A Group of good friends...

As a freshman at Orem High School, I had two real good friends, Janet and Christine. Both of them were dating guys, who were sort of in a group from their ward, from church. (Larry, Ivan, Lynn, Reed) It was February, and the "City Hawkins Dance", from the cartoon "Little Abner", was being held on the 12th of Feb. It was a girls choice dance. I had recently decided not to like a certain guy anymore, and was enjoying the feeling of being free, and not tied to the emotional up and down feelings, of liking a guy. Janet who was dating Larry wanted me to double date with them for the dance. Double dating was done alot then, and was alot of fun. And because I was not going with anyone at that time, she suggested I ask Lynn, who was dating Christine. Who was asking Larry's brother Loyd to her school dance, which was being held on the same night as ours. Because of her birthday, Christine, was held back a year. Which made us in two different schools. After much coxing from Janet and Larry, I asked Lynn if he would go. We had a great time, and dated after that.

As a group in school, we ran around together, the 4 boys and Janet and myself. We all became good friends. After all the boys came home from their missions, Lynn and I married in the Salt Lake Temple, and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. (about 10 years after meeting each other.) Janet and Larry married other people. Ivan married went to Arizona on a honeymoon, ran out of money and stayed down there. He and his wife had 3 boys. Ivan was working for Ariz Public Service Comp. One of the main Electrical Comp. While at work and getting equipment off the truck, his partner who was in the basket, a top of the long arm, accidentally moved the basket into the power lines, which caused Ivan to be electrocuted because he was on the ground and touching the truck. He was buried in Measa Ariz. Reed married, we lost track of him, but we heard about 2 years ago that he died, in Orem, Utah. Larry has remarried, and at this time of writing, he and his wife are thinking of moving from Orem, to Idaho. Larry has also had a heart attack about three years ago. Lynn and I have moved from Phoenix Ariz, to Grantsville, Utah, two and a half years ago. And love it here. Janet has remarried, and lives in Salt Lake City.

Mothers tears...

I feel as if I have a bottomless pit deep inside me, and it growing more and more. Time seems to standstill, and yet things are moving all around me. Oh how my heart aches, with the pains of sorrow. Was she not a young child yesterday, that I would hold close to me? and delight in her accomplishments, as she would struggle to do them. Her smile was like sunshine to me, I loved the laughter in her eyes. Even though she is a young adult now, her decisions cut through me as if they were a sharp knife.. She has been taught.. I don't think she completely understands within; the eternal complications of this.. She has her free agency.... I will always love her.

Where did I go wrong?

Paulette's World...

October 19, 2007
Sunshine and Sandals


yah... three years ago, i remember seeing this image on my apartment's mailbox in Payson, Utah. It was the very first time in my entire life, to be honest. I think I ran out there with my snow-boots strapped on to poke and laugh at it for days on end. I remember when the stupid mailbox simply disappeared during that rather harsh winter... and i didn't see my pair of sandals for MONTHS on end afterwards.

The next winter we were in Springville... and the stupid storm-cloud dumped a foot of snow on my one and only Tulip over-night! (i hand planted that poor little thing) We were in a basement apartment that year with not much more than our kitchen stove to keep us warm... and that little tulip was my "bit of sunshine" deeply needed. For weeks after that, i sheltered the tulip with our large orange snow-shovel, making it a safe little home from the wind, hail, and snow until it was safe for it to come out again. Course, it wasn't long, after the snow melted, that i awoke one morning to find that some kid had simply cut it off by it's throat and it was gone. i think i cried. Anyways... THAT winter, i drug a chair and an umbrella out into the snow, sat down, and wrote a scene in my book as fast as i could, in the middle of a blizzard, about how COLD Wyan felt as he was lost in the forest one night. Trust me... i had ALL the details i could possibly want! (and it was rather awful penmanship too)

the winter after that we were in Tooele (there was another home in between those two, but it was only over the fall) We had huge boulders that eventually hid themselves all together like little waves in the snow. My dog would run across the yard and hit one, noise-planting herself on the other side. She'd also simply fall-off the edge of our rock-wall and completely disappear... and for an Australian-Shepard, that's a pretty good trick! THAT year, the ladies in our church decided to get together and do a morning walk every week-day for a month... and it was THAT year that i made knee-deep boot-prints through the snow and down my drive-way to join them... only to stand out there in my fat bright yellow coat for an hour, and then turn around and go back home... alone. (don't ask me why i kept going out... but i did, every day that entire month!) I think it was also that year that Twilight first came out... and i read the opening chapter in her book in my 32 deg basement. I finished that book in the same winter, but she tortured me with the constant reminder of how warm it was in Phoenix and how my fingers would NOT have been turning an unhealthy shade of blue had i still been there! (btw: Phoenix is my "home town") THAT year my friends kept finding me up on the roof as i tried to soak in some reflective warmth from our dark-black shingles and proved how much of a Snow-Bird i should be!

Course, the only reason I'm thinking about this, is because my mom just wrote me and told me that the snow-season was starting again. And here I sit, THIS winter in Bullhead City, Arizona... still wearing my t-shirt, sandals, and capris, as the average temperature is still in the solid 80s. (or was it finally 79-i forget) Either way, today is actually 92 and last night my AC in my home still came on to cool us down, and it's only set for 78. Go figure. Yesterday, my husband and i took our dogs out on a walk as the sun was setting, and completely enjoyed every minute of it... jacket free. Couldn't even tell that winter's coming (other than i'm not roasting alive anymore inside!) No wait, i take it back... i just put my toes up on my chair and sat on them cuz they were a little chilly. But just the ones on my right foot :)

Last year (christmas), my husband and i started a new tradition. We're going to make a new tree-ornament in honor of that year. So, we'll sit down and discuss what was significant about the year, and than get something to represent it and put it in a little clear-glass ornament ball. The one from 3 years ago, i filled with a ton of fake-snow.... this year i may just fill it with sand. (j/k) I wonder where NEXT year will take us...

