Another Trip To Utah...To Bury My Mother!

Well, it has been a very eventful week. Last Friday as we were preparing our American Thanksgiving dinner, we got a call telling us that my mom was in the hospital. She had developed phemonia and was in serious condition. The doctor started her on antibiotics to help her, but it wasn't enough...soon enough...and by Saturday morning at 6:00 AM she had passed away. I am so grateful that I went down just a few weeks ago to see her with Kevin and Karla.

Little did I know that we would be back and burying her just three short weeks later!!

Doug and I quickly shuffled our work schedule for the next few days, talked with family and arranged a funeral date. We then booked our flights and headed to Utah!

We arrived in Salt Lake on Saturday evening and met up with Karla and her family. So good to see them again, and they always make us laugh, so it was good to be there!

Sunday morning early, Doug and I went up to Salt Lake City to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and to hear the 'Spoken Word'. What a wonderful experience, and to feel such a sweet spirit there. It was very good for me to be strengthened by the power of their music. When they sang "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again", I cried and cried, but it felt so good. I really am happy for my mom and I know that she is in a happier place now!

Sunday afternoon after church, Karla and I went over and cleaned out mom's belongings from her room at Orem Nursing and Rehab. Everybody was so kind there, saying how much they loved Gloria. We donated the majority of her things back to the nursing home. Karla had done such a good job of keeping current pictures of her family on her bulletin board...it was sad to now have to take them all down!

Karla, Bryan, Doug and I met with Berg Mortuary on Monday morning and they were tremendous!! They helped us plan this funeral every step of the way. Karla and I chose her casket which was a beautiful light burgundy color, with a lovely satin pattern inside. We thought she would like it!! Karla and I then had the privilege of dressing mom in her Temple Robes. Karla did her hair and I painted her nails...it was such a sweet experience to serve her in that way. She looked so beautiful!!

The viewing and funeral took place on Tuesday, November 27. It was so wonderful to see and meet with family that I hadn't seen for several years! My mom's sister, Aunt Betty and her husband, Clyde came with their son, David and his family. My father, Larry, has 3 living siblings, and they came...Gene, Paul and Marie with their spouses. Arlene and Ron came as well, and Brad's wife Michele and their daughter, Wendy and little Burton! Plus several cousins that knew my mom from years ago. It felt like heaven, with this grand reunion! So wonderful! I'm sure mom is having her own reunion as well.

 

The funeral services were short, but sweet. Kevin and Karla spoke and shared sweet memories, and then we sang John Denver's,"Country Roads". Kevin played his guitar and Karla and I joined him on the chorus... So fun!! Then I spoke sharing some thoughts and memories, and Doug followed up with a short spiritual message. I felt a special spirit there during the service, and I really think we gave a great tribute to our mother!

We then followed the hearse out to the Provo Cemetery, where she has a beautiful burial spot in the 'Angel Garden'. It was a lovely day, with the sun shining and the mountains creating a beautiful backdrop! We gathered together and bowed our heads as Kevin dedicated her grave. It was so good to see him in that "patriarchal role" blessing our Mother's grave. What a great experience!!

While we were in Utah we were able to go to Salt Lake and see the Christmas lights on Temple Square with Arlene and Ron. The lights go on forever and are gorgeous! The Tempe was beautiful shining so brightly through all the Christmas lights!

I am so grateful to have the gospel in my life, what would I do without knowing that I will see my mom again? It is so appropriate that she is buried in the 'Angel Garden'. I so look forward to that day when I will be reunited with that 'Angel Mother' of mine!! She had a difficult life, but through it all she gave to her posterity her example of great faith and perserverance!!

 

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Our Baby Boy Turned 33!!

Wow...it is hard to believe that 33 years ago today I had my first baby, a darling little boy. What a joy it was to finally be a parent!

And what to name him, hmmmm.....well we thought it should be a significant family name. Doug had his father Murray's name as his middle name so we decided to follow that tradition and name him Jonathan Douglas.

 

What a fun, gregarious little guy he grew to be, so cute with his curly blond hair! Today that little guy is grown up and is now 33!! So hard to believe how fast time flies. And that Doug and I could actually be the parents of a 33 year old!

To celebrate with him on his 'birthday weekend', we drove down to Canmore on Thursday night, and Jon met up with us on Friday morning so he and Doug could go skiing together at Sunshine. They had a wonderful day of skiing, lots of fresh snow and sunshine and no lines!

 

 

I spent some time relaxing and did a little Christmas Shopping in Banff. It is such a neat little town to roam around in, so many quaint little shops.

Jon and Doug returned safely, I was a little worried as this was there first trip out the season. Jon had to drive back to Airdrie and be the daddy and pick up the kids from day care!!

 

On Saturday we drive into Jon's place and met up with him and Tiff, Ava and Josh. We went out for Japanese food for lunch and had quite a good time watching Josh eat 'pickled radish' and 'pickled ginger'...and Ava particularly liked the Miso soup! It is always an adventure going out to eat with a three year and a one year old. So fun! These are times never to be forgotten. It was great for us to be with Jon and see him now with his own little 'babies'. There really is a 'Circle of Life".

