MMM Note: Crystal is an adventure. I refer to her as a “Blogging Diva,” which she wears proudly. When she starts writing, you never know where it will end up. Sometimes goofy, sometimes spiritual, often very wise, and usually funny. Fair warning: Sometimes she wanders off and starts gushing about vintage clothes…and that’s when I really get excited. She blogs at crystalsapistol.com. Thanks Crystal!
Crystal lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband and 4 children. She graduated from Brigham Young University with degrees in International Marketing and M.R.S. She loves running, dancing, cooking, lifting weights, reading, writing and jumping out from closets in order to startle her chidlren.
Rags To Riches
When Michelle Obama met Barrack his most prized possession was a coffee table he had found in a dumpster. She tells of the holes in the floor of his beat up car where she could see the road zoom beneath her feet as they drove. Inspiring, ain’t it?
Ann Romney confesses she and Mitt ate a lot of tuna and pasta when they were first married. They also lived in a basement apartment and used a fold out ironing board as a dining table. She tells her audience she and Mitt did not have a fairy tale marriage but a real marriage instead. Touching, right?
Yup. It warms my heart, watching these fine ladies support their men and lead their country.
I’m obsessed with the political battle raging at the moment. I know who I’ll vote for, of course, but I still like to hear what all parties have to say.
There seems to be trend. Rags to riches. Every speaker has a story.
It makes me wonder what story I would tell were I to run for office.
I can just picture it! Oh! It’s exactly what I’ve always wanted!! To be FAMOUS! ENVIED! RICH! …I’d be very humble about the whole thing, of course. I’d blush and be modest when people sang my praises and held up signs with my very name printed on them.
CRYSTAL PISTOL FOR PRESIDENT! They would read.
I would wear a red silk dress, like Ann. My hair would be all sleek and shiny, like Michelle.
People would cheer and I would wave and smile sweetly. Intelligently. With bright eyes and an expensive manicure.
I’d try to speak into the microphone but the crowd would roar with preemptive approval.
Finally I would hold up one demure hand to my adoring fellow citizens and begin,
“My mother was born in a tiny farm town in Mexico,” I would say. “She was born in an adobe house built by her father’s own hands. He paid two chickens and a rooster to the woman who delivered my mother.
My grandfather was a farmer. Every day he would go out to the fields and work hard. My grandmother worked hard too. She took in washing and ironing to help pay for food. My mother remembers this as a meager but happy time.
My grandmother was Catholic and of Spanish decent. My grandfather had Indian blood coursing through his veins.
My grandparents often argued about religion.
My grandmother believed in Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. When she lit candles my grandfather would scoff and tell her the true gods were the Indian gods.
He told of the legends he had heard as a boy of Quetzalquatl, the feathered serpent god. He told of the white, bearded god who had visited his people anciently. The god promised to one day return.
Marriages are fragile. No one is quite sure why they sometimes fall apart. Prophets have warned against pride and selfishness.
I don’t know why my grandparents separated. But they did. For seven long years they lived in separate towns.
My mother describes these years as the most horrible of her life. She and her siblings spent many freezing nights with hungry tummies and not a morsel of food in the house. Their hearts were broken for the death of their family.
When a mother and father separate, the family dies. A terrible tragedy takes place.
One fine day the Mormon missionaries knocked on my mother’s door.
The missionaries brought with them The Book of Mormon. My mother could not believe her luck when she discovered a book that tells of Jesus Christ coming anciently to the Americas. Could it be that the Christ from her mother’s religion and her father’s white, bearded god were one in the same?
She read The Book of Mormon from cover to cover. She prayed to know if the book was true. She received a spiritual assurance that it was.
The white, Mormon missionaries also brought with them the knowledge that families can be together forever.
My grandmother took this new information with a brightness of hope to my grandfather.
They were later married in the Mesa, AZ temple for time and all eternity. My mother, her brother and her five sisters were also eventually married there.
My family learned through trial, error and ultimate success that “the family is ordained of God.”
In The Family: A Proclamation to the World we are told,
‘ Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows… Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.’
I know this to be true,” I would tell the crowd…”I know it with all my heart.
True success is does not necessarily mean leading a nation or winning the votes of man. Perhaps true success is enduring to the end and leading our whole and healthy families to Celestial glory.
