Thoughts and stories, by Pal

 A year ago today was Wayne's last day on earth.   I've decided to include part of something I had written not long after Wayne passed away.  It tells of his last hours --   I hope it isn't too personal, but it tells a lot about him, and his stamina and faith.  I'm not going to label the pictures.  I think you know who they are! Tonight is a sentimental time -- one year ago tonight at this time, we were very concerned about Wayne.  He had gone on Hospice the day before, and they had brought a wheel chair and also a walker.  He started using the walker then, but only a year ago today, which was a Saturday, he wanted to be taken from the front room to the bedroom in a wheelchair.  He was getting weaker.  He had dialysis on Friday, which always weakened him.  He had been told months ago that when he felt he couldn't live through any more he could just stop dialysis, and he would go to sleep soon, and not wake up.  But he love...

Well, I've made it!  This morning at 7 a.m. I was officially 81 years old!   We have been so blessed!  Yes, we have had problems, but the blessings have so outweighed them!   This is the first family picture with all 9 of our children in it.  It was taken in 1975, just before our oldest son, Wayne, went on his mission. Fast forward many years, to just before we went on our mission to Sweden, in 1994. Now, our children, taken a year ago September, at my 80th birthday party! In order, they are from left to right, Wayne M., Delsy, Anita, Allen, Wayne, me (Pal), McKay, Angela, Tacy, Pam, and Jeremy.  One of our very special times was when we went together on a couple mission to Sweden, 1994 to 1996.   You can read about it on blog #51, posted on Dec. 27, 2013, in less than 2 months after I started this blog.  We were really excited to sustain Elder Renlund as an Apostle.  His parents were both from Sweden, and came to the Unite...

This was originally blog # 120, published on March 25, 2014.  I will update it some at the end, and leave the first as originally written. I guess from time to time I should tell some about our own lives, Pal and Wayne Eckman.   Actually my full name is Paralee Miles (maiden name) Eckman, and Wayne's is Wayne D Eckman.   I was born Oct. 6, 1934, in St. George, Utah and Wayne was born Sept. 18th, 1930, in Murray, Utah, just south of Salt Lake City, in the same valley.  I have noticed some of our readers live in foreign countries, and that is fascinating to me!  How small our wonderful world is!   And I truly feel love and friendship for each one of you, whether we have met or not.  That seems to be something that comes with membership in the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!      This photo was on our wedding day, Sept. 24, 1955.  Since then we now have nine children, 29 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchi...