Carolynn's Readings

The Spider

I saw a big, brown, leggy spider

Crawling up a wall;

(Walk fingers up and imaginary wall.)

But when I tried to touch him,

He curled up in a ball.

(Form hands into a ball.)

And just when I'd begun to think 

He'd surely died of fright,

He spun a lovely silken thread

And quickly slipped from sight.

(Drop fingers quickly down.)

The Christmas Mystery

The Christmas Mystery

By Frances B Watts

Often read by Carolynn for Christmas programs and to families.

On the night before Christmas, Bertie the bear, 

Sat by the fire in his big easy chair.

Out in the forest the north wind was blowing.  

The trees looked like icebergs, because it was snowing.

But Bertie's snug cottage was comfy & Cozy,

For the flame of his yule log was glowing and rosy.

With a sigh of contentment, he propped up his feet, 

And happily nibbled a sugar plum sweet.  

When all of a sudden he heard on his roof

The tippety-tap of a tiny wee hoof,

Then an ear-splitting clatter, , a thud & a thump,

And a clippity-clappity-bumpity bump!

Then he heard the loud swish of a sky-riding sleigh,

Skimming the rooftop & flying away.

"Oh goodness, oh gracious!" the surprised Bertie said,

Pulling his earmuffs over his head,

"I never have heard such a clump & a clatter!

I must go out doors & see what is the matter!"

He slipped on his jacket & opened the door

And hurried outside in the wintry roar.

The north wind was howling & whipping the trees.

The snowflakes whirled  up & stung his bear knees.

The bayberry bushes cowered & quivered.

"What a miserable night!" the chilly bear shivered.

Then off in a snowbank, a big bag he spied. 

He picked up the sack & brought it inside.  

When he opened it up, he exclaimed, "Glory Be!

So many fine presents I never did see!"

There were ice-skates, toboggans, and shy red sleds,

And dozens of dollies with curly blonde heads.

There were footballs & baseballs, toy trucks & cars,

Peppermint canes, & lollipop stars,

And many more pretty And wonderful toys

To quicken the hearts of small girls and boys.

Then Bertie discovered a little white tag

Pinned to the side of the toy-laden bag.

There were words on the tag which said: Route 42.

These toys are for children in Kitchamatoo.

"Well!" exclaimed Bertie, scratching his ear,

The mystery now is really quite clear.

'Twas Santa I heard, his reindeer and sleigh,

As they cut through the forest to shorten their way.

The bag tumbled out as my rooftop they crossed.

And Santa, I'm sure, doesn't know that it's lost!

Heaving a sigh, old Bertie, the bear,

Settled himself in his big easy chair.

He propped up his feet to the fire, warm and rosy.

It was bitter outside, but his room was so cozy.

"There's nothing," he said, "Not a thing I can do

For those unlucky children in Kitchamakoo.

I feel very bad for the poor girls and boys, 

But 'twas Santa, not I, who lost all their toys!"

Then old Bertie the Bear, by the fire's toasy glow,

Relaxed in his chair for an hour or so.

But the longer he sat there, the sadder he grew,

For he thought of the chidlren in Kitchamakoo.

He imagined their grief, and the way they would cry

When they found that old Santa had passed them all by.

At last the bear growled, "I must do what is right. 

I'll have to play Santa this cold, bitter night.

Though the weather's unfit for man or for beast, 

I will make children happy on Christmas at least!"

He put on his jacket and picked up the sack,

And flung it high over his brawny bear back.

Then bracing himself, he set out on his trail

In the face of the blustery, wintery gale.

Through the deep icy snowbanks the bear bravely stalked.

He walked and he trudged and he trudged and he walked.

The wind was so cold that he turned purple-blue,

But he dept right on trudging toward Kitchamakoo.

Just before midnight, the bear gave a cheer.

"Kitchamakoo! at last; I am here!"

As quick as a brownie, as swift as an elf, 

the bear behaved very  like Santa himself.

He scrambled down chimneys, with nary a noise,

And delivered each one of Sant's lost toys.

Then back to his cottage he went on the run.

And the kindly bear chuckled, "I really had fun!

I wasn't as cold as I thought I would be,

Once I thought about others, and forgot about me!"

When Christmas Day dawned over Kitchamakoo,

the children were happy, but quite puzzled too.

For, the snow in each yard, and the snow in each street

Were surprisingly tracked with the tracks of bear feet!

And the children all asked, with a wondering air,

"Is Santa Claus, maybe a big jolly bear?

But the children, of course, from that year to now, 

Never discovered just why or just how 

The snow got so bear-tracked in Kitchamakoo.

