JB's Birthday 2026, or: Niblings, the Next Generation

Over the weekend, JB celebrated another birthday. It was a busy Saturday for us, but we managed to fill it with a lot of good things with a lot of great people.

Firstly, we journeyed down to South Jordan for my high school buddy Clayton's mother's funeral. It was good to see my old friend, whom I hadn't seen for several years. (He and his family live in Atlanta.) I got to meet all four of their kids for the first time. Another high school buddy, Darren, sat by us for the funeral service, which contained wonderful tributes to a great lady. Clayton's older brother is actually Elder W. Mark Bassett, a General Authority Seventy of the Church, and was, as expected, one of the speakers. Whom we didn't expect to see was Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who presided and who was the concluding speaker. Elder Renlund offered an Apostolic blessing on the Bassett family, and the Spirit was so strong as he spoke.

From there, we trekked down to Salem in Utah County for our great-nephew Levi's baby blessing. (Yes, we now have two grand-nephews.) Two-month-old Levi's dad, Dallin, performed the ordinance. We took a number of pics of baby Levi, along with his parents, Dallin and Eliza, and several others, but we are also honoring their request not to post any pics of him online. Another kid we got to meet for the first time was six-month-old Beau Nelson, our cousin Madison's and her husband, Wyatt's, baby boy. A number of family members on both sides joined us for this occasion.

Lastly, we traveled to Provo to meet up with our niece, Olivia, and her husband, Caleb, who are BYU students, for JB's birthday dinner, featuring sushi and pho, at Saida's on University Ave. It was a great end to a great day.

Graham's Baptism

Our eight-year-old nephew Graham was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday in Centerville. His dad (my brother Ben) performed the baptismal ordinance, as well as the subsequent confirmation (bestowal of the gift of the Holy Ghost).

Graham asked various family members, including his young cousins, to take part in the service. Nine-year-old cousin Katy gave a talk on baptism; 10-year-old brother, Christian, spoke on the gift of the Holy Ghost; and eight-year-old cousin Danny offered the closing prayer. Graham also sang a Primary song along with his parents and Christian. Jessica played the piano for the Primary songs we sang as a congregation. Everyone did a great job!

We (Fun Aunt and Uncle) just showed up ... which was all we really needed to do.

Afterward, most of those who attended, including our Sanders cousins, gathered for breakfast (brunch?) at Black Bear Diner, one of our favorite local hotspots.

Madison's & Wyatt's Wedding

On Saturday, JB and I joined a number of other family and extended family members for the wedding of our cousin Madison to her husband, Wyatt. Madison is our second cousin (youngest daughter of Scott and Claudia).

It was a lovely service held at the Provo library, followed by dinner for all assembled. We got to see many of our Sanders cousins there, as well as Claudia's parents and family. Plus, we got out of town before the crowds came into town for the BYU/Arizona State game ... so, double bonus!

Plowman Family Dinner/April 2021

Last weekend, we gathered in West Bountiful for monthly family dinner. I'm really glad our niblings have the chance to hang out and play with each other on these (and other) occasions, because it turns out that they get along really well and have a great time together. That is something I missed out on when I was growing up. (Having all of my cousins living in California and England contributed to the problem.)

Anyhow, JB prepared the main course, which was a ham for the Easter season. We also enjoyed salad, veggies, and other goodies. This family dinner brought with it the return of "Pass the Parcel," an old family favorite, and we also celebrated our four April birthdays (Graham, Jenna, Jackson, and now one-year-old Sadie!).

One of the other highlights was Jackson chasing Leia around the backyard with his Donald Duck stuffed doll. I guess you had to be there.

Christmas 2020

In spite of covid's plans (and a hillion jillion other things that could've gone wrong, this being 2020), we still observed Christmas this year.

Our sister-in-law Alice recently took some pics of JB, Leia, and me at Creekside Park. (In case you happen to be in that neck of the woods, it's a beautiful, still very new little park just south of the Bountiful High School campus). This is how our annual family Christmas card turned out:

There was no in-person Christmas gathering with my in-laws in Grantsville, though we did meet up briefly over Zoom on Christmas Day. We did, however, trek out there Wednesday to spend the afternoon with JB's parents.

