Grandma's Snicker Doodle Cookies

It's been a busy couple of weeks around here. Our grandmother passed away Christmas morning. Some people would think that it should have been a sad day...but it wasn't. We'll miss her immensely, but we were comforted by the fact that she didn't have to suffer. (She had been diagnosed two weeks earlier with pancreatic cancer.) Right up to the very end, she was thinking of everyone else by leaving earth life when it would be most convenient for family and friends to come together to celebrate her life. Because her funeral was during the Christmas break, everyone got to attend and it really was quite a joyful occasion.

This past Sunday evening I learned that another grandparent had passed away. He wasn't a direct grandfather, but he was a Grandparent Superhero by his incredible love and amazing example.

If you ask my kids about their memories of Grandma, they'll be sure to include stories of her Snicker Doodle cookies. One time, my kids had a cookie eating contest to see who could eat the most Snicker Doodles (I happened to have been out during this grand moment of brain loss.) We got to enjoy the game for weeks as my youngest WON the contest and shared the spoils later that night by literally tossing his cookies all over the car!

As we were clearing out Grandma's things we came across a treasure... a copy of her cookie recipe. I knew immediately what needed to be done! Each of my kids got a copy in ornament form.

These cookies are GOOD! We'll share the cookie recipe here. If you want to finish the project, it's been designed for a 5x6 placard. To finish the backside of the ornament, you can use scrap book paper (pink - on right), fabric (brown dots - on left) or personalize it with a family picture (center one is going to my son in the Netherlands so he can enjoy a little bit of Grandma love!!!)

We'll be offering this project at our March class at Deseret Book for those local to the Salt Lake area.

Get recipe cards here. (BIG file, be patient while it loads!)

Still trying to think of something to keep our memories of Stan close to our heart. More to come!

Susannah Stone - The book is really READY!

Here is it is, less than a week before Christmas and we're finally ready to announce that Susannah Stone's story is finished!! Yes, it is loooong over due, but we think it'll be worth the wait. There are a few copies left...let me know right away if you want any. We will be printing again in 2010, so have no fear if you don't get a copy first time around.

Here's a sneak peak of some of the pages. We are also thrilled to include a tribute written by Lloyd D. Newell, descendant and voice of the weekly historic broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."

Very cool addition on the above page. Jeannie was able to connect with a relative who had pictures of Susannah's parents.
These are also new pictures to the project.Have you seen the bottom picture before? It is a reunion photograph of the Willie Handcart survivors. Susannah was very much a survivor. She had much to live for. By one descendant's estimation, she and Thomas' posterity could number over 10,000!

Susannah Stone book finally ready!

I'm happy to announce that the Susannah Stone book has finally left the building! Actually, it's on its way to the publisher, so it's still a few weeks out for anyone who ordered a copy. This book is a labor of love. I'm not even related to this amazing example of pioneering determination and grit, but I've become quite fond as I've helped to retell Susannah's story. Our first book was published four (or was it five?) years ago. I had permission from the family to display a copy of the book in a small shop that we were running at This is the Place, Heritage Park in Salt Lake City. Susannah and her husband had 14 children. Twelve lived to adulthood, so you can imagine the posterity that comes from this amazing couple. A grandchild from the Cook branch of the family tree saw the book and contacted us to request a second printing. This connection allowed for the sharing of several photographs that were new to the several in the Lloyd line.

Well, the Lloyd family had another family reunion this past summer. The book was displayed and more copies were requested. We've found a new, wonderful printer to help in the production process and decided that this new edition was worthy of a design makeover. The story hasn't changed, but tell us what you think of the new cover.

We also were introduced to another family member. Lloyd D. Newell is the voice behind the Spoken Word. He gave us permission to include a tribute to his great-grandmother that he wrote and shared in his weekly broadcast in July of 2004.

I think that my favorite line in this book is Susannah's comment about how this hardy company were "almost pioneers for we had to travel thru sunflowers and sage brush for many miles." Little did they realize that in a few short weeks, their experiences would help redefine the word pioneer. Life is like that. We might think we're just along for the ride, but often we find ourselves blazing new trails for those who follow.