" Lola-Bell" Her value is not in dollars but dreams and memories

At the time of our wedding I was informed by Mom that Pastor Sid was going to give a little recitation. Oh no, I thought my friends will be mortified if he gets up and preaches. (Lor was very immature in her faith back in these days) Anyway Pastor Sid had a very good voice and by the end of the speech there was hardly a dry eye in the place.

May I share the story with you my journal friends about the little doll Lola-Bell who is now 127 years old. This is the story as written by my mother and read on my wedding day.

"Lola-Bell" was given to your Grandma when she was only five years old. She was the most beautiful doll that Grandma had ever seen. The two soon became good friends. Grandma would play with her for hours at a time, always giving Lola-Bell the best of care.

She kept her in a safe place where no harm could ever come to her. As the years went by, Lola-Bell become more than just a doll to her; although she was made of china, she seemed to come alive.

Many of Grandma's most intimate secrets were shared with Lola-Bell, and during her childhood a bond of friendship was formed that lasted all these years.

When it was time for Grandma to get married, Lola-Bell, no doubt, shared her happiness and watched with interest as preparations for the wedding took place.

When your Aunt Pauline arrived Lola-Bell learned to share her love with the new tiny baby. After your Uncle Boyd and Uncle Dean arrived, Lola-Bell lived a busy life.

What a place of honour she held in the home. When one of the children had a fever, Lola-Bell would be gently tucked in bed beside them until the fever left, and then carefully put back in her wooden box again.

After ten years in Kansas, there was great excitement over the big trip to Canada. Lola-Bell knew that she would be going too. How sorry she must have felt for Grandma when it was time to say good-bye to her people and go so far away.

The twins, Helen and Harold arrived, but Lola-Bell wept when four days later baby Harold passed away. A year and a half later, your Mother came to take his place.
There was great rejoicing when you Uncle LeRoy arrived. He was big and strong and brought the whole family so much pleasure. Lola-Bell often put him to sleep.

Grandpa would go away each summer to his homestead, sixty miles away and Lola-Bell was often anxious about Grandma and the six children.

In the Fall Grandpa would return and again and there was great excitement for a few days. Then there were the winters to face; the old house was so cold. Lola-Bell would watch Grandma tuck us all into bed and watch as she heated rocks on the coldest nights and put them in the beds to keep us warm.

How glad she must have been that she was made of china.

No doubt, she smiles when she hears talk about the hungry thirties. From her wooden box, she saw the hungry twenties too, and how she must have sympathized with Grandma when she saw the flour bin getting low and the tears in Grandma's eyes when she talked of asking for more credit at the store.

Lola-Bell shared the fun too. How she must have laughed on that April Fool's Day when Grandma called Grandpa out of bed to shoot a coyote on top of the big hill. He got so excited that he ran out, with his shotgun, in his underwear only....to hear a chorus of "April Fool" from his whole family.

Back on December twelfth in 1936, Lola-Bell shared sorrow with Grandma when Grandpa passed away. Lola-Bell would often be lifted out of her wooden box and be kissed.

Grandma decided to give up housekeeping and she had to decide which of her six children should have Lola-Bell. Through the years she watched the children with the doll and decided that it was your Mother who had really loved Lola-Bell the most.

In her new home, Lola-Bell enjoyed a little more comfort in the cedar chest that your Father gave your Mother on their wedding anniversary.

Life for Lola-Bell was almost the same and she often comforted your brother Jim when he was sick; sometimes as a special treat he was allowed to have her until he fell asleep.

But in the morning Lola-Bell was always gone. As soon as the Sandman came, your Mother would gently place the coll back into the cedar chest.

How delighted Lola-Bell must have been when you became our chosen daughter. Being made of good china, she was never jealous of brother Jim holding you instead of her before you went to bed.

Even the day he presented you with the little doll he won selling papers (Sparkle Plenty), Lola-Bell was not hurt because she knew that she would live long after the doll Sparkle, was gone.

She became your friend too and when you learned to talk you would ask, "Mother, how much did Lola-Bell cost?" Your Mother would say, "only a dollar and a half, ;but she is worth a million dollars."

Lola-Bell watched you grown and she was so happy when you brought home the prize for playing the part of Little Red Riding Hood at the parade. She was so proud of you when your marks in music and elocution contests were so high.

From her cedar chest she watched you fall in love with Chuck and for over three years she has hoped that she would be invited to your wedding. How very beautiful she is a eighty-three.

Through the years she has been with Grandma and your Mother often on the hill top of praise with God and down into the valley of suffering and sorrow.

Just as she left the wooden box in Grandma's home and went to live in the cedar chest at your Mother's, today she must leave your Mother and go to live with you and Chuck. It is the sincere wish of Grandma and your Mother that from her new home, she will share your happiness, your love and your sorrow.

May God bless you and keep you always.

Mother

PS as I re-wrote this story I was filled with so many emotions about Mom who I lost way back in 1967. I really never had the chance to be grown up enough to share a friendship with her like I enjoy with my own girls today. My Mother was the biggest influence in my life and to this day when I may hesitate on a decision I can still hear her voice within saying, "Loretta, you know what the right thing is to do"

Story to be continued with the reading written by Lori and read at Chuck and Lori's 25th. anniversary.