A Personal History of Jean McIntire Partridge - 1

This will be an exact transcription of my mother's history as written by her in her own words.

As one gets older, youth, with fresh talent and more vigorous footsteps eagerly assume long familiar roles and we step aside, relieved, and released, to pursue long delayed projects and to bask in the memories so carefully preserved in picture albums and in the recesses of our mind. Oh, so much to think about! But thoughts, like the whisperings of the wind, leave nothing substantial, no mark of accomplishment and no trace of loving, endearing relationships so poignant and now so precious.

With these thoughts in mind I write this short history so that our children and grandchildren will know who I am and the influences that shaped my life and to some extent, theirs.

Considering the long history of mankind, the phenomenal progress which has been made in the 75 years of my lifetime, in science, medicine, in every field of endeavor and especially in our standard of living, is nothing short of what the Lord has called "the restoration of all things." All this is part of my life's experiences and memories, and there is much more to come! I recall a saying from Tennyson's Ulysses, "I am a part of all that I have met, yet experience is an arch wherethrough gleams that untraveled world who's margin fades forever and forever when I move."

The greatest influences in my life, and the most meaningful, have come, I'm sure, from my Father in Heaven. The promptings of the spirit seem to have guided me and protected me even when I have been in circumstances of great temptation and certainly when I have no great wisdom of my own. This I know: He is always there to guide, direct and lift us to a better self if we learn to listen to Him. I know he loves me. He loves each of us. I love Him and thank Him for all He has done for me.

(Next: Childhood On The Farm)

Turning This Into a Journal

I think often about writing more in this blog. But then I think there's little of interest to write. We are taught in our church that it is important to keep a journal. And ideally it would be a daily journal. Here it is January 25, 2011, and my last entry was last May. So, I think I will try to make this into a journal and it will be my goal to write at least weekly. And upon further reflection, some of what I have to say may be of interest to others later on (or not).

This blog used to be read by quite a few people but I'm sure they have stopped looking as the writing stopped being written. Some of my friends who have followed this are not members of my church so I will warn those who might fall into that category that my writings will be church based more often than was previously the case. read them anyway. You might find them of interest.

I am going to begin by transcribing the "Personal History of Jean McIntire Partridge," my mother, who wrote this history in 1992, nearly twenty years ago.

I will begin her history soon in my next blog entry.