Chatfield Chatter

(Written by Kels for his family newsletter)
Hi Guys, Grandpa Kels here. No not that one; nor that one; I mean the one that’s married to Grandma Kellie. Kendall Lynn Hardy was born to Bianca Chatfield on October 20, and we’re grateful that mother and daughter are both doing well. Kendall was 8 pounds 5 ounces and 21 inches at birth, and she seems to get chubbier every day. Jake and I are scared to hold her yet, she seems so small. Kate and Kellie love to hold her though, and after a few weeks she’ll seem less scary to Jake and me. Bianca is grateful for well-wishes and prayers in their behalf, and reports that they’re doing great.

Mom (Lois) wants in on the fun, and is due in from Las Vegas on Halloween. Kellie loves having lots of food and treats on Halloween, so if Mom’s not too tired from her trip, maybe we can talk her into coming back to our place for awhile before we take her to her motel. We’re excited to see her here!

Speaking of Vegas, early in October I took a weekend trip down to see Mom. As usual she took great care of me while I was there. Marg was also great about coming by and taking us out to dinner. It was her birthday, but we couldn’t figure out a way to make the birthday girl let go of the check. We’re grateful for Margaret for many things, not least of which is the way that she treasures family.

Writing about birthdays and family reminds me that it was great talking with Ruth on her birthday. We laughed about how you can just do what you want to do when you’re 60 years old. I realized later that most of the people reading the Chatter do what they want to do, no matter how old we are. We’re a pretty independent bunch I guess. You guys are already humble and want to do the right thing; I’ll try to remember to want to listen to others, instead of just being the knucklehead I tend to be.

Jake has been playing lots of basketball and doing lots of fishing. We work hard to try to balance that with his schoolwork and his Church service; sometimes it even works. Jake’s grades were not great going into the last couple of weeks of the first term, but when he heard he needed to bring up his grades to try out for the school’s basketball team, he got seriously motivated and worked really hard. Final marks are not in yet, but it looks like he made it. During the past couple of weeks, because the deer hunt makes it dangerous to be in creek beds in the mountains, Jake and I have been fishing near parks and through the golf course in Hobble Creek Canyon. Last Saturday Jake caught more fish than I did (what’s new), but I found about a dozen golf balls. Jake doesn’t even bother with the golf balls anymore; we might have 100 of them, and we always choose to go fishing instead of golfing when we have some time.

Kate had an outstanding first term in her first year of junior high. She’s a natural at the big kid school. She loves her teachers, especially her math teacher who is also the cross-country and track coach. Kate loves to run, and so she tried out for the cross-country team this fall. She made the team, and ran every day after school, either during practice or during the weekly meets. She kept getting better and better as the season wore on, regularly beating her personal best times. Recently the school district had the district cross-country meet to end the season, and Kate placed 10^th. Now she’s excited to try to stay in shape so that she’ll be ready for track season in the spring. She actually likes sprinting better than the 1.5 mile cross country races, so it will be fun to watch what happens.

Kellie is making being PTA president at the junior high school look easy, at least to an outsider like me. She’s got some good people working with her, which is always the secret I guess, but Kel is good at collecting good people and motivating them to do their best work. She also serves as the Primary Chorister at church, and so she’s busy trying to get things polished up for the Primary program in early November.

I’ll take a break from the young single adult ward so that I can enjoy the singing on that Sunday. It’s fun serving with the YSA ward, but I miss seeing the people here in the home ward. Halloween will help, I’ll get to see the kids and some of the parents. My big news was that I finally completed the last element of getting my CPA (working under the direction of a CPA for a year), and I got my license in the mail the other day. Now I just have to figure out a way to make it pay.

We love you all, and pray for your well-being. We are grateful for all of you. Love, Kels

Happy 12th Birthday Kate

Today is the Day!  Kate has been waiting for months...maybe years for this big day.  Kate is 12 years old and now a Beehive in Young Womens.  To celebrate we had a huge family dinner with all of Kate's favorites.  Things like Ben's fettuccine, honey lime chicken enchiladas, parmesan cheese toasts, etc.  Everything starchy that Kate loves.  (We did have a few vegetables as well).

And CAKE and ice cream.

Grandma Jackson made a cuddle quilt that Kate absolutely loves!

