A Tender Birth One Hundred Years Ago Today

It was one hundred years ago that a sweet baby boy came into this world in the desert land of Nevada.

This baby boy would one day become the father to Mr. Kerry, and a beloved father-in-law to me.

I can think of few men who I have loved and admired more than this man. He made me feel welcome the moment he met me. He assured me that Kerry and I were made for each other, despite the fact that we grew up on opposite ends of the country.

We visited his birthplace in Preston, Nevada this summer. I was struck by its barrenness, and how his mother must have felt looking out at the desert as they welcomed another baby into what would become a family of twelve children. I found some sunflowers that were blooming close to where the house of his birth would have stood, and even found a cow posing just for us.

How appropriate, since Orson William Lauritzen was a dairy farmer, and a CPA.

He would have eleven children of his own. And, like my own father, did his best to raise a good family by setting the example of a Godly man. He was one of the most righteous men I've ever known.

His grandfather, Peder, was the original one who joined the LDS Church in Denmark, and would emigrate to the United States. Upon reaching Winter Quarters (near Omaha, NE), he would continue to lead his family on by joining with the handcart companies who walked to the Salt Lake Valley. They eventually would settle in Sanpete Valley in central Utah.

Kerry bears a strong resemblance to his father, as does our oldest son Peter. I often told Peter that if he lived long enough, I would know exactly he would look like as an older man. Sadly, that won't happen.

So, I wish a happy heavenly birthday to Orson...the man who taught Kerry and his brothers how to treat women with the utmost respect. He did it by counseling them, and by setting the example.

Love you, Orson!

Son, Peter...son of Kerry...son of Orson...son of Peter...son of Peder

Orson William Lauritzen

Orson's parents; Peter Lauritzen and Mary Loanna Terry

Orson Lauritzen - probably in his early 20s

Peder Lauritzen, father of Peter, grandfather of Orson.  He originally joined the church in Denmark and walked across the plains with the handcart companies.

Orson's father, Peter.

Kerry, looking a lot like his father.

Kerry, looking like his father.

Our son, Peter

Christmas beauty of the day - Kerry's Christmas star

Christmas beauty of the day.

Elder Kerry Lauritzen's Christmas star.

Of all of the posts I've written this December, this one is my favorite, for it is filled with a deep Christmas memory.

Kerry served his mission in the Delaware/Maryland area from 1971-1973. He was 19 years old, and it was his first real long time away from home. He had left to enter the Mission Home in Salt Lake City in September (where the Conference Center now stands), and this Christmas would be spent away from his large family back in Utah while he served in Catonsville, MD.

Missionaries don't have much money. They didn't have it then and they don't have it now. A kind man man on a Christmas tree lot sold them a 4' tree for about $4, and they brought it home.

Now, for the ornaments. Missionaries are pretty limited in what they're able to bring on their missions. Christmas ornaments are not on the list.

So, Kerry cut out a cardboard star, glued some paper onto it, and with either a crayon or a yellow highlighter colored it yellow.

The two missionaries pooled their money and bought a string of lights and ornaments.

And, it's been on our tree every year for forty years, and on his own tree six years before that.

This 46-year old cardboard star represents to many things to me. It shows the sacrifice of a young man who left home to teach the world about the message and the hope of Christ.

It helped him to recall the legend of the tree his own mother told him about the Christmas tree:

That the star at the top represents the star of Bethlehem.

The twinkling lights represent the stars in heaven that night.

Angels on the tree represent the angels who announced and sang that night.

The presents under the tree represent the great gift He brought to each of us.

So, even though it's just the two of us, the star adorns one of our little trees. In my mind, it's the most treasured ornament we own. It was created when he was sacrificing two years of his life in dedication to God, and helped him to evolve into the man I would someday marry.

I believe when we take it down this year, I will frame it and keep it on display for my own memorable treasure.

It's another example that meaningful things don't always equate to fancy things. Sometimes, it might be something as simple as a cardboard star created 46 years ago.

