An Ode to Joy

'Oh may my soul commune with thee'
My thoughts reach out to heav'n.
With gratitude and love of God
For Grace; for hope within.

Joy is one of my sweetest friends and strongest champions. We met years ago when my husband was her home teacher. That's when her service to our family began. She never needed an official assignment or calling to start looking out for me; she just did it. I knew she loved me from the first minute she knew me. My kids soon adopted her and started referring to her as Grandma Pett. (I think some of the younger ones might be surprised to learn we're not blood relatives.) We traded off being each other's visiting teachers and visiting teaching companions. We served in yw's, scouts, then primary and then scouts again together (after we left for Arizona she and Whitney even joined up forces in RS again without me!). Despite the difference in our ages, she's one of my best friends.

She taught me so much and did it literally by example. She held my hand when I was sick. She didn't just tell me things would be better, she made them better. She brought food to the house for my family and brought my family to her house for food. She'd show up one day, and take my kids out for a special day-for their sake and for mine. She never asked what she could do to help; she just helped. And the truly incredible, amazing thing about this is, I was not the only one she did this for. She loves everyone she meets and shows it with her hands and her heart, not just with her words. She was involved in so many people's lives.

And she was happy. One morning as we sat in my living room, she told me it was because she made it a point to put God first in her life. That way she didn't have to worry about what would come second. She prayed every day to do what He wanted her to do and then went around trying to figure out what that was and to do it. That conversation has stayed with me for years. It changed me-not immediately, but subtly as I tested it out for myself and watched her lead. It was something I'd been taught before, but this time it hit home. Why? Me creo porque...I observed her do just that-put her trust completely in her Father in Heaven and what He had planned for her life; through years of being single, with no husband and no family (before I knew her), through the joy of a marriage later in life, standing by her husband as his health deteriorated and took him away much too soon, and then through more years of living alone. She really did it. She put her trust in God, and it really did make her incredibly joy full.

Some called her Marlene. Others Grandma. Still others Aunt Joy. But everyone I know refers to her with affection and admiration. I've never known anyone who thought ill of her. How many people can you say that about?

We're so fortunate to have 2 temples within our mission. We have the opportunity to go regularly. My dad sent me some family names. I spent this Friday with my other mom and dad in the Mesa temple helping lay some ground work to seal two daughters to their parents. I was thinking about this little family way back in my family tree; thinking about my family in California and Georgia; preparing thoughts for zone conference-the role of the Atonement in our desire to serve Christ to the end (D&C 20:37; and the last half of 2 Nephi)- and everything kept rolling back to "Aunt Joy", my buddy Marlene.

She taught me so much about family. She treasured all of her family. She was passionate about genealogy and temple work. She talked about seeing Lynn again with such a confusing mix of confidence and excited anticipation/patience; it was hard for me to understand. She rarely showed frustration, mental fatigue, and never lack of faith. She understood the Atonement on so many levels that I am just starting to grasp. Can you tell she's one of my heroes?

Marlene, I love you! Congratulations-what a happy day.