Leia was grateful for the extra attention:

On my side of the family, we were still able to get together on Christmas Eve, though we had to make sure everyone sat apart, everyone wore masks, and no food was served or eaten to avoid any possible spread of planet Earth's favorite pandemic.

Biz once again put together the Christmas program, which included a number of well-placed scriptures, Christmas hymns, and a recording of Dad narrating Chapter 2 of the Gospel of St. Luke.

This was followed by presents/pandemonium. Many of Mom's youngest grandkids received Spider-Man pajamas. When they put on their PJs, it looked something like this:

This reminded the grown-ups a little bit of the classic meme of multiple versions of Spider-Man pointing at each other. So, we re-created it with the kids:

The kids were perhaps most excited to spend Christmas Eve with their oldest male cousin Dallin for the first time since 2017 (before he left on his mission). A significant portion of the night passed with Dallin good naturedly wrestling with them, which looked a lot like this at certain intervals:

Then on Saturday (Boxing Day), we had another family Zoom meeting, this time with many of our British cousins in England joining in on the call. It was wonderful to reconnect with so many of them, including Brian, Denis, Linda, Lynn, and their spouses/kids/grandkids.

Thus concluded our celebration of my favorite holiday of the year. Currently, it's 362 days till next Christmas. The countdown has already begun.

Independence Day 2020

Oh yeah---we also had a holiday last weekend. The irony of social distancing guidelines in place when we are celebrating Independence Day was not lost on me, but I believe what we are doing for the time being is for the good of our neighbors and for society as a whole.

Our gathering was limited to family members. Sadie was again a big hit, as she always is, seen here with Claudia (she, Scott, and Eden made the trek up from Lehi to join in on the festivities):

Danny, Jana, Ike, Tanner, and many others enjoyed snacking on some fresh cotton candy (which Adi made):

After enjoying a delicious variety of Fourth of July foods (hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and the like), we went out to the front yard for some fireworks.

The last time I got excited about seeing fireworks was probably when I was about 10 or 11 years old. But the kids love them, and that's good enough for me.

After sparklers and a few others of the more tame kind of fireworks, all heck broke loose. Two consecutive Roman candles went defective and shot sideways (JB said she heard something bounce off one of our cars) and, for an encore, also ignited a small fire on the lawn of the neighbor across the street. It was at this point we decided it was probably better to put a stop to the evening's fireworks.

Anyhow, it's always good to get together with family on such an important holiday.

Westley's Blessing

On Sunday afternoon, most of the Plowman clan headed north up to Dad's hometown of Smithfield for the LDS baby blessing for Chantel's and Jordan's son Westley. (Everybody got that? Good.)

Venturing into third cousin territory is a bit of a new thing for us, and it's pretty cool! We may have set a new record for size/number of those in the Melchizedek priesthood circle for this blessing. After the ordinance, we enjoyed a potluck meal together, complete with a lot of Italian food, courtesy of the baby's grandma (Claudia) and many other generous folks.

Here's Mom with baby Westley:

Sunday was also my nephew Danny's fourth birthday.

Independence Day 2019

Our country had another birthday this past week. Our family celebrated the occasion, as we are wont to do, by getting together to enjoy a barbecue and fireworks.

Scott and Claudia invited us down to their home in Lehi, where we were also reunited with our cousins Jamie and Jared (who was visiting us from California) and portions of their families. It was the biggest extended family group we've had together in one place since Dad's funeral over two years ago. Claudia's cousins from California also joined us for the occasion.

The hamburgers and hot dogs were plentiful and delicious, as were the fruit and other side dishes, as well as the desserts.

This Fourth of July was unusual in that it was much cooler than others in recent memory. A storm blew in at one point, driving the BBQ indoors for a few hours.

Fortunately, the storm broke in time for us to light of some fireworks out on the street, what we like to call Cul-de-Sac of Fire. By this time, the temperature had dropped to the 60s, which is rather unseasonable for July. And I loved it.