Kate is haBEE to be 12!

Kate wishes to thank you all for the great gifts and for helping her have such a nice celebration dinner.

A Celebration of Christ-Kate's Performance

Kate's Hobble Creek Choir was invited to take part in an Interfaith Christmas performance at the Tabernacle on Temple Square.  The girls got to hang out with Vocal Point (BYU's premier nine-man a cappella ensemble), Jenny Oaks Baker (one of America's most accomplished violinists and daughter of Elder Oaks), and a whole host of amazing, talented professionals.  Was a beautiful and inspring way to invite the Christmas Spirit into our December. 

Once we arrived at the tabernacle we were ushered to the "Talent Entrance".  Kate said she had never been referred to as the "talent" before.  It was kind of nice.

Foundation 4Life organized the whole event and provided all the performers with several meals and a great place under the Tabernacle to practice.  It was called the "Horseshoe".  There were many halls, rooms and probably a whole host of other things we didn't see...all under Temple Square.  I've heard Dad talk about the tunnels he used to play in as a kid under the Temple and also under the Capitol.  

For the next 5 hours all the performers came together and practiced for the upcoming matinee and evening performances.  (The girls did have about a 45 min. break to walk over and shop City Creek...that was fun.)

Kate was extremely impressed with Vocal Point.  Her choir was invited to come to their dressing room for a private practice.  Kate said all nine guys sang to the girls in the choir.  Swooning aplenty! 

 The tabernacle was sold out for all performances.  Kate and the choir loved the whole day of "Celebration".

After the performances we were able to enjoy the lights at Temple Square.  Beautiful.

Thanks to Grandma Jackson for hanging with us from 8:30 in the morning till 10:00 at night.  It was fun to have her clapping and cheering all the while.

  

Kate to sing at the Tabernacle on Temple Square

Kate's Hobble Creek Children's Choir has been invited to sing at the Tabernacle on Temple Square, November 30th.  There will be two performances that day.  For more information and to obtain tickets go to www.LDS.ORG/EVENTS.

The Road Home

October 2013
There is nothing that can compare to giving service.  Add willing, happy family members serving alongside and it's a little bit of heaven.  

When our non-profit organization, My Story Matters asked for volunteers to help with a special project, I didn't realize that 75% of the volunteers would come from the Jackson Family.  Thank you dear family for offering a bit of your time and talents to the children and families of Roadhome.  Below are a few of your comments...thank you for your loving service.  

Also thanks to Melissa (Jackson) for being our family photographer-she seems to have left herself out of the pictures!

My experiences at the Salt Lake homeless shelter are and will be forever in my heart as I grow older and try to serve people of all kinds. My first experience at the shelter was when we spent some time interviewing and photographing the families there.  I loved it.  Then came the day we got to deliver the books.  I could see all the people lined up to get there books that My Story Matters put together for the families.  It was great watching the families lined up eager to get their books.  The books were amazing with so many cute pictures of each family member. After they received their books I loved watching the children and parents open their books.  Their faces  would light up when they read the pages.  I also loved to watch the little kids choosing their very own blankets.  They held them tight and squeezed in joy because maybe some of them didn’t have their own blankets.  I would ask them which color they wanted and they would choose their favorite color.  I also was put in charge of creating and helping all the children there sign a huge banner that said THANK YOU HERITAGE MAKERS.  The children signed and drew pictures all over the sign to say thanks.  I want to thank all the people that invited me to visit the Roadhome.  THANK YOU SO MUCH for giving me these experiences and I hope that I can come back to help and serve more children and their families.

Cierra Warenski.

I  had a very unique experience with the Roadhome shelter.  I realized that  I am very blessed to have the things I have and I am grateful to my parents who provide for me.  Some children were happy even though they obviously don't have much.  I was impressed by that characteristic.  Some children were reserved and were less happy to play and interact with me.  I hope they are all able to find homes soon.

Lauren Chong
  

I liked listening to the stories the dads had to share and working with the little kids. I especially liked watching the kids open their storybooks.  It felt good to be with the nice people of Roadhome.

