Team of Rivals

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin My rating: 5 of 5 stars I finally finished! I started this book five months ago (in my defense, I've read several other books while I read this one.) This was our book club's selection for April. At the time of the book club meeting, I had read about 300 pages. About the time most books are ending, this one is just getting started (it's 944 pages.) It's a book I would have never chosen for myself. I didn't think I liked history books, but I've changed my mind. That's the beauty of a book club, I guess. This book is definitely not a page turner. In fact, I had to set reading goals to complete it, but it's a book SO worth reading! I am so glad to know President Lincoln, his family and his cabinet (his team of rivals.) I thought the author was fair and objective, and definitely had great respect for Lincoln. I feel that Abraham Lincoln was chosen by God to lead this country through this most difficult and turbulent time. I am grateful for Lincoln and for his team of rivals. I hadn't realized how very soon after the end of the war Lincoln was assassinated. It seemed so sad that he didn't get to celebrate that most glorious victory. But, I guess his work on earth was complete and the Lord took him where he could really party down, and hopefully get some rest. Because of reading this book, I want to be a better and more effective leader, be more forgiving and tolerant, and be a less selfish individual. I think those results are worth five months of reading, don't you? View all my reviews >>

Hinton Family Reunion, 2010

Last weekend was the Hinton Family reunion in the mountains near Flagstaff, Arizona at Rick and Sherrie's cabin. Over 100 people attended. It was great to renew love and friendship and to "bond"- the theme of this year's reunion.

Some of the activities included: music trivia game and group singing (by Jim and Leslie), the absolutely essential softball game (somehow every year it ends in a tie), Women bonding time (the men tended the kids and played kick ball while the women gathered and answered great "getting to really know you questions" hosted by Nan. For instance, did you know Cindy never takes the 1st of anything off the shelf- she always digs for the 2nd or 3rd?, or that Micole once danced her heart out at a Garth Brooks concert?) Then it was male bonding, which started fun, but ended in disaster. The men divided into teams, got pvc pipe and shot miniature marshmallows at each other all over the hills (it must be a male thing!) But several of the little girls participated, too, including ten-year-old Hadley. Hadley got turned around, trying to return to camp. Once it was discovered she was missing, the Hinton family went into action to find her. By then, we were eating lunch. Lunches were left, a group prayer said, water bottles distributed (it was pretty hot), search teams formed, and the search began. Bryson (who, by the way spent the entire reunion saving people. He spent the morning helping Mark Grant who had locked his keys in the car, spent the afternoon setting up the walkie talkie system for the search parties and searching, then spent the night at the hospital with David Udall who was severely dehydrated) set up a fabulous walkie talkie system so the searchers could communicate. Aunt Sherrie had the little kids surround the meadow, shouting, "Hadley, Hadley!" Neighbors with ATVs were enlisted. Finally, she was found by kind (thank Heavenly Father) people who took her to authorities at Mormon Lake. It was a scary, but very bonding experience for the family. Some of the previously planned bonding experiences had to be cancelled, but all agreed that nothing could have bonded us more. When Gina (who was manning the walkie talkie system through their car) called, "they found her!" the whole camp errupted in cheers. Amber immediately gathered all the children and a prayer of thanks was offered.

That evening was the auction and talent show. The highlight of the talent show was the Hinton family band. People blew the dust off their instruments, replaced mouth pieces and formed a band to play two numbers. It was great.

A highlight for me was the devotional held on Sunday morning. I felt bad for those who had to leave early and missed it. The Don Hintons sang three songs. They were SO good. The spirit flows freely in the mountains anyway, and when you add good talks (Darren and Accalia) and beautiful music- well, wow!

Early morning softball game

Mandy (home from her mission)

Micole

Judy (Caleb and Gina's)

Sister bonding

Dividing teams for Marshmallow wars

Heidi shows off her new hat

Making hats (the little kids during the marhsmallow wars)

Sporting their creations

Bryan and Noel

Preparing Food for 100+people for five meals is no easy task. Luckily, everyone is willing to help.

Hadley tells her story to all the Hintons gathered after a beautiful prayer of thanks offered by Ken for her safe return.

Adrienne sporting her new hat purchased in the auction (made by Stacey)

The Hinton Family Band

Don and Ada's family singing at the devotional

Thanks, Don and Ada for a great family reunion!!

Gwen retires

Yesterday, Ken's office held an open house for retiring Gwen Iverson. Hundreds of people came to thank her for her service and wish her well. Gwen was working for the firm when we came 31 years ago (then called Carter and Kemp.) She has been a faithful, loyal employee all of these years. I can't even imagine the firm without her. She is the only one who has been there longer than Ken, so now he's granddaddy of the firm.

Gwen watched our family grow up. Her favorite story to tell on our family is when Kristen was just a little two-year-old, anticipating Christmas. President Kimball was the prophet then. Her Christmas greeting to Gwen was, "Ho! Ho! Ho! Jesus Kimball!" She got all the good guys in there in one sentence.

Good luck and happy retirement, Gwen! We love you and will miss you!

No Way!

Friday, June 25

Yea! It's off to Williamsburg for our Ken Hinton Family Reunion! We've looked forward to this week for a long time. We flew out of St. George to SLC, then had a direct flight to Washington DC.

