Happy 85th Birthday, Mom!

Isn't she beautiful?

My Aunt Gloria and Mom the day before Mom's 85th birthday.
Aunt Gloria is a year older than mom and a pistol! See a previous post where I talked about Aunt Gloria and Aunt Marilyn and how much fun they have when the three sisters get together!

I went up and spent the day with Mom the day before her birthday as we were heading to General Conference the day of her birthday. Aunt Gloria, Mom and I all went to lunch at Jaker's and laughed until we were sick! Aunt Gloria and Mom couldn't be more different as far as personality, activity in the church, and interests are concerned but they get along famously. Gloria lives across the street from Mom and they have lunch once a week together and see each other in between. I enjoyed listening to them reminisce about their childhood. Mom and I spent the rest of the afternoon just visiting and looking at pictures and memories from Dad's first mission. The Church History Department had contacted her asking for any information she might have about the church in Brazil during Dad's time there. They are interviewing as many of those missionaries and/or their wives as possible to put together an accurate history of the church in that country. I knew the Church was heavy into history gathering, but we really have no idea! Anyway, it was a great day for me! We hope to keep Mom here for a good long time though she says she is ready to go anytime. She misses Dad so much as do the rest of us, but selfishly, I hope she stays with us for many years. She is such a blessing to my kids and grandkids. I love her for her humility, her example of service to others, her always sweet and even temperament, her unselfishness, her unwillingness to give into self-pity, her testimony of the gospel, and her unconditional love of each one of her family. She does not judge, she just sets the perfect example and loves each one. I am grateful to live so close to her and be able to spend precious time together making wonderful memories. She is the perfect mother for me! I thank Heavenly Father every day for allowing me to be born to such valiant parents. I have been and continue to be very blessed!

My Mom and Dad's Forever Friends!

My Dad, Hal Roscoe Johnson, was one of the first missionaries called to serve in Brazil. Of course, it was all one mission at that time and he served there from April of 1940 through November of 1942. He became friends with many of the elders who served during the same time and they and their wives have remained good friends all these many years. They dubbed themselves "the Brazilian Mafia" and have met for lunch 3 or 4 times a year in Salt Lake for many, many years. Quite a number of them have passed away now, including my dad, Finn and Sara Paulson, Ray Duckworth, Norton Nixon,and James and Ruth Faust. My dad would have turned 90 this year so it is certainly no wonder that so many have passed on. My beautiful mom is one of the healthiest and most active of all of them that are still attending these gatherings. Last Monday I took Mom to meet the group at Marie Callendar's in Salt Lake. It was so much fun to meet these wonderful people that I have heard so much about all of my life. As you can see from the picture below, there are more women than men...simply because many of them who attend are widows of these first pioneer missionaries in the country of Brazil. Some of them are even 2nd wife widows but they continue to meet and enjoy one another's company. I have great admiration for those missionaries who open new countries for the preaching of the gospel. My husband was one of the first missionaries in Italy. There were no MTCs (Mission Training Centers) to learn the language before going. You just went with a love of the Lord, a testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and, of course, a Portuguese, Italian, etc. dictionary! Dad loved his mission so much and was fortunate enough to go back there as a mission president in Rio and a temple president in Sao Paulo. I was so proud of my Mom for learning the Portuguese language when she went with Dad as mission mother in Rio. She was in her 40's and I'm sure it was hard, but then mom has always been so strong and faithful and willing to do whatever Heavenly Father asked her to do. I've always admired how outgoing and friendly she is. She is my mentor and "heroine"! I want to be just like her when I grow up!

The whole group-those who remain, that is!

My beautiful mom, Virginia

Geri and Grant Bangerter (Julie B. Beck's parents)
He was a mission president in Portugal and she started the Boy Scouts of America in that country.
She is an amazing lady!

Lynn & Edith Sorenson
Lynn was my brother Craig's mission president for a few months.

A fellow from the Church History department and Dorothy Duckworth. (Ray Duckworth's widow)
Dorothy is the one who has been in charge of scheduling, keeping track of everyone and being sure the group continues to get together. Such a lovely lady. My mom loves her so much.

Glenn and Dorothy Erickson
He went back to Brazil as a temple missionary in Sao Paulo when Dad was there.

Lloyd Hicken whose wife is on a feeding tube and therefore, unable to attend.
Greg roomed at BYU with Hicken's sons, Dave and Steve, who have both since passed away.
He is a wonderful man and they have been great friends of Mom and Dad. He was a mission president in Brazil about the same time as Dad.

Eve Shirts (widow of Max Shirts)
Max was a mission president in Rio several years after Dad.

Julia Nixon (widow of Norton Nixon)
They were church service missionaries in Brazil at the time Mom and Dad were serving in the temple.

Stoddard & Valene Judd, new to the group get-together, but
he was also a pioneer missionary in Brazil.