Lessons Learned in the Old World

As as American (one who was especially interested in history) I studied and ready about the Holocaust. In high school, a survivor of this monstrosity came and spoke to my school. Reading, listening and understanding as much as I could about an event however, could not have possibly prepared me for going to a place where people deliberately planned and implemented programs to subjugate and slaughter their fellow human beings. Walking along the tracks that led to Dachau, looking at the clothing that inmates were forced to wear in the concentration camps, gazing up in absolute horror at the hideous propaganda that was unleashed by the Reich - it was a heart wrenching experience.  Germany is a beautiful place, the land is some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. Reconciling this pastoral environment against the nightmare of the "final solution" proved elusive for me, at least for this visit. The horror and the loss of an entire people (over 90% of the entire Jewish population in Germany were killed) is too terrible to even comprehend and cast a chilly, somber pall on my adventures. Being mistaken for being a Muslim while in some parts of the country and experiencing a surprisingly scary amount of hostility simply because of my skin color made me realize that even with a lesson as terrible as this one, there will always be idiots who fail to learn from history and are hellbent on perpetuating the same atrocious acts of unkindness against our brothers and sisters.  

This picture was taken in the crypt of the Berlin Cathedral. The angel is sitting in Jesus' empty tomb and saying, "HE is not here, HE is risen." My testimony of the Lord's goodness and mercy was strengthened on this trip. Boo and I went to a church in Berlin that has systematically been attacked, first by the Nazi's then the Communists. There was a hallway where pictures of church members (some priests, most members of the congregation) who had either been imprisoned or murdered as a result of their beliefs or because they had tried to help their neighbors. People of all ages, both male and female, rich and poor gave up their lives for something that they believed in and as my sister and I worshiped in the church, nicknamed the upside down teacup, we both felt very strongly that their sacrifices, hopes and works had been accepted by the Lord and that these brave people had truly lived up to the scripture in 2 Timothy 4:7 " I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH."

This is St. Martin in the Fields, a church in London that was built by Henry VIII so that people who were suffering from plague and needed the attention of a priest wouldn't come into contact with the main population of London. This was were the poorest, and sickest of the populace went for succor and was, literally out in some fields. Growing up, we all listened to classical music that was performed in this place, or by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. To me, this place, this name, was synonymous with good music (especially Mozart and Bach) and also my father. He was very particular when buying tapes that he would find something that had been recorded at St. Martins and would reply, when asked why his preferences ran the way they did, that "It's the best...that's why." So, it was with a mixture of Joy, loneliness, sorrow and a bittersweet sense of peace, that I sat and listened to an absolutely amazing performance (Baroque Style -that was beyond brilliant).  I couldn't keep my eyes dry. My heart was overflowing, from a wonderfully poignant mixture of passionately performed music and the knowledge that the man who had helped instill in my a love of this type of music wasn't sitting beside me on that wooden bench. It broke my heart in a way and reminded me, how fleeing and fragile life is and how we can't take a musical measure or day beside a loved one for granted.

What can I say...DENMARK IS AMAZING! My mother's family and husband's family comes from this country and I felt an immediate kinship with the land. Denmark reminds me very much of my mother and husband. The people are kind, hardworking and have a great sense of humor. The building style is brilliant - simple in statement, perfect in form. Clyde's family were, based on the lands they lived in, quite the adventurers. (fjords, fjords and more fjords, all along known viking settlements) After feeling the delightfully salty, cold sting of sea spray and being thoroughly buffeted by the wind, I felt that they must have been very strong and resolute as well. I felt very much at home here, and am determined to take my family back next year so that they too, can gain a better understanding of where they are from and why being aware of your past helps you appreciate your present and look forward to the future. Denmark is cold, wet and as green as Oz. I think of our ancestors going from this beautiful place and ending up Arid, dusty Sampete county and just want to cry for them. How lonely they must have been, not having the sea, rich black soil and beautiful green trees to shelter them from the elements. Not being quite as tough as my fore bearers, I would have taken a return train back to Denmark or somewhere a little greener and nicer.

Adventures to Europe are always nice. Being on an adventure with your sister....is a delightful dream come true. Boo and I have very different personalities, but they blend very well. She is such a dear friend and I am so lucky that I had the chance to spend time with her and get to know her better. I LOVE YOU, REBECCA!

Finally, a word about tea and scones. My heavens - they are addicting. I think there is a scone loving gene in my DNA that has emerged upon my nibbling and sipping this fantastic culinary concoction in London and Bath. It's a part of my heritage, a wonderful crumbly nibble of family history that I am having fun replicating and passing on to my children. England, even more than Denmark, because I am already pretty familiar with it, is home to me. I know the land and it knows and welcomes me into it. 

This happy breed of men people, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,

Richard II - William Shakespeare

Jenn's (Butt Kicking) English Scones

Jenn's Butt Kicking Scones (Yes, this is the actual name)

4 cups flour
1 cup sugar... See more
6 teaspons baking powder
1 tsp salt
1.5 cups dried fruit (I use 1/2 golden raisins and 1/2 dried cranberries)
2 tsp. vanilla (the better the quality - the better the taste)
2.5 cups heavy whipping cream 

Cover dried fruit with orange juice for five minutes. Set aside. Mix your dry ingredients. Make a well. Drain dried fruit. Add to well. Add vanilla and heavy cream. Using a pastry cutter, gently and minimally mix everything together. Don't knead the dough. Mix until moist. Cut dough up and place on greased cookie sheet. Cook for about 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Serve piping hot with clotted cream and preserves. ENJOY

My Personal Coat of Arms

The Munson Brothers Present...Adventures in Wyoming!

