The Williams Family

May 27, 2011

From my early childhood, I remember you working to protect me and take care of me. Under difficult circumstances, you did what you could to get me to Church in those early years. That limited exposure to primary and Sunday meetings caused me to develop the seeds of my testimony. Knowing you may need to support the family, you entered the business world and taught yourself how to navigate the world of women's retail clothing.

Those early Canadian preparations became critical when you moved me to Phoenix and I became active in the Church. I remember entering the doors of the 44th Street chapel like it was yesterday. I also remember you and Jack starting your new business by first buying a small clothing store in the Safari Hotel. I know now that I am an adult, how much courage and faith it must have taken for you to believe you could start a business from scratch in a new country and support your family.

From your hard work, I always had a comfortable and secure life. When I made the decision to attend the University of Michigan Law School, you made it possible by paying my tuition and other schooling costs. I have been grateful for that financial support that allowed me such a strong education. And of course it was at the University or Michigan where I met and dated Sharon--the love of my life.

Moving to Phoenix and leaving my Canadian world behind was traumatic for me but changed my life. Although I never felt like Arizona was home, I have stayed and my family and I have been blessed from my service in the Church. I have tried to follow your example of hard work and faith. I needed to draw upon your example when, at the age of 34, I was called as Bishop just as I was struggling to open my own law practice. I also drew on that learned faith when our family was called to Brazil for my Mission President service. I am still drawing on that faith particularly now that I have been called as a Stake President.

We both nearly died when you brought me into this world and we both have been fighting ever since. Thank you for your example of hard work, perseverance and faith and for always being my best supporter and cheerleader. I love you, Mom!

Richard Williams

Eighty. Really? Eighty?

It seems like yesterday I first caught glimpse of you walking towards me in the airport in Detroit, Michigan. You had come to visit your baby boy whom I had been dating seriously for the past year. That first visit made a strong and lasting impression. Here’s what I remember thinking…poised…accomplished…inquisitive…well-dressed ….and what is up with all that TAB? Seriously, I remember strolling around the mall in

Ann Arbor with you for an hour or so and twice…TWICE, we stopped to have a “drink” and chat. That was my first exposure to TAB that later introduced me to DIET COKE and well, let’s just say a million Big Gulps and Route 44’s later, thank you? Seriously, over the years, we have had countless chats over drinks and I cherish them all!

You have mentioned before that you wonder why I always come back to this “one great thing” you did for me all those years ago. You and I both know you have done COUNTLESS great things for me over the years. However, I will always believe that you were the person Heavenly Father chose to perform His tender mercies during the difficult time when my Mother passed away. It sounds cliché but it truly fits… “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” My emotions spanned the spectrum from joy to devastation. I credit you for being mostly responsible for the joyous part (Richard gets partial credit). A wedding is a momentous time in a young girl’s life and you made mine like a fairytale. You did all of the things that I know my mother would have attended to if she could have. And after the wedding, when we moved in with you and Jack for the summer, you gave me the time and space I needed to heal. Thank you…why does that always make me cry?

I grew up in a home that was a bit more closed minded than yours. I found it fascinating to sit around the dinner table at the Camelhill house (the very table that is now sitting in our dining room) and listen to you all share your views on all kinds of topics, none of which were off limits. I found it stimulating and eventually even dared to join in. Now, Richard can’t stop me from chiming in with my two cents. Hee, Hee. That is what I learned from you…to share my opinion. Richard has learned a much lesser thing from his association with my family….GOLF!

We have had some pretty great times together and have gone on some memorable trips! We’ve been to Hawaii, Saint Thomas, Waterton Lakes, England and Mexico together. But a few of those trips stand out more than the others. I will never forget arriving in Saint Thomas and getting settled that first glorious tropical day…then all hell broke loose. You threw your back out somehow that first night and were having terribly painful back spasms. This was my first experience with someone in acute pain. I immediately took to the streets to find you some relief. I entered more than one “Dr.s” office to flash some cash to see what it could buy. My hope was to accumulate what I knew would bring you some relief…and I came through for you man. I had to dig deep into my inner third world drug dealer….but I found her and she came through in the pinch (no pun intended).

Then of course, who could forget my driving abilities in England?…certainly not Jessica! Somewhere in England there is still a Hertz rental car out there with her fingernail indentations in the back seat. What were we thinking? And how did we get everywhere we wanted to go? Do you remember driving forever to get to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory and when we finally arrived they told us they would be closing in 15 minutes. I have never seen any three people hoard chocolate as fast and furious as we did. Fruit and Nut bars were a flyin’! Do you remember when we got down to the very Southern tip of England and the streets just kept getting more and more narrow until we could swear they became paths. And then a fog set in and we knew if any car came in the other direction we were goners for sure. And I will NEVER forget arriving in London with all of their one-way streets and trying to remember to drive on the wrong side of the street as you were giving me directions from shot gun. As we closed in on our hotel, we just decided to park and walk…it was safer! Good times.

I love you Helen…to the moon and back. I admire your spunk and determination, your gracious nature and strength of character. You have been so supportive of our family and me over the years in all that we do. I tip my hat to you and shout in a loud voice…. “YOU MAKE EIGHTY LOOK SO GOOD!”

May 26, 2011

For Grandma,

I love you, Grandma. You are so generous, loving and ADVENTUROUS. One of my favorite things about you is that you are always up for trying something new. You are never scared to go on the next trip and experience new things. You are also so nice to invite people to experience your adventures with you.

You and I went on a couple of great trips with one another. I sometimes thought of myself as your little adventure sidekick. My favorite adventure we took together was the road trip we took to get your teeth done in Mexico. I remember the long road trip and to the Mexican border eating butterscotch and listening to classical music. You gave me advice and taught me life lessons and I remember soaking it all in as I ate the sweet candies. At your dentist's office I remember reading my "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul" book while I waited for you. The return ride home was just as fun as the road trip there and I remember feeling like I was such a grown up. You always listened to me when I spoke and even though I was young at the time, you made me feel like my opinions mattered.

You really are an amazing grandma. Our adventures together were unforgettable and I just wanted to thank you for taking me with you on a couple of your adventures. I love you to the moon and back, Grandma!

Love you,

Lauren Williams