January 1, 1935
I have never before started
to write a diary. So - here goes.
John Kennedy came to S.L.C. for New
Years. Last night we went to the U
Dinner Dance. Left there at
2:o’clock. La Prielle had 30 ¢ she “bot”
us each a 5 ¢ hamburger. Got home at
4:o’clock. Jan. 1. 1935 awoke at 11:35. Made 3 mince pies. 2 of them burned. John & Mont came for dinner.
[Mont had a lot of dinner
John hardly ate anything. He seemed frightened.. He said he couldn’t stay but had to join
some friends. I rode to 21st
South with him then walked to the County Hospital to see Wid. From there went to town to a show at the
Star. John called at home while I was
at the show. Did not see him again. Helen and Mont took me home at 1:00.]
January 2
[I didn’t have] an apitite
for breakfast ate an egg & a half slice of bread. Made a fruit cake for Marja’s party but the
brown sugar went into lumps. It looks
good but doesn’t look so good!!???
Washed dishes. Came to
work. Helen invited Miles as my partner
for the party tonight. Went out on my
lunch hour & spent $5.00 of my check for Helen’s party & bought some
stationery for Marja. [I keep trying to stop thinking of John but don’t seem to
be able to. I will in time though. Will write later about Marja’s party.] The party was a great success. No one would go home till 1:30. We sat & talked about it till 2:30. It was a grand party.
Monday, Jan. 1, 1940
Our first New Year’s day
together–Harold and I,–as Husband and wife.
We have been married since Nov. 17, 1939. A very short time true, but a very happy
time. We have discovered that we must
work together, play together - fight together, & pray together if we expect
to get the most out of life. We spent
new Year’s eve and until 1:30 A.M. at Carlsons home, then slept the remainder
of the night at Mothers. The day didn’t
dawn for us until 9:30 A.M. and I believe for Dan & Jesse 10:30 A.M. Made mince meat pies for Mom & hurried
off to town with Harold to see “Our Neighbors the Carters.” Mrs Carter saved $1,000 on household
expenses. Guess I’ll have to too.
643
Cedar Street
San
Antonio, Texas
January
2, 1943
Dear Mother,
Your letter came this morning, and so did Jennette’s
& Pearl’s. I also got a lovely
letter from Winnie, so I spent a good deal of time this morning reading
letters. It is just wonderful to hear
from home, and to know that you all had a nice Christmas. What I wouldn’t give for a piece of plum
pudding. It has been too warm here to
think of cooking too much, altho I have been baking my bread lately.
Winnie was saying that Jennette told her I don’t seem to
get homesick. Perhaps I am not as
eloquent as others in saying how much I miss all of you, or how I miss seeing
the snow on the mountains or listening to the tabernacle organ or visiting the
DeYoungs, or just setting in front of the fire place Sunday Evenings eating
sandwiches & drinking a cup of cocoa.
No matter how often you say you miss them or how much doesn’t matter
unless it makes you at home feel happy.
But down in our hearts we know there is a space that will not be filled
again until we are together again. For
the present, my home is here with Harold and the children. I have learned that we can’t wait to be happy
until we have all the things we are working for, or until we are united with
our friends & loved ones, or until we have every thing we want. Each day comes & goes. If we are happy it is up to us. Sorrow comes often enough, and I want to see
my little children grow in health & happiness, & I’ve found it in a
full time job. You have given all of us
a good foundation to work on, and if we can live our lives as you have taught
us we should, the world should be a little bit better.
The Christmas news came last Monday and we have been
devouring it all week. From it we
learned that Don Wagstaff has a daughter a year old. I didn’t know he had any of his own.
I had a letter from Jesse Tues. and he said he bought a
pair of shoes with the money we sent him.
Did you get the war stamps we sent.
I hope your book is getting filled.
Tell Pearl that if she doesn’t tell us about Royce we
don’t hear so she had better tell us all about him.
I’ve been trying to get this letter written all day, and
haven’t been able to settle at it for very long. Sister Shelton has come over & is going
to stay with the children while Harold & I go to a show. It will be his last night off for 5
weeks. Mon. he starts working nights
& will have his Sundays off for 5 weeks & will work 9 to 5:30 on
Wednesdays. So he will be able to take care of the children when I go to Relief
Society. Wed. is my lesson again.
No I didn’t find your address book but I am going thru
everything thoroughly while Harold is home in the mornings so will look for
it. Mrs. Brown is happy about the new
baby coming but worried about her husband being called to the army. I’m sure tho she needn’t worry for a while
tho.