My grandparents never had earthly wealth. Their rags to riches story is one of spiritual success.
Poverty of the soul is far more terrible than lack of money. The richness of true joy is far more valuable than all the world’s gold.”
The crowd would roar with approval. Tears would stream down the faces of every man, woman and child. I would win the election by a landslide! Husbands and wives would cling to each other and none else as a result of my moving oration. Children would dance happily in the streets. The lamb and the lion would lie down together without any ire. And Satan would have power no more over the hearts of the children of men!
Most importantly, I will have looked fabulous in my red silk dress and expensive manicure!
Yes. All that ails this beloved country of ours could be remedied with adherence to a simple proclamation.
Spiritual rags to spiritual riches.
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| This is a photo of my grandparents and mother and her siblings. This was taken shortly after they joined the church and were reunited. |
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| Crystal. (I warned you about the clothing – right?) |
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I love the Proclamation on the Family! I’ve missed talking with you too.
Sandy
Hahaha, great fun read. Thanks.
Freja, you have a great fun profile pic. You look like someone I’d like to hang out with. 🙂 Thank YOU, byw.
Loved it . . . loved it loved it loved it . . .
Kristin
Kristin, I”m blushing. Thanks!!!
Great story…as I started reading it became clear who you were as I read your blog on occasion…your Annie’s sister-in-law. Annie is my cousin! It’s a small blog world we live in.
Kim, it IS a small bloggy world. I love that Annie! She’s an amazing wife to my brother. And she is raising gorgeous, intelligent little ones. 🙂 It’s nice to “meet” you!
Beautiful post, Crystal!! I will TOTALLY write you in…;) xoxo
Hello there Lisa! It’s good to see you in the world. 🙂 I sure hope I win this election!!! I think I have a pretty good chance.
Your grandparents story is so cool! Very funny post, I’d vote for you any day!
Rachael, thank you!!
Ali and Jay, sometimes I like to OVER share. It tends to make people uncomfortable. 🙂 I’m pretty proud of myself on this one. If anything I under shared. Thanks for reading!!!
Thanks Stephanie. Sometimes it really surprises me with the inspiration Heavenly Father lends me when I write. I certainly did not come up with my definition of success on my own. YAY FOR INSPIRATION!!! whatever would we do without it in this dark and dreary world???
Love it! This reminds me of something President Uchtdorf said at conference: “All the currency in the world could not buy one loaf of bread in the economy of God.” Your grandparents’ example is a rag-to-riches story of the greatest measure!
Beautiful quote, Steve. The truth of it makes my heart swell. I cannot even imagine the riches the Lord has in store for us if we endure faithful. My grandparents are my inspiration.
If you told that story I would cheer for you loudest of all. You’re my kind of girl, Miss Pistol…
You KNOW I love YOU, Miss Karen! We are kindred spirits, you and I. 🙂
I love your definition of success. I would totally cheer for you in your speech!
Stephanie, my reply comment to you got naughty and disobeyed my wishes and is found far below this comment here. Silly computer.
I love the setting for this testimony! Very creative. It totally touched my heart.
Amber, sometimes my creativity is pretty nutty. I’m glad you felt my soul here. That’s what I hoped for. To share the very most important part of me.
oh wow! What a great family history story to cherish! And pass on…and to share with others…thanks!
Dawn, I love that you said “oh wow” about my post. 🙂 Makes me smile. Thanks!
Okay, so I gotta ask! Since your grandparents were separated for seven years and the photo was taken “shortly after they joined the church and were reunited” I’m guessing there were some moments of NOT being separated since the baby looks to be about 9 months old. Would that be a correct assumption? 🙂
I’m told he came to visit one Christmas and 9 months later my aunt Veronica was born. 😉
Crystal
A very merry Christmas, then!
Hee hee. Yes. I suppose it was! Super extra merry!
Beautiful story about your family. Thank you for sharing.
I love this! Reminds me of my own family…thanks for sharing this!
Thank YOU, Missy. 🙂
A genealogical and missionary dream story. Loved it and the picture.
