Our Levi John is named after Rock’s Grandpa, John Roper and my grandpa, John Wesel.   He’s been lucky enough to spend time with and get to know Grandpa Roper over the last seven years, for which we are very grateful.  Grandpa passed away on the 25th of last month and so there will be no more four wheeler rides or pictures on the porch swing.  We will miss him, but he lived a good full life.  He was a strong, quiet man who loved the outdoors and was hiking right up until the end.  He even went on a big bike ride for his 90th birthday.  I’m so grateful I’ve been blessed to have him in my life the last 14 years.   My grandpa’s both passed away long before I was married and Grandpa Roper has treated me like one of his own since the very beginning.   When Rock and I were newly married, we were in the St. George temple standing around with many of Rock’s family members.  I was still new and feeling a bit out of place.  Grandpa came over to me and gave me a big hug and told me he was glad I was part of his family.  He’s had a special place in my heart ever since then, because even as a new member of the family I knew that Grandpa didn’t say much.  So what he did say was important.  We will all miss him and look forward to the day when we can go four wheeling with him again.  Because of course there will be four wheelers in the next life, right?

As a silver lining to Grandpa’s passing, much of Rock’s extended family was able to be in Colorado together for the funeral.  It was great to see everyone; bittersweet reunion.  Reagan did not get to come with us because he was on his 50 miler with the scouts.  But we decided that was what Grandpa would have wanted him to be doing anyway.  Here’s the low down on our trip.

We left on a Thursday and drove down through Utah.  Just as we crossed the border into Utah, we passed a huge billboard that said Welcome to Utah.  It was pretty hard to miss.  Right at that moment Cade piped up from the back seat, “Hey!  We’re in Utah aren’t we?!”  Thinking he had obviously seen the sign, we chuckled and said, “Uh, yeah, Cade.”  To which he responded, “Yep, I knew it because of the mountains!” 

On our way through Utah we stopped to see some good friends.  As we left their home, we stopped at a gas station to fill up and hit the bathrooms before we headed out of town.   Yes, it would have been smarter to use the bathrooms at our friends home, but we are not that smart, so the gas station it was.   I am still not really used to having to take a little girl into the bathrooms on these trips.  Rock usually takes the boys into the bathroom because he has to go in anyway. I have a bladder the size of Texas, so I don’t often go in.  This time  I was busy with something in the car, and so I forgot to take Liberty in.  Two minutes after we drove away from the gas station Liberty says, “I need to go potty!”  Oops.  Picture me slapping my head, “Stupid, stupid, stupid!”  So we pulled over to another gas station to have her go.  We get back in the car and drive away only to have her say ten minutes later, “I have to go poo!”  So it took us three gas station stops to get out of South Jordan.

We made it to Grand Junction and the next day we took a drive over the Colorado Monument.  It is always spectacular.  I wonder if you can ever get tired of looking at those amazing rocks, formations and colors.  

Silver lining; family time!

Three Bald Brothers.  They could start a band.

This is all the great grandkids practicing their song for the funeral.  I don’t think you can find a more tear inducing song than “Somewhere Out There”, but that’s what they sang.  It was beautiful.

Uncle Sam is a photographer and got some great pictures while everyone was together.

I think this might be my favorite picture of the weekend.  Sam is such a goof and Grandma is just beautiful!

Saturday was the funeral.  I hate funerals.  I hate goodbyes and do everything I can to avoid them because I cry like a baby.  I actually left for college once without saying goodbye to my baby sister because I did not want to cry.  So funerals are hard.   And this one was made harder by the fact that I had a very wiggly five year old on my lap.  I almost named this post Five Year Olds and Funerals.  They don’t mix well.  That being said, it was a beautiful funeral.  I loved hearing all the wonderful tributes to Grandpa.  And Monica was totally right.  He would have been embarrassed at all the fuss we were making over him. 

Here is the gravesite, beautiful and peaceful there under those trees. (more Sam pictures)

Grandma Dot was amazing that day.  Faithful and fearless. 
Seventy years of marriage is so long I can’t even comprehend it.  I hope she won’t be too lonely.  

Rock’s mom was also amazing.  I can’t imagine dealing with that kind of grief AND putting together a funeral.  I know that’s how it always works, but it was really brought home to me this time.  For some reason it always seems like funerals just happen without any work. 

To end on a funny note, here are a few things you would have heard had you been a fly on the wall of our van as we drove home.  Levi, when asked to hand up his electronic device:  “Mom, I need to die first!” And Liberty, (said menacingly) during a scuffle with her brother just as we were about to drive away, “I could throw this backpack at you!”  And on that happy note we left Grand Junction and headed home.  We sure will miss you Grandpa John. 

Till we meet again…