13 years ago
Monday, January 2, 2012
Friday, April 22, 2011
Marion Meets Nancy
I was born in Brigham City, Utah. My parents built and home in Honeyville, Utah and we moved into that home when I was a year old. Honeyville at the time had a population of around 500 people, most of those being relatives from the Abraham Hunsaker line. Abraham had 5 wives. His posterity is huge.
But there was a family in Honeyville that we weren't related to...the Rodney and Peggy Nelson family. Our Mom's were best friends. Nelson's had many girls and so did we and we were all around the same ages. We were always at their house, playing in their basement, roaming around their dairy and farm and making lots of memories. Our families even took a trip to Yellowstone together when both of our mothers were pregnant with one of our younger sisters. Two of my Nelson friends were Nancy and Peggy Sue. Nancy a year older and Peggy Sue a year younger so I played with both of them. We moved away from Honeyville in 1966. I missed my friends. They were like family. They were friends that I had as far back as my memory went. It was an actual loss to me as a child when we moved away.
Move forward 45 years...
We finally reconnected on Facebook a couple of years ago. We communicated through our blogs and Facebook. We finally spoke on the phone the Sunday before we were to meet on Monday, April 11, 2011, to finalize where and when. It was great to hear her voice. Her voice reminded me of her mother's voice. We decided to meet at Temple Square in Salt Lake City in front of the Reflection Pool.
Monday came and I have to admit I was nervous.... What if we didn't click? What would we talk about? I don't like being out of my comfort zone. Did she really want to meet? What would we have in common? She's so talented. I'm so not. She's very practical. I'm so not. Would we recognize each other?... And the thoughts went on and on!
I was waiting just for a few moments when I saw her coming from the Joseph Smith Building. I recognized her immediately. It was great to see her! She suggested we go to the top of the JSB where there was a sitting room. This was our view where we sat for about an hour and talked...and kept talking...
We then went into the restaurant for lunch. The waiter had to come back a few times to get our order as we just kept on talking....
We had a wonderful lunch and talked and talked. We went back out to the sitting area overlooking Temple Square and continued talking. Before we knew it almost 4 hours had passed...too fast! We didn't ever lack for conversation. It wasn't the conversation I expected. I thought we would "timeline" our lives but instead we talked about where we were at in our lives and the journey that brought us there. Looking back on decisions and how we sometimes view some of them as mistakes but know they made us who we are. We told each other personal confidences that some closest to us probably don't even know. Nancy is warm, fun, insightful, understanding, beautiful, talented, spiritual, and an absolute delight to be with.
I found a quote that sums up our conversation:
"But oh...the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." ~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859.
But there was a family in Honeyville that we weren't related to...the Rodney and Peggy Nelson family. Our Mom's were best friends. Nelson's had many girls and so did we and we were all around the same ages. We were always at their house, playing in their basement, roaming around their dairy and farm and making lots of memories. Our families even took a trip to Yellowstone together when both of our mothers were pregnant with one of our younger sisters. Two of my Nelson friends were Nancy and Peggy Sue. Nancy a year older and Peggy Sue a year younger so I played with both of them. We moved away from Honeyville in 1966. I missed my friends. They were like family. They were friends that I had as far back as my memory went. It was an actual loss to me as a child when we moved away.
 | ||
| Primary Nursery Class of 1959. Me...front row, third child from left. Nancy...back row second child from left. My Mom is the beautiful woman standing in the back left. (Picture courtesy of Nancy's Facebook) |
We finally reconnected on Facebook a couple of years ago. We communicated through our blogs and Facebook. We finally spoke on the phone the Sunday before we were to meet on Monday, April 11, 2011, to finalize where and when. It was great to hear her voice. Her voice reminded me of her mother's voice. We decided to meet at Temple Square in Salt Lake City in front of the Reflection Pool.
