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Celebration of Life-

The last few days have been about family; service to family, celebrating the life of a family member and remembering.

In November of 2012 my Dad pasted away.  We had a wonderful service for him at that time, but because he had requested to donate his body to The University of Utah for research the graveside service and dedication of his grave were to come much later.

On June 28th 2014 we were finally able to bring Dad home and lay him to rest. 

I felt three things at this gathering- the doctrine of the gospel, the spirit of inspiration, and our family gathered in tender regard for Dad and one another.

Not all of us were able to attend...but were there in spirit.

 (me and two of my brothers.)

Dad's body had been with the University for over a year....and during that time I often thought of his body and wondered  how his body was being used.  I like to think of Dad during this time as if he were on a Mission.

What I believe happens to us after we die- 

His hope was that perhaps through the use of his body someone else could learn how to ease the pain of someone else.

Some of Dad's Grandchildren.

After the service at the cemetery- My brothers decided to have a picnic and gathering at the Celebration of life monument where Dad's name was engraved on a monument honoring those who have donated their bodies to help others.

Brothers, sisters, Aunt, cousins and Niece were there .... The day of remembering Dad was tender for me and I loved seeing my family....just wish we had more time.

During this visit we also tried to fit in a little visit to Kent and Becca- to help them with a little project for their home.

Putting in a Dry river bed creek.  Like tons of rocks...I mainly watched the children while they worked.

Becca had their home prepared so inviting and comfortable for us....we slept great and the food was wonderful!!   Loved playing with the kids... We played restaurant like a million times =)

 

Got to see Nicholas at his swim lessons.  He did awesome!

Fun adorable children...Kent dressed Ellie this day...Hearts and Stars forever.

The weather was wonderful and everything was so green...just wish we could of stayed longer....seems The Andersen family likes to do everyone at one time...reunions, projects etc. etc.

We love this little family.

and then we drove home...the crazy long way...but it was beautiful!

and now its time to rest.

 

The home in this video reminds me of Dad and Moms home.

 

 

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In Loving Memory- Dad

5 Ways to have a perfect Family weekend-

This past weekend was awesome! 

1. Meeting up with all of Danny's siblings and a lot of their children for a mini family reunion-

{because Marilyn found an awesome guy!}

They both looked so happy....we are so very excited for them!  The sealing was so very touching .  What wonderful blessings.  After 18 years of being single we are so very happy for Marilyn!

Marilyn with all  7 of her children.  It was so super windy and cold, it was hard to get pictures.

2. Planning a wedding with Jessica and her Dad.  Mason and Jessica have choosen June 8th as the date of their wedding in the  Los Angeles Temple.   Great fun...she even modeled  her wedding dress for us . (Mason was left out of that activity. =)

  Having a birthday celebration with Mason, Jessica and Kent's family.

3. Spending just a very short time with Kent and his Family. Take a look at this short video titled "Nicholas wants a puppy"-

  

 4. Going to Cade's mission "farewell"  not sure what to call it now. =)  Having an awesome lunch after.

Cade will be serving in Manchester England mission.  He will be flying straight to England....first time on a plane. =)  He will be awesome!

Hollie, Cade and Martel-

Their daughter McKelly played an original song on the piano....Oh My! How beautiful!

5. Driving  to Shannon's and getting caught in the HORRIBLE traffic after the nascar races let out.   (over 2 hours to go 3 miles....it was not a pretty site....people get out of control....kind of like a zombie movie.}

 Let me tell you, it is never a good idea to drive into Vegas or leave Vegas on a Sunday!  You can't get in or out!

{you know how hard it is to see where you need to go...but no way to get there!  I think there's an object lesson somewhere in this adventure.} 

But it was worth it, because we got to hug these kids-

Such a perfect weekend.  Filled to over flowing with all things wonderful!

Happy Day!

 

 

In Loving Memory- Dad

Lewis Blain- February 25, 1933- November 12, 2012

Friday November 16, 2012 we gathered as a family to honor  and say good bye to Dad.  It was a tender sweet day, filled with much emotion.  Happy memories were shared; also a time to reunite with friends and family.

Mason and Dace {grandsons} Dad and Mom have 29 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

All Dad's children but one- {Don died 3 years ago}

John, Pam, Martel, Maurice, Kristeen, me, Lewis

All of Dad's  siblings attended the funeral. {One sister preceded Dad in death}

One of the nice things about a funeral .... reuniting  with cousins you haven't seen for a very long time.  

They are all awesome- 

{Paula's blog  and Lynette's blog } {Cindy, Tammy, Brooke, Lisa, Nicole and Tracy if you blog send me your site =)

{the church lighting is terrible...sorry about the pictures.}  

Martel and Family

Pam and family

The service was sweet- Danny gave the Eulogy and John gave the gospel talk.

