It's my family

Last week I went to a funeral. 
Her name was Hortense Smith she was the wife to my great uncle Eldred G. Smith and truly an amazing woman. 
It was a beautiful service full of many wonderful stories and memories of her. 


I went with my mom. We walked in took our seats, looked up at the stand, and were not so surprised to see Elder Ballard sitting there, he is a Smith. But sitting next to Elder Ballard was President Monson. We were very pleased to see him, but not completely surprised he was there as well. 

So who are these people that they would warrant the attendance of a Prophet of God at their funeral services, you ask?


They are my family.


Did you know I have a rich Mormon heritage? 


I don't often talk about it. 
I am very proud of it, but for some reason I feel like if I tell people that my great grandfather was the Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith I am boasting or bragging. 


Especially if someone talks about their Mormon ancestors I will never bring up mine for fear of looking like a one-upper. (It's hard to top the fact that I am a direct decedent of Hyrum Smith, the brother of Joseph Smith. Unless of course if you are a direct decedent of Joseph, in which case we would be cousins.) 


But why? Why should I not share? Why am I afraid to tell people?


To be honest, there are a lot of us cousins out there, Smith isn't really a unique name. 


And to be fare most people already know the stories and backgrounds of my mormon ancestors. 
But maybe I could make them seem a little more real, more human. 
When I hear stories of my great grandfathers they have, what I believe are more special names than "Prophet" or "Elder" I know them as:
Grandaddy (Joseph Fielding Smith) and
Grandpapa (Joseph F. Smith)

This is a picture of my mother as a little girl with Grandaddy (Joseph Fielding) and Grandma Jessie. 

But then it starts getting confusing because I am actually a direct decedent of Hyrum Smith, twice.  


Hyrum (through his second wife Mary Fielding) begat Joseph F., who begat Joseph Fielding, who begat Mit, who begat Ruthie, who begat me.


Hyrum (through his first wife Jerusha) begat John, who begat Hyrum F., who begat Hyrum G., who begat Donna, who begat Ruthie, who begat me.

(That's a whole lot of Hyrums)

Did you know the Hyrum was called by the Joseph to be the Patriarch to the Church? And that calling actually was passed down from father to son since Joseph Smith Sr.? 


That calling still exists today with my great uncle Eldred G. Smith. 
He has traveled the globe giving many, many people their patriarchal blessings, including myself. I received my patriarchal blessing from him on September 11, 2001. 
True Story.
But now being 103 years-old (seriously) he is understandably not actively serving as Patriarch to the Church, his calling currently holds with it the "emeritus" standing. 
And with the growth of the church and the calling of "Patriarch" extended on a stake level there will never be a Patriarch to the Church again, there is no need.


Eldred also has in his possession the clothing that Joseph and Hyrum were martyred in. 
He and Hortense, over the years, have traveled all over giving firesides and showing the clothing along with other artifacts that were owned by the Joseph Smith Sr. Family. Including Hyrum Smith's sunglasses from 1844. 

Cool, yeah?

I feel honored knowing the blood of prophets run through my veins. 

Makes me feel as though I have a legacy to live up to. That I am capable of great things. 

But shouldn't we all feel that way? Whether we are descended from kings or beggars, prophets or thieves, we are all children of God...our potential is limitless.

Other family members you may have heard of:
-Mary Fielding Smith
-Bruce R. McConkie
-M. Russell Ballard
-Dallin H. Oaks (through marriage)

Blog Challenge!

I have never done a blog challenge, and to be clear, no one has challenged me to do a blog challenge. But I do what I want.

So without further ado:

Day 01: Picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

(This is an old picture, but it sums me up)

1. I always try to drink as much water as I can every day, I like when I pee clear.

2. I loved that I had a pinata instead of a wedding cake at my reception (here) & (here)

3. The two things Trevor loves when I cook are: tuna melts and Philly Cheese Steaks

4. I usually only wash my hair twice a week

5. I am a zit popper! It is so satisfying ....poor Trevor

6. I feel that peanut butter is a divine flavor

7. My favorite way to eat m&m's is to put them up on the dashboard and let them get all melty.

8. If I could have anybody's singing voice in the world I think I would want Eponine's from Les Miserables. Or Hayley Williams.

