Beautiful Tribute

I don't think having to bury someone you love could ever be easy. However, there were a few things that made that day easier for me. One, knowing grandpa had lived a beautiful, healthy and full life. Two, he is now with grandma. And finally, I can honestly say the funeral was the most beautiful one I have ever been to. It was a true testament of the man my grandpa was. SO MANY people were there. Even people who had never met grandpa made the drive to support our family. Friends, family, neighbors, in-laws. It was awesome to see the support. AND, I didn't have to worry about my kids all day because my sweet cousin Kaysie took them. She is such a gem. The kids had a blast at her house.

The respect that was shown to grandpa was incredible. The amount of Officers, Search and Rescue Members and those of authority that lived in Tooele was overwhelming. They had lost one of their own and it was neat to see them pay their respects. Young and old. There were search and rescue men there that were 30 years old and in tears because they lost their buddy. Many of them were old guys too, but the young people crying because they lost "Old Windy Winchester" touched my heart.

The Sheriff of Tooele County spoke and gave a beautiful tribute. The Search and Rescue vehicles lead the procession. The police force closed down all of the streets that the procession was driving on, including Main Street. Many of them stood by their vehicles and saluted the hurse as it passed. As we pulled up to the cemetery, the bag pipe was playing. He was given full military honors, including a flag draped over the casket, a gun salute as it was folded, a lone trumpet playing while it was folded. It was absolutely incredible.

The PGA sent these flowers. It made me so happy.

I've always know my Grandpa was a man of service. But being around his friends and people that were with him on a daily basis, I found out he was even more incredible than I imagined. His life was service. Whether it be his monthly volunteer Search and Rescue routes, monitoring the people in Tooele with "Life Alert", heading the Seior Circle Group, shoveling walks even during his last winter, taking vegetables to neighbors from his garden.... the list goes on. The man was awesome.

One of the songs that we sang at the service was "Have I done Any Good in The World Today?"

Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.
There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.

It really hit me that after 95 years, no one talked about what kind of cars my grandpa drove, if his house was fancy, if his kids went to the "right schools" or what brand of clothes he wore. They talked about how he changed peoples lives through service. I hope I can be half the person he was. May he rest in peace knowing that he changed many lives for the better. I will miss him terribly.

Grandpa

I had to post this picture of my awesome grandpa. What a man. Still patroling as a member of the Tooele Search and Rescue at age 95. He was amazing. I will miss him so much.

Here is his obituary:

James Alden Winchester

1916 ~ 2012

James Alden (Windy) Winchester passed away on April 14, 2012 of natural causes at the age of 95. He was born on August 21, 1916 and is the second child of Rex James and Mary Jane Hill Winchester. He grew up in Salt Lake City where he graduated from Granite High School. Jim is an alumni of Utah State University where he played football all 4 years and was the starting guard on the 1936 Rocky Mountain Conference Championship team. During the summer of his school years he was one of the first employees at Jake Harmon's fruit stand, now known as Harmon's. Jim married Helen Coral Ausherman on May 31, 1940. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. After serving in the Navy during WWII, he worked his entire career for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co. Jim and Helen were the parents of three children: Dale (Teri), Randy (Trudy), and Coral (Brent). They were also blessed with 14 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Jim was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many callings. He was the first president of the Tooele Kiwanis Club, and was also a charter member of the Tooele County Search and Rescue Unit where he served in various capacities including state and local Search and Rescue Commander. He made his last patrol in November 2011 at the age of 95. He was a devoted volunteer for the Senior Circle. Throughout his life he was the recipient of several awards including the Rex Huntsman Service Award and was selected as co-citizen of Tooele with Melvin Dunn. He was well known around his neighborhood, and throughout the city as a friend and man of service. He was preceded in death by his wife Helen, his parents and siblings. A viewing will be held on Thursday, April 19, 2012 from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. at Tate Mortuary in Tooele and Friday April 20, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 at the Tooele 14th Ward Building. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. at the 14th Ward Building. Interment will be at the Tooele City Cemetery.Jim's family would like to express their appreciation for the excellent care he received from the staff at Harmony Hospice, Mountain West Medical Center, and Dr. Ronald Trudel.

Grandpa Winchester

How is it possible to put into word how you feel when someone dies? I am so full of emotion right now. I am so sad to have lost my grandpa. I will truly miss him so much. On the other hand, I am so happy for him. He was reunited with the love of his life this week and is now at peace.

Grandpa lived a very full life. There wasn't a day in his 95 years on this earth he sat still. He was always doing something. He was on the Tooele Search and Rescue until 2 months before he died. He walked 3 miles a day. He shoveled the snow for all his neighbors, even when a lot of them were half his age. He was in the Tooele Senior Circle. He had a little volunteer job checking on the elderly people in the neighborhood and making sure their "life alert" necklaces worked. He even had a drivers license until a month before he died.

