Books about WWI & WWII

It's been an interesting year of reading historical books, especially those set in Europe during the world wars. Last night, I finished yet another audio book about World War II. I've enjoyed each one of these:

World War I: 

• Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson: The story of the sinking of the Lusitania (1915).
• The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers by Harry Bernstein: A memoir written about Northern England on the eve of WWI.

World War II (France):

• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.
• Avenue of Spies by Alex Kershaw: A True Story of Terror, Espionage, and One American Family's Heroic Resistance in Nazi-Occupied Paris
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah: A story of two sisters in France, 1939.
• The Race for Paris by Meg Waite Clayton / Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda: Women reporters try to be the first in Paris to report as the allies free the city.

World War II (England):

• Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner: "Current day, Oxford, England. Young American scholar Kendra Van Zant, eager to pursue her vision of a perfect life, interviews Isabel McFarland just when the elderly woman is ready to give up secrets about the war that she has kept for decades...beginning with who she really is. What Kendra receives from Isabel is both a gift and a burden--one that will test her convictions and her heart."

America (Just before World War II):

• The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

Other (France/England):

• Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens (This was one of the few English shows on French TV--it was on PBS--so I watched it first and then listened to the novel and remembered how much I like Dickens!).
• A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle: "Peter Mayle tells what it is like to realize a long-cherished dream and actually move into a 200-year-old stone farmhouse in the remote country of the Lubéron with his wife and two large dogs."

Other interesting books I have read (or listened to) this year:

• Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt (by Eleanor) / Narrated by Tavia Gilbert
• The Climb: The Autobiography by Chris Froome: The memoir from the British winner of the 2013 centenary Tour de France
• Einstein by Walter Isaacson / Narrated by Edward Herrmann
• Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot (The Killing of Historical Figures)
by Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard
• Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever (The Killing of Historical Figures) by Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard

A month in Utah, South Dakota & Wyoming

My Dad's 90th Birthday Party (Utah)

A few years ago, I realized that as well as my dad's 90th birthday, this year also marked my parents' 65th wedding anniversary and my mom's 85th birthday. I decided we needed to plan a big party! Since my father, as a pediatrician in Logan, Utah, helped so many children and families, we invited the community (through an announcement in the local newspaper), and it was great to see some of my father's former patients. We also saw relatives we had not seen for years.

A little time at Bear Lake:

We made our yearly Bear Lake trip with parents, children, grandchildren, siblings, nephews, nieces & assorted relatives :-). I enjoyed my water-skiing time as well!

Vermillion, South Dakota: Time to Leave

Our son, Ryan, finished up his schooling (for his PhD) in Vermillion at USD. Next, it was time for his family to move to Wyoming for his one-year internship. So, we started a road trip across South Dakota and Wyoming with Ryan & Rachel's two young children. Because we felt compelled to stop to see Mount Rushmore before we left South Dakota, we ended up in what seemed like the middle of nowhere (in southeastern Wyoming) at around 1:30 in the morning looking for a place to sleep. I may have been part of the problem, with a little lack of planning, but we eventually found a hotel with enough beds for a few hours that night! Since we survived, it's at least a good story now!

Wyoming

Some much needed down-time at a hotel & swimming pool after the move.

Birthday party for a 4-year-old

Our oldest granddaughter, Jane, turned 4-years-old, and we all wore tiaras for the party!

A great children's museum at Thanksgiving Point, Utah

Baby Clara's Blessing Day

Herald Journal Announcement: Paul's 90th Birthday

I want to keep a record of the announcement, so this might be a good place for it:

Stowell’s 90th

Paul Stowell’s Family is very pleased to announce his 90th Birthday and would like to invite family and friends to an Open House: Saturday, June 27, 3-5 pm, at the LDS Lundstrom Park Chapel, 1260 N. 1600 E., Logan.

Paul was born June 26, 1925, in Rexburg, Idaho. Paul’s father, D.W. Stowell, was mayor of Rexburg in the 1930s through the early 1940s, and his mother, Freida Elizabeth Spori, lived to 102 years of age. Paul’s grandfather, Jacob Spori, was the first instructor at Rick’s College (now known as BYU Idaho). Paul is the youngest of seven children. In high school, Paul played trumpet in various bands.

