Because of Love: Now and Forever by Janice Grow Hanson

Author:Janice Grow Hanson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Linden Avenue Press
Published: 2016-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

Tonya, and friend Nicholas Smith, 1985.

There's a place for us,

A time and place for us.

Hold my hand and we're halfway there.

Hold my hand and I'll take you there—

Somehow,

Someday,

Somewhere.

Tonya's tears came from her heart.

When Tonya left on her mission, I knew we would need more money, so I began working part-time as a secretary at Granite Elementary School and the next year as attendance secretary at Brighton High School. Mindy was sixteen, Chad was almost fourteen, and Cody was six. Because I was working part-time, I could be home when Chad and Cody were home.

Mindy, my student aide for one period, sent all of her friends to say "Hi" to me. She'd also stop by my desk on her way to class for a quick word. And she tactfully overhauled my wardrobe, never saying, "Oh, Mom, that's weird," but rather "This will look really good on you," or "The kids will really like to see you in this." She even convinced them they should come in and help me celebrate my birthday.

After Tonya returned from her mission in July 1986,1 kept working to help chip away at our mountainous medical expenses.

Being married on Valentine's Day made it difficult for Dennis to forget our anniversary, even though it was now linked with Tonya's sad memories of Nick. We celebrated our twenty ninth wedding anniversary eve enjoying dinner and an overnight stay at Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City. We had a marvelous time,—excellent food, gorgeous room, no telephones ringing, no children coming home at midnight. Just peace and quiet and each other.

Wanting to surprise Dennis, I had arranged for the children to set up the living room for a candlelight dinner on our return home the next day. The children had gone the extra mile. When we entered the front door, all five children greeted us in their Sunday-best clothes. Tonya had set out her china and crystal. The lighting was dimmed, and beautiful background music created a romantic mood. Balloon bouquets reading "Happy Anniversary!" brightened the room. Cody was wearing a black tuxedo, a waiter's towel draped over his arm. Garry Piiparinen took pictures while Chad and Cody served our dinner, one course at a time, as the girls were chefs in the kitchen. Jed serenaded us with our song, "When I Fall In Love, It Will Be Forever." During our meal, we noticed each child, one by one, peeking their head around the corner to make sure everything was going as planned. Wonderful evening. Wonderful memories.

On February 22, 1987, President Ezra Taft Benson gave a fireside address, "To the Mothers in Zion," in which he counseled mothers to remain at home if at all possible. (Italics and underscore added)

Dennis and I prayed about it. We felt that it was important to obey the prophet and that I should stop working at the end of the 1987-88 school year, about fifteen months away. Furthermore, because our calling was working with the single adults in our stake, we knew how quickly a person can lose a spouse through death.

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