Perspective

My great uncle passed away this week. I found out one week ago that he had been put into a care center and that he had cancer, everywhere. He was given 4 weeks to a year to live. He died one week later. Thinking that I had at least 4 weeks to visit, and having a lot on my plate lately I hadn't gone up to see him yet. I am having a hard time with that.

I actually lived with Jack for a few months before I got married. He lived up in Salt Lake and happily took me into his home. We spent a lot of time together. He would tell me stories of when he owned two night clubs and how celebrities would play at them. The night clubs were big time back in the day, in downtown Salt Lake. He has pictures with Nat King Cole and others which I thought was pretty cool.

We would watch the Laurence Welk show together every Saturday night and cook the same dinner, and sit in the same seats. We would attempt to "organize" his house which was pretty full of things to organize...and we would listen to old tunes from the 1930s and 1940s. He taught me to love the real "oldies".

He was a tough old man, kind of a grizzly bear to most, but he really cared about me and we had a very strong connection. I helped him clean his house while I lived there and I would help him cut out comics from the newspaper too, every night, every newspaper. He kept all of them and wanted to make a book of them some day so that he could make people laugh. You couldn't run into the man without him telling you a joke and trying to get you to laugh. He didn't have any children and I know that he thought of me like a daughter. That meant a lot to me!

Since I lived with him we have talked quite a bit on the phone. He even gave me a rocking chair, an antique one so that I could rock my babies in it he said. It is beautiful! Over the last few years as he has become more uncapable he has distanced me from him (embarrased that he was getting old) which has been hard for me, especially since he is gone now.

I don't know why I decided to post about him today. I think that I needed to let the emotion out a little bit. I also think that I kind of needed to say goodbye because I didn't get a chance before.

I am sorry that I didn't get to see you and say goodbye Jack. I miss you and I love you!

Ryan and I took the boys to Salt Lake yesterday and we walked around the Salt Lake temple. We thought it was time to show the boys where we were married, for time and all Eternity.

They had a good time, they ran everywhere!
I am so thankful for my belief in the gospel. For the oportunity that I have to know it and to know of its truthfulness. Sometimes I have to question why the Lord does what he does because of where I work and some of the things I learn about. But there is no denying the Spirit and that the Lord lives and that he loves me. I am so thankful for my family, for our healthy boys and for our happiness. I am So Thankful for Ryan and for all that he is for me. My best friend, my husband, a good father, a leader and an example. Being Thanksgiving time I think I can add a few more...
I am thankful for my parents and for their teaching me what's right and for their examples. For Ryan's family and how much they love and care for us, for the friendships they provide for us...they are our friends!! For my brothers and sisters who teach me by example, Chris and Karli for their faith, John and Beth for their determination and hard work.
For our Beautiful life that, although it has been a struggle...from day one, we are lucky to have.
I am not a good enough blogger like some of my friends to list things that I am thankful for every day but I am thankful for this season and for the oportunity to think about what we have been blessed with. I hope you are all having a good November and that you can all take time to reflect on the people that you love and all that you have. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!