He never spent a day in a wheel chair, he never had to stay a night in a nursing home. He didn't spend very many days in the hospital either. He was a happy, healthy 95 year old. He was blessed to be taken back to heaven so quickly and peacefully. But, loosing him leaves a big hole on this earth.

Grandpa was the definition of service. I knew he spent his days serving others, but until we were out at the hospital visiting him in his last days, we didn't know to what degree. It was humbling to see how many people, of all ages stopped by to say goodbye. They all had a little story to tell about how giving and thoughtful Grandpa was. I will cherish those stories forever.

Grandpa loved his garden. He enjoyed collecting Beanie Babies and has a collection of over 1000, some which are very rare editions. He loved camping. He had a potty mouth that I thought was funny. He taught us by example that the best answer to any question is "Hell, I don't know." I just loved that man so much and will miss him deeply.

The perfect picture

The results of our attempt for a nice picture
of the boys in their Easter outfits......

I think they are perfect pictures because it shows their personalities.
OH HOW I LOVE THEM!!

Easter

I seriously LOVED Easter this year. The kids were so darling. Little Weston had so much fun finding eggs at the different Easter Egg Hunts and putting them in his bucket. And Warren thought it was so cool that the Easter Bunny came to our house and left treats. But I have to say, my favorite part about the Easter weekend was on Saturday morning before all of the hype started. Andrew sat Warren down and taught him about the Resurrection. Warren was so attentive and was so interested to hear all about it. Then we had him watch "He is Risen". It was a fabulous way to start the weekend.

My mom decided last year that her Easter tradition would be the Saturday before Easter. It is so AWESOME, because we aren't rushed to do other things. Then on Easter Sunday we can enjoy church without rushing out, and we can go to Andrew's families house without a schedule and trying to get to another event.

My parents had 8 dozen eggs filled for 6 kids to find. Needless to say they came home with so much candy and as Warren put it "a load of cash and coins" that had been stuffed in the eggs. He thought it was so amazing to open eggs and find dollar bills in there. Then we had little Westi who didn't care at all what was in them, he just wanted to pick them up and put them in his bucket. So I kept re-hiding eggs he had already found.

One thing my dad did that was so cute was he spread a ton of taffy in the orchard, like taffy had fallen from the trees. He did it with his best buddy Westi in mind because of all of his stinking allergies. My dad knew Weston could at least have taffy. CUTE.

My dad's version of a seat belt..... a bungee cord in the back of his Gator. It stresses me out, but there are some things I have to just let grandpa do. Even if that means letting them ride around the neighborhood secured down with a bungee cord. They will always have those memories.

I spent all day Saturday making these amazing treats. The little deviled eggs are cute, but I'm not sure they were worth the 2 hours I spent making them.

Easter morning was awesome. We have 11:00 church so the kids had time to do their little hunt at our house, and play with the stuff the Easter Bunny brought. Weston thought the bunny poop (jelly beans) was funy.

The Easter Bunny doesn't usually bring toys to our house, but Santa actually left some behind at Christmas that we decided to use for Easter. The kids were excited.

Church was lovely. Well, as lovely as it can be with a 20 month old and 4 year old. We really don't get much out of church right now because a lot of time is spent in the hall. But it was fun to see everyone dressed up.

Then, home to watch the Masters. Side note: Andrew and I entered a Master's Pool where they pay out 1st and 2nd place. Andrew took 1st and I took 2nd out of like 15 people so we took won all the money. Whoot. It was for sure one of the best Master's I've seen. I couldn't pull myself away from the TV this weekend.

That afternoon we went to Andrew's parents for a nice dinner and egg hunt. The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins. AND, we actually got a decent picture of our little family in our Easter attire. Except for Weston munching on his binki. But he hasn't been feeling well, so we let him do whatever he wants as long as he's not crying.

What a lovely Easter.

Thoughts of Change

*This first item is more of a hope because I am not much of a green thumb. So, I have set a goal. I have a big flower pot I always try to make big, beautiful and flowing but it never happens. This is the year! and the picture above shows what my pot is going to look like even if it kills me.

*My first thought of change isn't necessarily pinpointed to one little thing, but in general. I actually started to make this change last summer. I am finding it to be so much more important to spend quality time with my family and friends then to have a perfectly straight house and to always have my "to do list" done. If you've known me a long time, you know that just by me saying that it's a huge step.

