At this time of year, I like to recite this poem that my Dad, M. Vernon Higginson, shared every Fast Sunday in January. It's simply called "New Year".

He came to my desk with a quivering lip, the lesson was done.
Have you a new page for me, Teacher, for I have spoiled this one.
I took his old page, soiled and blotted, and gave him a new one all unspotted,
And into his sad face I smiled and said, "Do better now, my child."

I came to His Throne with an aching heart, the year was done.
Have you a new year for me, Master, for I have spoiled this one.
He took my old year, soiled and blotted, and gave me a new one all unspotted,
And into my sad heart He smiled and said, "Do better now, My Child."
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It's a simple poem. But says what we all probably feel at this time of a New Year. My Dad had it written in his Missionary Journal from 1927-1929. He served his Mission in the East Central States, mostly in Kentucky. That's where he and Mother met. He was a 25 year old Elder and Mom was a 12 year old member of the Church. They married 10 years later.

Yesterday was a great day for the Ekins family. Alton's brother, Elmer Holdaway Ekins, received the Melchizedek Priesthood following their block meetings at the LaPoint Ward in LaPoint, Utah. Elmer is 82 years old, and decided he didn't want to leave this earth without receiving his endowments in the Temple. This coming Saturday, November 21, he plans to attend the Provo Temple, with family members, and be sealed to his last two wives, Dorothy and Irene. Elmer is a whole new person. It's exciting to see the change in him. His Ward members love him. All four of his children were there, Ron, Colleen, Kathie and Shelley Kay. Ron ordained him and it was a great blessing he gave to his dad.
About 4 1/2 years ago, a doctor told Elmer he only had about 5 years to live. His heart only works at about 10%. I think that got Elmer thinking he'd better do something about his life. He quit drinking quite a few years ago, so there was nothing holding him back except getting back to church. It was a wonderful thing to see the proceedings, how much he is loved by family and friends. I'm so glad Alton could be a part of the circle. He's 5 years younger than Elmer. I hope he remembers the day.

Barbara Jo, Mark, Susan, Paul, Nina, Karen, Rebecca and Ashlee. Brian is the one missing on the front. See the colorful shirts. We always have a 'stairstep' picture and years ago it actually looked like steps, but as you can see with time we have our 'ups and downs.'

We had our every-two-year reunion on June 25-27. It was held at a huge cabin above Otter Creek in south central Utah. Forty memeber of our family were there. Got there on Thursday, and before everyone arrived, the men killed a huge rattlesnake that was in the garage. Creepy.

Nina planned the reunion, food and location, and she pulled Rebecca and Jeff, and Ashlee in to help with it. Jeff had planned the games for our Olympics, and we only got to play two of them as it poured rain on Friday afternoon. Friday morning Ashlee spearheaded tie-dying tee shirts. What a colorful group we made. The theme of the reunion was 70's/80's and the shirts fit right in with that. It was amazing to see the outfits the adults came up with that they had worn in the 80's.

We played fun games: "Deal or No Deal", "What if...?", fishing, "Pass it along", had a white elephant exchange. And the food was great. Two meals a day, and snacks if you needed them, but we really didn't. There were three dogs there, Max (the Eck's male ShitzZu sp?), Maggie, Nina's Yorkie, and CiCi, Grandma and Grandpa's poodle. They all got along well. Actually, CiCi spent a lot of time under the bed.

We missed Brian and Laura's family this year. Also Dakota Jordan (Nina's son), Elder James Eck, serving in Lima Peru, and Dan Eck who was at EFY in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Those attending were Vern and Barbara Jo Taylor (Jordan, Jackson, Jacob, Allie Jo and Brooke)

Mark and Heather Ekins (Carly, Lacy, Aubrey and Elijah)

Art and Susan Eck (Nathan, Christie, Sophie, Kami and Aaron)

Paul and Kristin Ekins (Kelson and Cole)

Nina Jordan

Tony and Karen Pedersen (Molly, Grace, Olivia, Lyndie)

Jeff and Rebecca Anderton (ShyAnn, Denver, Charlie, BrookLyn)

Ashlee Ekins

Grandpa and Grandma Ekins (Alton and Nancy)

A great time was had by all. Our next reunion is in the hands of Brian and Laura's family. It will be in two years.

I celebrated my 70th birthday on May 22. My two daughters who live in Delta, Nina and Karen, came up to enjoy the day with me and their Dad. We went shopping and I bought a new Dell computer. Then I had to have a new screen. And then a new desk. Wow, I'm in business now.
Last night a neighbor came and transferred the important things off the old computer and put them on the new one. I'm leaving the games on the old one, which is downstairs for the grandchildren to play on. I won't get the internet down there. A bunch of my other children gave us a food storage shelf system, the kind you put the new food on the back and it rolls to the front. What a month this has been.

