The Scott & Alice Dean Family

Summer Time 2010 Pictures

2010-08-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

We have more pictures to add soon.

We have had a fun, crazy, happy and interesting summer. We drove to Vegas, San Diego and Fresno and Roseville. Visited family. Didn't have enough time to visit friends on the way to and from, but you are in our hearts. We are healthy and are looking forward to school starting.

I start at Palo Verde College the 16th and the boys start at Margaret White (1st and last year that they will all be in school together) and Scott starts the 23rd of August at Fresno State online program for his Masters in Teaching degree.

We rid ourselves of the Directv finally. We will all need to be studying and doing homework. I have been wanting to do this for a while now, feeling that we have better things to do then watching TV. I will miss BYU TV for conference, and HGTV for all the building and interior decorating shows, but I can watch them on the computer if I really want to watch them.

I am testing for 2 jobs in town. We will see what happens there. The boys are really excited to return to school. A new chapter of our lives begins this school year.

We are still here

2010-07-14T23:16:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I have updated our blog. It has been over 6 months ago. Lots have changed. The boys are getting bigger, smarter and stronger.

Jared is going to be 11 in September and is very strong headed, loves to read, watch tv, play on the Wii, help his brothers. Currently he doesn't want to continue piano lessons. His dad and I are figuring out if we are going to sign him against his desires on the hopes that he will be grateful one day for our choice trumping his. He expresses desire to learn the violin and continue playing baseball. He and his brother Travis were able to ride a tour bus to Phoenix with Blythe PAL and watch a game between the Diamondbacks and Mariners. Diamondbacks Won! They both brought home bobble heads and good memories.

Travis is the artsy type of kid and would rather play the piano then sports. He does love to swim and play with his friends. He is a great protector for his little brother Preston. They get along really well. He sings well and has the courage to get up in front of lots of people to perform. He has competed in the last two Margaret White Elementary school talent shows. He is already excited about next years show.

Nicholas is turning 7 next month and is stubborn as all get out! He will not let his top loose tooth go. He lost a tooth earlier this year already and he threw a fit about it. He wouldn't let anyone look at his mouth. The other tooth that should have been out months ago is causing the adult tooth to poke out the front of his gum. He is really loving the water. He joined his other three brothers in swim lessons at the high school pool (a million dollar Olympic size pool!) and no longer wears his life jacket to swim. He loves to go under water and practice floating on his back.

Preston will be 5 this coming Halloween and will be in Kindergarten. Yes, all four boys will be in school this year. He wasn't sure he wanted to go but has come to be excited for it along with his brothers. He asks a lot of "why" questions and loves to play and talk with his brothers. Preston is the most imaginative player. He can come up with a conversation all by himself (a little one man play!)

Scott begins his Masters in Teaching through Fresno State this Fall 2010. It is a 3 semester program. He will be traveling to his orientation in August. He still works for the State of California. This is his fourth year here in Blythe. This is the longest place we have lived and worked as a married couple.

I was grateful for the job security after probation but with the state being in the financial crisis that it is, I am not so certain what is going to happen in the future. I will also be attending school in the Fall to finish my Associate degrees. I will be applying for a job with the City of Blythe Police Department.I have been walking mostly 5 days a week since last August and have toned up my body. I will be taking a Physical education class to help with my healthy lifestyle while going to school and continue walking in the morning. I am planning to help out in the German class at the middle school to bring my German language skills to my mission days level.

Top Ten List for the Dean Family in 2009

2009-12-20T23:09:00.000-08:00

You know 2009 is over when…

10. You receive this Dean Family Christmas Letter in the mail before December 31st!

9. Preston turned 4 on Halloween (A Halloween Baby! He gets candy with his cake)! He imagines he is what- ever he wants to be for the moment (A knight in shining armor, a firefighter, and police officer-he loves to dress up for the part. His favorite is Red Power Ranger. He has the entire costume including the Red gloves, but always needs help putting those on) and will talk up a storm just because he can.

8. Nicholas is 6 and is advanced in his schoolwork, loves helping and playing with his friends

7. Travis turned 8 and was baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, received the Gift of the Holy Ghost on the fifth of July with friends and family. Became a Wolf scout in Pack 429. Travis is in 3rd grade. He played flag football too and had a great coach and experience.

6. Jared has reached the double digits for his very first time. Had a sleepover with a couple of friends to celebrate. We had a spaghetti dinner and chocolate chip Pancake breakfast, played games; he and his friends slept out under the stars on the trampoline. He joined the Webelos scout den in September with the new khaki green scout uniform. He is active in all the activities and loving it. He is in 5th grade, a GATE student, played Flag Football, playing piano, and loves to read! He read all the Harry Potter books in about 6 months.

