Gramma Jo

Eventful week. I took some time off work Monday through Wednesday to visit Gramma Jo before she died. We missed her by a day.

So we ended up just getting stuff done during those days. El Kiddo had his second birthday on Monday. We had not anticipated being home for his birthday, so we had no plans for a party. Just before we were set to finish making the cake (a cool volcano cake with dinosaurs on it), some neighbor kids came over to play. We invited them to stay, and called over other neighbor children. We had an impromptu party with so many people in attendance that we didn’t even have room for everyone. That was fun.

We took the trip to see Gramma Friday through Sunday instead. Of course, we only saw her ashes. We drove across the state Friday and stayed with wonderful friends that night. Thanks, Chicken Kurt and Suzanne! We had a great time there. Then we went the rest of the way to Weiser, Idaho (near the Oregon border) for the memorial service Saturday.

My dad is the only one of Gramma’s 4 children who is active in the LDS church. Gramma herself was inactive most of the time I knew her. Then one day, after her husband’s death, she decided it was time to turn that around. She worked hard to stop smoking and start living the gospel. Church leaders, home teachers, visiting teachers, and family members prayed faithfully for her and encouraged her. I’ll never forget the day she returned to the temple with us. Oh happy day!

Gramma Jo had health problems for many years before her death. She suffered long and hard. I’m so glad she can finally rest. I hope I was able to adequately express my thanks to her good bishop who was also her home teacher for many years. The man gave many hours of selfless service and went out of his way to help Gramma. He truly understood his Aaronic Priesthood duty to watch over the widows.

It was good to attend her memorial service in a chapel full of mostly non-religious people. I sang with my wife and brothers a couple of songs that she requested—How Great Thou Art and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

We stayed Saturday night with ElGirlo’s cousin and her husband in Boise. We had other cousins over and had a great time playing games long into the night. After attending Sacrament meeting Sunday morning at Cousin’s ward, we went home. It’s good to be home.