Wonderful Wendy Wemories

When I was very young before moving to SLC, I remember being able to sleep in Wendy's room with her downstairs. I remember going through her jewelry box with her and talking about her cousins and about Charlie the garbage man. We listened to the song Downtown on a record player I think. She had such a way of making me feel like her friend not just her little sister. I remember wishing that we were closer in age.
I remember many times walking with Wendy to get her hair done. She probably doesn't know it but I lived for that. We would walk what seemed to be miles and miles and just talk. I don't remember her ever feeling like she had to, I felt like she wanted to be with ME. It always felt good to go with her. I felt treasured.
Of course almost every one of my good memories include some kind of food memory so I must also add that she would sometimes share a slurpee with me. That was a BIG deal to me.

Around Christmas time one year, Wendy grabbed up all of us kids and took us to the mall to sit on santa's lap and take a picture. She bought us lunch and treats and we were there til it was cold and dark outside. I think we took the bus home. She was in high school then. That is a pretty thoughtful thing to do and she was a teenager.
Before we moved back to Rexburg, Wendy let me and Audi come stay with her in her apartment off campus in Rexburg. She introduced us to her roommates and fed us awesome cold cereal and let us watch TV and just hang out. I can still remember the smell of her apartment. I couldn't wait to move out and get my very own apartment and have roommates just like her.
One year for Christmas our family was really struggling and didn't really expect to get much of anything. (By the way those kind of Christmas's are my favorite to look back on). Well anyway, either the day before or the day of Christmas, we found a box on our front porch full of new nice things. Among those things was the most beautiful pink coat a girl of 11 could ask for. That coat made me feel stylin in my 70's hand-me-downs. Not only was it awesome but also warm. I had a paper route at the time and hated to wear my beautiful coat while handling the ink covered papers, but I managed to keep it relatively clean and it lasted for a very long time. Wendy never ever admitted to this but I know and knew that it was her who left that box. I knew it was a sacrifice on her part, I knew that it wasn't easy for her. It was huge for me to see something like that done. And to be on the receiving end of such kindness.

Wendy was a very snazzy dresser and had a perfect body. I was in 6th or 7th grade and could fit into her clothes. She let me wear them. She was happy to let me. In fact, there was a dress that I loved of hers, she must have noticed me loving it because one day she just gave it to me for no reason at all. It was so nice to go to church in that dress. It had shoulder pads, and was navy blue and had white pocadots. For the time period, it was probably the coolest dress I had ever seen and it was mine.

Though Wendy has had some financial struggles, it has never stopped her from thinking about others plights especially her siblings and parents. When her children were very young and money was scarce, she would often bring food to mom and dad. Over the years I have seen that happen many times and it continues today. She shared her meat, any excess of anything she shares. She makes sure that each one of our children get a knitted/crocheted blanket to come home in.

So as I was writing this list, I started bawling realizing how much I took/take her for granted. Wendy sacrificed and gave in every one of these stories. She has a gigantic heart. She tried very hard to help me and I am sure everyone else in our family to succeed and to be liked and to fit in somewhat and to feel loved.

Wendy I love you. Thank you for what you have done for me peronally. Thank you for the person that you are.