Mrs. Beecher Adkinson
2117 - 5th Ave. West
Seattle, Wash
Mrs. S. H. Boroughs
1502 - 23rd St.
So. Bellingham, Wash
If there are any more addresses you want I’ll copy what I
have & send.
Forgive me for writing in such a hurry but we are ready
to leave.
Wishing you joy & happiness in the New Year.
May the Lord Bless you
With Love
Laura
6535
West Alameda Ave
Denver
14, Colorado
January
1, 1945
Dear Pearl,
Happy Birthday Pearl.
It has always been so much a part of the Christmas holidays that it has
been rather neglected. From now on it
will have to be remembered along with the Christmas thank you letters. I hope you will use the dollar enclosed for
something you really want, and need.
How is little Jean?
She is nearly 2 years old now, and we haven’t heard much about her
lately. Is she still as blond as
ever? How much hair does she have. Is it going to be curly? Does she talk yet? Does she play with dolls? I have some material left from the children’s
doll quilts, if you are interested in making any quilts for Jean, just say the
word, and I’ll send it on to you. It is
pink, or blue with little children on it.
Winkin Blinkin, and Nod, sailing on the sea, and little boys and girls
in night gowns with candles in their hands.
I made a mattress, and some pillows for their doll beds too, and stuffed
them with cotton batting, and you should see how they love them.
We have been wondering how you and the family celebrated
the New Year. We went to bed about 10:30
and slept thru until 4 when the baby woke up, and Harold had to get up and go
to work as usual this morning. Tomorrow
morning he is going out of town again.
He is not even sure he can get home next Sunday. He will have to drive 190 miles if he comes,
and might get criticized for using the gas to come so far. If he doesn’t get home the baby will have to
wait until Feb. to be blessed.
I wouldn’t mind having you here this week to help me do
some shopping. Thursday Mrs Neimeyer is
going to take me into town, and is going to help me pick out a coat and hat,
shoes, and purse. I haven’t had a new
purse for 2 and a half years and I think I need one. Maxine is going to take care of Alvin and
Betty and I’ll take Jane in to Aunt Nell.
I’m looking forward to my shopping tour, yet it is something that I
haven’t done for so long I don’t feel quite sure of myself. I’m glad Mrs. Neimeyer is going with me. She knows Denver, has lived here all her
life, and knows which stores are good, and what they sell.
We will be looking forward to hearing from you soon. You know we get anxious ourselves of some
news from Royce, and we depend on you to supply us with it. Now that I’m in the mood for writing, and
have a little time too I’m going to send a letter off to Royce. I’ve been trying to catch up with all our
writing, and it does take time. I try to
take advantage of the typewriter while it is here. I can usually write so much faster with
it. I have to admire Maxine. As I have probably told you, her husband is
in Pearl Harbor, and every night just after she has tucked the children in she
sits down and gets her daily letter written to her husband. If she goes out somewhere she always gets her
letter written before she goes to bed.
But as a rule she is usually writing at the same time every night, so I
know better than to visit her about that time.
I am trying to set aside a certain time every day to write at least one
letter too. In that way perhaps I can
keep up with my writing.
I hope in this coming year you will have more happiness
than you have had in the one just passed.
It is our prayer that you and Royce will be able to resume your marriage
and know the happiness you so much deserve.
In the meantime I know you will keep up your courage and enjoy Jean so
that when Royce does come home you can share her babyhood with him thru the enjoyment
you have had with her.
Lovingly,
Laura
Jan
1, 1948
I was writing last night while we waited for Roberts to
come over. We invited them over for the
evening, and we played chinese checkers and stayed up till midnight. There was very little or no excitement around
here. We heard 2 or 3 guns go off &
that was all. This morning I’m tired.
Last night there was 6 in. of snow on the ground & it
was 30o below zero but sometime after we went to bed the wind
started, and this morning there is bare ground & snow drifts, and it isn’t
too cold either. I’d hate to be out
tho. Maybe by noon Harold will take the
older children sleigh riding.
You didn’t by chance take the bottoms to Harold’s pajamas
home did you? If you didn’t they have
been blown to the valley. He must have
had them on the line the day you left.
Anyway we haven’t found them.
The girls are happy with their buggys and Lou is
too. He pushes them all over the
house. Jay Roberts had his tonsils out 2
days before Christmas, so I guess won’t miss any school.
Well, I must stop & get breakfast.
Lovingly, Laura
A card came to you from
Cissie, I’ll try to send it on.
