The date is July 20, 2020. I am 81 years old. I am currently residing at Treeo in Orem UT. Treeo is a senior living home for people 55 years and older. Frenchie passed away 5 1/2 years ago in El Cajon, CA. I sold my big home back in CA after breaking my femur bone in my leg. I was not able to drive anymore and my kids were afraid I would fall again. My home in Treeo is a one-bedroom apartment that suits me just fine. Treeo has been a nice community to live in, that is until the pandemic hit…
This last March was the beginning of a pandemic where a terrible virus called COVID-19 (Corona Virus) covered the world. Many people have become ill from it, and many have died. The older generation has been especially affected by this virus. People at Treeo have been on quarantine where we are required to stay in our rooms and meals are brought to the door. Face masks are mandatory wherever we go.
It was during this time that I decided to make good use of the confinement in my apartment and write about my personal history. These are mainly highlights of me, Marilyn Reber Pulsipher, while growing up in Littlefield. I feel it necessary to share with my posterity about the different lifestyle I had while growing up on a farm. Many people may not be able to relate to it, so I want to preserve my memories on paper for others to remember what it was like back then. I want it to be known of the happy and simple life we had, which is so different than much of the world today. I write these experiences in love and hope they will be enjoyed!
Family Life
On the evening of November 3, 1938 in a St. George hospital a baby girl was born to Harold Joseph Reber and Doris Jeane Syphus. That baby girl was given the name of Marilyn Reber. Although I was the 5th child, it must have been an exciting event. I am told my Father sat up and rocked me all night long.
My parents have six children, only five living. Harold Brice was born August 31, 1924, a healthy looking 10 lb boy but lived only 5 days and died of unknown causes Sept. 5, 1924.
Donald Syphus was born November 18, 1925
Shirley January 2, 1928
Gladys Jeanne - January 21, 1934
Me #5 Marilyn November 3, 1938
Harold Lee, December 26, 1941
I was born and grew up in a home where the gospel of Jesus Christ was taught and lived by example. My parents are the most wonderful parents anyone could hope for. Our family was closely knit and some of my fondest memories are of our happy home life. We were never allowed to be critical of our church leaders. My father was the most honest man I ever knew. He was kind hearted, even though he got nervous easily. My mother was very soft spoken and never said a bad word. We would often find mother kneeling on her knees in prayer after we had all gone to bed. I felt the warmth of her praying out loud for our family and thankful for our blessings. I never heard them argue. My patriarchal blessing says “I was born of goodly parents who would teach me the gospel”, so true!
My ancestors on my fathers side were largely from Switzerland. Though my mother’s family were of English dissent. Many of my ancestors were great and Nobel men and women for whom I am very grateful.
Our Home
The home I grew up in was in Littlefield, Arizona, a small town winding alongside and a little under the highway Route 91. Living and working in Littlefield was not easy and a lot of work.
Our home consisted of six rooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room and four bedrooms, two of which were only screened rooms. We had no electricity in our home until high school. We had 2 kerosene lamps, one for the kitchen and living room and one to carry to the bedrooms. It was cool in the summer and cold in the winter. Lots of heavy quilts to keep us warm in the winter.
It was a very simple house constructed of Hercules powder boxes (empty dynamite boxes left over from the dynamite used to blow up the Gorge) and over these powder boxes wood boards were placed. Dad then plastered the outside of the house to protect from the wind and elements. Lastly, he plastered boards on the inside. We had four beautiful paintings on the wall, I don’t know who did those. We had to sweep out the sand from our downstairs many times a day. It was difficult to keep tidy when the wind would blow the sand in as fast as we could change the dishpan. Sometimes floods arose from the desert thunder and lightening storms that usually scared me a lot. The desert sand and the floods would sometimes run through our front door if we didn’t have sandbags. They could be really severe. Mother tried so hard to have a tidy house! My dream was to have a house with grass and trees at least out in front of the house, but that was not possible because of the lack of water.
To have running water in the house we had a cistern on the hill. To pump the water we had a car engine to pump the water through the pipes to get the water then back to the house. We children had to stand and pour water into the radiator to make the pump work.