During World War II, Paul was in the army and served in Asia. After returning to Rexburg, he was student-body president at Rick’s College before leaving on a mission to the Texas / Louisiana Mission. When he returned from his mission, Paul married Lorelie Strong (from Sugar City) in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Paul received his medical degree from Yale University and later interned and took a pediatric residency at the University of Utah. He began his pediatric practice in Logan at the Budge Clinic in 1958, and he continued there for 37 years, seeing hundreds of children, teenagers, and young adults while Lorelie taught hundreds of piano students. One patient mentioned that she loved getting “Dr. Stowell” on the phone because he was always so patient and understanding, even in the middle of the night. In 1963, Paul was in charge of the Polio vaccination effort in Cache County, helping to eradicating polio in the area.

Paul and Lorelie have always been active in the community and held a variety of church callings. Paul served on boards, such as the Bear River Health Board and the State Education Board, and Lorelie was the President of the State Medical Auxiliary. Paul was Bishop in the ward formerly known as the 24th Ward during the construction of the building on 16th East, and Lorelie was a Relief Society President on both the ward and stake levels. They served a mission to Temple Square in Salt Lake and also worked in the Logan Temple.

Paul and Lorelie are parents of five children: Launa Lee Jensen (deceased), David, Shellie Christensen, Doug, and Marci Hunsaker. Paul and Lorelie have enjoyed sports such as golf, tennis, water-skiing, and snow skiing, and they have shared this enjoyment with their children. Family trips to Lake Powell, Grand Targhee, and Bear Lake are especially fond memories for the entire family. Paul and Lorelie have 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Lorelie turned 85 last August, and Paul and Lorelie celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in March.

Anges et Demons (Angels & Demons): Restaurant in Toulouse

We went to a great French Restaurant with Eric's colleagues and friends. The desserts were incredible. Then after dessert, they brought out the macaroons. I had no idea how good "real" macaroons are, but I will definitely go to this restaurant again if I have the chance.

HELSINKI, FINLAND: May = Winter in Finland!

A few days after arriving in France, we flew to Helsinki to see Eric's sister-in-law Heli before she finished her church mission there. I thought it was very interesting to be so close to Russia! We visited several interesting churches and had a delicious dinner made by Heli and her companion.

I always love to see unique pipe organs, wherever I go.

It was very cold the first weekend of May in Finland! We were glad to have our winter clothes with us. Despite the cold, it was very interesting to explore the city.

We enjoyed visiting the LDS Temple.

ROAD TRIP: Portsmouth, England, to Toulouse, France

Eric went golfing before we left England, and this picture he snapped prompted the question, "Why are we leaving England just when the weather is nicer and we can see beautiful scenes such as this?!" Oh, yes, we have to go where the work is! So, it's off to France we go.

First stop: a B&B in Dover. The next day, we just had time to drive by Dover Castle and to make a quick stop in Canterbury. We took a few pictures near a Cathedral and I quoted the beginning of the Canterbury Tales, "Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote. The droghte of Marche hath perced to the Roote." That seems appropriate for our April trip!" I really did enjoyed my class on Chaucer many years ago. I guess that is one reason I was an English major.

Okay, we didn't drive all the way to France. When we arrived in Folkestone, England, we drove our car onto a train that took us through the Chunnel. I was excited to experience this, but it was just a regular train ride, and of course, we couldn't see anything as we went along. However, when the train stopped and we drove off in our car, we were in France!

Our first night in France, we stayed in Bayeux at a chateau B&B. As we went out for dinner, we saw an interesting cathedral.

The next morning, we were off toward the D-Day Beaches. We started in Arromanches and saw the Cinema 360, a video history of WWII. Then, we walked on some D-Day Beaches and saw some tanks and structures used in the landing.

Later, we went to the American Cemetery. The museum there was amazing. I was awed by all of the depictions of the sacrifices made in the war. I would like to come back with more of our family.

Next, we drove to Mont-Saint-Michael. It is probably the most beautiful site I've seen so far.

Finally, we drove the rest of the way down France and arrived on a very rainy evening. It was a little challenging to unpack our very full car in the rain while walking about a block from car to apartment. City life has its challenges, and one of those is parking!