After lunch we went back to Jon's place and he opened his birthday gifts. He was like a little kid again, opening his presents with excitement and having his kids 'helping' him. Josh loved the bumper cars Jon got and once he got his hands on it he wouldn't let go...a small battle ensued between Josh and Jon as to who was going to be the first one to play with the bumper cars.

This was also a very significant day for Ava because she got her very first pair of glasses on Saturday. They look so cute and she can see so much better!! She loved playing her dad's birthday harmonica.

Jon looks kinda bushy with his 'Movember' beard and mustache. It's now so soft, Ava loves to touch it and runb her hands along her daddy's face.

 

Josh is almost walking!!! He takes about three steps before he reaches out for something to support him. I give him two weeks before he is running!! He has gone from a baby to a toddler almost overnight!

Well, we left jon's around 5 and met up with Mark for dinner. He is doing good and actually beginning to enjoy his teaching job!

We left Calgary around 8:00 pm and drove to the cabin. We stayed overnight there to check on everything and make sure all was well. It was so beautiful there with the snow framing the cabin. It was so peaceful and quiet...a wonderful place to sleepover!

It was wonderful to celebrate with Jon this weekend, and even though he is getting older...we aren't!!

 

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To Utah...for family, food, and fun!

Several weeks ago I was beginning to think that it was time for me to go to Utah again. I love driving down to Utah to visit my family, but it was getting late in the Fall and I wasn't sure I should go. I mentioned the trip to my dear friend, Eileen Hallett, and she said she would be very happy and excited to go with me...her daughter moved to Utah last February!

Well, that was all I needed to go...a good co-pilot! So we set a date to go, and looked forward to it with fun anticipation! We left early Wednesday morning (on Halloween), stopping by Doug's office to say good-bye to everyone. Lindsay was working that day, and gave us some delicious homemade pumpkin muffins for our breakfast!! It was a great way to start to our trip!

The weather was a little snowy as we drove through Red Deer and into Calgary. We had arranged to meet up with Eileen's daughter, Leslie, at a designated meeting place, but she got slowed down by fog!! She finally made it, and we had a great visit...she brought us a delicious lunch! She has a catering business, and had made us some wonderful food! Eileen had brought a cooler with sandwiches...so we had a great feast all the way into Montana!!

We managed to drive all the way down to Butte the first day, a very beautiful drive, especially through the 'Gates of the Mountains' along the Missouri River. We arrived just as it was getting dark. We settled in and watched the news in our hotel room about 'Hurricane Sandy', as well as what was happening with the election!

Thursday morning we started on our way again, but first enjoyed the hotel's complimentary breakfast of pumpkin waffles! It was a beautiful day in Montana, fairly warm and sunny, perfect for driving!! We arrived in Bountiful at Arlene and Ron's condo around 5:00. P.M. Eileen's daughter, Monique, met us to pick up Eileen and we enjoyed visiting with her!

It was good to see Ron and Arlene again, I love their condo in Bountiful, it is always fun to meet up with them there! They are both doing so well, Arlene is walking 3 miles everyday, except Sunday...wish I was doing that! Ron's health is so much better now, they bought a cute little trailer for their property up in Logan Canyon.

Friday morning Arlene and I were up early and off to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. There we met up with Eileen and the three of us had a special 'training meeting' on the new program 'Family Tree'. It was great to be able to ask questions and receive one on one help with the church's newest family history program! The temple, just across the street looked beautiful!

Friday afternoon, Arlene and I returned to Bountiful, and had a lovely dinner with Michele and Bobby and Brian and Julie. Brian and Julie had come all the way up from Logan to Bountiful for their granddaughter's baptism on Saturday. It was so fun to see them again, they slept over and we had a lot of fun catching up on our families and everything!

Saturday morning I left Bountiful and headed down to Provo. I went to see my mom at Orem Nursing and Rehab. We went out together and had milkshakes and drove up Spanish Fork Canyon. It was so good to be with her again! She doesn't say much these days, but sometimes her eyes can really communicate what she is feeling. I left mom at her nursing home and drive over to Karla's house. Karla's son Justin and his wife just had their little boy, Miken Dale, last Monday...so they were very excited, this is Karla's daughter Erika with the new baby!

Kevin and Joeen drove up from St. George on Sat. afternoon, it was so wonderful to see them again! We all gathered at Karla and Bryan's, and with their kids, Jace and Erika, went over to Justin and Chelsey's home for a BBQ...and to hold that new baby! Sunday morning, we went up to see mom and to get a few pictures. She was so happy to see us all there together. The next day Karla and I had a great meeting with mom's caregiver's at the nursing home and came away very happy to know that mom is being taken care of by wonderful doctors and nurses!!

Monday at noon I drove back up to Salt Lake City and picked up Eileen and we started home to Canada! We made it all the way up to Great Falls that night, and saw the most breathtaking sunset in Idaho on the way! Tuesday we continued our trip home and arrived here just as the American election results were starting to come in. It is a very interesting time for the U.S.!!

I am so glad that I took the time to go down to Utah and to see my family there. I love them dearly, and it means so much to me to actually see them, and know how they are doing!! I also watched some great American football, and had a little Mexican food... It was a great trip!

 

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