A Tribute to Mom by Don Thorpe

Mom always believed in the good in people; and never gave up on them; even a rebellious son, who finally went on mission at 25 years old. One of her neighbors said they used to talk over the fence and Mom told him lots of stories, but she never told him anything bad about people. When others gossiped about someone and Mom came into the room, they'd say, don't say anything bad about anybody because Leah will say something nice. Stephen Spielberg said in the movie, Always, “The only thing you regret when you die is the love you didn't give” -- Truly, Mom has no regrets, because she loved everyone.

Mom was close to the spirit, and she would always ask us to pray over her home before we went anywhere. I took Catherine (my wife to be) to meet my mother on our second date. Catherine walked into the room to meet Mom, and heard a voice in her mind tell her, "she will be your mother-in-law."  Catherine didn’t know what to think of that and was quite for rest of the visit. She didn’t tell me about it until after we were married.

Like Oscar Wilde's Canterville Ghost, Mom has helped us to see what life and death is, and that love is stronger than both. Just before I took her to the hospital, Mom told me she didn't want to die, and I told her she would be around for a long time. But that wasn’t to be. Just before Mom died she looked at me and asked with her eyes, why is this happening?  I felt guilty for taking her there and signing the permission papers for her operation. And at the Viewing after everyone else had gone, I told her I was sorry. Then I felt her positive warm presence, and I said, see you tomorrow, Mom -- and I felt her answer, see you tomorrow, son; in the Celestial Kingdom.

Letter from Grandma

I truly believe that death cannot separate us from those we love. I'll be honest, I had a hard week and was feeling pretty low, when I came across a birthday card from my Grandma Story, twenty nine years ago. I hope you don't mind me sharing.

Dear sweet Mary
My best wishes and my prayers for your happiness today and always...
Try to learn something good from everything that happens to you, even the bad or sad things. This is very hard to do, but you can do it if you try and remember to ask Heavenly Father to help and guide you. May you live after the manner of happiness so that the beautiful potential in you may come out and bless you and everyone your life touches.
Love always, Grandma Story

Growing up, whenever I felt down, I'd find myself calling my Grandma. I rarely told her how I felt, but she always cheered me up. She had a way of making you feel loved and that no matter what, things would work out. I knew after talking to her that I'd find my way out of whatever dark tunnel I found myself in. So today, I was missing my Grandma, wanting to call her up and have one of our talks, when I found this old birthday card. Thank you Grandma, you knew just what to say. I love you!

HOW BIG by Leah R Story

"Mama, is it my turn to go to Grandma's?"
"We'll see, Shane, we'll have to call Grandma to find out if she can have you this week-end."
Shane ran to get his little suitcase, "What shall I take?" Mama laughed, "wait until I call Grandma before you pack your suitcase."
Grandma was glad to have her grandson for a visit, so Shane hurried to pack his suitcase. He called to his mother, "What shall I take?"
"Well, let me see, you better take your nice shirt and pants, your pajamas, an extra pair of socks and underwear. Maybe you better take an extra pair of jeans, too."
After Shane packed his suitcase, Mother checked it to make sure he had everything. Father came in just then, and said, "I think I'll fix the fence at Grandma's today. Will it be all right if I stay at Grandma's, too, for a while this morning, Shane?"
"Oh sure, Daddy, you're lots of fun, too."
Daddy laughed, then added, "When you get ready we'll go." Shane picked up his suitcase. "I'm ready now!" Daddy got in the car and they waved goodbye to Mama, who had come to the door to see them off. "Remember to help Grandma and do what she tells you, won't you Shane?" Mama called as they started to leave."
"I will, " Shane shouted as the car started moving.
After they got to Grandma's, Daddy and Grandma were so busy fixing the fence that they didn't pay much attention to Shane. He noticed how pleased Grnadma was to have Daddy helping her. He wondered how he could help. too, and make her happy like that. Then Shane had an idea. Grandma's front lawn was getting pretty long. It was longer than anyone else's in the whole block. "Grandma, could I mow your front lawn?" Grandma and Daddy looked at Shane. Daddy said, "You have never cut a lawn before. I'm afraid you're not big enough." Shane burst out, "But I am big. He ran over to the pickle barrell standing by the back door. I'm almost as big as this old barrell, aren't I, Grandma?"
Daddy said, "Why don't you pull the weeds and the dandelions in the front lawn?"
"If I pull the weeds, then can I cut the lawn? Please Daddy... let me try."
Grandma turned to Daddy, "Why don't you let him try?"
"Okay." Daddy decided. Shane ran over to the old pickle barrell and let out an Indian war yell. Daddy and Grandma laughed, then Grandma went to get her old-fashioned lawn mower that had to be pushed by hand. Grandma showed Shane how to push the mower up one path and down the next, so there wouldn't be any scraggly spots. "Shane, you can stop whenever you get tired. If you get too tired, you can finish mowing tomorrow."
Shane started out with great enthusiam. Daddy chuckled, "That won't last long."
Once again Daddy and Grandma got so busy fixing the fence that they forgot all about Shane, until he came up to them and announced. "I'm all done, Grandma. Do you want me to mow the back lawn?" Daddy and Grandma looked at each other. Grandma said, well, my goodness, you haven't finished already have you. Let's just see if you got all the scraggly edges." They all walked around the front lawn. There weren't any scraggly edges! Grandma was surprised. "The neighbor boy I have do the lawns sometimes, doesn't do any better, and he's lots older than Shane, " she told Daddy.
Shane and Grandma were looking at Daddy. Daddy was looking very thoughtful.
Shane exclaimed, "See, Daddy, I am big, aren't I?"
Daddy smiled as he patted Shane on the head, "yes, you are big... you're bigger than I thought you were." As Shane walked away, he felt sure he was bigger than Grandma's pickle barrell.

(There was a handwritten note on the bottom of the page. This story that Grandma wrote was "sold to the Friends' magazine the same day Scott Anderson was born.")