Guinness World Record - Birth to 69 Children

Guinness World Record - Birth to 69 Children

Valentina Vassilyeva, born in 1707 in Shuya, Russia, holds the astonishing record for the most children birthed by a single woman. As the wife of Feodor Vassilyev, a peasant, she lived in an era where large families were essential for survival, and childbirth was a constant reality for many women. Over the course of 27 pregnancies, she gave birth to 69 children, an achievement officially recognized by the Guinness World Records. Without access to modern medicine or prenatal care, her endurance remains one of history’s most remarkable feats.

Her pregnancies were anything but ordinary. She gave birth to 16 sets of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets—a pattern that suggests she may have had a genetic predisposition for hyper-ovulation. Though details of her personal life are scarce, historical records from the Russian government support the validity of these births. Her story sheds light on the extreme physical toll that childbirth exacted on women of her time, particularly in rural communities where survival often depended on family labor.

Beyond Valentina’s staggering record, her husband Feodor Vassilyev also made history in his own right. After Valentina’s passing, he remarried and fathered an additional 18 children, bringing his total number of offspring to 87. This underscores the reality of 18th-century Russia, where large families were often a necessity for working the land and ensuring generational continuity. With child mortality rates high, having many children was both a practical and cultural expectation.

Valentina’s story is one of endurance, resilience, and sheer physical strength. While modern medicine and societal norms have shifted drastically since her time, her legacy endures as a testament to human capability. As the saying goes, “Strength does not come from physical capacity; it comes from an indomitable will.” In a world vastly different from hers, her story still resonates as a symbol of perseverance in the face of extraordinary demands.

Family History Relationships

Family History Relationships 

Who are your first cousins?

Family members who are considered first cousins share grandparents with you. 

So what are second cousins?

Second cousins have the same great-grandparents as you.

What about a second cousin once removed?

A cousin once removed means they’re from the generation immediately above or below you.

So a cousin twice removed is…?

“Twice removed” means that there’s a two generation gap: this cousin is from either your grandparents’ generation, or your grandchild’s generation.

And what about third cousins?

Third cousins share the same great-great-grandparents! Your third cousin is your mom’s great aunt’s great-grandkid. 

There’s a hack to remember which cousin is which

First, second, and third cousins (and so on unto infinity cousins) are an equal number of generations removed from the common ancestor. First cousins are both the second generation removed from their shared grandparents. Second cousins are the third generation removed from shared great-grandparents. So: cousin plus one is the number of generations back.

So “grand” doesn’t mean cousins?

The word “grand” means that there’s a two-generation gap between the people: your brother’s grandchild is your grand-niece, and your mom’s father is your grandfather. There is an exception: Your parents’ sibling is your aunt or uncle, but your parents’ aunt or uncle is usually referred to as a great-aunt or -uncle, despite the two-generation gap rule. Grand-aunt just sounds a bit weird.

But “great” usually goes with “grand”?

The use of “great” is usually paired with grand, and it means that there is a three-generation gap between you and your relative. Your niece’s grandchild is your great-grandniece or -nephew, and your grandkid’s kid is your great-grandchild! Of course, there’s another exception for aunts and uncles: Your mom’s uncle is your great-uncle, but your mom’s great-uncle is your great-great-uncle.

Recipe - Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

Ingredients (Makes 12 cupcakes):

For the Topping:

• ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter , melted (or coconut oil for vegan option)
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 4–5 canned pineapple rings , drained (use extra juice for the batter if needed)
• 12 maraschino cherries (for that classic center pop of color and flavor)

For the Cake Batter:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
• 1 large egg , lightly beaten
• ½ cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
• ¼ cup pineapple juice (from the can – adds extra moisture and flavor)

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat Oven & Prep Muffin Tin

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) .

Grease a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or butter.

Or use paper liners for easier release—but skip them if you prefer flipping the cakes out warm.

Step 2: Make the Caramelized Topping

In a small bowl, mix:

• Melted butter
• Brown sugar

Spoon an even amount into each muffin cup—about 1 tbsp per liner.

Place one pineapple ring into each cup.

Add a maraschino cherry in the center of each pineapple ring.

Step 3: Mix the Cake Batter

In a mixing bowl, whisk together:

• Flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt

In another bowl, combine:

• Vegetable oil
• Egg
• Milk
• Pineapple juice

Mix wet ingredients until smooth.

Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined.  Don’t overmix—the batter should be slightly thick and pourable.

Step 4: Fill & Bake the Cupcakes

Using a spoon or ice cream scoop, fill each muffin cup two-thirds full with batter.

Make sure not to overflow the pineapple layer.

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes , or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes , then carefully flip onto a wire rack to fully cool.

TIP: PLACE A TRAY BENEATH THE MUFFIN TIN WHEN BAKING—IT CATCHES ANY BUBBLY CARAMEL SPILLS!

Step 5: Serve Warm & Golden

Enjoy these cupcakes warm or at room temperature .

They’re best eaten within the first few hours while the pineapple is still juicy and tender.

Tips for Success:

• 🥣 Use Room-Temperature Egg & Milk: Prevents lumps and ensures even texture.
• 🍑 Cherry Swap Option: Skip the maraschino cherry or replace with dried cranberries for variation.
• 🧁 Add Nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts add crunch on top before baking.
• 🌿 Spice It Up: Add a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon to the batter for extra warmth.
• ❄️ Make Ahead Magic: Store cooled cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 2 days—or freeze for future treats.

Makes 12 servings – approximate)

Follow the Prophets

 Follow the Prophets

Every convert needs three things: "a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with 'the good word of God.'" (Gordon B. Hinckley)

Vicarious Baptisms for the Dead

Vicarious Baptisms for the Dead

The photo is the Baptismal Font in the Indianapolis Indiana Temple used for the biblical practice of vicarious baptisms for the dead.

