I learned from my wife the importance of
expressions of love.
Early in our marriage, often I would open my scriptures to
give a message in the meeting.
And I would find an affectionate, supportive note
Jeanene had slipped into the pages.
Sometimes they were so tender that I could hardly talk.
Those precious notes from my loving wife were and continue
to be a priceless treasure of comfort and inspiration.
I began to do the same thing with her, not realizing how
much it truly meant to her.
I remember one year we didn't have the resources for me to
give her a Valentine.
So I decided to paint a watercolor on the front of the
refrigerator.
[LAUGHTER]
I did the best I could.
[LAUGHTER]
I only made one mistake.
It was enamel, not watercolor.
[LAUGHTER]
She never let me try to remove that paint from the
refrigerator.
I remember one day I took some of those little, round paper
circles that you form when you punch holes in paper.
And I wrote on them numbers 1 to 100, turned it over and
wrote her a message, one word on each circle.
Then I scooped them up and put them in an envelope.
I thought she would get a good laugh.
[LAUGHTER]
When she passed away I found in her private things how much
she appreciated the simple messages that we shared with
each other.
I noted that she'd carefully pasted every one of those
circles on a piece of paper.
She not only kept my notes to her, but she protected them
with plastic coverings as if they were a valuable treasure.
There's only one that she didn't put with the others.
It's still behind the glass in our kitchen clock.
It reads, "Jeanene, it's time to tell you I love you."
It remains there and reminds of that exceptional daughter
of Father in Heaven.