DORIS 2009

DORIS KIRKHAM JOHNSON - 2009

DORIS KIRKHAM JOHNSON 2009

(Edited from her journals by Carolyn J. Christensen.  Mom had just returned to her home

after  living with Rickell for several months – thanks to the Judy and Huntsman families.)

January

Mom had a nice New Years with Kristen and Jerda’s families. 

Jan 2:  “Phyllis helped me take out several big tubs of small belongings to put away in my home.  I’ll soon be out there to stay – two more days and nights, to now live with Jerda.  They are all helping me so much.”

During January, Mom worried a lot about Carl at this time and stayed with them for several days, two times.   She loves the idea of the Idaho siblings, spouses and her meeting once a month which they continued to do.  Of course she does a lot of crocheting, organizing and “putting away” in her home, participates with her Home Evening group, attends DUP,  eats dinner upstairs with the Judy’s, and spends many hours with the Idaho families during the entire year.

So many times she says how much she loves being in her home, and how beautiful it is to her.

February

Feb 3:  “I love my home!.....I’m pleased to be in my home, but I feel a little more lonesome out here in the country.  Oh, I wish Maurice was here.  It’s been ten years!”

Mom talks about making 5020 pairs of booties to sell at Mormon Handicraft – selling to them for more than 30 years.  (Note-CJC:  Can you imagine how many more booties she gave away?)  She crochets and works on organizing her home every day.  She started making 80 angels for Christmas 2009.   She is also making things for the four coming granddaughters.  She  started mentioning her backaches. She is working on getting her new hearing aid adjusted, and is involved in the Judy Family life.

March

Besides the organizing and crocheting, and being in her “lovely” home, and spending time with the Judy’s, Mom went with Carl and Laree to see the Titanic exhibit.  Of course she also mentions each visit and activity with each of her children and grandchildren.  On the 19^th she went to Dale’s with Maureen. They saw, as usual, a lot of historic sites, including Valley Forge where she laid on a bunk in one of the old cabins.  They also saw the Pentagon for the first time. Speaking at Mark’s Court of Honor was a highlight of the trip. 

April

“Orla’s in town.”  Carl called to remind me.  She spends her days as before. She mentions Girl’s Gathering, Easter, Von & Carolyn’s visit, and activities with the Idaho families.  She always mentions it when she can stay home all day and crochet as well as what and how many she is crocheting.  Sometimes it’s booties, sometimes baby blankets and blessing dresses, flags, angels for Christmas, etc. LeAnn, Derek and Misty are some that make visits.  Trent got his mission call to Korea.

May  (The Beginning of Mom’s last Journal Book)

May 1:  “May Day.  I remember when I was a girl, we would wind the May Pole.  Now I haven’t heard of it for years.  Each would take a streamer of ribbon in a circle and wind in and out with one another.  I’d like to do it again.”

Mom happily reported she had finished all her Christmas Angels.  Her days go by as in her other entries.  She mentions that Dale will go to Kazakhstan, that he has been to 18 countries, some more than once, and mentions Dale’s generosity.  She also talks about a H. E. where they read old RS magazines, and found a picture of her mother in a 1950 Issue. She spends time in the temple with Maureen each month. One night she was sick, becoming frightened about it.  Judy’s took her to the hospital where she had some stones removed.  Oxygen for a week.  She visited Salt Lake, staying with Christensen’s and spending time with their extended family, as well as spending time with all of the Huntsman’s.  Always, in Salt Lake, she would treat the Huntsman’s and Christensen’s to dinner – often at Britton’s. Most of the time she would spend her days in Salt Lake with the Christensen’s, and her evenings with the Huntsman’s. (Note CJC:  Such good memories.)  Carl and Michael were both put in their bishoprics.

May 27:  “Today I had a peaceful happy feeling.  Could Maurice be near?”

June

Days pass as usual, with Mom adding a bit of yard work to her schedule during the spring and summer.  She finished her 38^th flag.  (Note-CJC – I believe she began her first while on a trip to Dale’s with all the women.)  She enjoys two June visits at Carl’s.  Robyn and Maureen took her to stay with Christensen’s in Salt Lake.  Occasionally she mentions it being lonesome (when the Judy family is away) but says she doesn’t mind. Judy’s take her a lot to the doctor, and to run errands during the year.  Kristen includes her in plans and activities especially involving Trent’s mission.  She is thrilled with the Family Reunion at Carl and Laree’s, and with Trent’s final talk at church and his party.  Von and Carolyn visited.  She mentioned the coming babies for Kanda, Jason, David, Michael, Jerda, Gaird, and Allen and crocheting doll clothes for the dolls Maureen and her will give for the babies.