You can faintly see some of the yellow crayon or highlighting marks.

Kerry in front of the tree holding one of his journals.

Kerry's missionary journal - Vol. 1 of 3

The page mentioning the tree.

A closeup of the page mentioning the tree.

Gratitude Day #30 - Mr. Kerry - 30 Nov 2017

Today I am grateful for Mr. Kerry.

Forty years ago today, I was a nervous, young 22-year old girl about to be married the next day. I had met a man that seemed to love me with all his heart, who I had grown quite fond of, and had asked me to be his wife for eternity.

I hadn't loved him at first, but I was slowly getting there.

He treated me like a lady; opening doors...and still does. Pulling my chair out for me...and still does. Helping me with my coat...and still does.

My parents adored him. And, when I had taken a few days to give him my answer after he proposed, my dad asked me when I was going to give him an answer.

Me: "I don't know".

Dad: "You had better think real hard about this. For how many people do you think are going to be willing to live with YOU?"

Sigh...they loved him. They tolerated me.

Through the years, Kerry and I have:
Moved from Washington, DC to Ohio.
Born and raised four children to adulthood.
Buried one of those children.
Acquired a whole passel of grandchildren.
Traveled to all fifty states.
Bought a home.
Supported Kerry as he worked 30 years as a letter carrier supporting our family.
Buried our parents.
Buried one of his siblings.
Rejoiced over choices adult children have made.
Grieved over choices adult children have made.
Wept with joy.
Wept with fear.
Wept at loss.
Wept.
Devoted our lives to serving God and serving others.

The final words my mother said to me on the day we married still echo in my ears. Her mantra: "Root hog, or die."

What?

In other words, honey...you're on your own. Don't expect anyone to carry you now. You're a big ol' married girl, and it's your responsibility to make it without relying on anyone else from now on.

A true statement. And, we have done it.

There has not been one single moment in forty years of marriage that I ever regretted marrying him.

Not one moment.

There has been frustrations as someone who was raised as an only child blended with someone who cane from a family of eleven children.

But, we have done it. And, we're going to keep on doing it.

Kerry is the best person I have ever known in my life, for he is a man filled with integrity -- the type of person who is good when no one is watching.

God bless this good man.

And now, this is the end of my gratitude posts. I have done one each day for thirty days, and could go on every day the rest of my life and never run out of things to be thankful for.

Because...that is what I have chosen.

Love to you all...

Wedding day at the Washington Temple - 1 Dec 1977

Gratitude Day #9 - Kerry's Brothers and Sisters - 9 Nov 2017

Today I am grateful for Kerry's brothers and sisters.

He grew up with ten brothers and sisters! Five brothers and five sisters!!

I can recall forty years ago when he and I flew to Utah so I could meet his family. First of all, the house was so big I wasn't sure I would ever remember where everything was.

Then, all of these people started appearing!

I grew to love them. Actually, I fell in love with them before I fell in love with Kerry. And yes, he knows this.

Kerry has often told me treasured stories from his childhood. Some were good. Some were not so good. Every type of personality you could imagine surrounded him.

Early in our marriage, I couldn't understand why Kerry didn't always answer me when I was asking a question, or just commenting on a tv show. Friend BeLinda Louise Stacks gave me the right way to solve this.

She said, "Peggy, when you grow up in a big family, you probably feel no one is actually talking to you. It's got to be someone else. So, get Kerry's attention first by saying his name or touching his arm. Then, he'll know it's him."

Bingo!

Kerry's siblings are scattered around the globe as of late. There aren't the big family gatherings at his parents' ranch in central Utah anymore. I don't really know if there will ever be any more gatherings like there used to be. Perhaps when one passes.

They're all getting older now. Kerry is 65, and he is #5 in the birth order. An older brother has already passed at age 19. And, one of his sisters passed in 2000 from ALS.

But, I am grateful for these adults who helped mold him into the person he is today. (Again, words from my mother..."if you can get along with your own family, you can get along with anyone in the world")