Kathleen Marie

Biz and Jeff welcomed Kathleen Marie Wood into the world early this morning at LDS Hospital at 4:04 a.m. Both mom and baby are doing well.

Jeff shared the above photo with us in an early-morning text message. I am looking forward to meeting my 10th "nibling" (which I am assured now is a real world) soon.

To Everything, Turn, Turn, Turn . . .

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
 -Malachi 4:6

A very interesting Facebook post appeared among my notifications last week, from which I learned that, with the touch of just a few buttons, I could learn whom among the members of the Island of Misfit Toys I am related to distantly. It was a very educational and enlightening experience.

Among the members of my very own ward, I have a sixth cousin, an eighth cousin, as well as several ninth, tenth, and eleventh cousins. I have even, years ago, been out on a date with *gasp!* one of my ninth cousins.

Further, this link on FamilySearch also allows you to see which famous politicians, inventors, innovators, writers, singers, etc. are part of your family tree. I was intrigued and delighted to find out that among my many cousins are:

President John Adams (4th cousin, 8 times removed)
Susan B. Anthony (6th cousin, 4 times removed)
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (7th cousin, 2 times removed)...
Thomas Edison (7th cousin, 3 times removed)
The Wright Brothers (7th cousin, 4 times removed)
Buster Keaton (8th cousin, 3 times removed)
Prime Minister Winston Churchill (9th cousin, 5 times removed)
President Thomas Jefferson (9th cousin, 5 times removed)
Walt Disney (9th cousin, 5 times removed)
Amelia Earhart (10th cousin, 3 times removed)
Elvis Presley (13th cousin)

In LDS circles, I have connections to President George Albert Smith (4th cousin), President Brigham Young (6th cousin), Elder Neal A. Maxwell (8th cousin)—and even the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum Smith (8th cousins), to name just a few.

What does this have to do with the above scripture? Well, from my experience, I have felt some sort connection to several of these people in the past few years—several of whom I come to find out are somehow, albeit distantly, part of my family tree.

Last summer, for example, I read John Adams's lengthy-but-very-educational biography and loved it. I have also read and enjoyed biographies of Presidents Young and Smith and of Elder Maxwell in the past few years. For an ongoing work project, I have researched and written biographies/profiles of Anthony, Churchill, Disney, Earhart, Edison, Jefferson, and the Wright brothers. A couple of years ago, I also discovered the silent comedic films of Buster Keaton and became an immediate fan.

In other words, I've been or become interested in many of these people and their exploits somewhat recently. Last week, I came to find out we are connected even more closely than by ideas and ideals. It makes me wonder whether the hearts are already turning and we're not completely aware of it happening. Maybe the same thing is happening to you and you're not quite aware right now just how or why at this moment, but all will be made clear someday.

Could it all be a coincidence? Perhaps.

Then again, perhaps not.

The Mish: 20 Years Later

"I was young and foolish then; I feel old and foolish now."
 -"Lucky Ball and Chain," They Might Be Giants

Twenty years ago today—March 8, 1995—was a Wednesday. A nervous and in many ways bewildered young man, his parents, and his siblings climbed into the family van and headed south on I-15. Along the way, they turned on the radio and tuned in to the funeral services for a prophet of God, Howard W. Hunter, who had passed away the previous Friday.

Arriving at their destination about an hour later, the family escorted the young man and his possessions, packed into two suitcases, inside the doors of the Provo MTC. After a brief send-off meeting, this young man, who had never lived away from home until now, bid farewell to his family for the next two years and walked through that doorway and stepped into the unknown.

That first day was like a strange dream. So, this is really it. Am I really a missionary now? he wondered. I don't feel like one. Yet here I am with wearing a suit and the nametag, living and studying and preparing with other missionaries.

Back in my day, though, you had to be 19 years old to do this if you were male or 21 years old if you were female.

Some days, you just don't forget. Ask me what happened this past Wednesday, though, and I couldn't tell you bubkes about it.

Twenty years? Wow. It feels unreal. In some ways, I'm still that same nervous, confused, and bewildered person. I'm definitely not so young nor able bodied anymore. In many ways, I'm still unsure about the future. I walk through that door into the unknown again and again each day.

One thing I know for certain: Just about every good thing that has happened to me in the two decades since that day has come as a result of that decision of choosing to serve a mission. And it will continue to bless my life for years to come.