Ora Carpenter Omerza journal March 20-27, 1981

20 March 1981

Gladys came over early this rooming and I gave her a permanent. Madge came later in the morning. It’s so good to have my children come. We had a nice visit. She had Linnea and Heather with her. They are so cute and so much fun. She brought my T.V. back after having it repaired. So in the evening I indulged in a movie.

21 March 1981

This is Saturday. I was alone all day. No one came and no one called until afternoon. I had a call from Nancy. Broke the silence of the day. I kept myself busy. Washed the living room curtains. Cleaned the house and watered the plants in the house and yard. Pulled a few weeds and baked some cookies to have on hand for the Grandchildren. Even though I kept busy it was a lonely day. I miss Em more and more.

22 March 1981 Sunday

Went to my meetings. In the afternoon and evening did some writing
and reading. I am reading Melvin J. Ballard’s book. It is so good. His sermons are so inspiring.

23 March

Went out and did a little shopping this morning. Bought a birthday present for Marnee and Heather. Looked for some shoes but the styles are impossible to say nothing of the price. I didn’t find any to my liking. In the afternoon I visited a few people I needed to see.

In the evening Floyd called. I was so happy to hear from him. He said all was well with them and that they were planning on a trip to El Paso in April. He is getting an award for working so many years for El Paso Gas.

24 March

Today is Marnee’s birthday. Eleven years old. I recall when Marnee was born I went to the Hospital to help Marlene home. As we were getting her things together to leave the Hospital we could hear this baby crying. Marlene said ‘can you hear that baby.’ and I said ‘it really sounds upset’ and she said “That is the one we are taking home.” I guess Marnee was just strengthening her lungs because she has a lovely singing voice and has been singing since she was tiny.

In the evening I went to our Relief Society Birthday party at the church. They had a nice dinner and a program. As one of the features on the program, Shelly Lamont (Educational Counselor) said they were starting a friendship basket in the ward. She would give the basket to someone and in turn at our next homemaking day she would give it to someone else. Shelly made quite a speech about the person she was giving the basket to. She was kind, thoughtful, very spiritual, and someone she had always looked up to and a good friend of her mother. I was sitting there thinking what a nice person she was talking about and then she called my name to come receive the basket. What a surprise! I’m sure I don’t live up to all those nice things she said but it was quite an honor to get it. It had two small loaves of pumpkin bread in it.

This morning Gladys Beals and I attended two sessions at the temple. It’s always a privilege to be in the Temple.

25 March

Worked in the yard. In the evening I went to my first ward missionary meeting. We are to fellowship the new member coming in and also to work with the ward members in getting contacts for the full time missionaries. There was to be a baptism on Friday and I was asked to give a talk on Baptism.

26 March 1981

Today is Heather’s Birthday. One year old. It seems like a short year and yet there have been so many changes in my life in that year. Heather is a lovely child. She is walking like a pro. She’s a husky little girl and we love her so much.

27 March 1981

Main event of the day was the Baptism. I went and gave my talk. It went fairly well. This girl was so nervous. I wondered if she heard anything that was said, but it was a nice service.