Because September is the only month that starts with an "S," I have to get several places on one blog. Superior is a small town between Safford and Mesa where Grandmother Nora, Dad's mother, grew up. Her father was a real deal cowboy who ran cattle and had a livery stable in town. He was very revered in Superior and Grandmother grew up feeling like a princess. It is nestled between Apache Leap and Picket Post mountains, and we go through it whenever we go between Mesa and Safford.
South Korea and Sweden are very important because we have had some very important people serve missions there. Nathan and Tyson both served in South Korea, and Dad and I visited there in 1985. We found it to be such a beautiful land, with some weird food. In the cities, we also found very crowded, horrible looking places where people were stacked on top of each other, not just in high rise buildings, but in shacks piled shelter skelter. We were surprised to see, though, as the children came out of their shacks, that they were clean and well dressed.
Brock served in Sweden, a land, as you can see, of the Northern Lights. Lucky Brock. I've never been there, but it seems almost fairy-tale-like to me with castles and princes and trolls.
We've had some wonderful September weather...storms, dramatic skies and a couple of rainy rainy days.
We also have some important birthdays in September!
Lillian turned 19 on the 3rd.
Rebecca's birthday was the 8th.
Shadrach turned 18 on the 12th.
Tony's birthday was the 19th.
Jared turned 4 on the 21st.
Docker turned 16 on the 30th.
The very last thing I wrote in last month's blog is that I hoped September would not be like August! Well, it has been as close to the highs and lows that characterized August as it could possibly be. Grandpa passed away exactly one month after Grandma's passing. He always said that he wouldn't last a month if she died first, because he would die of a broken heart. I don't think he really even knew she had gone, but I believe that the Lord let her come back and get him. Unhappily, I have still been recovering from my knee surgery, agonizing over physical therapy, etc., even though Dad keeps telling me I'm doing well. We have had some good things too, like visits from Nathan; and Daniel and his family; and Bethany and Palmer; Thomas and Jenn's new house; Allison and Taylor's new house; Shadrach's Melchizedek Priesthood ordination and endowment and reporting at the MTC; and wonderful rain.
Lillian on her birthday.
Rebecca's sister/Dad lunch. She wanted toasted cheese sandwiches...go figure!
Nancy called one day and told us that Grandpa wasn't doing well. So, although I was still very uncomfortable and hadn't ridden in a car for longer than the distance from the hospital to home, I felt an urgency to go, so we drove to Mesa to see him. That was Thursday, August 10th. The hospice worker was there and he said that Grandpa's heartbeat was strong, so he didn't think Grandpa would pass away any time soon. But that evening, Karl called us at the condo and told us that Grandpa had peacefully slipped away. Just one month, to the day, from Grandma's passing. How thankful I am that we heeded the prompting and got to see him one more time.
Dad collecting Grandpa's mail.
The next evening, we met with all my siblings to discuss funeral arrangements.
Even though I had been praying that Grandma would come and get him, I was still so sad when he died. I felt as if a part of my very self had slipped away from me and it was hard to think of the world without him in it. I was glad for his sake, but I still kept crying. When we walked into the house after we got home on Saturday, I saw these beautiful flowers on my table and they cheered my heart. They were from the Temple matrons for my knee surgery, but for whatever reason, they helped.
We taught our Sunday School class for the last time the next day, and that evening, the Safford kids came over to talk about Grandpa and watch iPhoto pictures of him on the Apple TV.
Shadrach had turned 18 on Saturday, while they were on a family trip back to Washington to see Devynne. They even saw Allison and Taylor on their way. On Sunday, Shadrach was ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood by his dad, assisted by Brock and Brother Bennion. They face-timed us, and I did a screen shot, so that is why our picture is obscuring Daniel's face in the picture. We were so glad to be a part of the occasion even though we were so far away.
The following Tuesday, when the Temple was open, Shadrach received his endowments. He was accompanied by his parents and his sister and her husband. A very special day for him.
