Oh Somebody's Had a Birthday...

Okay, if you have a minute, please refer to the following post which details a few of the things I’m not so good at…did you read it? On that list I confess that I’m terrible with remembering birthdays. And it’s true. Most of the time, I am. On Sunday night, we had a party at my parent’s house for my Mom’s 68th birthday. My Dad did a great job buying the cake and ice cream and making sure everyone was invited. It was really fun. I even remembered to buy her a present. (Except the card fell out of the gift bag and had to be given to her the next day.) What I neglected to do was write her a birthday blog. I probably should have done it on her birthday (which was Saturday), but you all know how my Saturdays are (not an excuse, I know). So, better late than never is what I say. So Mom, here’s your birthday blog…hopefully it’s the thought that counts.

My Mom was born on June 7, 1940 in Compton, California. (I always loved telling people she’s straight out of Compton, yo!!) Anyway, she was the first child for Max and Esther Oglesby (my Nana and Papa) and the first grandchild for both sets of grandparents, as well as niece to adoring aunts and uncles. She was definitely well-loved (spoiled) by many doting relatives. She grew up as "Linda Rae" in Portland, Oregon. The stories from her childhood are hilarious, and she has written several of them down for posterity. Someday we hope to see them published, they are that good. She has one sister, my Aunt Vicki who was born about 10 years after she was. Aunt Vicki kind of stole her thunder a bit with the family arriving as this sweet little bundle of joy after many years of trying for more kids, but I don’t think my Mom minded so much. Since the day she arrived I think they both knew they were made for each other. I have always admired the friendship and love they have for each other and their parents.

My Mom is a convert to the Church. She was baptized when she was about 13 years old and was taught by sister missionaries after attending church with a good friend of hers. Eventually my Mom’s conversion led to my grandparents and Aunt also getting baptized. They were sealed as a family in the Portland Temple on the same day as my sister Melanie’s wedding. It was a very special experience for all of us.

My Mom attended BYU and is a loyal Cougar fan. She attended Provo the first year, Hawaii the second, and then Provo again until she graduated. I stumbled upon some old slides from her BYU-Hawaii days a few years ago while helping them prepare to move to their condo, and had the slides converted to CD/picture output. Seeing those pictures revealed a new side to my Mom for all of us, I think…her crazy, fun-loving side that is infectious to be around. My Mom was working as an elementary school teacher in the Salt Lake area when she met my Dad. He was in his Master’s program at the University of Utah. They got set up on a blind date, and thankfully it went well. They were married in July of 1965(?) After graduating, my Dad took his first job with Ford which moved them to Detroit.

My Mom became a Mom first to Shauna, then Jeff, Ryan, me, and Melanie while living in Taylor, Michigan. After moving to Livonia, along came Erin to complete the family as #6. My Mom was a busy lady…obviously. But she still managed to find time for other things. She was always serving somebody through her many callings in the Church, as well as making good friends with people in our neighborhoods and community (she always knew everybody anywhere we went).

She started a catering business at one point to help make money for my brother’s missions. She’d make truckloads of food to drive to downtown Detroit for some woman’s luncheon or other at some random Church in the inner-city. It was truly courageous and took a lot of spunk, and I admire her determination to help out her family any way she could. She also worked part-time as a librarian and a substitute teacher for awhile, until she finally found a way to make money doing what she loved best…storytelling. I think that is what really made her a rock-star in my eyes.

She has successfully married off all of her children and now has the pleasure of sitting back and enjoying watching her posterity grow, along with my Dad. The twentieth grandchild was born to Erin and Ben just this past March. My Mom continues to be a strong force for good in our family. She is not only a wonderful Mom, but a trusted friend, and somebody to laugh with whenever you need it. She’s fiercely loyal and proud of her family, and would do anything she could to make us all happy. I am proud to be her daughter, and honored to wish her a happy (somewhat belated) birthday tribute this year!!