MEMORIES OF GRANDMA WINONA GORDON

I was fifteen when Grandma Winona came into my life. We had just lost my Grandma LaVerne Gordon to cancer, and my Grandpa Stan Gordon seemed extremely lonely. He needed someone special. My mom was visiting teaching Winona Porter at the time and she was also single. She was living with her son and their family in Spanish Fork, and she was also one of my neighbors. I remember she was always dressed very nice and had her hair done up pretty and one of the sweetest people anyone could ever meet. When I heard that Mom set them up on a date it didn’t take long to see a change in my Grandpa. He was “twitter pated” with her. It didn’t take long for them to become engaged, and they were married civilly in the Las Vegas Temple in 1997.
I remember when she moved in to their home in Lehi thinking how neat it was that she collected antiques. The house was beautifully decorated. She had a wonderful sense of style and I loved being at their home. Not only did the house look different, but there was a new feeling to the home; a feeling of love, and most of all, a deeply spiritual feeling. Christ was everywhere in that home. It was the theme of the home even more then the antiques. I felt the spirit as strong in that home as I did any church at that time. It was amazing.
It didn’t take long or surprise me when Grandma and Grandpa were called on a mission to serve in the Las Vegas Temple. I was proud them for their willingness to serve. They served three other missions after that. One was on the Aberdeen Proving Grounds where she and Grandpa met my brother in law and his family. They helped Tyler come back to church and become active in the gospel again. Tyler and his wife Jessica were preparing to be sealed in the temple, and much of it was thanks to Grandma and Grandpa and their wonderful example.
I had many opportunities to spend time with them together. Every Memorial Day, I would go with Grandma and Grandpa Gordon to put out their flowers. I even helped them gather them up if they needed me to after the holiday. It was important to them to do this each and every year. I also introduced her to the Christmas Eve luminaries on the graves of our loved ones. I also had many opportunities to attend the temple with them. After our sessions we ate in the cafeteria. I enjoyed our times together.
After their missions, they were living in Cedar Hills in a new condo. It was every bit as spiritual and wonderful inside as their last home. I came to visit them quite often when I lived in Cedar Hills with them in 2007. This was around the time Grandma got her first round of cancer. The very idea that she had cancer shocked me because she was extremely health conscious. I worried what the cancer might do to her. Several times I went with Grandpa to visit his lovely wife in the hospital. On one occasion, I helped walk her down for some x-rays and got to have some one on one time with her. I remember Grandpa bringing her yellow roses (a happy color) and how it nearly brought her to tears. She was very strong and brave facing what had to have been her worst fear. I remember her testimony and faith that she could make it through. She never doubted that the Lord was not with her and trusted Him completely. I believe it was her positive thinking that helped her survive the first bit of cancer. It was a great day when I heard that she no longer had the disease in her.
I had the very special experience to be with her and Grandpa when they were sealed in the Mount Timponogus Temple as well. I had never attended a sealing other than my own before and it was amazing to be there. I was grateful to have been a part of it.
Grandpa slowly started to have health issues, and like the good wife that she was, she attended to his every need and loved him so much. I could tell it broke her heart to see him suffering with his back pain, and she helped him just as he had helped her when she had her cancer. In a lot of ways, I think she made Grandpa stronger and he lived a longer and happier life because of her.
When my Grandpa had the heart attack that sent him to the hospital that final time, I remember seeing her with tears pouring from her eyes as she saw me come to the hospital and we embraced. She encouraged me to talk to him, and all the while she stayed by him, rubbing his shoulders, and helping him in his time of need. She had amazing strength in what was a very difficult situation for everyone. Grandma called me after his passing and let me know how much my visit meant that that she felt he was waiting for me before he passed. Even though her husband had just passed away, Grandma turned to the Lord in the temple and the very next day we had our memorial session for him. I was blessed to be the only person on our side of the family who came to the temple that day with her and some Porter family.
After his passing, I got to know Grandma on a more personal level. No one seemed happier than she when I told her (before anyone else) that I was pregnant. I told her I believed that Grandpa had passed the message along when he returned to Heaven, and she fully agreed. She cried when I told her. She helped me have faith that Kaitlyn would be born, even when I called her on the phone to let her know I worried that our little unborn baby was in danger. Grandma helped me rely on Heavenly Father, and encouraged me to have faith and pray, receive blessings, and trust in Him. Grandma was diagnosed with cancer again by the time that I had Kaitlyn. Even though I know she was not feeling her best, Grandma came to see me on Mother’s Day 2010 to see the new baby Kaitlyn in the hospital. She was also there when Kaitlyn was blessed.
Grandma saw the good in people but more than that –-- she brought out the best in people as well. She made me want to be a better person. I hope that one day I can be much like her. I don’t think I ever heard her mutter one bad word about anyone, even when someone was cold to her. She only talked about the good in people and told me often how wonderful she thought I was. I wanted to be wonderful for her. I felt happy around her. I knew that I was in her prayers and she loved me and my family very much. Grandma Noni was one of a kind and an angel and I know that she is probably somewhere up in heaven wondering who she can do missionary work for. I love her so much and will miss her very much.
Grandma Gordon was one of the best people I will ever know.