I have been going to Roadrunner for physical therapy. Melissa Kartchner's husband has been my primary therapist. I'm sure he's a great guy but he's horrible to me...making me do things that hurt and then making me do them 15 more times :-( This particular time I had just been to a Temple matrons' meeting, so I was in a dress. I brought along some pants to slip on under my dress so I would be covered for the exercises.
While we were home, Paula Layton, Stephanie's mom, came to visit the sick and afflicted and brought this wonderful basket of the sweetest, crispest apples I have ever tasted! She brought enough that we were able to take them to Mesa to share with the kids there.
On the 16th, we went back to Mesa to prepare for Grandpa's funeral. Being away from home didn't free me from having to endure physical therapy, though. Dad had Mary set up a schedule with the Mesa kids and Joel, Jeremy, and Esther each took a turn putting me through my paces.
When Jeremy and his kids were there, I had to get a picture of Hayden's braces. He has joined the "Braces Brigade" along with Docker, Harrison, Marlie and Crew.
Nathan came for the funeral, and had a hankering for Mexican food. El Charro was still closed, so we went to Serrano's. Esther and Shad were not able to go, but we enjoyed being with Nathan and Joel and Stephanie and Jeremy and Erika.
Friday, the 18th was Grandpa's viewing. We held it in the church instead of the mortuary, because we were afraid it would be too crowded. We did have a lot of people there, family, friends, doctors, patients. What a great man he was. There were a lot of flowers, too. Ours are the ones right next to the casket on the left.
Everyone enjoyed the video Mary made about his life. The ladies in the bottom left picture are Carolyn's sisters. The man is Kent Layton, husband of one of them. He's related in some way to Stephanie and is an old friend of mine from high school.
My Aunt Donna, Grandma's last surviving sibling is in the above picture, talking to the boys.
My cousin, Sandy, fell on her face when she was in Israel the week before. Her daughter and her husband are standing behind us.
Donna, Marilyn and Nancy. Marilyn is Sandy's sister. Jan is standing with Deone, also Sandy's sister. Carolyn and Donna have been good friends all their lives, long before I knew Carolyn.
Dad and Joe Nelson, good high school buddies. Carrie and Mark Schneff came, bringing Brad. Jan's father-in-law got in the picture as well.
Sunday morning viewing.
Rebecca and Scott and their family were able to be there. They had been to an EAC scholarship banquet the night before, where DeWitt received a scholarship, so had to miss the Saturday night viewing. Daniel and his family surprised us that morning when they walked in the door of the church. I had talked to Daniel a couple of days before and was almost sure he was not going to be able to come. They were in Seattle when I talked to him, so it was a complete surprise to see them walk in.
Shannyn and Victor. Levi is carrying the funeral programs.
Grandpa's program. It was so elegant and so beautifully done. Stephanie and her friend put it together just as they had done for Grandma. If you didn't get one or someone in your family wants one, I think Joel might have the extras.
The back page.
The inside.
The grandchildren sang the opening song, "I Stand All Amazed." They sounded like the Tabernacle Choir. Seventeen of them were Biggses...that's probably why they sounded so good :-) Just kidding...my siblings have some pretty musical kids. The choir couldn't help but sound good.
Gathering on the lawn before going to the Mesa Cemetery. Jeremy is with David Udall, who spoke at the funeral.
Grandpa's casket bearers were the same as Grandma's: Dad, Phil, Kent Deon, Karl, Mike and Dale.
At the cemetery.
Phil dedicated the grave. He is holding an American flag from the US Navy.
The Biggs family. We are missing Shauna, Joshua, our missionaries, Parker, Daynen and Hannah, as well as our married kids who live away, Bethany & Palmer, Allison & Taylor, Devynne & Brock, and Porter & Alta.
The Hiatt siblings.
Erika took home the flowers Nathan's company sent.
That evening, we went with Daniel's family and Esther's family for pizza and swimming at Joel's.
