To our Mother, Sister, Wife, and Friend...We love you! Happy Birthday!

Look at you! You are beautiful!

I am writing this on the occasion of my wife's birthday. She is LXVII years old! If you write that in Roman numerals, some people will not be able to figure out how old she is and I won't get into trouble by advertising her age!

We were married on August 26, 1960 so this next year we will celebrate our 48th wedding anniversary. Just two more years and our children will be planning a BIG celebration. Patsy and I probably will not attend as we in all likelihood will be on a mission at the time.

I love my wife very much and she loves me. I say this with all surety because it is true. She will confirm the statement at any time you ask her. It is true even when she is upset with me and off pouting somewhere.

Marianne has specifically asked me to relate some remembrances of our time in the Samoan islands when I was teaching for the church at Mapusaga High School.

The Samoan people are, by nature, very generous even though they have very little in the way of material wealth. Many times we were offered a baby or child because they were sad that we didn't have any children at the time. They had plenty of children, so giving us one was to their mind a charitable thing to do. Several of our fellow teacher families did adopt native children while we were there but we always declined a s we knew deep down that we would gave children someday.

We wanted to experience the Islands as much as possible when we were there and so I would take the High School Band to play at all day wedding feasts; We would go to the ocean and snorkel as often as we could. We would take part in as many music and native dancing events as we could. And, we traveled as much as possible, visiting New Zealand and the other Samoan islands. We made many lifetime friends there, as you know, because we have talked about them and visited with them many times over the years.

The years that we spent in the Islands are very special to us and we think of those days often. We look at our old photographs and marvel that we were skinny once!

We experienced many faith promoting events while we were there and I know that our testimony of the gospel grew tremendously during that time because those events simply could not have happened by chance. We love our family and we thank you Father in Heaven constantly for the wonderful people that our children have become. We love you all!

Yours truly, with love....your husband
Garth Wendell Harker

Dear Mother,

I am so grateful that I have you in my life. You are my best friend. Whenever I needed help you were there. Your example of happiness and ambition helped me be happy with my life. There are so many characteristics that I associate with you. Self-sacrificing, kind, giving, loving, strong, fun, happy, positive, creative, self-sustaining, knowledgeable, serviceable, hopeful, prayerful, humble. These are characteristics I also associate with Grandma, and I can see how well you learned from her example.

Now that I am about to become a mother, I hope that I can portray the same image to my children. I feel you are amazing and wonderful, and I want my children to know what a wonderful heritage they come from. I love you so very much.

Your daughter,
Carol H. Kane



Dear Mommy and Gramma

Happy Birthday. I'm glad that you're my mother, I wouldn't trad you for anyone else ever!! Thanks for being a great mother and Grandmother. We love you and appreciate everything that you do for us. I hope you enjoy the weather down there in sunny Arizona on your Birthday. We'll be braving the sub-zero temperatures up here (it was -15 degrees this morning!) Hope to see you soon and Happy Birthday!

Love
Kevin, Dana, and Suni


Dear Mom,

Happy Birthday from me and Shannon. We hop you have a good one and many more to come. We love you and dad so much. And we are so very thankful for everything that you do for us. I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have such great parents. Nobody is as lucky as I am. Mom I love you with all of my heart.

Happy Birthday!


Dearest Mother,

Happy Birthday!! I wanted to tell you in this letter that I am grateful every day that you are my Mom. I am trying to have our home be like the one I grew up in, it was a wonderful place to be, mostly because of you. For example, I sing to the girls and dance around like life is a musical, and keeping true to your form, I forget the words to the songs after about a line or two.

Even though I don't call you every 30 minutes, like Marianne or Janet, I think about you every day and I love you.

Your favorite child,
Neil


My dear dear Mother,
What a fun project this has been. I have laughed and cried and laughed and cried, as I have put these letters together. I don't have them all yet, I am missing Janet's still, but I wanted you to get this on your birthday. I have all the originals that I will send to you in a book. You can read them whenever you are home sick, and be reminded of just how much you are loved. Of course I'm sure Dad reminds you of that!

I just want to take a moment and tell you how much I love you. I feel very blessed to have had such an example as you growing up, and to still have that example as an adult. Not only that, but as Carol said, you are my best friend. And, Neil, if you are reading this, friends talk on the phone a lot, so get over it! I look so forward to our phone conversations. We talk as friends, but I also respect everything you say, and apply the advise you give to me in my daily life and in the lives of my children. I love you very much, mother, and if you haven't guessed by the time you have finished reading all of these letters, so does everyone else!

We all miss you and Dad, but at the same time, I'm excited for your adventure down south. And that is another thing I love about you. You take life as an adventure, and "what can I take out of this experience to better my life?" You are AWESOME and the people down there are lucky to have you around! Love you!!

Marianne

Dear Patsy,

When Marianne asked me to write a letter for her "Birthday Project", I felt a bit overwhelmed! So many things came to my mind! I thought "Will I have to write a book to express my many thoughts and great appreciation for such a one as you?"

