Barb's Day & Dorothy

First of all I must apologize for being so late in sending my message to your regarding the "leaf" necklace. Thank you Debbie, for reminding me again last week.

I was very thrilled to receive it from my dear friend, Margaret. She said such beautiful things about me - so nice to read but embarrassing as well! When I wore the necklace, I had a warm feeling of her and my many friends. I am so blessed to have such special friends!!

I decided to pass it on to another dear friend, Dorothy. I have known Dorothy a long time. The first time we met was at a BYU football Bowl game in the Los Angeles area. Bob had met Dorothy and her husband at the [Jordan River Temple] Baptistry and thought they were very special. After meeting at the game, we became close friends and we were invited to their home for Thanksgiving dinner for a few years.

Dorothy and I have more in common now because of losing our dear husbands. We know what an empty spot we have in our daily lives. I am so grateful that she is back serving in the Baptistry. I am so grateful for her friendship and love her dearly.

Barb

Barb is alone now. Her dear husband passed away 3 years ago. They were such a cute couple. He had grey hair, a mustache, and always reminded me of an English gentleman. He called me Maggie and always greeted me with a hug. They wanted a family, but they were never able to have one. They had a dog that they both loved, but he died just a few days after Bob. That was a double heartbreak for her. Barb will not know the joy I know with my large posterity in this life. But in the next life she will!

She is so pleasant and fun to be around. She doesn't dwell on the death of Bob, or the lack of children. She is sentimental and tears up really easy about Bob, and things that remind her of him. But her tears are brief, and then she cheers up again. She has handled the loneliness by accepting invitations to go places with friends (and she has a lot of them). She kept her job volunteering at the Church Office Building. She goes to football games. She comes to the temple each week. She is my dear 'temple friend'.

She makes jams and gives them to friends and neighbors and everytime we pick her up for something. She comes to our annual Christmas party and mixes in really well with everyone. She is little and cute and always so well groomed. She always wears a smile and makes you feel good to just be around her.

Another sorrow she has is she is the only member in her family. She is from Nova Scotia and goes there every summer to visit her sisters. I know other friends could add to this list, but this is what impresses me. She is such a good example to me. My life has been really enriched to have a friend like Barb. And Barb, "I love you"! xo xo

Margaret's Day

Debbie gave me a 'leaf necklace' to wear for one day and then I am supposed to give it to someone else. I have had it for 2 weeks, because I wanted to wear it on a 'special day' and I have too many to choose from. And there are too many 'special' people to give it to.

Today was a 'special' day. Lee [my husband] and I went to the temple, then I went to Jenny's [my daughter's] for lunch, wearing the necklace for the first time. I told all of them I couldn't decide who to give it to. How do I chose between 3 daughters, and 6 daughter-in-laws, let alone the granddaughters. Then I thought about Jeannie [my sister] and then Barb [a close friend]. I wore it for 3 hours, and because I am old, am breaking the rules a little. I am going to wear it a couple of more times. I don't think I will be struck dead for that decision. [Editor's Note: rest assured readers, Margaret is still alive and well.]

October 16, Friday

I wore the necklace to the temple today, put it under my shirt (it was a turtle neck) and then in the recorder room a big drop of blood just fell from my nose. So annoying! So I had to rent a dress for the rest of the morning, so maybe it wasn't a good idea to wear the necklace that day.

October 18, Sunday

I wore the necklace all day. What a fun day! We went to Jenny's ward for their Primary program, and then to Chris & Jenn's [son and daughter-in-law] for dinner for our birthdays. When we got there, their kids met us at the door. Then all of a sudden there was A___ & B___! And then P___, J___ and R____ appeared! [these are all more grandchildren, names omitted for safety] Chris had invited them all for a surprise and it was so wonderful. I was just overcome by the thoughtfulness and love of everyone.

In Chris's family they all say something nice about the birthday person and they all did it for me and Lee. Several said they liked me because I gave good advice and was such a good listener. I just hope I can live up to all of that.

I wore the necklace all day, and now I will turn it over. I have chosen to give it to Barb. I love these wonderful daughters, and daughters-in-law so much. They all mean so much to me in different ways. They are wonderful mothers, they are faithful in the gospel, they are so supportive of each other and want to be with each other and promote togetherness with all the family. I loved them first, because our sons loved them. Then each, in their own way, won their place in my heart, and I thank Heavenly Father for each of them every single day. All the granddaughters are so precious too. The older ones now have families of their own, and they have all the good traits of their parents. The little ones are so fun to see grow and develop their own individual personalities. The middle ones are turning into beautiful young ladies themselves and have so much potential and so many talents. I would like to name each of them by name, and why they mean so much to me, but it would take pages.

As I thought of all these wonderful people I wanted to have a necklace for each one of them. So how do I chose one? I don't. I have chosen Barb, and here is why.

[Tune in tomorrow to hear about Barb]

Margaret

My Mom

I chose to pass along the Silver Leaf Necklace to the first woman I ever knew, my mother Margaret. I am quite sure that I cannot adequately explain in a few paragraphs all my mother means to me, but I will give a few highlights.

My mom was still a teenager when she had me, so I suppose she was scared to death at the responsibility that hit her as she held me for the first time. But never in all my life have I ever heard anything but love and gratitude come from her for having started her career as a professional Mother. I am the oldest of ten kids, 3 girls and 7 boys. Twice my mother and I were pregnant at the same time, once at the same time as a sister-in-law! Different, maybe weird, but I love thinking about that and remembering the bond we all shared. I am quite sure my love of family came from her. One of my favorite pictures is a 5 generations picture with me as a 2-year old, then my Mom, her mom, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother. All the oldest daughters!

