Legacy

Today is my Mom's 83 birthday!

Happy Birthday Mother Dear!!!

Last year I wrote a tribute post about Mom and you can read it here if interested.
This year I wanted to give my Mom a shout out for being a strong link in the chain. That's right. She has handed down to us a great legacy from her ancestors and I'm so proud of the family she came from, on both her mother's side and her father's side. These relatives on my mom's side don't often get the credit, attention and honor that they so richly deserve. I'll be forever grateful to these pioneers who left their comforts and their way of life in Switzerland & Denmark and who made the voyage to a new land and a new religion, traversing half the planet by sea and by covered wagon to practice their religion according to the dictates of their own conscience.
My Mom and her husband David live in Utah half of the year and in Arizona the other half. They take the best weather months in both states and make it their home during that time. Right before she left Utah for AZ this fall, she prepared a wonderful family gathering to teach us more about our ancestors on her side of the family. She made a wonderful meal and she served it in the pavilion near their home. She carefully researched and prepared an interesting and meaningful program. Here are the questions she asked on a little handout she gave us before her presentation:
1500 years ago what covered this valley where our ancestors settled?
Why was it called Cache valley?
What year did our ancestors first come here and from where?
What were their names?
How many wives did Grandpa ________ have? What was his occupation?
How did they contribute to the building of the community?
What was her (my Mom's) grandfather and grandmother named?
What did they do?
What were her parents names? What did they do for a living and with their time?
How are she and my Dad related? (other than being husband and wife)

By the end of her family history lesson, we knew a lot more about our ancestors and I'm so appreciative of Mom for doing this! I'm glad I has there to hear Mom give her lesson and I only wish my kids could have been there too. Maybe she will consent to giving that presentation to our family when we are together again. If you want to know the answers to these questions, then you'll have to contact Grandma Mary! She is indeed a strong link in the chain of ancestors who accepted the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and made the journey from their homeland to be with the saints of God and start a new life. Mom has passed the torch to us her children and grandchildren and that torch is burning brightly. She shared her thoughts, her testimony and her love for each of us that day of the program. Thanks for your example, your strength, your courage, your determination, your wit and your good nature Mom. We love you very much.



In our immediate family Mom has 7 children, 7 in-law children, 23 grand children and 29 great-grand children. She is also Grandma to her husbands families. Three little great grand girls were born in the last couple of weeks and in this picture she is holding little Ada Claire born on October 27.