I'll start right off by saying that I hope you have a birthday of joy and contentment. Though there are many miles between you and your children, siblings, etc may you feel close and warm knowing how very much you are loved!

Life in Shelley will never be the same without you and I'm not just saying that. It came straight from the mouths of several people in your ward and landed in my ears.

I think I know why. There are several reasons that come to mind, rather readily, that I will mention. You make an impact on people you associate with because of your friendly outgoing nature. You see the goodness in others and accept them, warts and all for what they are.

I've always felt very comfortable with you because I know your not judging me for my faults. I don't have to keep any "skeletons in the closet" because I know you don't think less of me for my weaknesses.

I appreciate your great and constant sense of humor and positive attitude. After being with you I have better digestion because we usually have some good laughs. Then life seems good-more hopeful, more worthwhile, less overwhelming, more enjoyable.

I've noticed how hard you work to accomplish goals-and how persistent you are even when you get weary. For example you put a lot of effort into making home improvements, doing your bellows business, and gardening.

Even more important, you've gone the extra mile giving unconditional support and security to your children and grandchildren. You know what really counts. I'm thinking of the Grandma Box, the overnights, the clown thing (well, maybe that would fit better into the humor paragraph) the countless trips to Nevada, to Salt Lake and many other things of which I am not aware.

Not least, by any means, is your firm testimony of Christ and also your devotion to the Gospel. You have the love of Christ in you heart and it overflows to all around you. And you know what? We all love you back!

When you were born you were a beautiful baby and so precious. Those qualities just keep growing.

Thanks for being an example to follow-in so many ways!

I love you,

Maureen

Oh, Patsy-

How and where do I start to think or to write about Patsy? Or TO Patsy?

You were a darling baby and a busy child. In the early years...and many since...it's hard to think of you without Joanne. Its hard to see you in a memory without Joanne there at your side. You were perfect complements for each other. It's hard to imagine how either of you were ever able to break from the other and get married.

One way to think of who you are and what you are and always have been is to think for a minute about what you're NOT. You probably have NEVER said, "I don't think I can do that." That's just not you.

You've probably never said anything negative about anyone. You've probably never thought anything negative about anyone.

You've probably never been depressed for more than a few minutes. At least you've never let it show.

If you've ever felt jealousy or envy, you've kept it to yourself...If you've ever been tempted to criticize...you've turned the temptation aside. If a negative thought has ever found space in your heart, it hasn't been able to survive there.

So much for what you're NOT.

What you ARE, Patsy, is fun. This may be a bit sacrilegious, but just like the lights increase in the Temple as we progress through the endowment, the lights seen to brighten when you come around. The world looks better and the obstacles don't seen as large and burdens seem a bet lighter.

Patsy, my world is more fun...and funnier...better and safer and happier because you are in it. You've always, for me, seemed to have a gift to make the important things seem more clear and to make the unimportant things sort of fade away.

Thank you. I'm so grateful that you are MY SISTER. I'm better because of it.

I love you.

Kimber

Dear Patsy,

Happy Birthday!! And many more.

I have so many fond memories of you-where do I begin? Glade and I have enjoyed so much our travels with you and Garth and hope there are others in the future.

I have such fond memories of the summer of 1959 when you and Joanne rode across the country with Glade and me, along with Deon who was 6 months old, when we went back to Ithaca, N.Y. I'll bet you remember many things about that summer, as well. I'm sure we were cramped in the car but you and Joanne never complained-at least not to us. You both "went with the flow" and we all had fun.

We tried to take you to as many places as our meager budget would allow. We went to the Hill Cumorah Pageant; we went picnicking and hiking in the state parks and gorges that dot the countryside in the Finger Lakes region. We did walking tours of the campus at Cornell University. You and Joanne even did some part time work.

When we left Rexburg we had no idea how we were going to get you back home, then the opportunity came for you to ride back with Betty & Larry Yager who were driving west to go to the temple. You had some "choice" experiences on that ride---yah?? You were with us for 2 months and we were so lonely when you left. That was a wonderful summer for us.

I'm sure mother missed you that summer but we were so grateful to mom and dad for letting you come. You are a wonderful sister and you light up the lives of all those who know you. Thanks for being you!! (Don't you ever grow up!!) We love you more than words can say!

Karen & Glade

Dear Patsy,

It has been so fun to be your brother. Thank you for EVERYTHING! You have been so generous with your time, your talents, your means...you have been a wonderful example. You have been so generous with you love. Thank you for being my sister.

