Moose-isms... Moose's search for Tanner

As I wrote previously, Tanner has been sleeping in Gary's bed since Gary left. Andy and Leza are moving and needed to stay here on Wednesday night, so Tanner had to sleep in his own bed, Moose found him on his own and all was good.

Yesterday was the last day of school, so Lexie and Tanner decided to sleep on the trampoline. I couldn't sleep because Moose was wandering around looking for Tanner. He looked in his room, in Gary's room....no Tanner. He came meowing for me in my room. I got him food and water. Still not happy. At one point he even jumped up on my bed looking for Tanner. He was a very sad kitty. I didn't want to show him Tanner was on the trampoline because he was sleeping in Wynn's sleeping bag and I didn't want cat hair all over it. So Moose curled up on the floor under my window and slept, kind of, the rest of the night.

When I got up he just watched me pathetically, with little pathetic sad mews. I left for my walk. When I got home they were all still asleep and Moose was nowhere to be found. I finally found him under my bed, not even lifting his head from his paws as he quietly mewed.

Tanner had woke up by now so I told him he needed to go to his poor sad kitty that had searched for him all night. Tanner walked in the house saying, 'I didn't think he would be that sad for me. I was just outside. It's OK Moose, your Tanner is here!' At this point he was at the bottom of my bed and lifting the bed skirt. Moose lifted his head, meowed a happy meow as he came out from under the bed and rubbed his head on Tanner. They layed on my floor together for just a bit while Tanner reassured Moose. Tanner went outside to put things away and Moose went straight to Tanner's bed, where he had me straighten out the blanket for him to promptly bury himself under it, only his belly showing this time. And he stayed there all morning.

Caught Up

I think I have actually caught up on my blogs. Except soccer season. I'll do those later and not pre-date them.

They should start on May 23rd for Gary's birthday. Read if you like. There are updates of since he's been in the MTC.

At Peace

Funerals have never been easy for me. The first one I remember is my Grandpa Swapp's. I was little, 1st grade I believe. I wasn't allowed to attend the funeral, the little kids were tended at my Grandma's house. The things I do remember about the funeral were this:

• I got picked up early at school
• I got a new dress that I still remember, it reminded me of 'Heidi', I loved that dress, red and black with a lace up attached vest
• Staying at my Grandma's house
• and my mom taking me to the church to see my Grandpa one last time. I remember her holding me up to see in the coffin and I just thought he looked like one of those wax figures at a was museum

I went to my Grandpa Hulsey's funeral when Andy was 6 months old. We were close. It was hard to lose him. I cried as soon as I walked in and saw my mother. I have felt him with me many times since then in the last 22 years. I still miss him, but can still feel a hug from him when I need it most.

I didn't make it to my Grandma Swapp's funeral. I had plans to go with my sister Dawna. I kept having the feeling I shouldn't go, but wanted to be there and kept pushing the feeling away. The night before we were supposed to leave, I called my mom, in tears again, and told her I didn't feel like I should go but I wanted to be there so badly. She told me to listen to that feeling and not come. That is what my Grandma would want me to do. I felt so bad for missing this.

When we moved to Evanston, we had been there for 3 weeks when they realigned the boundaries. I became the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society in a ward I didn't know anyone in. We called it the geriatric ward (I know, nice huh?) because we had at least 1 funeral about every week if not more. There was a time only a couple of weeks into being in the Presidency that the President and the 1st counselor could neither be to the funeral. That meant that I, who had never been in Relief Society before, had to do it.Since I became an adult I have not handled viewings well....ever. I don't know if it has something to do with seeing my grandpa or not. I don't know how to explain what I feel when it comes to a funeral. I know they are to show respect and love for the family, but I have to go through a whole talking myself into thing every time. No matter who it is.

Today we had a funeral to attend in Tremonton. Our dear friends, Kim and Cindy Parry, had a son that was 29 years old. He has been sick for a few years, part of what was wrong, they knew, but couldn't figure out everything from the way I understand it. About 4 weeks ago they had to take him to the hospital and thought they were going to lose him then, but they didn't. Last Saturday he passed away. Wynn told me and I knew I needed to go to the funeral. Wynn asked me if I was coming, they would all be leaving work to go. I kept telling him I didn't know yet, it was the last day of school for the kids, and all other nonsense. I tell you, I have to go through a process_ every_ time.

I got up this morning, got Tanner ready for school and myself ready for the day, in a skirt for the funeral, all the time still debating whether I was going. Wynn called me as I was driving Tanner to school and asked if I was coming, I told him yes to the viewing. As I drove over there I went through the whole process of I needed to stay to the funeral. I got lost, called Wynn, he got me to the church. We went in and got in line. As soon as I saw Cindy I started to cry. I hate crying in public. But I watched as this great friend of mine seemed to comfort everyone that went through that line. We were supposed to be there to comfort and support her, and she was comforting and supporting us. My heart as a mother was breaking for her. She is such a great example to me in all things.

I did stay to the funeral. I knew I would go and I would stay all along. But like I said, it is a process for me. It was a beautiful service. This was a very giving person that was giving through sickness and clear up to the end. His siblings and mom spoke. You could feel the love. You could feel that he was happy, at peace and felt good for the first time in a very long time. You could feel that he is where he is supposed to be. He couldn't finish his mission on this earth, he was sent home because of the illness. He is on his mission now.

