March 14, 2014
Dear Family,
“It seems like only yesterday…..” that’s the phrase you often hear when reminiscing about the past. I have caught myself over and over again thinking, “I’ll just stop at Momma’s to check on her” and of course I have to recant that thinking. The pictures are still so clear of Momma’s fierce hugs and the “I love you”s. The way she smiled at the children’s faces. One of the reasons we have planted a big garden there for the past few years is the chance to be with Momma and share her enthusiasm for growing things.
Then I wander off with my short memory stops and think back to when she was in the hospital and she was thrashing about in the bed. Jerry and I were there alone about 6:00 at night and she really didn’t seem to be talking to either one of us when she said, “Just let me go, I want to die. Why is it so hard?” I know it was hard for her, very hard to leave what she knew and reach Heaven~ward. But she really was encumbered by her body and the frailties of her age. She was so valiant. Never wavering in her testimony. The Church is true and she was true to the Church in every way.
It was amazing to see the many people she has circled with her influence. I really enjoyed visiting with people who came to pay tribute to her life. Over and over again the sentiment was echoed that she was a grand lady, and she was! And is…still. I have told her many times that I want to be like her when I grow up. I’m working on it.
The G and J~Alldredge family is plugging along. We had decided in October to start looking for a new countertop for our kitchen and got lured into a great deal on granite at a local store. Well the great deal was only on 3 pieces of granite, none of which we liked. We did find one we thought would look nice, but how can you tell from a 2inch square sample? We ordered it and it was set to go in on New Years Day. STOP! We looked at our cabinets. Really in pretty good shape except for this or that… “Why are we putting a life~time piece of granite on 20 year old cabinets” someone said. STOP! We contacted a cabinet shop and they were very busy but they said they might could at least get us the lower cabinets in a month and wait another month for the upper set. STOP! Then we need a new sink (duh! Then we need a new dishwasher (double duh!) Might need a new wife before its over. It just turned into a complete kitchen remodel by accident because the counter top was worn out. Beware of your simple decisions. They can mushroom into much, much more. We are still waiting for uppers. But we are making some progress.
This is a great year at school for me. I am amazed at the opportunity to be Caleb’s teacher. I love to watch him learn. He is by far the hardest working student I have. He loves to participate and raises his hand all the time. Right now we are on spring break and I miss him because he is in Logan and we spent 5 days tripping around to see Jalyn, Maria Tim and family and spend a couple of days with Cameron at Disneyland. He is our Disney Kid and it was so much fun to hang with him at the two parks. Not only can he get us free tickets into the parks, but he had 50% off the food and discounts on merchandise. We’re not big spenders but Jerry did buy a hat, of necessity. The best part of Disneyland was the cast member pass we got on the new Thunder Mountain ride. It doesn’t officially open until March 17th but we got to test ride it as many times as we wanted. We rode it 8 times till we got so dizzy we clambered out of the seats and headed on to the hour long wait time rides. Spring Break was crowded but still lots of fun. We saw Tory and Brant pass by one day. Small world.
Jerry has been doing lots of tests to find out what is causing his back to hurt in the lower right quadrant. Found out that his gall bladder isn’t working. He will be deciding about surgery, but it can wait till summer.
Chelsea was living here for her first quarter of college but wanted the “whole” college experience and is renting an apartment near campus. We love her and miss her bright happy spirit in our home but we do get to see her often for Sunday dinner.
We love you all. We are determined to stay close. Momma and Daddy were the glue that assembled this great family but their examples showed us that love is Eternal and its worth every effort to stay connected.
Dear Family
I think that the time is almost upon up to gather in our family reunion. July 25-27 at the man camp in Delta. i would like to get an e-mail from each of you for a count. i don't know about you but i don't want to be hungry, cause some one didn't bring enough food.
Here are the assignments for each of you. For the Fri. night meal we need each of the children to bring a salad of you own choosing. I hope you don't all pick lettuce but if you do we will have a contest to see who brought the best lettuce salad. you could make them there i suppose if you were doing something that would not hold over for a day. Like pasta or say jello. We would like for the grand children to bring the treats. Cookies, browmies or finger treats my wife called them. Thurs. night will be fairly casual. We will have pulled pork and chips and what ever else we can bring along. hopefully some fruit salad or watermellon, just don't hold me to that to tight.
I can't believe that we are looking at the end of june already. Today as we were driving around town our car outsude temperature giage read 117 most of the time. last night we went to Springdale for a program that they have at the Bumble Bee theater, as we approched Purgatory by Hurricane the guage kept climbing till it hit 115. I was beginning to think maybe we were on our way to Hell. Summer in Dixie.
Gerri has been enjoying her time away from school, although I'm not sure i can afford it. Quilting is expensive. She also has had a procedure done on her left eye. It's called a Vitrectomy. They stick two needles in the eye. One removes the fluid and the floating scar tissue and the other puts in some new fluid, that's so you eye don't go flat. Each day she can see better.
All the grandkids are busy. Chelsei HAS GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL. she will be going to DIXIE next year. She will be staying with some pretty awsome roomies. Grandpa and Grandma.
Bree is still involved with dancing, Mason is working on his eagle, Cord is busy growing up to fast. Ambers kids are involved with swimming for the summer. Three of them are on swim team and will be involved with swim meets. Amber has decided that at 40 you are to old to jump on a trampolene, unless you don't mind having you hip out of joint and enjoy a lot of pain. She is also teaching summer school. Christian in also close to finishing his eagle.
Kenedy is very involved with soccer. She will not be at the reunion because of a tournement. She finally got her driver license. I remember how much we worried when all of our kids got theirs and we were in little st. george. San Deigo what a worry there. All those car and califonia drivers too.
Well that is about enough. Please send me some numbers and hope to see you all soon.
Love to all
The Geratics
