Happy Thanksgiving Family!

This year was the first time in more than 10 years that I have been able to attend the annual Thanksgiving dinner at my Grandma Scherbel's house. My husband and I were both EXTREMELY excited to go, especially since I hadn't been in so long, and because he had never been... so needless to say it was something we were looking forward to for several weeks ahead of time!

Of course just because we had gotten our hopes up things got in the way, and we almost ended up not going. First Ben's truck window stopped working and got stuck down in the middle of winter, so we were forced to shell out the money to fix it.... and that money was what we were planning to use for gas money. Luckily though my parents wanted us to be there as badly as we did, and offered to cover our gas costs so we could still make it.

After that issue was resolved we got news of an expected "blizzard" that was expected to hit Utah the night before we were planning on heading out. I thought for sure we were going to be stuck at home for the holiday while we brought some extra firewood inside and prepared for the storm. We waited and waited, and sure enough it came as predicted..... but after a few hours it was gone and only left a few inches of snow behind it! I was very glad this so-called "blizzard" ended up being a dud so we could still leave as planned.

The roads were quite icy on the way to Blackfoot, and a little dangerous... but we made it safely to my Grandma's house the night before the feast. Thanksgiving day was just like I remembered it being.... waking up to the smell of TONS of delicious foods, coming downstairs to find dozens of warm freshly baked rolls and pies lining the counter top, turkey roasting in the oven, and Grandma in the kitchen making it all look so simple and effortless. We had a huge feast of all the delicious foods, and enjoyed reuniting with aunts and uncles, and a few cousins too.

We came home and spent the last day of the long weekend recuperating from our food induced coma and laziness to prepare for work starting early Monday morning... but man is it hard to find motivation after relaxing and stuffing your face for three days straight!

It was so nice to be able to spend the Thanksgiving holiday enjoying family and food, and sharing a family tradition with my husband too. In years past I have tried to make a feast of my own for my husband and siblings that weren't able to go to Idaho for the holiday, but never have achieved such a grand feast as my grandma! She has always been and will always continue to be my idol and my personal hero... I hope one day my cooking and skills as a woman can be compared to her!

Grandpa Wixom's Funeral

A sketch of Grandpa 

About an hour after I got to work Thursday I received news from my mom that my Grandpa Wixom had passed the night before. He has been very sick for a long time, due to many years of smoking and alcoholism... and we had several scares earlier in the year where we thought we would lose him, but he somehow found the strength to pull through. He finally decided that he had come to peace with things here on this earth this week though, and let go of mortality. 

Paul bearers placing the casket

With little notice Ben and I were left scrambling to find a way to get up to Blackfoot Idaho to attend the funeral services. We were also asked to provide a musical number on our guitars as part of the program. We ran through a rough version of "How Great Thou Art", and decided that it might be better for Ben to play with my brother in law Jonathan instead since I am NOT that great! LOL! So we drove up to Kaysville for them to run through it a bit, and ended up deciding that was the way to go, because they sounded great together. 

Folding the flag

Military Rites

We drove up Friday afternoon after I got off work and stayed with my Grandma Scherbel. We went to the viewing late this afternoon. I saw many family members that I have not seen since I was in my early teenage years, and it was great to catch up with them. My Aunt Lauri delivered a thoughtful life sketch in the funeral program, and many others got up and shared their thoughts and memories about my Grandpa. Jonathan and Ben delivered a beautiful performance with their song that brought the spirit into the room and left everyone in tears. It was a great way to end the services.

We left in a procession through down via police escort out to the graveside. We watched as the grave was dedicated and then had the Military Rites delivered as well. It was very quiet and thoughtful as they proceeded to fold the flag and fire the rounds in my Grandpa's honor. 

Goodbye Grandpa

Funerals are always a bittersweet moment in life for me.... because they are moments of sorrow and loss, but also moments of happiness because they are one of the only things that can bring the entire family together, and it is good to see everyone. I am sad to see him go, but I am also relieved to know he is happy and resting peacefully now.... We love you Grandpa.

Farewell Elder George!!!

I cannot believe that time has gone so quickly. It seems like it was only just a short time ago that my brother was still in elementary school, riding bikes with the neighbor boys, or playing t-ball in the common area... and in the blink of an eye he grew up. He started high school and played football, got his driver's license and started dating cute girls, got a job.... and now this last year or so he graduated and got his mission call to Macon Georgia. My baby brother is all grown up now, and I cannot begin to find words to express my gratitude for his good example, or how proud of him I am!

Yesterday we gathered at the stake center for his farewell meeting. Jeff said his nerves were getting to him and that he hadn't slept all night long, but he delivered a beautiful and heart felt talk and never faltered in the slightest. I told him he seemed like he had done it a million times, and that he did a great job. I think he was just relieved that it was finally over!

Elder Jeff George

After the service we had a luncheon at my parent's house. We were reunited with some long time family friends that we hadn't seen in many years! It was great to talk to Dawn and Darren Kelsey and see how HUGE their children have gotten, and Scott and Lauren Alger and their boys too. I remember babysitting their kids when I was younger. We also got to visit with Bill and Patty Zierse (who we haven't seen in a LONG time), and our old bishop Tracy Bushman and his wife too.

We had a few family members make the long journey early in the morning to support Jeff too. My Uncle Craig George and his wife Lynette along with their son Danny and his wife Kim, and my Aunt Brenda and Uncle Kim Cox all made a long drive from Blackfoot to be to the church meeting by 9:00am. My cousin David Meanea came from Kamas too. We also got a surprise later in the afternoon when my Grandma and Grandpa Scherbel, my great Grandma Anderson, and Aunt Lauri, and my cousin Julia showed up from Blackfoot too! We had a lot of great food and shared great memories.

Things settled down after a few hours of visiting, and everyone was exhausted.... so we all took our normal Sunday nap to recharge our batteries. We stayed longer than usual to try and take advantage of the time we had left to spend with Jeff. I knew we needed to head home to prepare for bed and work the next day, but I really didn't want to leave. Finally, when we couldn't hold off any longer, we said our goodbyes. I hugged him as tight as I could, and he held me tighter back, and we said goodbye.

I have thought about it all day today, and still don't think the reality of it has set in yet...... I saw him and hugged him goodbye for the last time in two years last night. Although he doesn't leave for the MTC for a few more days, I won't get to see him again because of my work schedule. I miss him already. I will write him ever week though, and am hoping that our letters will just bring us closer than ever before.

Good luck out there buddy!!! I love you!!!!