Wendy’s Ensign Article In the fall 2005 in response to an Ensign magazine call for reader’s experiences, Wendy prepared an article about her family’s special challenges in caring for Amie and Christopher. Several months later, she received a letter and contract from the Church magazines to buy and publish her article. The Ensign editors called her several times during the editing process and have confirmed her article will appear in the June 2007 edition.
Sara Moves
Sara is settling into a new apartment in Minneapolis as of August 1. Her new address is 1209 18th Ave. N.E. Apt. 1, Minneapolis, MN. Her cell is 612-600-6195. She is becoming a true Minnesotan – she went to a live “Prairie Home Companion” show with Garrison Keillor this month and loved hearing the “Powdermilk Biscuit” song live.
Visiting With the Paynes in Virden
On August 4-6, Dad, Mom, and Nicole took a weekend trip to Arizona for the Payne Family Reunion and special celebration of Grandma Johnson’s 90th birthday. As we drove up to the old Virden ward building, Dad noticed a tractor parked on the lawn and commented, “That looks like Grandpa Payne’s old John Deere.” As a matter of fact, it was – lovely restored by cousin Dennis. The aunts and uncles are still the same dear folks they have always been. Aunt Jean, now 80, moves like a young woman. She had baked a five-gallon bucket full of yummy oatmeal cookies that was soon emptied.
We enjoyed all the traditional reunion favorites – Dutch oven chicken, Virden melons, enchiladas and tamales. We had a hayride of the Virden historical sites, a family auction (where Mom bid on flour sack dish towels hand embroidered by Grandma Payne), a presentation of Uncle Grover’s new book about Virden, and family Church services. Nicole, as the only young person there, had time on her hands and discovered both a nest of sparrows and that her cell phone changed time zones from one end of the recreation hall to the other.
Family Vacation – St. George and Provo
We were home for two weeks and then left for Salt Lake City. Dad had heard that a monument to his ancestor Joel Hills Johnson was on top of Ensign Peak overlooking the Salt Lake Valley. As soon as we got off the plane, we headed off in search of the trail to the top of the peak with Mom driving and Dad as navigator – a couple of lucky turns and there we were. Dad and Nicole were soon at the top and indeed there was a marker honoring Joel Hills Johnson.
We left the next morning for a leisurely drive to St. George with stops at Cove Fort and historic Fillmore. We stayed with Grandma, Uncle Don, and Rosemery. Grandma is doing very well for ninety years but must use a walker to get around. It was a lovely visit there with everyone’s generous hospitality.
Sunday night we were back in Provo and ready for Education Week – always a stimulating, fast-moving week. We took classes about genealogy, finance, gospel doctrine, family relations, music, creating new visions for our lives, and real estate investing, to name a few and enjoyed an excellent production of Fiddler on the Roof. We were able to see many old friends who also enjoy this kind of a vacation – Anne and Brad Chillson, Dee and Beverly Stevenson, Clarence’s cousin Lori Frandsen and her husband Jim, and Debbie Burt and her mom. Nicole had a great time – she was able to take in some classes she wanted plus dance classes with her friend Brett and visit with some of her old roommates. Mom and Dad were able to have a BYU Creamery hamburger and raspberry cheesecake ice cream cone to complete the perfect vacation.
Soon it was time to say goodbye to Nicole and return to Maryland. We arrived in Baltimore at 1 am and unfortunately could not remember where we packed our car keys, so Holly kindly provided transportation home.
Washington D.C. Temple Mission
We were delighted to learn that Uncle Dick and Julie will be coming here for their third mission to serve in the temple. We look forward to seeing them frequently.
The Empty Nest, Again
We are both back to our church callings and Dad is back to work and Mom is back to her studies. We are enjoying the last of the Larriland peaches and the lovely September days. Mom plans to start painting the living room, dining, and foyer this month. Life loses a bit of its sparkle with Nicole and Ashley away.
Volney McNeil Johnson
Volney M. Johnson died on 30 November 1981 after suffering from cancer for a few months. Here are a few words written in his own hand about two months before he died.
Aug 27 1981, Paul, Idaho
Janie Merrill, Flossie and myself went to Dr. Wilcher in Rupert and Dr. Lee in Pocatello. I was really impressed by the cancer cure that they advocated. A combination of the Kelly System and the Man..... System.
I was really tired by the time we got back to Paul.
Aug 28, 1981
Felt terrible all day. Unable to take over 2 small glasses of carrot juice all day.
In the evening I asked to be administered to and Uncle Jay Merrill and Kevin Harper gave me a blessing. I slept well after receiving this blessing.
Aug 29, 1981
Today I got up feeling much better and was able to take a 4 oz glass of carrot juice every 2 hours and a glass of milk one eff and a special protien. At about 1 P.M. Harvey and Don came to visit and we had a nice talk with them also. Lary Joe Harper came over and we all had a nice visit.
Harvey and Don left at 4 P.P. to go back to Springville. I called Nedra to tell her that they would be late getting back. Took some garlic enemas in the afternoon. My ulcer hasn't bothered me today.
Paul, Idaho, Aug 30 1981
Haven't been feeling well today. Very weak and some pain, have been taking 4 oz glass of apple juice on the even hours, nothing in between.
August 31, 1981
I awoke this morning with a violent pain in my intestines at 4 A.M.. I took a hot bath with Mother 's assistance trying to kill the pain with no luck, finally I tried an enema and a pain pill, no letting up of pain at 5:20 A.M. Uncle Jay and Aunt Janie came to see me and I asked Uncle Jay to give me a blessing. Soon my pain eased and I went to sleep. We called Dr. Maddock and he consented to me having a blood transfusion. David Burnham called and offered to fly me to Bend, Oregon to the Doctors.
(Dad died two months later on November 30)
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