Happy Easter

(Spring Equinox, Weekend, or whatever you want to call this time of year!)

"The resurrection asserts a truth which is by no means always written legibly for all men on the face of nature. It tells us that the spiritual is higher than the material; that in this universe spirit counts for more than matter."


-- H.P. Liddon

Since I am doing my level best to be a better blogger (I have such good examples!) I thought that I would get an entry in about my latest and greatest adventures with the boys in Gilette, Wyoming. Known affectionately (or not so affectionately, depending on the day) as HOTH by members of our family, this is the city where my sister, Amy, her husband, Nathan, and their darling daughter, Morgan live.

Gilette is part of the Great Plains area of the United States and is very flat, devoid of mountains and very windy. It is, without a doubt, one of my boys favorite places in the world. They love the general flatness of the region and are always commenting about how the sky is eternal and the view goes on without end. I confess to not being terribly partial to the geography (give me mountains, any day of the week) but I love the people in this town, so it all evens out in the end.

Due to some seriously nasty weather conditions, we ended up spending the night in Rock Springs, Wyoming on our way here. Due to the weather, there weren't many hotels available by the time we slipped and slid off of the freeway and we ended up staying at a suite in a hotel. This was absolultely agreeable to the boys (who liked having their own beds and lots of space to romp in) and also to me (the price was very reasonable, all things considered, and I was able to enjoy a good sleep without being attacked in my sleep by two boys who have no concept about personal space when one is snoozing). We enjoyed a surprisingly excellent sushi dinner and I enjoyed watching the boys snarf down sashimi for the first time. Their palates are becoming very diverse and this makes me happy. After dinner, we ended up swimming and soaking in the hot tub at the hotel. It was nice simmering in hot, bubbling water while watching huge, beautiful snowflakes tumble down from a coal black sky.

Speaking of coal, Gilette is considered the energy capital of the United States. Nearly everyone here is works in the mining industry and there are all sorts of huge mines in the area. Gilette reminds me very strongly of Elko, Nevada (a place we lived in earlier in our marriage) and is a tough place, filled with strong, practical and rangy people who are shaped by the harsh enviorment and an economy that is boom or bust, but never really in-between. It will be interesting to see how Gilette grows as time passess by, especially in the event that mining becomes more difficult or some of the primary veins dry up. (Hopefully, since Amy and Nate are living here, that won't happen for many, many years!)

While in Gilette, we enjoyed some seriously ferocious blizzards. Spring is still far from this place, and it was sobering to think of my sun loving sister living in a place that enjoys the briefest of summers. Thankfully, the snow abated long enough for Amy, Nate, Morgan, Jean (Nathan's mother) and us to go adventuring to Spearfish (a lovely town on the Wyoming, South Dakota border), Deadwood (the wild west is still alive and well in this place), Grand Rapids (the population centre for this area), Mt. Rushmore and a fascinating place in Grand Rapids called the reptile gardens. It boats the largest collection of reptiles in the world and it was amazing. There were Australian crocodiles, camains, alligators, huge turtles, giant tortices, and snakes and lizards of every imaginable variety. (including cobras, mambas, vipers, pythons, anacondas, etc.) There was even a snake wrangler (not sure of the official title for the fellow) who brought out a series of snakes and explained their eating behaviors and hunting methods. There were non-venemous varieties, a Burmese python, an Indian Cobra (Amy and I were NOT amused and both nearly had coronaries right then and there) a rattle snake, a cotton mouth (what a beastly animal) and a rattle snake. I can totally appreciate the design of these animals and understand that from an evolutionary point of view that they are amazing, but if I EVER see one of them slithering within a half mile of me or my boys, they will end up being worn as a purse or pair of nice shoes or buried.

Amy has truly mad skills in the kitchen and we've been spoiled with chocolate covered strawberries, Carmel fondue, fruits, waffles, lots of candy that we normally don't get at my house, some tasty spaghetti and a wonderful sampling of some traditional southern fare, courtesy of Nate (who is also a fantastic cook, blast him!) We ate po' boys (poor boy) sandwiches, which Nate told us were impossible to eat neatly. Moriarty and Atilla took this to mean that they had leave to eat like slavering vikings on a vicious raid (Moriarty's quote) and they went to town. The sandwiches were delightful and I will do my best to make them at our house. We also had the opportunity to partake of a Mardi Gras staple, Kings Cake. Brightly colored and as sweet as anything it was very good and will become a part of my yearly Easter Celebration. Thanks, Nate, for the great tasting adventure! Merci!

One of the best parts of this visit, was the fact that my boys actually sat through General Conference for the first time EVER. Of course, I owe this to my fabulously inventive sister who had conference packets ready for them to work out during the talks. Thanks, Amy, for helping me want to be a better mom. You're a great example and I am so lucky to get to have you a part of my life. For my non-LDS friends, General Conference is a semi-annual set of meetings (usually broad casted on TV) where leaders of our church talk about important topics. For children and adults it can be a long sitting experience (four general sessions that are two hours long) but many good ideas come from careful listening and it's always a good idea to take stock of where you are standing on a spiritual level.


I've made great progress in the past few years, but am very much aware of the fact I have lots and lots that I still need to work on. Easter is a great time to reflect on where you are in the world. Regardless of belief, Spring is a time of renewal, a time to forget the cold and the dark and look forward to standing in the warmth and light of this world. I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to have such wonderful family and friends and hope that you all had a good weekend and know that you are loved and sincerely appreciated.

Talk with you soon!
Jenn M.