I have been a major blogging slacker and have tons to catch up on because these past few weeks have been a blur of craziness. But the most important event during this time was the passing of my Dad's mother Nelda Wilson Monson.
This is a picture that was displayed at the funeral of my Grandma and Grandpa when they were younger. Grandma Monson raised 6 boys, all with names that start with "D". She was a wonderful mother and Grandma. She was also a beautician and had her own business. I remember going to their house and thinking it was so cool that Grandma had her very own beauty salon! She lived just one month short of being 96 years old. She lived a good life and truly "endured to the end". I knew she was going to be gone soon since she was living down in St. George right by my parents and when the news came that she had finally passed away I only felt joy for her. She had been a widow for 19 years and had outlived all her 9 siblings and parents. I was so happy to think of the reunion she was having with all those people on the other side that she loved so dearly. This experience just struck me that when you live your life righteously and you do all that you can do, it is not a sad thing to pass onto the next life and receive your eternal reward. As my Dad said in his talk at the funeral, "she deserved it."
I was so grateful to be able to attend the funeral and it was an awesome surprise that all of my siblings ended up coming as well. It was so good to see our extended Monson family and to all be together to celebrate the life of such a wonderful woman.
Ben took Rylynn up to the casket to lay a beautiful rose on top and say goodbye. Garrett's step-mom helped Rylynn pick out a rose from her garden and cut it to give to my Grandma. It was very sweet.
Rylynn was really curious and reverent about the whole funeral. She and Carter kept asking about where Grandma's body was going and when it would be back with her spirit. I thought it was a really cool learning experience for them because they know that our spirits go back to heaven, but seeing a dead body kind of confused them at first. It was special for me to be able to talk about that with my kids in such a personal and up close way.
The grandsons all got to be pallbearers. This is when we said the final prayer and dedicated the graveside. Unfortunately it was like a tornado outside that day. I have never seen weather like that in Farmington!
Our family at the graveside.
Just the kids and two stowaways:) Carter and Thais were freezing so they couldn't move.
At the reception, we took a bunch of pictures of all the boys, and their posterity. This is the six Monson boys together. Doug, David, Dwight, Dennis, Don and Darold (L-R).
It's a rare thing to have all my sisters together and all with curly hair, so we had to document it. We should have gone in curliness order, Marianne puts my curls to shame!
After the luncheon we got to go over to Grandma's old house where my Dad grew up to take some pictures. I remember coming to this house as a girl and thinking it had the biggest front porch in the world! My Grandma sold the house a few years ago which made us all really sad, but the new owners restored the whole thing inside and out to it's original. They always let us come and look through it when we visit too, so it's not too sad. Ben's got his smiley face on for this one:)
This is the plaque in front of the house since it is a historic home in Farmington. I think it is so cool that it mentions my Grandma and Grandpa and even my Dad.
Rylynn and I on the front porch where I used to swing on the porch swing and eat blue Popsicles when I was her age. That was a pretty amazing moment for me to be on that porch with my own little 5 year old.
Marianne, Nathan and Aria wanted to join the picture. Carter snuck up on accident too. I don't think he would ever jump in a picture on purpose.
After the funeral events were over my siblings and parents all headed up to the cabin so the cousins could have fun together before we had to leave the next day.
Seriously how cute are all these cousins! We were just missing little Reagan.
Walking through the mountains we love so much! Of course in our PJ's, we wouldn't have it any other way!
Marianne and her darling little Aria.
I just LOVE Carter's face int this picture! He is such a goof ball. I love how he has his hand on Rylynn's shoulder too.
Little Beck was loving the hiking backpack. He is such a happy little guy. Not like his grumpy Daddy:) Just kidding! For some reason Garrett looks gloomy in this picture but he is really just looking at the river and trying to figure out how many fish he can catch in his limited time up at the cabin.
I love how these girls just walk along and chat like they're best friends. Thais is holding out a handful of worms to show me! She had no fear of touching the slimy guys. The funniest part about it was that at the end of the walk we told her to throw them in the river(since she had squished most of them to death) and after she did she said, "I kind of hate worms." So matter of factly. It was hilarious.
Farewell to a wonderful woman, Mother, and Grandmother. We're happy you're home.