Happiest Place on Earth

We had our first "official" family vacation Nov 4th - 8th. Oh sure, we've been to Hatch as a family every year, but it's not quite the same if you don't leave the state of Utah. Elle and I went to Las Vegas when she was eight months old, and Hawaii last summer, but our family was incomplete without Shayne being with us. Yep, this was our FIRST OFFICIAL FAMILY VACATION (with my parents, Evan, and Monyka in Mom and Dad's motor home). And - we did it on a dime. Even better!

We left the morning of the 4th. It was early and COLD. Freezing cold. And the motor home felt more cold. After filling up the RV with gas, we headed out for the long journey to Anaheim, California. Along the way, I attempted to learn to crochet. I had a book, "I Taught Myself to Crochet." It kept me busy. I am not even close to making ANYTHING though. Elle played some games, and everyone found things to do to pass the time. Poor Shayne passed the time being motion sick in the back of the RV. :(

Finally we were in California. It was the evening, so we spent much of the first night unpacking our things and setting up for bed. Elle,Shayne, Grandma, and Grandpa did squeeze in some time at the RV park pool, but we all had to get to bed early that night because the next day was DISNEYLAND!!! The next morning we woke up early and were off right at 8:30 a.m. on the shuttle for Disneyland. We met with Dad's buddy, Raliegh and his daughter (and who are really to thank for this entire vacation) to get our free tickets to the park. Raliegh's daughter works for Disneyland, and as a favor to her father and my dad got us seven free passes to Disneyland for two days.

The first day, we took Elle on a few rides. The first thing she went on was "The Haunted Mansion" that was decorated as "The Nightmare Before Christmas." I think this made her scared and un-trusting for the rest of the rides though. "Splash Mountain" that day also scared her. She was enjoying all the happy scenery and Zippadee Do Dah song, and it almost killed me when the song changed and she clung to me as we went over the waterfall. Grandma made it up to her though by taking her on "Peter Pan" and some of the rides in Storybook Land that she really liked. Shayne and I ordered kids meals that day to save money and I have to say..... THEY ARE GROSS. But - it's food (and didn't break the bank) and that's what mattered.

Second day, Elle started the day off wanting to get signatures from a few of the characters. We met Pluto, Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Sally and Jack, Minnie, Mickey, and Tinkerbell and her friend (that I don't know her name....). This was a HORRIBLE day for me. For some reason, my bowels were acting up and lets just say "I got to know where ALL the bathrooms were." I would say 50% of my day was spent in the restroom.

Shayne and I got some time together too when my Mom and Dad took the girls for about 4 hours. We made short list of things we wanted to do and went down the list with Evan and Monyka checking them off. Tower of Terror; check. Pirates of the Caribbean; check. 3D movie (Bugs Life); check. Splash Mountain; check.... it was a very fun time together. For lunch that day, we were SICK of eating disgusting expensive kids meals, and walked to a place that sounded better. Yes, even McDonald's sounded better at the time and it tasted like thanksgiving dinner when we all sat around and pigged out on the food and drank our several free refills. That night we met back with Mom and Dad and all together for the first time in the park watched some Disney shows, ate corn dogs, and saw the fireworks to end our Disneyland adventure. It was a blast.

Saturday, we were so tired from walking and excitement that sitting around sounded WONDERFUL. But- being in California for only a short time, we decided that we'd better go back to Disneyland and shop at their "no ticket needed" Downtown Disney stores. Shayne and I bought some Christmas ornaments, and Elle was thrilled to pick out a toy to take home as a souvenir. Later that night, with nothing to do, we went with Mom and Dad to Denny's.

Little Kaitlyn seemed to do better on the trip than I thought she would. She is only 6 months old so there was not a lot she could do. It seemed like I was always feeding and changing her (or worried that she wasn't sleeping enough or possibly dehydrated), but she was overall a very good baby like she always is. She even managed to go on two rides; "Peter Pan," and "Haunted Mansion." By the way - she didn't like either of them. Note taken; no babies on rides. She did however love the sights, and sounds, and being a part of the group. Grandma gave her a little Minnie Mouse that I know she will treasure always.