I was so exhausted that I wasn't able to stay long and visit, so we met Daniel's family for breakfast the next morning before we started home to Safford and before they started home to Glenwood. It was a pleasure to meet our newest grandchildren, Jordyn, Julian and Victor. Daniel and Connie are adopting these three siblings and we met them for the first time this weekend. Darling kids.
We got to Pima just in time to hear Thomas and Jenn speak in church. They did so well. I was very proud of them.
On the 21st, we went to Mary's for dinner to celebrate Jared's 4th birthday. It was FHE, and it was really nice to see their family's usual FHE activities. Jared, here, is being Sonic the Hedgehog and in the other picture, everyone is trying to guess what he is.
All day, that day, we had rain...slow, drizzly, constant rain. This is Rebecca's street. In Thomas' section you will see what the rain did to his new house.
Elder Richard G. Scott, one of the great ones, and definitely one of my favorites, died on Tuesday, the 22nd. He will be missed. General Conference is coming up and there will be three vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve. Will they be filled?
On the 25th, we went to Kirtlyn's youth theater play. She was very cute.
Mary brought her two girls, Alex, and dinner and watched the Women's broadcast with us on the BYU channel. Of course, the only pictures we took were of Alex!
Rebecca and Rachel's Stake YW Presidency...at the Women's Broadcast, their last big event before they are released in November. Also with them is Sheri O'Neal, the Relief Society President. I watched it at home with Dad and Mary. It was nice to be able to view it from the comfort of my chair with a pillow under my knee.
The next day, we went to Mesa after church to see Bethany and Palmer, who were here for Palmer to interview with Midwestern, a dental school in Glendale. They stayed at Jeremy and Erika's, so we went right over there to see them.
Then we went to Esther and Shad's for some delicious stew and to watch the blood moon.
The next day, we met for lunch at Kneaders. Joel and Stephanie, Esther and Shad, Jeremy and Erika and Ellie were all able to come and eat with Bethany. Palmer was at his interview. Erika's office is just across the parking lot from Kneaders, so she was able to come on her lunch break.
The waitress who served us was Kim's daughter.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY
~NATHAN AND SHAUNA~
Nebraska vs. BYU in Omaha. Can you tell who the Nebraska Biggs family was rooting for?
Nebraska vs. BYU in Omaha. Can you tell who the Nebraska Biggs family was rooting for?
Bethany and Palmer with their niece and nephew.
Congratulations to Josh. His real estate license came. He is official.
Nathan posted this wonderful picture and quote from Elder Packer after the funeral. It says "I have wondered about the patterns of love and family association, the romantic love of youth. Will that be preserved? Oh, yes. That will not only be preserved but glorified and augmented."
Nathan went by Grandmother and Uncle John's house on McDonald in Mesa.
Josh dropped in at Red Robbin, where he used to be a chef, just to say "Hi" to everyone, and they insisted he have a free burger and fries!
Hannah in Hawaii.
At Kneaders.
At Carolina's.
~JOEL AND STEPHANIE~
Joel's friend and convert, Earl Hurrey, married his Filipino sweetheart this month.
Speaking of weddings, it looks as if Stetson and Lindsay are beginning to take their engagement photos. Such a beautiful couple!
Stetson, Lindsay and Levi celebrating a friend getting her nursing degree...I think.
Joel and Stephanie at Kneaders.
Crew is the starting pitcher for his city youth league baseball team. He's really good and has his eye on a professional career someday.
What a 16th birthday! A man car :-O
~DANIEL AND CONNIE~
Daniel and Shadrach took a trip to Idaho to help settle Porter and Alta. They visited Driggs, the museum and the Tetons.
Porter and Alta settling in to being students at BYUI.
Devynne starting her new job as an apprentice (an intern?) in the HR department.
Porter and Alta paid a visit to their parents in Colorado and went shooting and fishing on their wilderness property.
