30 Years

I was going through my old emails and I came across an email that Laura wrote on February 16, 2010. 3 1/2 years later I was still touched with what she wrote.
Susan

Brothers and sisters  (sounds like I'm giving a talk in church:)

So I'm pretty good about forwarding missionary letters,  (sigh--nothing from Brian today), but not so good at sharing WA news.  To be honest it feels like there isn't too much new ,but here's the latest.

(Laura writes about what her two youngest sons were doing)

Sunday was busy with church, valentines and Kevin got his patriarchal blessing or I might have thought about it being the Sunday before Pres day and the 30th anniversary of Dad's death.  Tomorrow is the calendar anniversary and that has been on my radar for awhile.  I was 13 and in some ways it seems forever ago because my life has went through so many changes.  But, in being able to recall random details it doesn't seem as long ago (what dress I wore, what John's friends made me for breakfast as we traveled to Colo, my friends' response on my first day back to school, and of course my feelings of that evening etc).  Sometimes I try to remember what I can about Dad and realize that all my memories are not only 30 yrs old, but started from a young perspective and so might not be accurate.  But,I came to the conclusion that the most important deduction I've made is true--he loved and wanted what was best for me and you his other children--thought I'd share that.

Wish you all a good day!

Love,

Laura

Some Random Thoughts of Mom--

Laura (9/18/12) When Laurel visited Mom she told of a time Mom walked over and brought her some soup.  That's a good walk carrying soup.  She also told of Mom letting her hide Christmas gifts and Mom remembered her painting homemade gifts there to keep them a surprise.

Random fact was she did horseshoes in High School and enjoyed CA beaches.  She was 25 when sister died of polio

All I remember (of homesteading) was how primitive a start and she had no comments about that being that way--she wasn't a complainer and it probably took people like that to make a go of homesteading.

I know Mother went without a lot of things for herself as she raised us children --we weren't well off, but she made do and I don't recall her complaining about the situation.  She was willing to sacrifice and was very unselfish.  (Now I can't believe how often she let me take the only car to school etc)

One of the things I most appreciate Mom for was making sure we had scripture study, FHE, and went to church.  I know this isn't easy and even harder when doing alone as she often had to do.  Maybe she's like me and proud she raised 3 missionaries?

I remember her taking tailoring classes and something with preserving food.  She liked to learn and utilized what she learned I remember her helping at the fair after she earned certification in the other thing that I can't remember the title of (had to do with proper food canning etc)

Also I was so impressed when home and into Mom's things how organized she was with her belongings and she was certainly detailed her planning for death.  Her organization made everything easier for us (Susan’s name on bank acct as example, maybe worth mentioning. She was a widow for 32 years--that is a long time

I'm glad she came to Connecticut when I had Isaac. (she had permission to leave her mission)  She also saw me there on a visit to her friend Elizabeth.

Laura (Oct 5, 2012) She enjoyed taking community classes.  She did tailoring, and food preservation among others. She liked learning.  When my family went to places (St Helen's, Game Farm etc) with her she would often buy a book about it to read more about it.

After Dad died she worked at DI for awhile.  I think she enjoyed having co-workers and dressing up to go to work.  I think it was problems with her feet though soon after that she didn't pursue further employment.