For years, as long as I can remember my Dad has talked about donating his body to science instead of a burial.  {It took some time for me to be okay with this} but it was his wish, so, before Dad passed he contacted the University of Utah and talked to them about their body Donor Program.  They were contacted the moment Dad passed....so they could prepare to receive his body.   As soon as the service was over they took him.  {I like to think of Dad...like he is at work.}

 Dad's thoughts on this-   "If my body can help them find out how to fight pain and cancer....that would be a wonderful thing." {service to the end}

 

It was a very strange feeling just to send him off.....so, later that day we gathered to put flowers on Mom's grave site {Dad will eventually be buried there, and then we will dedicate the grave.}

I feel so blessed to have wonderful siblings who came together to help Dad through his 4 year long battle with cancer.  Who showed love, respect and caring....each doing his or her part to the end. 

I know Mom and Dad are pleased.

{Dads home}

 

 

 

 

Little Girls Day Out-

At least once a year I like to take my two nieces Ashlee and Mikayla along with Carlee {my grandchild} on a little girls day out.

We started the day by going to the mall for a little shopping.   The girls being silly waiting for the shops to open....Ashlee pretending to be road kill.

We did a little shopping at "My Little Kitty", then on to the bookstore; I just let them wander around there for awhile....  Each found the perfect book.

After the book store it was time for lunch at Olive Garden. {on the way there we came across a big road block and decided to take another road.  Good thing we did, found out later that there was a shooting there ending in a couple of deaths....seems like every girls day out we come across something like this.}

Carlee picked out an umbrella at "My little Kitty" store, she kept saying "I can't believe I have my own umbrella"   silly girl.... she kept teasing Ashlee and Mikayla with it, so cute.

Our next stop was Pink Bowtique  they are the cutest little on line store, selling adorable hair accessories etc. for little girls.   We happened to know where they make all their goodness.  =)

This is what they surprised the girls with.

If you are looking for something awesome for the little girl in your life....check out their store.

Pink Bowtique-

Next we went to Queens nails- for $5 they painted their nails in this cute little designs.

We ended our day by going to see Mirror Mirror.    Cute fun little girls.....we had an awesome day.

Happy Day

 

Conference Weekend- Easter Treats

Heidi, Sam and Kids came and spent Conference weekend with us.  How Adorable is Audrey....and I'm not just saying that because I'm her Grammer.

In between sessions we like to have a little project to do....this year we made Easter treats  for Carlee and Preston to give to all their cousins.

First they painted each box....specializing them for each cousin. 

Then they got busy dipping peeps and rolling them in sprinkles.

They came to rest on a bed of edible Easter Grass. 

Carlee, Heidi, Preston...and all their peeps.

Happy Day

Almost forgot.....Preston got a new hat that he loves.

 

 

 

 Carlee saw me taking notes during conference and asked if she could take notes too.

Here are some of them.

Family...

"We will be together forever"  

{She makes me smile}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carlee, Preston and Audrey in their Easter clothes.

"Get closer and put your heads together."  =)

My Missionaries-

 I thought it would be great to get a picture of all my return missionaries.....so I had each of the boys bring their missionary tag. [Mason was our last one to go out.}

Dan (the Dad}- Argentina 1976-1978,   Sam-Cochabamba Bolivia Mission 2000-2002,

  Kent- Portugal Porto Mission 2004-2006,  Denver- São Paulo North, Brazil 2006-2008-  

 Mason-Billings Montana Mission  2009- 2011

What a blessing; one of the things I like about this picture- All the boys still look like missionaries.  On Kent's mission at a Mission conference someone from the Quorum of the Seventy - said- we won't know for sure if you were a successful missionary for 10 years....if in ten years you still look and act like a missionary, pay tithing, marry in the Temple, work to gain an education in some way.....then we will know  you were a successful missionary. (he had some more points, these are just a few I remember}

   “ it is not a two-year mission; it is an eternal mission."

 
Love that you really can't tell who the most recent return missionary is-

Mason wanted to say good-bye to his worn out old Mission suit- by turning it into a wet suit.

 
Good bye old suit- Hello new suit.

Mikayla's Baptism and Birthday Party-

 
Saturday was Mikayla's Baptism  {she is my niece} she looked so sweet . - The Baptismal meeting was very touching and sweet.  Mikayla is a wonderful little girl....it's always a joy to be around her. Mikayla and her family-

These are the same three girls I took on " Little girls day out."

