Memorial Weekend

 

Thursday, May, 27th, entailed a trip to SLC for a 2 hour  violin lesson with Mrs Moench and a  piano recital for Gracie.  Here she is with her cousin Lizzy celebrating that the concert was over!!

Why was she so excited?  Mostly because she was getting off the plane in St. George, UT so she could spend the next 4 days in cousin heaven at her Uncle Jason house.  He has 5 girls!!

Kjersti and I flew up to St George on Friday, with Charlie, to meet Gracie there and attend my family reunion. 

Charlie is a good little puppy!  He did not  make a peep on his first airplane ride-despite the hot afternoon air that made the flight super bumpy--

We met all the girls at the mall so that Gracie could get her ears pierced. Here are Aubrey and Gracie in their matching b-day outfits from Grammy and Poppy.

Cousins----

offering moral support before they put the piercing gun to Gracie ears!

 

But she did it!  She has really cute diamond studs in her ears now. 

Saturday, was my Moms bday.  She would have been 91 if she was still alive.  She was born in 1930. She died at 85-- in her sleep.  She got pneumonia. It was a surprising, and devastating loss for me and my siblings.  She was healthy, and hard working, and we thought she'd easily make it to 100.  I had just moved home to AZ to be near my parents in Southern UT when I lost my father,  then one year following his death, my mom got a cold, which moved to her lungs. She was being treated for pneumonia and had even received an in home visit by Ryan's brother Jason, who also saw signs she was recovering.  But then she died that night in her sleep. So, it was not meant to be.  She was needed on the other side.  To celebrate her life, my sister Calista had a party at her house.  There was swimming and cake and fun laughs shared by all who could come. I didn't think to take pictures.  But on Sunday evening we went to the cemetery  to decorate our ancestors graves. Here is Gracie and Charlie having a fun time. 

Malynne, at her husband Al's grave. 

This is my oldest sister Danielle.  She is not doing too well. She just turned 71, so she is not that old, but she has some underlying health issues she is dealing with.  I'm really close to her and it will be another devastating loss in my life when she is called home. 

Al-s grave at the Washington, UT cemetery.
 

After finishing up at the Washington, UT cemetery, we drove about 10 minutes to the St. George cemetery where my parents are buried. 

My dad is a WWII vet--so the city always puts a flag at his grave. 

My beautiful Kjersti standing next to their headstone. It's weird to see my name engraved on it.   I thought they would both live forever. 

My precious clan

This is all their posterity who could come to the graveside.  They had 10 children, so we are  big crowd when we all get together.  After the cemetery, we drove down the street to my brother Jabe's house for my moms peach cobbler and a bunch of other yummy food.  It was good to see everyone.  It had been awhile since the pandemic cancelled all gatherings for 2020. 

But most importantly, I want to express my gratitude to those who GAVE THEIR ALL for the freedoms we experience and enjoy EVERYDAY  in this blessed country.  My Dad would often tell stories of his experiences in the Philippines during the war, and they were hard, terrible days. but he went and served,  like so many others. But he was not required to give his all, but did receive a severe wound in this right arm that caused him pain throughout his life.