*I have also decided (and kind of did awhile back) that raising my kids "by the book" can kiss it. Who's to say there is one right way to raise your kids? And who is one parent to judge how another parent is raising their kids? As long as your children are loved, well taken care of and are happy, you're probably raising your kids the "right way." There are things that work for one family that may not work for another. And one thing that worked for the first child, may not with the second. So if anyone cares that Weston still takes a bottle in the middle of the night, or thinks I'm horrible for letting Warren have a binki until he was three and a half, or shivers at the thought of me still rocking my babies to sleep, or laying in bed with Warren at night they can take a hike. (I'm obviously a little grumpy today)

*I am overcome lately with the feeling and need to spend quality time with my little family while I still can. You never know when time will be cut short. So I vow to leave dishes in the sink more often, step over toys a little more, and I am going to sit on my porch and eat popsicles and blow bubbles with my kids more often. I am going to rock them to sleep if they want (even though I've heard that's not the right thing to do). I'm going play with them more. I am going to teach them more. I will read to them more. I will craft and color with them more. And I am going to love them more (if that's possible).

*As for being a spouse I really need to make some changes to be a better wife. I have found that Andrew is much the same when it comes to what he really needs. No, he's not childish, but he would much rather have me leave the laundry in the basket and go play golf. Or stay up late to watch a movie instead of going to bed early so I can be rested for my run the next morning. Quality time while we still can is the most important thing. Andrew is such an incredible man and I need to be a better wife for him.

*Here's a big change (even though it probably won't happen all of the time)..... We have a super strict "NO KIDS SLEEPING IN OUR BED" policy at our house. They can watch TV, but they don't get to sleep with us. Well, look who was there this morning. And the world went on just the same today. But my little Westi got to nuggle mommy and daddy in the wee hours of the morning. I don't know if he didn't feel well, or if he was scared, but he did NOT want to sleep in his crib. He was so happy wrapped up in daddy's blanket and snuggling in our big comfy bed. Note: I still don't allow toys in my room. I need to take baby steps with this whole "the new, relaxed Annie" stuff. Selfish as it may be, it's still mine and Andrew's room and we like to keep in neat, clean and relaxing. It's one of the only rooms in the house that actually feels like OURS.

*I need to spend more time with my sisters. In the end, they will be the ones there for me. And since we share blood, they aleays have to love me. It's a rule.

*I need to love on my nieces and nephews more. I got to tend this fatso on Friday. Love him.

*Another "Change" I've made...... We are still up in the air about having another baby or not. Our little family of 4 seems to be a great size. But I also have a feeling we aren't quite complete. It's so scary. What a HUGE decision. What if it isn't healthy? Can we afford it? One of my biggest concerns is "what if it's a girl?" I'm scared to death of getting a girl. Then I see pictures like this and I soften up to it a little bit.

This seems like a random post I know. Where has it all come from? Am I dying? NO, although you never know when your last day will be. But, there are 3 things that have made me change a bit over the past couple of years.

1. One of my co-workers who has been a friend for a really long time, and I know his family really well, his dad was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in February. We were in Florida at the PGA Merchandise show when Devin got the news. I was SO GLAD his wife was with him when he heard his dad had 4-5 months to live. His dad had been in the office just a few days before we left for Florida. He looked healthy and seemed ok. Then just like that, the news comes in that his days were numbered. It has been really hard on all of us.

2. Last summer, a family in our ward lost a child. I didn't know them very well at the time, and we are still getting to know each other but I honestly think seeing them go through that trial has changed my life. They are such a sweet family. Seeing the pain it caused, and not being able to do anything about it tears me up inside. I think about them almost every single day. When I look at my babies, I want to squeeze them a little tighter and kiss them a few more times and thank the good Lord that I have them on this earth with me.

3. Almost 2 years ago, a girl I knew back in high school was on a bike ride when she was hit by a car and killed. She had the perfect life. The big fancy house, the most beautiful children, the handsome and successful husband, and she was one of the most beautiful people. Then one day, she wakes up to go for a bike ride, not knowing it would be the last time she'd see her husband and children. She never made it home. The thought of that makes me sick to my stomach. It makes me want to hug and kiss all three of my boys extra tight any time I go somewhere, or they go somewhere without me I just want to tell them how much I love them.

There are times we get caught in the daily drills of life. Raising kids is not easy. With two young children there are things we just don't get to do as often and sometimes it causes us to become complacent. Eating in a restaurant is such a rare thing, sitting at the pool and reading a magazine isn't going to happen for a few more years, dropping everything and playing golf 4 times a week will be put off for awhile. Going to a movie every weekend will have to wait awhile.

One of the neatest things I've heard in a long time came from one of my dearest friends. She said "this is a special season of our lives and we need to enjoy it." When she said that it stuck with me and I think about it all of the time. I'm so grateful for this season and for all of the blessings I have been given and I am going to take this opportunity to enjoy all of those blessings.

“Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow…for babies grow up…we’ve learned to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs… dust go to sleep I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.”