Families and Ute Fans are Forever

Funerals are not exactly something that people love to go to, but attending grandpa's funeral was actually a great experience for me. It was wonderful to gather with so much of my awesome extended family and to reminisce about grandpa. I loved hearing many of the stories about grandpa, many of them made me laugh and smile a lot. Grandpa was quite the character and one of those people that no one forgets. He was always singing (like belting it out kind of singing) making funny comments and talking to everyone around him. He was very jovial and outgoing. There were so many funny memories of grandpa shared that day and it was very healing to laugh and cry at the same time. Just a couple random things to give you an idea - grandpa did not like to eat liver because he said, "I don't eat glands". We also joked that we were grateful that grandpa's bookcase/coffin ended up being sold before he passed away. Years ago, he found this man who made caskets out of wood that you could use as a bookshelf until it was "otherwise needed". It was very shocking and strange to the rest of us, but grandpa LOVED the idea because it was very practical and why would you need to have a big fancy metal casket anyway when it was just going in the ground? Grandpa was a character.

I was grateful for the time I got to spend with my family that I miss so much. I feel so lucky to be so close to my extended-extended family. My grandma Jeanne (who passed away when I was 15), was very close to her siblings Julia and Joe - so I grew up being very close to my great uncles, aunts and my mom's cousins. I loved it! And it was wonderful to see them after so many years. And it was great to see my own aunts, uncles and cousins whom I am very close to as well. I was very sad to miss a couple of my cousins who couldn't make it because the weather and driving conditions that day were terrible. Also, it was so sad that Beth (grandpa's wife) could not be there. She was very ill that day. I was sad to not get to see her and especially sad because I think it would have been so healing for her to be there. I was grateful for her sweet family who all loved grandpa so much. He was the only grandfather many of Beth's grandkids ever knew. I so enjoyed getting to see Beth's daughter Elizabeth and her husband Chad at the funeral. Ned* and I got to be good friends with them when we lived in their ward during our college days.

Here are a few highlights from the day. Maybe highlights is the wrong word - it's not that I wasn't sad - it was a very emotional day, but it is so healing to be together with family. And I feel so blessed to have the perspective the gospel gives me. I know I'll see grandpa again - Because of the Savior and temple covenants our family is forever. And despite our imperfections and sins, through the grace of our Savior we can be clean and live with Him again.

Look at my beautiful cousins. I miss them so much! I used to babysit Carly, Hailey and Lindsay and now THEY are the babysitters. Well, I doubt Hailey babysits now that she's in college, but the point is - they have grown up a lot. They look fabulous in their Utah Crimson Red. Lots of us wore our red in honor of grandpa

Did you know that red carnations are very hard to come by after Christmas? This wreath was supposed to be all red, but it turned out so nice anyway.

The tables with grandpa's things brought back a flood of memories. And I love that one of his tiger pictures was even hanging up! He had this tiger picture above his fireplace downstairs (in the "tiger room" in the Kristy Lane house.

My sweet aunt Jill, cousin Jeff, moi and brother Andy. I was especially thrilled to give Jeff a huge hug and see him home on American soil safe and sound after 6 months in Iraq. We miss his adorable family so much - our only family we have ever had living close in the northwest. We miss you Jeff and Kelli!!

Kaitlin! Holy cow she has grown up - isn't she gorgeous? I hadn't seen her in 6 years! How sad is that? Another sweet cousin I used to babysit long ago. And she has turned out just as beautiful inside as she is on the outside. We really have some good genes in our family!

My great aunt. Aunt Julia. I look up to her so much even though I am a bit taller. She is the sweetest person and being around her reminds me of grandma. I am so happy I got to see her and give her a big hug. I have such wonderful memories being at her house for New Year's Eve parties, 24th of July BBQ's, Christmas', hanging out before U of U games. Good times.

Kimmie, my sister in law and Pat, my mom's cousin (is that first cousin once removed??) I feel so lucky to have such great relationships with my mom's cousins. I grew up with the Nixons and always have so much fun laughing and reminiscing with them! Pat was a first grade teacher at my elementary school and I used to go in and help her in her room after school. I still remember that vividly and how important it made me feel to "help". Not sure if I really was a help, but she made me feel that way.

