80--CONTINUED--26--ANGELS IN MY LIFE

Arlo, He gave me a home and children. We had may good times, a mission and temple sealing.
I love my Arlo.

My Mom and Dad. They gave me life, the gospel, self-worth and love. My Angels.
My grandparents. They sustained me through one of the hardest times of my life. I love them and my aunts and uncles and their families. They are Angels to me.
My brothers and sisters. They are a mainstay in my life, along with their mates, my Angels.

Don, It is hard to say all of the great blessings he has brought into my life. He is very special to me. He is an Angel to me.
Gloria, a dear daughter-in-law. She has been there through hard times and joys. She is a daughter to me, a special Angel. I love her.

Kent, He has been a friend to me all of my life. I spent a year of joy with him. He makes my heart sing. He is one of my special Angels. I love him.
Betty, The Lord sent us a special Angel, when we got Betty. She is my Kidsie. She is a blessing to me. I love her.

Bonnie Lynn, My Sweet , Angel Bonnie, She is always there for me. It is not possible to say all I feel for her. She is my only daughter and one of my dearest friends. She fills my heart with love.
Emery, He has been a help and a blessing to me in so many ways. Angels come in different packages. I am glad that he is a part of our family.

Larry, I begged to get him. He has been a great joy to me. It is impossible to say the blessing he has brought into my life. What a great Angel he is to me. I love him.
Jeanette, I told her when she and Larry married that she was an answer to my prayers. The Lord sent me an angel when she became a part of our family. I love her.

These are part of the Angels in my life. I didn't put in the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Each of them have a special place in my life. They are my Angels.

My life is full of Angels. I have friends who drive me places since I don't drive anymore, people who uplift my spirit and love me. How thankful I am to the Angels in my life.

80--CONTINUED--17

After Arlo Died, my life changed. I was still working at the Conejos County Library. I worked there for 7 years. The following year I was very busy. I kept myself so busy that I didn't have time to think. in all. I was on four major boards. I was president of the Conejos County Hospital Auxiliary, I was on the board of directors for the building next to the Hospital that was built to house people who were in need of housing where they had help from hospital personal. I was Republican Committee Woman, and I was on the Cemetary Board of Directors and I was also on a group of people from the Alamosa Library, (genealogy).

I stayed home for a year and then moved to Mesa, Arizona. I lived with Georgiana Lillywhite, as a companion. She was 90 years old. I worked there for her for one year. While I was there I was called as an ordinance worker in the Mesa Temple. One day Kent called me and said he needed me to live with him. He and Phyllis had divorced and his life was difficult at the time. I lived with Kent In Colorado Springs for a year. That was a special time. Kent and I had a great time. He met Betty while I was there. We did singles things and he worked at the job he has now, but the company changed. He has been there a long time. I worked for a drapery company. Kent and Betty married on the 30th of January 1987. With their marriage I gained two more grandchildren. Brenda and Eddie. I am glad that they have been a part of my family. Eddie is the first death of the family, other than my husbands.

I moved back to Mesa and lived with LaRue and Harold and with Leon and Jean. I went back to work in the temple. Dottie Vance and I rented a house and shared three different homes in Mesa.

On the 15th of June 1987, Anita was born. in Greenville, Texas, where Larry was working as a civil engineer for an airplane place. I went there and stayed with them to help out with the children. Anita has been special to me ever since and still is. I love her dearly. I pray for her happiness.

On the 8th of August, 1989, John Henry was born. Shandi had been staying with Dottie and me, which she did several Summers, when Bonnie called that John had been born. Bonnie had toxemia and was in serious condition. The doctor sent her to SanDiego hospital by ambulance and they took John early. He only weighed a ltttle over 3 pounds. As soon as he was born, Bonnie was OK. Shandi and I drove to SanDiego in my Honda car, which had no air conditioning. It was a rather hot ride. He was small enough that Emery held him in his hand and he came from Emery's finger tips to his wrist. I have a picture somewhere. You would never know it know it now. He is a big young man.

On the 22 August 1990 I entered the MTC to go to the Washington, Seattle Mission. I served there for one year. I was released on 8th of August 1991 I was in the mission field when Debra was born.

Larry and Jeanette moved from Texas to Denver, where he worked for Martin Marietta. That is where Debra was born, on the first of February 1990. She was a beautiful child. She is a lovely person.

In 1992 I moved to St George. Ina called and said that Henry was seriously sick and she needed help. I left Mesa that day and never returned to Mesa to live. I lived with Ina after Henry died. I met Ward Wilson and we married on the 7th of August 1993, for time only in the St George Temple. On our first anniversary we were in the MTC, going to the Illinois, Chicago Mission. We served there for 14 months. Ward had parkinsons disease and was not able to do the work after that. We were released in October, 1993

On our way home from our mission, we went by to See Kent and Betty, in Longmont and, Larry and Jeanette, in Denver. I remember Ward saying that Debra was the prettiest little girl that he had ever seen.

Our last grandchild, Eric was born in Denver on the 28th of May 1994. That makes 18 grandchildren. That is our heritage. Those who came to our family, hopefully will be ours for all eternity. because all of their families are sealed for eternity and I believe with all my heart that they will all be there, because it it a promise.

TO BE CONTINUED

80--CONTINUED--16

in 1981,on 27th of November, Craig was born. Now Larry and Jeanette have two sons. Larry was working at a shop where they make bedroom sets. He was still going to BYU and Jeanette was doing everything she could to help. She baby sat, sold tupperware and whatever she could to help. They were a growing family.

