Popular Post Okrahomer Posted June 26 Popular Post Posted June 26 I am flying home today. I will spend the next couple of weeks taking my “turn” at caring for elderly parents — now both 99 years of age. Not sure what I’m thinking or feeling exactly, but I love these two Wyoming-bred and Oklahoma-grown souls so very deeply. They gave me life. They gave me the Gospel. They taught me to work and to be productive. They taught me how to face life’s ups and downs with courage, and to find happiness along the way. They taught me to love music, to enjoy people and so many other things. I know their mortal journey will soon come to an end: I wish they could stay, but I know they have to go. In August, they will celebrate 80 years of marriage and in September Dad turns 100. When I grow up, I want to be just like them. God bless my Mom and Dad. 12
bluebell Posted June 26 Posted June 26 34 minutes ago, Okrahomer said: I am flying home today. I will spend the next couple of weeks taking my “turn” at caring for elderly parents — now both 99 years of age. Not sure what I’m thinking or feeling exactly, but I love these two Wyoming-bred and Oklahoma-grown souls so very deeply. They gave me life. They gave me the Gospel. They taught me to work and to be productive. They taught me how to face life’s ups and downs with courage, and to find happiness along the way. They taught me to love music, to enjoy people and so many other things. I know their mortal journey will soon come to an end: I wish they could stay, but I know they have to go. In August, they will celebrate 80 years of marriage and in September Dad turns 100. When I grow up, I want to be just like them. God bless my Mom and Dad. Enjoy your time with them! Where in Wyoming, if I can ask? I am Wyoming-bred and Wyoming grown so your statement made me curious. 2
Okrahomer Posted June 26 Author Posted June 26 20 minutes ago, bluebell said: Enjoy your time with them! Where in Wyoming, if I can ask? I am Wyoming-bred and Wyoming grown so your statement made me curious. Dad is from Lovell and Mom is from Byron. They were young marrieds with 5 young boys (including 5-month old me) when they moved to Oklahoma…almost 70 years ago. 2
bluebell Posted June 26 Posted June 26 24 minutes ago, Okrahomer said: Dad is from Lovell and Mom is from Byron. They were young marrieds with 5 young boys (including 5-month old me) when they moved to Oklahoma…almost 70 years ago. My dad grew up in Byron and we have family in Lovell (and I currently live about 40 miles from Lovell). It's a great part of the state! 3
Devobah Posted June 26 Posted June 26 47 minutes ago, Okrahomer said: Dad is from Lovell and Mom is from Byron. They were young marrieds with 5 young boys (including 5-month old me) when they moved to Oklahoma…almost 70 years ago. Oh no way! My grandfather was from Lovell! I also served my mission in Oklahoma! I love coincidences. 4
Okrahomer Posted June 26 Author Posted June 26 1 hour ago, bluebell said: My dad grew up in Byron and we have family in Lovell (and I currently live about 40 miles from Lovell). It's a great part of the state! I wonder if we are related. 2
Okrahomer Posted June 26 Author Posted June 26 (edited) 1 hour ago, Devobah said: Oh no way! My grandfather was from Lovell! I also served my mission in Oklahoma! I love coincidences. I grew up in Muskogee. Edited June 26 by Okrahomer 2
Okrahomer Posted June 26 Author Posted June 26 1 minute ago, MorningStar said: They are so blessed to have lived so long together! ❤️ Agree. I had to give a Sacrament talk for Mothers Day when I was about 16. It was impossible to talk about Mom without talking about Dad — I could not separate them. 2
Devobah Posted June 26 Posted June 26 56 minutes ago, Okrahomer said: I grew up in Muskogee. Ah. Those parts of my mission weren't added until the last six months. I drove through Muskogee on the way to a Zone Conference once! My last area was the Eufalla branch which covered parts of Checotah and I think Gore?