After the Baptism we were invited to Mikayla's home for lunch and a little birthday celebration.  
The children had tons of fun running around and playing together-

Preston means serious business when it comes to a "pinata"

 
 

  

Beautiful day- 
 

Dads House

I've been at my Dads Home for a while.....Hanging out with the kids, baking, talking and just relaxing.

I made these giant size cookies the other day....they didn't last long....the kids ate them up.

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Chip Oreo stuffed cookies-

 
I got the recipe from Libby, click here for the recipe.

Today we went into Provo-

 

Big beautiful sky, clear with crisp air. 

 
Hollie, Martel, Dad and me.

We spent the morning at the Temple, a tender sweet day. Martel had all the paper work ready for Dad to do Don's Temple work.  Emotional sweet day.

Big Hug to my brother Martel.  He has been working on family genealogy for a while so we always have a stack of names to do.

Today was extra special because we were able to do our little brothers work.

Martel and Hollie are a wonderful couple. {they are the parents of 7 children, the oldest graduates from High School this year}

 Thanks for helping.  Especially to Hollie, she has had a ruff year, battling breast cancer.  But we are excited, she is winning the battle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Sweet day.....

      tomorrow we are going into town to buy some baby chicks.   Dad thinks he is ready to tend to them now =)

note about the picture- Dad wanted to stand on the step just in back of me....so he didn't look so short next to me....  =)

 

 

Little Girls Day out-

Last Thursday I gathered up Ashlee, Mikayla and Carlee for a "Little Girls" day out.  We try to have a girls day once a year.

 Started the morning off bright and early with manicures and pedicures.   They were all so cute...the girls picked out a fun color......and  had dots painted on their fingers and toes.

Carlee's feet just barely reached the water.   They were fun to watch.

Carlee's comment to papa about getting her toes and fingers done. 

Papa- So Carlee how was your day?

Carlee- good

Papa- How did you like getting your nails fixed up all pretty?

Carlee- I felt like a grown up.

 

 
 

 

Our next stop was Lunch- At Tahoe Joe's-

 
At Lunch we-

• Played with etch-a-sketches
• saw a car accident out our window. Car versus motorcycle
• strawberry lemonade
• laughing and food

After Lunch we went to Color Me Mine-

The girls picked out something they would like to paint. Carlee picked a bowl, Ashlee a "art supply" vase and Mikayla picked a trophy. =)

The girls were so sweet all day...lots of " thanks you's" were said and just sweet happy fun.

 
 
 
 

 

 
The girls had fun here...just one thing, I wish the shop owners were a little bit more helpful....we had to hunt for everything and I didn't find the aprons until they were done painting.....I've got a little letter ready to send off to Color Me Mine headquarters. {I'm sure they want their employees to do a better job}

The girls had a great time there.....despite the lady that was working at the shop.

Our next stop was the mall....to find  cute little rings to go along with their pretty nails.

 
"Hey, does anyone know where Carlee went?"

Wonderful, wonderful day spent with three sweet little girls.  It's so nice to be around little children who have been taught by their parents to be kind, helpful {loved seeing the older girls take care of Carlee like she was their age, sweet} and above all else how polite they were. 

Very special day spent with three silly little girls.

 

Cottage Kitchen and Chairs after-

 

 

The Cottage kitchen is pretty much finished....just a couple trim pieces and it will be complete.  I also finished the $10 chairs over the weekend, the flowers are blooming so I thought this would be a good time to show you the kitchen.

Before

 

 

After-

 

• We tried to save as much of the original kitchen as possible.
• Kept the original cabinets- painted them Swiss coffee- from Lowes
• Added a new back-splash: subway white tiles- and white marble on the counter tops; we were able to find a remnant piece of marble.  Total cost of the marble , plus installation of the marble and sink $1,800
• New floor: white & smoke gray tile, we installed the tile ourselves- cost of materials  $300
• Painted the walls- swiss coffee & Edge of night {gray}
•  Added a new sink but kept the original faucet.

 
 
 

Now here's a look at the Chairs- click here to see  the before.

 

 

 

I like how they look from the dinning room- I painted them the same color as the dinning room buffet.

 
The color of the chairs is the same color as the laundry room walls and kitchen door.

 
I also picked up a couple more chairs just like these that will be going in the dinning room......which is just about finished, I plan to share when it is.

I love this little kitchen....just perfect for our needs. 

 
 

Another fun thing happened this weekend.  My brother LB was in town for the day so we got together at Johns house for a yummy meal, valentine gifts for the kids and a great visit.  We only had just a few hours to visit but it was great-

 

 

 
 Happy Note- Mason comes home April 30th and will be speaking in Church May 8th-{happy Mothers day to me!}

We just got our flights today.....let the countdown begin.

Happy Day.