(Written when Klea was 83.)
(I am leaving for Europe next week and if anything should happen to me, I want the following to be at the first of my history.)
Like Nephi, in the Book of Mormon, I can say I was born of goodly parents. They left me a legacy of two blessings that I have been most thankful for. First, a deep and abiding testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My parents had a strong testimony and their lives were built around the Church. I’m not sure just when my testimony began, but it was early in life because of the example they set. This testimony has grown with the years and I am deeply grateful for it and I want all my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to know how I feel about it. The knowledge that Christ is my Heavenly Father live and that both of them love me unconditionally has always been a great comfort throughout my life.
Secondly, I am grateful that my parents taught me the value of work. I know I’m a workaholic but I enjoy almost every minute of it. And the fact that I enjoy working, either with my hands and what brawn I possess or mentally working out problems, writing, and even at times doing some cogitating about life and the problems that come along has been rewarding.
Also, at this time, I want to tell each one of you how much I love you. There isn’t a day that goes by that I am not thankful for my four children. I don’t tell you often enough how much I love you, but I hope that you know that I do. I am proud of you, also, and the things that you are accomplishing, each in your own way.
And when the darling grandchildren came along, each of you were a joy to me. And since love grows best when you give it away, I found that with each of you, I had more love in my heart.
Then came great-grandchildren! In three weeks the number will be 13 and I’m glad that at 83 I am alive to welcome you as you are born and delight in watching you grow. And I still have more love for each of you and when I go to visit and you come running calling, “Grandma, Grandma,” and your arms are thrown around me, you “make my day”.
It is wonderful to have so many of you here in Utah Valley and it will be sad for me if any of you move away. I’ll miss you, just as I do Sean Patrick and Lucas who are so far away in Iowa. But I look at your pictures daily and look forward to seeing you sometime.
Each of you, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren are precious to me in your own way. And I hope you can always think of me and —- REMEMBER, YOU ARE LOVED.