As I think back on the times you have touched my life, I can only begin to remember all the good memories you have made for me. I'm going to mention a few-but for each of these, there were ten more. You've helped to make my life happy. I remember when you let me borrow your Rambler American convertible. That was such a cute little car, and it was so fun to show off to my friends. I remember the sweater you knit for me when I was in high school. I didn't have many sweaters-but that one was my favorite. I wore it, and wore it, and wore it! I thought it was neat. After I nearly wore it out, we shortened the sleeves on it and it was almost like I had a new sweater again. I remember how proud I was when I was on my mission in New Plymouth, N.Z. and you and Garth came and visited me. It was fun to visit you in Samoa on my way home. I always felt special bond, because we were in the South Pacific at the same time. You gave us a Christmas tree skirt for a Christmas present (early in our marriage), and we still use it to this day. Every time we decorate our tree and numerous times every Christmas season, we thing of you when we see it under our tree.

We have save the wedding card you made for us when we were married-it was so clever, and we know you made it with love. These are only a few of the many memories you have touched our lives with.

More recently, you came to you home weekly, for many, many weeks, to add a little sunshine to Marlas lonely days. She love you as her own sister, and I love you more still, because of your generous sharing of your time and talents. You have been such a bright example of Christ like love. Than you, Patsy, for brightening our lives with your friendship and love. (also, thanks for all those batches of bread)!!

Another memory that is special is when you showed up at the hospital in your clown outfit and sang Happy Birthday to me. I was proud to be your brother on that day-and always.

You have also instilled in your children, love and respect for your brothers and sisters. Your children have ALWAYS treated us with love and respect, and that has meant more to us than I can explain.

Thank you, Patsy, for all you have done for me and Marla. There has never been any doubt about your love for us, and we love you more than words can express. We love you Very, very much and hope you have many more Happy Birthdays!

We love you!

Cecil & Marla

Dear Patsy,

I just wanted you to know I am sure glad to have the privilege of being related to you. You are an AWSOME sister. I must have done something right to be born into the wonderful family that I have. You have always set a good example for me and been there if and when I needed you. I remember that life was never dull with you and Joanne around. I am proud of you, I look up to you, I admire you, and I love you. Thank you for being you.

Love, Craig

To my Dear Sister, Patsy,

This is great! The perfect chance for me to say a few things without interruption. Nor very often a person gets that kind of opportunity.

I think I'll start by remembering a few things in our childhood. There is enough of an age difference that we didn't do much together, but...one of the fondest memories I have of you and Joanne is when we slept in the same bedroom. I slept on the cot in the corner of the room and you an Joanne got the double bed. (These days it would be a miracle to get 2 girls to share the same bed. It's kind of funny when you think about it) I mean it' funny that girls wouldn't share a bed. I've tried to get a couple of my girls to share a bed when we've had a lot of company, but I might as well have asked them to jump over the moon. There is no way that was going to happen. Back to the story. I remember times when I would have a bad dream, I would wake up and crawl in between you and Joanne and sleep the rest of the night with both of you. Neither of you ever complained about that. At least I don't remember you ever complaining.

Another thing I remember, slightly is when you and Joanne dressed up to go to the dance together. You were not asked out for the dance and you wanted to go anyway so you dressed up as the boy and Joanne was the girl and you went together. I don't remember much, just that you were getting ready. You've told the rest of the story and I just love that story. It's the best! How you were able to trick your classmates. They didn't know who you were for the longest time. Funny story! Kind of like the one where recently you were asked by another ward in Shelley to come disguised and see how many people would come up to you and talk to you. That is another great lesson learned.

Other things I remember generally are the time we made a snowman for everyone of us in the family. We made a daddy snowman, a mommy snowman and one for all our brothers and sisters. Mine was the smallest snowman. Do we have a picture of that somewhere? Which one of the photo albums is that one in?

I also remember when you and Joanne would make me dry the silverware. These days we don't even bother, but you always made me do that job. And the times when you were tending me and would tell me scary stories and I would be totally scared to death. Why did you like to scare me like that? Maybe that goes with the territory of being the youngest.

There are many other childhood memories we could talk about, and maybe sometime we can do that. But I want to express my feelings for you. I want to thank you for being a support to me in all my difficult times. When I was on the school board, you were always giving me counsel and would lend a listening ear and you always had great advice for me. You always seemed to validate my feelings and then help to lift me up just a little higher. You'll never know just how much that helped me make it through those times. Thank you for being in the court room that dreadful day and just bolster me up. That meant so much to me. I love all the times we've had to talk on the phone and do things together. All the great ideas we've shared.

I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have you as my sister. I really feel sorry for all the other families that don't have a sister like you. You are always a good example to me. I don't think I could ever measure up to you, but it's not a bad thing to try. You've taught me to knit, camp, make apple juice, shared scrapbook ideas, etc,etc,etc. Truthfully, I really miss you. Your heart is so full of compassion for others and of goodness and of love. Thank you for being there for me when I've needed to talk.

I'm really not the best at writing things down, but I hope you feel the sincerity in my expressions. I'm a little slow of speech and have a hard time doing things like this, but I do really want you to know I love you so very much. You will always have a spot in my heart. I love you!

Lynette