The Last Night - Family Dinner

Rachel holds a captive audience.

So many secrets being told.

Conversations were held everywhere; upstairs and ON the stairs.

LOTS of girl talk.

Bishop taking a quiet moment.

Carrying on the family tradition...TAFFY!!!!

Sean and Becky were in charge of the family Taffy pull.

Sean and Nate

The Lilac Tree

Everything was done.
The Viewing.
The Funeral.
The Burial.
The Luncheon.
And now we were back at mom and dad's house.  We had a family meeting before dinner was brought in for us by mom's previous ward in Pleasant Grove.  We all just enjoyed relaxing.  Most of us were changed out of our Sunday clothes.  Most of us were exhausted...emotionally and physically spent.
Games were being played at various tables.  Taffy was being made in the kitchen.  Babies and kids were playing outside and all around the rooms.  Visiting was going on in and around all corners of the house.  But then, attention was asked of everyone as there was a gift to be presented to 'grandma' from some of the grandchildren...mainly, Von and Ann's daughters.
Daddy sings.  Common knowledge.  And he sang certain songs on a regular basis, especially at the wedding receptions of his children and his grandchildren.  The one song he was most famous for singing was, 'The Lilac Tree'.  Cute cute lyrics...about a little boy, and a little girl.  The little boy wants a kiss.  The little girl acts shocked and says she'll give him one, but 'only when the apples grow on the Lilac tree.'  The little boy is soooo sad and in despair.  The little girl feels terrible for breaking his heart...so the very next morning, he goes back to his Lilac Tree, only to find his little sweetheart 'tying apples to the Lilac Tree'.
The granddaughters presented my mother with a Lilac Tree; with apples they had tied all over it's branches.
That did it.
Mom hadn't cried, until that moment.  What a tender moment.  I have to be honest; it was good to see her cry.  She had needed to.  She snuck back into her room, needing to have a private moment, where she allowed herself to have a really good cry.  Then she re-emerged with a very grateful and tender heart.
Rebecca will go over later next week and help her plant her Lilac Tree outside in a place where she will see it often.

I'm home now.  We flew home last night and I was back to work today.  Life has gone on, as if the past weekend was a blur.  In fact, today, the news is all about a TERRIBLE Tornado that has hit Oklahoma and killed several children who were in school, many many are still missing and whole cities are obliterated.  It is devastating.  I am feeling thrown back into reality but realize that only my life, and that of my family, has been set back on it's heels of my fathers passing.  Life truly does go on.
And so do I.  The weekend celebration of my fathers life was a much needed closure for me and I am so grateful for the gospel.  I will not mourn, but rejoice for having known and loved such a wonderful father.  He lived a full and productive life, and has now returned to a Heavenly Father that loves him and is also grateful for his life.
Counting my many blessings.