Then, the next day - like a dream - we woke up and our time in California was over. We had to leave and get back to Utah again. The ride home was a little different than the ride there. I think we were all worn out and probably not too thrilled to be leaving already. Elle had school the next day, I would be unpacking and doing load after load of laundry, and Shayne had to get back to job hunting. But it was nice going home and knowing that we had a much needed break from reality. It brought our family closer and we are very blessed to have friends and family that helped make this possible for us. Disneyland 2010 was a blast and I hope not the last time we will be going for years. We hope this will be the first of many more vacations for the Munns. ;)

Embracing the Halloween Season

We had a blast this Halloween. As a family, we had a joke that we were going to "embrace the Halloween season" and do everything as Halloween-ie as we could think of to celebrate. It made for a lot of memories and over 200 pictures! We started off the season with our first Halloween dinner early in the month, October 11. Evan, Monyka, Danny, and our little family gathered in our tiny dining room and ate "Monster Burgers" and "Jack-o-lantern Mac and Cheese." Everything looked awesome and tasted delicious! We had a couple of outings this year to the pumpkin patch. One on October 13th as a family (with Danny) to Jaker's where we had a blast picking out our pumpkin straight from the vine, going on a hayride, and watching Elle play in the "corn box," hay pyramid, hay maze, and petting zoo.

Elle rocked the stage at her Kindergarten Halloween Show October 26th. I was so proud to see her in front and center stage. She was so cute. I took some pictures and tape recorded most of the show. She looked adorable in her witches costume. Later that week on the 28th, I was a mother helper for her class Halloween party. I got to help the kids make a craft - little tissue paper sucker ghosts with googly eyes. I also helped pass out some cookies and help with a "mummy wrap" game done with toilet paper. Elle was so proud to have me in her class, and showed off her baby sister and Grandma too (who came to help). Now I am wishing I would have volunteered for more of her school activities.

After a conversation about our old Halloween traditions with our home teachers, we decided that we've been living here two years and it was time to bring out "the ghost." Shayne and I used to put out the ghost every year in front of a main window of our home a week or two before Halloween. Friends, neighbors, and strangers would pass and enjoy the ghost but being in a two bedroom home - if we were to put up the ghost it would be hanging over my head in bed in our room window. Well, since this might be the last Halloween here, sure enough I let Shayne hang the ghost over my head and we kept it there the full two weeks. I heard some comments about how "cool" it was, and that made everything worth it.

We also had the fun opportunity to go with Sarah C. and her girls to Hee Haw Farms Oct 15. We easily spent the day there and the girls had a blast. We enjoyed the corn maze, hay ride, and court yard activities they had. We met with Sarah and the family again on Friday the 22nd, where we carved our pumpkins. We always have our own "competition" to see who can carve the best pumpkin, but in the end I think we all ended up winners.

October 30th of course was the day Halloween was observed and we met again with Sarah, the girls, and Momma J for some fun Trunk or Treating to both of our wards and around a town in Springville. Watching the girls go door to door was the cutest thing I had ever seen. It was freezing cold (it literally snowed that day) but it didn't slow down the girls at all! They looked like they could have trick or treated all night. My favorite part of that day was when my sweetheart won the "Spiciest Chili Award" at our ward dinner. He put 18 long hours of cooking time into his chili, and I was thrilled when he won his Strawberry Shortcake apron! Way to go Shayne!

Kaitlyn was adorable this Halloween. She didn't seem to catch on too much of what was going on but she looked so sweet in the bumble bee costume and dressed as a sweet little lady bug both days. She also tasted her first little bit of sugar sucker and drank her first bits of water from a cup. Even though it was very cold outside, Kaitlyn seemed to like being in her stroller all nice and warm walking around town with us.

Halloween wasn't over yet though! October 31 was our second Halloween dinner with the Burrows/LaTurner family. It was a blast seeing what people brought for our pot luck; Elle and I made some "Potato Bugs" and "Feet Meatloaf." Evan and Monyka brought "Swamp Punch" and "Monster Bean Dip." Mom brought "Roll Mice," and everything looked and tasted WONDERFUL. We ended the night with some rounds of MONOPOLY DEAL (our family favorite game) and started planning our trip to California for the next week.

I definitely feel like we "embraced the Halloween season." Now that Halloween is over, we are looking back and glad that we did everything that we could to make it the best ever. This Halloween will be remembered forever.