1 January 2017 - Happy New Year!

Monday after Christmas was a whirl of activity. The rental car needed to be picked up, the bags packed and put in the car, the house cleaned, etc. Stephen was driving the Subaru Outback with Samuel in the back and Kathleen in the front.  Leaving an hour later than planned, snow wasn't seen until Tiger Mountain. Highway 18 was very busy and SLOW... making it to Boise late.

The rental car....

While in Meridian Stephen helped Cory and Susan work on the flooring in their family room. It was a beautiful dark brown and went well with the gray color on the walls and the white kitchen cabinets. Both Cory and Susan seemed very pleased with their work and Jarom helped too.

Siblings that made the funeral. L to R
Mayrene, Kathleen, Leonard, Michael, Larry, Richard

Program cover

Tuesday morning put the car back on the snowy road. Light snow was falling as the car made it's way to the highway. After leaving Boise, the weather mostly cleared up with only some drifting snow at Sweetzer pass. The drive to Provo was uneventful with the roads clear and only the city streets crusted with a thick blanket of snow. Samuel's Christmas was a suit so there was a stop at the Missionary Mall where a suit was found, measured for alterations and paid for. Samuel seemed pleased. Next stop was Jessica and Juan's place. Ben and Carli stopped in and plans were made to continue the journey to St. George for Francene's funeral. Kathleen rode with Ben and Carli, Stephen took Jessica with Samuel. On the way down, the rental car overheated and the signal light came on to indicate the oil level was too low. They stopped and Ben and Carli and Kathleen made it to the Comfort Inn in St. George first where the family was staying. Michael and Catherine, Larry and Teverly and Richard were next door at the Wendy's restaurant so when Stephen arrived the whole group joined them for dinner. After a quick bite, everyone went back to the hotel where they let us gather in the breakfast room to discuss what was happening for the funeral and what else needed to be done. Catherine showed us the program and Leonard discussed the finances. Most of the men were to be pall bearers or honorary pall bearers. Kathleen was asked to give the opening prayer, Stephen was to speak after Richard gave the eulogy. Catherine would finish up giving the memories of Francene's nieces and nephews. After planning there was some time to try out the pool and sauna before going to bed. Jessica slept with Stephen and Kathleen but couldn't sleep well due to the snoring.

Sisters Mayrene and Kathleen

Ben, Jessica and Carli at the viewing.

   Wednesday was the funeral. After breakfast and packing the cars up, everyone headed for the church where Francene had spent most of her years attending while in Washington City. A family viewing was an hour prior to the funeral and many family members close by were able to come. The funeral went as planned. There was a musical number by the ward members and some of the Care Center's employees came. Stephen did an excellent job incorporating our belief in the Plan of Salvation and the fact that Francene will now be able to have an eternal companion. Part of Catherine's talk included a poem that she asked Jessica to read about being "home for Christmas". The Bishop finished up the service and reiterated much of what Stephen said. This was his 4th funeral in just a few weeks but he was able to individualize each one to the needs of the family and friends of the deceased. The spirit was strongly felt.

Ian, Mayrene, Emily, Michael
Stewart

Sheila and Marty Mayne

Jeanette Raisor & family

Mindy and children

Carl and Julia and family

Jay and his mom, Helena
Langford

Karen and Doug
Stoddard

Jimmy Jo and Harmony
Langford

Aaron and friend Alicia (?)

Mayrene and Wayne Stewart

Helena and Leonard and Camille
Langford

Ben Selfie with Carli, Samuel, Stephen,
Kathleen Ralph and Jessica Salcedo.

Shauna Tyler

   After the funeral, family gathered at the Washington City Cemetery where the gravesite was purchased not too far from Floyd and Irene Langford. Leonard dedicated the grave site and the bishop said a few words then everyone started to leave. A luncheon was prepared back at the church but it was hard to leave. Stephen and Kathleen were the last ones to leave the cemetery after visiting at the parent's gravesite. The luncheon was nice and after cleaning up everyone headed their separate directions.

Luncheon at the church.

   Wednesday night Stephen and Kathleen spent at Jessica's place and Samuel stayed with Ben and Carli. There was a quick stop by Sarah's apartment to check it out and she was sorely missed.
   Thursday was when the suit was ready to be picked up. Stephen and Juan took Samuel and visited with Lisa and Tom where they saw Brandon and Demarae and their kids.  Jessica and Kathleen dropped Ben off at his apartment so he could wait for Carli to finish her dance instructions. They had Hadlie and Christian with them so they started off and had to stop in Layton at Leonard's house where they picked up some DVD's that he had from Francene that Kathleen had purchased for her. The only stop after that was in Burley for gas and a potty break for the kids. Meridian Idaho was covered in snow on the city roads and Kathleen only navigated wrong once. Otherwise the trip was uneventful. Stephen and Juan were able to pick up Rebekah at the airport in Boise before making it to Susan and Cory's place.
   Friday was quiet at the house. Susan had prepared a breakfast casserole of eggs and vegetables. It was so delicious. After a nice lunch, Kathleen had an appointment scheduled at her clinic for a PRP (platelet rich plasma) treatment for her knee and hip. After several (10+) injections in various sites, Kathleen was pretty sore but hopeful that her knee will get better as she follow directions with exactness. That evening was a movie night at the dollar theater. We saw "Doctor Strange" with Benedict ???

Game Time

   Saturday was a fun breakfast of eggnog and pumpkin pancakes with buttermilk syrup and sausage. Then the decisions were to be made. Whether people wanted outdoor activities in the cold (that was shot down), to go to the movies again or visit a fun center. The fun center was selected but it had a sale that started at 5:00 and it was only 1:30. Most people didn't want to stay for the sale but the guys and Rebekah wanted to stay for the football game of Ohio State. Jessica stayed so her kids could play and Susan, Cory, Jarom and Kathleen went home and played Jokers and Pegs.

Breakfast buddies....
Kimball and Hadlie

    That night Susan had prepared a game in which you rolled the dice to get doubles while someone put on gloves and tried to unwrap and ball of gifts wrapped in cellophane wrap. It was quite the fun game and Ben and Jessica got the most stuff.... Midnight was celebrated with a toast of sparkling cider.
   Sunday was 9:00 church for the New Year. The Speakers spoke about the important goals to be made in the year to come. The sister that spoke talked about seeing the gifts (valentines) from God that we receive daily and how we can develop charity by looking for those opportunities to serve others. The brother who spoke mentioned the regrets that people have on their death beds. #1- Not spending more time with their loved ones.  #2 Not living by the spirit and #3 Not living up to the potential to BE HAPPY.  There was some good messages in the words spoken and the spirit was felt very strong. After church, clothes were changed and everyone headed off to their destinations. Ben and Carli and Jessica and Juan made it back to Provo before the big storm hit. Stephen and Kathleen saw 10 cars slid off the road during their travel back to Kent but theirs was uneventful thankfully.
   With the New Year begun, we say goodbye to the old. Hopefully we can have fond memories of all that went before but if not may we all strive to do worthwhile activities that have potential to bring happiness and joy to others so there will be many good memories ahead.

A New Year's picture at Cory and Susan's ward after church. What a beautiful Day!!!