Jake Chatfield

Spending time at the road home was a great experience. I definitely think I got more out of it than the families. Seeing those kids and families have an opportunity to get family pictures put things into perspective. I was glad to help and learn about the homeless needs in Utah as well as the my story matters program.
Noah Zemke

Volunteering at the Road Home was a wonderful experience. I loved photographing the kids and families and helping them feel important. There was one child who kept coming back to me and asked to have his photo taken again. He wanted to see the photo I'd taken after each shot and the way his face lit up when he saw himself left me with such a great feeling. It was awesome to put some smiles on their faces.

Allyssa Zemke (Professional Photographer for the storybooks)

The Road home was amazing.  I loved it, even though it was sad to see all the homeless people.  I loved seeing their smiles and happiness for a chance to tell "their story".  The children are so cute!  It was such and awesome experience.  If you need me again ask me and I would be more then glad to work there again and again!

Kate Chatfield

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-Pure Imagination

Kate spent at least half her summer preparing for the Springville Playhouse version of

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

It was a summer blockbuster!...I can say that because I was one of the stage moms.  Kels was the stage dad responsible for much of the set movement.  We would often find him between scenes, in the dark reading a book.

Kate played Grandma Georgina brilliantly! 

(Stage mom comment again!)

  

We caught a little glimpse into the future as Kate played a very fun grandma.

Because my Springville Playhouse Board Member sister volunteered my services, I was asked to create the Wonka Candy Shoppe.  It was a family affair.  Carri, Connie, Mom and Jen all took part in the creation.

We visited Blickenstaffs Candy Store at Riverwoods (a posh candy/toy store in an upscale strip mall in Orem) and saw a candy case of art.  Carri and Mom went home and recreated the candy case in miniature version and then presented it to the Wonka Shoppe on opening day.  Clever girls. 

Jen was a pro at Wonka bars from Josh's Wonka play days.  She suggested the very popular golden ticket in the Wonka bars.  We sold out every night--BIG HIT!

Even had Wonka Water.

Willie Wonka was a hit as well.  We see a great future on stage for him.

Our stage manager and prop people were amazing.

Special Effects and Lighting also amazing.

And as always...the Oompa Loompas stole the show!

Check out this LINK to see more fabulous pictures of the fun.

Turned out to be a great way to spend half our summer.

The Roadhome Project, August 2013

August 2, 2013                                 My Story Matters-Community Project

Jake, Cierra, Lauren, Carri and I (along with 30 other volunteers) took part in a wonderful, carefully planned day at The Roadhome shelter in Salt Lake City today.  It was a day filled with all kinds of feelings and experiences.

As we arrived we drove up to an area that made us a bit uncomfortable.  We searched for the entrance to the building.  While searching we walked through rows and rows of people.  Some were playing in the streets, some asleep on the sidewalks, many were just sitting and watching the world go by.  Our group walked quickly and quietly to the double doors and breathed a sigh of relief as we recognized familiar faces. 

As we entered the doors we saw children, moms, dads and the Roadhome staff waiting for us.  It was very apparent that this building saw a lot of activity with a lot of people benefiting from the programs there.  We were a bit unsure of what would come next.

The people in charge gave us some on-site training and then we began to check families/children in at the front table.  Those of us that hosted families were able to follow them to 7-9 different stations where each of our photographers would take as many pictures the children would allow.  The volunteers, both photographers and interviewers were great people to work with.   

One of the most memorable moments at the Roadhome for me was watching a mother carefully prepare herself and her family for the pictures that would be taken.  This family was dressed in their Sunday best and were excited for what was to come.  The husband held a very small mirror up to the sweet face of his wife while she painstakingly applied her make up.  She then worked on her hair, wanting it to be just right.  This went on for about 20 minutes all the while her husband stood quietly holding the mirror, not wanting to move a single inch.  Once satisfied with her appearance the mother moved on to her children.  The father continued to quietly help where needed.  They were ready!  Just before their host called them to start I watched as another lady walked by, glanced quickly and then stopped and looked for a few seconds, then cried out, "You look BEAUTIFUL!"  And then I saw it...the sweet mother broke out into a HUGE grin.  A smile that was so big and so beautiful and so meaningful to me.  My heart felt a little tug and I realized then that this woman and her family lived in a tight little community of people that needed and wanted the same things in life that we all look for.  To feel noticed, to feel beautiful and to feel loved.

