Memories of Grandpa Stan Gordon Oct 30, 1931 - Aug 13, 2009

As early as I can remember, Grandpa was always the “go to guy.” Grandpa could fix anything. I always thought this was a neat thing about him. He was the man that I would go to when I needed patches on my bike tires and even taught me how. I remember him helping with repairs on our house, cars, and he was also a huge help when my father was dying from brain cancer. He was a support to my mom, and role model for the kids. He was a gentle but firm man and we loved him so much for everything he did for us during that difficult time.

Some of my happiest childhood memories have my Grandpa in them. I loved camping as a kid with Grandpa and Grandma LaVerne Gordon. We would ride over to Mount Pleasant or Coalville and stay in their trailer with them a few times during the summer. It was the highlight of the season. We loved to swim, explore, and most of all – FISH. Grandpa was quite the fisherman. Even as early as four, Grandpa took me out on the boat with Sarah and I caught my first fish. He was very proud of us when we caught something. After a good catch, the next day I remember Grandpa frying the trout with a little lemon pepper for a wonderful meal.

I remember him liking the taste of burnt peanut butter cookies, and we would laugh when we burned some “just for Grandpa.” I was also proud as a kid telling all my friends he was once Lehi Fire Chief. I have to smile when I think of him driving his red Ford pickup truck. I found that truck to be very fitting of him to drive since he was once a fireman. It was like he was driving a real fire truck!

Grandpa was also the stand in father figure the two years between my Dad’s passing, and my Mom getting remarried. Grandpa was the person to baptize me a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when I was eight years old because my Father was physically unable to at the time. He also took me to a Daddy Daughter Date when I was nine years old. I remember telling him that one of the activities was putting the dad’s (in my case, Grandpa) behind a sheet with only their foot sticking out and we would have to guess which foot belonged to who. I studied Grandpa’s feet before the contest to make sure I would know the foot, but Grandpa told me that he would cut a little chip out of his big toe and that’s how I would know for sure. I probably didn’t need the chip in the toenail to know his foot – but we got the right guess and I was very happy. I felt proud to have him as my date that day.

As I got older, and my Grandma LaVerne Gordon passed away, I started to see another side of my Grandpa. When he married Grandma Winona Gordon, she helped bring out a very spiritual side of him. I loved hearing his prayers especially. They were very heartfelt, and thoughtful. He specifically prayed for individuals who needed them, and took time to express his gratitude for the Lord and the things in his life he had been blessed with.

I also thought it was so great that he had the wonderful experience to serve four missions for the church. He and Grandma Noni were such great examples for the family as they faithfully served. I’ll never forget the day that he and my Grandma Noni were sealed in the temple with a room full of family. I had the experience to go with Grandma and Grandpa a few times to the temple and I always felt their spirit so strong when we were together. I looked forward to these moments with them, and wished that I could have gone more regularly with them.

Grandpa and I had some great visits when Grandma Noni was battling her own illness. During these difficult times, we had moments where we could be together in support of her. I remember him driving to the hospital daily to see her and be by her side. He picked me up a couple to times to tag along and visit. I enjoyed our lunches and the one on one moments we shared.

Even with all of his challenges during the end of his life on earth, I seldom heard Grandpa complain. I would ask, “How are you doing Grandpa?” To which he would always reply with a smile in his voice, “Pretty good for the shape I’m in.” I know he had his bad days, but he was very brave, and held a strong face even through the pain I know he was feeling. Grandpa and Grandma were very supportive of our family and I was always happy to see them when they would come to Halloween party or a little birthday party we were having.

I feel blessed to have been at the hospital before his passing. Grandma Noni was talking to him so lovingly, and trying to make him more comfortable. I remember rubbing his arms and neck while recalling memories with him. I saw some of his last smiles, and heard his last words. As I talked, I noticed his heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and most things on his monitors improved. During my talking, Grandpa fell into a deep sleep, almost like I was telling a bedtime story. I like to think he fell asleep during a happy memory and his last moments awake were pleasant ones. I remember telling him in his ear “Grandpa, I love you,” and with tears in my eyes leaving the ICU only to find out only minutes later he passed away.

Grandpa – we love you so much. Thank you for everything you did for our family. You have always been a role model and inspiration to me. You will be missed!

Six Year Anniversary

August 7th, 2003.

10:00 pm. After a night of decorating for our reception, and a brief stop to Maverick to get some soda and a sandwich, I headed home to my nearly empty apartment to get ready for the following day. My wedding day. I took a bath, made sure my honeymoon suitcase was packed, my dress was laid out, hair things were packed away, and I attempted to sleep. I knew I would be content with only a few hours of rest. I wasn't nervous about marrying Shayne. I had no doubt that I was marrying the right person. I was more anxious about how I wanted things to go for my very big and special day.

