not this cute anymore!I have been wanting to introduce you to a dear friend of mine for some time now. She means so much to me and even though I have only known her for two short years, she has been such an influence for good in my life. I feel privileged and grateful to have a friend like her and thought you would all benefit from getting to know her better.
The short intro is this: Bev is 80 years old.. She is going to hate that I told you her age, but she should be PROUD of it! She has said herself, "80 is the new 60." And she is right about that! She is spunky and energetic and fun. She stays in shape with Weight Watchers and her weekly yoga classes. She volunteers at the local hospital. She has an immaculate garden in Spokane, WA. (The hardest thing about leaving Spokane was moving away from Bev --but I couldn't convince her to move to Vegas!) She is a widow who has been through tremendous heartache in her life. She has lived abroad while her husband served in the Armed Forces. She is a SURVIVOR. She has buried all three of her children, two daughters and one son. She lost her son a few hours after he was born, and both of her daughters died tragically as adults. She was never able to have grandchildren of her own, but she has adopted mine. Even though we have no blood relation, she is a part of my family. She is one of my greatest examples and one of my dearest friends. We met two short years ago, but she knows me better than most people. I am truly grateful for the relationship we have and for the things she has taught me. Our story is not one that happens everyday. If you want the long version-- keep reading.
I have mentioned in earlier posts about my difficult time in Spokane, WA while Aaron was in law school. I was living in an area with lots of fun people and I was doing my best to reach out and make friends, but I wasn't able to connect with anyone. I had just had baby #3 and as wonderful as my husband was, he just wasn't around. As Mother's Day 2006 approached, I was missing my family... and I felt as though I had hit rock bottom. The Sunday before, I was really emotional. I was finishing up the dishes from a meal my husband wasn't able to attend because of his church responsibilities and just as I was about to have a break down, I had a distinct impression come over me. As I was looking out the window, with my hands in the sink, I had the impression to call an elderly lady in my ward (whom I had seen only once and whom I had never spoken with.) I couldn't remember her name and wondered why her face had popped into my head. Just as I was pushing away the thought, AGAIN the impression came that I needed to call her, and I needed to do it NOW. I dried my hands and grabbed the ward directory, thumbing through pictures, trying to recognize her face. But she wasn't there.. so I called the Bishop to see if he could help me. The Bishop wasn't home, but his wife was and she listened to my description of a woman I had never met. "Several months ago, a woman stood at the podium during Sacrament meeting and spoke of losing her entire family.. I remember her well. She was tall and slender and mentioned that her husband and three children were buried in Idaho. Do you happen to know her name?" The Bishop's wife rattled off a few names of widows in the ward, but none of them seemed to fit the description. When I hung up the phone, I was discouraged... but a few minutes later, she called me back and knew exactly who I was talking about, "Her name is Beverly Olson. She is recently widowed and doesn't attend church very often." And that was the beginning.
I called Bev that evening and wasn't exactly sure what I was going to say.. "Hi. I was doing dishes in my kitchen earlier today and felt like I should call you," was NOT what I opened the conversation with. Instead I invited her over for dinner on Mother's Day. She declined. She wasn't feeling well and had recently had knee surgery. "Then would it be alright if we brought dinner to you?" Again, she said no. But I wasn't about to take NO for an answer. I told her that this was more for me than it was for her. I was lonely. I lived far away from my family and needed someone to visit on Mother's Day. She may not let me take her dinner, but no one could turn down a plate of cookies. Finally, she accepted. I hung up the phone and realized that I had just invited myself (and my husband and my three little ones) over to someone's house that I had never met... I was a little worried because I knew she was a Grandma-- and we all know that all women over a certain age have homes that are just filled with trinkets and little things to brake. I crossed my fingers that it would be a good visit.
It was a wonderful visit. Bev was kind, gracious and welcomed us into her home. We sat and talked with her for a few hours about her life and the things she had been through. While sitting in her lovely home, I realized that the impression I had a week earlier in my kitchen was anything but coincidence. She has my mother's name and her first born was named Janet. We had an instant connection and I believe we all felt it that first meeting.
We had her over the following week for dinner. She immediately adopted us... she always had a present or book for my kids and was a natural with little Zack. She always asked how I was feeling-- she wanted to know the full health report and I appreciated that (and still do) that she cared so much about me and how I was feeling. She was the only person we visited when we were dressed up in our Wizard of Oz costumes. She took us out to restaurants. She sends our kids cards in the mail with dollar bills (and of course they LOVE that!) She knows what's going on in my life and always asks me how I am doing. I can talk to her about everything and she always takes my side! I love hearing the advice she has to give.. whatever the subject may be! We talk weekly on the phone and a couple of times we've talked until midnight! She's a night owl and one HIP 80 year old. She always gives me the scoop on things... the latest movies, the Hollywood gossip, etc. I will never forget one phone call when she said, "Well, you know Lindsay Lohan is gay, right?" I was shocked to hear it, but I am so glad I have someone to keep in the the KNOW! I love Bev and have benefited so much from her example. I have asked her to write about her life experience and allow me to post it on my blog.
