Oh how we all love this girl! Melodie is a joy to have in the family, and she does a terrific job as wife, mother, homemaker, teacher, violinist...the list goes on. I could come up with probably several hundred more roles that she performs with equanimity (my $5 word for the day). I think one of the most fun things about Melodie is that she really
listens to her children's conversations. She makes note of what they say, and she always responds.
I will be sitting in blissful unawareness, oblivious to the fact that one of the children has said something in undertones, and Melodie will immediately respond. I have never been able to master the transition from my thinking sphere (or you can call it escaping sphere) to listening, without making a conscious effort to leave the one behind and go for the other. But Melodie is able to cross over without any seeming difficulty at all. Her children know she hears them and appreciates them. She also shares their fun little insights with us, which makes it much more bearable to be so far away--when I know I'll get at least a fraction of their adorable remarks.
The way that Josh and Melodie met is remarkable as well. How Josh ended up as a Young Performing Missionary in Nauvoo is nothing short of miraculous--he did a crummy audition (or at least so he says), turned it in at the last possible moment, and wrote an illegible application form that the missionary in charge of selection had to call me to translate for him! Divine intervention, for sure. We went out to Nauvoo to watch Matt and him perform, and Melodie was the first Young Performing Missionary we met; we went to a fireside and she came around during the "get-acquainted" number. We loved her the instant we saw her. The more we got to know her, the more those feelings grew.
By the end of the summer, Josh had fallen in love, and she knew that she was supposed to marry him through some very choice experiences. He and Matt arrived home, and Josh brought Stan and me upstairs so he could tell us about this amazing sister missionary; that he was supposed to marry her, but he had no idea how to go about courting her. Well, unbeknownst to us, she was sharing pretty much the same information with HER family. Long story short, they got together for a date three days later--Josh drove from Montana to Salt Lake for their date--and they were basically engaged, almost before they called each other anything other than "Elder Gardner" or "Sister Larsen." Four beautiful children later, Josh and Melodie have established an adorable family. Melodie is the heart of their home.
Melodie is talented, gorgeous, fun-loving, kind, and interested in everything good. I love hearing her play the violin. We love watching for her when the Orchestra at Temple Square performs.
Melodie is a pure soul. She puts her whole self into everything she does. I have never heard her speak an unkind or judgmental word. She is a treasure. She is an inspiration. I am reminded of the scriptural passage in Proverbs 31:10-31 about a virtuous woman when I think of Melodie. Have a wonderful birthday Melodie! We all love you very much!
How do you describe a person whose life is a treasure? How do you describe an angel who loves little children, who is kind, who is beautiful inside and outside, who loves the Lord and her family (as well as pretty much all people in the world), who is constantly striving to be better, whose smile lights up the world around her? Those words describe our Emilie Anne Gardner. Emilie became a cherished member of our family after five sons had already joined us, and just before the blessed birth of her little sister Caitlin. She was a delight from the very beginning. The nurses decorated Stan's office with hundreds of pink ribbons and laces, and the hospital put two bows in her gorgeous dark hair. When she was about 5 months old and could sit up, I took her outside and set her on the ground while I planted some raspberry bushes. I turned around to see that she had picked up an earthworm and was licking it as it wriggled, held tight in her hand! She has always been fascinated with the world and its wonders.Emilie grew up with a love for music. She pretty much taught herself how to play the piano. We got her into voice lessons when she was about 10, and she took off with that talent as well. 
Before going to college, Emmie starred as Emma Smith in the musical theater production "Kirtland: City of Gathering and Glory," an absolutely thrilling experience for all of us. It was there that we discovered her amazing performing abilities. Her radiance seemed to embrace everyone in the audience. 
I am so excited that she has the opportunity to perform as a Young Performing Missionary in Nauvoo this summer. It will be yet another amazing blessing in her life. Emilie has been blessed with six terrific brothers and a wonderful sister, who all adore her. Her 5 big and 1 little-big (translate: younger but way taller) brothers have protected her and pretty much screened all would-be suitors, a role which Caitlin now fills as her roommate and best friend. 
I asked Stan for his input about Emilie for this blog entry, and he said, "talented, love of people, incredible teacher of children, knows a lot about the Gospel--a Gospel scholar, beautiful on the inside and the outside." (notice we BOTH said that) "She melts peoples' hearts with her voice and her piano playing." He added, "When she's on the Kajukenbo mat (a martial art), she really kicks _ _ _ _!" I could probably spend days expounding on how much we all love Emilie, but you can probably see for yourself, just looking at the pictures. Happy Happy Birthday, our beloved Emmie!