5. Alice is still 25, enjoying a break from her service activities: with Scouts, Family History, School Site Council, CERT, and Red Cross and wondering if we say “2010”-twenty ten or “010”-zero ten, or two thousand ten? She is three classes away from her first A.S. degree. She is looking forward with hope of finding more family.

4. Scott has his job and will be finishing his Masters in Education (that he started some eight years) ago with Fresno State University (A California State University-Go State!) online in the fall of 2010.

3. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

2. We want to be of service to others and show love toward everyone. We are trying to be more like Christ.

1. A prophet says, “We can with confidence set a goal to make this Christmas brighter than the last and each year that follows brighter still. The trials of mortality may increase in intensity, yet for us, darkness need not increase if we focus our eyes more singly on the light that streams down on us as we follow the Master. He will lead us and help us along the path that leads upward to the home for which we yearn. There have been times, often at Christmas, when we have felt parts of what we will experience when we at last come home to the Father who loves us and answers our prayers and to the Savior who has lighted our lives and lifted us up. I testify that because of Him, you may have an assurance that you can go home not only at Christmastime but also to live forever with a family whom you love and who love each other.”

[Letterman chuckles. The applause ends until next New Year’s Top Ten]

Scott and Alice Dean, 771 Michelle Court, Blythe, CA 92225
Home Phone: 760-278-9697
scottandalicedeanfamily.blogspot.com
alice.cdean@yahoo.com
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Phone Number Changed

2009-08-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

We changed our home phone number to 1-760-972-8658. Please make this correction in your phone book and pass it along to others who might try to get to know me.

Gospel Discussion Group Schedule

2009-07-26T21:48:00.000-07:00

Gospel Discussion Group, questions call me
760-921-2936, 760-972-8658 (my phone number is wrong in the little yellow book)
All meet at 11:00 am until further notice at Alice’s house. Bring scriptures, Joseph Smith manual each week. Snack to share if you want, but not required. We will read through the lesson and discuss it. We can change the day and time and location. I am open to change. I want as many who want to attend to be able to attend.

Aug 6-Lesson #37
Aug 13-Lesson #38
Sep 10-Lesson #39
Sep 17-Lesson #40
Oct 8-Lesson #41
Oct 15-Lesson #42
Nov 5-Lesson #43
Nov 12-Lesson #44
Dec 3-Lesson #45
Dec 13-Lesson #46

What a summer so far!

2009-07-17T16:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have been busy so far and haven't taken the time to update all of you about what has been going on in our family since the last time! Scott finished his Woodbadge Tickets and earned his beads, but hasn't had his ceremony to receive them yet. They have to be worn by someone before he receives them, a tradition. So now that my Math class is over! Yea, and I do not recommend anyone, unless you are a wiz, to take distant ed class for math. I even had my math wiz husband help me and he said the teacher was crazy! All the work was handwritten and many handouts and it was confusing to look at and I got frustrated and so I didn't spend the amount of time I should have on it!

Scott is on a scout camp out in Sedona area of Arizona (WWW.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/Mormon_lake ) today and will be back tomorrow. He had 2 weeks off, the last week of June and 1st week in July. We drove to Disneyland and spent a day their, attended the Angels vs Colorado baseball game in which they won 4-3, close game and the boys loved it! I could do that more often! Too bad the Heat only comes through once a year! I remember the days when Scott and I had season passes for the Oakland A's when we lived in the Bay Area! Jared was our first son to attend a baseball game when he was three weeks old. Sadly, we have moved away from the Oakland A's! Still my favorite team! This is a picture of Jared with his step-Grand-mother, Jann Dean in the stands with us.

We had family over for the 4th of July! The Honorable Travelers are: My brother Mike and his 8 month pregnant wife (she's having another girl-seems she has all the girls in our family), Monica and their 2 daughters (Jasmine & Jocelyn) and one son (Jaden) drove over 12 hours to be here for this special occasion! Thanks Mike and Monica! My mom, Jackie, step-dad Mart and step-brother Jacob also spent as much time as Mike and Monica traveling, they sure did make great time for leaving so late in the morning! It's probably because they didn't have any little children to stop and let pee! Thanks Mom and Mart and Jacob for being here! And Scott's mother Maggie. Thank you Margaret! Isaac, Dee Dee Rodrick's son joined Travis in getting Baptized and Confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on the 5th of July too!

He celebrated his birthday with a little party here at home on his birthday with a couple of friends and his brothers! Summer time is not the best time to have a party! I will have to think of a better way to do his future parties and have more of his friends show up!

