Grandpa Clarence's Funeral

Carter and I were planning on making a trip out to Utah for the first two weeks of February. Matt was going to join us for most of the second week. About a week before we were planning on leaving I got a call from my mother informing me that my dear Grandpa Clarence (my dad's father) was not doing very well at all. I asked my mom to tell him that he needed to hold on for one more week for me to get out there. When my mom started to cry and said that if I saw him I would not ask her to ask him that I knew it was serious and I needed to get out there. I was okay with my Grandpa passing on because of my faith in God's Eternal Plan and forever families. But I needed to be able to talk to him one last time and to tell him face to face how much I loved him. So minutes later I was on the phone with Southwest. It was going to cost us at least $300 (and that may have been per ticket) to change our flight plans so that Carter and I could get out there early. I explained my situation to the lady on the phone and she sweetly looked into every possibility she could for me. Even though she wasn't supposed to do this, she got Carter and I on the next flight that she could (the next morning) at no extra cost. I knew this was Heavenly Father showing us His tender mercies.

There were several other miracles that happened in preparation for and during this trip, but I want to share just one more with you. My Grandpa and Grandma have two kids, my dad and his sister Karma. My cousins and I grew up very close. Once we were all grown several us because of jobs and schooling had to move out of state and across the country. It had been years since all of us had been together at one place. And before we even knew that something was going on with my grandpa all of my cousins and myself (unbeknownst to us) had all planned to come home to Utah at the same time. What a beautiful statement of love that our Heavenly Father had made to us that he let this be the time for my Grandfather to pass on, when we could all be home to say our good-byes and to comfort one another. I got into Utah late on a Thursday afternoon and was the last of the family to arrive. Thursday night we all gathered at my grandparents house for family prayer and to give my Grandpa a blessing. I am so grateful that i was able to be there for that and to have these last few memories with my grandfather whom I love so much.

All of Grandpa Clarence's and Grandma Ione's great-grandkids except my sister's twins.

All of my family except Matt, Carter, and my sister's twins.

The funeral and burial was beautiful. The spirit was strong and testified that Grandpa went on to a much better place.

Also, a special thanks to Whitney for watching Carter the day of the funeral. It was so nice to be able to call on family and ask for help. It was also so comforting to know that Carter was in such good hands and that those hands were just as excited to be on Carter.

Most of all at this time, I am so grateful for my knowledge that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for Temples that allow us to be forever families. I am grateful for the Priesthood that can seal these many blessings upon us. If any of you who read this blog would like to know more about what I am writing about please let me know, I would love to share this joy and knowledge with you!