Monday came and I have to admit I was nervous.... What if we didn't click? What would we talk about? I don't like being out of my comfort zone. Did she really want to meet? What would we have in common? She's so talented. I'm so not. She's very practical. I'm so not. Would we recognize each other?... And the thoughts went on and on!
I was waiting just for a few moments when I saw her coming from the Joseph Smith Building. I recognized her immediately. It was great to see her! She suggested we go to the top of the JSB where there was a sitting room. This was our view where we sat for about an hour and talked...and kept talking...
 |
| At "The Gardens" restaurant. I'm not liking this picture of me but have to document! |
I found a quote that sums up our conversation:
"But oh...the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." ~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859.
Nancy, thank you. You are my new/old friend....forever.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
What Are Words
What Are Words lyrics
All I can say is....Beautiful! The song, yes...but even more beautiful is this young man. His name is Chris Medina. If you haven't heard his story, you've been missing out. It will....
...bring you to tears.
...help you to not take another day or loved one for granted.
...make you step back and take a good look at yourself.
...evaluate your own I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y.
...think about what you say because you can never take those words back...EVER...they live on forever.
You can read his story here.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Attitude of Gratitude
Life is full of challenges. Over this last week, some of my children have come to me with struggles that they are enduring. I don't use the word enduring lightly. These have been struggles that have been on going or that have been a road block for some time. And they have handled them with patience and dignity.
As a mother, you want to fix it...make it better. For me, I wish more than anything I could take their burden and make it my own so I could suffer for them and relieve them of the pain and difficulty they are feeling. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? I don't think it's a coincidence that as parents we feel that way. I know for me, that is how I have been able to better understand and try to comprehend The Atonement. We love our children so much that we are willing to do ANYTHING for them. Much like the Savior felt and feels for us when we are suffering through life's trials. He understands...He knows how we feel because He has already suffered that for us. Now it is up to us to turn it over to Him after all we can do.
Through these conversations with my kids lately, there has been one word that has come up in all of our conversations....
gratitude
It is what has helped me throughout my adult life...a sense of calm will come over me as I look around and see....
family
home
truths
friends
freedom
health
And then the things easily taken for granted....
smelling a newborn grandbaby
hearing the grandkids laugh and yell as they enjoy playing with their cousins
seeing a tear run down their sweet cheeks and being able to wipe it away
hugging them until they break free
making them waffles
watching them sing at Primary programs
making popcorn and having a movie night
hiding when they come and scaring them when they find me
talking to all 5 of my grown kids in one day
getting a text everyday from at least one of my kids
reading a recipe to one of them
having a husband that has taken all of this craziness on
having a husband that loves HIS family
having a husband that would do anything for me and our family
The list gets endless...but it works...for me! It gets me over any pity party that tries to invite me! Sometimes that party gets really tempting and I do stay longer than I should but my Mother always taught me to never wear out your welcome!
Now...let's get on our "Attitude of Gratitude"!
Love you all!
 |
| (How time flies by! I miss these kids!) |
Through these conversations with my kids lately, there has been one word that has come up in all of our conversations....
gratitude
It is what has helped me throughout my adult life...a sense of calm will come over me as I look around and see....
family
home
truths
friends
freedom
health
And then the things easily taken for granted....
smelling a newborn grandbaby
hearing the grandkids laugh and yell as they enjoy playing with their cousins
seeing a tear run down their sweet cheeks and being able to wipe it away
hugging them until they break free
making them waffles
watching them sing at Primary programs
making popcorn and having a movie night
hiding when they come and scaring them when they find me
talking to all 5 of my grown kids in one day
getting a text everyday from at least one of my kids
reading a recipe to one of them
having a husband that has taken all of this craziness on
having a husband that loves HIS family
having a husband that would do anything for me and our family
The list gets endless...but it works...for me! It gets me over any pity party that tries to invite me! Sometimes that party gets really tempting and I do stay longer than I should but my Mother always taught me to never wear out your welcome!
Now...let's get on our "Attitude of Gratitude"!
Love you all!
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