One Wedding and Two Funerals

I'll start with the funerals. On Thursday we went to Uncle Beans' and Aunt Lorna's funerals....and she's still here! She's still not responding/eating/drinking, and their kids feel like she'll be passing this week. So they decided to hold a memorial service for both of their parents and when Aunt Lorna does pass, they will hold a graveside service for her. It was good, as funerals go. The kids in the family all participated in various ways. Roseanne lead the music and kept everyone in line! The grandchildren and great-grandchildren sang two songs. They were very good. The six boys were the pall bearers...Jim, Clint, Tom, Andy, Jeff and Wil. And the casket was simply beautiful. I don't know who made it, but it was made with great skill and lots of tender loving care.
The best part of the day was seeing my cousins. There were lots of them there and it was good to reconnect with them. Why is it that oftentimes it take a funeral to get people together?? Whatever....it was good to see everyone. We left at 3:30 am, picked up Deb in Gilbert and it felt like we traveled all day long. We went to Animas/Cotton City, NM for the funeral then to Virden, NM for the burial. We traveled the southern route through Tucson going and we came home through Safford and Globe. It was a beautiful day, but very windy at the cemetery. We got home about 9:30 pm.

My favorite picture of the day we just happened on. It's of the M&M Hog Farm sign. It's on the side of the road in Cotton City and points you down Hog Farm Road, where the whole big operation used to be.


I took a picture of Grandpa and Grandma Mortensen's headstone while I was in Virden. This is the new one Uncle Beans had put there.

This is a picture of (from left to right) Aunt Dovetta, Jay's daughter, Jay Mortensen, Uncle Hal and Dad. Uncle Hal is the last of Mom's brothers who is still living. Her sister, Flora, (not at the funeral) is her only sister...and is still living.

Then this morning we went to the Mesa Temple to see Jodi marry her sweetheart, Phil Call. They are such a cute couple. After the wedding, we went to his parents' home for a luncheon. Yum! That's where the reception will be next Friday evening.
Mark worked a wedding reception for a family in our stake. It must be close to spring break and everyone wants to get married before so they can take their honeymoon during spring break.
Needless to say, this week has had both ends of the emotional spectrum. But it was all good and ended on a happy note.

Go Cardinals!

Miracle of miracles....the Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. Who would have guessed? We got to watch the game today as they beat the Philadelphia Eagles. The first half was great, the third quarter, not so good, but in the end, the red birds prevailed! We're looking forward now to two weeks down the road and the Super Bowl festivities (read family gathering/party!). We always have a Super Bowl family gathering, but this year will have an added twist and excitement.
The Trimbles came to dinner today....the others had other commitments and responsibilities. Erin made a yummy dip/spread for crackers. It's a Buffalo Chicken spread. It was a bit spicy, but very good. I'll have to get her recipe. It's a recipe she found at Trader Joe's. Gotta try out that place.
We didn't go to church today. Mark wasn't up to having a million questions like, "What happened to your face?" He's tried making up a story a time or two and it catches people off guard. He told some kids one day this week that we was attacked by a mountain lion. To others he said, "You should have seen the other guy!? We're hoping that by next week the wounds will be healed even more and be less conspicuous.
I've been working this weekend on my 7gypsies projects. They're coming along and I will be done by Wednesday...my deadline to have them back to Deb for the show. I'll post pics when they're finished.

Erin took pictures yesterday of Jodi and her new fiance, Phil Call. They're getting married in March. Aren't they a cute couple? I know Curt and Patti will have a couple of stressful, wonderful, memorable, exhausting months, but it will all be worth it.