That You Might Know - Grandma Duty

Sometimes life is so fast and furious that you can barely catch your breath, let alone document what's happened. The past year has felt like that. So much to record, most of it good, with hundreds of photos to edit as a result. I struggle to start, fearing the words will be wrong and intimidated by the whole process of trying to capture feelings of the heart.  Inertia has always been a challenge, yet I know that this is the way I'm supposed to share the bits and pieces of what I've experienced and what I remember of those who are no longer here. 

As so often happens, the answer came while studying the scriptures. Reading in the Book of Mormon, I came across these words of Jacob,

"...we can write a few words upon plates, which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers--Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy...concerning their first parents." (Jacob 4:2-3) 

To get me started writing again, I'll transcribe the words of my mom, that my children might come to know her. Only four of the six even met her in this life, as she died at the young age of 49. I haven't read these, either, so it'll be new to all of us. 

Of her dozen journals, I'll start with the last, when she came to tend while John and I hiked around Mt. Hood on a Sierra Club trip. Maybe it will trigger memories in the older kids, but it will certainly show how much she loved them all. 

DeeAnn Rich Schreiter Cole Nickle - Sept. 1985

Fri. Aug, 22, 1986 - Summary by me. Newly married in September 1985, she and Ray had moved to Missouri in July. He retired and she quit after 19 years with a law firm. They came back to SLC to pick up the rest of their things & attend a Rich family reunion at Bear Lake. I took the four kids and we had fun staying with Mom, G&G Rich, Kathy, Elaine & her kids, Kent and one of his kids. Ray suggested she stay and tend during our hike, so she came home with us for three weeks. I remember how grateful I was to have her with the kids instead of various sitters. We did projects (sound familiar girls?) and prepared the first week. Here's an excerpt: 

Really glad I could ride home w/them & help Lori drive & take care of kids. They're good, but an extra body surely helps. We stopped for dinner at Burley, got home after 10:30 p.m. Nan, Nollie & Rikker hadn't slept so konked right out, but little Bekka - also no sleep - ran around trying to take it all in & playing w/ everything - just so excited to be home. So I've been staying w/ them for a week before they leave, & we've surely had plenty to do. I tried to learn the routines on Monday, with all their charts to keep track of chores, & all the things they have to do. Tended them on Tues, while Lori worked, & ever since, there's been plenty to do to keep busy, mainly getting Nan & Nollie ready for school & Lori ready to leave.  

Sat. Aug, 23, 1986 

John had to go to the hospital to see his patient, so Lori had time to pay bills & do more last-minute things. He came back & finished, & they got off after 10:00 (aimed at 8:00 but had time to get to Portland area for Mt. Hood hike). 

Poor Nollie had a tough time seeing them go, so I was a little lenient about watching TV before her work was done, after sitting & loving her a while. Rikker was sad too, but had been allowed to paint and color again after they left (banned for 2 weeks) so got over it. Nan was at a practice by then, but that cute little Bekka was so good with Nollie. I was sitting on the porch holding Nollie as she cried, as I have so often lately sat there with Bekka, and Bekka came up and gave Nollie big loves, said "crying," "matter?" & kissed & hugged her to make her feel better. 

She's such a smart little thing at 18 months, talks like a 3-yr-old, and knows exactly what's going on. We were in the garage Fri, trying to squeeze half a beef into already full freezers, & Bekka, who has me wrapped around her little finger, got in her little "wago(n)" & kept calling "Grandma". As I said what, she said "pull it", when I picked up the handle she said "walk". So I went just to their other driveway, to turn around, & she said, "no - st(r)eet." 

She says so many thing, so amazingly clearly, that it'd be easier to list the things she doesn't say, but some of her favorite things are "go 'way, mine, dump it, walk, outside, blanket." Well she carries on a conversation just like an adult, but with 2 or 3 words only - I shut it (and does), I get it, etc.  She understands everything, knows all about hands, feet, arms, legs, ears, eyes, etc, & now says Grandpa as well as Grandma (in June it was A-Dee) also water (not wa-wa) & all the kids names - Rikker, Nanny, Nollie, John, their friend (calls him Johnny usually), Lisa, Amy, also bedroom, kitchen (chichen), downstairs, well, she says just everything. Up to now she said "love you" as "yuv you" but today for the first time, she said the whole three words as clearly as anything. 

The kids were playing with John, & Bekka & I were in the back yard where I pick the ripe "matos" & I got pulling some weeds. So she played in the yard, climbed into some kids chairs (3 high) & sat there & called "Gama". When I'd say what she said so clearly "I yuv you", all three words. Then she got her 'bike' out, asked me to 'help', etc, helped me pick 'matoes, pull weeds, etc. [It] also tickles me when you ask if she wants something, or try to give her something she doesn't want , it's "no, leave it". Well, I'd take too long to write everything she says, she surely makes life fun. Don't know why Lori's kids have all talked so early, but every one of them has, & Bekka talks at least as clearly as any - even says S good. Says, "gog" for dog, but about everything is darn clear, while most kids, including the cousins she's been around, don't say more than a word or two by 2 yrs. Anyway, she was so good, after waking up from nap not feeling up to her usual perky self, & it was a good day altogether. 

The kids were all good, & Nan, who has had quite a bit of trouble w/ teasing, bossing, not minding, was extra good, so I didn't have to get cross w/ her all day. We managed to get through the whole day w/ no major traumas w/ anyone - except Nollie missing her Mom, of course, but that was just sad, not trouble - & even through dinner chores & baths. 

Lori called tonite to let us know they got there safely, so we all felt better, even tho they have car problems. (Me - We tried to jump another car & it killed our battery. Had to have it towed & then rode the bus 65 miles to pick it up after the hike. Ugh!) Took about 2 hrs to get into bed, but we made it OK. Only 14 more days to go. I'll be exhausted, as my little doll wants me to "carry" her most of the time when she's not running, & it takes a lot of energy just to keep up with listening to four kids talking - often all at once - let alone getting meals, cleaning up, etc. But I'm so glad I can be here. Never could have taken even 2 weeks, let alone 3, if I were still working, so I'm especially glad I can settle down & be a wife & grandma instead of at the office all the time - much as I liked it. Just hope Ray gets along OK, for being so generous.