Emma, with the new grandchildren, Jordyn (7), Julian (6) and Victor (6).
On their trip to take Shadrach to Seattle for his endowment, they stopped and saw Allison and Taylor!
After Shadrach's Priesthood ordination...the most important person for him to hug.
Shadrach's endowment day in the Seattle Temple.
Couldn't leave Washington without going fishing!
Shadrach reported to the MTC on the 30th. What a beautiful big family for him to be proud of and talk about to his investigators when he is teaching them about eternal families...and there are 3 missing, plus two spouses...5 missing in all! I remember when I would show our investigators a picture of our family (from our first Grand Canyon trip) several asked if that was a picture of our branch!
~REBECCA AND SCOTT~
Allison says she is teaching her baby to like juice spaghetti!
Allison and Taylor eating some incredibly delicious-looking things. In my opinion, better than juice spaghetti.
Allison and Taylor with the Colorado Biggs family at the Temple.
Dallin and Sara
The top sonogram is the Evans baby and the bottom one is the Atkinson baby.
Lillian is Sara Konopnicki's companion. Sara likes to go to Taco Bell (not McDonald's!) every day for lunch. Lillian also takes her to devotionals, Institute classes and other activities.
Sara just received her mission call to a service mission at EAC in Thatcher. Good for her.
Lillian's birthday morning.
Rebecca's family took her out to breakfast for her birthday.
The valuable well, gushing fresh water at their new property.
Lillian, posing with her friend as they prepare for their missions.
Shooting and fishing. Too bad the Evanses and Daniel's family don't live closer together. They like the same things.
Proud parents with their scholarship recipient at the EAC scholarship banquet.
Wanting to get a last photo at Grandma and Grandpa's house before it belongs to someone else.
Allison and Taylor are home owners!
Polly's Frolic invitation.
~JEREMY AND ERIKA~
After Ellie learned how to make baby booties, she showed them to her Achievement Day leader, who asked her to write instructions on how to make them. I am so proud that she could do that. Writing instructions is harder than making the item.
Reygan's portrait of Grandpa was featured on the display table at the viewing and at the funeral.
Two of her latest drawings. So amazing!
At the stake youth conference. Tayte and Reygan are posing with Al Fox, a popular speaker. She also spoke in our stake to the Relief Society and Young Women. Reygan had a major leadership role in this youth conference. She designed and drew the shirts, and introduced Sister Fox.
Tony's birthday was the same day as the funeral, so after the funeral Jeremy and Erika and Reygan took Rachel and Tony and their girls to eat sushi. Birthday sushi...hmmm.
Mesa also had a wonderful rain storm. Reygan took this picture across from her house.
Daynen in Brazil.
Daynen's English class. I remember our English class in Portugal. I really relied on the Elders, who could speak Portuguese. I don't know how you could possibly teach English unless you know the language of your students. Fortunately, Daynen is very fluent in Portuguese.
At Carolina's when we went with Bethany and Palmer. It was very good. Worth the trip.
~RACHEL AND TONY~
Playing with Alex.
Bringing food to the parents.
Rachel, Rylie and Isabel helped Thomas cater the EAC tailgate party for the boosters club.
He's 12! Is it time for him to learn to drive??
Rylie, delivering the morning announcements at school.
The clear, beautiful skies from their house, after the storms.
Isabel loves Pima High School. Is it because of the cute boys? This one, especially?
Rachel's family stayed in Grandma's house when they went to Mesa for the funeral.
Tony's birthday sushi with Jeremy and Erika and Reygan.
After the Women's Broadcast, Brynlie and Camille asked "Sister Policeman" if they could sit in her cop car.
~ESTHER AND SHAD~
In Eagar at their annual Labor Day Brown reunion.
Marlie with some school friends, ice skating.
Harrison at a high school football game.
Bridger is standing in front of the school with the choir, singing the National Anthem for 9/11 commemoration.
Soren and Brody playing soccer.
