October 2nd was my wonderful mom's 84th birthday! I took the afternoon off work and drove to Idaho Falls to spend the balance of the day with her. Can I say how amazing she is? Her health is such a blessing and allows her to do just about anything and everything she enjoys doing. We had a wonderful time laughing and talking over lunch at the Olive Garden. It was delicious, but the company was the best! We ran a couple of errands including stopping at Desert Book to do a little shopping and then spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening looking at her picture life history. It would be more appropriate to call it a life history in pictures of her and Dad and all of their posterity! It encompasses volumes of binders full of pictures, programs, notes, etc. I only had time to get through a couple of them but what a wonderful time we had reminiscing. She is such a wonderful person. She has taught me everything that has brought me happiness in my life and primarily through her shining example! I love her for her unwillingness to give into loneliness though I know she wishes she could be with Dad every day. She is willing to leave that particular timetable to Heavenly Father and so continues to take care of herself by eating right, exercising, reading the scriptures every day, and serving those around her with such unselfishness. She is so active in her ward and attends everything she possibly can although I am sure it would be easy to just stay at home on many evenings. In conversations with Mom, I realize that much of the reason for her "on the go" attitude is that the loneliness could overcome her easily if she spent too much time by herself in the home where she and Dad spent so many happy years together. I know she sits in her chair and looks at Dad's picture on the end table and draws strength from him. She knows he is telling her to forge on and stay faithful and they will be together again soon enough. This and her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ propel her on each day. I am so thankful for her desire to be a part of our children's and grandchildren's lives. Although I know she is tired, she will rarely miss an opportunity to go with us to a family event. She is so supportive and proud of all of us and handles the "pandemonium" of such gatherings with such patience! She is a great example of everything a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and daughter of God should be. I am looking forward to many, many more happy times with you! I love you very, very much, Mom!