Life on the Farm:
We lived on a farm and this will be very different from the life my grandchildren knew about or lived. We had to grow or raise every thing we had to eat. There were no grocery stores to go to, except in Mesquite or St. George, but that was 12 or 30 miles away. We were self sustained and raised all we ate. Our animals were not pets.
I had many happy carefree hours herding the cows and keeping them out of the alfalfa. We had fig and plum trees to snack on to not get hungry. Sometimes I was afraid to be alone and loved when Gladys or Lee were with me.
Father was a cattle man and a cowboy. We had chickens, pigs, cows and horses. He was also a farmer and raised vegetables, radishes, onions, carrots, cantaloupes. Poor dad always had hay fever.
Round up time was exciting. I’d climb the fence and watch the branding and marking of the calves. They had to brand the cows to mark who they belonged to. As children we were to bring the branding (red hot) out of the coals and hand through the fence to brand each cow. It was a sad, sad day for the cattle. We hated to carry the hot irons and see the animals get burned. They also marked each cow with waddles cut under their neck and an earmark cut out of their each (ouch!) Then send them back out to graze. Father loved round up time when he could go with the cattlemen to round up the cattle and bring them into the corrals from the hills to identify who they belonged to before taking them back out in the hills to get fat and ready to go to the slaughter house to sell for meat. We could see that branding was necessary. Summer time meant cutting hay “alfalfa”, raking it into piles using a pitchfork, throwing the piles onto the wagon that was pulled by horses. Our cows, horses, pigs and chickens all had plenty to eat.
Our parents had several cows that needed to be milked every morning and evening. Many mornings before leaving for school we would take the cows to graze all day in the pasture before coming home to be milked again at the end of the day. I would sit on the coral fence and watch the milking and watch the animals chew their cud and eat a fresh manger of alfalfa and grain. I loved to go out to the coral where my dad was milking and he would pour warm milk into my little tin cup for me to drink. How good that used to taste to me as a young child!
We had a butter churn which we would all have to take time churning until the thick yellow cream appeared to make butter. The milk was then put in the separator and the skim milk was given to the calves and pigs. I didn’t like the buttermilk, but loved the salted butter. The cream was sent to the creamery in Salt Lake City and the rest mother used to make butter and sell. We would put the butter in 1 pound molds to form and sell. It always seemed to stretch a long way.
There was no such thing as a t.v. in our home. Our dad had a large battery operated radio, he listened to programs like “Gunsmoke” ,
“Arnos & Andy”, “The Rifle Man” or other western’s he enjoyed. I don’t remember the cost of going to the movie or popcorn. The movies were black and white and almost always cartoons like “Bugs Bunny”.
Father was a very hard worker. He worked for the State of Arizona maintaining highway 90 for 18 miles between Nevada State Line and Utah State Line, clearing rocks and mudslides, filling potholes and taking care of problems. That made for a long hot and tiring day in the summer months after working the farm all day. That job lasted 20 years. Thats how he earned his pension. Love him to pieces!
My mother read bible stories as we sat around the table in the evening. There was only one in our home. The lighting was very dim, but we knew nothing better. There were no safe locks on the door and only screen doors. I never felt completely safe unless Dad was home. One time I asked my dad if I could tie a rope around my leg and one end to his leg and I wouldn’t be so afraid.
Black man at the door
One day a black man came to the door, as mother opened the door I saw him through the crack of the door. I had never seen a black man or any colored person. I shook like a leaf, scared to death. He asked to borrow a tire pump and we had none. I had never seen a colored, black man before.
Secrets
My mother never told us she was pregnant. It was not until the baby diapers and baby clothes came from Sears Roebuck that we guessed it. We were very surprised and happy. We never got the “talk”. We may have wanted to know how the baby got into her tummy, but never asked. Those secrets were not talked about in those days.
Treats
We loved when mother made molasses or honey candy. We had to pull it, then lay it on the waxed paper and cut it into bite size pieces. It was a great candy treat!
