July 2, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY!
Born July 2, 1973

Roger had just returned from a year in Viet Nam, the summer of 1972, and we were making a move to Pima, Arizona, for him to become a first time Seminary Teacher for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I was excited to have him home and safe and we knew after such a long time we needed to add a child to our family.

In my fourth month of this pregnancy I threatened to miscarry: Roger was out of town for overnight, so my friend Sharleen Smith took me to the hospital in Safford.  They kept me overnight, and I was to meet with the doctor the next day.  He assured me the baby was dead and we should allow them to do an abortion.  Roger had made it home in time for this meeting, and he said "absolutely not!" If we loose the baby it will be on it's own.  I have been forever grateful for his forcefulness. For the next months the doctor would not listen for a heart beat, saying each time, "I am sure the baby is gone!" If that was the case, why did I feel movement and I really started to grow.  

Luckily for all of us we made a move back to Utah in the spring, allowing Old Doctor Johnson (the doctor I loved) to deliver a healthy, beautiful, dark eyed, dark fuzz baby girl, with all her fingers and toes.

Mary's first Birthday!

Mary had a little friend named Alana Lamoreaux.  They loved playing house and getting dressed up, and they would carry their purses to each other's homes.  One day they decided to help me with the canning. Little did I know that they had put the canning rings from my bottles down the toilet.  We only had one toilet in the house, so it caused some problems.  Roger had to take the toilet off and outside to pry the rings out.  The neighbors got a laugh out of that.

Mary loved playing in the dirt.

Mary was always very frugal.  She kept her Halloween candy for months, but Max or Anne would find it and eat it.  She was never happy about that.

Mary was the youngest of the kids to start working in the raspberry patch.  She was always diligent in taking out the dead canes, and she became the best picker of all the kids. She managed the patch from the time she was thirteen and made sure the flats looked perfect to sell.  She is doing raspberries today: she says, "They are on!"

Mary excelled in school, and graduated with high honors. She was in the National Honor Society and on the Seminary Council, and the ZCMI Teen Board. 

Mary and Alan

Mary met Alan Bott at Weber State University, and they were married in the Ogden LDS Temple on 12 June 1993. Alan has been a blessing to our family.  Because of them we have Emily, Ruth, Sarah, Anna Joy, and Jake.

Mary was given the assignment by her dad to get all her siblings to the Temple.  She has succeeded. 

Mary received her Bachelor of Science degree from Weber State University, which is good, but that is not all, she can fix anything. She came here to Vermont and found that our bathroom door knob was a mess; her dad had tried to fix it. She got the tools and within a very few minutes had all the door knobs in the apartment fixed. Mary can do anything she sets her mind to.  She is compassionate and loving.  She spent many hours sitting with her Grandma Petersen reading to her and talking with her when Grandma couldn't utter a word because of a stroke. I love her for that.

Jake, Alan, Anna Joy, Ruth, Mary

at the Joseph Smith Memorial

Mary and Alan came to visit us here in Vermont.  We loved the time we spent with them.  

Joseph Smith Monument

Dad and I hope you have a wonderful Birthday and that your goodness will continue to bless all those around you. You and your family are precious to us.  

DAD AND I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!