The fireworks were also plentiful, as well as colorful.

The company was even better, and it was good to spend an afternoon and evening with our extended family members.

Issac's Blessing

The first Fast Sunday of the year was also the day on which my nephew Isaac Jeffrey was given his LDS baby blessing by his father, Jeff. Yours truly, along with Ike's other uncles and a couple of grandparents, stood in the circle for the priesthood ordinance.

Afterward, we congregated at Jeff's brother's house for a family brunch. I provided a box of Mike & Ike candy I found at the store last week for this very photo op:

Unfortunately, Ike began to cry just as I was about to snap the photo.

It's always great to be surrounded by family, including part of Scott's and Claudia's gang. My cousin Jared's son Jordan was also in town from California and joined us for this occasion.

My Soul's Complaint

"He lives to comfort me when faint.

He lives to hear my soul's complaint."

 -"I Know That My Redeemer Lives," Hymn no. 136

We sang these very words not long ago, as Latter-day Saints are wont to do in our meetings. It's one of our most common and most beloved hymns, though I don't think I've ever really stopped to ponder much about this particular phrase. It was later pointed our by our elders quorum instructor, which then led to a rather interesting discussion.

Again, as Latter-day Saints are wont to do. Especially in elders quorum.

Complaining to the Lord? You mean, He lives to hear me moan and groan when things go poorly, or when I'm heartbroken or lonely, or when my faith is not a strong as it would or could be? He puts up with all of that?

Apparently so. It is a somewhat reassuring thought. In our deepest, darkest moments of despair and trial, He is there, and He understands, because He has walked where we have walked and Has felt what we have felt. I think He gets it if we have moments even when we doubt everything we once thought we knew to be true. We can only imagine the loneliness, isolation, pain, and anxiety He felt when He cried out, in the moment of His deepest despair:

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).

What's the difference between complaining and murmuring? I think there is one, though it may be a fine line sometimes. I also Googled this very question and read a number of intriguing responses, mainly on other Christian Web sites and blogs.

Personally, I believe that murmurers have gone beyond merely complaining. They are not only complainers as a habit, but they are in open rebellion; not because they have doubts, but because they choose not to believe.

Then again, it may be just semantics. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to, and all that.

This is not also to say, at the same time, that it's a good thing to be primarily a complainer. Because complainers are not only miserable people; since misery loves company, they love to pass it around.

This topic has been on my mind lately because my family has lost from this earthly existence two souls very dear to us this week; one on each side of my family. If I get to the afterlife and find neither one of them there (one was a member who shared our faith, while the other, one of the most giving and loving souls I've ever known, was not), I'll know I've ended up in the wrong place. Both were unexpected, though one was far less expected than the other due to age and health circumstances. Whatever the reasons or expectations may have been a week ago, we feel the loss dearly, and we mourn and grieve.

To some extent, our souls even complain. We may wonder why things happened the way they did. Personally, I wonder what to say that doesn't sound forced or stupid or uncaring. I always do when death is involved, for it is never an easy topic.

What I do know is that He is there to hear our soul's complaint. He understands. He loves us. In the end, He will make everything all right, even though all may be noise and confusion and chaos right here and now in this mortal coil.

Indeed, the He lives portion of the "He lives to hear my soul's complaint" is the most important part of that phrase.

No Love Lost

Today's photo comes from the This-Isn't-Really-What-It-Looks-Like File, in which it appears that 10-month-old Kate is beating up on her 2-year-old cousin Christian:

The kids were actually just having a bit of fun, and I suppose I snapped it at just the right moment. Or, the wrong moment.

Either way, there's no love lost between cousins.

Ashlyne's and Jordan's Wedding

Over the weekend, my cousin Ashlyne got married to Jordan in the Salt Lake temple. Yet another Jordan in the family!

But that's great news, because we really like Jordan and were happy to partake in the day's festivities. It also gave me a chance to break in my new phone's new camera.

It was a very cold but otherwise beautiful day.

