They're the best birthday present ever!
Speaking of Gettysburg, I am very proud to have a relative who fought and died in that famous fray. He's not technically my ancestor, because I am not descended from him, but if you go back far enough we are descended from the same person--so that makes us relatives, right? His name was Elon John Farnsworth, and he was made a Brigadier General the night before he was killed at Gettysburg. He was part of the 8th Illinois Cavalry. In fact, it is after him that the Farnsworth Inn in Gettysburg is named. And, get this: General Farnsworth was stationed at our very own CAMP FLOYD before he went off to fight in the Civil War!! How cool is that? Elon was descended from Matthias Farnsworth who was born in England in 1612. Elon's ancestor was Matthias' son Samuel, and my ancestor is Samuel's brother Jonathan. How it all works out is that General Elon Farnsworth is my mom's dad's fifth cousin once removed. :-)