Grandma and Grandpa T., my dad's parents. I was so happy to see them on my short visit. It was so sweet of them to come with Aunt Leslie and Uncle John in the crummy weather. They have always been such good examples to me and I love them the most! (grandpa's saying ever since I can remember) "Love you the most"

Some of you might recognize this super classy lady. She always looks so great! My aunt Elaine - or great aunt Elaine. Formerly the General Relief Society President and counselor in the General Young Women's way back when I was in young womens! (Eons ago!) I don't get to see her hardly ever anymore - it's been years and years. She is another one of those aunts I have such wonderful memories of - Christmas parties and Labor Day parties (the Jack family loved to use any holiday as an excuse to get together!) I remember my cousin, Megan and I had a fun sleepover at aunt Elaine's when we were teens. She taught us how to make a nice dinner - I think one of her sons or nephews came over and we fed him. I felt so fancy eating the nice meal in her beautiful dining room. We also got to visit her beautiful office in downtown Salt Lake. It was amazing to hear our aunt Elaine relate stories from her travels meeting women all over the world and seeing the amazing things she brought back with her. We also got some pretty sweet seats during Young Women's conferences in the tabernacle. (o:

One other fun thing about aunt Elaine that I realized. When we had our family reunions in Park City, Sun Valley, etc. - she was always famous for her creative and fun games/activities. She got teased a lot for all the games she thought up and made people play, but I remember LOVING all of them. I can still remember some very specifically. Like the Wheel of Fortune game with Jack Nixon playing Vanna White. I have a picture of him in a pink number wearing a blonde wig. I also remember a fun game where each team got a bag of different stuff and we had to invent/create something with it. Seriously, those were the best memories and I think that must be one of the reasons that I love coming up with games like this for parties and get togethers. I get it from aunt Elaine. It's such a great way to make memories and laugh together. Even though people gave her a hard time, I think it's one of the reasons we were such a close family. Those are great memories...

My cousin Connor - Kaitlin's brother - he is such a great guy! Seriously, we have awesome teenagers in our family. The kind I would LOVE to hang out with all the time. I'm telling you - good genes! And good old, ahem, I mean young, Jack Nixon. (Or should I say Vanna?) One of the top ten biggest Ute fans I know. I think he was the one talking about inventing a catheter you could wear to football games so you wouldn't have to be inconvenienced by a bathroom trip and miss an important play. He and my uncle Jack's family and my family all ventured to California for the Freedom Bowl game many years ago. (Does anyone else remember Cal Beck running the kickoff all the way back for a touchdown that game? I think it was even the winning touchdown. What a game! And I still remember Cal Beck's name - how about that?) We laughed our heads off that whole trip to the football game, Disneyland, Hollywood - you can't help but laugh a lot around Jack, he's hilarious.

My sweet uncle Joe. I just love looking through all these pictures. I feel such a tug at my heart with each one of them. How did I get so lucky to be in such a wonderful tight knit family? My uncle Joe is Elaine's husband. Such a good and kind man. After Elaine's huge calling was over, he served as temple president at the Cardston Alberta temple (where Elaine grew up). He was the one who got my grandma and grandpa Jensen together! He was my grandma Jeanne's brother and my grandpa Clel (the one who passed away) was one of his best friends in medical school at the "U". I believe he and my grandpa (along with Elaine and my grandma) did their residencies together in Staton Island NY. I bet that was an adventure together. (o: I just love uncle Joe he has always been so kind and sweet to me.

Uncle Jack! Kaitlin and Connor's dad - which explains why they turned out so good! Uncle Jack (my mom's brother) was the only boy out of the 5 kids. He has always been so wonderful to take care of the whole family through rough times - even though he lives down in St. George. He is so kind and talented (he got grandpa's love of music and sings so well). And he's right up there in the top three biggest Ute fans I know. And I know a lot! He and cousin Jack were best buds all my growing up years and I would feel bad for anyone who had to sit right between the two of them at a Ute football game if the Utes weren't playing well. (o: I think I've done that before and lost hearing for a while. Jack went with Connor to San Diego to watch the bowl game December 23rd - that happened to be the same day that grandpa passed away. I think grandpa would have been glad that my aunts talked Jack into staying to watch the game. And I think the Utes winning that game was a huge tender mercy for uncle Jack and Connor. It would have been particularly hard to watch them lose on the same day his dad passed away. I think the rest of the family watching from our houses just prayed for a win for their sakes. It was an emotional day and that win was extra sweet.

