This is one of the few pictures I could find that I've taken of Grandma. She is holding my oldest child, her great great granddaughter, Sarah Nicole Brown. Sarah was about 6 weeks old at the time. (She just turned 10 last week!) I remember being so excited to take Sarah to Idaho to visit Grandpa Curtis and to meet her Grandma Bird. Just the other day I was showing Sarah this blog and telling her some of my memories of Grandma. Thank you for putting this together! I will always love Grandma. She truly was an amazing lady. In recent years I have read through her personal history and continue to be so grateful to have had her in my life and be part of her family. I truly appreciate how she cared for Grandma (Wilma) when she was so sick and going through chemo. Grandma Bird was always such an uplifting and encouraging person. I am so glad to know that because of our Savior, someday I will get to see and talk with her again.

Courtney Curtis Brown
(Veral's oldest daughter)

April 18th

Thanks to everyone who has sent items for the birthday blog. Please let your family know we are doing this and will continue posting items . It is great way to connect and share photos. Happy Birthday Grandma!!

Dear Mom,
Boy a hundred years old, wow. As I sit and ponder I think about how hard the last four months have been for me since I laid my sweetheart to rest. I never truly thought it would be as hard as it has been. Nor did I realize how the little things we do over a lifetime with our spouse binds us together emotionally, spiritually and physically. It is as though we become one in many ways. The hard days, the funny things we do and say. the quiet times we just sit in the same room. The little jig of a dance around the kitchen, the burst of a song at an old familiar song on the radio, or the beautiful memories of just sitting and enjoying Dean playing the harmonica for me. There is a longing and a sadness of being unable to touch, to hear his voice and to share thoughts and feel his strength.
Or a million other memories, the struggles and the desires we had for each other, the worries and the joys all are a daily part we don't recognize how it makes us grow together and how much we miss it when it isn't there. I have looked around me and understand how Dean and I truly became one in the course of a lifetime. It happens one day, one sacrifice, one challenge at a time. I know and love the companionship of yesterday and look forward to the reunion of tomorrow that isn't so very far away.
Mom, I think of the many years you were alone and the hard decisions you had to make. Giving up your beautiful home that Dad had built for you. And one by one the losing of your faithful friends who were so much a part of your life.
I never realized and am so sorry I wasn't there for you more. I guess this is a part of our lives we have to go through before we really understand. I am so grateful for the Eternal Plan of Salvation we have to look forward to. I'm grateful for the lovely Lady you are, the wonderful example of being a Mother, Friend and Grandmother. I'm so happy when I think of you and Dad and the awesome things you can now do together with family and friends whom you hadn't seen for many years. I love and respect you and am proud you are my Mother and look forward to the day when we will be together again as a family. I love you and Dad and miss you both, more so lately now that I understand how strong you were all those many days and nights alone.
Your loving daughter,
Elaine

4 Generations

Larry, Ray, Grace, Janie and baby Bird

No One Cooks Like These Birds

Larene Bird, ? , Grace Bird

A Poem by Grandma Bird

Ramona Curtis Pearson:
"I loved looking at all the pictures. It brings back memories. My girls were excited to see such young pictures of everybody. I have a poem that Grandma Bird wrote in 1996 that I would like to post. I think most family members received a copy of the poem, but it is something my girls and I read often. Somedays it seems like I could pick up the phone and call her and Mom and other days it seems like it has been forever since I talked to them and touched their hand. I suppose on the days that it seems like a long time is when they are off doing missionary work and the other days they are close by watching over me. "


The future is yours – it belongs to you,
With faith in God and in yourself too.
No hill too high, no mountain too tall,
For with faith in the Lord you can conquer all.
All that you wish for that is honest and true,
The Lord will certainly give to you.
Not always the way that you most desire,
But always he gives what you most require.
So accept what he sends, whether bitter or sweet,
For God knows best what makes like complete.
Great is your gladness and rich your reward,
When you learn to accept the will of the Lord.
Grace Bird
September 8, 1996

Some Memories about Grace Leavitt Bird (1909-2000)

Although I have many great memories of Grandma Bird I think I would like to relate a story that shows how much Grandma Bird wanted us to be and feel part of a great family.

In my junior year of high school, just before summer vacation, I broke my ankle while playing softball at school. At first we thought it was only sprained, but it just wouldn't heal. Finally Mom & Dad took me to the doctor and the x-ray showed a broken ankle. They put a cast on my lower leg and about all I could do, was pester Mom around the house.
Grandpa and Grandma Bird asked if I could go up to Island Park with them for a few days (I think Mom begged them to take me). I went but was kind of gloomy because I knew Grandpa and Grandma would go fishing and I'd be left all alone. The next morning bright and early, Grandma told me to get my lazy body out of bed and let's go fishing. I told her I may as well stay in bed because I couldn't go fishing because I'd get my cast wet. She grabbed the plastic tablecloth off the table, wrapped my cast in that and off we went fishing.

I’m still humbled that Grandma Bird would take her tablecloth and wrap my foot just so I could join with her and Grandpa. She’s an amazing elect lady and many lives are and will continue to be blessed by her kindness and love. And yes, Grandma and Grandpa Bird were right; Heavenly Father has blessed us to be part of a great family.

Thayne R. Curtis

Aunt Grace's 100th Birthday

Aunt Grace was a wonderful person to us. I met her just after Brett and I got married. We lived on the west side of town and not too far from Aunt Grace. We would go visit her often. Sometimes I would bring my violin and play for her and we'd sing and sometimes she'd play the piano and we would have a wonderful time. Later, after we moved out to Milo we had her come out to our home for dinner and to visit also. It was always such a pleasure to be with her. The best part about visiting with Aunt Grace was hearing all the many stories about her growing up years, her marriage to your dad and grandpa, her children and just about her. We learned a lot about her and were amazed by her inner strength and her resolve to make the best of situations and learn from them what the Lord wanted her to learn. She was so graceful and so fun. We miss seeing her and can't wait for the day when we'll get to see her again. We love her a lot!
Marilee and Brett Bird

Grandma Bird & Uncle Ray

The Birds

Lewis, Grace, Gordon, Larene, Ray

All Smiles 1996

Grandma always had a smile...it was contagious!

Lisa & Joann Petersen
Grace Bird