We have gone swimming with friends. We also, went bike riding with the Hermanson's (2 days so far) and it was hot, but we had fun! This got me moving earlier in the morning which I need to get back in the routine of getting up earlier, having scripture study with all four boys within an hour and not in four hours. The boys have been having scripture study with me daily (M-F and sometimes Sat/Sun) since Christmas Eve 2008. We started in the Doctrine and Covenants and they started reading the number of verses a day for their age, so Preston read 3 verses and so forth. I love the individual time with them! We added Scouts after the scriptures during the summer when we have nothing else to do. Travis is so excited and willing to work on his requirements and electives in the Wolf book. Jared will be moving up to Webelos in September. He is looking forward to all the boy stuff they do and all his friends from Scouts are moved up already and he wants to be with them. Today started out cooler than yesterday! I am sore from not riding in many years, but a friend of mine told me that it was good for, well, all my muscles! I sure do feel those muscles! It felt good to get in a good aerobic exercise and get my heart pumping! Even though it was hot, and I was sweating, it felt good and uplifting! Preston is still learning to ride and the sooner we get him out of training wheels he will be faster!

So, for the rest of the summer, before the Fall Semester begins, I will organize more, update my various blogs, journals, maybe even get a few pages of scrapbooking (actually I don't really call it that, I call it organizing!) I want all my valuable pictures, documents and scrapbooking stuff, genealogy and anything relating to family history in the same place and easily accessible for the fire department or me in event of an emergency and I got to get out quickly! We're thinking about buying a house, trailer so we could use it for an emergency if we needed to leave for any emergency and maybe even to go camping somewhere! Hey, I am used to the camper camping, as I grew up camping in a 26 footer Winnebago and participated in the Youth group at the camp. I would like to find more of the friends from those good old days!

Wood Badge is over, college class should be over, kids schools ending soon!

2009-05-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought I needed an update since my last blog entry. I have lost 10 inches around my waist but still wearing the bigger clothes so no one can tell! I finished serving on the staff for Wood Badge and had a great early anniversary weekend with Scott in Vegas. We saw a show and Air Supply in concert while Grandma Maggie was with the kids at home. She wasn't feeling too well, but watched them anyway even after getting 2 shots and 2 different meds to help her the day I left for Vegas the second weekend.

I have located cousins and old friends. I have loved that and found more possible family members that I need to research to see how we are related. The kids are excited for school to be out but I told them they will go to summer school if I can get them in. Travis wants to continue piano lessons during the summer. He is also Student of the month of May. Nicholas and Jared also have been student of the months, I think they were in Feb and April 2009. Travis is excited to see family at his Baptism this 5th of July and everyone is welcome to attend here in Blythe at 12:30pm after church. Email me if you want more details. I know it can be a long drive. Preston is potty trained now for a couple of months and I am so loving it! No more diapers. Nicholas lost 2 bottom center teeth and broke down because he didn't want to loose his teeth. He walked around with his tongue protecting the second tooth after he lost the first hoping the other tooth wouldn't go too! He even made himself sick because of it. I got that on film! I will post it when I get time to post it and when I figure it out again! I think I still need to download my pics onto the computer still!

Oh yeah, I am behind in finishing my history class, but it is an interesting class and I have my math book for the other class I am taking in the summer. I am working concurrently on two AA degrees, one in Liberal Studies and the other in General Studies to transfer someday. I then want to take the Building Technology degree and eventually build something!

Civil War Days in Blythe

2009-03-14T22:05:00.000-07:00

http://battleofblythe.com/

Free online Journaling

2009-03-10T13:06:00.001-07:00

The Publicity Dilemma

2009-03-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

I am posting a press release. I wrote and email to HBO about not airing the episode where they are planning to show our sacred temple ceremonies in their show. The temple is a sacred place and I want to keep it that way. So I encourage all strong and faithful members to tastefully share your displeasure of this kind of episode.

SALT LAKE CITY 9 March 2009 Like other large faith groups, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sometimes finds itself on the receiving end of attention from Hollywood or Broadway, television series or books, and the news media. Sometimes depictions of the Church and its people are quite accurate. Sometimes the images are false or play to stereotypes. Occasionally, they are in appallingly bad taste.

As Catholics, Jews and Muslims have known for centuries, such attention is inevitable once an institution or faith group reaches a size or prominence sufficient to attract notice. Yet Latter-day Saints – sometimes known as Mormons - still wonder whether and how they should respond when news or entertainment media insensitively trivialize or misrepresent sacred beliefs or practices.

Church members are about to face that question again. Before the first season of the HBO series Big Love aired more than two years ago, the show’s creators and HBO executives assured the Church that the series wouldn’t be about Mormons. However, Internet references to Big Love indicate that more and more Mormon themes are now being woven into the show and that the characters are often unsympathetic figures who come across as narrow and self-righteous. And according to TV Guide, it now seems the show’s writers are to depict what they understand to be sacred temple ceremonies.

