Lingard Comfort Food

John's mom turned 86 last week.  Since we are in charge of the Lingard activities this year we had all his siblings over for her birthday dinner last night.  We had Mormon Enchiladas (a favorite of Dad Lingard's) with Roger and Rachel's fresh eggs on top and Chocolate Raspberry Triffle.  The Lingards know how to enjoy Mormon Enchiladas!  They ate everything.  When I make them for the Nevilles, they seem a little tentative, just a little sauce, not may layers, some don't like corn tortillas, there is always leftovers.  Not so with the Lingards.  Plates were piled high with corn tortillas, cheese, sour cream, olives, sometimes two eggs, and overflowing with sauce.  Lingard comfort food.  When I first had them, Mom and Dad told stories how the boys would pile up 8 - 10 layers!  So I thought maybe I could do 4.  It was too much, then 3, I finally settled on two layers, that way you get the layered effect with all the condiments between two corn tortillas with sauce over all but not so much you die.  Comfort food indeed!

Martha brought a letter her Grandmother wrote Dad Lingard when he was on his mission. She told him how much they liked him and had prayed for a good companion for Martha.  Dad met Martha when his ship was being repaired in Norfolk, Virgina after it had been hit by a Kamikaze plane during WWII.  Mom said she only dated officers, but condesended to meet dad because he was highly recommended by members there.   To make a long story short, they fell in love and got engaged, but he wanted to serve a mission before they got married.  (She also served a mission on the East Coast while he was on his mission to Central America.)  After his mission he came straight to North Carolina, they got married 10 days later, drove across country to Salt Lake City and were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple a month after that (John Widstoe gave them permission to do this.)

Mom said she couldn't understand why her Grandmother wasn't thrilled she was getting married and leaving on this new adventure.  She said she only understood it when she waved goodbye to John and me and our two babies when we left from their house to drive to Texas.  She didn't know how often they would see us or if we would ever come back.  It must have been even worse for Grandmama Keaton.  Cross country travel took days, long distance phone calls were expensive and she really didn't know Dad very well.  He was taking Martha, who she had raised since she was three years old, to places unknown.  And Martha didn't look back, nor did we.  Nor have our children as they have left on their own adventures.  All we can do is wave and bid them  fond farewell and hope they return.