My brother Matt and I drove with my mom and dad to Tremonton for my Aunt Beverly's funeral. She had passed away on Nov 28th, and was 90 years old. It was a lovely service and tribute (all 5 of her boys talked), and it was good to see some of my cousins I hadn't seen in YEARS.
After the services, we drove by the home where my dad was born:
I loved getting to see this piece of family history.
Then we went to lunch. It was a good day.
Saturday, Dec 17
Lex and Jason's gender reveal.
The guesses:
(I realized that I didn't get a pic of me in here... and I don't have the time to figure out any more of this collage stuff, so let it be written that I guessed BOY. I had been a bit under the weather, so had to wear a mask anyway.)
Ready... set...
...reveal!
It's a BOY!
I can't wait to meet this precious new soul.
Tuesday, Dec 27
My Aunt Carol passed away on Dec 16th. She was also 90 years old, and was a lovely woman who I truly admire. She invited Bill and I to stay at her condo in CA for our honeymoon (35+ years ago), and had stocked her refrigerator for us. It was such a kind and generous gift that I will never forget.
It was also good to see these cousins that I haven't seen in YEARS.
My dad and mom are the only surviving "first generation" of the Goldsberry side of the family. That feels a little crazy, but also confirms that "our lives [pass] away as it [is] unto us a dream..." As I grow older, I see the passage of time more clearly as it swiftly moves on.
It's been a month for contemplating life and death, and the great eternal plan of our God. I have deep gratitude for the lives that have touched mine, and for the new little lives that are born into our family. Life is sweet.
We made the beautiful drive to Star Valley, WY for the Call Reunion.
We arrived and set up tents and helped with a few other preliminary tasks, then met Jason and Lex at the Valleon for lunch.
I'm sure they weren't prepared for a large group in the middle of the day in this small town, so we waited a long time for our food {and it wasn't as good as last time}. It filled our bellies, and most importantly it was a fun time hanging out together.
Once the reunion officially started, we had fun checking out the many activities with M and B.
No one can resist the homemade bread and jam. Soooooo good.
We gathered to practice for our "spotlight" segment at the family meeting to be held later in the day. This little activity can produce some stress (there may be *some* in the extended family that view these types of things as a talent competition), but I think we rocked it. Our spotlight was about mi mamita (each family spotlighted their "first generation" family member). Mar wrote and was willing to perform a cute song, and the rest of us were just... backup dancers haha.
We went over to the farmhouse-turned-museum to take a private tour with mi mamita.
The girls all tried on some vintage hats...
...and the guys checked out the interesting artifacts in the boys' bedroom.
Everyone gathered for the traditional family picture. I'm sad I don't have a better copy. I'll have to ask my mom to see if she has one, and if she does I'll replace my poor-quality one below.
I believe we had dinner at this point (no pictures to remind me),
then it was family meeting time. B loved the hats we used for our spotlight.
Each first generation family member was spotlighted by their family. Each one was unique. My mom had no idea what we were going to do for hers, which made it so fun.
Miss Louise Goldsberry - Yes, it's time to look and see
All the things that make her special and describe her perfectly:
Sewing skills, yummy scones, and such a lovely home
Testimony like no other, at the temple serving weekly;
Full of love, pretty smile, time with her is so worthwhile,
Her example is never second best;
Mother, grandma, and great, take a glance and you'll see
She's the best, she's the best, she's the best!
She loves books, gardening, yes, her mind she's sharpening;
Traveling around the world, Jerusalem's her destiny.
Games with kids, family, she makes friends so naturally,
Family history she preserves, and she really loves to serve.
Day by day, one by one, she blesses us, SHE'S NEVER DONE!
Supportive and always full of fun;
Now there's a little glance, and if you get the chance you'll see
She's the best, she's the best, she's the best!
The sunset was breathtaking.
We loaded up on the trailer for the ride up the mountain for the traditional bonfire and marshmallow roast (I can't remember, but I don't think we had a wiener roast this year - I'm pretty sure we had dinner at the barn).
Saturday, July 23
Beautiful sunrise (courtesy of Little Billy, who got up early enough to see it haha).
Our family was assigned breakfast duty, so we were up early enough to
git 'er done.
These cute kids loved sleeping in a tent, and obviously enjoyed snoozing even after the sun was up.
After breakfast there were more activities - Jason wanted to try his hand (literally) at arm wrestling.
His take-away, "Farmers are STRONG."
(He also enjoyed it enough to join a club and pursue the sport further.)
I took B on the kids' tractor ride (I didn't mention that both M and B hated the ride they took the first day, and ended up screaming to get off haha). This ride was soooooo uncomfortable for this old lady {with very long legs}. But it was worth it to give B a better memory of it.
There were wax museum tours at the farmhouse. Everyone who attended loved them. I was helping with the kids, so I didn't make it over to it. I very much enjoyed my time with M and B, though!
Lex took M on the torture tractor ride.
She concurred that it was quite uncomfortable for grown ups.
The final event of the reunion is lunch.
I'm always impressed at how this huge event gets pulled off biennially. I was so glad Jason and Lex made the trip - it's always so much more effort to travel with kids. I loved seeing those "first generation" aunts and uncles, and chatting with cousins I don't cross paths with often.
And here are 9 of the 14. In those uncomfortable buckets. I don't envy them haha.
After helping with our cleanup duties, we headed home.
That evening we had a mini firework show out our front door for Pioneer Day.