Certainly Church members are offended when their most sacred practices are misrepresented or presented without context or understanding. Last week some Church members began e-mail chains calling for cancellations of subscriptions to AOL, which, like HBO, is owned by Time Warner. Certainly such a boycott by hundreds of thousands of computer-savvy Latter-day Saints could have an economic impact on the company. Individual Latter-day Saints have the right to take such actions if they choose.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an institution does not call for boycotts. Such a step would simply generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end would increase audiences for the series. As Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Robert D. Hales of the Council of the Twelve Apostles have both said recently, when expressing themselves in the public arena, Latter-day Saints should conduct themselves with dignity and thoughtfulness.

Not only is this the model that Jesus Christ taught and demonstrated in his own life, but it also reflects the reality of the strength and maturity of Church members today. As someone recently said, “This isn’t 1830, and there aren’t just six of us anymore.” In other words, with a global membership of thirteen and a half million there is no need to feel defensive when the Church is moving forward so rapidly. The Church’s strength is in its faithful members in 170-plus countries, and there is no evidence that extreme misrepresentations in the media that appeal only to a narrow audience have any long-term negative effect on the Church.

Examples:

* During the Mitt Romney election campaign for the presidency of the United States, commentator Lawrence O’Donnell hurled abuse at the Church in a television moment that became known among many Church members as “the O’Donnell rant.” Today, his statements are remembered only as a testament to intolerance and ignorance. They had no effect on the Church that can be measured.
* When the comedy writers for South Park produced a gross portrayal of Church history, individual Church members no doubt felt uncomfortable. But once again it inflicted no perceptible or lasting damage to a church that is growing by at least a quarter of a million new members every year.
* When an independent film company produced a grossly distorted version of the Mountain Meadows Massacre two years ago, the Church ignored it. Perhaps partly as a result of that refusal to engender the controversy that the producers hoped for, the movie flopped at the box office and lost millions.
* In recent months, some gay activists have barraged the media with accusations about “hateful” attitudes of Latter-day Saints in supporting Proposition 8 in California, which maintained the traditional definition of marriage. They even organized a protest march around the Salt Lake Temple. Again, the Church has refused to be goaded into a Mormons versus gays battle and has simply stated its position in tones that are reasonable and respectful. Meanwhile, missionary work and Church members in California remain as robust and vibrant as ever, and support for the Church has come from many unexpected quarters — including some former critics and other churches.

Now comes another series of Big Love, and despite earlier assurances from HBO it once again blurs the distinctions between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the show’s fictional non-Mormon characters and their practices. Such things say much more about the insensitivities of writers, producers and TV executives than they say about Latter-day Saints.

If the Church allowed critics and opponents to choose the ground on which its battles are fought, it would risk being distracted from the focus and mission it has pursued successfully for nearly 180 years. Instead, the Church itself will determine its own course as it continues to preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Call your assemblyman or woman right away

2009-02-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

The email I received was dated 2/17/2009 at 3:10 p.m.

The sole witness in opposition to HR 5 was CRFI's executive director, Karen England. She released the following statement after leaving the committee room:

"It is shameful that in the middle of a budget crisis here in California, lawmakers are wasting taxpayer dollars to hear a resolution-not an actual bill- seeking to 0overturn a law that the people have lawfully passed twice. This should show taxpayers what the majority legislators really care about: their own political agenda, not representing the best interests of the people.

"HR 5 argues that Proposition 8 was an invalid revision to the state Constitution and therefore is not legal. However, California case law states that a revision is a 'substantial change' to the 'underlying principles" of the Constitution. Proposition 8 clearly places a simple statement into the Constitution: 'Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.' This in no way substantially alters our state government. In fact, it could be argued that turning the traditional definition of marriage on its head constitutes a revision to our government system.

"During the hearing, those testifying in favor of HR 5 actually compared Proposition 8 supporters to Nazis. This is outrageous bigotry and every citizen should be appalled that they were likened to Nazis simply for voting to defend traditional marriage.

"The legislature just doesn't get it. They think their agenda reigns supreme. How arrogant to pass resolutions defying the will of the people because these lawmakers think they are more enlightened than the people they were supposedly elected to represent."

She is asking us to call our assembly man and tell them to vote NO on HR 5. If you live in Blythe we live in District 80 and Manuel Perez is ours and his phone numbers are: 1-916-319-2080 and 1-760-342-8047. Leave a message if necessary to vote NO on HR 5.

Please also call the members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee who voted against HR 5 and thank them for their courageous leadership:

The 3 who voted NO on it and we need to thank them for it are: Steve Knight 1-916-319-2036 and Jim Nielsen 1-916-319-2002, and Van Tran 1-916-319-2068. Please spread the word. I already called and spoke to one person in Manuel Perez's office tonight.

Our Birthdays! Found more family! Wood Badge staff

2009-02-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

Well, it was my birthday on the 4th, I turned 39 for the 1st time! My husband Scott turned 42 for the 1st time too! I got my nails done by Tenille and she gave me the gift of a spa day with my hair and nails! Thanks again Tenille and Bonnie and Lupe! We went to Vegas the weekend before and kind of celebrated there while Grandma Maggie watched the boys. Thanks to BTBB for letting the boys sit with you the past 2 wks while we were playing, I mean, training for Wood Badge staff.

