Happy
Birthday Cathy
Forty Eight
Years ago I met the love of my life. Two
years later I left to serve a mission in England for two years. Cathy waited for me and when I returned we
were married in the Salt Lake Temple for Eternity.
Thirteen
months later we were so excited to welcome Rebecca into the world and
especially to our family. We were living
in Colorado at the time where I was serving in the United States Air
Force. Our family grew quickly as
Rachael joined us two years later, then another two years and we finally had a
son, Allen. Fourteen months later our
family was complete with the birth of Jessica.
Four months ago we had our farewell as we prepared to leave our every growing family which now includes Fourteen Grand Children. This picture was taken that day and hangs in our apartment to remind us of why we are here. Quoting one of my grandkids, “because we are a family that serves”.
These pictures are kind of random as is our life. This was taken on a snowy Sunday afternoon when we were sent home from church early to dig ourselves and our neighbors out from an unusually heavy and deep snow storm. We finished the work with the fun of building a very large snowman and painting him with food coloring. We were so disappointed a couple days later when the city road crews decided we should not have a large snowman in the middle of circle so they pushed it down with their big snow plow.
Two years ago we took a trip to England to see the areas where I served as a missionary 43 years earlier. It was so fun to visit old friends and show Cathy the places that I had learned to love. This picture is in a forest of Blue Bells, one of the most beautiful places we have ever visited and being with forever friends made it even better.
Last August my Mother passed away at the age of 92. These picture were taken last fall at her home and yard where she had lived since 1946. There are so many memories here of childhood all the way to the present day. It was a beautiful sweet experience to walk around with Cathy and our daughter Rachael as she took pictures of us and Mom and Dad’s place.
The best thing is that I get to spend every minute of every day with my best friend and sweetheart. Serving a mission with my wife is such a sweet experience. Today is her birthday and all I have for her is a card but I know there is nothing else she wants.
Yesterday we
went to the mall to buy groceries and a few things we needed for the
office. She sent me to the car with our
packages because it is a hassle to take packages from one store to
another. On the way back I stepped into
a bakery to see if they had a cake or something that she might like. I did not find anything so started to
leave. Just then my phone rang so I looked
at it as I proceeded out of the store. Unfortunately,
I was about three feet to the right of the door way and walked into the glass
front of the store with quite a bang. I looked
like the pictures you see in the movie theaters advising you not to text and
drive. I felt silly, embarrassed and
have a little bruise on my forehead. I didn’t
tell Cathy about it so hopefully she will get a good laugh when she reads
this. It is so rare for us to be apart
for even a few minutes it is odd that something like this could happen since
she is always there to mitigate my stupidity.
This final
picture is of Cathy a few days ago teaching a My Path to Self-Reliance
Devotional. She is a wonderful
teacher. She has been a teacher as long
as I have known her. When she was in
high school she would often teach sewing to younger children in her
neighborhood. When she was going to the
University of Utah she worked in the costume department at Pioneer Memorial
Theater and was often found teaching the teachers who had been there for many
many years better ways to make costumes.
She did the same thing when she worked at the old Promised Valley Play
House in Salt Lake City. While I was on
my mission to England and until we moved to Colorado she taught sewing at
Singer in the old Cottonwood Mall. She
has always been a wonderful teacher in church teaching Primary, Sunday School,
Relief Society and Gospel Doctrine. She
would spend many hours in preparation for her lessons. Besides all this I know that her children and
grandchildren will attest to all the wonderful teachings she has given them.
I tell you
all this because of the sweet humble person she is. Recently she told me that she worries a lot about
being a good teacher but she had recently read her Patriarchal Blessing again
and it told her that she was a good teacher.
She said, “I never realized that was one of my special gifts from
Heavenly Father.” All I could say was, “Really? Are you kidding me?”
So, on your
65th birthday Cathy, I don’t have a big party planned with all our
friends and family coming to see you. I
just have my love, admiration and appreciation for the 43 years we have been
married and for being sealed to you for Eternity.
Love, Theron
Happy birthday, Cathy!
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful tribute. You're a very special couple and I'm grateful to have worked with Cathy and to know both of you. May the Lord bless you and keep you safe, healthy and happy. June
ReplyDelete