Christmas Eve and Day

We tried to pack everything in on Christmas eve. We had a Montgomery party in the morning and a Jennings party in the evening. As we were going to the Jennings party there was a wonderful sunset. We did all the traditional activities of food, song and the Christmas story.

 The next day was Christmas. Maddie and Cameron stayed with us over the evening and woke up to the normal traditions we have of a fire going in the fire place and them coming down together and then opening their stockings. After that it was opening presents and then since it was Sunday it was off to church.

After church we had Nic and Shannon and their family over to open presents and then they went to the Rich's so we had Mom and Dad and Joni and Bob over for dinner with us.

My highlight was the telescope the kids got me. Just like all the other kids I had to put it together and use it that night and look at Jupiter and Venus which were out. I pulled out my old broken one to show the difference. This really was one of those surprise gifts. It was great to have the family together for Christmas eve and Christmas day. Maddie had to go to work in the afternoon but at least she could be with us and Cameron was able to be home which we felt very fortunate for.

Christmas Season

We did our annual family tradition of going to Salt Lake and seeing the lights at temple square and then going to the Kurt Bestor concert. This year we added a new element, we took my dad with us and then met Joni and Mom in Salt Lake and went out to dinner together. Joni and mom saw the afternoon performance which is how this worked out. We ate at the Lion House Pantry and then saw the lights together.

 The moon rose above the Christmas lights to add some additional light to the night. They night before there was a lunar eclipse which Cameron saw in Cedar City.

After that we parted ways and they went back home and we went to the concert. We missed Cameron this year as he was on the road and he wished he could have joined us.

The following Monday we went with Shannon and Nic and the grandkids to see the lights in Ogden. It was fun to watch Payton get excited at looking at all the displays in the buildings and watching Connor just be happy with everything.  

Fall Break- part two

Early in the morning as we were in the tent trailer we heard, "Grandma, Grandpa." It was a surprise that the kids were here already. We did not expect them till around nine or ten. We found out they drove all night and waited for the camp ground to open in the morning. We made breakfast and Nic and Shannon tried to sleep while we watched the kids. I went to get the flat tire fixed in St. George which I thought would take an hour but took three because of everyone else getting tires fixed. At least I got a new tire free because it was damaged beyond repair.

The afternoon we went into the main part of Zions.

We hiked along the paved portion of the river trail at the end of the canyon.There were squirrels and some deer along the way and of course the beautiful views up and down the canyon. Payton was a good hiker and enjoyed the various things to do like stopping and throwing sand, jumping, putting hands in water and walking the wall.

It was then time to head back and get over to Tuacahn to see the play The Little Mermaid. It starts off with water flowing from the cliffs behind the stage and flooding the stage and then a ship coming on stage. It gets your attention. We had a wonderful evening and Payton was so attentive to the play. It ended with fireworks which Payton said would happen.

Next morning as we prepared to leave we had one more hike. This was on the way home in Kolob Canyon portion of Zions. There are three separate sections of the park and we hit all three. The trail we took was the Taylor Canyon trail. We walked in and out of the creek along the trail and was able to still catch some fall colors along the way.

We even saw a tarantula.

Fall Break- part one

We took advantage of the fall break from school and went to the St. George area from October 19 to the 22nd. We left after school and got to our camp site three minutes before the gate closed at 9 p.m.The next morning was a beautiful day with the sun rising over Quail Creek reservoir.

In the morning we drove on the road to Kolob Reservoir. This road goes in and out of Zions Park and the scenery is spectacular.

Near the top of the drive the aspen trees still had some stands that had bright yellow leaves on them. The yellow leaves and the blue sky was an amazing contrast of colors.

We made it to Lava Point and looked out to Zions Canyon below us in the distance. We made it back a little after noon and met our friends the Lovelands who had arrived at the camp.

We determined to take an afternoon drive to Toroweap. This is a part of the Grand Canyon that is accessed by a 60 mile long dirt road from Colorado City. After the three hour drive we arrived at the ranger station and from there had another four mile drive on slick rock to the canyon overlook.

