Ben

Ben

It's Ben's birthday today.  He is our oldest son and our second child. 

 His dad had left our home with a big truck loaded with cows in the back, to take to the Utah State Fair to show.  This was the second year the EskDale Dairy had shown cows at the Utah State Fair.  Frankly, John had no clue what he was doing, but that didn't matter, he would soon learn.  Once he wanted to do something, he did it, learning along the way.   

I noticed that I was wetting my pants.  Weird.  Wait a minute, this isn't supposed to be happening yet, I still had three more weeks before my baby was due.  Sure enough, my water was leaking.  Back in those days, we didn't have our own vehicles.  We had a car pool.  I had to find out who was going to town that day.  Great!  Vernon had a trip to get some parts for the shop, I could hitch a ride with him.  The only problem; he was going to stay with his sister that night, and then drive to Salt Lake the next day. 

 Did I mention that we didn't have phones either. I had no way to let John know what was happening.  

Vernon loaded our suitcases, my two year old daughter, Janille and me in the car and we left for our destination.  His sister was a very gracious, petite, compassionate person, who felt my embarassment with my umm.. continual wet pants.

As planned, we got to Salt Lake the next day.  Back in those days, there was an apartment in the basement of our church building, where John's dad, Brother Bob, would stay during the week, to get church business done.   He drove me to the doctor's office and babysat Janille while I was in the examing room.  Ben was on his way, any time in the next couple of days. 

I prepared supper that evening for all of us.  John was quite surprised to see us that evening around 9:00.  Did I mention, we didn't have cell phones? 

 Sure enough, the pains started right after we went to bed.  John was so tired, I think he drove me to the hospital in his sleep.

Ben arrived around 5:00 AM.  He was a darling little guy, weighing 5 lbs and 9 oz. and 19 inches long.  After I had Janille, I was so worn out, I couldn't lift a finger.  Not so with Ben.  I was charged up.  I didn't sleep for hours.  I had received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit about six weeks earlier and I was full of His presence,  and so excited, I spoke in tongues for hours.  

John was with me during the delivery and held his precious son, but had to get back to the cows and the show.  I didn't see much of him at all for the next few days.   

Funny thing.  Ben couldn't wait until he was old enough to help his dad at the Fair.  When the kids were little, I hauled them to the Fair, almost every year.  Ben started showing the cows in the ring when he was around 10 years old.  John started taking Ben and some of the other young guys with him, when they were around 12 or 13. 

It's hard work.  The schedule is rigorous; very little sleep, odd hours of eating, cleaning up cow poop, washing the animals every day, keeping them clean all day, feeding, watering, cleaning up cow poop, washing them, keeping them clean all day, feeding, water, cleaning up cow poop.  Did I mention cleaning up cow poop?  The boys love it!! 

 Now Ben's son, Christian, is helping his dad and grandpa.  He's 13.   We've been showing at the State Fair now for 38 years.  The EskDale Dairy has made a name for themselves.  We have had two All American cows, which is like having two Miss Universes, in people talk.  Ben is considered one of the top fitters in the whole state of Utah.  Imagine that!!!