Nancy Ann Holt Eskelson

I have been very blessed these past 2 weeks with Dave's Mom's journals. Nancy passed away from CF when Dave was 15. Dave's grandparents have entrusted me with her journals to type up to make books to give to everyone. It has been a very special experience for me and for Dave. I have been able to learn more about her and the wonderful, kind, postive person she was. I feel honored to have been given this privledge! Here is a journal entry I really enjoyed about Dave:

A couple weeks ago Lynn and Sam both fell asleep on their own beds after a late Supper. When it was bedtime for David I laid with him by Lynn. We told some stories (Goldilocks and the 3 bears is his favorite right now). Lynn snored. David became afraid and said, “What that noise!?” I was amused but started to explain that even though Lynn was asleep, he made a funny noise when he breathed out of his mouth or nose. David looked right into Lynn’s face to see for himself. Just them Lynn snored again and David jumped. “It scares me.” David said. He was quite upset about it, so we woke Lynn up. He mumbled a little, hugged David, rolled over and went back to sleep. We continued our story telling. A few minutes later Lynn snored. David froze up. “What that noise?!” I began explaining again and pushed Lynn so he’d stop. David climbed on top of sleeping Lynn and laid his head on Lynn’s chest. Lynn let out a loud snore. David softly said, “Put him somewhere else. It scares me.” I suggested he and I go lay on his bunk bed and he agreed. All the way in, he shook his head and said softly, “I don’t like that noise, it scares me, I don’t like that noise.”
David is almost 3 yrs.

Here is another one about Dave:

My little D. So tender, so fragile and delicate. Still a baby at 2 ½ yrs. I just got up from laying by him at his insistence. He pats the pillow and whines, “By me momma, by me.” (Lay by me) He likes to be face to face, noses almost touching and his arm around my neck. David often sleeps with us – he comes in during the night. He really needs that physical, body contact and cuddling and love. A few days ago he came to me, his first finger extended, whimpering, “It hurts, it hurts.” I asked, why does your finger hurt? He said, “I bite it.” Sure enough, upon examination I found hard bite marks. He wore a band aid and fretted about it for days.

These journal entries are so precious and made me realize how important journal keeping is. I thought I was doing good by writing in journals for Kaylee and Cole everyday about what they do but I now know how important it is to write about MY thoughts and feelings. Nancy could not have left a better gift for her family. Thank you Nancy for obeying the prophets by keeping a journal!