Of course, I have to tell you a family history story too! Can you believe this is the second time this happened to me. I met a fellow scouter with a name in my husband's mom's side of the family and we are in the process of verifying if we are related. I will keep you updated. I met another fellow scouter in Havasu when I first got into scouting when I first moved here who has the same last name. We shared a family! So I am a firm believer that where ever you are and whatever you do, you can be connected to someone if we just keep our eyes open.

If you haven't heard, Alice was asked to be on Wood Badge staff in May 2009. So she has 3 day meetings in Vegas to help plan the event. I get to work with my troop guide who helped guide me along to earning my beads, which I completed and I am looking forward to the ceremony sometime before May 6, 2009. I encourage all of you leaders to plan to attend Wood Badge. It is well worth the work and time! We can have a better scout and Young Men's program with better trained Den Leaders and Scout Leaders. All the training is helpful in understanding the program and teaching the boys! If you have any questions call me or go online to www.lvacbsa.org

I wish all you February birthdays a happy day!

This weekend Jared and I are going to Calico Ghost Town for a Civil War re-enactment field trip! I will take lots of pictures! I am still working on getting slideshows of pictures and when I do, I will share more.

Food Storage help just click

2009-01-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

Thanks for sharing this site! I have food storage, but need to have better organization. I am working on organization this year and my 72 hr kits for each family member.

First lines for 2008

2008-12-30T23:45:00.000-08:00

Here are my first lines for my posts in 2008. Have fun!

Well, I thought that I would write today. I am writing to tell the world that this Dean family is trying to Choose the Right in life! Well, Preston and I attended Music Makers Blythe 2008 and it started out well! This blog entry was from another blog spot I started and decide to combine the 2 and get rid of the other. Well, Jared is 9 now, Travis is 7, Nicholas is 5, and Preston will be 3 in 29 days (yes, on Halloween!) His favorite game site is: www.neopets.com. My brother in Sacramento told me of a church broadcast that he attended last week about Proposition 8, so I went looking for a way to view it myself and found this partial clip of it on the church's website and wanted to share it with you all. So far I have decided to vote: NO on 3, 5, 7, 9, 10,11,12 and YES on 2, 4, 8 and still undecided on the rest. I have been working hard to help get the word out about voting "YES on Proposition 8" and lately people have been stealing the signs me and others have been putting up. I have been studying my grandmother's life journal she left us and thought I would share with you what life was like for her and maybe your family back in the day! Genealogy (Family History)
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The crowning sacraments of Latter-day Saint temples are the sealing ceremonies that unite men and women and children in eternal family relationships. Merry Christmas 2008 and Happy New Year in 2009 from the Dean’s

Our Christmas Letter for 2008

2008-12-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas 2008 and Happy New Year in 2009 from the Dean’s

We have had tons of things happen this year! Scott has been editing his book. Scott passed his probation at work. We are so proud of him and all his hard work! Scott is the Young Men’s secretary. He is an avid eBay’er and loves garage sales. Together Alice and Scott completed Boy Scouts of America Wood Badge Training in the Las Vegas Area Council and is working toward completing our tickets (goals) by November 2009. We both are merit badge counselors. Alice is a family history consultant helping others and herself work on family history. She loves it! She is volunteering with scouting still as a service project coordinator, historian (blythecubscoutpack429.blogspot.com) and pack trainer in training. She also volunteers as School Site Council member going on 3 years for the kid’s elementary school and for GATE (gifted and talented education) booster program. She enjoys participating in the community and is trying to make it a better place to raise our family.

Jared is 9, loves learning, scouts (he is a Bear now), piano, singing in school district choir, taking pictures, reading, (finally!) computer games, and learning about the civil war in GATE we even bought him a civil war uniform and hat for the little re-enactments they are doing and we are hoping to have a live re-enactment for a field trip in the spring. Travis is 7 ½, loves piano, scouts (he earned his Tiger badge), helping people, computer games, learning (he wants to be in GATE with his brother!), and spending time with his family and playing with his friends. Nicholas is 5, entered kindergarten, loves it but needs to learn to focus on his work and talking with friends at the appropriate times! He is very social, loves learning, writing and playing with his friends. Jared, Travis, & Nicholas love to visit the music teacher and play on the drum set after school before coming home! They all love to play together, bounce on the trampoline and take pictures. Preston is 3, is home with mom, loves to play school, wants to be a scout, loves to sing, read books, play with cars and friends, play with his brothers when they are home from school, he loves to mimic what they say as he has been talking up a storm!