Tomorrow I will be posting HER story, in her words. Stay tuned and make sure to give Bev a shout out! I know she will appreciate it!
The short intro is this: Bev is 80 years old.. She is going to hate that I told you her age, but she should be PROUD of it! She has said herself, "80 is the new 60." And she is right about that! She is spunky and energetic and fun. She stays in shape with Weight Watchers and her weekly yoga classes. She volunteers at the local hospital. She has an immaculate garden in Spokane, WA. (The hardest thing about leaving Spokane was moving away from Bev --but I couldn't convince her to move to Vegas!) She is a widow who has been through tremendous heartache in her life. She has lived abroad while her husband served in the Armed Forces. She is a SURVIVOR. She has buried all three of her children, two daughters and one son. She lost her son a few hours after he was born, and both of her daughters died tragically as adults. She was never able to have grandchildren of her own, but she has adopted mine. Even though we have no blood relation, she is a part of my family. She is one of my greatest examples and one of my dearest friends. We met two short years ago, but she knows me better than most people. I am truly grateful for the relationship we have and for the things she has taught me. Our story is not one that happens everyday. If you want the long version-- keep reading.
I have mentioned in earlier posts about my difficult time in Spokane, WA while Aaron was in law school. I was living in an area with lots of fun people and I was doing my best to reach out and make friends, but I wasn't able to connect with anyone. I had just had baby #3 and as wonderful as my husband was, he just wasn't around. As Mother's Day 2006 approached, I was missing my family... and I felt as though I had hit rock bottom. The Sunday before, I was really emotional. I was finishing up the dishes from a meal my husband wasn't able to attend because of his church responsibilities and just as I was about to have a break down, I had a distinct impression come over me. As I was looking out the window, with my hands in the sink, I had the impression to call an elderly lady in my ward (whom I had seen only once and whom I had never spoken with.) I couldn't remember her name and wondered why her face had popped into my head. Just as I was pushing away the thought, AGAIN the impression came that I needed to call her, and I needed to do it NOW. I dried my hands and grabbed the ward directory, thumbing through pictures, trying to recognize her face. But she wasn't there.. so I called the Bishop to see if he could help me. The Bishop wasn't home, but his wife was and she listened to my description of a woman I had never met. "Several months ago, a woman stood at the podium during Sacrament meeting and spoke of losing her entire family.. I remember her well. She was tall and slender and mentioned that her husband and three children were buried in Idaho. Do you happen to know her name?" The Bishop's wife rattled off a few names of widows in the ward, but none of them seemed to fit the description. When I hung up the phone, I was discouraged... but a few minutes later, she called me back and knew exactly who I was talking about, "Her name is Beverly Olson. She is recently widowed and doesn't attend church very often." And that was the beginning.
I called Bev that evening and wasn't exactly sure what I was going to say.. "Hi. I was doing dishes in my kitchen earlier today and felt like I should call you," was NOT what I opened the conversation with. Instead I invited her over for dinner on Mother's Day. She declined. She wasn't feeling well and had recently had knee surgery. "Then would it be alright if we brought dinner to you?" Again, she said no. But I wasn't about to take NO for an answer. I told her that this was more for me than it was for her. I was lonely. I lived far away from my family and needed someone to visit on Mother's Day. She may not let me take her dinner, but no one could turn down a plate of cookies. Finally, she accepted. I hung up the phone and realized that I had just invited myself (and my husband and my three little ones) over to someone's house that I had never met... I was a little worried because I knew she was a Grandma-- and we all know that all women over a certain age have homes that are just filled with trinkets and little things to brake. I crossed my fingers that it would be a good visit.
It was a wonderful visit. Bev was kind, gracious and welcomed us into her home. We sat and talked with her for a few hours about her life and the things she had been through. While sitting in her lovely home, I realized that the impression I had a week earlier in my kitchen was anything but coincidence. She has my mother's name and her first born was named Janet. We had an instant connection and I believe we all felt it that first meeting.We had her over the following week for dinner. She immediately adopted us... she always had a present or book for my kids and was a natural with little Zack. She always asked how I was feeling-- she wanted to know the full health report and I appreciated that (and still do) that she cared so much about me and how I was feeling. She was the only person we visited when we were dressed up in our Wizard of Oz costumes. She took us out to restaurants. She sends our kids cards in the mail with dollar bills (and of course they LOVE that!) She knows what's going on in my life and always asks me how I am doing. I can talk to her about everything and she always takes my side! I love hearing the advice she has to give.. whatever the subject may be! We talk weekly on the phone and a couple of times we've talked until midnight! She's a night owl and one HIP 80 year old. She always gives me the scoop on things... the latest movies, the Hollywood gossip, etc. I will never forget one phone call when she said, "Well, you know Lindsay Lohan is gay, right?" I was shocked to hear it, but I am so glad I have someone to keep in the the KNOW! I love Bev and have benefited so much from her example. I have asked her to write about her life experience and allow me to post it on my blog.
Tomorrow I will be posting HER story, in her words. Stay tuned and make sure to give Bev a shout out! I know she will appreciate it!
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