FLASH BACK - two weeks BEFORE wedding.

"Laura, I'm so sorry to have to do this to you, but with the new changes in plans I'm afraid I will have to refund your deposit, and walk away from this wedding. " Famous last words of my wedding planner from Unforgettable Weddings of Utah. What he really should have said is "Laura, your wedding is not making me enough money, and it's not worth it to me even though we have been planning your wedding since February."

I was devastated. Very tearful, anxious, and upset. The thought of making all the arrangements with only two weeks notice was too much to bear. I was working full time for Payless Shoe Source, and had very little time for the HUGE task ahead. My invitations were out. The temple reservation was made many months in advance I felt I had no choice but to be strong and try to make my wedding everything I imagined it would be.

Luckily for me, Diamond Rentals took care of most of my wishes. Tables, table cloths, chairs, and most anything I needed were there and available for that Friday. My mother in law, sister in law, and myself stayed up late one night making center pieces for the tables. A co-worker's sister could do flowers, and all the rest was just icing on the cake. It wasn't easy, but everything came together, and for much cheaper than Unforgettable Weddings could have done. It made me wonder why I thought we needed seven months to plan for it when it all came together in two weeks.

August 8, 2003.

5:00 am. I woke up and grabbed the diet coke I bought the night before to help me wake up. After a quick shower, and grabbing my things I needed- I whispered to myself "this is it. Getting married today."

7:00 am. I met at my parent's house in Spanish Fork to get my hair done by my close friend and co-worker at Payless. It took us three hours to get my hair as curly as we wanted it.

10:00 am. I was starting to wonder what Shayne was doing, and how he was feeling about this big day. My family was awake and bustling, and I could feel the excitement in the air as we all rushed to do our last minute things. As fixed some decorations, I knew we should be leaving now if we were to make it to the temple on time. I was told by temple workers to arrive two hours before our wedding time at 1:00 p.m.

11:00 - Just leaving the house. I was getting nervous to arrive to the temple so late, but didn't decline the offer the stop at McDonald's on the way over to get the Quarter Pounder which I felt was craving and it being my special day I felt like it was deserved and enjoyed every bite.

12:15 - Finally, we were where we were supposed to be. As I walked in the temple doors, I could see to my left a waiting room full of familiar faces - family anxious for us to be married. I also saw Shayne up ahead. Man, he looked good! I didn't picture it being this way.... somehow I thought it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, but this being a temple wedding things were different. I looked at him differently right then realizing - "wow - I'm spending Eternity with this man." It was a happy thought though.

1:00 - "We don't have time to lace up your dress," the temple worker said. I guess having 160 other brides that day, and my being VERY late, was starting to hurt me. "Mom - please, will you help me lace up my dress! I can't go out like this, even if no one will see it." My mom was the biggest help to me that day. She laced as fast as she could, and my dress was finally perfect.

1:30 - This part was a blur. Everyone was rushing me so fast. I only remember walking up some stairs and seeing Grandpa Underwood and Shayne at the top and Grandpa brushed us by quickly about what was going to happen. Just as we were walking in, we realized in the rush, we had forgotten the part where I give Shayne my name through the veil and made another short stop to the veil to do so.

1:45 - SHOW TIME. "Do you want to be married to Shayne? YES. Do you want to be married to Laura. YES. Well, your married!" Just kidding - but sorta how my wedding felt to have happened. It was rushed like the rest of my morning - however still very special and the most sacred part of the day.

After a very very FAST wedding, barely having enough time to cry, Shayne and I kissed and became man and wife - sealed for time and all eternity. We hugged our family that was present, and even so soon after being married went our separate ways to get dressed into our more formal accessories and attire.

2:30 - As I walked down the hall of the temple I remember scanning the rooms looking for my new husband. I guess I imagined it was going to different - that we would be together in the temple a while, and to be apart so soon was weird to me. It felt much like nothing had changed.

The moment I saw him however I knew I was quite wrong. Things had changed. He was sitting on a chair waiting for his bride, and when he saw me he looked up and smiled. I looked at him in his tux and tails (which he looked so handsome in!), and had to keep telling myself in my head, "wow - I'm really married. I'm a married woman. This is my husband. I'm married..."

LATER

Before the wedding, I was so concerned about the reception and if it would go smoothly. However, now that I was married, none of that seemed as important anymore. It was all being taken care of. I did get a little upset when I realized that half way through our pictures I had forgotten to hand out flowers, but it didn't let it spoil my day. Even the rain sprinkles and the sudden need to move some of our tables didn't phase me. I met dozens of people, many that I hadn't met before and some that I hadn't seen in years. I felt the happiness of the moment.