 

Once all of the children were interviewed and photographed we took a little time to unwind and think about what we had just been a part of.  Some of the children returned asking when their storybooks would arrive.  We would patiently tell them in about a month and that we could hardly wait to see them as well.

As we opened the doors of the Roadhome to leave, we walked out with a much different feeling than upon arrival.  We saw many of the same people on the sidewalks and streets but instead of “homeless people” we saw children and families that we now knew, that we now had sweet memories of and wishes for a bright future.

It's now been several days since that Saturday and my heart and my head are still full of thoughts from the Roadhome.  A full day of sharing, caring and taking time to get to know these beautiful families was unforgettable.  I realized that this is what fills my soul, this is what I long to feel in a busy, somewhat uncaring, get the job done kind of life.

Thank you to the MSM Board members and especially Amy Chandler for having the vision to DO GOOD and then having the will and energies to make things happen.  To all our wonderful volunteers…Thanks For Giving!

Delivery of the storybooks was well worth the wait.  Each child received "their story" in a book and a blanket to snuggle up with while reading.  Many families that were new residents of Roadhome came to us and requested another event like this.  The children were showing their friends 

We've scheduled one for October!

  

Annie Christina Peterson-Pioneer Ancestor

Annie was the daughter of Ole Peterson and Marn Hansen, who are my mother Lois Chatfield's 2nd great grandparents.

Ole and Marn lived in Denmark, and it was there they joined the Mormon Church.  In April 1857 they left their homeland with their baby Annie Christina to come to America.

After working for enough money to buy a wagon Ole left with his family to travel to Utah.  Their trip was very dangerous as Indians were always looking to destroy the new immigrants.

The caravan of pioneers moved slowly on their journey to their new home.  Some days the dust was so deep, and it was like plowing to trudge through it. Then other days the rains came and would be like salve to their feet.

In one wagon of the company ANNIE CHRISTINE PETERSEN then one year old was taken very ill.  After traveling long hours, the disease of dysentery spread through the company and poor Annie was stricken and became very sick. The best of care was given her, loving hands waited on her, but she became worse.  The caravan had to keep moving on.

The loving hands did all they could for the baby but she gradually grew worse and was at last given up for dead.

The Indians were still making trouble and the company had to keep going. They could not dig a grave as the Indians would see the freshly dug dirt and could easily follow the group.

There was no time to stop to bury the baby, so Sister Peterson was told to wrap her child in a clean blanket.  With tears in her eyes she wrapped her baby lovingly in a soft blanket and the men put her under a bush, pilling leaves and brush around the baby.

After dark a forced camp was made because the Indians were so close and very threatening.

Sister Peterson was very upset and grieved over her child out there alone in the darkness.  That evening they all huddled around together trying to keep warm singing ‘Come, come ye Saints’.  Marn could not sing.  Ole called “Come dear, try get some rest”, and led her to the wagon for the night. The wolves were howling and she said to her husband. “My baby is out there with not even a grave to protect her.”  Ole replied. “We will have to rely on the Lord to protect her this night.”

Marn Peterson’s grief became unbearable so she crept out into the cold dark night back to the trail where they had just come.  No one missed her until nearly dawn, then word spread like wild fire through the camp as frantic men went out searching for her. Then someone saw Sister Petersen coming slowly toward the camp clutching a bundle in her arms.

Great beyond words was her joy to find her baby was not dead but alive and crying.  Surely God’s hand had preserved a wonderful life, and faith and works had been rewarded. 

Every one acceded this was a MIRACLE, for the child had surely been dead the day before.  The baby grew well and strong again.  By the time they reached Salt Lake City all was well.

Later they moved to American Fork, then to Lehi where ANNIE grew to womanhood and married Samuel Allen Wilcox as a second wife, raising a family of 9 children.  Annie died in Lehi 18 OCTOBER 1934 where she was residing with her oldest daughter.

Story of Isaac and the Teebles Family-Stake Youth Pioneer Trek 2013

Written by Bishop A. Kelsey Chatfield, June 2013

I was assigned as an uncle to a handcart trek family made up of Ma and Pa Teebles (a really great couple from a neighboring ward) and 11 youth of varying ages.  One of the young men was a 320 pound high school senior named Isaac who plays line for his high school football team.  Isaac was great right from the start, being front and center on the handcart and doing lots of hard pushing on the first day.  At that point none of the rest of the Teebles family really knew him or each other, but we quickly came to admire Isaac’s quick smile and his willingness to do a lot of pushing that first day, when we were scheduled to go about 10 miles.

