We had a recent birthday in the family. Little D turned 10 years old. We have a tradition of having family birthday parties on the odd years and friend parties on the even years. Little D opened his presents from the family in the morning and in the afternoon we had eight 10 year old kids over to celebrate.
There were six boys invited (and one extra kid showed up whom we didn't invite- the more the merrier?)
Chocolate cake with chocolate pudding and chocolate chips with chocolate frosting and chocolate candy on top with ten candles. Mmmmmm (if you like chocolate and wax).
Little D also recently won a writing contest that a group called "The Sons of Pioneers" hosted at local schools. We were invited to a have dinner together with his teacher and two other students that won the writing contest at their elementary school. He was asked to read his essay aloud and did a great job.
Clement Hills Johnson 1909-2002
A Utah Pioneer
My Great-Grandpa was named Clement Hills Johnson. He was the Great-Grandson of Joel Hills Johnson who was the bodyguard to Joseph Smith and author of the Mormon hymn, "High on a Mountain Top."
Clement was born on March 22, 1909 in the town of Cannonville, Utah, just down the road from Bryce Canyon National Park. In those days there were no TV's, few people even had radios. Some of the small towns didn't have electricity and the houses didn't have indoor bathrooms. In fact, when he lived in Hanksville as a young married man, Clement built the first indoor toilet in town and dug the cesspool himself.
Clement was a really good worker. During the Great Depression he worked hard taking care of a ranch near Hanksville. He was paid room and board plus fifteen dollars a month. He also worked as a rancher, a shepherd, and even a road construction worker. He often had to work far away from home and he really missed his wife. Once he walked 45 miles across the desert to get home to his wife. That's like walking from Salt Lake to Provo.
When his second child was being born, they gave his wife too much sleep medicine and she died. The nurse had given her the entire bottle of Chloroform. The doctor took her pulse and listened for her heart beat and there was no sign of life. Everyone went out of the room and Clement gave her a blessing and a shiver went through her body and then she opened her eyes. He brought her back to life with the priesthood. She and the baby were alive. They even had five more children later.
Clement and his wife Clara were unable to graduate from high school as teenagers because there wasn't enough money and they had to work instead of go to school. Finally in 1995, at the ages of 86 and 83, Clement and Clara graduated from Timpview High School.
I don't really remember meeting him, but when I was a baby he held me once. My parents remember what he looked like and how happy he was to see me, but I don't. I wish I could remember.
Clement was a pioneer because he travelled around a lot. He lived for a really long time so he saw the world change. During his life, electricity came to every single house; TV's came and computers came and everyone got cars. A lot of things changed during his life, but some things didn't change. One thing that never changed was his love for his wife and his family.
He was a good man and he lived a good life. I hope I can see him again in heaven. I hope that I can live as good of a life as he did.
A Utah Pioneer
My Great-Grandpa was named Clement Hills Johnson. He was the Great-Grandson of Joel Hills Johnson who was the bodyguard to Joseph Smith and author of the Mormon hymn, "High on a Mountain Top."
Clement was born on March 22, 1909 in the town of Cannonville, Utah, just down the road from Bryce Canyon National Park. In those days there were no TV's, few people even had radios. Some of the small towns didn't have electricity and the houses didn't have indoor bathrooms. In fact, when he lived in Hanksville as a young married man, Clement built the first indoor toilet in town and dug the cesspool himself.
Clement was a really good worker. During the Great Depression he worked hard taking care of a ranch near Hanksville. He was paid room and board plus fifteen dollars a month. He also worked as a rancher, a shepherd, and even a road construction worker. He often had to work far away from home and he really missed his wife. Once he walked 45 miles across the desert to get home to his wife. That's like walking from Salt Lake to Provo.
When his second child was being born, they gave his wife too much sleep medicine and she died. The nurse had given her the entire bottle of Chloroform. The doctor took her pulse and listened for her heart beat and there was no sign of life. Everyone went out of the room and Clement gave her a blessing and a shiver went through her body and then she opened her eyes. He brought her back to life with the priesthood. She and the baby were alive. They even had five more children later.
Clement and his wife Clara were unable to graduate from high school as teenagers because there wasn't enough money and they had to work instead of go to school. Finally in 1995, at the ages of 86 and 83, Clement and Clara graduated from Timpview High School.
I don't really remember meeting him, but when I was a baby he held me once. My parents remember what he looked like and how happy he was to see me, but I don't. I wish I could remember.
Clement was a pioneer because he travelled around a lot. He lived for a really long time so he saw the world change. During his life, electricity came to every single house; TV's came and computers came and everyone got cars. A lot of things changed during his life, but some things didn't change. One thing that never changed was his love for his wife and his family.
He was a good man and he lived a good life. I hope I can see him again in heaven. I hope that I can live as good of a life as he did.
I rummaged through some of my photos and found of few of Little D. I adore this kid. He's my little buddy. He is a wonderful middle child. Not only does he tough it out when Raycito wants to wrestle him (Ray weighs more than two Little Ds), he also is very sweet and plays not so tough with Lou. He can be stubborn and mischievous. He can be tenderhearted and cuddly.
He is all boy- a wonderful boy!
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