Outhouse
Did I mention we had outhouses for our bathroom. We were always afraid a xxx would unknowingly rise up out of the holes and end up in your you know what! Under the bed we kept a porcelain pot if we needed to go in the middle of the night.
Hitchhikers & Hobos
We had a lot of hitchhikers and hobos stop by our house and want to chop wood or do some work for food. Mother never turned anyone away hungry and she was never afraid, but I was glad to see them back on the highway and moving.
Mother needed a rest
Living and working in Littlefield was not an easy thing to do. My mother must have been exhausted so many times. I remember my mother wanting to go to her sisters, Aunt Mary, who lived in Logandale for a few days rest without me and I had a fit and cried. I did not want her to go without me. She was such a great mom, sometimes she had to take me along. So sad to think about that now. My mother must have needed that rest so badly.
Wash Day
Monday morning was always wash day. Dad would take the tractor and hook it up to the trailer and go the ditch to fill up several large barrels of water. There was a fire to heat the big black tub that was getting hot on the fire. Then with buckets we’d fill the washer with the hot water and clothes. It was really a chore to do the laundry. There was a hand ringer to run the clothes through. We were always proud to hang the clean sheets and clothes on the large clothes line for all to see. There was no electricity, flat irons had to be heated on the wood stove until they were hot enough to iron with. If dad’s white shirt was scorched, they had to be wet down again and hung to dry in the sun to remove the scorch. Mother always mended any clothes before they were put away, that was very wise. Our meal for that evening was usually pinto beans with hamburger and onions and fresh baked bread.
Bath Time
We children always took baths in the #3 tub in the middle of the kitchen and by the warm wood stove. Being the first one in the tub was the best. What fun! I can’t imagine how hard it was to change out the water a few times.
The School House:
My first years of elementary school were in a one room school house. The name of the school was District #9 in Littlefield, Arizona. I loved those years. They were carefree and fun. Our classes were small and combined. I only had one other boy name Clyde Peterson in my class, except the time when the polygamists came to live on the ranch while hiding form the law. Clyde’s parents had the only camera that we knew of and were very kind and generous to take a few pictures of us. It was an old 8 millimeter movie camera I think. That family had to record all the events in that small town for some kind of history. About the only pictures I have of me on my horses. My favorite picture is a halloween picture of our school, all the kids standing on the back porch with our halloween costumes on. We all looked so much like we had large brown bags covering heads with cut out eyes and mouth. It was so funny to look at us all standing with these bags over our heads. It was probably our art project for the week.
My only two teachers were Mable Mitchel and Ethel Lane. On Saturday Mrs. Lane would come and get us school kids into her old 2 door Ford and drive us to the only movie theater in Mesquite to watch old western movies in black and white and a cartoon or two. We had to cross over a very narrow steel bridge and when a semi truck got ready to cross, Miss Lane would pull off the road. Thank goodness for that or we would have collided in the middle of the bridge and that would have been the end of all of us.
Our parents must have said many prayers and didn’t even realize the danger we were in. We were all young kids and were just happy to see a movie every weekend.
Played Hooky
One day all of us in school decided to play hooky on the teacher. We thought if we all hid in the coal shed the teacher would think we were sick and she would go home! No school! She soon came out of the school house and chased us back into the room with a switch. No recess for two days!
Church
For a number of years we met in the same school building for our ward or branch. My dad served as a Bishop for 14 years. Our numbers were few (about 100) and we combined classes as needed. There was a large bell on top of the building that would ring when we started meetings. There was a small stage in the chapel. We had some Christmas plays and pageants. It was a fun place to be, so small. Spencer Kimball came to visit one Sunday.
Carbon Monixide Scare
My parents were going to St. George and allowed me to come along. It was about a 30 mile drive and I fell asleep in the backseat of the car. Upon arrival, my parents tried to wake me, but I had a really hard time waking up. Groggily, I attempted to get out of the car but noticed that my legs could not hold me up, and I collapse on the sidewalk. My legs felt like thy were made of “spaghetti”. I remember that my parents took me into JC Penny and laid me down on some blankets on the floor. People brought me water to drink and tried talking to me. They let me keep on sleeping until I became completely conscious again. Later we discovered that our exhaust pipe had a hole in it and was leaking the deadly gas of carbon monoxide. Being that I was in the backseat of the car, I was closest to the fumes which made me fall asleep. What a blessing that my parents woke me when they did. I could have died at a young age. This was one of the close encounters I had with death.
