Going back to Cali

Remember a few months ago when I blogged about visiting California to see my Grandma?  Well, I went back, but this time for her funeral.  I’ve been wanting to blog about it, but just haven’t been able to find the right words for my feelings about the whole thing.  I still don’t have the right words, but I need to write some things down so I can remember them before I’ve forgotten.  I loved my Grandma and will miss her so much.  She was such an amazing woman and I hope that I can be a little bit like her by the time I have to leave this earth.  This is from when I went to visit in September.

Christmas at Temple square in 2004She came to visit in November of 2008 and we were lucky enough to have her at our house a few of the days she was in Utah.

This is when she first met Liam (I think)

I miss her so much.  Every time Emily plays the songs that Grandma taught her on the piano it reminds me of her.  One thing I’m grateful for is my knowledge that I will see her again someday and that she’s now reunited with her husband and parents. 

Now a few highlights from the few days I was in California. For some reason all these pictures are in reverse order so we’ll go backwards since I’m too lazy to move them all around.

Her funeral services were beautiful with lots of music just like she would have wanted.  I couldn’t seem to make my voice work to sing most of the time, but I tried my hardest to sing as much as I can because that’s what Grams would have wanted. 

This is at the cemetery before they dedicated the grave.  After the dedication we all said our final goodbyes and then we took a few pictures.  All the kids with Grandpa’s sister, Carol.

After the funeral there was an open house at my Grandma’s house for anyone that wanted to come.  It was mostly family and close family friends, but it was nice to sit and remember her with others that loved her too.  Of course we had to take a few pictures.  All the family together. (we were all exhausted by this time)

The girl cousins.Siblings.  This was the first time I’ve seen my brother Tom in just over four years.  I miss him.Me and KathiAll of my immediate family that was there. 

My brother was awesome enough to pick me up from the San Francisco airport so that I didn’t have to take a shuttle.  It was super nice to get to catch up with him and meet his new wife.  They got married in November so this was a baptism by fire thing for her to meet so much family all at once.  She was a champ and fit right in to our crazy bunch.  She’s awesome and didn’t mind me talking my brother’s ear off during the drive either.  She insisted I sit in front with him which I truly appreciated.  On our way through SF Tom told me that one of our cousins on the other side of the family lived and worked in SF so we called him to see if we could stop by to see him.  Thankfully his work is kind enough not to mind us bugging him. 

This is my cousin Jason.  I don’t think I’ve seen him since I was a teenager.  He was super nice and the chocolate at his store is REALLY REALLY good!  I ate it really slowly to savor every little bit I could. 

We stayed so long visiting Jason that we ended up in rush hour traffic going North to Cotati, but it made it easier to take pictures.  That’s the best I could do of Alcatraz while we were driving and through the fog too.  The golden gate bridge…that was the nicest view we had the whole drive.  The rest of it was just lots and lots of cars and some vineyards when we were lucky.  At least I was in good company while we drove and my brother is a seasoned driver so I didn’t have to worry at all.  There you go.  My trip back to Cali.  It’s still so strange to think that nothing will be the same next time I go there. 

A huge thank you and tons of love to my husband, Jason for holding down the fort while I was gone.  Also, to my neighbor Tami and my sister in law Heather for watching Liam when Jason had to give a presentation at work while I was gone.  I really have the best family ever!