My mom has about a zillion friends - those who already know her and those who haven't yet had the pleasure. She has several "clubs" in which she keeps in touch with friends from different stages of her life. The first Club, however, is made up of friends from her high school years. Wow! There is NO one from that time of my life I stay in touch with. I am jealous! Of all the friends I have ever had, my mom is my truest confidante, my most loyal supporter, my Best friend. We've been to BYU Education Week together, been to her cabin to clean (and play games, eat, and go on walks), attended religion classes together, watched movies and gone to lunch, tended each others kids, gone to plays, the Temple, and just recently went to New York City to attend my brother's wedding. Many people have asked me since that particular trip what I liked best. It took me several days, but I realized that what I liked BEST was being able to go on an extended trip like that with my Mom and my Dad. It was the first time, and I loved every noisy, dirty, rainy, busy part of it!

Almost everyone in our extended family is the proud and grateful recipient of a hand-made crocheted afghan from Mom. She gives one when someone gets married, and whenever anyone else wants to buy the yarn for her to make them one. She has several of them up at the cabin to provide a cozy wrap on chilly evenings, and maybe even several extras in a closet at home "just in case." I keep mine on my bed. It hugs me every night.

Mom taught me how to can and preserve fruit, which I have passed along to my own daughters. She taught me how to iron - which I hated at the time I was 12 but (believe it or not) love doing now! She taught me how to clean - really. I remember in our first home she would dust and vacuum every day!

Most of all, my mother taught me to love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She has served in the Jordan River Temple Baptistery for 12? 18? 20? years. She is diligent in reading the scriptures, in teaching lessons, in being an example of charity and service and love to others. It was her example of being sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, and my attendance there, that provided me with the undeterred goal of a future marriage of my own within those sacred and holy walls. I am honored to be her daughter. She is my blessing. I love you, Mom.


If you have worn a necklace, but haven't sent in your story of the day you wore it yet, please do- otherwise I have nothing to post tomorrow. fivenecklaces@yahoo.com

Debbie's Day

I chose today carefully before wearing the necklace, because I wanted it to be with me during a day of great joy, and although I PLANNED all the joy, it came nevertheless :-)

I put the necklace on at 4:10 am on Friday, October 2, prior to going to the Temple. I wore it underneath my top all morning long to keep a reverent appearance, and I was able to show it to some of my dearest friends there, who have become another family to me. I love the Temple, and I love God. I don't know which is more important to me, my testimony and love of God or my love of Family. My love of one strengthens and intensifies and makes more dear my love of the other.

Next I rounded up all the grandkids (minus the babies); the two youngest first, then off to get the two older boys. We headed up to Big Cottonwood Canyon, Dogwood Campground, where Brandy and Heidi met me with the four oldest grandkids, who were my camping buddies this year! We built a fire - my oldest grandson used just one match (after a few pointers from his Grams) - and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, supplemented by drinks, chips, and chocolate doughnuts! It is an annual event that I love, because it gets me into my beautiful mountains during my favorite time of year - Autumn. We went for a nature walk and played by the river before heading home. A beautiful day. I could only have wished for a bit cooler weather!

This evening has been spent taking care of one baby granddaughter so her parents could celebrate their anniversary, and her cousin, whose Mom and Dad went to the BYU game (and got into an accident on the way, which totalled their car). Being ardent fans and unhurt, they called their older brother who took them to Heidi's, and they all rode down together.

I am still wearing this necklace - it has been 16 hours, and I am reluctant to take it off. But I will, and I will give it to the first woman who influenced me, my own Mom.

Check back on Thursday to hear what Debbie has to say about her mom, Margaret.

Debbie

Debbie, a.k.a. Mom: Silver Leaf Necklace

I'm choosing my mom first because she is the first woman to have really influenced me, and impressed me by the way she lives her life. So let me tell you a little bit about her, and you'll see why:

Recently my mom has moved in with me, my husband, and our 1 year old daughter. Yes, this is a full house. But no, I don't believe I'm crazy. It has been nice having my mom in our home; she helps us out so much! My mom watches my daughter 2 1/2 days a week. She also helps watch other grandkids throughout the week, volunteers at their schools, watches their various sporting events, and celebrates their birthday with a special outing. She works at the Jordan River temple every Friday morning at 5:30 am! She cooks for us almost every night and provides a good political challenge for me and my husband.

My mom is the oldest of 10 children, then had 10 children herself (I'm lucky number 7!). Family is at the center of her life; as I'm sure you've already deduced, there isn't anything she wouldn't do for her family. She has lost two sons, her second child died at 1 1/2, and the brother just younger than me at age 8. I can hardly stand being away from my daughter for a day, how she has dealt with the loss of two speaks wonders of her personal fortitude. She also lost my philandering father about 15 years ago. I love my dad tremendously, but I still think he's a scuz for what he did. Despite these loses, my mom lives a gracious life. She seems truly thankful for her life and her experiences.

My mom works so hard at everything she does. I credit her for teaching me that if you're going to do something, you might as well do it right. I know from things she's said that she doesn't consider herself creative, or particularly talented. I would wholeheartedly disagree. How much creativity does it take to clothe and feed 10 children on a fireman's salary? Or keep them all entertained during summer days and long winters? My mom seems to always have something up her sleeves to go do with her grandkids. And if I ever need an idea on how to do something (like tying leather cord), I can always get an answer from her.

My mom is also a spiritual force to be reckoned with. Sometimes this is amazing, such as when you hear her bear testimony of the things she believes. Other times it can be a bit domineering, like if you disagree with her on something. But I suppose we're all that way when it comes to things we're passionate about.

I think that's a great way to sum up my mom: passionate. Whatever she touches in this life, she will leave her mark, and it will great.



Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see who the second necklace goes to.