October 15, 2023

Dear Family:

Birthdays this month:

               McKay 10/23 – I can’t believe he will be 3.  Glennda’s birthday is 10/24 and Brad’ birthday is 10/22.  Happy Birthday you guys.

I’m not going to be writing every week from now on, but maybe every other week or once a month.  I don’t want to grind a good thing into the ground.  But this week I’ve been thinking about something that is worth talking about:  What we pass down to our children or what we learn or inherit from our parents.   The reason this subject came to my mind was all Mike Grubbe’s fault.  He texted me a photo of Amy sewing on her Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine that I got for her when she was 12 or 14??  He thanked me for teaching her skills that benefited her family. 

It touched my heart and got me to thinking about all the things I learned from my parents.  It also got me to thinking about what I’ve passed down or taught my children.  Amy thanks me regularly and so does Mike for the things that I taught her when I was raising her.  I appreciate that so very much.  I know that Brad and Brian view cleanliness and neatness pretty much the same way I do.  (I won’t try to tell you that I don’t let things go sometimes. I do. )  Of course, the gospel and going to church was a big part of our lives.  That in itself makes a huge impact on a child’s life.

But I wish I had told my dad that I cherished the virtue of “Hard Work” that he taught me.  He didn’t set me down and say, “OK I’m going to teach you to work hard.”  It was just our way of life.  It was his way of life.  It was how he was raised – working on a farm. It was what he expected from me.   I wish I had told my mom thank you for helping me learn to sew, teaching me how to clean, can, bake, and to be honest.  They both insisted on complete honesty.  I wish I had told my Grandma Mary Leishman “Thank You” for teaching me to crochet and knit.  I wish I had known my Grandma Short better.  I would have told her that I admired her quilts and her work ethic. 

So, I’m going to ask my grandchildren to think about what you have learned from your parents and thank them. I have noticed little things when I’ve been around you.  I’d be happy to share it with you if you want to know.  You can text or email me or call me and I’ll tell you what I think.  Maybe your parents can see it and will tell you too.

Heavenly Father gave us families.  What a perfect formula if parents are conscientious, care and love their children.  Those wonderful qualities that they got from their parents will continue to be passed on.  I recently picked up my mom’s story.  She gave thanks in words for her grandparents who raised her to: Obey, Go to Church, Not sass back, to be honest, to be an A+ student, to love to read, and to practice the piano.  She had great regrets that she wasn’t around her father to learn from him.  She was afraid of him and didn’t understand him until she got Multiple Sclerosis just like he had. She hopes that he understands now and forgives her.

I don’t have any gems of wisdom to share today.  But I want you to know that I am open and honest in my relationship with you. I enjoy sharing my life with you.  I love you all so very much and I will continue to pass along little things that I think might spark a new thought or action in your life.

I am sharing a photo of a gig that I played this weekend.  I hope I can continue playing for the enjoyment of audiences for a long time yet. It brings me joy and I enjoy the socializing with audiences and band mates.

Have a great week.

Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister, and Aunt Suzanne