Memories of Gayla

I am so glad we have this blog! Thank you Monte! I love the fact that Rachelle is chronogically posting her memories of each member of our family. Thank you Rachelle!

Gayla has been on my mind a lot lately for some reason, and I have thought of posting my memories of her, too. I am so glad that she followed the prompting to move to New York so we(her younger sisters) could get to know her.

One of my first memories of Gayla is riding a pony with her at our house in Trumansburg. I also remember going with her to get her horse Venus. I think it was on my 9th birthday when she was in college that she called to wish me a happy birthday, and then gave Venus to me to keep. I was sooo happy! I loved Venus, and spent hours riding her and caring for her.

When our family went to Utah to attend General Conference, I believe that Gayla had married John at that time. She was very ill, and we had a family fast for her. From what I remember, she recovered completely and quickly.

Gayla always had a smile and a ready laugh. I have seen pictures of her being sad, but that's not the Gayla I remember. I used to love her telling me stories of the Three Little Pigs, and the Three Billy Goats Gruff.

She sang beautifully, too. Hearing her sing was like listening to an angel. I still hear her singing the descant to Silent Night, with her voice rising above the rest of the congregation. I could never sing it as well as she could, but I play the descant on my violin whenever I get the opportunity.

It was Gayla and her husband John who told us about girls having pink germs, and boys having blue germs. I still tell my boys about that!

Gayla was so excited to have Lonny. Her obstetrician told her that if she had a healthy baby, he would turn cartwheels down the hospital hallway. Well, she did, and he did! She sent us the cutest pictures of Lonny all the time! My favorite picture is the one with 1 year old Lonny standing in front of the bathroom mirror in his birthday suit. (sorry Lonny!) He was such a cute baby!

When Gayla and John moved to Elmira to be closer to us, I looked forward to the weekends when they would come to visit. Like Rachelle said, we used to stay up late into the night, talking, laughing, and reading sections of slut novels and making fun of them.

The night before Gayla passed away, she and John came to our house for dinner. Noelle, Rachelle, and I went to a basketball game at our local school. When we came home, Gayla was lying on the couch, not feeling well. She always loved having her feet rubbed with lotion, and I got to be the one to rub her feet that night.

The next morning I was supposed to audition for All-County chorus. I didn't know if I should go to the audition when Noelle came into Rachelle's and my room to tell us about Gayla. Mom and Dad said that it was up to me. I decided that Gayla would want me to go to the audition. It was so hard to sing that day! but I did, and I made it into the chorus.

I can't begin to tell you how many people in our community brought food and sent cards when they found out about Gayla. I was in the school Drama Club, and it was probably the best thing for me at that time. I never knew how many friends I had - they really got together and helped me through those tough months.

Rachelle, I read the end of your post and started to cry. I had the exact same dream about Gayla a few months after her death. We were at a big family party, and she was going around hugging everyone. I remember telling her how much I missed her. She laughed at me and said "What do you mean, silly? I'm here with you all the time!" I'm sure that she would love to able to post on this blog, and maybe that's why she's been in my thoughts lately.

Gayla, we'll always remember you with lots of love and laughter!

Picture Request

I am writing a book of baby songs. To illustrate it I am using photos. One of my songs is about aunts and uncles and cousins. I don't have very many current pictures of Rachel's aunts and uncles and cousins on the Bateman side, so I would like to request some pictures of your families that I can include in my book. Thanks.

You can e-mail me any and all pictures at noelle.gosnell@gmail.com.

It has been awhile, but I'm back with more memories of my family (plus a little more)

It was Charlie's birthday a few weeks ago, so I'm putting a video of him on here (with Josh's help)...

Some of my favorite Charlie quotes over the years are:

"When the scriptures say 'and it came to pass', it means to turn the page."

"I'm not a whole five, 'cause I still feel four."

Mike frequently watches a movie or T.V. at night. One time Charlie followed him asking--"Dad, what are you going to watch?" Mike said, "Nothing." Charlie quickly responded, "what are you not gonna watch?"

Mike was pouring cereal for Josh and Dale and asked Charlie if he wanted some cereal for breakfast. Charlie said he wasn't having cereal for breakfast, he was having eggs, toast and sausage. Mike said, "oh yeah? Who is going to make all that for you?" Charlie said happily, "you are!"