Car Trip
Dad let me go to St. George with him to bring their new baby (Harold Lee) home from the hospital. I remember how proud Dad was to have another son. Mother laid in the back seat and I held the baby in front. Dad sat up at night and rocked him. There were no car seats or seat belts.
Almost Kidnapped
For the lack of girls to play with I was pretty much a tomboy. There were 3 large Tamarack trees that I loved to climb out next to the main road. One day as I was climbing I saw a car I had never seen before. The man drove up and got out and asked if I would show him to the post office. I explained how easy it was to get there, it was just at the end of the only road in town. He was not satisfied and became upset, he wanted me to get in the car and show him, but I refused and he kept pressuring me until he finally drove away. I was afraid by then and hurried home. I knew his intentions were not good. I always felt that this was a kidnapping waiting to happen.
Drivers License
I was able to get my Arizona drivers license when I was fourteen years old. I learned to drive on a large green John Deere tractor, my only driver training. It had 4 gears and reverse. I could drive a stick shift, yea! I was a good driver. My parents had a green Plymouth we all drove.
Lake Mead
On a Saturday the young men and women had planned a beach and swim party at Lake Mead at the end of summer. Everyone was excited and having a laugh and having a great time. There was a large pier way out in the water and everyone swimming back and forth from the shore to the pier and pushing each other off thinking it was great fun. I was not the best swimmer and was getting tired after awhile. This one time I was pushed off when I was too tired to swim back to shore. It knew I was in trouble, but no one took me seriously. I was trying, but struggling and thought I had seen the lights on the shore for the last time. Finally, my cousin Darlene Reber realized I was in big trouble and pulled me to safety. My life was saved. I was so close to drowning.
High School
After 8 years in grade school, high school would be the next step in my education. It all seemed so fun. It was a care free life and I did love to learn and seemed to be very smart and got great report cards. There were so few children it was necessary to drive a car from Littlefield to Mesquite and then take the school bus from Mesquite to Bunkerville for High School. We rode the school bus across the bridge to Bunkerville. It was about 5 miles across the bridge and river.The bridge crossed the river and the river sometimes overflowed from the frequent floods. While I was waiting for the bus, I would usually hang out with my best friend Verlene Walker. We were big dreamers, a car carrier was parked where we waited and it had big Lincoln cars on it. They were colored lilac and long and big and ugly. We thought they were beautiful! Our sheriff, Oscar Abbott drove around in one of those with his arm hanging out. He looked so cool and classy. Among other things, we had dreams of going to Hawaii after we graduated. Our parents were very poor. My mother made most of my clothes. High school was a small campus. We were the Virgin Valley Bulldogs. We played high schools all over Nevada, but Overton and Logandale were our greatest rivals. We were pretty good ball payers and had five great cheer leaders. We had a school band and a chorus and very good music teacher Mr. Fullerton. Our colors were green and white. My favorite class was Home Ec. We had a great teacher and I learned to sew and cook from her. I learned to be a very good seamstress also. We had terrible sewing machines. My high school years were pretty happy and I had lots of friends. Most classes had only 40 or 50 students. My class had about 30 graduates and I was secretary of my senior class.
I loved high school. During high school I had a few boyfriends and five crushes on some guys. I did go steady with Melvin Hughes for a year or two, when he left on his mission I was happy to be free to date others. He was sure he could come home and win me back. I graduated from high school in 1956.