The night went on. Finally our last guest left, and the feeling of "I guess we should go" set in. It was all over, and yet so much was about to begin. I took my suitcase, and after a hug to my Mom and Dad, my husband and I got in our very decorated car and drove away.

Even now, six years later and after all the things that we have experienced both good and bad, I am so happy when I remember that day. Happy with my choice in a husband, and I feel extreme happiness when I think of our future together. We have one beautiful daughter, we hope to have at least two more children, and with Shayne going to school we know we have so much to be grateful for and excited about. I feel blessed when I think of him, and our life together, and although it hasn't always been easy I love him so much and STILL want to spend Eternity with him.

Yesterday, as we walked on our temple grounds holding hands and talking about the memories of that day, I felt that same calm feeling I remember having six years ago. I looked at him again, and had to pinch myself at how lucky I know I am that we have each other, and we are a happy family.

Shayne, you are the love of my life - I love you today, tomorrow, always. Thank you for marrying me. Happy Anniversary!

Hatch.... The Center of the Universe.

Every year, our family has made is a fun tradition to head down south to a small city who's motto to travelers passing through might as well be "blink, and you'll miss it." Hatch, Utah, near Bryce Canyon and Panguitch is where my father's side of the family are from and every year we head down around the 24th of July for a family reunion and to enjoy the pleasure of our families company.

PIONEER DAY

This year was a memorable year for the Munn family. For the first time, Ellie got to participate in the Hatch local parade. Ellie looked like Miss Hatch USA riding on a ATV with her Great Grandpa Burrows that I decorated in red, white, and blue. Ellie was smiling and waving at all the people as she rode past. After the parade (which lasted about 2 minutes!), we went with Grandma Tubbs and played games at the town square, and later enjoyed a delicious town meal and amazing fireworks. I even found sparklers at a little store to make the night even more magical.

LOTS OF FINE FISHIN'


One thing we particularly looked forward to in Hatch was to enjoy all the "easy fishing" in their streams. Grandpa Tubbs made it sound so easy when he said, "we caught our limit in only a couple hours." One person went out once in the morning and caught their limit, and when out again later and caught their limit again. I knew it had to be true when a group of young children carried home a string of fish they had just caught that morning.

We set out early that morning, and Grandpa Burrows helped us pick the right spinners for the job. We found a place at a river, and started to cast out. Two of three times Grandpa B cast out, he caught a fish. Well.... he must be doing something different because we must have cast out 200 times each and didn't catch anything. Evan and Monyka caught small anchovy type fish being only about four inches long, which was the highlight of our fishing... Ellie even got to hold the fish up, and hold it for a while before they threw it back into the water. So, despite what they say, the fishing down in Hatch isn't as easy as it sounded. I hope next year to figure out what we did wrong!

ATV RIDIN'

One of the main attractions in Hatch is all the ATV riding we do. We love to ride up into the beautiful Proctor Canyon every year and really enjoy learning about the land and history of Hatch as told by Grandpa B. He seems to show us new routes every year, but we always hit the usual sights and stops along the way as well.

One of our stops, is to a group of very large ant hills. Grandpa likes to poke the ant hills with sticks because "they looked bored, and that'll keep 'em busy." We also ride past some very neat perfectly round stones made from sand. We call them Indian marbles. This year we went a little further on our trail than I remember in years past when we went a place you can hike and see an arch in the beautiful orange and red rock. It was a really breathtaking sight looking down at the land below us. Before heading home, we cool down at a fresh water spring, and shoot Grandpa's 22.

A few of us found horneytoads along the way, and Ellie loved the chance to hold them and pet their spikey backs. Uncle Brett even found a little frog. Ellie was hilarious to ride with too. Shayne said that the whole time she would say "WOO HOO!!!" as they rode fast along the trail.

FAMILY

Even with all these fun activities, the main reason we come to Hatch is to spend time with all the family that still gather there. My Grandma Tubbs grew up in the small town and some of our family, the Evans, still live there. Many of my relatives played big roles in the town history, and donated items to the local DUP museaum. Walking through the Museam makes me feel like I'm learning pieces of my family history. I even found a chair this year with my maiden name on it - the chair that belonged to my Great Grandmother Laura Burrows.

We also have a small family reunion while we are down there every year. This year they asked each family present to mention something that happened over the past year, and it was neat to learn about their lives on a more personal level. We have to laugh because the reunion is during the rain every year, but even still we have a great time just being together.

SEE YA NEXT TIME

Leaving Hatch is always bitter-sweet. Usually we are ready to leave but sad to go and excited for next year at the same time. The drive home is one usually filled with talk about our trip, and the fun that we had. Until next time, we have some awesome memeories and beautiful fun pictures to look at and enjoy. We love Hatch.