In loving memory of a singular woman

On Saturday, October 22, my Grandma Morgan passed away after a painful battle with cancer. Her death has left us all reeling. While we knew it was fast approaching and were blessed with the opportunity to say our goodbyes, it has been a much more heart-rending experience than we could ever have imagined.

My grandma was a grandma like none other. First and foremost, she loved us all fiercely. She cared deeply for her family and sought out the best for everyone. She was a feisty woman. She was an active woman. Grandma did everything with feeling and verve and honesty. She never minced words and said what needed to be said. But Grandma was a witty woman and often what she said was infused with humor and concern. Grandma was tough and fearless and true pioneer stock. One thing I will always take away from my time with Grandma was her quiet service. She was so lively in so many ways, but she never at any time sought recognition for all the times she cared for others - inside and outside her family. She saw need and she did what was in her capacity (and many times beyond her capacity) to do to rectify a needy situation. And you rarely knew about it unless you caught her in the act. It was second nature to both my grandparents to serve others like they would their own children. What remarkable people!

I don't want to paint this event in a rosy hue and say that it was a blessing in disguise - because it was not. My grandma's absence leaves a tremendous hole that will never be filled. But what was a blessing was the realization that I belong to such a wonderful family. My grandfather is one of the very best of men and his great love for my grandma was evident in his every action, especially during the twilight of her life. I am also truly impressed by my Mom and her brothers and sisters who gathered around my grandparents throughout this trial and have been such a blessing and support to each other. You guys are my inspiration! I am more grateful than I can say for this example of character and compassion.

Our last visit with Grandma.
Oct. 8, 2011. Kuna, Idaho.

Our family on our last visit with Grandma.
Oct. 8, 2011. Kuna, Idaho.

Grandma and Grandpa Morgan.
Morgan Family Reunion, July 2011. Kuna, Idaho.

Our family with Grandma and Grandpa Morgan.
Morgan Family Reunion. July 2011, Kuna, Idaho.

Now that is a handsome-sized family! (And we were even missing some!)
Morgan Family Reunion, July 2011. Kuna, Idaho.

This is how I will always remember my Grandma - on a snowmobile at Yellow Pine.

We love you Grandma... and we will see you again!
Save us a place at the Genealogy table, and this time, its my turn to go out first.

Morgan Family Reunion - July 2011

Here are some photos from our Morgan Family Reunion a few weeks ago.

The whole family (as many as were there, that is.)

Our whole family.... minus Tyler :-(


Grandpa and Grandma Morgan

Aunt Marta - a.k.a. Alex Trebek

The adorable Carson

Becca-Jane mid bite

Aunt Amy and Henry

Aunties Makayla and Amy with their respective nephews - Carson and Henry


Mrs. Ashcraft and Ms. Shaniqua


Amy's sexy look


Teralin, Sue, Teresa and Bailey all watching Lindsey make a card by the craft table.


Craft table

Thomas decorating Mary Alice's hair with the hair bows that everyone had made.

Mary Alice at the coloring table.

Boys and their football

More football


Liz and Henry

Bailey and Henry - cuties!


This kid loves the camera - he could just eat it up.

Literally.

Teresa and Miss Bailey


John and Mary Alice lounging under the sycamore tree.


Adorableness.

More adorableness.

Brothers

Aunt Teresa and Mary Alice


Aunt Becca and Miss Bailey


Mary Alice (sporting the cute hair-do a la Aunt Lindsey).

John and Henry


Thomas looking through the treat table.

Henry - having a blast


Aunt Becca and Bailey


Teresa and Bailey

Thomas looking a bit concerned. Who ate all the ice cream sandwiches?

Henry

Amy - her other sexy look.



And after all the festivities - Tom chillin' with Grandpa back at the hotel.

Idaho trip!

Well, a little over a week ago, Utah State University held a "furlough" for all employees - a temporary layoff for one week. Man, we have never been so excited to be layed-off in our whole lives! So, we decided to go to Idaho and visit with my grandparents.

Of course, the day we planned to leave, Mother Nature sent a little gift...



The biggest snowstorm of the year! We had two feet of snow in our yard.


RUPERT!



Tom enjoyed playing at Great-Grandma Bradshaw's house. She has the coolest sword (it has a sheath!) and two awesome rifles - not to mention cowboy hats and stick horses. He was in heaven! (And even managed to play with the kitchen set and the type writer a fair bit!) Here he is sitting next to Great Grandma - trying to feed the doll the same way that she was feeding Mary Alice. Grandma was very good to let him play with all of her toys (and other items that were not toys) and made him feel like one of the grown-ups.

And we, of course, were thrilled to be able to visit with Grandma a bit, too!




YELLOW PINE!

When we went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Morgan, they took us to their cabin in Yellow Pine - and took us snowmobiling. It was great fun! And we just barely got in the last weekend of snowmobiling there (or so it seemed), since there was a bit less snow when we left Yellow Pine than when we arrived.



Grandma and Grandpa Morgan going for a ride!



Here is Tom on the snowmobile. He loved it! He couldn't stay on very long because it got too cold for him. But when we got home, he decided his bike was a snowmobile - so he has been riding around the house on his "snowmobile" for days... he has the sound effects and all!


Grandpa Morgan took Tom for a little spin when he was taking the snowmobiles off the trailer. To our surprise, Tom readily hopped right on the first time. (Usually he has to see YOU ride it around and examine how it works, etc. before he will ride it himself.)


Tom and myself on one of the snowmobiles.


Tom and John on the snowmobile. (Are you noticing a theme here?)

In addition to snowmobiling, we also played cards, visited, watched a couple John Wayne movies, and (of course) ate and ate and ate. (Big thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for spending half of their cabin time preparing and cleaning up meals!)


We greatly enjoyed our trip to see all of my grandparents - and they were all very good to let us come and invade them!



And here's one last picture of the baby....