Nobody knows except Bertie-and YOU!

Flowers from Wayne

Easter Eve 1954 "I hope you will like me a little"

I LOVE these cards and that Carolynn added the descriptive note in the envelope. 

The Dairy Farmer Meets the Beauty Queen.

The follow story was found in Wayne and Carolynn's Wedding Book and is in Carolynn's own words.

"While Sophomores at Weber High School, we had the same Physical Education Class.  Sandra Bingham had English with Wayne and Phys. Ed with both of us.  When he asked for suggestions for somebody to dance with Sandra said that, "Carolynn Gould thinks you're the most."

That Friday, although I hadn't known about Sandra and Wayne's previous conversation, Wayne asked me to dance, boy was I thrilled!  We danced often after that.  This all happened in November.  On May 2, Wayne called and asked be for our first date.  We went to a movie and a month and a half later, on June 15, Wayne's 16th birthday, I accepted Wayne's ring, which he bought for just that purpose.  We went steady exactly two years before we were wed. 

We had shopped for diamonds, of course, and Wayne made up his mind what I wanted from the things I said.  He Took me to town with him to get the money out of his account to pay the balance on the diamond.  He wouldn't let me know how much money he withdrew, and I went with his mother while he got in from Anderson Jewelry.

That was November 24, the day before Thanksgiving and we decided that November 27, was a good day for him to give me my ring.

Mom and Dad went to a movie and left Dennis and Arlene home with us.  After awhile Wayne took us all for a root beer, although Arlene and Dennis wanted fresh limes.  They cost 10 cents, so we told them that they had to have root beer.  When we got to the A&W, Jean Miller waited on us, and I whispered to Wayne to really order fresh limes.  He did, and I was giggling softly in his ear because we'd fooled the kids when he slipped this beautiful 1/2 carat solitaire diamond ring with a yellow-gold band on the fourth finger of my left hand.  He kissed me, and I showed Arlene and Dennis and began to cry.  Arlene wouldn't believe it was real because of the fake ring Wayne gave me once before.  When Jean came back out to the car with our order I gleefully showed her and since her boyfriend was on a mission, she began to cry.  It was so beautiful and wonderful and I was sure Wayne was the man I wanted to marry in Heavenly Father's House.

After we drank our refreshment we drove home, and Mom and Dad arrived shortly after we did.  They hadn't even suspected or expected us to be engaged so soon.  First Mother came in and then, I really cried.  Daddy came in after closing the garage and I cried in his arms for 'bout five minutes.  Seems funny to think of it now Wayne holding Mom, and both of us girls cryin' bloody murder.

It was so much fun Monday at school.  I had received it at 9:25, just 1 week and 35 minutes after Joyce Alberts and Dale Christensen became engaged.

When Kids at school saw my ring they let out a squeal, and everyone knew it within an hour.  So many girls said that they would like theirs to be exactly like mine.

Seemed funny, the clock in Wayne's car stopped at about 4:00 that afternoon, so when he gave me my ring we set the clock in his car far that time, and it'll always be that way."

Here is a copy of the original Journal entry

 

 
 

In a separate journal entry from Carolynn we learn a few more details as follows:

 

"Well diary, this' one day I'll want to remember forever!  Wayne gave me my engagement diamond....I kept Arlene and Dennis busy making them promise to go straight to bed as soon as we got home, Wayne and I wanted to be alone! I turned around with delight telling Wayne that they hadn't heard the order and Wayne flashed the half-carat diamond solitaire onto my finger.  Although I knew that I would get it that night, it was a beautiful moment in both of our lives.  When Mom and Dad returned from the movie, Mom came in first.  Dad had to lock the garage door.  We tried to wait 'til they both came in, but Arlene was so excited that Mom knew in a number of seconds.  When I looked at her I began to cry out loud.  Wayne acted like a He-man to us both.  Daddy came in, and engulfed be in his arms and whispered in my ear "God bless you!" ---softly. That feeling was unsurpassed in its worth.  I was engaged at 9:25 pm.  I love Wayne very dearly."

The Legacy of Gibson's Green Acres goes farther back than it's name.  Homesteaded in 1869 in West Weber Utah the Gibson's have continued to be stewards of the land.  As fifth generation farmers, the name Gibson's Green Acres means a lot to our family. My mother-in-law Carolynn Gould Gibson chose this name in 1972.  This was shortly after Wayne's father Louis and uncle Harold separated and split the farm original Gibson Farm.  This blog is dedicated to our great heritage of honesty, hard work, integrity and love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.