I figure I will still have to talk myself into going. And I have to go through the feelings to make sure if it is a I shouldn't go thing or my usual I can't do this thing. I've had both. I think my Grandpa helps me with this process each time and hope he is allowed to remain with me.

God be with you, Cory Scott Parry. You were an example to all, and continue to be so.

Another Wedding

We spent the day in Salt Lake City. This is the 4th niece or nephew wedding in 4 months. Today it was Jacobus La Fazia and our niece Brooke Wiberg. It was a great day starting at the Salt Lake Temple. We got there in plenty of time and figured it was a Wednesday and would be no problem finding parking under the Conference Center. Ya, right. It took us 15 minutes of driving around to find a place! Several people were driving around looking for something. We found it then ran to the temple (me in 4 inch heels) and made it before they went in. Afterwards we took pictures.

Jacobus (Jacob) and Brooke La Fazia


Her beautiful bouquet.
Don't you just love the colors!

His purple shoes!

I loved that

The cake.

Those are purple flowers and the topper says Cherish.

The happy couple.

His purple fedora and purple shoes.

Congratulations Jacob and Brooke. We love you!

Tuesday Is P-Day

Wynn and I both got an email today! I guess Tuesday is Gary's P-Day in the MTC. I was so excited to hear from him even though it was just one line to let me know he was OK (there is 3 missionaries with swine flu in there). I figured they would have called us if it was him. And to let me know what his email is and that he just sent a package home and there is a longer letter to me in that.

Wynn got a longer email, but I have a letter coming in the package. He has seen a few friends but is so busy. He said he just doesn't know how anyone gets to do the fun things there are to do in the MTC. He has tried and there is just no time. The first couple of days there seems there is time, but there's not. He is working all day long and goes to bed every night exhausted with things he didn't get to. He loves the work! I'm so glad that he has such a great work ethic that this isn't going faze him.

With the flu outbreak, only the new missionaries are aloud to enter the MTC. The families have to say good-bye outside. I don't know if this would be better or worse. I have mixed emotions about the whole thing and just don't know how it could be done so it isn't so heart wrenching. I don't think there is a way. The missionaries that are supposed to be leaving now are being detained for about a week. At this point, Gary is still scheduled to leave June 15th.

Tannerisms #5

Yep, it's been a while and I've probably missed quite a few, but this one happened 2 days ago on Sunday...

Morgan got Gary's phone last Tuesday night after he was set apart as a Missionary. I swear it has had more texting, both sent and received, since then than the whole time he had it.

Sunday afternoon we were fixing dinner and I needed Morgan to look at something on her phone. She pulled it out of her pocket and said, "Oh, I have another message."

All of us--"Oh, like it's a big surprise." and misc other things of that nature (jokingly of course)

Tanner--(in an explaining/exasperated tone) "Ya, that's because she NEVER stops texting!!!"

Busy morning

I didn't have to go to work today. I was supposed to be done on Friday, but I wasn't there Mon-Wed last week, and Colleen wasn't there Wed or Friday and couldn't go today. So now we will have to go in tomorrow to finish up (hopefully so we don't have to go Wed) for AmeriCorps. But not having to go to work didn't seem to give me the lazy day I thought I was going to get. Ya, right.

We got a letter from Gary Saturday, YEAH!!! He is no longer nervous and ate a big meal Wednesday night, just like I said he would. He had started getting nervous about last Friday....big weekend, the unknown, big responsibility, etc. He had just nibbled some here and there since. I said once he got there, met his companion, saw his room, etc he would be fine, and he was. He is the senior companion and has a lot to read and do because of this assignment. He is up to it and will do great. Then he asked me to send a copy of his immunization records. It seems at the doctors office they missed writing down an MMR on his mission record and he will have to get another one if I don't send a copy. No big deal, I'll mail it Monday morning. So.....

I got up and not having to go to the school for work forgot Tanner still did! I got him up in plenty of time and he ate and got dressed. Good thing the girls get themselves up or they probably would have been late since they leave lots earlier. Today is his Drive-in movie at school, so we made a cardboard 'car' this weekend...

We think it turned out pretty cute!

I drove him to school and went to take Gary's letter to the Post Office. I passed a power truck, police cars and fire truck on the way, not thinking anything of it. When I got there it was closed due to power outage. Of course. So I drove to Hyde Park and mailed it. Then went to the bookstore to buy book #2 of a series I've been waiting for since the first one came out in 2004!!! First one hardback, this one paperback, oh well. At least I have it now and can read it next week while I'm at Laguna Beach in California!!! On the way to the bookstore there was a cop directing traffic at the light on Main St down from the PO. I guess that outage is on the whole street.

Wrote Gary a letter on Dearelder.com (so he will get it today) telling him his copy of his shot record was on the way. Now blogging. Still have my 5 mile walk to go on, shower, help Andy and Leza move, pick Tanner up from school (because the car doesn't fit on the bus so well), get homework and chores done, make sure Morgan works on her fund raiser for color guard, take the kids swimming at the rec center tonight so I'll remember that the money is due today for Tanner's first 2 swimming lessons sessions. Sorry Tawnya, I really am going to get to that jacket, eventually!

Now I'm off for that walk...maybe...unless I get on Facebook first.