Monthly Archives: April 2022

L.A. On a Shoe String

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Back in 1990, my Dad had given us the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles for the wedding of a dear friend. He won airline tickets in a Handball Tournament and didn’t want to use them. So he gifted them to us so we could go. Sandy was my first companion and trainer when I was a missionary in Texas back in 1983-84. She was getting married in Los Angeles because the Oakland LDS Temple was closed for renovations. She lived in the Bay Area.

We were really in no position to go on a trip. Very little money, and small children we’d have to leave behind, were the main things that should have had us thinking twice about going. But…I love her, she’s my friend and we can just be so careful about spending and make it happen.

We decided to go! We loaded us our carry on luggage with snacks and got on the plane. A few things I should say about this trip are, the only definite things were- “But, she’s getting married Saturday in the LA LDS Temple, and we’re staying across the street in the Travel Lodge Motel!”

We had no idea how we were getting to the motel. We had no idea where, when or what we were going to eat. We had cash, a little. When the cash was gone, we didn’t have any other way of paying for anything. This is before credit cards, cell phones and all of the conveniences we enjoy today.

On the plane I sat by a guy who was going home from BYU. This usually means he’s a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He offered to take us to the motel from the airport. Wow! That was a miracle. I had found out he was traveling back to BYU the same day we were going home and I was hoping he’d offer to pick us up on his way. He didn’t. I thought, darn, but we’ll be ok.

We got to the motel and happened to see my friend, Sandy. She was staying at the motel too. It was right across the street from the temple so that made sense. We went to bed and got up early on Saturday for the wedding, and walked across the street. It was beautiful. They had a nice dinner after at a local restaurant.That was another miracle. We didn’t have to buy any food. When we got hungry we snacked on our snacks.

Sunday we went to church at the little chapel right next to the temple. It was very nice and fun to see how this tiny ward belted out the hymns. So much spirit!

Monday, Sandy had asked us on Saturday if we wanted to tag along with them to Disneyland for the day. We said yes! We had enough money. We rode together and then split up for most the day, after all they had just got married. That evening they treated us to a movie in a nice California Theatre. She said they are bigger and more amazing than the ones in Utah. We went and had a fun time.

When we flew home, I can’t even remember if it was Tuesday or Wednesday, but we knew we didn’t have enough money to get a taxi. We decided to ride the bus. It was something else. I wouldn’t even ride the bus in Utah, let alone in LA with luggage. Just to make sure I knew what to do, I called the LA Transit and talked to a really nice lady who gave me directions. Where to get on and all the particulars. The most important thing she said was, “Whatever you do, DON’T get off the bus.” I thanked her and we headed for the bus stop. We got on the bus and as we’re traveling I see things the lady told me I would see. I was feeling confident for a while, but then it felt like to much time had gone by. Then I saw a street sign. It was one that she must have mentioned . I thought maybe we are supposed to get off here, and go the other bus stop on that street. We get over there, running with our luggage and then I felt like I made a mistake. I called the LA Transit again. This nice lady answered and I tell her what I’m trying to do. She says, “I told you not to get off the bus!” I said, “I know, but I got confused when I saw the street sign.” She then proceeds to tell me that all the buses end up at the airport, eventually. Well, why didn’t she tell me that before. Haha. We got to the airport with moments to spare, running to catch our plane.

We made it to Salt Lake City where Brett’s dad was waiting to take us home.

We had $2 in our pockets.

Elementary Friends

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Mr Chard-I think my first best friend was Mr. Chard. 

My Heroes!

Rhonda-across the street and down the hill was another friend, Rhonda. She was the baby in a family with about 12 kids. We were only five years old and she was already an aunt. We used to ride branches on trees like they were horses bouncing up and down. One time I got new red Keds, and came to show Rhonda. She was in the bathtub, so I straddled the bathtub to show her and fell in and got my brand new shoes wet. I was really sad. We spent hours playing in the little creek near our homes. Then we moved up the road, too far for little kids to walk, so I would see Rhonda at school but we didn’t play together anymore. I run into her even now 50+ years later and we hug and visit like usual.

Kati-I only remember playing at Kati’s 2 times, and maybe it was the same time just a sleepover. We rode snowmobiles around their fields. It was fun and exciting to do something I’d never done, also something I wouldn’t do again till after high school. I remember her mom made me a soft boiled egg for breakfast. It tasted good, but I’ve never had one since. 

Martin-my mom would leave at Martin’s to be tended. I might have been about 6-7 years old and my favorite thing to do there was play in the barn. We would play in the tack room, sitting on the saddles pretending we were riding horses. if you click your tongue and move your hips it’s pretty close. It smelled so good, hay and leather!

Dawn-she was a not always there, friend. It seemed like I was always available to play and she wasn’t. She lived around the corner and most of the time she couldn’t play and if she could and would she was sometimes not very nice to me. I guess when you are lonely you will put up with a lot. So we played when she was in the mood, which wasn’t often.

Michael-my first “boyfriend“. We were in 3rd grade. He was adorable. Blonde curly hair, blue eyes and he thought I was cute too. He wore this fancy leather vest everyday, with long fringe on either side of the chest and across the back. It started about chest level going across horizontally and hung down to the bottom of the vest. It would dance around as he walked. One day I told him I thought his vest was neat and he took it off and said I could wear it. That‘s when I knew he thought I was cute, too.  I felt so special. He let me wear it everyday. 

Easter Time!

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Spring is wonderful, with so much to celebrate!

New life-Trees with buds and flowers blooming, baby chicks, baby lambs, and babies all around. More sunshine and warmer weather. What blessings!

Pretty dresses-Each little girl wearing a new dress for Easter. It’s a special feeling to get cleaned up and put on a new pretty dress to go to church and sing and pray. To remember Jesus on Easter morning. As a little girl Easter was the only time I got a new dress, and sometimes new shoes! In my bedroom, I would hang my dress where I could barely see it in the darkness as I fell asleep. My shoes would be positioned next to my pillow in their box in my bed, so I could reach over and touch them or look to make sure they were still there. I felt so special that I could have new and beautiful things.

Egg Hunts-Fun times with kids and grandkids hiding and finding the eggs. As I’ve gotten older and can host or help with Egg Hunts it is so much fun to get everything ready for the kids to come. My Darlin and I work hard on the yard to make it look nice, and invite all the grandkids to come and hunt. The are so adorable and seeing them having fun is the best. When I was a kid, eggs would be hidden around the house. We would search and search. Funny thing is we would almost always miss one and find it a month or two later.

Sweet Treats-Baskets with treats and candy. Some people don’t believe we should give kids candy in abundance. Well, we don’t have candy all the time, but when I was a child it was so fun and unusual to get candy and a chocolate bunny in my basket. To me it gives all of us something sweet to look forward to in life. Landmark dates that keep us going and celebrating life. Treats are a must!

True Love-Most important and overwhelming is the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ who gave all for us. And our Father in Heaven who gave us a plan and way to learn and grow, because He loves us and wants us to become more! He knew we would make mistakes and need a Savior. When I think of the death of Jesus and all that happened on Good Friday I get so sad. I can think about it but it hurts to think of all He went through. I’m so grateful for Sunday morning and for His resurrection. It is finished. He accomplished what no-one else could do and because of Him we all are blessed. I love my Heavenly Father and His Son our Savior.

Happy Easter!!