Remembering Rockville Ward

When I think of the Van Orden's many fun memories come flooding back to me. Toilet papering their home the night before Mother's day with huge "We love you Momma VO!" posters. Only to have Betty show up the next day to church wearing a gorgeous homemade corsage made out of the toilet paper from the front yard...Skinny dipping in their pool with 3 other girls only to have a nearby male church member peeping through the fence because he thought he saw "activity" at the house while they were on vacation...PERV...The Senior Graduation Party/BBQ at their home the year I graduated from High School and finally (the last I will share) The total feeling of love and acceptance from Momma and Poppa VO every time you entered their presence. I love these people...I always have. I love their children, their homes, the way they serve the Lord, the yummy VO food (props to Betty!) and most importantly their love and living of the Gospel. Growing up, they were just one set of examples which sprang from my life while living in the Rockville Ward. So why this tribute to the VO's after not having seen them for 10 or so years. Well Momma VO has written a Christmas book and I wanted to place it on my page for everyone to see http://www.cedarfort.com/author/VanOrden.html I remember the bit of advice Betty gave me as I went off to college "Even if you never need or use your college degree, Get one! I always regretted not getting mine" As I am two classes away from my degree and have been working on it off and on over the past 15 years. I want Betty to know I remember her advice often and keep moving forward (though slowly) because of it. I also want Betty to know she never needed a degree to do what made her special. Many, Many of our Young Women (myself included) have become better wives, mothers and women because of her example in our lives.