Here's what I've been remembering about Mom.
Mom is the eternal optimist. Her faith has always been a source of strength and example to me. She always knows that things will work out. Along with Dad, they always made me see that "someday, you'll laugh about that!"
One of my earliest memories was hanging out with Mom while she hung out the wash. At the time, the twins were walking and Pat was only a year older. I was between 5 & 6. Mom would tie a rope around the twins chest, hook it to a D ring that was attached to the clothesline, so she could keep track of them while she hung the wash. Even after Dad put up a 6' fence, Carol and Kent could still scale it, so she had a big job preventing escapes!
One day in 6th grade, I was wearing the blindfold for blind man's bluff (which was against school rules) and I fell and knocked out my front teeth. Mom was on a substitute teacher assignment, and couldn't be reached so Dad took me to the dentist. I couldn't wait for her to get home--I had it all planned out. I met her at the back door singing "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth!" which I thought was pretty funny. Mom burst into tears! I guess "someday you'll laugh about that" hadn't come around yet!
Mom was Room Mother in one of my grade school classes. I remember feeling so proud when one of my friends said she was the prettiest one there. I just thought she was the nicest!
But, what I cherish most is the dinnertime conversations we had about the gospel. Of course they were wedged in between elbowing and giggling and teasing. I'm sure it was frustrating for both Mom and Dad, but I do remember some of the things I learned there. And I do remember Mom's selflessness nursing Dad during his long, last battle. I felt so sorry for her, but she said those years were the sweetest of her life!
Finally, I'm thankful for her courage battling with cancer. She was only supposed to live for 3 weeks, but she lived for almost 1 1/2 years. John and I went to see her a week after he returned from his mission. She died the next week. Then John told me about informing his mission president of her illness in the first weeks of his mission. His mission president paused for a minute, then told John, "your grandma will live until you return from your mission." Mom was always patient with Lord's timing and had such great faith in His plan.
Thanks, Mom.
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