Saturday, October 3, 2009

The first time I remember Emma was when the Allebes family moved into our
neighborhood in Fair Oaks. The property they bought was wonderful - full
of beautiful almond trees that blossomed in mid February. The little farm
house was not nearly as beautiful as the property. With the touch of two
artists, the house was turned into a much larger, wonderful home where
friends were always welcome. The Christmas Eve parties were a big hit,
even though we couldn't attend because of our daughter Kristin's
birthday. It wasn't long until that home became an art museum that
everyone loved to visit.

Kristin spent many hours visiting with Reaka, learning that she must
"clean her plate" before she could have anything else to eat, and she
also learned that Allebes girls had chores to complete just like she did
at home. It was great to have values reinforced by Emma. Reed and I
figured that it took a whole neighborhood to rear good children, and we
are so thankful that the Allebes family was part of our neighborhood.

The walks Emma and I took each morning for many years are among my
fondest "Emma Memories." We called our daily walks "exercise" even though
they rightly should have been called "strolls." We mostly talked. I
learned about her childhood home in Ogden, her Saturday trips to the
movies, her mother's ability to create whole stories from viewing a
smalll happening, her latest wearable art project, and many, many more
interesting facts of her life. Around Christmas time during these walks
we would discuss seating plans for the Ward Christmas Dinner. When we
arrived back home Emma would get out her very, very neat, very, very
small handmade diagram/ list and add all that we had discussed during our
walk. Emma had the smallest, neatest handwriting I have ever seen.

I haven't written about Emma's great artistic talent, but I'm sure
everyone else will mention this. But, I must mention how willing Emma has
been to serve. She even volunteered to be Secretary for our Daughters of
Utah Pioneer camp, even though she just hated to be a secretary. As she
lay in her "hospital bed with a garden view" she whispered, "I'll do
anything to get out of being a secretary."

Emma will always be my very dear friend. I love you, Emma

LaNae Snow

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What is Your Emma Story?

This blog is a chance to remember and honor Emma by bringing us together in a way that can only be done through a medium like the internet. We love her, we will miss her, but she's here for a short time still, and we want to smile and cry and laugh together with her as much as possible while we can.

Emma has touched a monumental number of lives through her work as a mother, grandmother, friend, teacher, artist, and to Ted as a dear wife. There are countless stories that have already been told many times, and there are many others that we're going to learn for the first time as we read them here.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, STORIES AND PICTURES!!!

Not only will we be able to laugh and smile together, even after Emma has passed, but we will be sharing this blog with Emma. If you have a story, long or short, silly or sad, pensive or outrageous, please take some time and share it with us and Emma.

This is such a dear time for all of us. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and prayers.

It's easy! To post to Emma's blog, send an email to emmaallebes.post@blogger.com. If you have a picture(s) that you would like to add, make it an attachment to the email. Your email will post automatically.

Please remember to include your name somewhere in the email/post.