BYU
Verlene and I were best friends all during high school and had talked of BYU for years. We were dreamers and never thought about where the money would come from, only that we had to go. Somehow I had received a small scholarship. I had no idea where the money could come from. My parents were very poor. I worked as a house keeper at the Beaver Dam Hotel and was a really good waitress at the cafe, I worked a lot. Verlene had rented a big house on University to live with about 6 other girls. I never felt like I really fit in, but kept going. I didn’t enjoy school or apartment living and felt all alone. After about a month, I got a call from my Dad telling me my mother Doris had had a heart attack. She was confined to the couch and bed. My dad couldn’t boil water and my brother Lee was still at home and he desperately needed help. “Could I possibly come home and quit school for now?”. Of course, it had to be yes, I was the only one left who could help. I contacted my teachers and asked permission to get some credit for the time spent . I had not even completed the semester. Answer was no. I returned home to Littlefield and took over as caregiver for my mother, dad and brother Lee. They were all so grateful and happy. I was so happy to be back home. I was so ready to take care of my family.
Courtship and Engagement of Frenchie and Marilyn
Shortly after graduating from high school, I began dating Frenchie Hardy Pulsipher, who happened to be six years older than me. Frenchie lived in Mesquite, NV which was about about a fifteen-minute drive from my hometown of Littlefield, Az. Ironically, he had first dated my sister Gladys a few years back. Although I don’t remember meeting him then, he says that his first memory of me was when he came to get Gladys at our house for a date, and I was running around the farm with bare feet and pigtails in my hair. I am guessing I was probably about 10 or 11 years old at the time.
Our first date was with another couple to a movie theater. I do not remember the name of the movie, but he did kiss me goodnight. I’m embarrassed to say that we went on a Sunday night, which I felt bad about.
We continued to date, and our relationship became more serious. At that time, he was working for his brother-in-law, Harley, at his mechanic shop, named Harley’s Garage. I had been accepted to Brigham Young University in Provo, UT and my best friend Verlene and I planned on rooming together for college. Knowing that I was going away to BYU, Frenchie thought that we should get engaged before I left, so one night, he asked me to marry him. I felt confused on what to do because my Patriarcal Blessing talks about me getting an education, and I felt like I had to give BYU a try before getting married. Pretty soon after that proposal, Frenchie bought a set of wedding rings. One night we were sitting in his car, and he reached over and opened the glove box where he had the rings and asked me to marry him again. I told him that my heart was saying “yes” but I knew I was not ready for marriage yet. So I went to BYU and Frenchie took a job in San Diego, CA where he worked at Conviar, building airplanes, with his brother Chot. We wrote letters to each other EVERYDAY for the next four months. I was praying fervently for an answer as to wether to accept the proposal or was it right? I had always believed if you found the right person to marry you would know by the prompting of the Holy Ghost with no doubts at all. I would wonder “what if I go to school, or if things don’t work out, I’d regret not going to school”. On the other hand, what if I went to school and lost someone I truly love. I could not seem to get an answer from the Holy Ghost. This was very important to me. Verlene and I did go to the Y. I didn’t enjoy school or apartment living and felt all alone. No answers to prayer yet. I did continued to pray for an answer. One Sunday night I was walking home in Provo from a fireside with my good friend Dale Hunt from Virgin Vally High. As we talked, that wonderful confirmation came in to my heart and soul and I wanted to shout to the world. “Yes, this was right for me at this time”.
During the first semester at BYU, I got a call one day from my dad, saying that my mother had had a heart attack. I quit school to go back home and take care of her and my dad. I firmly believe that I wasn’t supposed to marry Frenchie sooner because the Lord knew my mom was going to have a heart attack, and I would be summoned home to care for both of my parents for awhile.
It was Thanksgiving time when Frenchie came back from San Diego and we finally got engaged. The story is that, all in all, Frenchie asked me to marry him four different times before I accepted his offer. I think he just kept the rings in the glove box of his care, and every once in awhile, he would pull them out and we would talk about tying the knot together. Frenchie always said that after the fourth proposal, if I had not accepted, he would have moved on.
My sister Gladys was helpful in planning my wedding. We picked out my dress from a bridal magazine. I think I spent about $50 for it. It needed no alterations, and miraculously, it fit me perfectly. I have included the magazine picture of what my dress looked like and a letter I wrote to Gladys when I was engaged to Frenchie.
