The Grandparent Chronicles

      L I V I N G    B E L O W    O U R    P R I V I  L E G E S      The story is told of an old man who cared for years for his sick wife.  After her passing, he decided to finally go on a cruise that they had both dreamed of for years!  After years of saving he had enough for the cruise but the extras and excursions would have to be enjoyed by others.  The last day of the cruise he decided that he would splurge.  He would set aside his loaf of bread and jar of peanut butter and Jam that had sustained him all week. Today he would treat himself to the buffet!  As he tried to pay for the buffet he was told that the buffet was free it's price had been included in the price of the ticket!  He could have been enjoying the buffet all week - instead, he had subsisted on peanut butter and jam !      What do we learn from this story? It's difficult to believe that...

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y    B I G   A L   ! On Monday August 6, 2018, the Al and Donna Wade Clan will honor the memory and Birthday of ALFRED BYRON WADE or A.B. or Big Al as he was affectionately called. I felt it only right that this offering of The Grandparent Chronicles be dedicated to him! Hopefully, you all have a copy of- Alfred Byron Wade Reminiscences On My Life  (from my earliest recollections to 1985) Written for My Wife ,Children and Grandchildren If you don't have a copy just send me your e-mail address and I will see that you get one. Rather than retell his life here, I think it would be wonderful if we would all gather our families for Family Home Evening on Monday August 6th and read his life story to our family members.   After the reading share and let your children share their own memories of him. Some memories my children, their spouses  and grandchildren have shared follow: All the grand...

W E   A R E    F A M I L Y   !!!      As you all know, it's almost Family Reunion time!   I thought it might be fun to reflect back on some Family Reunion memories in hopes that it might help you recall some fond memories that you have of Reunions Past.      The WADE FAMILY- has had some memorable reunions in the past. From the 1956 Bountiful, Utah reunion ( pictured above) to a sleepover reunion at a church in Bountiful with skits including J.C.Penny and the World's Greatest Spitter, to the Deer Creek reunion near Cedar City, Jacobs Lake Arizona, and St George in a motel.  I remember Gene's family puppets and Alan Wade's magic shows!      The JOHNSTUN FAMILY reunions are among my earliest recollections.  The last of which was held in August of 1970 at a campground in Monte Cristo, when I was on my mission and just a few weeks before Grandma McAllister passed away.      The Johnstun...

    S U S A N N A     J O H N S T U N    McA L L I S T E R      Not everyone has a claim to fame, but I do, I was born on my Grandma Mac's Birthday! From as early as I can remember, she and I enjoyed a special bond.      None of my posterity had the privilege of knowing this amazing lady so it's only appropriate that as Our birthday approaches that I take time to introduce her to you! Susanna Johnstun McAllister was born on July 6, 1902 in Oleo, New Mexico to Samuel James Johnstun and Elizabeth Emily Deans. She was the 5th child of 7. Samuel James Jr (died at 2 weeks old), Joseph William (Bill), Elizabeth Emily, David George, Susanna (our Grandma Mac), Jesse Robert ( Uncle Jesse was famous for saying " There are only 2 kinds of pie I like- Hot and Cold!) and Ellen Jane.      Susanna was still 3 years old when her parents took up a homestead at Twin Springs, in the Zuni Mountains of New Mexico.  He...

Many years ago, the church distributed a brochure with the title "Father, Consider Your Ways ." The message of this little brochure had a big impact on me. I was a newly wed and had  my child  rearing years ahead of me when the pamphlet was 1st published. I remember reading this 6 page pamphlet and thinking-" Wow, Fatherhood is serious business and hard work! I hope I'm up to the task!" We'll here I am, 45 years later and as I look back, I had good reason to be concerned ! Oh sure, I tried to do my best but in all honesty, I fell short in so many ways. My comfort comes in realizing that my sons, everyone of them, are better at being fathers than I was. Next week is Father's Day, an annual event in which we honor Fathers, past and present. What better occasion to review the important role of Fathers , in hope that we who are Fathers might be reminded of our responsibilities and hopefully become better at it, whether we still have children at home or l...

T H E   G R A N D P A R E N T   C H R O N I C L E S     OUR WADE FAMILY BEGINNINGS..   So last time we talked about beginnings- ( It was several weeks ago because we've been having fun with Grandma Wade visiting us!)      I thought you might enjoy knowing of the beginning of the WADE family becoming members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This true story was told to me by my grandpa Paul Wade and others...      Paul Wade's father- JASPER CAROLINA WADE ( the Carolina came from where his father David Caleb Wade was born- South Carolina.)  Jasper was a tobacco farmer- a product he used for most of his life, but he was a good man. One day while he was driving his team and wagon to town he had a vision.  He saw two men in white shirts walking down the lane to his house.  He saw that they entered his house and even where they would sit.  He felt impressed that they had an important message...

"In the beginning"...so begins the Bible in describing the creation of this earth on which we live. The Book of Mormon begins with " I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents...". So le's talk about beginnings- your beginnings! Every one of you lived in Heaven before you were born on earth. You were taught and loved and developed until it was your turn to come to earth.       I'm sure we were all excited to begin our journey here on earth. You were all born, like Nephi, to goodly parents who love, teach and help you. You have been taught to use your agency to make good choices. Eventually, we will all grow old and return to Heaven to begin eternity! However, before beginning eternity, there are a whole lot of other beginnings we get to enjoy! Savannah and Janelle recently began college, Camden and Levi recently began 1st grade, Cindy began swimming lessons, Alan will soon begin his Priesthood years and Connor will soon begin a mission. We all ha...