Mama's Happiest Childhood Years

This is our beloved Mama. We're not sure how old she was when this photo was taken. Her father died when she was three and her little sister, Lois, was 6 months old. Rhoda (her mother) moved them in with her parents, Tacy and Richard Winmill. The Winmills lived on a farm in Riverside, and those were the happiest years of Mama's life. They lived there until Rhoda remarried when Mama was 8.

Grandma Winmill was hospitalized for a time, and Mama was the only grandchild that was allowed visits because she would sit quietly by her bed and attend to Grandma Winmill's needs. So she became Grandma Winmill's favorite. Grandpa Winmill, on the other hand, preferred Lois, because she had beautiful dark eyes like Grandma Winmill.

They would often have bread and milk for breakfast. The bread was broken up into pieces, milk and sugar poured over, the precursor of packaged cereal. They would kneel at the chairs for family prayer, and after the meal they would read the scriptures. Mama remembers that Grandpa Winmill would often have tears streaming down his face as he read.

Mama says they would never say an unkind word about anyone. The only time she ever saw Grandpa Winmill lose his temper was when someone would steal his irrigation water! Serious business, water rights.

Frat House Days

This photo is dated April, 1967. These were the years that Mom's little brothers--Tony, Billy, and Mike--lived with us occasionally. Billy attended the College of Idaho and stayed with us, and during the summer they would work for Dad at one of his service stations. It was like a frat party at our house.

Mother couldn't keep enough food in the house. They would consume gallons of milk. I remember them standing at the frig guzzling from the carton. Once they were playing catch with a watermelon in the kitchen and Mom was pressing them to stop. When somebody failed to catch the watermelon and it splattered all over the kitchen, Mom said "I told you so!" They scooped her up and sat her on top of the watermelon.

Mike always had trouble getting up for church. He would be out late the night before, but told Dad to do anything he could to get him up. Dad took that statement literally. One Sunday morning Cindy and I watched with fascination as Dad moved Michael--clinging to his mattress--into the shower and turned it on full blast! Another Sunday morning Dad lit what he thought were firecrackers--they were cherry bombs! Mike came out of the bedroom stumbling through the smoke.

Oliver

This is Oliver. He lived with us for a school year as part of the Indian Placement Program that the church sponsored while President Kimball was the prophet. Our family was so excited to have someone join us. Oliver had a sister that was supposed to come, but she chose not to get on the bus. Living with us was a culture shock for Oliver.

Cindy remembers him as being really quiet and shy. He wasn't used to having all the food we could eat, so he would sneak food into his room at night. Once we heard him using the restroom all night, and discovered a large pile of orange peels the next morning. He'd eaten so many oranges he had diarrhea! We also discovered cans in our food storage room that had been crudely opened with a pocket knife.

We were happy that he returned the following school year to live with a family full of boys that lived in the country. I'm sure he was much happier there.

The church discontinued the program after a few years. I suspect they discovered that removing the children from their culture wasn't the best way to help them.

AWKARD FAMILY PHOTO!!!

THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN! This will definitely be an ongoing feature. This picture was taken at Grandma Pope's house. That is Cindy at the left of the photo, looking like her patience has been tried by some antic of mine. I am hiding beneath the faux fur. And Mother is stylishing stepping out in a blush-colored trapeze housedress. I asked everyone to submit captions, and was overwhelmed by the response. I had a good belly laugh everytime I got an e-mail. Here are the captions:

Jean - "Rhonda, I'll give you another cookie out of this box if you'll come out of there and quit sucking your thumb"

Cindy- "Oh, not again!"

Submitted by JOHN

"Don't make me sing!"

Submitted by Jasmine (if you haven't seen the SNL skit, you must check it out on Youtube)

"Rhonda! What are you hiding under that blanket! ?"

"Chocolate chips… Bags of them"

Submitted by Josiah

Send it in!

Submitted by Aaron

"Rhonda, I found these shoes in the closet that will complete your look. Faux fur, muu muu, tube socks, vinyl hand bag-- this will certainly be the best costume for the day!"

Submitted by Ami (It's a reference to Grey Gardens-but funny even if you haven't seen Grey Gardens)

"Dry clean only?!"

Submitted by Hansen

"Hurry people! Everyone act busy! Jesus is coming!" (John says "a saying I saw on the Tshirt of an old hippie on Maui. It still makes me chuckle. Jean seems to be bursting in the room announcing with the command and presence of a Tim Gunn.")

JOHN. 2nd submission

Glamour Shots!

Can you believe how glamorous we look? Mother looks so natural with her winning smile. Cindy: posed but adorable. Me: obviously my first photo shoot. The photographer must have asked me to look pensive. Overall, what I notice is our hair. I remember getting compliments all the time--now I can understand it.

When we were young Daddy never let Mom cut our hair. When pixie cuts were all the rage, we begged her to let us cut it. Finally, she caved. Daddy was devastated. You'd have thought Mother committed a criminal offense! Luckily, our hair grows fast and we soon had luscious locks again.

The back of my photo is dated March 8, 1970. Cindy was a senior in high school, and a local celebrity. She was winning numerous speech and debate awards. We were so proud of her, following her to performances like groupies. We were and are her biggest fans! I've attached a clipping I found.

Mama

Sunday was a perfect Mother's Day. I attended church with Mom and Dad. During Relief Society each sister shared memories of her mother. Cindy and I felt tickled that we were together and able to pay tribute to our remarkable Mother.

Mom was hired as a secretary at Jefferson Junior High School when I was a teenager. She loved working through the school year and having the summers off. I love looking at her school photos through the years. Here are a few of them. Can you believe how beautiful she is? She was always stylish and her hair reflected the current trend.

Mom was efficient with a capitol E! Today, Cindy and I marvel that there was never a dirty article of clothing in our home. Each morning when Cindy and I awoke, everything we'd worn the day before was clean and folded neatly at the foot of our bed!

Even though she never considered herself a good cook--she WAS. She would serve up amazing meals. Dad tells the story of when she cooked for farmhands the first time. She'd been told how much they ate, and was nervous about having enough food. She cooked meatloaf in cakepans and literally had enough to feed an army, and there was food left over!

I have a vivid memory as a child standing at the foot of an escalator holding Mama's hand. I hadn't ever seen an escalator and was alternately fascinated and terrified. I desperately wanted to get on it, but the step kept moving and I was afraid. Mama did not simply put me on the escalator--(which is what I would have done as a Mom). She patiently stood by me for as long as it took for me to gain the courage to take the first step onto the moving staircase.

Mother's youthful personality made her a natural to serve as the Young Women's president. All the kids loved her. She was the Ward YW President for three bishops, and then served as the Stake Young Women's President for many years. Her life revolved around youth activities, stake dances, and girls' camp. Everyone benefited by her endless energy and fun spirit.

She was so supportive of any endeavor Cindy and I pursued. Honestly, anything we accomplished was because of her encouragement. On Sunday, Cindy said the greatest lesson she learned from Mom is to face fear and move through it. If you're afraid of something--and Cindy said she is usually afraid of anything new and unfamiliar--Mom said to put one foot in front of the other. Move through the fear and pretty soon, you're comfortable with it.

Dear Mama, thank you forever! Cindy and I pray you will treasure your remaining years watching posterity grow and progress. You've worked enough for several lifetimes--just sit back and enjoy the show!