While it is not a wide part of the Grand Canyon  it is a 3,000 foot drop straight down. It is a breath taking view in all directions. Looking west is the Lava Fall rapids of the Colorado River and the roar of the rapids can be heard from where we stood. We took advantage to look all around but looking over the edge is one of those I'll do it once experiences.

  
We crawled out on our stomachs and looked down. It does take your breath away. Our friend Annette did not like heights and this was not one of her most favorite parts of the trip.

We then decided to go back a different route over Mount Trumbull which lead us into Ponderosa forests and then down a steep grade to a valley. In this valley was an old school house. We reached it at sunset but still walked around it and in it and looked at all the stories of those who had lived there years ago.

We then continued on in the dark. This route was a 90 mile dirt road to St. George. Around 9 at night we heard a pop and had a flat tire. The sky was dark, the stars bright and the air cold and we were in the middle of nowhere. Good thing for full size spares. Later on I read in the park service brochure that " 25% of visitors experience one or more flat tires." Good to be part of a special group.   

The passing of Gloria Jennings

Cindy had Back-to-School night on August 22nd. She had just gotten home from meeting parents and the children that would be in her class when the phone rang and Jeanne told Cindy that Gloria had passed away. We had expected this call so many times before but it was still a shock. There had been nothing unusual happening and Hospice had given us no warning that it was time to gather the family.  Jeanne was going through her normal routines and was feeding Mom when she slumped over and passed away.  Shannon had followed a prompting and went over there a few hours earlier and talked with Grandma.  I think the prompting was a tender mercy because of the loving service that Shannon had given Grandma all those many months before Connor was born. The family gathered together at Jeanne's house to console one another. We had gathered about a month before and said our final goodbyes and Greg had given her a blessing of release and then she rallied and we were astounded at her resiliency and stamina.  The timing of her passing was very hard for Cindy because of the stress of starting a new year and trying to set procedures and expectations for the year.  But there is never a good time to loose your mother and we will miss her terribly.
The following week was spent making plans for the funeral, getting things together and working to get Paul to Utah from California. He is basically homeless and was trying to find a job. Gloria had no idea of his dire condition the last 10 months.  It just never seemed appropriate to inform her and I'm not sure she would have understood.
At the same time we worked to get Cameron home for the funeral. He had begun his training with Werner trucking and the day before Gloria passed away he was  in Phoenix, Arizona. He was supposed to be on the road within the next three days and was frustrated that he could not make it to the funeral. As the week wore on the trainers never showed up and Cameron sat in a hotel waiting. Finally the company said that no one was coming and had Cameron drive himself and three others to Denver to meet the trainer. He did this and then they waited again. We decided there was no reason for him to sit in a hotel room while he could be at the funeral so we bought him a ticket to fly home and he came home Sunday afternoon before the viewing. 

The viewing was on Sunday the 28th of August. It was a great tribute to Gloria. Many of the stalwart people who have made Harrisville what it is came to pay their respects.

Monday August 29th was the funeral and many people came. The extended family of Cindy's father also came which was a great sign of caring and was appreciated. The services were wonderful and the blessing of being a close family were very evident. Jason Godfrey spoke about her generation and their great example of caring and sacrifice and the legacy she left all of us.  Greg told stories of events that had shaped her life that I had never heard before such as her moving 12 times as a youngster, living in a tent while her step father worked construction, and her house burning down and her living with relatives.  Of course I did know that her own father died when she was very young. Thes things helped develop her love and devotion for family.  The great grandchildren sang Families can be Together Forever.  Erica Stephens sang a beautiful song about a lighthouse.  She was a light to all of us.
She had many great qualities and was a great example of being cheerful even while in constant pain and never speaking guile and she wanted so much for her family to love each other and watch out for one another. She was also a great listener and loved to hear and pass on the news of her family which we will all miss because that is how we kept tabs on each other.  While she will be missed the last several months have been very difficult to watch as she has declined. In many ways Cindy has felt her mother has been gone for a while because her sweet cheery personality was gone but now she is free from those physical restrictions that a worn out body had caused and is able to be with the love of her life again.





Till we meet again