Here are some of my memories of Gayla:

When I was little, she wrote me some letters (I still have them).

I remember feeling so excited about John, Gayla and Lonny moving to New York.

She was always so pretty and radiant.

After she moved to New York we had regular visits with her. One night she sat on the bed with Luella, my friend and I and read a harlequin romance novel out loud to us. She read it in such a funny way and we laughed and laughed.

I enjoyed listening to her play Fur Elise and Schmeterling on the piano.

One time when Gayla was at our house she said, "I'm starving!" Luella was fixing lunch and Noelle saw a prime opportunity to play a little joke on her. Gayla went upstairs to get something and upon her return, saw at her place, a tray piled high with spaghetti, a pitcher for a glass, a bread cutting knife, a ladle and a serving fork for eating utensils. She thought we were pretty funny.

I remember enjoying every minute I spent with her. She was so much fun and so nice.

I remember the night before she died, going into the bedroom where she was, to tell her that I loved her.

I remember Noelle coming into mine and Luella's room early in the morning to tell us that Gayla went to the hospital and that she didn't make it.

I remember all of us standing in the hallway with our arms around eachother and crying, feeling so much loss.

I remember John and Lonny coming to our house--I felt so sad for Lonny especially. John said that the reason she wanted to move back to New York was to get closer to her family and get to know her little sisters better. I'm thankful for the time I spent with her and I still miss her.

At her funeral (or at least right before), we thought that she didn't look like herself--so Ladawn curled her hair and put some makeup on her.

I loved hearing Monte and Ladawn sing "I Walked Today where Jesus Walked" at her funeral as they held hands.

When I was on my mission, I had a dream. Our whole family was gathered in a big room, where we were eating, talking and laughing. We were enjoying eachothers company. Gayla was there and gave each of us a hug. It was a very comforting dream.

Happy belated birthday Lamona!

I know it's a few days late, but I just want to wish Lamona a very happy birthday!

Exciting News

In case you missed the exciting news on my own blog, I'll share it here too. Rachel took her very first steps last Monday. She's still a little wobbly, but making good progress. Here's a video we took of her walking.

About Lamona

Mom recorded in my baby book that I learned early not to mess with her as per the sibling pecking order. I must have neglected to notice that she was just as big as me and twice as feisty.
When she and Faline and I sang in Sacrament meeting, when we were all still very young, and were basking in the praise given afterward, Lamona went so far as to keep track of the numbers. After the meeting she came up to Mom in the foyer and announced, "So far I got 5 complaints!"
I was protective of her on her first day of first grade as we mounted the school bus, feeling like a mother hen, worrying about how she would do, whether she would get lost, which was silly because she was way more self-assured than me.
We would go around together on the playground before school when I was in the fourth grade and she was in the third, and the kids would ask us if we were twins because we had the same hair, same eyes and were the same size.
I have her to thank for the memory of my most embarrassing moment. I had been obsessed with weighing the same as the cutest, most popular girl in the fourth grade--58 pounds. I weighed sixty, but that was unacceptable. Every morning I faithfully stood on the scales, and Lamona, standing by, kept vigilant track, sympathetic when the needle again recorded 60. On the morning I weighed one pound less than sixty she was jubilant for me and on the bus announced to her friend, Trixie, loud enough for everyone--including Floyd Kisser, the guy on whom I had a crush--to hear, "Guess what? Teddie only weighed 59 pounds today with just her underwear on!"

Hope you have a Happy Birthday today, Lamona!

Kelly - Man of All Talents

I just propped up a photo on my keyboard. It is a picture of a wedding cake sitting on a doily-covered round table. In the photo a relative of the bride is cutting the first piece of the cake for the guests, clearly "in charge" of the wedding cake.

The bride was Malauna Christensen (aka Gibby) and the relative was her Uncle Kelly. Taking care of the wedding cake was what was needed when he asked what he could do to help. There was no hesitation, no embarrassment, just "Sure!" and it was done.

Loyal - Generous - Kind ... that is the brother Kelly I know. Kelly is "there" for whatever is needed, from cutting cake to buddy passes, from a ride home on his motorcycle to a song on his banjo. I love you Kelly. Happy 47th Birthday!