About this time, our bishop called Arlo and me (Gatha) into his office and ask us to go on a mission. Arlo was a little undecided. We didn't have an income to supply the money to pay for our mission and he didn't want anyone else to pay for it. The bishop said the ward would pay for it. He told the bishop that he would let him know on Tuesday following the Sunday when he ask us. I think it was a difficult decision, but he said, "he had expected his children to accept their mission calls and he couldn't tell them that he had turned his call down." He also knew that I wanted to go, so he told the bishop that we would go. We filled out the papers and when we went for our physical, we were told told that his heart was not healthy enough to go. He was sent to Denver, where he had bypass surgery. The doctor told us that his heart was on the verge of a massive heart attack. He had two more surgeries. One of them was to resew his sternem back as the first scar opened. Then he had bypass into his legs. I don't remember how long all of this took us.

Several months before our call, I was working at the Conejos County Library, I was asked if I would be interested in purchasing a Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Insurance. I decided to take it. I offered 100% coverage. The agent told me that he didn't know how they could offer me this policy, He worked for them and could only get 90%. This policy paid 100% of the bills for all three surgeries were completed, and when they were over, I was called to the county again and was told that they didn't know how I got that policy. After the time for healing and being ready, Arlo got Social Security, which paid for our mission. It was a time of miracles as far as I am concerned. The Lord made it possible for us to serve a mission. We entered the MTC on the 29th of September 1982, on Arlo, (our grandson)'s 2nd birthday. That night we received a phone call from Larry and Jeanette that Jeanette's father had died.

Our mission was a very special time for Arlo and me. We enjoyed the work and had a good time growing together. We got home on September 10th 1983.

Brian was born while we were on our mission. He was born on the 9th of July 1983. We saw him for the first time when we went to Provo for Thanksgiving.

All of our family went to Provo, to spend Thanksgiving with Larry and Jeanette. That was a special time. Gloria said that Arlo told Donnie how much he loved him. That was a thing that he did very seldom. Talking about his feelings was not easy for him. That was the last time all of us were all together as a family. Arlo died on the 7th of December 1983.

The next Summer Larry and Jeanette and their family came to Manassa, from Provo and spent the summer with me and were a big help to me. Larry built cupboards in my kitchen and it was fun to have the there. I wish I had a better memory.

Monica was born in 1984. She was born in Fallbrook, California. She was a beautiful little girl. Bonnie and Emery now had Shandi, Emery J. and little Monica. She is my eleventh grandchild.

Julie was born the next summer on the 7th of May 1985. Larry and Jeanette had been in school ever since they were married. Now it was time to move on. Jeanette had graduated from BYU earlier and now Larry graduated with a masters degree in civil engineering. They had four children and it was time to find work.

TO BE CONTINUED !

80-- CONTINUED--15

Bonnie and Emery were married on November 11, 1978 in California. Bonnie had been living with Ina and Henry in California. She met Emery at a singles dance and he began coming to see her and they were married. On 23 August 1979, Shandi was born. I went to California to be with Bonnie and help take care of the baby. She was the first one to be born out of Colorado. Emery was so pleased with Shandi. She was a sweet child and I am so glad that she is my granddaughter.

Larry and Jeanette were married on the 15th of December, 1979. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple. Their wedding was special. They had a reception in Utah and one in Manassa. Jeanette's parents came to colorado and stayed with us for the reception. That was nice.

They were living in Provo, Utah where both of the them attended BYU. until Jeanette graduated. James Arlo was born on 29th of September 1980, in Provo. Arlo is a very special person and I have always admired him. One time I went to Provo and stayed with them for a few days and I pulled him around in the wagon that his dad made for him. He cried when I went home. I have always felt bad that I didn't live closer to all of the grandchildren.

Emery J. was the next grandchild. He was born on the 1st of December 1980. Bonnie and Emery were living in Torrance, California when he was born. Bonnie wanted me to come and help her with Shandi. He was expected so close to Christmas that I tried to talk Arlo into going with me, but he said no, so I said that I wouldn't go and leave him home alone for Christmas. Arlo decided to go with me. That is one of the times that he and I had a wonderful time together. Emery J. came a little early so by the time we got there, he was about 10 days old. We had Christmas with them. Bonnie and Emery took us to San Diego to Sea world and Wild Animal park and to Lancaster to see Ina and Loyd and family. On the way home they drove us to Provo to see Larry and Jeanette and Arlo, who was 3 months old. We flew home from Salt Lake. That was nice to see three of our grandchildren, Shandi, Emery J. and Arlo. Also to spend time with Bonnie and Emery and Larry and Jeanette.

TO BE CONTINUED !

The Cockroach

The image above is one that Debra created as a consequence of a story that I related about a night in Argentina. I was sleeping when I felt something with claws on it feet crawl across my face. I was startled awake and jumped out of bed to find whatever it was that had just traversed me. I turned on the light and found on the wall a large cockroach. I reached for a shoe to eradicate the little bugger, but before I could muster the pest took to flight and out the window it went. We were sleeping with the windows open to help cool the room during the night.

Don't you think that Debra did an admirable job painting a cockroach?



How would you like to have a cockroach for a pet. Here is Debra showing her bravery when she went with her mother to visit the Butterfly Pavilion in Denver.



These cockroaches were large, I was told.



And demonstrating her outstanding courage is Jeanette when she was so bold as to hold a young Tarantula.

What kind of pet do you have?