Cake, Fishing, Funeral

One of my favorite things is cake with buttercream frosting. Or chocolate chip cookies with frosting between 2 of them. I love that kind of sweet. I am not saying its good for me by any means, but every once in a while i get a need for cake and ice cream. one of the reasons i like birthdays is cake, but now that we are at a more comfortable place in life, i can buy a cake from the store bring it home and enjoy a piece. So I was contemplating what kinds of food i really like. Shane and I have a date night every Wednesday, mostly because the kids are gone to mutual or working. Either way they are out of the house or hide in their rooms. We have the house to ourselves. Shane usually goes to the store before i get home and picks up some food. Lately we have been trying different cuts of steak. the last date night we had we discussed the many nights we fed the kids and didnt eat much for dinner as there was not much left. We do not have to eat tuna cooked in something, casserole, or something i had to put together from whatever we had to make food last. There were difficult times in our life. But how grateful we are now to be able to go to the store and buy what we want if we wish. We still wait for the sales, you know percentage off whatever. Its so nice to be able to have some freedom now.

Considering all of that, we have found a new joy in our life of just being together. We spend a lot of time riding in the car and talking. Sometimes we hang out in our room. It is nice to be around him. These last few weeks have been some difficult ones for Shanes side of the family. Shanes mother has been ill for quite a while. She had been on dialysis for a few years and had a myriad of other issues. There comes a time on dialysis that the process becomes more and more difficult and there is a choice to be made. It would seem that with the help of a blessing and some guidance by one of her daughters my mother in law decided prolonging her life on the earth was creating more issues than necessary. A.J. made a decision to stop dialysis  and all other medications she was on so she could leave this world peacefully. It takes about a 7-10 days from the last run of dialysis for the body to stop. A.J. had a few last requests one was to go to Salt Lake City to see the conference center. We, as a family, knew that would not be possible so we surprised her with trip to the mountains to go fishing. Fishing is something she has always loved to do and especially with Shane.

 It was snowing the day we went to the
creek fishing. There was not a care given in the world. Shane got permission from Fish and Game with a special license for her to fish on this day. Fish and Game even paid for it. It was difficult to get photos of her face cause water (i didnt want to fall into it). She was very excited to be there with her (outdoor) boy helping her enjoy fishing. Certainly a blessing to be around on that day.

Here is A.J. holding Axel Hugh. She didnt get much time to be with her other great grand children but we tried to make sure that she got a lot of time with Axel. He was excited to be in the snow. 

 And what would the day be like if we did not get a photo of all the grandchildren that were there with their Grandmother. Left to right: Brenda (holding Axel), Jakob age 13, Tianna, John age 15, Laura, and Skyler...no numbers for the ladies over 18 cause that is polite. Skyler well he is a dad so he is just the dad of Axel...

Grandma holding Axel Hugh (7 mos) with his own fishing pole. 

Obligatory adorable Axel Hugh photo...because I am the grandmama....(also eyelashes with snow drops on them)

A few short weeks after this trip we had a funeral for Ms A.J. (Grandma Henrie)

Left to right: Sabrina (Henrie) Johnston, Trina (Henrie) Stolp, Shane Henrie, Marshall Henrie not present Shawn Henrie

We had a full house at the funeral. It became an interesting event. The stake president over the last ward that A.J. was in had been called as a Seventy the Sunday before the funeral at General Conference. Elder Kenneth Firmage was kind enough to preside at the funeral. The man who married Shane and I, also a Seventy was there as well. Elder Walker and his sweet wife got to meet all of our children and Axel. He was so kind telling us how amazing our family was. Shane did the life sketch of his mother. Shane has always been the one in the family to create laughter for his mother. He did an amazing job, making us laugh, cry and realize the joy of family. The funeral home was full to the brim with people, they came from everywhere. People were touched by the words of Elder Firmage and Shane. Member and non-member alike had a great time. 

One of the great things about a funeral is having a week off. Well its not really...we had work to do. We had to clean out my mother in laws apartment and clean up some things at the property where the house is. There was quite a bit of work to do, but having some time to rest in between was nice. Shane and I have had some time this week to spend with each other. It has been nice to be home with him. Also spending some extra time with the children. I did have one day to spend with Axel Hugh and that was a highlight. Its always nice to see the circle of life and how it comes around. Watching life end with my mother in law and watching life begin with Axel Hugh. 

Funny the circle. Watching that circle is hard, heartbreaking, difficult, rewarding, loving, enjoyable...all the emotions involved, but it is life. Having the Gospel of Jesus Christ has helped me in the journey of life. Knowing there will be a time when I will see my mother and my brother. When i will be the one guiding my grand children and great grandchildren to their parents on earth. I am at ease with that. I am grateful Shane and I decided to have children when we did. It was hard but some rewarding times. I am grateful to have had the time with my children while I was young(ish) and can enjoy my grandchildren. Most of all time with my Shane. I love him, am so grateful for him. I am glad he is with me on the journey of life.