Nov 21
So much has happened that it is hard to know where to begin. Glade & Penny were married in the Sacramento Temple August 19, 1980. It was so very special. Wallace & I, Patricia & Lynell, Brenda, Vonell & Jake went to California. We stayed with Penny's father. He was very nice to us and it was so special of him to let us stay at his home. Bishop Daniels was so nice. He & Penny's mother treated us so nice. The reception was so beautiful. So many people. Penny had made her wedding dress. It was just beautiful. She made a beautiful bride. We were very impressed with Penny's little brother. Her family is very special. Her brother is about 10 I guess. The next morning we got up early and went through San Francisco. We crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and also the Bay Bridge. Then we went to the beach. I love the ocean. The roar, the roll of the water, the sand, everything about the water. Brenda did not enjoy the ocean. We then went to Lake Tahoe. It was beautiful. It was such a wonderful trip. Brenda found that LaVar had been very sick since we had left.
When we got to Blackfoot we found that they had just brought JoAnn home so I stayed to help her. Daddy came on home. It has been three months ago today JoAnn was able to talk some. If she spoke slow we could understand what she said. In the time I helped take care of her I learned to love her more and appreciate her for the special person she was. She could not walk without a great deal of help, so most of the time she was in bed or the wheelchair. They had a large chair which she seemed to be quite comfortable in. As time went on she had more difficulty speaking and then she could not speak at all. We fed her because she had so much trouble swallowing. It was so easy for her to choke. We were feeding her the same things we ate and she had to go to the hospital one day because it seemed her digestive system just quit working. We tried IV after we got her home but it turned out to be a big hassle. We gave her a soft diet and forced fluids.
I came home for Glade & Penny's open house which was Sept. 13th. It turned out very nice. There were a lot of people. Brenda prepared for the open house. She was so sweet to do so much. Penny's grandmother from Logan was thee. Her boyfriend brought her. It was so nice to have them. Her cousin came from Ricks College. It was so nice that he could come. Penny wanted a chocolate wedding cake. Sister Skidmore made it and it turned out beautiful. Penny made the flowers, that is she arranged them. They were beautiful. more beautiful than the ones the florist do.
I stayed home only a few days then I went back to Blair's. JoAnn's sister Patty & her mother stayed with her while I was away. I surely learned to love Patty & her mother. They are such special people. On the 8th of October they gave David a surprise birthday party. It was so much fun and something very special for David. Each day JoAnn was getting worse. Even though she was having a hard time she tried to help me in every way. Even the day before she passed away she stood on her leg and she was always very sweet. When I held her up against me so Blair could give her a good rub down she would kiss me on the neck. Such a special person! A week before she passed away her mother came and stayed. It was so good to have her there and I am sure it was easier then for her to be away from her. The day before she passed away she was visiting all day with people who had gone before her to the other side. Blair would not leave her side. He watched her reaction and her eyes follow the person or person who were in the room. One time she reached up and smiled and kissed her visitor. What a testimony it is to the truth of the gospel! The next day we knew she was very bad. Her body was cold. Her breath was even cold. Her pulse was 180 per minute and her chest was going so fast it seemed impossible to count it. JoAnn's mother, father, Patty, Dick and his wife were there. Blair knelt down by her and began to talk to soft and earnest in her ear. He told her how much he loved her and that he and the children would get along fine. He told her to relax and to go to her Heavenly Father. He kept talking and loving her and soon her breathing became slower and her chest seemed to relax. Her breath came slower and slower then stopped. She was gone. Blair had really prepared the children and it was not as hard as I thought it would be for the children. They had a open house the evening before the funeral. So many people! Such a tribute to JoAnn. The funeral was beautiful. Joddi played a piece she had composed for her mother. She did so well. The people in the 2nd Ward in Blackfoot brought so many meals in and did so many things when JoAnn was ill. They helped so much, they cleaned, did the washing. Such good people! My cousin Josie Teeples came in one day and helped clean.
The two wards of Ririe fed the family after the funeral. Jack & Velma, Craig, Maridee, Larry & his wife were there. Uncle Alden & Aunt Julia, Romney & Ronda came from Canada. Patricia, Larry & family came from Salt Lake. Rick was one of the Pall Bearers. All the family was there. Everyone was so good.
I stayed with Blair until the 12th of November. I hated to leave because I felt they needed some one there. Blair felt they had to face it sooner or later and sooner would be better. I know God will bless them.
A few days ago Evelyn came and said Mark had his call to go on his mission. He has been called to Australia. We are so proud of him and we know he will make a very wonderful missionary.
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