9. The only real talent I think I have is my ability to remember dates. I excelled in history, art history, and birthdays. I am almost at the rain man quality. (please do not confuse this with numbers, I am not good at math... just dates.)

10. I love my job.

11. I would move to Europe in a heartbeat.

12. Favorite Holiday: 4th of July

13. Favorite artist: John William Waterhouse

14. I wish I could be one of those people who always has perfectly polished finger nails. But about a day after I paint my fingers I start picking it all off... then it's chipped and ugly for weeks.

15. I very much enjoy talk radio. I mostly listen to Glenn Beck and Dave Ramsey. I think they are both brilliant.

25 Things about ME!

So I was Facebook stalking someone awhile ago, you know, trying to get to know them better without them knowing that I am getting to know them. (I maintain it's their own fault for posting what they post.)

Anyway they had a note about 25 things about them, I remembered I had participated in that activity awhile ago and I thought I would repost for my blogging friends.

(I know, and I still maintain it is my own fault for posting all this info about myself, but I think it would kind of cool if I had a real life stalker, I would be like all the celebrities)

1. I LOVE to travel! It is my goal to travel outside the country at least once every year, unless I am living internationally in which case that would just be awesome.

2. Every time I walk into a museum I get so excited that I start stumbling over my words not making coherent sentences. I start blurting out works like "Chiaroscuro, look, movement, here , stunning, controposto, symbolic, gorgeous, etc. But once I can calm down I actually give a pretty good tour.

3. Ok, see if you can follow this: I have 3 older sisters, TWO of my sisters married guys named Jeff. My other sister married a guy named Bryce. My husbands name is Trevor BRYCE. My name is Donna April, Trevor's late grandmother's name is Donna, and his grandfather's name is Bryce who he was named after. So he has grandparents named Bryce and Donna, which are the names that Trev and I have but don't use.

4. I am the WORST storyteller, but I LOVE telling stories. I give way too much detail and I usually get distracted half way through. I have been teased about my story telling abilities all my life; I usually have to say "I found 5 bucks" at the end to make it a decent story.

5. It is not a secret that I love to eat, apparently the fact that I have eaten 19 zebra cakes at one time is not a secret either...

6. I own more costumes then actual clothes, and I am constantly trying to think of themed / dress-up parties.

7. I am constantly cold (which facilitates my detest for the winter months). I told Trevor one time that I think the reason why I am always freezing is because I have problems with my thyroid, now he talks about getting me a thyroid transplant.

8. I am the only left-handed person in my family, which means I learned to do many things with my right hand. My mom didn't really know I was left handed until I was about 15 and for my high school graduation she gave me left handed scissors, very thoughtful if I was in Kindergarten.

9. I only like to cook when there is someone in the kitchen to keep me company.

10. My car's name is Twanda

11. I got pulled over once for a DUI....although I was not drunk.

12. The only car accident I have been in with air bags was when we ran into a construction dumpster. No, we weren't drunk then either.

13. I truly believe every girl needs: a red coat, red shoes, and a red purse

14. My favorite picture book growing up was Miss Rumphius and my favorite book in 4th grade was Maniac Magee

15. I hate the taste of cilantro

16. I recieved my Patriarchal Blessing on September 11, 2001

17. I have dimples and my first grade teacher told me they were angel kisses. To prove her theory I tried asking my mom, she said it was a weak muscle. I was devastated.

18. I have the best friends in the world!

19. One of my favorite things about Trevor are his large lips.

20. I like my smile. (Thank goodness for braces!)

21. My grandparents were related.... distantly. My grandma came through Hyrum Smith's first wife, Jerusha, and my grandpa came through Hyrum Smith's second wife Mary Fielding. The bright side is that my grandma didn't have to change her last name when she got married.

22. I had a funeral for my first car Goldburg, who was named after the WCW wrestler.

23. I have gone through many phases in my life some of them have included: wrestling (see #22), monster trucks, rat-tails (hair), Queen (the band), flowers in the hair, skinny dipping, and many MANY other phases.

24. My most embarrassing moment includes me yelling "BOONDOGGLE" and ripping my friend's insulin pump out of his stomach.

25. I was born on 4/20, which is the same day as Hitler's birthday, the Colombine anniversary, and national "get high" day... what a great day, right?