We are so lucky to have MOM!

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside---

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

I remember----being a little girl sitting by my mother’s side and listening to her read me the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson from the book A Child’s Garden of Verse. It was my favorite book and I can still repeat many of the poems from heart. Not only do they bring images of my childhood to mind they recall the legacy of learning my parents gave up as I grew and matured in their home. Books were an important part of our lives. Both of my parents loved to read and to learn out of the best books. We read history, geography, poetry, classic literature and spiritual books. This legacy of the love of learning and the quest for knowledge is one of the gifts my parents gave me that I am most grateful for.

I remember----my father walking around the house and quoting passages from Shakespeare from memory. I remember him poring over maps and “The National Geographic” magazine, learning of far-away places where he could only dream of going. I remember how, when he read something that pleased him, he would share it with his family. He was always reading us some quote or passage from a book he was reading. I remember how much he loved the poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Sadly, I can also remember a teacher in high school teaching us that Longfellow was not considered one of the “great” American poets. I shared this new “wisdom” with my father and tormented him about how he should spend his time reading literature that was “better.” Before my new-found wisdom we had both enjoyed memorizing Longfellow’s poems. I can remember hearing him reading parts of “The Song of Hiawatha” and “Evangeline” out loud. And what better way to spark an interest in American history than through Longfellow’s words: “Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight right of Paul Revere. . . “? Years later Doug and I were in Minnesota at Lake Minnehaha (Hiawatha) and I thought, “I really like Longfellow and it’s alright if I enjoy his works!” I bought a book of his poetry again; I only wish I could tell my Papa that it was okay if he liked Longfellow, Shakespeare, Edgar A. Guest or his mother’s poetry or anyone whose words touched his soul. After all, who was I to be his reading critic!

I remember----a mother who was very busy trying to feed and clothe her many children with little money. I remember that she made time to read to me during the day when my older siblings were at school. When I checked the book, Anne of Green Gables out of the library she was excited to share her memories of reading the same book when she was a girl. I loved the story so much that I read the whole series and we had fun sharing our thoughts about Anne. I remember that when she had a little time to herself she would usually choose a church book to read. From her I learned to prioritize the use of time. Feeding her spirit was as important as feeding her body. Only after her child-rearing days were behind her can I remember her reading “for fun.” She had a five volume set of books called Out of the Best Books. They contained an anthology of short stories, essays and poetry that she loved to read and re-read. I can remember her reading to her grandchildren out of the same books I had loved as a child. My little children used to look forward to The Little Golden Book she would choose each year and mail to them for their birthdays.

I remember----that we hardly had money for the necessities of life, let alone luxuries, but I remember that there were always books and good magazines to read at home. I remember always getting a new book of my very own each Christmas. When I was little I remember following DeOn as she walked around the house with a book in her hand reading as she did her chores. I wanted to be able to read books like she did. I can still remember the moment when the mystery of the written word became clear in my mind and I could read! That led me to the wonders of the library where I could check out two books at a time, return them and get two more. I was in book heaven! My library card was number “24” and I kept that same number until I married Doug and moved to Pocatello. I was taken to the library many times by DeOn and Janelle until I was old enough to go by myself. I remember spending a lot of time in the summer, going to the library, coming home, reading the books and going back to the library, sometimes all in the same day. One Christmas DeOn and Derlin gave me a Nancy Drew book and it started a life time of loving good mysteries.

I remember----reading Scripture stories with both my parents and I knew early in my life that they believed them to be true and patterned their lives after the precepts they found in them. In my mind’s eye I can see a picture of Father with one hand on the doorknob and the other hand holding a book called, Know Your Bible. He is dressed in his overcoat and is on his way to teach others the Gospel. I can recall Mother telling us how when she was a teenager she read a book, Ancient Apostles, by David O. McKay, and how much love and respect she had for those men of long-ago who testified of the Savior.. After their kids were raised, Mother and Father were able to afford to buy more books; they joined the Deseret Book Club and bought many good Church books that they willingly shared with us. I have a pleasant memory of my brothers and sisters and myself sitting in the living room taking turns choosing books from their library after Mother’s death. I still treasure those gifts they left behind because they speak to me of the legacy of learning they gave to all their children and grandchildren.

I have a quote on my bulletin board by the author Anna Quindlen that I think puts into words the love of reading my parents instilled into their family:
I would be most content if my children grew up to
be the kind of people who think decorating consists
mostly of building enough bookshelves.


I am most grateful that in the world I grew up in I was read to as a small child, that as I grew I was encouraged to read and to not only read but to read the best of literature and balance that learning by embracing the Scriptures.

I remember----this as a greater legacy than designer clothes, exotic vacations or a large home. I am rich because my parents created a home filled with the love of learning.