Isaac maybe did too much that day; by about mile 7 he was really red faced and sweaty, and he asked if he could just walk instead of pushing.  He then began to drop back, walking very slowly.  Turned out that he had both heat exhaustion and was getting big sores on his legs from chafing.  Our stake first aid person finally decided to put him in a support vehicle to let him cool off and to give his raw legs a break.

That night Isaac did a good job of forcing fluids and taking it easy, and by the morning of day 2 he said he felt pretty well.  It was decided that he should ride in the vehicle until lunch time at least.  By afternoon he was walking with the family again, but was going slowly and was not pushing the cart.  But as the Teebles family continued to bond, he was right in the middle of all the trail talk and evening activities.

On day 3 Isaac walked the whole day with the family and took a few turns on handcart pushing and was otherwise like any other part of the family.  In the afternoon we stopped and set up camp, then had pioneer games against other trek families.  Isaac was pretty good at log sawing and cheered the rest of the family on at other games, but really came into his own in the stick pull competition.  He quickly threw all comers and qualified for the camp-wide stick pull.  With 200 youth gathered around, Isaac easily won his quarterfinal and semifinal matches, with our family cheering him on.  He ended up losing the final match and placing second, but he had solidly established himself as a strong man in the camp and as a favorite in the Teebles handcart family.  That night in our family testimony meeting, Isaac bore humble testimony of Christ and His church, and of the love he felt for, and from, his handcart family.  Others bore similar testimony.

At the start of the last day of our trek (because he felt better, but probably also because he was now a camp strongman), Isaac was back pulling the handcart with all of his great strength.  That was OK for the cool morning hours and the first few miles, but after a couple of serious uphill stretches and in the heat of the day, Isaac sadly reported that his chafing was very bad again, and that he needed to drop back and ride with the support vehicle again.  In a quiet voice Pa Teebles said that that was not the way that family does it, and he ordered 320 pound Isaac to climb up on top of the gear in the handcart, that his family would take him home.  After much urging, Isaac clambered up on the handcart and found a way to settle in.  At that point 3 miles and some very steep hills were between us and the end of the handcart trek.

Once we began to pull, Isaac again began to worry that he was burdening the family too much, especially seeing the big hill that we were nearing.  Pa Teebles had the answer for that too.  When we got to the bottom of the hill (and after 25+ miles of handcart trekking over 4 days, including a few hard hours that morning), out of nowhere our Pa yelled, “let’s run to the top!,” surprising the rest of the family and jerking the handcart as he started to run.  We all followed, and someone even started yelling, causing all the rest of the family to yell too.  Bouncing and rattling, up that steep hill like crazy people we ran, and over the yelling you could hear Isaac laughing and yelling too.

Word began to spread up the handcart company of Isaac’s wild ride and the Teebles family togetherness, and soon other families began to send one of their strong people back to help push our handcart.  The young man that beat Isaac in the stick pull finals even helped on the last stretch.  The last mile I simply walked beside the handcart because there were so many people pushing it that there literally was not a place to get a hand on the cart to help push.  Up on top, Isaac smilingly rode like a king.

There were lots of great opportunities to feel the Spirit and to learn during our youth conference handcart trek, but one of the best happened last.

Jake and Kels Pioneer Trek Youth Conference 2013

These pictures beautifully depict the dust, the dirt, the joys, the sorrow, the hardships of 4 days, 35 miles, 100 degree weather and the dedication and perseverance of the youth and their leaders.  

(Spring Creek Stake-Springville, Utah)

Wagon Ho!

Trail Boss bugeling

For some must push and some must pull

Wagon Wheel races

Sack races

The Teebles Family

Stick ball

Ma and Pa Teebles

The Negas Family

Circle the Wagons

Proud to be an American

Leaving loved ones behind

Jake and his worldly possessions, all in one bucket

Log sawing contest

73 year old grandma, walked all the way

Gopher checking out the funny people

Grandpa's Aussie hat 

Dust everywhere

A little square dancing

Cute girls

Trail Boss giving direction

Blessed, Honored Pioneers