grandpa's funeral

All of my family got to be together (minus Michael, on his mission) for my Grandpa's funeral, it was such a great reunion. We only get to see my family (usually) about once a year: they're not within driving distance (driving distance we want to tackle with Parker), and everyone's just really busy with school schedules. SO this turned into our reunion. A couple days before we left, Steve had signed us up to do a ward sealing assignment in the temple. I didn't think anything of it until we got to the temple. Then it occurred to me that my Grandpa was our sealer for our wedding, and this would be a special experience. During the session, I could not hold it together. As soon as we walked into the room, I looked into the mirrors and couldn't stop thinking about when Steve and I were married, and my Grandpa had us look into those familiar mirrors. Whoah, I was not expecting this. I forced my thoughts away from that, and was fine. As the session started, certain parts (despite all of my efforts to keep my thoughts away from him) brought on a gush of tears: a trembling, emotional, not-very-pretty display of tears. They weren't necessarily sad tears. There were happy tears for what he was currently experiencing in the next life, there were grateful tears for having such an amazing example in my life that was able to seal my husband and I together forever, and yes, some sad tears that such a good man had left us. They even temporarily paused to ask if I was OK....I briefly (and bashfully--so embarrassing) explained and we continued. I was emotionally exhausted after we were through. Part of it was one of my most favorite memories of him. Before Steve and I left Utah for school here in California, we had a checklist of things to do. One of them was to visit the Mt. Timpanogos temple. We were walking in one afternoon and ran into some of my family who had just gotten through a sealing session with my Grandpa as sealer. Excited, Steve and I got ready and found his session and snuck in. He didn't recognize us as first (he had started to slow down a bit at this point), and asked us our names (Anderson: again, not a huge help to him). Then I quietly peeped, "Hi Grandpa!".

"Oh! Stephanie? Is that you? Steve!"

He immediately became emotional and began to cry, as he had started to do this a lot at that point. He came over and hugged us, and proudly told everyone who we were. We proceeded with the session, and at the end, he said the he felt like he needed to share something. He shared quite a bit of somethings, and I felt like it was all things that I needed to hear. I'll forever treasure these memories.

"Air-pane! Air-pane! Air-pane!"

My wrinkle-free, British Grandma

All of the children at the viewing

Some of my 67 first cousins (we've all produced 73 great-grandchildren...so far.....)

Some of the family practicing for a musical number for the funeral the following day. Our family has been blessed with amazing voices

 My family, minus Michael

 I was SO excited to get Parker together with his cousins, Grant and Savannah! Grant got to love Parker and did a cute, little happy dance every time Parker would come into the room! They are 5 months younger than him (and actually only 1 day apart)

And he and Savannah just liked to yell and talk and kick their legs and peak over the edges of their carseats at each other

This lasted for about two seconds, until they were climbing over each other, trying to get out

 The next morning at the funeral, we had a second little family viewing and family prayer. Each family went up together to say a final goodbye to Grandpa, and hugged Grandma. 

 I thought he looked peaceful. I didn't touch him...one of my cousins said he was really cold. I've seen a lot of people die, and done a lot of 'post-mortem' care, so it doesn't really bother me. But I wanted to keep the memory of my Grandpa as I'd always known him: warm, joyful, and as I said in my last post, with sparkly eyes

 The funeral service was wonderful: lots of great speakers and stories from his days as mission president in Chile, LA temple president, dentist, singer, patriarch, sealer, father, brother, and grandfather. The grandchildren sang "I Am A Child of God" and "Teach Me To Walk", then the entire family got up and sang that other song we had been practicing the day prior. I guess it was also sung at Aunt Alice's funeral. It was interesting to hear of the great love his Bishop and Stake Pres had for him. His Stake Pres gave him one last temple recommend interview because he had lost his wallet during the transfers between facilities. He said that never before had he felt as if the questions were being reimposed upon himself. Only in the presence of someone great would you feel that. I don't doubt he felt that way for one second. The closing hymn was "Abide With Me, 'Tis Eventide", which was hard to get through. Spencer was sitting next to me on one side, and Kayla on the other. He could hear when I stopped singing because I couldn't sing through the tears anymore, then I felt his arm around me. I noticed the same thing happened to Kayla, and Chris did the same to her. Love my siblings, so glad we could all be together (and that our spouses could take our littles out while we enjoyed the program). I was humming this hymn for the next couple of days.

We then went over to the cemetery for the burial: not as emotional, but good to see. All of the sons:

 Grandma and Uncle Floyd, Grandpa's brother. He lost his wife (Aunt Alice) several years ago. The four of them were extremely close, so it's just these two left to be buddies.

Grandpa served in the navy for two years when they were newlywed, so the flag was presented to my Grandma via a distant relative. My mom was up close to hear everything, and she said it was one of the more tender moments of the day.

 All of the daughters and granddaughters took a rose from the casket. This was my Grandma's favorite flower, and usually the one Grandpa would give her.

So thankful my boys could be there with me!

 My awesome cousin, Becky. There were so many people to get through and talk for several days, we hardly even had a chance. They live in Texas though, so we'll be lifers soon.

 Hadn't seen many of these cousins for a looooong time, it was so good to catch up!

 That night we pulled taffy, like Grandpa taught all of us. That stuff is mighty tasty.

Parker calls my mini-me "Kay-yuh!" (Kayla)

We stayed at Steve's parents' house in Sandy: they were out of town in Italy, so timing worked out perfectly. We took up every single room, and got to have a living room and kitchen to share so we could actually hang out (as opposed to a hotel). So thankful.

 BYU bookstore steps! Hopefully these three will be walking up and down these things together in 16 years!

Steve had to go home for finals that Sunday, so I stayed a couple extra days to hang out.

 Kiwanis Park! Where Steve and I rode bikes one night and had a pretty serious DTR. He said it was the night he knew he wanted to marry me <3

 Grant loved to give hugs, Parker doesn't really understand those from little people

 P's favorite letters are X and Y. He looked up at the Y and at first said 'X!', but then I corrected him, so he kept pointing to it and saying "Y!"

 Teaching P the ways of the dandelion

"Dance! Dance! Dance! Dance!"

Made a quick stop at Plato's Closet then to my favorite, Carrabba's for dinner. So good! They gave us a back room that wasn't being used, so we shut the door and let the kiddos run around. It was perfect.

Facetimed with Daddy when we got home. P kept pointing to the screen, giggling, and saying "Dadda!" over and over and over. Steve was also eating a pizza, and he hadn't even said the word pizza, but P saw it and started exclaiming "Pizza!" too. We don't even have it that often!

Birthday Cake Oreo shakes...it was a really good idea incase you were wondering.

I got to have a quick lunch with Ash and Linds and meet her beautiful little newborn, Jack. I just love him! And them! Then had to rush off to the airport...I'll be out there next month for Ash's wedding, so excited.

I was super nervous about flying with Parker alone, although knew it would be easier than when he was younger because he's generally entertained pretty well with food and movies. A seat next to me actually ended up being empty, so he had a seat all to himself, and the whole thing went pretty smoothly! It helps that it's only 1 1/2 hours, as opposed to the 2 1/2 it is to Texas. Whenever we're out at the store, or anywhere, it's always a constant "Hi!" to everyone. So he talked for a bit to the lady next to him, so I switched seats with him so he wouldn't talk her ear off. She was sweet and missing her grandbabies, so she didn't mind.

Back in the day when they lived in Carlsbad, CA

Circa 1980's awesomeness. Maybe 1990?

 My wedding

 Until we meet again!