Happy American Mother's Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to every mother within reach of this letter. It has been a melancholy week for me as I have reflected on my own mother and how much I miss her. I am who I am and do so many things simply because that’s the way mom did it. She taught me so much. And I love being a mother! I am at a place in life where mothering is pretty fun to three adult children/best friends and their spouses. They are such a joy in my life. At times I really miss our family unit when the kids were little, and then I am filled with gratitude for 12 grandchildren that call me Grandma. I have also been blessed with Ron’s mother as a great second mom and role model for me in so many ways.

This week is also our oldest daughter, Amanda’s birthday, the child who first called me mommy. Her due date was on Sunday, May 13, Mother’s Day. She was born four days later. She is still the best belated Mother’s Day gift I ever received! She is strong, faithful, supportive and confident, and a beautiful woman! She can do anything she sets her mind to and has proven that time after time. She is a great mom to five pretty awesome children. Happy Birthday Amanda! You are loved!

Malcolm has been on leave this past week. We are staying on top of things at the office quite easily right now with minimal time, and with our office phones forwarded to our mobiles and our emails also accessible on our phones we have been able to be out and about quite a bit. Monday was a Bank Holiday and the office was closed. However, we worked. It was fun work! We were asked to be among a few who critiqued a new play that is being performed by many of our Pageant friends in November to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice. It’s going to be brilliant, and it was especially fun to see our Pageant friends once again.

Tuesday was transfer day. Three of our missionaries stayed, and Sister Brown went home to Cardston, Canada. She asked if we had time on Tuesday to take her to the mission home rather than her having to ride the train with all her ‘going home’ stuff. Of course we did! It was the perfect ask for us, as it meant we were also able to say good-bye to four other sister missionaries who we had served with and were also going home. It was sweet to see our dear missionaries again and also heart wrenching, all rolled up into one. 

Sisters Wood, Romero, Brown, Herrigfeld.  We missed a photo of Sister Chen ☹

At the mission offices we also saw several Elders that we had served with who were there to meet their new companions. I met Elder Kinard from Indiana. Because he wasn’t from Utah, I didn’t ask him if he was related to the Kinards I know. Later, as we were waiting at the train station, he said, “Did I hear you say you were from Utah? Do you know my Grandpa, Spence Kinard?” It brought a smile to my face. I said, “Yes! I use to babysit for your grandpa and grandma, which means I used to babysit your dad!” For those of you who don’t know or remember Spence Kinard, he was the voice of ‘The Spoken Word’ before Lloyd Newell, and he worked for KSL TV. And then I related to him this story:

One evening in December of 1973, I was babysitting the four Kinard children while their parents attended a Christmas party at the Governor’s mansion in Salt Lake City. Lynette Kinard always turned the radio on in her children’s bedrooms when it was bedtime, playing soft music as the children fell asleep. Shortly after putting them to bed, David (Elder Kinard’s dad, about 6 years old at the time I think) came out and said, “I’m not sure if I heard right, but on the radio I think I just heard that the president of the church died.” At the time, President Harold B. Lee was only 73 years old and had not served as our prophet for very long. “Oh, I don’t think so,” I told David, “he’s too young. I’m sure he is fine. Now go back to bed.” I no more got him tucked back into bed when the phone rang. It was Lynette. “Can you stay late tonight? President Lee has passed away suddenly, and Spence is needed at KSL. I’m not sure when we will be home.”

It was fun to tell Elder Kinard that I had a personal connection with his dad and his grandparents. His eyes were bright and his countenance happy as I told him of my experience. I wonder, if he relates it back to his dad or grandpa, if they will remember it at all. Sadly, I remembered that Lynette had passed away from cancer nearly 10 years ago. They were a great family.

Tuesday night we cleaned the church . . . again. This time there were only four of us, so we were glad it had a good cleaning the week before by our super YSAs and missionaries.

Thursday the Parrishes came up from London. Stan’s sister is visiting from St. George and came also. We took care of a little PA business then took them sightseeing. We toured Stoneleigh Abbey, where Jane Austen lived for just ten days but was apparently inspired enough to use it’s setting in many of her books. We experienced High Tea at the Orangery there, and for a few moments felt more British than American as we stepped back in time. We drove by Kenilworth Castle ruins and admired the surroundings, and ended our fun day in Stratford-Upon-Avon in front of Shakespeare’s birthplace. It’s such a quaint town to visit. It was a delightful day.

Friday we greeted family from home! Rex (my brother) and Natalie, and Lyndie and Renae Henrie from our ward at home met up with us in the Cotswolds after they toured in London for a few days. We have enjoyed the last three days with them so much! After seeing the Cotswolds we visited Warwick Castle. Saturday and Sunday was spent in the Preston, Downham, Chorley, and Gadfield Elm Chapel areas reliving the early British saints and their contribution to the growth of our church today. We shared lots of yummy British foods together, including our favourite restaurant in Downham with the fabulous desserts. It was fun in the evenings just to chat and catch up, play some cards, and have some good laughs. They are the first visitors we’ve had that have been here on a Sunday when church wasn’t cancelled! ☺ We were so happy to have them at church with us and introduce them to our wonderful friends and ward members here. Our ward embraced them just as we knew they would. My good friend said, “I met your family . . . they are just darling!” I must have looked at her funny because she laughed and said, “I’m trying to sound American! “ We both had a good laugh.

Top (L): Warwick Castle    Top (R): In the beautiful Cotswolds - Bourton on the Water
Bottom (L): Gadfield Elm - the oldest LDS church in the world    Bottom (R): Greendale Restaurant in Downham

So many people at church went out of their way to wish me a Happy American Mother’s Day today (Mothering Day, as you may remember here in GB is in March). I though it was so kind and thoughtful. I received a text from a young member of our Bishopric on the way to church this morning, “Happy Mother’s Day Sister Partridge, we just wanted to let you know that we appreciate your sacrifice and everything you are doing for our ward and the church as a whole.” He didn’t have to do that! His mother raised a good son. Another email from a YSA in Scotland tonight wishing me a Happy American Mother’s Day. So sweet. I was able to talk with all the kids and grandkids today . . . although my heart was a bit sad that I didn’t have my own mother to phone today, all in all it was a lovely day.

We really hated to say goodbye to Rex, Natalie, Lyndie and Renae as they went back to their hotel tonight and will be off to Paris tomorrow.

Favourite quote I read this week (thanks President Wingo!):

“Imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we." – Jeffrey R. Holland

Have a brilliant week, and hug your mom today if you can. We send you our love and prayers.

Ta

Ron and Marie