Meanwhile, I'm sure not doing much blogging about that poor little book of mine. (probably a good reason for that... cringe) I should get busy!

Laters... (Paulette)

Mom's stiches...

My mother loved to crochet, When I was young, and her eyesight was good, she would crochet alot of different doilies from crochet thread. In those days Ladies would decorate their tables, end tables, couches and chairs with crochet doilies, of one form or another. I would often come into the front room and find starched doilies stretched out on wax paper, with straight pins pulling them tight, pined to the carpet on the floor. When they would dry, they would be stiff and hold there shape. Mom and her sisters would often give each other gifts of their hard work. They would roll them up on paper,or wax paper and place them inside a tube for mailing or giving as a gift.

Sometimes Mom would let me take her work and add, or learn how to do the stitching she was working on. Latter when her eyesight was a challenge she crocheted with yarn. Finding it pleasing to her, and alot faster, she started to crochet afghans. Her first two were full size afghans. they were given as gifts, placed on couches, sat on, washed over and over, and ruined. From that time on Mom only crochet half the size. So if someone wanted to put it on the couch, it wouldn't be sat on.

Mom liked to quilt. Mom and Dad lived during the depression,and there were times where money was scares. Often the things you had, where what one created with their own hands. I remember 2 quilts she had made from levies. I had them on my bed. Once they were warmed up in the winter, (Utah winter, and the thermostat was turned down to 60 degrees.) you toasted all night. They were heavy, but I Loved them. Mom made many quilts, I would come home from school and Mom would have a quilt set up in one of the bedrooms. RS sister, and friends, gathered for quilting and lunch. I learned the fine art of quilting from her at that time.
I am very lucky to have in my position 2 quilts, 2 afghans Mom had made, and doilies she had crocheted.

Mom also had a Singer treadle sewing machine, just like the one in the picture. It was on Mom's treadle sewing machine that I learned how to sew. Latter on, Mom traded her Singer for a electric sewing machine for me. I have been blessed with the gift of sewing. I have made wedding dress, and formals, being some of the hardest. (I have 4 girls). Although I am thankful to have a nice machine to use, I have always wish I could have kept Mom's treadle machine...

And she kept it to herself...

I hurt my knee about a month ago, running to catch a plane, and have been going to therapy 3 times a week. Sunday I was in pain all over my body, not only from my knee, but also from arthritis. The pain was a little more than I was handling, and felt that I needed a priesthood blessing.
My son, David, was visiting for the weekend, so I asked if he and my husband would give me a blessing. After a little while I found out that David, who is 39, had never participating in this kind of blessing. I told him his dad would be glad to teach him, and that it wasn't difficult to learn.

It was one of those moments in time, that you hold in your heart. I watched as both my husband and my son dressed in their suits, prepared themselves to give me a blessing. Son quickly learning, Father teaching, answering questions. The blessing of the oil, one for the Father, and again, one for the Son to keep.

A deep warmth flooded my head as their hands were placed on my head, but not from their hands. My son anointed me with oil, and struggled through the blessing. then he whispered in my ear "we can practise a few more times".....I smiled to myself, My husband gave me a blessing.

Afterwards I thought to myself that it must be times like this that Heavenly Father smiles, and is pleased with sons wanting to learn more about the working of His Holy Priesthood... My other blessing was, I was freed from all pain...

Who..me?...

My husband and myself have callings with the Stake Single Program, in our Stake. A guest speaker was needed for one particular night. Names were given and one was selected. To my surprise, I was given the task of contacting this person because "I knew him". I really did not know him. I and a few ladies from my ward had taken a class at the Institute, and he was our teacher. So I called, and he graciously excepted the invitation. Latter about 2 weeks, I was told because "I knew Him" I was to introduce him to the group. I have only been here 2 years, and he lives in a different town, I don't know any body, or any thing, and I have to call his wife to find out info. and I bet she will think I am nuts. My husband says he has too many things to do right now, to help.
And I have a huge pit in the middle of my stomic.

Knowing that anything is possible, if the Lord is your partner, after a short conversation with him, I took a deep breath and pick up the phone and called.

She was wonderful, and quickly put my panic feelings to rest. We talked for about 20 minuets...I found out, they had recently moved, and had not received my card in the mail, giving information about where to meet, place, time, and what to expect. And their family was invited. I was grateful I had made the call.... I was able to give them the info they needed, as well receive what I needed for tomorrow night.
I am also grateful for a loving Heavenly Father, who knew how to calm, and encourage this inexperience daughter.

A Prophet for dinner...

My Primary teacher often made the comment, what if Jesus came to our home for a visit!.. that would be great!..... But for me, I have wondered what it would be like to open the front door and see the Prophet, stopping by for dinner, and a enjoyable evening with me, and my family.
My Grandmother, Sophronia Lydia Smith, (who married Ether Record Brimhall) was a cousin to President George Albert Smith. Besides being family, President Smith enjoyed the company of my Grandparents. My Dad said that President Smith would often stop by, and have dinner and spend a evening visiting with them.

My Grandparents had 13 children. Grandpa Brimhall's, brother's wife died, and could not care for his children alone. So my Grandparents took his children and raised them as their own, making 19 children in the home. Dad said when the dinner bell rang, you got to the table, or went with out. I asked how the family managed with so many children in the house? Dad said that the older ones helped to care for the younger ones.

I thought it was interesting that both my Grandmother, and my Grandfather Brimhall, had collage degrees. Grandfather was a school teacher, and well liked by all, He seemed to have a good sense of humor, and was one of those folks who seem to attract people to him.