Grandpa Van's Funeral - Last Respects and Family Prayer

Grandpa Van's Viewing

Early this year I spent the best few days in Kaysville, Utah, for my Grandpa Van's funeral.  

I love a good funeral.

It was such a great reunion where I felt the spirit of family and the blessing of being able to honor one of my personal heroes.  All of the siblings were able to make it except for my brother Jess.  We missed him a lot.  (One side note: my Grandpa Van was Jess' best man at his wedding.  I have always thought that was the coolest thing to have your grandpa as your best man.  And it was awesome!)

Dionne, David, Rikki, Nate

 My Step-Grandma, LaRue, who is always so poised and gracious, had been a champ taking care of my grandpa in his last days with Alzheimer's.  She is an angel.

My uncle Kevin was inspired to give each of the kids and grandkids a special Christmas gift, which was my favorite of all the gifts I received: a life sketch of my grandpa, including pictures and stories. It was so touching and is still a special treasure.  And it was a blessing to have it when Grandpa Van died just three days after Christmas.

LaRue and Her Daughter (whose name I cannot think of right now- Tonya?), Kevin, Barb

My Great Aunt and Cousins-Once-Removed with Friends from Georgia who made it to the wedding: Cindy Spain and the Moores 

Nate-the-Photo-Bomber!

Mom with her sister, aunt, and cousins

One of the best parts for me was to spend time with my sister Rikki and my Aunt Pat - two of my favorite people in the world.  And it made me so happy to see them loving our new baby!

Rikki, Natalie, and Aunt Pat

Baby Love

Dad and his brother Steve

All of Us Minus Jess

Natalie's Baby Blessing, Mom's Birthday, and Ray and Lisa Visit - December 2013

For a couple of months before Natalie was born, I decided to myself that I would break from tradition and have Natalie blessed in her Great Grandma's (Nana, my mom's mother's) baby blessing dress, which my mom had passed on to me a few years back.  

Each of our other girls wore the same beautiful dress my mom made for their blessings, so this was quite a break from tradition.

Just a couple of days before the blessing, we found out that Grandpa Van (my mom's dad) was in a very poor state of health and that he most likely wouldn't last through the week.  What a bittersweet moment it was for me as we left for church that Sunday morning to find out that he had passed away the night before, and we would blessing Natalie in his wife's dress, who died several years ago.

They were and still are so special to me.

My mom and I cried together in the mother's room as we dressed Miss Natalie.

Natalie and Uncle Dave

A Proud Papa

Three Generations

Natalie and Grandma

Three Generations

Mom put on a happy face and genuinely enjoyed spending her birthday with us, even though she had just found out about her dad.  We made a special cheesecake for her, which still tasted good, even though it wasn't done in the center!

Afterwards we relaxed with Ray and Lisa before they had to go back home to Kentucky.  We always enjoy their visits!