A Photo to Remember

Here is the story. 

My sister-in-laws, sister found out about the 30 Strangers project and that it was time for submissions to be chosen for this years photos.  She has all boys so she emailed my mother, who has 5 girls, and suggested that she ought to try for it. She didn't know who Justin is, so the need to be a stranger part, Check.

"ok.  Why not?"  and she does.

Fast forward a month.  Justin Hackworth is calling letting her know she has been picked to be photographed.  Now comes the tricky part.  My mother has 4 sisters, 5 daughters, 11 grand-daughters and too many nieces to count.  This is a Mother-Daughter Photo Shoot, but we can't have 50 people in the pictures right?  One from every generation is what he wants.

So how to decide?

Grandma Dolly, or Blanche, is the oldest daughter in her family.

Allyn, or mom, is also the oldest daughter.  I see a theme developing here. 

So that is how I was chosen to be part of this once in a lifetime event.  This amazing project that I may or may not have heard about prior to the invitation from mom to have my photo taken. 

Ally was a trooper.  She was up late the night before and danced all morning.

A four generation picture of all the oldest daughters is appealing, and a great opportunity to create a wonderful memory.  I am so grateful I got to be a part of it.  The timing of it was perfect.  We were Day 30.  

Photos Courtesy of Justin Hackworth



The exhibit will be in July in Provo UT.  I will fill you in on details as I get them. 

A time to Remember

Memorial Day is a special day amongst the Smiths for lots of reasons. Every year we trek to Smithfield Cemetery (yes. Smithfield. It is named for our 5 Greats Grandfather) in Smithfield, Utah...just North of Logan. We visit the site of our loved ones, place flowers on the grave and take a picture next to the same headstone every year. We then cross the town to our spot at a local park and commence the feasting. Grandma Smith used to make homemade fried chicken when I was young, but later bought it at the local KFC. It has come to be known as Smithfield Chicken amongst our cousins. My dad would make homemade root beer and everyone would contribute a salad or a dessert. Or both. There was always a ton of food. We would then talk and share a little talent show with each other. Then we would head over to the ball field and start a game of softball. We would play Frisbee or horseshoes and when I was a lot younger there seemed to always be some sort of water fight that would break out.



It sounds like a pretty normal picnic/family get together. And to almost everyone it is. The reason it means so much to my family is a little different. My dad is the only Smith...we have been over this before...so it is up to him to carry on that legacy. Not only that, he and my mom lived across the street from each other all through Jr high and high school but never went out until the end of their senior year. Their first date was to Smithfield on Memorial Day for a family picnic. They had a picture taken of them next to a tall headstone...same one we still stand in front of every year. Except for the 2 years he was away on his mission, they have never missed that picnic, or the picture. It is kind of a milestone every year for us to see how the family grows and changes and who is not around to be able to make it to the picnic.



While we were driving down to Smithfield, Ryan made a comment about how some of my cousins decided not to come this year since Grandma would not be there. They will probably never come again. "This tradition is going to die," he said. I don't think it will. Not amongst my brothers and sisters anyway. As long as my parents are alive they will still go. As long as they go, I will be there and I know they all feel the same way.



But now it is an opportunity to visit Grandma. A time to remember her and all the wonderful things she represents in our life and our memory. It was hard for her the first few years after Grandpa died, and it was a little hard to be there yesterday. But it is important to think of those who have passed before us. They are our heritage and the reason we are here. Passing on the memory of them helps define who we are.



I am a Smith and I will eat Smithfield Chicken every year on Memorial Day. Even if it's only my little family who go.

Side Note: I have lots of pictures to put with this post. They are on my camera at my brothers house. I will post them later I guess.

My cousin who also attends every year also wrote about the event. It was fun to compare her memories to mine. You can read her account too if you want!

Mr. Allyn Smith

My Favorite Moms- Day 7
This is Allyn. Her dad used to call her Al. People who only see her name assume she is a man. I call her mom. My kids call her Maga. I named my oldest after her. We call her Ally. I love my mom very much. She is so wonderful and I am so happy to have her live close and be part of our life. When I started doing this last week I knew I wanted to wait until Mothers Day to write about her, but now that it is her I am having a hard time doing it. I can’t put into words what I want to say about her.

I was sassy when I was small. Karma is real because I have Ally now. I love that we were required to do chores and to do them right as I was growing up. There was usually a list in the kitchen when we woke up on Saturday. If we wanted to do anything that day our list had to be done first. I know how to do things right. I am not good at it, but I learned the right way.

Allyn has 7 kids. I am #2. You met most of them this week. She has 18-almost 19 grand kids. She is a busy lady spending time with all of them and being to all their events. She has always been involved in everything we were doing in school and extra stuff. In jr. high I though it was annoying but by the time I got to high school I realized how lucky I was that my parents cared about me enough to show up to stuff. Not everyone has parents like that.

Allyn is a Director in MK. She has sold it since I was 11. This is the second time she has become a director. The first time around she had some health issues so she decided to step down and get better. Then a few years ago she decided to become a director again. She is good at it. She has the same customers that she started with. I have great skin because of her.

Allyn is the kindest person I have ever met. She is so sweet to everyone she meets. Everybody loves my mom. It’s true. I still meet people who know her and instantly like me by association. It is a nice perk really. She is very aware of other people and how what we do or say will make them feel.

When I was a teenager, she was the Young Women’s president. I really liked having her be part of my life. She is fun and energetic and can get super silly at times. I think that is why all of us girls have such a blast when we are together. (We got the sarcasm from dad.) It really is a good mix that makes us funny and crazy.

I love my mom. We grew to be really close when I went away to college. I always knew I would feel better if I could talk to her on the phone for a few minutes. She has a way about her that makes people gravitate to her. I love being able to be close to her and to learn from her.

She was good at recognizing our talents and helping them grow. I love to bake. Every Sunday we would have a treat and it was usually me that made it. I know now that I am really good at it, but I just assumed it was my job so I did it. I helped cook dinner a lot too. I still hate to do the dishes though.

I am grateful to have been blessed with a wonderful mother who loves me and has an active role in my life. She is amazing and I would never trade her. I know how blessed I am to have her. Just a few weeks ago my little brother got married. Everyone was there together with our spouses in the temple. I could see the gratitude when she realized how powerful that is. I leaned over to her and told her it was because of her that we were there. SHE has fulfilled her calling of raising her children in righteousness. I only pray that I will have the same experience with my children one day. What greater accomplishment can there be?

I love you mom! Happy Mothers Day!