Love you, Grandpa

Evan's Grandpa Floyd died this week. I've been reading a lot of the blogs, facebook posts, etc about this amazing man and realizing how little I really knew him, but at the same time I felt as though he's always been MY grandpa. That and he always made me feel like I was definitely the FAVORITE in-law. But as I read the other tributes to him, I found out that everyone else thought they were the favorite. I guess he just made me think I was his "special girl" like all of his "special girls".

I lost my Grandpa Spencer last October and both of these deaths have been similar to me. It's hard to explain but I almost feel comfort that they are on the other side...both for me and for them. Both of these grandpas were in poor health and weren't feeling good in their old age. Their deaths gave their spirit an escape from their frail, aging bodies. They were both men of amazing faith and testimony of Christ. One served in some of the highest "positions" in the church and the other was in the background but both served the Lord with all of their talents. It reaffirmed to me that position in the church doesn't matter, but serving the Lord with your might does.

For me, my comfort comes in knowing that Jeb has one more "Grandpa" on his side. As Evan and I watch Hyrum, anyone with the phrase "Grandpa" in front of his name is a super-hero. Hyrum's favorite people, without a doubt are "Poppa Bernie" and "Poppa Jeff". And that's how Evan was. He idolized his Grandpa Floyd. He would rather go milk cows with grandpa than play with cousins. So I can't help but imagine that Jeb's greatest heroes are also his 'grandpas' and he just got to meet another one.

I loved Grandpa and will miss him. I couldn't believe that when I told a neighbor here in Enterprise that we were going to Evan's grandpa's funeral, she knew who he was. And the only time he really left the milk barn (as Evan put it) was to serve at the temple and go to church (and of course serve in the mid-west on a mission). His influence has reached Southern Utah and Malta, ID in just two examples. Solid. That's what he was and what I hope to be.

Reasons why we HAD to go to Malta.

Can we say spoiled? I don't think mom let very many of her own children drive the lawnmower. Hyrum was in heaven. "It was fun!" Poppa's new "Deere". I wanted a ride in it as well. Hyrum was telling me he didn't want me to come so I explained I was just going for a little ride. We were almost to the truck when Hy said "Mom, when are you going to get out?" He wanted Poppa and the combine to himself.

Other reasons (that I don't have pics of): to see the cousins Elliott and Logan (and Uncle JC and Aunt Sara), to try on Neener's clothes, to see Aunt Janelle and Uncle Rick (even though it was way too short), to see Rick's new truck, to color in Princess coloring books, and finally, to visit Ben & Ann, Olivia & Kylie, so we could bring home another puppy for Daddy. What a trip!

Fun with Poppa & Grandma

We were sooooo excited that over Labor Day, Poppa and Grandma Israelsen came to visit us. We went fishing and Grandma caught a crawdad and the crawdad caught Poppa's finger while he was "playing" with it.
They got the grand tour of the dairy and got to watch Hy & Ri ride Jasper .
Then we took them to the Iron County fair...not quite what we had hoped for, but we had fun just spending time with them.
Here are the WAY COOL bumper boats.

And the tractor show was pretty good as well :)

Love you Grandma & Poppa! Come again soon :)

Good thing we have dirt...

...here in Enterprise or my children would be lost. Please notice the stylin' rubber boots with her dress.

And Mr. "Walkie-Talkie" is multi-tasking by running a shovel and talking to "Poppa" on the cell phone about crops. He is still outside as I type this, scheming how to get his dad to build a chicken coop for his "chicken farm". He wants the "egg chickens", not the "beef chickens". I don't think we'd ever be able to live in a town bigger than Enterprise.