Serving in the Community

Twenty-one Crane family members participated in the Comcast Cares Volunteer Day April 25th. Meeting at an elementary school we had milk and yummy donuts, then donned our turqoise t-shirts ready to help out. We went to work sanding, painting, scrubbing desks, cleaning the grounds. It was fun for the children to use pint size rollers with colored paint on the walls, forming large alphabet letters we'd taped around. A task most parents don't allow a child to experience. They were in 'a kid can do this too' heaven.

Knowing we were sprucing up school rooms for hundreds of choice children, made it worth the effort. We visualized them walking the halls reciting the new ABC letters arrayed in their primary colors. As our jobs came to an end Kentucky Fried chicken with all the trimmings, awaited us. What a blessing it is to serve our fellow men.

A Great Grandma Ann Eugenia Crane Birthday

Today, Wed. April 22, is Grandma Gene Crane's birthday. Many in our family share the same date. The things you should know about her are: her love of patchwork quilting, she wore matching aprons & dresses, size 5 shoe and hollering at Jim.

1. Quilts- She set a goal to make a Texas Star quilt for each grandchild when they graduated from high school. We could choose the main color to go on the eight point treasure. The fabric came from her sewing scraps. Each star was unique with a creamy muslim background that set them off. My red beauty is on the left in the photo.

2. Grandma always wore aprons with her calico dresses. Her best dresses had aprons with the same fabric that matched. With baking bread, feeding chickens and separating milk the apron kept her dresses from wearing out & clean.

3. She had the tiniest feet,5, but very wide, triple E. Her shoes were always the same black nurse style.

4. Hollering at Jim. One year when Jim got home from Scout camp, he brought a bunch of fireworks that he'd let off in the corral after milking the cows. The explosions made her so mad. She would stand with the screen door open and holler, "James Crane, you are going to burn down the barn and kill the cows. You stop that, this instant!!!" Due to the noise, he never heard a word she said & doesn't even remember to this day.

She was a hard working, story telling dear that did her best to keep everyone happy. Think of Great Grandma Gene Crane today as you recycle, reuse & redo.

Heber L. Crane, Remembered

Great Grandpa Heber L. Crane, 72, passed away this month in 1966, the year Julie was born. I remember it well because it was the Foriegn Language Festival at BYU that weekend. I'd studied hard to compete in it. But it was not to be, as the family gathered for the funeral remembering Granddad.

Who was Heber and what qualities did he have? The oldest, born with club feet into a proud family focused on prominence in the community, he loved farming. The responsibilities that come when your the first child happened early for Heber.


Sheep ranching had become successful for the Crane's in Idaho, where both his father and uncle owned farms. Many a summer was spent herding, tending and caring for the sheep. As his siblings were born, getting an education was encouraged. The call of nature was deep in Heber's veins though and learning was difficult for him. Struggling with his odd feet and schooling, Heber sought solitude in the pastures with his beloved animals.

He met Ann Eugenia Skinner, from Nounan, Idaho, at church one summer while keeping the sheep. She was mature beyond her years, from helping to raise her motherless family. They both loved the land and formed a strong bond. This didn't sit well with Heber's parents though, who had loftier goals for their oldest son.

Their love endured more than his parents expectations and they were married. They bought a 40 acre farm on 2700 West 13800 South starting with a heard of sheep, of course. Later they added chickens, pigs, cows and such. Nine children were born to them, four boys and five girls all learning the joy of hard work.


The sheep loved their master and he loved them calling each by name. The sheep pasture was directly acrossed the street from our(Gale's)home. Early spring the bleating of the ewe's meant birthing time was here. Some mornings granddad found a motherless lamb to be tended. We'd fight over who could hold the bottle with the long black nipple for the baby.

Late spring we all gathered round for the shearing of the sheep. What a fun time with the loud cry of the animals fearing the inevitable or asking us, 'What took you so long?'


Alergies were a major problem for Heber with dust and pollen causing him misery to his dying day. This didn't stop him from spending days chopping out the prickly cactus thistle which gave him the most trouble.

He was a quiet, hardworking, gentle man that chose his own life and loved it. Remember the legacy he left you: Love the land, loyal to yourself, hard working &
a little bit stubborn.

If It's Not too Late or Save for Next Year

A friend gave me this great FHE idea to do with your family now or next year for Easter. I wanted to share it with you to enjoy.

