May 28, 2023
Dear family:
Happy birthday to Haley Dougall today! Happy birthday to India on Tuesday, and Riley
next Sunday!
Last week Maggie Barlow graduated from High School!!!! The reason I mention this is because she was 7-8
when I started teaching her sewing lessons and piano lessons. The Barlow’s moved to Colorado about 5 years
ago and time has flown by. Time doesn’t stop
or wait for anyone and I feel that intensely.
Mike and Amy are back home from their trip back east to see
Jackson graduate from law school. I have
had an intense week with 4 contractors giving me bids to treat the problems in
my crawlspace. Finally I found the
contractor that I believe and I hired him.
(I will admit to being scared to death by the first 3 contractors.)
Last Wednesday on the 24th I went to my first/and oldest great grandchild’s preschool graduation. Cooper was awesome and I loved watching him.
I also got to hold his little brother Enzo.
Those
3 little boys are amazing! It totally
seems like yesterday that Taylor and his siblings were that little.
I thought a lot this week about Cooper and my great
grandchildren, and Taylor and my other grandchildren and about my
children. It seemed to me like this time
in my life wouldn’t come. I loved
raising my children. It never occurred to
me at the time that my children would become grandparents. Empty nesting came early to me because I had
my children pretty early. Regarding
empty nesters:
·
To raise a
child, who is comfortable enough to leave you, means you’ve done your job. They
are not ours to keep, but to teach how to soar on their own.” -unknown
·
“A wise
parent humors the desire for independent actions, so as to become the friend
and adviser when his absolute rule shall cease.” -Elizabeth Gaskell
·
“Give the
ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, reasons to stay.”-Dalai Lama
·
“A
mother’s job is to teach her children not to need her anymore. The hardest part
of that job is accepting success.”
“Our Father in Heaven, our Divine Parent, surely rejoices
when His children are taught and nurtured by their parents on earth.”………. “Every moment is a teaching moment. Every word and action can be a guide for
making choices.” (Elder Dieter F
Uchtdorf, General Conference 2023)
I have lots of time now to ponder on whether as a mother –was
I good enough? I will also tell you that
I truly believe that our Heavenly Father answers prayers. Without it I would have been lost. Lately, I’ve had my prayers answered. A couple weeks ago – I was having attitude
troubles. I sincerely prayed for help
and the next morning – I was back to normal.
Something similar happened this last week. While Brad was here visiting Kelsy and
Taylor, he stayed in the evenings with me.
As long as he was here (while the 3 contractors scared me to death) I
felt I could handle it. As soon as he
was gone, I was overwhelmed. I prayed
sincerely again – I was tearful, desperate and ready to give up. Then Amy called. Her call was an another answer. She told me to breath and that it would be
ok. Thank you Amy!
Every one of us whether young or old, will have tough
things to handle. I am so thankful for
Brian, Brad and Amy. You give me
strength. I am so thankful for prayer,
inspiration and answers to prayers.
I worry about Riley and her family in Nevada – away from
me. I worry about Michael and family in
Texas away from me. I worry about Kenlee
and family in Texas away from me. I even
worry about Hayden in Utah away from me.
I even worry about my grandchildren that live around here. I worry about Danny and family in Abuja,
Nigeria – away from me. I worry about
Brian & family in Utah, and Brad and family in Spokane & those of my
family around here.
There is nothing I can do physically or personally to
help. All I can do is send you my love
in my weekly letters and pray and ask Heavenly Father to watch out for you.
Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne
