Memorial Weekend

I'm glad Memorial Weekend is here; school has been busy trying to finish last units. Tonight I finished the last project/paper for my class on facilitating on-line learning. I have another on technology and online learning later in the summer. This afternoon I attended the funeral of my sister-in-law Marcia's mom's funeral--Beulah Griffiths Smith. She passed away last Sunday. The funeral was moving, had some very nice tributes by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Neil and I went to the viewing last night and then out to Wayne and Marcia's to visit with Marcia's extended family. David is the oldest brother. We met some of his children (Mark, Matt, Sarah, and Jenny) and their spouses and children. Marcia is next in birth order, then Terry, and Doug. Terry told me he was the third child; I told him that I had the same birth position. I'm glad Marcia had immediate family there to help her. Losing a mom has to be one of life's greatest trials. Even with a strong testimony of an afterlife, it must be so hard to say goodbye to the person who nurtured and loved you so much. Beulah's favorite scripture was on the back of the funeral service program. I want to put it in this blog today in her honor and wish her spirit a happy reunion with family and friends.

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. 2 Nephi 32:3

I decided to add just a little more to this Memorial Day blog. Monday morning Neil and I took some beautiful plants to Fielding Memorail to honor his parents. Floyd and Faye Christensen. Then we drove to the Ririe Cemetery and took a plant to my dad's (Don M. Guymon's) gravesite. Both places were filled with beautiful flowers. Annette came up from Utah and mom, I , and Annette visited the Ucon Cemetery--my Grandma and Grandpa Ritchie are buried there, the two little babies they lost, my Aunt Dorothy, and Annette's mom, Donna (Aunt Jimmer) to the Guymon kids, our second mom. We also went to see my Aunt Joy's grave just past Rigby. I realize how blessed I have been/am to have such good family. I never got to know my Grandpa Ritchie because he died of cancer when my mom was just a little girl, but she says he was a very sweet, loving father, and my Grandma Birdie said she was glad she married young, so she had as many years as she did with him. I have a picture from Alice in Wonderland that he colored for my mom; I think it will be wonderful in the next life to meet him.