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Check out our blog for more updates: scottandalicedeanfamily.blogspot.com or email us: snadean@yahoo.com

Family History and why I do it

2008-11-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

Genealogy (Family History)
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The crowning sacraments of Latter-day Saint temples are the sealing ceremonies that unite men and women and children in eternal family relationships. Latter-day Saints believe that these sealings and other temple rites may also be performed by proxy for those who have died. Consequently, genealogical research or family history is, in Latter-day Saint belief, the essential forerunner for temple work for the dead. In Latter-day Saint belief, the dead have the choice to accept or reject the services performed for them.

From early in its history, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encouraged its members to research their family history. In 1894 the Genealogical Society of Utah was established for that purpose. During the 20th century, extensive negotiations were conducted with governments and custodians of public records to preserve birth, marriage and death records by microfilming them. More recently, microfilming has given way to digital technology.
Recognizing that millions of people throughout the world have their own reasons to be interested in family history, the Church makes its collections of microfilmed and digitized records freely available to everyone.
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, is the largest genealogical library in the world and provides access to many collections of records, with more than two billion names of deceased people. Over 700 staff and volunteers assist patrons with family history work. Approximately 1,900 people visit the library each day.
The Church has established over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries, with access to many of the resources at the main library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Church also operates one of the most popular genealogical services on the Internet free of charge at www.familysearch.org. The site contains a billion names from over 110 counties and territories including the 1880 United States Census, the 1881 Canadian Census, the 1881 British Census, the Ellis Island database and the Freedman’s Bank Records. However, most of the Church’s vast collection of genealogical resources is yet to come online. The Church is undertaking a massive digitization project to bring most of the additional collection of the Family History Library online over the next few years.
Because genealogical records are irreplaceable, the Church has constructed a climate controlled storage facility in Utah which houses more than 2.3 million rolls of microfilm and 180,000 sets of microfiche.

Genealogy (Family History)

© 2007 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Newsroom article
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I voted today! YES on 8. Election year thoughts

2008-11-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

I have been studying my grandmother's life journal she left us and thought I would share with you what life was like for her and maybe your family back in the day!

"In 1953, my mother [my great-grandmother on my dad's side]took ill.

"In the year prior to my Mother's [my great grandmother's] death was an election year; As Democrats we were rooting for Adlai Stevenson. All my friends in the PTA were for "Ike" and Jerry Klesow used to kid me a lot. By this time we had gotten a TV set as Sam [my grandfather on my dad's side]was dogmatically interested in political candidates and their speeches. The nite the votes were counted and Adlai lost he lay watching the results inclined on the chesterfield, and he had me thinking he'd be out of work and the world would be coming to an end if the Republicans won. He was a modified Archie Bunker of his times. I must admit I was worried. NEVER AGAIN!"

"The returns showed the Republicans were well ahead. The whole thing was making me nervous-I grew increasingly short of breath. The next thing I remember I was lying on the bed gasping for breath and Sam had called the ambulance. A doctor arrived about the same time they did - he gave me a shot and I passed out; only to wake up three days later in St. Luke's Hospital. A nurse told me I had been brought in unconscious and a priest had given me the last rites. Sam apparently listed me as a catholic. I was still coughing and choking and had a private nurse. Finally I coughed up a small bone and from then on started to recover. They had given me a shot that had never before been tried on any human. The doctor told Sam without it, there was no hope. A young intern by the name of Dr. McChesney had been assigned my case from our family doctor - he was a specialist in asthma. Apparently it was a miracle drug. This was a few days before my 40th birthday. For me life definitely began again at 40. I felt somehow God had given me a second chance."

"It took quite a while to recover from that spell of sickness..." "..and I always vowed I'd never again get that emotionally involved in politics. As things turned out, even tho "IKE" won, things were not at a standstill, altho Sam [my grandfather] felt jobs were not as plentiful and he was more discriminated because of his age [he was 22 years old than my grandmother]."

In the spirit of the elections I thought this would be a nice event to share. I pray that this country will be led in the right direction for whoever wins!

Halloween pictures

2008-11-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

YES on 8 campaign & what I am voting!

2008-10-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

I have been working hard to help get the word out about voting "YES on Proposition 8" and lately people have been stealing the signs me and others have been putting up. I feel the people stealing are afraid. I understand their fear. I do not want same sex marriages to be normalized or taught to my children like in Boston. I have the right to choose what will or will not be taught to my children in the schools. When someone wants to take that away from me or any parent they are infringing on my rights to teach my children. Same sex marriage is wrong morally and ethically. I will do all I can to stop it from becoming common place in my life and the life of my children and other children in the state. I am voting "YES on 8" I am saying yes to marriage only between a man and a woman in California and any state for that matter. Stealing and vandalism is wrong, so stop stealing my signs and any of them in Blythe or anywhere in California. Stealing is a crime.