July

Almost every day Mom mentions the Judy’s and the activities she does with them during the year.  Occasionally she participates with the extended Nelson family as well as often with Kristen’s family..  Huntsman’s, all help her in the house.  Maureen plans a lot of activities with her. Again to Salt Lake and even Levan.   She splits her time with the families in Salt Lake - but always pleased to be home as well.

August
Big news was Josh and Krystal’s wedding.  Kristen does her hair when needed during the year, as well as other fun things.  At the ward reunion, she was honored for being the longest member of the ward – 80 years. Dale’s family visit included a trip to Crater’s of the Moon, Wolverine, and visiting with all the Idaho Families.  A visit from Von and Carolyn was spent at Carl’s.   Phyllis and Rick are there often, and help a great deal. She expresses her appreciation of having TV to watch.  She enjoyed the blessing for Annalai. 

Sept

Her flag got a blue ribbon at the State Fair.   A visit to Carl’s, Nick’s football games, concern for circumstances in the lives of her children & grandchildren, a visit from Deona, riding on the 2^nd ward Float at Spud Day, a trip to Salt Lake filled this month.

Oct

3 Oct:  “Bless Phyllis – she planted my grass today, and spent much of the day cleaning and organizing the garage.”  Mom’s journal is full of the names of her family, and what they do for her.  Napkin holders are being made by her by the dozen for many different people, as well as for Christmas Gifts.  Carl and Laree moved to Idaho Falls.  As usual, she is included in many of the family activities for the Judy’s.  The “Witchy” Girls Gathering was a highlight.  She mentions her health and pain in her back and hips occasionally. A two week trip to Salt Lake and an open house for her birthday as well as a trip to St. George were talked about.  Back at home, Jerda, Rickell, and Kristen invited her for Halloween festivities, as they do for so many other things.

Nov.

Nov 1:  “My back is really bothering me!”   She hosted her home evening group, visited with Deona, enjoyed the Judy children as usual, went to football games, still eating most nights at the Judy’s, and her month is filled with TV, usual activities, crocheting, cleaning, organizing, etc. 

Nov 6:  “Sometimes I feel like I’m not quite all here.  It’s frightening.” 

Nov 13:  “What a wonderful day! 

 Nov 14:  A nice day again.   Mom celebrated Carl’s 60^th birthday with his family.  She has a hard time hearing, went to an Abraham Lincoln display.  Thanksgiving was at Rickell’s with all 21 members of Rick and Phyllis’ family.  She feels overwhelmed for Christmas.  (Note-CJC:  It wouldn’t be Christmas if she didn’t feel that way part of the time.) 

Nov 27:  “Everyone is so good to me, even the little children.”  These kinds of sentiments are expressed often. 

Dec

Dec 1:  “So many wonderful things and memories.  I have much to do to get ready for it, and prepare to go to Carolyn’s for Christmas.  I had dinner upstairs with Jerda, Kirk, Kaleb and baby.  I stayed and watched them decorate their tree.  So beautiful – big, many lights and loaded with ornaments.”

Again December is filled with her usual activities, pointed in the direction of Christmas.    Some of the activities include Making chocolates, Kristen decorating her tree and rooms for Christmas, Home Evening Group, DUP Dinner, packaging gifts, Sandy Ward Christmas Party (along with a trip to Sandy) showing old dolls at Carolyn’s DUP with her daughters, the Malad handoff,  shopping, watching TV and the yearly progressive dinner.

Dec 19:  “Our wedding anniversary.  Are you thinking of me?” 

Mom had a Christmas dinner and celebration with Carolyn’ family before Christmas and spent Christmas in Shelley with all of Carl’s family, all of Phyllis’ family, Maureen’s family and Kristen’s family minus Trent. 

Dec 25^th, Christmas Day:  “Wonderful Christmas!........I didn’t want the day to end.  I kind of feel like it’s my last Christmas.  My body and mind aren’t working right.”  (Note-CJC:  It wasn’t her last Christmas.)

New Years was spent in Salt Lake with Phyllis who was home sick, and later put in the hospital with an infected finger.  Mom read the Book of Mormon for the 39^th time during this year.  Mom is ever grateful for the blessings she constantly enjoys.