Shad just joined the neighborhood bicycle gang. They ride around the neighborhood on their bikes, even doing Bishopric visits. Love those tires!
Miss Esther's All Stars Preschool
When we ate at their house on Sunday, the 27th.
Marlie doing a "Rylie pose" in her choir dress. I was taking a picture of her and Harrison said, "Do a Rylie pose!" ;-)
Harrison wouldn't put on his tux when Marlie put on her choir dress, but here he is, wearing it at his band concert.
At Kneaders with Bethany.
~THOMAS AND JENN~
Thomas with his crew at the EAC Boosters Club tailgate party.
Maya cut some of my zinnias for me. They are taking over the yard since I haven't been able to go out and cut them. I finally did take some visiting teaching with me, but you can't even tell the difference!
Henry and me, in our chairs. Maya sat in the little rocker and Henry rushed over and said, "That's my chair!" And Maya just got up and moved as if he were absolutely right.
Their new house. They are having to do a lot to bring it up to their living standards, but it is well built and right in our back yard! The people in the ward are so excited to be getting them back. And the people in their Thatcher Ward are sad to be seeing them leave.
The long, drizzly rain did terrible things to their skylights.
El Charro's table at the annual Salsa Fest...decorated by his sisters.
Kirtlyn's play. She was a crow in the original play by Jason Whetton, Oztentatious. She also had a small part as Lucy from Narnia.
~MARY AND TYSON~
Tyson and his brothers were watching the BYU/Nebraska game on one of their phones while they were in a cabin in Alpine at a family reunion. When BYU caught the "Hail Mary" pass and won the game, the boys yelled, jumped around and scared Alex to death! Mary had a hard time calming him down. Just give him a few years and I'm sure he will be joining the guys in their football frenzy!
Alex loves Grandma's cookies.
And his Aunt Rachel...and anyone else who will play with him.
Even old Grandma Susan.
The Richins kids after their Primary program.
They stayed with us at the condo when they were in Mesa for the funeral.
Lindsay and Lindsay. My cousin Dil, showing magic tricks to the kids at the luncheon.
After the viewing on Friday night, Jared had his birthday wish fulfilled, to have a party at Soren and Brody's house.
Jared's requested birthday treat...cookie dough! That's what Joel always requested too. Boy, has he ever changed!
The 30th was super hero day at pre school and Jared wanted to be Shark Boy, so Mary made him a Shark Boy costume. It was very detailed and very complete. Look closely to see the fin sticking out of his back!
MISSIONARIES
Parker was transferred to Connie's sister's ward!
Missionary Planners. Daynen's and Hannah's.
Daynen in Brazil.
Hannah in Hawaii.
SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT
Julian said, "Dad I put on this shirt and a belt so I would look like you!"
Cute little desperados get pink handcuffs!
Mary's attempt to block her stairs so Alex, who doesn't yet know how to climb down them, won't climb up!
When she saw that the stools were no impediment, she even blocked the way with pillows. He's a determined little baby!
If this doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will. What a guy!
Well, September has, like August, been a month of highs and lows, but you know, that's life, isn't it? We have times of peace and renewal, then times of challenge and sorrow, then times of joy and rejoicing. You are all the joy and rejoicing of our lives. Thank you for being you; for giving us such joy that the times of challenge and sorrow seem insignificant in comparison. We love you all so very much and pray that you will find joy in your lives. We are looking forward to October. Take Halloween pictures! It is also when our Temple assignment begins. We are being set apart on the 18th of October if any of you are interested in being here or want to FaceTime, let us know. It will be in our home. We'll make some ice cream.
2 comments:
Great Blog good to catch up on everyone!!!❤️
You've had quite the difficult month Mom. I was hoping September would be easier on you...and even though it hasn't, you have handled it like a champ! You are a great example of "suck it up and be a bulldog" which is what I always tell my kids😉😎. Fath...your physical therapist skills are unparalleled! Thanks for getting Mom through the rough spots. Love you both.
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