There was a common prank called “chivalry” that many people played on couples the night of their wedding reception. It consisted of separating the bride and groom from each other so that they could not spend the night together. Usually, they would steal the bride and drop her off somewhere far away for the groom to go find her. Frenchie had been in on many of these pranks in the past, and many people were dying to get even with him on his own wedding night, but he was determined to not let this happen to me. As the guys came to get me at our reception and take me away, Frenchie had Harley bring his Cadillac around for me to run and get into. I jumped into Harley’s car and slammed the door just as people were trying to grab me, but in the process, my dress
got caught in the door, and ripped the lace on my skirt. This made me sad, but we were able to get away.
(Letter that Marilyn wrote to Gladys when she got engaged)
January 24, 1957
Dear Gladys, Vince, Linda & Scott,
Sorry I waited so long to answer your letter. Thanks for offering to make my dress but it would only be a big worry for you and I know you have enough. If I were there or you were here I’d love to have you but with just my measurements I think it would be taking a big chance and I know you’d worry about it fitting. I still don’t know what to do. I want my dress to be nice and I’ve heard so much about the dressmakers around here. Sheldon’s wife had hers made and she wouldn’t even wear it. She told the woman to keep it and she bought her another one. Elmers wife had hers made and it was really ugly. I want lace over satin and I want the skirt to be full. I also want long tapered sleeves and a high neck. I think if I could only go to Auerbacks in Salt Lake I could get it almost as cheep as I could have it made and I would be satisfied. Their merchandise is really good and it is reasonably priced. I’m all in the dark as to what to do. I know when I finally find one I like and that is suitable it will cost a fortune. I know I’ve got to hurry up and do something. I’ve finally set my wedding date for certain. It’s April 20. I am really glad you plan on coming home for it.
Mom and Dad want to give us silverware so when I went down to San Diego for Christmas I took the money and tried to get it down there. I know a man down there on the army base that can get me just what I want…Rogers, eight piece setting, and any design for around $35. He was going to meet me at the gate and take me in so I could get it myself but the only day I could go out was Saturday and he wasn’t in then so I didn’t get it. Frenchie would get it for me but the base isn’t open when he’s off work, so I don’t know what to do since I probably won’t be going down before I’m married. Mom wants to have it here for the wedding reception but I don’t see how we’re going to do it. Could you get it back on that base for about the same price if I send you the money? I’d like the design to be either Daffodil or Eternally Yours or White Orchid but it doesn’t matter too much. Would you please tell me if you can get it for about that amount back there?
Mother is feeling a lot better now. She gets up and helps me with the dishes most of the time now. She at least feels like she wants to get out of the bed. It really seems good to see her up and around again. Dad is really working hard on the road and is dog tired when he gets off, but they’re really fixing the road up nicely and will be a lot easier for him to keep up after it is finished.
If you don’t mind my telling you one of our family pranks, I’ve got to tell you our latest. Monday night I went to a Mutual preparation meeting in Alamo and Mom and Dad were home alone. Lee came from school that night quite a bit earlier than usual so the folks weren’t expecting him, and he decided to scare them. Mom and Dad were just sitting down to eat and Lee went around to the back door and knocked real loudly. Dad hurried out to see who it could be but Lee had already found himself a hiding place. Dad went back and just got to sit down to the table again when Lee pounded on the kitchen door. Dad jumped up quickly and ran and opened the door and was all set to “swing” at someone but no one was there. Lee kept him running to the kitchen and back doors about four times and strangely enough Dad couldn’t seem to find who was doing it. Needless to say they were both pretty frightened and it’s a wonder Mother didn’t take worse, but she didn’t. Anyway Lee finally knocked at the front door and when Dad opened it there stood Lee. Dad was evidently so glad to see Lee instead of someone else and so embarrassed to think Lee had scared him so, he didn’t say one word to him. We’ve been getting a big laugh out of the whole thing, I knew Dad was scared and I figured he’d wait until the proper time then get even with Lee.