Me and Tina, my sister in law. Tina was so sweet and understood how much it meant to get lots of pictures with family. She's the one that took most of the pictures with me in them. Thanks Tina! (o: Oh and she also snapped the one where you can see Elder Nelson in the background below.

Sweet Chrissy and sweet Hailey. My beautiful sis and cousin. I love these girls. They are too fun.

My cousin Mary! She has grown up soooo much too. She is a future Ute ladies basketball player! She has already hung out with the current Ute team and plays for her school so she's well on her way. Plus she is so fun to be around. Mary rocks! You know who else rocks - Elder Nelson. Yep, that's him behind us. One of the twelve apostles attended grandpa's funeral. It was amazing to have him there and listen to him talk about grandpa at the funeral. They have been friends since they attended medical school together at the "U" and always kept close contact. That group of friends that grandpa attended school with remained so close for their whole lives. I think that is so cool and hope I will be such a loyal friend as well. Elder Nelson's presence brought so much peace and healing to the service. I am so grateful he took the time to come and honor grandpa and Beth by being there despite his extremely busy schedule. He is such a good and Christ-like man. His countenance was so warm and he pronounced a beautiful blessing on the family that day. I will never forget that. He spoke specifically that those on the other side of the veil are very aware of us, more than we are of them, unless we are peaceful and listen. We can get small promptings in quiet moments that let us know they are there. I was so touched by this because I can remember a few very specific moments when I felt my grandma Jeanne's presence very near. And one of them was just two days before grandpa passed away. They are very sacred and special moments and such a testimony of life after death. It was wonderful to hear an apostle confirm what I already knew. How can we be so lucky to have such a great knowledge and church leaders who are undoubtedly men of God? I feel so blessed.

Grandpa would have been so proud to see that flag. He was very patriotic and served at a hospital in Japan during the Korean War. Which explains why my mom was born in Japan. She doesn't look Japanese at all. (o:

On the way out, I snapped a picture at this table. I loved it. The words to the Utah Man song really hit home . . .

Utah Man

I am a Utah man, sir and I live across the green.
Our gang it is the jolliest that you have ever seen.
Our coeds are the fairest and each one's a shining star.
Our yell, you hear it ringing through the mountains near and far.

Chorus: Who am I, sir, a Utah man am I:
A Utah man, sir, and will be till I die: Ki! Ki!

We're up to snuff: we never bluff. We're game for any fuss.
No other gang of college men dare meet us in the muss.
So fill your lungs and sing it out shout it to the sky.
We'll fight for dear old crimson for a Utah man am I!

Chorus:

And when we prom the avenue, all lined up in a row.
And arm in arm and step in time as down the street we go.
No matter if a freshman green, or in a senior's gown,
The people all admit we are the warmest gang in town.

Chorus:

We may not live forever on this jolly good old sphere,
But while we do we'll live a life of merriment and cheer.
And when our college days are o'er and night is drawing nigh,
With parting breath we'll sing that song:A Utah Man am I!

I'd never heard the last two verses before, but that last verse is so fitting. One of my favorite memories from grandpa's funeral will always be in those moments as some of us lingered after the grave dedication. My brothers, sister and sisters in law and aunts and cousins stood close together and started singing a spontaneous rendition of A Utah Man for grandpa before we left. It might sound strange, but I know grandpa would have been proud and it was kind of emotional. I bet he was even singing along.

Backtracking a little bit...
The snow was a beautiful backdrop for the graveside service, but it was butt cold! As Andy's face and our group snuggle below are demonstrating.

My slingback shoes were not the most practical for tromping around in the snow. I thought I was going to lose a few toes by the time I headed back to the warm car.

But the snow made the service so quiet and peaceful.

The National guard paid a beautiful tribute to grandpa with a bugle playing in the distance, salutes and folding the flag. It was very touching and patriotic. I wish Beth could have been there for it.

The grandkids left red and white carnations on grandpa's casket.

I wish I could have seen you one more time grandpa. I miss your outgoing and exhuberent personality. Love you lots!

Here is grandpa's favorite poem Jack shared at the funeral service. I love it . . .

Salutation To The Dawn

Look to this day!

For it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief courseLie all the verities and realities of your existence:

The bliss of growth,

The glory of action,

The splendor of achievement,

For yesterday is but a dream

And tomorrow is just a vision,

And today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore to this day!

Such is the salutation to the dawn.

Kalidasa