Two Funerals

GRANDMA MARY

We were home from Florida 24 hours before we headed off to Utah for a week for Jacob's grandmother's funeral. We were sad to see Grandma Mary Burton go, but after battling cancer for 5 years, it was a blessing for her. We were so grateful to be there with Jake's entire extended family to celebrate her life. September 5,2009.

It was so precious to see Jacob take Luke with him every step of the way as a Pall Bearer and explain things to him. It's amazing how simple the Plan of Salvation is! Even a 3 year old can get it - mostly.

Jacob's Mother (the third from the right) and her siblings

Jake and 3 of his 4 sisters (they were all there, though)

Luke really had fun with his cousins! (They were all there but one.) He especially got a kick out of the two baby girl cousins. It was like he hasn't just had a baby in his house for the entire last year! He said to me TWICE: "Mommy, I want a baby sister!"
All in good time, my sweet. All in good time!

GRANDPA VERNE

Two weeks after we returned home from Utah, we got word that MY Grandfather, Verne Hunter, who has been battling Alzheimer's for a decade, was going downhill fast. Miles and I jumped in the car with my parents a few hours after this news to try and make it to Ohio to say our goodbyes. Sadly, a few hours away from our destination, we got the call that he had passed away. It was really hard on everyone - especially my mom. It was really good that we were there for my Grandma though. All of my aunts and uncles had flown in by the next day and we spent the next four days making arrangements. During that week I scanned old photos from his life and made them into an iMovie on my aunt's Mac. It was really awesome to see his life in photos. I thought about that essay called "The Dash." About how when you see the birth and death years (1927 - 2009) the dates really don't mean much. It's the dash ( - ) in between that really counts because that represents all you have ever done. I think the essay concludes with "how are you spending your dash?" I can attest that my grandfather spent his loving, working, playing and serving. He was a fine man who left a legacy of patience, diligence, faith and honor. He was even making people laugh just weeks ago and the one thing that never left his memory was music. He could sing songs till the very end of his life. I believe I will be the same way. I feel connected to him in that.
October 2, 2009

Jacob, my dad, my uncle, my brother, my cousins and Luke being Pall Bearers.


All the Grandchildren and spouses (minus 3).

7 of the 8 Great-grandchildren.


Grandma Rae with 2 of her 4 kids (All were there, though).

After the funeral, we had dinner and went out on Grandma's deck to have a campfire in her fire pit. All 30 of us were out there at some point, singing songs, talking, laughing, roasting marshmallows and remembering Grandpa. It was sooo awesome! Truly a celebration of the family that came from him!






While we were at Grandma's, this adorable, abandoned kitten followed a few people home from an evening walk. We named him Curtis and all the kids had a ball playing with him. Everyone liked the kitty so much that it was a little competitive as to who was going to get to give him a permanent home. My cousin, Ian, and kids won. Miles loved to chase him. Poor Curtis.

My Grandfather was buried in the same cemetery as both of my dad's parents. It's pretty cool to know that all of my grandparents will be "together." On that note, while we were in Westerville (the town my dad lived his whole life, where my parents went to high school together, where I lived the first 16 years of my life - Go Buckeyes!) we found out that the house my dad grew up in was for sale. We made an appointment to see it and were amazed at the beautiful updates to the old house and were glad for them staying true to the integrity of the home.

Jacob and Miles out by the old garage.

It was truly a trip to reconnect with and remember all of my grandparents. I'll never forget it!