Tonight his chance came. When Lee came home Dad was waiting out under the trees and he was making weird noises. Lee of course heard him and was scared to death. (If you know Lee, he’s a big scared cat anyway.) He picked up a big rock and circled way out around the trees then ran for the house. He burst through the door, dropped his books, and instead of his usual cherry hello he was white as a ghost. He didn’t say anything but rushed straight to get the flashlight and gun, then ran outside again saying something about the bees. Mother and I of course thought there was a wildcat or owl out there and he was going to kill it. I knew Dad had gone outside somewhere so I went to the door and called Lee and told him not to shoot because Dad was somewhere out there in the dark.
To make a long story a little shorter, Lee had thought it was a tramp and because he has to get up and do chores before daylight every morning he thought he’d scare the man away so that he wouldn’t be around in the morning. About the time he got to the trees Dad hobbled across the road and behind the crates. Lee was really scared and he called for me. About that time Dad made himself known and Lee said “Oh..Oh..Oh, Dad it’s you.” Dad sheepishly came back to the house. He shook for fifteen minutes after it was all over. Lee was really scared and I don’t think he’ll pull a stunt like that again for while. Maybe I should tell you for safety sake, that the gun wasn’t loaded. It just made Lee feel bigger. I can see now I’ll never have to worry about being “ambushed” as long as our brave hero “Wilt the Stilt Lee” is here with his gun. At this moment he is doing his muscle building and maybe he’ll try them next time. We about die laughing every time we think of it now (that is except Lee). He doesn’t think it’s very funny for some reason. There’s never a dull moment with Lee or Sandy around the house.
Well, I’ve got to write more letters so will have to close. Take care fo yourselves. We love you and think of you often. Love Marilyn
Thanks for everything Gladys, advice and all, you’re really wonderful to me.
Day Care and Losing Andrew
Over the span of 25 years, I ran a daycare in my home. It ranged from 7-10 children at a time. I loved these children very much, and I was known as “Grandma Marilyn” to them all. I often would have my own grandchildren in my home to watch over at the same time. I think helping parents to raise their children was a “calling” in life that I had. One family that I had a big impact on was the Hearold’s. I first started babysitting Kyle Hearold at six weeks old when his mother Zee when back to work. Later, I would also take on sister Jami when she was born. Kyle and Jami became like my own children and we happily welcomed them into our family. Zee and John and I grew close over the years too. In fact, Zee eventually took the missionary lessons and joined the Church.
Many of my daycare children grew up and left, but they always came back to visit, especially on Halloween night. They loved to come over and show me their costumes. It became a tradition for me to make homemade stew and rolls to share with anyone that stopped in. I was known for loving to feed people. I cooked a lot of meals and baked a lot of snacks during my years of doing daycare. The kids also loved reading and nap time every day. We would lay a large blanket on the floor in my room with pillows, and then I would read book after book until everyone fell asleep, including me sometimes for a little break. Daycare really was my life for a long time. When I finally did retire, it really was a tough adjustment. I am so grateful that nothing serious ever happened to any of these children under my care during those years,. It truly was a blessing! We took many field trips to places like the beach or park or zoo. It was always scary for me to drive them around, but luckily, we were always kept safe.
I want to tell about a particular day when I was watching my grandson, Andrew, with the rest of my daycare. I was in the kitchen preparing lunch, and the kids were all in the backyard playing. The yard gates and house doors were always kept locked, and the children knew to not go in the front yard without me.
I called them in for lunch, and everyone came except for little Andrew. I began searching the backyard and house for him, but he was nowhere to be found. I asked everyone to kneel in a circle and explained we were going to pray to Heavenly Father to help to find Andrew. Having prayer in my home was not a new thing to these children (many of whom were not LDS). We always blessed our food, but this was different in that I had them kneel with me. I told them Heavenly Father knew where Andrew was, and we needed Him to tell us.
Immediately, after we finished our prayer, I saw in my mind’s eye a picture of Andrew asleep in a crib, covered up with blankets. I knew right where he was. He had climbed up into the old crib in our built-in garage where he pulled a bunch of blankets over himself and fell asleep.
We were so happy to find him! We talked the rest of the afternoon about the power of prayer. I also said many prayers of thanks to my Heavenly Father that day! This experience taught us all a sweet lesson that I will never forget! I know God hears and answers our prayers!