Stories to be told and retold were awaiting as they lived in my husband's parents home.  After his parents passing eleven months apart many lessons were to be learned and untold stories to never to be discovered or told. Recording one's life stories is an important task that should be done or they will be lost. As we began to prepare their house to be sold many treasures were to be found. Some we remembered the story being told by his father and why the precious item was still being kept in their home.  Many other items were there that we had no idea what the story was or why the item had been saved for many years. It was heart wrenching to release so many treasures from someone elses past as if it didn't matter anymore. My lesson from this experience taught me to record the stories from my own family members before they are gone and the stories go with them. Hence, this is where the story begins.  These stories are being heard and now they will be told.

I had lost my father when I was barely 18 yrs old and discovered that losing a parent is a life changing experience. You relive losing that parent with each life changing event that they would have participated.  Your college graduation when you could seem their smile beaming across the room, wedding day when he could give you away, holding their grandchildren for the first time.

While my mother and her third husband reside in Arizona six months out of the year I am responsible for caring for her home in Wyoming. I am the only child that lives in the same town as the house my parents raised their children. When I was a child my memories of my mother being an immaculate housekeeper was gone when I was in search for photos for her 80th surprise birthday party. Although, I do go there every week to see her I don't go to all levels of her home as I am there to visit with her or help her with her computer questions.

When I entered the third level I was in shock as to the thick dust, cobwebs and dead bugs I saw from afar. As I got closer it didn't look any better as there pictures in broken frames in which family pictures were being ruined by the way they were being stored. This inspired me to create pictures of all her grandchildren from birth to current pics for future generations to enjoy. I discovered many pictures, artwork and stories created by my sister and I that were for our grandma, dad and mother. I had forgotten about these wonderful treasures as these pleasant memories consumed me and time passed by very quickly. Seeing these items triggered the memory to return and helped me to write it down to retell future generations.

I opened a box full of papers written by my mother while she was in college and found my father's handwriting on the folder that said "Treasures to be published". The following is one of those papers ...

"The Best Words in the Best Order"

A large vocabulary in some ways resembles a large wardrobe of clothing. With such a wardrobe, one may combine, mix or match, create a mystery, or beauty. If one uses little or no discretion in selection, he may present an ugly, gaudy, or disgusting appearance. The same might be said of words. The key to good writing is the exercise of good judgment in the selection of words that will best describe or obtain the desired effect.

Words may set moods, start wars, bring peace, express love, express hate, spark anger, or soothe injured feelings. Have you ever been in a dreary or depressed mood when along comes a young, bubbling beauty who tells you how brilliant, clever, and handsome you are? Do the words of this young bubbling beauty have an effect on your depressed mood? Perhaps the impact of the words, brilliant, clever, and handsome changes your mood completely to that of a self assured or confident person.

The comedian stretches and twists words to make you laugh. The musician composes rhyming lyrics and sets them to music to entertain you. The poet's clever arrangement and rhyming of words can describe beauty, joy or sadness.

The merchant sells his wares through the use of carefully chosen words. The words will generally describe promised quality, satisfaction, and guarantee. He relies on the expert in the advertising field to stimulate the sale of goods. The expert advertiser is well aware of the value and use of words which will encourage and entice people to buy products. One example of a word that is overworked by advertiser, yet remains highly successful, is "new".

The doctor is usually concerned with the physical welfare of his patient. He is also keenly aware that words of assurance and sympathy, when used properly and at the right moment, can be as beneficial to his patient as any drug that he might prescribe.

Presidents Kennedy and Johnson both used words to project their national image. President Kennedy with his vast vocabulary and clever, timely selection of quotations appeared to the nation and the world as an intellectual leader. President Johnson can be viewed as a crafty, masterful political leader. President Johnson acquired this title because of the successes he enjoyed with the Congress of the United States. One of his various approaches was to praise the Congress for their dedicated work. Government by consensus has been a phrase attributed to his style of leadership. During the recent presidential campaign, President Johnson was able to set forth an image of a "folksy" or down to earth individual who was vitally concerned with all aspects of American life.

Laws are composed of words that restrain, protect, and punish. Layers must evaluate the many meanings of words, and the impact that might be made by using the proper choice of a word at a precise moment. This is especially true if trying a case in front of a jury. The ability to select and use the proper word at the right moment may mean the difference between victory or defeat.

The probing of outer space has brought about the creation of new words and new meanings for old words in our language. If the scientist is to effectively inform the average layman about the progress in space, he must select words that will be meaningful.

Enemies use words to confuse, distort, and panic people. The communists are noted for their clever propaganda used to create distrust among friendly countries. In foreign countries, the United Nations Organization, the United States, and the Communists are busily engaged in stirring discontent by the manipulation of words to fit their aims. The communists have found that words can be perhaps even more destructive than bullets or bombs.

Vague, ambiguous words are dangerous because they can be easily twisted or misinterpreted. Words like clothes are used to their best advantage when they fit properly. Ideas and thoughts should be expressed by words that are chosen with care. Try out several and then choose those words that are best tailored to your idea.