Grandma on 'blessings'

… I’m mindful of the blessings that have been mine through these many years.

First to have had a chance to be born of “goodly parents”, as Nephi of old, and second to have had the chance to be the wife of a good man for time and eternity. Thirdly, to have been trusted with nine wonderful spirits to provide bodies for and help them to mature through the years. These children have brought to us thirty-nine grandchildren, twenty-one boys and eighteen girls. We have Dale and Ted who have filled missions for the church. Now our grandsons are accepting calls, so I’m sure we will help a bit with spreading the gospel throughout the world.

Our son Walter Ross is a very fine medical physician, and school and social life, as well as in his profession and business. Three of our four sons have given their time in the service or out country, and Ted gave his life in World War II. Also three of our sons-in-law filled their assignments in the service of our country.

It was a beautiful September morning when we had to say our goodbye’s to our last of nine, since Larry had chosen to join the Air Force in 1952. Our hearts were heavy at seeing our last little bird fly from our home nest. We wondered how we could tolerate the rattling about in our dear big old family home. All was so quiet that first night as we knelt in prayer and vocally thanked our Heavenly Father for permitting us to prepare bodies and be parents to such a fine family of boys and girls. Beside our nine, we had our eldest grandson much of his life until he was grown, and enjoyed and loved him very much.

It seems such a short time since I had set so many places at the table, and baked so many loaves of bred, and such a short while since our house was ringing with laughter and song, and the yard was filled activity and shouts of boys with horses, dogs and basketballs. Lovely young girls were planning, sewing, and adorning themselves in beautiful party dresses for school or church activities.

Those were happy and busy days with lots of love and some misunderstandings, which I have completely forgotten, and hope all the ten have forgiven us for. Let us only remember the happy days and the joy of being a loving family.