I am at my parents home in Idaho. The flood of memories as I attended the Thomas Church building next to Snake River Junior High (now called Middle School) has been constant today.
My family and I lived in a rock house just down the street from the junior high until I was about 6 years old. My mom says she has pictures of the rock house. It is still there but has been extensively remodeled and now has siding, one can’t see the rock.
I drove home along the Thomas Road and past some old friends houses, people I babysat for, Tamara Gillins home where she cut my hair on regular basis, and a home where my Aunt Diane and Uncle Dick lived and I remember visiting.
I had an amazing childhood and have been so blessed to be a part of this wonderful community.
Art Kelly, he was our family’s home teacher for many years, taught Sunday School today. He looked at me sitting with my parents and said, “So nice to have Shelly here, now it feels like home.”
I listened to Elder Nelson’s talk from his October 1994 Spirit of Elijah this morning as I drove up. Almost as an aside he said this, “I would add that the daily building of happy memories in our families is an important part of making family history pleasant. Each day on earth can bring a little bit of heaven.”
That means so much to me because it helps me recognize that spending time with family making memories like today is a form of family history.
I had a great time just talking to Mom and Dad after church while we waited for dinner to warm up. Then we went to town to Delyle Dance’s viewing. He is my Dad’s uncle on my Grandma Margaret Watt’s side. He was the last living sibling of my Grandma. I remember his infectious laugh at family reunions and gatherings. He told great stories but unfortunately, I don’t remember details of them just that they made everyone laugh.
I met my Dad’s cousin Ella Gorder there and we exchanged numbers and determined to get a family gathering in St. George together. Ella and her husband and their son Eddy and a grandson live in St. George.
We met Katherine there and then came home and Dayna and Brandon and Isaac, Amelia, Noah and Peter were here. Linda and Ryan and Jackosn, Jake and Olivia showed up around 8:30 from Salt Lake. I truly enjoy spending time with my family.