I visited with my friends and bore testimony that marriage is between man and woman only. I had the experience yesterday to speak with people in front of Albertson's to educate them on voting "YES on 8". For the most part I met supporters of marriage between man and woman only, including winter visitors who supported man marrying a woman only valid, but there were a few that were obviously voting NO. My thoughts on those who were stating that they were voting NO. They didn't show kindness, they appeared angry, had a rude disposition, and not one of them stopped and spoke rationally to us. Well, there was one who said he was voting NO, said he wasn't gay but spoke with us nicely about his view. It showed me that they who want same gender marriages were scared and maybe even disgusted with their lifestyle. Someone who is confident in their life choices act respectfully. Mature people act and speak kindly.

Our actions speak louder than words! 90% body language and 10% words is what I learned to describe effective communication. Homosexual behavior violates the commandments of God. It confuses people about what loving relationships are and takes away the blessings that can come from family with a mom and a dad. Children should have the right to a mom and dad, no one should take that right away from them. I am speaking for the unborn children who are waiting for a body to be here on earth and be able to experience life and endure to the end to return to our Heavenly Father. God lives. He has a plan. That plan has a mom and dad and children working together to repent, forgive, love one another, help each other endure to the end where we will meet at the judgement bar of God and live together forever! Jesus will help all who knock! We only need to let him in!

Vote "YES on 8"

So far I have decided to vote: NO on 3, 5, 7, 9, 10,11,12 and YES on 2, 4, 8 and still undecided on the rest. I pray we will all study out the issues and pray for our own personal revelation to help us choose what is right in all we do! These are the views of Alice.

Partial Broadcast Oct 8, 2008

2008-10-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

My brother in Sacramento told me of a church broadcast that he attended last week about Proposition 8, so I went looking for a way to view it myself and found this partial clip of it on the church's website and wanted to share it with you all.

View a partial clip of a satellite broadcast that took place Oct 8, 2008 for Californian Church members, (somehow Blythe missed it, or at least I did!) Elders M. Russell Ballard, Quentin L. Cook and L. Whitney Clayton addressed the Church’s doctrine of marriage and participation in the Protect Marriage Coalition.

Proposition 8, on which Californians will vote on 4 November, defines marriage in California as between a man and a woman.

http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/media/mediaplayer.swf?media=http://broadcast.lds.org/newsroom/video/flv/California_Broadcast_8Oct08.flv&type=FLV

I would be interested in hearing if anyone in Blythe caught the broadcast? I would like to see if there is a way for us to see it in its entirety.

Jared's Favorite pastime

2008-10-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

His favorite game site is: www.neopets.com

He said that he learns to take care of animals, feeding them, and they never die! We have to tell him to go do something else. Then he tries to watch TV! Like that is better! So, I gotta go get him to read a book or write a letter or both!

Currently the Dean's are doing..

2008-10-02T13:01:00.001-07:00

Well, Jared is 9 now, Travis is 7, Nicholas is 5, and Preston will be 3 in 29 days (yes, on Halloween!) Jared is trying out Flag Football this year along with continuing his piano lessons and is now a Bear Scout with Sis. Tara Mello as his Den Leader (she is also his 4th grade teacher). He is really excited about that!

Travis started piano lessons this school year and loves to play with his friends, which he has already talked about marrying one of the girls in his class, when they get older! He loves to ride his bike to school every day! It helps them get home faster when it's hot!

Nicholas is in Kindergarten and loves it! He is also trying flag football and loves to run around on the field, they are still learning where the lines are and where to make a goal!

Preston is the only one at home now and mom needs to play with him a lot! He loves to ride his bike and cook, and help mom around the house. If he doesn't get to help or do something he wants to do, he will make it known to the world! So I am learning to say ok and yes more to the things he wants to do. I am learning to let them learn by doing!

Introducing the Deans

2008-10-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

This blog entry was from another blog spot I started and decide to combine the 2 and get rid of the other. I want to consolidate and not have so many blogs out there.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Introducing the Dean Family
This is the Dean Family! We want to share pictures with our family and friends. Alice has been looking for a way to share our family with all of our family with the least bit of frustration for the family. So, I think this is it.We have Scott, the dad and he teaches prisoners! Alice is the stay at home mom who is into Cub Scouting, Family History and being involved with the schools on the School Site Council! Jared is turning nine next month, has been taking piano, going into 4th grade, is in the GATE program at school and is acting more mature every day! Travis is 7 and going into 2nd grade, loves to help out and full of energy! Nicholas is 5 and starts kindergarten next week and gets to go to the same school as his brothers. Preston will be 3 this Halloween! His loves playing with his brothers, helping, and talking!
We are in search of our family and want all Dean's who are into finding their family to please make comments to us. I will have more family geneology soon.

