From Mom July 27, 2015 - If I had the strength of a Pioneer

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Dear Riley,

Today is going differently than planned. I’m home with Josie at 1:45 for the first time since church because we stopped by to check on Grandpa K. Where he had been pretty strong since coming here, he has deteriorated the last three weeks. He is in the process of dying. But he is still alert and giving hugs and loving his family who have all gathered around here in Utah. Grandmother P was well enough to come and be with him and he just giggled and was delighted to be reunited. He has been seeing Grandma and Bamma and says they look beautiful and he says he’s ready to go. His room is filled with family singing hymns, holding his hands and hugging him. Josie has been a special bright spot for him in his time here, an angel, you know.

They got Grandpa giving us the I love you sign. We have a seperate but related story about this. Cambry was showing this to Josie and told her that this means I love you in sign language. Parker made the sign, tucking his thumb to his fingers and said, "This means Spiderman in any language.

I’m sorry that you will miss his passing and funeral. We had our vacation calendared, but not planned and now I think it’s because we will be going to California that week for Grandpa’ funeral.

Grandpa and his girls.

Later today we are going up to Layton to celebrate Great Grandpa B’s 95th birthday. Did I tell you that KSL interviewed him about his organ passion? They did a little story on him earlier in the year. It was cute.

This has been a really good week.

We took our family picture down at Pioneer Village in Provo, part of North Park. We toured the village after and I wondered how I can EVER feel overwhemled in my life. I don't have to grow my own food, make my own thread and cloth, soap, EVERYTHING. I am so grateful to my pioneer ancestors who really did sacrifice everything for what they believed. Be true!

Josie had a banner week.

 

Josie got this necklace and a Hello Kitty wallet as a prize at the dentist swim party. She said, "I wanted an amulet. And this necklace is an amulet. So, I got what I wanted." Not kidding!

But she also said this week as we were at Seven Peaks on Pioneer Day and a helicopter was passing over, looking ahead at it’s trajectory, “Oh, Mommy, look! They’re going to the moon!” The moon was right in the path. Oh, I had to smile. She said so many quoteable things.

Yesterday I planned about three times as much as could be completed in the day. And it really wasn’t until 10 last night that I realized what wasn’t going to get done. I got up in the morning and moved the living room to the family room so the carpets could get cleaned. I masked off most of the trim while waiting for the cleaners to come so I could touch it up, but that won’t be until Monday. So we’re in a funny state with a bare room in the living room and no room in the family room. Cambry and I walked as soon as the carpet cleaner left. Then Dad and I went to the temple, then we quickly packed a picnic and headed to the park for the Jenny Oaks Baker concert. It was really nice, I’ve sent you some pics. On the walk home, we looked at Grandma’s and all the house was open and lights were on. So we went in. The house was packed with family here to say goodbye to Grandpa. J and S made a doughnut run to Ridleys just before 11. We left close to midnight.

Dad and I need to work on the selfie thing.

Elder Oaks very kindly declined to take a picture for you as to avoid offending any with whom he could not stand, but he warmly took my arm and wanted to be sure that I send their love.

Cambry still enjoys T. They went up to the Ogden rodeo this week Thursday. She was disappointed when he couldn’t make the concert last night because of work and he will be with his family and not hers today at the party, but she feels safe with him. He came here after work Friday night, Pioneer day, while we lit off fireworks and ate candy. And then he was here last night as well. But they were somewhere in the mess of the family room, so I just talked to him a little in the dark without seeing him.

Aleah’s best day this week was Wednesday. She had a primary block party in the afternoon, while I was patching and painting from removing the old drapes. Then I took her, RT, Elise and Josie up to the Lindon pool for the Dentist summer party. It was actually pretty cold that night and so I didn’t get in the water and told the girls their price was taking turns with Josie because if I got cold and wet, we’d go home sooner. We stayed way too late, really. But they had fun.

Elise and Aleah also went to RM’s birthday party Thursday night. Then Pioneer day, then last night’s concert… we’re all a little sleep deprived.

Parker was stung by a yellow jacket last night just walking in the park. His right calf is all red and swollen. Man. Oh, that reminds me of something else Josie said. She looked as a yellow jacked flew by and said, "Ope, a yellow dragon."

WM was married this week. They look so happy and the reception was lovely. J and B H had their baby boy, G last night. He looks cute and perfect.

And in other news T and TJ returned from Oregon and she is expecting a baby boy in four months.

I love you so much! I hope you have a wonderful week. I don’t know how your companionship is turning out, but you seemed tentative the first week. T told Cambry that he had a difficult companionship for 6 months. He said they couldn’t agree on anything, when to eat, where to go, who to contact… nothing. But he said that period was the most productive of his mission: they had three baptisms. He served in Germany, so that’s pretty darn good. Stay curious and discover the loveable things about your companion. Serve him and find common ground. Love him as you were counseled in your setting apart.

I love you,
Mom