Vicarious baptisms for the dead were a biblical practice in Apostolic Era Christianity. So widely accepted that the Apostle Paul used the practice as evidence of the resurrection. "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” 1 Corinthians 15:29

Over 300 years after the death of Christ and the Apostles, this practice was outlawed by councils of man. Despite Jesus Christ's vicarious sacrifice setting the precedent of vicarious works, during the prophesied great apostasy of Christianity. (See Acts 20:28–30, 2 Timothy 3:1–5, 14–15, 2 Timothy 4:3–4, 2 Thessalonians 2:3) this practice was abandoned.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a restoration of Apostolic Christianity with prophets and apostles holding the same authority as the apostles in the Bible. As a restoration of Christianity back to the purity of the Apostolic Era, we reject the creeds of man introduced centuries after the deaths of the apostles. We embrace the practices of Jesus Christ and the Apostles, including vicarious baptisms for the dead.

A note on the design, including the symbolism of using 12 oxen; once again referring to the Bible, baptismal fonts in the temple are modeled after the Temple of Solomon which from the Bible, we learn had a font of water on the back of twelve oxen.

1 Kings 7:23-25

23. And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

24. And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.

25. It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

Say I Love You More

Say I Love You More

The Paps Fam's Post from Facebook

“Before It Slips Away”

—Say I love you more.

Not just when it’s easy—

but when the house is loud,

when tempers flare,

when you’re tired and touched out

and tempted to retreat.

Because time

doesn’t knock politely.

It slips in,

quiet as morning light

and just as quickly,

it slips away.

Say I love you

in the middle of dishes,

when her hands are wet

and her heart is weary.

Say it when the kids are loud,

because soon they won’t be.

They’ll outgrow the chaos

and the crayon drawings

and the sticky kisses

that now feel like too much

but will one day feel like not enough.

Say it to your parents,

even if their hearing’s going

and their memory’s fading.

Their hearts still hold

every word you speak

even if their minds don’t.

Say it before

the hospital visits,

before the apologies,

before the regrets.

Because love unspoken

turns into questions.

And questions

turn into silence.

And silence

turns into time

you can’t get back.

So say I love you more.

Let it echo through the halls

and settle into the bones

of those you care for.

Say it today—

not just in words,

but in lingering hugs,

in listening ears,

in choosing to stay present

when your mind wants to wander.

Time doesn’t wait.

But love?

Love leaves a mark

that time can’t erase.

So make your mark.

Before it slips away.

The Table Is Set

“The Table I Still Set”

I lay the cloth with faded thread,

A hint of blue, a touch of red.

The pattern’s worn, the corners frayed—

But oh, the stories that it’s made.

I fold the napkins, place the plate,

Each one a seat, a quiet wait.

The silver’s dull, the china’s cracked,

But every piece holds memories stacked.

The candlesticks are brass, not gold,

A bit too bent, a bit too old.

Yet when the flames begin to glow,

The years fall off like melting snow.

A pot of stew, the biscuits rise,

I see my mother’s knowing eyes.

I hear her hum a dinner tune

That wrapped our hearts each afternoon.

My grandkids ask, “Why all the fuss?”

“Why set the table just for us?”

I smile and say, “Because it’s love—

The kind that time is made up of.”

They laugh, they eat, they pass the bread,

Not knowing all the words unsaid.

But in this sacred, simple art,

They feel the pulse of this old heart.

So yes, I set the table still—

With grace, with care, with quiet will.

For though the world may rush and spin,

This table brings the past back in.

That Time Is Now

                                               That Time Is Now

“You still have time…”

That’s what we keep telling ourselves.

And maybe we do. But maybe we don’t.

The truth is—we never really know.

Time isn’t generous.

It doesn’t pause. It doesn’t warn.

It slips through our fingers quietly, like sand—soft, silent, and unstoppable.

We measure our lives in years, in birthdays, in milestones.

But life isn’t made of years.

It’s made of moments.

And the hardest part is… we don’t know how many moments we have left.

You might have a hundred more sunsets to watch,

or only three.

You might hear your mother’s voice on the phone a thousand more times,

or maybe you’ve already heard it for the last time—and you didn’t even know.

You might get one more chance to say, “I forgive you.”

Or none.

You might still have time to hold your child while they’re small,

while their arms still fit perfectly around your neck,

while they still say “I love you” without needing a reason.

But those moments pass. Quietly.

And once they’re gone, they don’t come back.

We live like we are invincible.

We make plans as if time is endless.

We say, “I’ll do it later.”

“I’ll call them next week.”

“I’ll chase that dream when things settle down.”

But what if they never do?

What if tomorrow never comes?

What if the life you’re waiting to live is passing you by right now, this very second?

What if this moment—this exact one—

is the last chance you have to say what matters most?

To hold someone you love without distraction.

To cry without shame.

To laugh without holding back.

To be fully alive?

This isn’t meant to make you afraid.

It’s meant to make you aware.

Because there is nothing more tragic than realizing too late

that you were sleepwalking through the days that could have changed everything.

So please—wake up.

Look up from the screen.

Call someone you miss.

Apologize if you need to.

Say the words you’ve been swallowing.

Do the thing that terrifies you but lights a fire in your soul.

Stop waiting for the “right” time.

That time is now.

Right now. This breath. This heartbeat.

You don’t need more time.

You just need to stop wasting the time you already have.

Because in the end, it’s not the years you’ll remember.

It’s the conversations, the embraces, the risks, the tears, the laughter, the love.

The moments.

So live for them.

Cherish them.

Protect them.

Because life isn’t measured by how long you live—

It’s measured by how deeply you feel, how boldly you love, and how fully you show up while you're still here.

And you’re here.

So make it count.