During the sealing ceremony, Meikayla tended four-month-old Daniel and rocked him to sleep:

Afterward, we convened at a chapel in Draper for the wedding luncheon, which included either corn chowder or chili in bread bowls:

Aloha Oe . . . for Now

My Uncle Dexter passed away last week at the age of 78. His cancer diagnosis came just a handful of days prior, and before we knew it, he was gone.

His was a wonderful life. Uncle Dexter was that one uncle who pinched my ears and the scruff of my neck (we've all got one, right?) but who also gave great hugs. We never had reason to doubt he loved or cared for us. At Christmas time, we looked forward to the annual package of Omaha Steaks. I also cannot recall a single birthday, including the two I spent as a missionary in Peru, that he and Aunt Marilyn did not send me a birthday card.

The last time I visited him and Aunt Marilyn out in Fairfield, California, he fed us a hearty breakfast and proudly took Ben and me around to several members of his ward to introduce them to "m'nephews."

We love you and miss you. Aloha . . . for now.

Below is his obituary, shared on Facebook by his oldest son, my cousin Jamie.

Obituary William Dexter Sanders

JAMIE SANDERS·THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

William D. Sanders, better known to us all as Dexter, was born in La Verkin, Utah on Aug. 8, 1937, to Cecil William Sanders and Norma Stout. He was the fourth child, preceded by older siblings, La Ree Radmall Boyd and Carolyn Kleinman; he was followed by Judy Bower and Stephen Paul. Dexter graduated from Hurricane High School in 1955 and worked on the family turkey farm in La Verkin until he was called to serve a mission in Hawaii, from 1957 through 1959. When he returned from his mission, he attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah where he met his eternal companion, Marilyn Plowman. They were married in the Logan, Utah temple on July 27, 1960. In their 55 years of marriage, they had five children, Shellie Jensen, husband, Denny Jensen, Jamie P. Sanders, wife, Julie Topol, Scott William Sanders, wife, Claudia Berlangieri, Jared Dexter Sanders, wife Cindy Winkler and daughter, Sherrie Linn Sanders; they also enjoy, 19 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. In college he signed up for the R.O.T.C. program and after graduation he entered the United States Air Force as an officer and served our country for 22 years and retired as a Major. He was a navigator on the Air Force’s C-5 and a Base Operations Officer when he was on the ground. Many people may have also made his acquaintance in one of his other “spare time jobs”. After his retirement, he started a second career working for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as a mechanical custodian. In addition to his family, church service and career, he was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America with too many titles to list and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver award. Dexter became known as “Mr. Scouter” by all those who knew him because of his great love for the scouting program. He realized how this program could bless and influence the lives of boys and adults alike. His top priority was ensuring that all young men had the support needed to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, which had the potential to positively influence the rest of their lives. He has been an example, mentor, leader and father figure to more people than we can list. Dexter has legacy of never turning down any opportunity to provide service and will be loved and missed by all. A viewing will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2700 Camrose Ave., Fairfield, California. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, 1215, also at the LDS Church. Interment will follow at 1 p.m. at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon, California. All scouters in attendance can honor his memory by wearing their scouting uniform. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to: Mt. Diablo Silverado Council, Boy Scouts of America, 800 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-4703 include in the memo: In memory of W. Dexter Sanders. Arrangements under the care of Fairfield Funeral Home, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave., Fairfield. 707-425-1041.

Daniel's Blessing

Up till now, there's been a serious lack of Daniel photos here on Paco Nation. I'm gonna fix that tonight.

My two-month-old nephew Daniel, Steve's and Summer's little boy, was given his LDS baby blessing in his ward today by his dad. Everyone in the immediate family (and their respective families) gathered for this event, and we were joined by some of our Utah County cousins, including Ashlyne and her fiancé, Jordan (who made their big announcement just yesterday).

When I first attempted to take his picture, he was not a happy camper:

Because, baby issues.

Eventually he settled down for this photo:

All around, it was a memorable day, and we're surviving the return to Standard Time so far.

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.