Ora Carpenter Omerza journal, May 1-5, 1983

1 May 1983

Last week was a very busy one. On Monday I went to help Madge prepare to move. I was there all day. I went back again on Tuesday and was there all day. Tuesday evening I stayed with Ted & Nancy’s children while they had a night out. Wednesday morning I went back to Madge’s. Moving takes a lot of doing with a large family.

Wednesday evening the ward Relief Society was having a Visiting Teacher’s convention. It was to be held in the visitor’s center at the Temple. They were pooling rides and I was to go with my neighbor and R.S. President Carol Wilcox. I had worked at Madge’s all day and was so tired when I got home. I was wishing I didn’t have to go out, but I just couldn’t cal the President and tell her I couldn’t go. I was so glad I went. It was a very inspirational meeting. They first showed us a film entitled “The Mailbox.” It told of the loneliness of an 83 year old widow. Her children were all married and living away from her and too busy to even write. She had to walk quite a distance to the mailbox but she made the trip every day in hopes she would have word from one of her children. Week after week no word came. It pointed out to us as visiting teachers how each one of us can help the sisters we visit. After the film our Relief Society Presidency gave us some inspirational talks. I enjoyed the evening and wasn’t nearly so tired when I got home.

Thursday was moving day for Madge & John. I looked after their two youngest girls Melanie and Heather. It was good to have them here and get better acquainted with them. Even though they were only 1 ½ & 3 they have very distinctive personalities. It was a joy to have them.

Friday the children came again. My Visiting Teachers came in the morning. In the evening Madge and her other children came for supper. It was good to have them all here.

Saturday I had the children again. Jay and Max stopped by for awhile in the morning. It was good to visit with Jay. He has been so busy lately with his work. I don’t get a chance to see him often. He helped John & Madge in the afternoon finish their moving. I took the children home about seven o’clock and they were just about finished for the day. They still have a few things to move.

Today is the first day of May and Sunday. It was fast and testimony day and the Sacrament meeting was very good. In Relief Society we had a lesson on the Priesthood. Our teacher had a male trio sing for us. It was a new song to me but it told of a beautiful way about all there is to tell about the Priesthood. I enjoyed the meeting so much. Today was a red letter day for little Jessica. She went in the Primary nursery. Nancy said she got along very well. She is so tiny I can’t believe her going in the nursery.

This afternoon I stayed with Melanie while Madge participated in a teacher training class she is taking.

2 May 1983

Melanie and Heather came today while Madge worked at getting things put away from their move.

3 May 1983

Heather and Melanie came again today. Nancy and her children came by in the morning and Jennifer, Jeremy and Jessica stayed and played with Heather and Melanie while Nancy went to pick up some pictures she had taken of the children. The children had a good time together. Nancy gave me a picture of the children when she returned. They are so cute of the children. In the afternoon Marlene called to say Nikki wasn’t feeling well and she was taking her to the doctor and wanted to leave Paul and Max here while she was gone. They had a good time with Heather and Melanie.

In the evening Madge was having her Relief Society Homemaking meeting at her home. They were showing the ladies home decoration. I kept the children entertained while the meeting was going on.

4 May 1983

Today my friend Gladys Beals came and I gave her a permanent. We had a good visit together. I worked in the yard a little in the afternoon.

5 May 1983

Today is Nancy’s birthday. I worked in the yard most of the day and Nancy and I went to our Relief Society mothers and daughters party in the evening. We had a good time. They served a light dinner and we played games and watched a demonstration on hair care.