An Easter Family Activity—Saturday Night and Easter Morning

You will need the Bible, Scotch or adhesive tape, a cookie sheet covered with wax paper, an electric mixer and bowl, and the following ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans
A quart Ziploc bag
Wooden spoons
1 tsp. vinegar
Pinch of salt
3 egg whites
3/4 cup sugar

1. Preheat oven to 300°. (This is important! Don't wait until you’re half way through the recipe!)
2. Place the pecans into the Ziploc bag. Let the children beat the nuts with the wooden spoons to break them into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into a mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30
4. Add the egg whites to the vinegar. Explain that eggs represent life, and that Jesus gave His life in order for us to have eternal life.
Read John 19:10-11
5. Sprinkle a tiny little bit of salt into each child’s hand and let them taste it. Have them brush the rest into the bowl—having just a pinch in the bowl. Explain that the salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our own sins.
Read Luke 23:27
6. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of this true story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalms 34:8 & John 3:16
7. Beat the egg whites on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff white peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity of God’s eyes for those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus’ Atonement.
Read Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3
8. Fold in the nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto the wax paper. Explain that each mound represents the rock tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60
9. Put the cookie sheet into the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and have them seal the oven door. Explain that the tomb was sealed by a heavy large flat stone that rolled in a track over the opening.
Read Matthew 27:65-66
10. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad leaving the cookies in the oven tonight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22
11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On that first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Christ was resurrected and the Atonement was complete. HAPPY EASTER!
Read Matthew 28:1-9

Walk w/Christ-Day 13:Acknowledge Our Divine Nature

Read: 2 Peter 1:3-7, 1 Nephi 11:22-24 & D&C 76:24

Challenge: Do you really know who you are and that you have divine potential? Remember as you feel the penny in your shoe, that you are a daughter of God!

"Your Father in Heaven loves you. He knows you, He knows what you've been through, he knows what you have done & He loves you. He wants you to repent & come back to Him. Do you hear what I am saying? Heavenly Father loves you." This was a talk given by Brother Christensen,as a young person in the audience felt he was speaking specifically to her. These words caught her by surprise, as she seriously contemplated them for the rest of his speech.

The subject of the talk was how the Savior's atonement was a personal, sacred act. It was done for each of us individually, one at a time. We shouldn't fear going through the repentance process, because the Savior has already atoned for us. His mercy will give us strength, comfort and courage.

The speaker noted in a following class, that he felt his previous talk was a personal message from our Heavenly Father and he had even prayed afterward to make sense of it. This additional instruction was to be given by him to the listener: Believe what you have heard, believe what you have felt and that Heavenly Father loves you beyond mortal comprehension. He said the message was for that person alone and no one else heard it. She was deeply impacted knowing she was loved and watched over.

You too, are loved and known by our Heavenly Father as are all of His children. Give your sins, sorrows, frustrations & all that hold you down to Him. He will set you free! I know because I, Colleen, have tried it.

Journal: Can you think of a time you felt the Lord's love? How did you feel about yourself today?

Easter Sunday: Day 14 w/Christ All Things are Possible

Read John 13:15, 34 or if you have time the entire Easter story.

"Follow thou me." As we walk the pathway Jesus walked, let's listen for the sound of his feet, reach out for His hand and come to know Him. He commands, and to those who obey Him, they shall learn in their own experience who he is. He is the Son of God. Jesus changed men's hearts. Thomas S. Monson, Ensign 5/86

Challenge: When you feel the penny: "Live...so that those who know you and don't know him, will want to know him because they know you!"

I walked today where Jesus walked, in days of long ago.
I wandered down each path He knew, with reverent step and slow.
Those little lanes, they have not changed, a sweet peace fills the air.
I walked today where Jesus walked, and felt Him close to me. (See Day 1 for author)

Journaling: What is the pure love of Christ? How has walking with Him affected my life? Will I commit each day to live as he would? 2 Nephi 31:20-21 & Moroni 7:40-48.

I've enjoyed sharing these past few weeks with you. I hope and pray that it's been helpful in your life. I noticed as I visited with people, that I was able to feel more love and share my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ without reservations. I remembered their problems when I said my prayers and included them. May we all reach out to our fellow man with love and kindness.

Day 12 Walk w/Christ: The Savior at My Side

Read: 3 Nephi 14:12, 17: 5-7; Mark 8: 34-35, John 14: 6-7

Challenge of the day: Live today concentrating on having the Savior at your side. Remember He is watching over you and try to live with Him at your side.

If the Savior Stood Beside Me by Sally DeFord
If the Savior stood beside me, would it do the things I do?
Would I think of his commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow his example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savir stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if he were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?
He is always near me, though I do not see him there
And because he loves me dearly, I am in his watchful care
So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

If I wake up during the night from a deep sleep often my mind will begin to review the day’s events or contemplate tomorrow’s goals. There is only one way to put a stop to the world taking over my peaceful rest. It is to visualize the Savior ministering to the people, praying for me or in a piece of artwork. Just thinking of Him brings sleep to this weary mind.

Journaling: Did I act differently today as Jesus was at my side. Was there improvement in some area?