Music Makers begin

2008-10-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Well, Preston and I attended Music Makers Blythe 2008 and it started out well! The first song ended and then we had to stand up and he wanted me to hold him, none of the other mothers except two who really had a baby in arms on their hips, and he started screaming he wanted to go home! Well, I just didn't want to do that but then I decide I wasn't going to allow him to scream the whole time and took him out! He did scream a little but I thought and was hoping it was going to be short lived! So I took him by the arm and walked toward home and wouldn't let him ride his bike back. He didn't like that and so he ran the other way and was screaming "dummy and other not so nice words to me and watching to see if I was really going to leave him and head for home. Well, I grabbed up his bike and began walking home. Then he started saying "sorry" and running toward me. He didn't come back completely, so I started for home again, needless to say. I mentioned the sticks he could be playing with inside and he changed his mind and he wanted to play with the sticks. So we went inside the church and tried again, then he missed the sticks song and it was time to return the sticks (he just got them when the song was over) and then he started screaming again and saying he wanted the sticks. He didn't want to play along. It was like he didn't think he would be able to play with the sticks and when the songs were over he wasn't ready for them to be over. He screamed for a while and threw the sticks and thankfully missed any other children, then the parachute came out and he, of course, wanted to hold the handle of the parachute and not get on or under it like the other kids. Oh well, he is not screaming anymore!

So hopefully he wore himself out with all the screaming and I will take a nap with him! He wore me out with all of it. He was at the music makers last school year, so I don't get it! I am in charge next week, so we will see, he said he didn't want to be my helper next time!

We made pancakes together before Music Makers. He barely ate any, it was the fun of making, baking, and then having me cut them up before he put the peanutbutter on them and then yelling that he didn't want them cut! When he asked me to cut them for him, I should have known better than to cut them before he put PB and syrup on it first! Some days! I do what he asks and then he gets mad for me doing it! It is difficult to butter up tiny pieces of pancake!

Before that I was getting rid of malware on my computer again! I don't know what it is that my kids touch that causes this to happen. I have anti-virus and somehow they manage to do something to it! It appears that I saved it! I mean thanks to Suesites, our local computer repair shop! They have fixed my computers and he installed the anti-virus software on my desktop, so I knew he could help me.

So, now I am ready to take a nap!

9 years ago today!

2008-09-12T23:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought that I would write today. Jared, my oldest is 9 today. He decided to have a sleepover with just a couple of friends. I baked a cake and Preston, my almost 3 year old took a piece of it off the top. So I had to bake another one to cover the stolen piece. So now I have a double decker cake! I remembered I owned one of those Tupperware cupcake/rectangle cake carrier in the garage. It has been in the garage and been in boxes and survived through several moves. I use to sell Tupperware and still have remnants. I sold some of it on eBay and still have the rest. Selling Tupperware at a garage sale just doesn't work well, everyone wants it for real cheap and Tupperware isn't cheap! Anyway, back to the cake. So I put the cake in there and it is kind of locked in and Preston would not be able to open it up! Thus preventing anymore holes put in it. The cake and ice cream was a definate hit! The boys were going to sleep on the trampoline but my Jared isn't used to staying up so late and the movement of the trampoline so he retreated to his own bed inside the house and so the other boys moved inside too! Travis wanted to join them. Nine years ago he was born at 12:34 p.m. in Santa Clara, CA while I was working for SJPD as a dispatcher. I struggled with nursing and nursing at work was another chore I had to overcome if I was to give my Jared the best start in his life. Breast is best! Breast milk that is! Jared is a joy and he has become so smart. Time sure does fly and I am trying to enjoy all the stages no matter how hard or frustrating it can be. I enjoy talking with Jared. He is like a sponge, soaking up everything around him. I am so proud of him and look forward to the next years of his life. In just 10 years he will be able serve his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Our family tradition will be that the boys must first earn their Eagle Scout Award for the Boy Scouts of America, then they may get their drivers license, then graduate from high school, then go on a mission.

Purpose of our Lives

2008-09-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

I am writing to tell the world that this Dean family is trying to Choose the Right in life! We want to share our life with our family and friends. Currently Scott works for the State of California Correction and Rehab Department as a teacher and has been doing so for 2 years now. Alice is a stay at home mom or Upcoming Home Executive and is trying to FLY! Jared is in 4th grade, piano lessons, Wolf Scout, flag football and in the GATE program studying Civil War this year and he will be turning 9 this Friday and then will move into Bear Cubs. Travis is 7 and in 2nd grade. He earned his Tiger Cub award at the end of the school year last year. He started piano lessons last week and loves bouncing on the trampoline. Nicholas is 5, started Kindergarten and will start Flag Football soon. Preston is going to be 3 on Halloween and we are still trying to find a cool tradition to celebrate his birthday other than just trick or treating or Halloween party! I love orange so that should help! I hope to share photos and journal for our family and to find our family! I am volunteering in the Family History Center every Wednesday 6-9pm in Blythe trying to help other find their families too!