As I was sitting on the plane, I looked up and saw my cousin Martha's husband Ron walk by in the aisle. No way! They were on the same plane as us, heading to DC for a week's vacation. The had flown out of Boise that morning. After the seatbelt sign went off in the flight, Martha came up to visit, and we got a little more visiting time at luggage claim after the flight. What are the chances? It was great to see her and her cute family. I hope they had a wonderful vacation- as we did. (Martha was one of my giggling "Peep! Peep! cousins in years gone by)

After getting our rental car and a long rush hour drive, we arrived at Michelle and Brian's apartment. We enjoyed a nice dinner and a pre-birthday party for Gabbi there. Gabbi was turning one later in the week, but we got a head start in the celebrations that evening. She is so cute, and it was so fun to see her- though it took her awhile to warm up to us. We stayed with Michelle and Brian that night.

Not sure about birthday cake

Here, you can have it.

"Travel, Travel, Travel, Travel, Travel."

Saturday, June 26

Michelle had to teach dance in the morning before leaving for Williamsburg. We had intended to set out early for Williamsburg, hoping to see Aaron and Carina in Richmond on the way, but we were warned the traffic earlier was horrific.

So, we opted to take the metro in and go through a Smithsonian Museum in DC before heading to Williamsburg. We chose the Museum of American History. It was packed on the metro (it seems everyone was in DC that weekend). We loved the museum, and were especially touched by seeing the original star- spangled banner (which you can't photograph.)

Dorothy's ruby slippers

Lincoln's top hat

Lincoln's team of rivals (I've been reading a book about this)

Abraham and Mary's clothing

Michelle Obama's ballgown

Nancy Reagan's and Baraba Bush's ballgowns

After seeing Julie/Julia you have to go see Julia Child's kitchen

We had lunch at the museum, then took the metro back to Brian and Michelle's where we packed up and left for Williamsburg- along with 9 million other people. Williamsburg is the 2nd most popular travel destination in the US (Disneyworld being first) and can be reached by car for over 9 million people. I think they were all on the road that day, making our travel long. After getting checked into our three rooms, and talking everyone else in (the directions were a bit fuzzy), Ken and I grabbed some dinner and went grocery shopping until very late at night. After getting it all into the rooms and tiny fridges, bed never felt so good.

We were surprised when Kristen and Jared showed up in a red car- a rental. Brielle told the story. "On the way home from swimming lessons our car went boom, boom, boom! So my daddy went to the place and got us this car. Then we went travel, travel, travel, travel, travel." After two long days of travel, I thought that summed it up pretty well.

"Where is the Oldest Place on Earth?"

Sunday, June 27 We started the day with family pictures. Just outside our building at the resort were beautiful trees and the morning light was perfect. The kids were great, and we got some good shots with a timer camera. After hoagies in the room, we went to 1:00pm church in Williamsburg.

After naps, Ken sacrificed his body to barbecue in the heat. Westerners just don't understand heat like that. We had a yummy dinner of barbecued chicken, potato salad, fruit and I can't remember what else.

When things cooled down a bit, most of us went on a walk through historic Williamsburg. It was still unbelievably hot out. Brielle kept us entertained by asking, "Why?" to everything we told her. When we told her this was one of the oldest towns in America, she asked "Where is the oldest place on earth?" I'll let you answer that one. Shonna patiently explained answers to all of her questions. Brielle also kept us entertained by telling us jokes she made up as she went- most based on the ever-popular "Why did the chicken cross the road?". She's pretty funny.

Other highlights of this day:

1) Nathan caught a frog by our room with a net.

2) Ken caught a furry catepillar. It was climbing on his arm (which is a bit hairy) when he showed it to Nathan. "See Nathan, it has a black head and is furry all over." In all earnestness, Nathan's reply, "Like you?"

Hot!

Monday, June 28

We start our adventures by heading for a plantation- that wasn't. We found it on the internet, but there wasn't much to it, so we'll call it a nature hike. Nathan was in heaven. We kind of got mixed up and separated to start with. Brian and Michelle had to run some errands, Blake and Shonna forgot their stroller, so Blake, Kristen (who was having contractions and shouldn't hike), and I went back to get the stroller. Because the plantation was a bust, we all just met out at the East Petersburg visitors center. Because of a happy mistake, I got to see Fort Lee where my parents were stationed in the army back in the 50's- that's the 1950's. I tried to talk Blake into driving to the gate to ask the officer if he knew where the Gabrielsens used to live. He wouldn't.

Man, oh man was it hot. HOOOOOOT! We looked through the Petersburg visitors center and watched a movie about the battles fought there. My dad used to talk about seeing the crater where the Union soldiers tunneled under the Confederates, blowing a hole in their line. It worked, but the crater made by the blast trapped many union soldiers, making them sitting ducks for the enemy. It was sobering (and hot!) to see that tunnel and crater. My dad also used to talk about the two bullets that fused together mid-air- one from each side. We saw those bullets. We bought three audio tours for the three cars, and enjoyed learning and seeing the history.

Here's the bullets that met. It was neat to see the same thing that had so impressed my Dad 60 years ago.

The Crater at Petersburg

We stopped at a cemetery where there was a ranger station. William, the ranger told us many fascinating stories about the Civil War. He presented Jr. Ranger badges to all four kids, and even one to Kristen for her unborn son. He was a nice guy and told us it made his day to have people so interested.

Appotomax Court House- the ending place of the Civil War

General Grant's Cabin

Did I mention that it was unbelievably hot? That was the bad part. We went back to Williamsburg where Shonna and Blake made us yummy Cafe Rio burritos for dinner. Daddy and I went back out grocery shopping for more stuff after that.

Now click older posts to see the rest of our travels!