Rain Posted June 26 Posted June 26 3 hours ago, Okrahomer said: I am flying home today. I will spend the next couple of weeks taking my “turn” at caring for elderly parents — now both 99 years of age. Not sure what I’m thinking or feeling exactly, but I love these two Wyoming-bred and Oklahoma-grown souls so very deeply. They gave me life. They gave me the Gospel. They taught me to work and to be productive. They taught me how to face life’s ups and downs with courage, and to find happiness along the way. They taught me to love music, to enjoy people and so many other things. I know their mortal journey will soon come to an end: I wish they could stay, but I know they have to go. In August, they will celebrate 80 years of marriage and in September Dad turns 100. When I grow up, I want to be just like them. God bless my Mom and Dad. I hope it goes well and gives you many good memories. 2
Okrahomer Posted June 26 Author Posted June 26 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Devobah said: Ah. Those parts of my mission weren't added until the last six months. I drove through Muskogee on the way to a Zone Conference once! My last area was the Eufalla branch which covered parts of Checotah and I think Gore? Muskogee is (along with Checotah,, Eufalla, Salisaw, Henryetta, McAlester…and probably a few others) all part of the new-ish Gore OK Stake. The Stake President grew up in my home ward. And of course there is a lot of excitement about the temple in Tulsa. Edited June 26 by Okrahomer 2
Calm Posted June 26 Posted June 26 You likely have already done this at that age, but if they are up to it recording their memories or messages to family members, that would be a nice thing to do. 1
Okrahomer Posted June 27 Author Posted June 27 4 hours ago, Calm said: You likely have already done this at that age, but if they are up to it recording their memories or messages to family members, that would be a nice thing to do. We have captured a few things but dementia has now robbed us of most of their memories. 1
Calm Posted June 27 Posted June 27 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Okrahomer said: We have captured a few things but dementia has now robbed us of most of their memories. Yeah, I went through that with Mom. It was probably the hardest thing I ever had to do because my emotions just couldn’t accept this was happening to her and I and my husband were primary caregivers in the family (we did get her into assisted living which helped a great deal with my fear of her living alone, which was insane, others didn’t realize she was as bad as she was). Ach….can still I still have hangups about it even though it’s been 6 years. Since they are 99, it sounds like your family figured out a workable system of care. I hope you can enjoy your time with them. Edited June 27 by Calm
Kenngo1969 Posted June 27 Posted June 27 On 6/26/2026 at 8:33 AM, Okrahomer said: God bless my Mom and Dad. And a hearty "Amen!" to that. While I am aware, acutely, that mere words are no salve for current pain, because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (and His Resurrection), we can hold out hope for a joyous reunion in a realm to come. Since my own father's passing, increasingly, my thoughts have turned to what it must be like on the other side. I like to think there is a rather sizeable contingent cheering us on. And which is more, since we don't know what those who are of a different generation were like when they were young, it will be like meeting people we've long known ... but for the first time! May the Lord's choicest blessings rest on you and your family, My Brother. 2
Kenngo1969 Posted June 27 Posted June 27 21 hours ago, Okrahomer said: I grew up in Muskogee. You're an "Okie From Muskogee"? Who knew? 2
Okrahomer Posted June 27 Author Posted June 27 18 hours ago, Calm said: Since they are 99, it sounds like your family figured out a workable system of care. I hope you can enjoy your time with them. It wasn’t easy, but we did figure a system out. They live with my sister and brother-in-law. The rest of us rotate one by one, two weeks at a time, so that the entire responsibility doesn’t fall to my sister. My brother-in-law also built a bit of a new wing on their house so Mom and Dad have a private space for themselves. Nowadays we also have help from Home Health, Hospice and various VA services. Between all of us, I think they are well cared for. 2
Okrahomer Posted June 27 Author Posted June 27 5 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said: May the Lord's choicest blessings rest on you and your family, My Brother Thank you! 1
Okrahomer Posted June 27 Author Posted June 27 5 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said: You're an "Okie From Muskogee"? Who knew? Haha! Yes I am! 1
rosenotes Posted June 28 Posted June 28 On 6/26/2026 at 9:33 AM, Okrahomer said: I am flying home today. I will spend the next couple of weeks taking my “turn” at caring for elderly parents — now both 99 years of age. Not sure what I’m thinking or feeling exactly, but I love these two Wyoming-bred and Oklahoma-grown souls so very deeply. They gave me life. They gave me the Gospel. They taught me to work and to be productive. They taught me how to face life’s ups and downs with courage, and to find happiness along the way. They taught me to love music, to enjoy people and so many other things. I know their mortal journey will soon come to an end: I wish they could stay, but I know they have to go. In August, they will celebrate 80 years of marriage and in September Dad turns 100. When I grow up, I want to be just like them. God bless my Mom and Dad. What a blessing 🩷 I cared for two of my grandmother's before they passed, I still treasure that time with them very much. Wishing you lots of great memories. 1
Okrahomer Posted June 28 Author Posted June 28 2 hours ago, rosenotes said: What a blessing 🩷 I cared for two of my grandmother's before they passed, I still treasure that time with them very much. Wishing you lots of great memories. Thank you! And welcome to the board! 1
rosenotes Posted June 28 Posted June 28 3 hours ago, Okrahomer said: Thank you! And welcome to the board! Thank you ❤️
Stargazer Posted June 28 Posted June 28 On 6/26/2026 at 6:09 PM, Okrahomer said: I wonder if we are related. We are all related, some more distant than others. For example, I am supposedly a 14th cousin to King Charles III. I'm also a cousin in one degree or another to every President of the Church except Dallin H. Oaks! And I'm a double cousin to Joseph Fielding Smith. When I moved to England I was surprised to discover that my new bishop was an 11th cousin. Genealogy is so rad! 2
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