Quilt

This is our "This is Your Life Quilt" made for us this Christmas. The blocks were made by our daughters in law: Laura, Heather and Kristin. They are married to our sons: Brian, Mark and Paul. Each embroidered square depicts something special that the children remember about us, their parents: Alton and Nancy


We were married in the Idaho Falls Temple. The only error on the quilt is our wedding day. It was August 4. But that's okay. It's been a good marriage. We have been married almost 48 1/2 years. We are going for the GOLD.


This fly swatter shows one of the reasons we moved from Lake Shore to Elk Ridge. Alton fought the flies everytime he irrigated and we swatted flies every time we had a family dinner.



These happy children represent our nine (9, count 'em) happy children. Brian, Barbara Jo, Mark, Susan, Paul, Nina, Karen, Rebecca and Ashlee. We also have 7 inlaws, and 29 grandchildren. We are very grateful for each one of them.



We love to play hearts. It's all in fun, and there are never any fights or quarrels. Sometimes we do get "down and dirty" and the losers have to do the dishes. But if Heather is there, she ususally has the dishes finished by the time the game is over. Alton's favorite saying is, "Smoke her out!!" (meaning Dirty Dora, the queen of spades)



One of Alton's favorite sayings when passing around the goodies. "Take two, they're small."



Nancy loves doing crossword puzzles. Each family member is in the grid. Try it and see.



Alton and several other family members graduated from BYU. And it was great to be able to attend football and basketball games. Especially since BYU has been doing so well for years.



Alton is a farmer. He graduated from BYU in Animal Science with a minor in agronomy and horticulture. He's always loved working the ground and growing crops. We learned that the racoons would eat the corn, but they need to eat, too.



Besides farming, Alton trained and raised horses. He even had a few that he raced, successfully, at the tracks. He loved the horses so much, and none of his children had the same desire to ride.
But some of the grandchildren enjoyed a good ride on the mountain when they would come to visit.




As Alton raised and trained horses, he never swore, but in frustration would call the horses names. I doubt the horses cared one bit, but it made an impression on Mark who drew these cartoons for a family letter. They say, "Jughead", "Pot Licker" and "Cotton Picker." "Alton Ekins stable of fine horses."




A favorite camping spot for the family is in the Uinta Mountains. The fishing in great and the camping is fun. One experience Alton had when when Mark and Heather was hair raising. He had a fire going under a flat rock, and the frying pan was ready and the fish were frying nicely when there was a loud BOOM!!!. Mark and Heather were tying the horses up and doing chores away from the campsite. They couldn't imagine what the explosion was. The flat rock, being filled with water, had exploded from the heat of the fire. The frying pan, fish, and grease flew between Alton's legs. (That was a miracle. It could have damaged him.) Needless to say, the fish couldn't be eaten as they were full of sand and rocks. Another trip the pack horse fell down the trail, food was scattered in the creek and along the path. Her name was Pretty, but she didn't seem pretty to any of those gathering up the supplies.

Flowers blossomed under Alton's care and usually faded and died if Nancy was in charge. She never knew when to plant, how deep, when to water. But the two of them manage to plant nice flowers at their Elk Ridge home. Alton digs the hole and Nancy sticks the plants in.

Nancy loves to sing and has even written some songs. This one, "Pioneer" has been published and she occasionally gets to sing it in July. She has sung with the Timpanogos Chorale, Utah Valley Choral Society, Payson Civic Chorale, The Country Cuzzins, and the Golden Oldies.

Nancy's alter ego is Polly Esther. The name came easily because she wears a red, white and blue polyester dress. Her hat is a blue felt she found along the road in Lake Shore. Polly can say and do things that Nancy would be embarrassed to say or do. She plays the ukelele and entertains for Senior Citizens, families, church functions, and anyplace they'll allow some good, clean fun.

Alton had a great herd of Simmental cattle in the 70's until the 90's. When they moved to Lake Shore from Pleasant Grove, the cattle went with us. When the move to Elk Ridge from Lake Shore occured in 1999, most of the cattle were sold. It was sure good to have our own meat.

Besides the three homes listed here, we lived in Lindon, Brigham City, and American Fork. But those stays were not too long. We lived in Pleasant Grove for 15 years, Lake Shore for 21 years and have been in Elk Ridge for 9 years, so far. With many years to come, we hope.

Ashlee's Soiree

The day after Ashlee's graduation from University of Utah she had a soiree in the Cowley
backyard. Many family members and friends were there to wish her well. She is now teaching 2nd grade at NorthStar Elementary in Salt Lake City.

May 1, 2008.
Here she is opening gifts. The apron she is wearing is from Rebecca and her family.



















Cameron with his niece and nephew.



Alton, Ashlee's Dad. This is a happy day for him and her Mom, Nancy















Here is Nina holding BrookLyn with Charles and Olivia at the table.


Brother Paul watching Charles and Olivia eat. The food was delicious. Ashlee had decided on the menu and put it all together. We had waffles, fruit, hot chocolate, bagels and cream cheese, juices.



Nina and Kristin and Kelson chatting.



Tony and Karen with Molly and Lyndie. Cameron's head is facing us.