We were already counting our blessings this time of year, but with Grandma Priday's death the Sunday before Thanksgiving gave us an opportunity to REALLY recount how rich our lives are! Her life and example alone give us so much to be grateful for. Mom flew out to be with her in the hospital after she had broken her hip the week before. Dad, Briant, and Taylor all gradually joined us, and we were thrilled to be able to be a bit of a gathering place. After definitely deciding to go to Idaho, we changed plans at the last minute Wednesday, and imposed on Scott and JoAnn's dinner in Brigham City so that we could be with Mom, Dad, and Briant, who was just flying in. It was a wonderful day, and really gracious of Mildenhall's to let us bombard. I think Scott spent 12 hours Wednesday peeling and mashing enough potatoes!!!
The rest of the week we spent going to lunch w/ Mom, Aunt Janet, and girl cousins,
at string practices for the "family orchestra"(neat for Maddie to be able to join in!), putting up Christmas decorations, practicing more music (which was heart-soaring, even if also VERY humbling trying to accompany all these musicians!),
and eventually attending the viewing and funeral for Grandma Priday. The whole week was such a lift, being surrounded by so many great people, and remembering how much we love Grandma and her perfect and personalized influences. Such an amazing woman! In wanting to be just like her, I feel like I need to live to 200 to get close! I was impressed as all of the Priday children focused on her strengths, at her constant encouraging uplift, her powerful connection to Grandpa, her dedication to service--always putting herself 3rd, after the Lord 1st, and others 2nd, of her constant missionary mindedness, her love of music, of learning, and especially of family. It does something to you to be related to people like that--a sort of constant reminder of the divine heritage we all have. It was such a warm and tender week, made doubly nice by having so much family in our home.
It's funny too, how these major event in life make it easier to enjoy the simple things: A landmark day yesterday when I was able to enjoy doing dishes since Emily and Anne came in wanting to help and just be together (I thought Grandma Farnsworth was crazy once, trying to tell me at age 7 how fun it could be singing and doing dishes together), the older girls throwing a "Bath" tea party so Anne wouldn't put up a fight for soaking time,
hearing Spencer and Emily at a choir concert,
Brent getting up early on his own for fast offerings, Spencer getting so excited about advancing in Karate,
praying about even little things like finding a swingset, and having the perfect opportunity, price, and help come along at just the right moment,
and just the great chances to be together as a family. We really are SOOO blessed.
What a great post. Love al the pictures. So neat to be together and celebrate such an amazing woman!
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