Our Story





It didn’t seem to matter what we did or what we’d say...
As we watched from heavens glory at our parents in their day.

They seemed so bent on living life, so young and so carefree!
At least our mom was full of fun, dad’s ALL ‘bout work you see.

Dad served a mission faithfully, but met our mom while there.
Mom cheered her team in high school, pretty, blonde and very fair.

With these two quite the opposite, we worried from our spot 
Wondering if they’d figured out t’were meant to tie the knot!

it took a while for them to work it out and come to terms. 
Mom had to finish high school, dad had college and more to learn.

they finally came together at the most unlikely place (byU
fifty years ago, november...temple marriage and white lace

From our vantage point in heaven, all seven of us knew 
That their life was on the path now and their love just grew and grew

dad’s law school must be finished and a child born any day 
both mom and dad worked hard to secure their family way

dad loved and worked the railroad as conductor and as brakeman
this helped to pay the bills, though his traveling never shaked ‘em

despite the time apart as dad worked long to build the nest 
mom made sure to let him know, she loved him all the best.

during all their life together, dad taught “work hard and
play hard too”
his adventures always showed our mom (and us) a thing or two.

we dirt biked in the desert, hiked mountains covered in snow
waterskied, golfed and snow skied, backpacked and camped in tow.

all these became our favorites, in fact it’s hard today 
to pick just one activity and put the rest away.

Our parents taught us how to work and so we oft complained 
up at dawn, walked up hill both ways and slept on rocks in rain.

mom created a beautiful home in which to raise us kids
She sewed our clothes, made quilts and crafts and put us on the grid


Our home, though quaint and full of life, was not without its Trials
Chaos Ensued, trouble brewed, and work went on for miles

at one such time, we lived in front of a house we toiled at building
no heater worked, no water dripped, an open sewer filling


a poor lost dog, and frantic too, we heard his cries come loudly
to get him out of the poop hole dug, his stench was oh so deadly


‘bout this time, like pioneers, washed in boiling water
did not do justice sunday morn’ as we marched into the foyer


we moved to california to live and go to school
while our dad and mother finished the house behind the poo!


As life continued, we did our best, each of us to comply
but dad’s idea was more entailed as he learned and loved to fly .


this scared our mom, she feared the worst, but trusting she began
to fly with dad, to navigate, and learn to fly herself--SHE CAN!!!


Dad loves to build and so began their quest to raise a ranch 
It only took them twenty years, but couldn’t pass the chance.

With horses, hiking, wildlife and landing planes on fields 
Wyoming was a grand adventure each one was bent to build


Then one day Dad phoned our Mom and told her god was calling
he felt the nudge and mom took plunge to san diego hauling


They served a mission, taught the gospel, played with YSA’s 
Their 18 months were gone too fast, they wish they could have stayed.

there’s lots we haven’t talked about, but sadly we must end 
with seven kids, twenty grands and 3 greats hand in hand,


this might be fifty years on earth we celebrate real soon
but the truth be known eternity is what we’ve worked for too.

Written By Jennifer Woods, Daughter