Our Pearl of Great Price

Monday, January 18, 2010

Kellie Denise Fortner Forrest

I was looking through some old pictures trying to figure out which story I should write about Grandma Pearl and what I noticed the most in all my old pictures was that Grandma was always there. There she was at my 3 year old birthday party. There she was at my dance recital. There she was at Christmas Dinner. There she was at my high school graduation. There she was picking me up from college. Sometimes she was right in front of the picture and sometimes she was in the background. I realized how lucky I was to have a grandma so involved in my childhood. She was someone who always supported me in the important events in my life and the not-so-important events. She was definitely a hands on grandma and I love that about her.
Of course, I also have to mention those times she took Hollie, Lindsay and I to Nauvoo. Those were some of the best times of my life. She fit right in with the teenagers as well. She is in almost every teenage group photo we ever took at Nauvoo. She was everyone's grandma and everyone loved her there and everyone still does, I am sure.

Grandma is an awesome example to me and I hope to be the same kind of grandma to my grandkids as she is to hers.
Have a wonderful 90th birthday, Grandma!! You are awesome!!! We love you!!

Gary, Kellie, Isabel, Lucy, Jack, John and Eddy

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Randy Fortner

The Randy Fortner Girls

Randy

Randy with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson

Happy 90^th Birthday Grandma!!! We all love you very much.

There are a lot of stories to tell about Grandma. For example, the time when she picked up the hose on the front porch, it was actually a live snake, her aggressive driving habits, her underground supply chain of Dr. Pepper, and many more.

If I think back to a good story about Grandma Johnson and I remember the time I was a freshman or sophomore in High School. Grandma took us shopping with her, or took me to get something, or dropped me off to work, etc. We went to the Overland Dairy, which was next to a big Target over in the Ronnie’s Plaza. I believe Craig may have been with us. It must have been on a Saturday and there were cars everywhere. At the Target/Overland Dairy, the only parking spaces were way at the end of the parking lot. There were no good parking places. We drove around the parking lot about four times. I think I said, “Grandma, let’s just park way out here and walk in. She said, “No, I’ll find a parking spot”. So, Grandma turns the corner on a long row of park cars. Grandma spots a car that is going to leave and is beginning to back up out of a parking space. The exiting car is backing up in the opposite way we are coming. Grandma focuses in on the opportunity. Behind the car backing up is a van full of kids. The van has their blinker on in anticipation of pulling into this soon to be vacated parking place. Well, the exiting car backed up, blocked the car that was waiting. Grandma, saw the space open, speeded up to get into the 3 second old vacated parking space. Grandma pulled into the space before the exiting car could put their in drive to pull forward. It was one of the best car maneuvers I had seen in my life. I was impressed that grandma would pull in front of the car that was still backing up. As we were getting out of the car to go into the store. The lady in the van that was waiting yelled at Grandma and said something like, “Hey, that’s my parking space, I was waiting for it, I have a car full of kids!” Grandma yelled back the perfect line, “I SAW IT FIRST!!!!” and walked into the store like nothing happened. I went to school the next day and told a few people the story about my Grandma yelling, “I SAW IT FIRST!!” at this lady in the Overland Dairy parking lot. I told the story to a group of people in band, lunch, gym, etc. So, for months, as I was walking down the halls in school, friends would pass me and say, “Hey Randy – I SAW IT FIRST!!” There were even people that were saying “I SAW IT FIRST!” that I didn’t even know. That went on for months, maybe years, at Mehlville HS.

I also remember how grandma would count her tips from working at Howard Johnsons. There was change EVERYWHERE. She was the most popular waitress they had. I remember going to eat at Howard Johnsons as a family and Grandma would be our waitress. Grandma knew every state trooper in Missouri. I guess Howard Johnsons was the office away from the office for Missouri State Troopers. Grandma understands the importance of family. No matter what happens, no matter what people do or say, her family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are always welcome around her. She is a pillar during tough times and a great lady. Grandpa Johnson was one of my best friends growing up and I was his little buddy. I am grateful that Grandma and GrandPaul are together. Paul is a great man and part of our family. I really enjoy spending time with Paul. He’s my kind of guy. We all love him very much.

Happy 90^th Grandma!!!

Love you!!!

Randy

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Mckenzie Ella Traylor

To: GG

Love: Mckenzie

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Stephanie Johnson

"Grandma, you are a very special woman who has touched so many lives in your

90 years on this earth. I hope you have a wonderful birthday, and many more

to come. -Stephanie"

Alan and Shelley Johnson

      When I think of stories about Grandma, I go back to the time I was in high school and Grandma got this new computer from Hollie. She was pretty excited to learn about it, but needed someone to show her the ropes. Being a somewhat tech savvy high school kid who thought he knew everything, I hung out at grandmas on various nights to show her how to send e-mail or burn a cd. (I am sure that uncle Gary wishes I had left out that whole learning how to e-mail part) Most of the time, my teaching visits turned into Grandma’s story telling time. I heard stories about grandpa, the farm, my dad, and so many others. One funny story she liked to tell was the time my dad and Rod were working in the back chopping wood. Somehow Dad got hit in the head with the ax and was bleeding pretty bad. Rod, knowing the firestorm that was coming, attempted to conceal this small little accident by placing dads ball cap in a way to hide the gash. Grandma was not fooled of course and Dad was quickly off to the hospital. Taking time to laugh about the past was special to me.

      One of my more favorite experiences to tell about grandma came following her quadruple bypass surgery. We tried to make sure that someone always stayed the night with grandma in case anything went wrong. When it became my turn to stay the night with grandma; Hollie was asked to stay as well. A clot formed in Grandma’s leg in the latter part of the evening. It was not overly troubling to her, so we decided to go to bed and she would see her doctors in the morning. The morning came and I awoke to an empty house – no grandma and no Hollie. It turned out that during the night the clot became increasingly painful and it was decided that she would need to go the hospital. Hollie called 911 as well as my Dad and probably a few others; everyone came including several police cars, a fire truck, and an ambulance. I managed to stay asleep in the front room through all off the commotion despite the number of people going in and out. My parents say that they decided to let me sleep because they did not want to wake me. Personally I think that they forgot I was there on the couch under some covers and were surprised when I called in the morning. If it had been left to me, we may not have been able to enjoy grandma for all of these years. Thanks to Hollie – grandma made it through.
      Growing up, grandma’s house was almost like a big kids play ground. We got to drive tractors, ride the lawn mower, shoot pellet guns in the back, and play in the barn. Even though that last activity may have gotten us in a little trouble here and there, we all made it out with our limbs attached. The best part of grandma’s was being able to horse around with those friends Heavenly Father chose for us to be with. Throughout life, friends will come and go except for a small group that we share an eternal bond with, our family. Sunday dinners, watching sports, and visiting with one another are cherished memories of mine. Thanks to grandma for always striving to bring the family together no matter what the conflict or circumstance.