S Ann, it IS a missionary dream story! A few weeks ago a young man returned from his mission and spoke in my ward. He bore his testimony in Spanish. I couldn’t help but bawl like a boob. He spoke the language of the gospel in the lanuage of my fathers. It felt very important and familiar to me. Missionaries are so important.
Beautifully written.
Thanks Kestrel. Cool name, btw. 🙂
Great post. Thanks for sharing that family history.
Thanks for reading it, Tom. 🙂
What a beautiful and sweet heritage with a touch of bitter. Thank you for sharing. I would vote for you!
Cardon, thank you! Thank you for your kind words and for your vote. I like the idea of being queen of the world so very much! 🙂
I have some old pics of my grand parents and their familes. It is funny how they are never smiling in any of the family photos. Not sure when cheese was invented but it was a good thing so people could start smiling.
Simply Southern, I’ve missed you!! Cheese WAS a revolutionary idea. I’m a fan. I used to try to be all sultry and serious into the camera everytime I had my pic taken (lame) but now I prefer to show all the big teeth in my mouth. 😀
What a wonderful story! I managed to graduate without my M.R.S. and I’m still waiting for my tuition refund… It’s been none years, I don’t think it’s coming. Luckily Heavenly Father has blessed me with my fabulous EC and three little ones, so I guess it’s even! 🙂
Abby, you’re funny! I had no prayer for getting out of there without a ring on my finger. I found MY fabulous EC my junior year and was engaged 2 months later. When ya know ya know!
I’m glad you wrote a story where I can comment! I miss commenting on your blog. People are jerks. But not you. Anyway, I cling to the Family Proclamation. I feel deeply and sincerely that it will one day help me bridge the gap between my Sanpete Valley UT family and my French family. It’s hard to offer sacred things that might push away the person you are least willing to offend, ruining the relationship you are least willing to jeopardize. Some day. Some day.
Tam, I miss having people comment on my blog! People ARE jerks sometimes. I just don’t feel like dealing with it at the moment. Maybe some day. Some day. 😉
It IS hard to offer sacred thing to people who are not ready. I completely understand. There are so many people I love who would benefit so much from the gospel and the blessings it brings but are not open to the idea of discussing it. Like you say, some day. 🙂
I love the way you told that story. It was really neat.
Lindsey, Thank you so much! This story means everything to me.
Family is one of the most important things we have on this earth. I’m so glad your grandparents reunited and the family was restored. Which one is your mom in the picture?
Shelly, my mom is the one all the way on the right. She grew up to join the US Army. She was a nurse on an army base in Germnay when I was little. She also created her own (very successful) Custom Home building company here in Tucson. Golden Star Properties. The “star” is after me. My middle name is Estrella. 🙂
What an amazing story! I loved it! (And you are a hilarious writer. 🙂
Mindy, thanks! I love to be a silly goose most of the time in real life. 🙂
Love of the family, love for our fellowman, love and adherence to the gospel…the absolute cure for the worlds problems. Thanks Crystal, you ARE a pistol!
Barbara, BANG BANG! 😉
Great post! I am really enjoying these Proclamation posts!
Thanks, Lora! Me too!
Great story! How fortunate for you that your grandparents chose so wisely.
EXACTLY, Paul!! I definitely understand I would have a VERY different life were it not for my grandparents and their ultimately good decisions.
Yes! Sound gospel principles, a good wardrobe, and self-maintenance. It’s all gospel. You GO girl!
Janey, you’re my kind of girl!!! You get it. 😉
Hooray for the fellow Latina with a Mexican heritage like me!
The family picture made me laugh. They look so happy to be back together again, no?
All joking aside you are right. Adherence to the principle taught in The Family: A Proclamation to the World would heal and help and solve so many of societies ills.
Hahahaaa! You’re hilarious! I’ve always thought that about this photo too. My mom (the one farthest to the right) says she was actually trying not to laugh. They are actually quite a rowdy bunch in real life. 🙂
Beautiful testimony. Maybe Mitt should try that?
Haha, Doug! Mitt has been criticized so much for not speaking up about our faith. I hope the tactics he is using don’t hurt him in the end.
Now i’m going to have to write you in, Crystal for Pres!
I love that idea!!
Cindy, I wholeheartedly accept!!! 🙂
Love this!
Thanks, Hildie!!