Alan J Cook

Letting Her Light So Shine Alan J Cook

Her life is one of the most amazing ones lived in the last few centuries. Widowed at the age of 47, with 10 children still at home (ages 20 to 1), a son on a church mission, and unemployed, she simply announced to her children shortly after her husband's death, "We are going to have family scripture study every morning. We will get through this!" And get through it, she has!Later employed as the secretary to the president of a rapidly growing company, she learned to ski when she was 50 so she could entertain company clients better. She got remarried about 10 years later and has now been married to her second husband, Neal Rosenbaum, for 31 years! Most people struggle to have one successful marriage; Martha has had two. As you will read in this book, none of her children ever heard her complain. She is a talented pianist and musician. She has taught piano lessons to her children and grandchildren for about 60 years. While in graduate school, she accompanied the talented director Crawford Gates as he led the Brigham Young University choirs. Crawford would later go on to lead the Detroit Symphony. For most of her life, she has worried about her "pride." Yet, as you will read, no one who knows her describes her as having anything close to pride. Her parenting skills are outstanding, yet, if you discuss that with her, she will simply say, "I was blessed with great kids!"She loves BYU sports! When the weekend edition of the local paper arrives on Monday morning, she turns to the sports pages first. She knows the statistics, the players, the coaches, and the issues. For some 65 years, she has fed anywhere from 1 to 11 people three meals a day. And those meals are outstanding!It is an honor to compile a book about this remarkable mother of mine. I have watched her exemplary life for some 62 years now, and I'm still amazed whenever I am around her. Jesus once said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) My mother has let her light shine for others for 90 years now. It is a light that never dims. In fact, it seems to glow brighter and brighter as time goes on. Her saintly life glorifies her Father, who is in heaven. We join with Him in publicly proclaiming how proud we are to be associated with her. Happy 90th birthday, Mom! We'll publish the sequel when you turn 100!