The last 3 weeks have brought a lot of significant highlights.
- Underfoot's 1st Orchestra Concert
- Tucson Visit
- Hurricane's new retainer
- Glen Allen Hoggan's passing
- Christmas
- Locey Family Reunion in St. George, UT
- GAH's burial and memorial service in Salt Lake City, UT
- New Year's in Wyoming
- Return to every day life
Underfoot's Concert
Underfoot's concert was impressive! He dressed himself in his suit and a Santa hat. He practiced more just before the concert so he knew the music.
The
Orchestra director has been doing strings for 40+ years. She is so
positive and hopes that each one will continue in music. We talked about
the music Ted Talk as a family after the concert. Thanks to Aimee for introducing that video to us!
Underfoot's concert was impressive! He dressed himself in his suit and a Santa hat. He practiced more just before the concert so he knew the music.
Tucson Hiatus
Sweetheart's new company offered to fly him and his spouse to the Tucson Company Party. We talked about it and thought it would be a great way for our whole family to return to see friends. We bought tickets for the boys and only told the Earls family that we were coming. We didn't even tell the boys.
On the evening of our departure, we told the boys to get their shoes on and took the
packed bags to the airport. It wasn't until we were checking in our
luggage that the boys learned we were going to Tucson. They did a happy dance.
Sweetheart's new company offered to fly him and his spouse to the Tucson Company Party. We talked about it and thought it would be a great way for our whole family to return to see friends. We bought tickets for the boys and only told the Earls family that we were coming. We didn't even tell the boys.
We arrived at our hotel at 2 am.
Sweetheart went to work in Tucson the next day while the boys and I went to their
old school and the new school to see their friends. The reactions were
AWESOME! They had friends' mouths drop open. One even said she thought
she was hallucinating because she was seeing Underfoot. We learned that
children went home to tell their parents that they had seen Underfoot and Hurricane at school The parents responded that the Locey family
lives in Colorado now. We even got a few texts asking if we were in
town. So much fun!
Sweetheart and I went to the company
party, and Underfoot and Hurricane went to the Mount Fagan ward party. They yet
again confused people by being there. We had a lot of fun getting to
know people at Sweetheart's company. They recognized all the new hires,
rehires, retiring, and time based people. There was dancing and a photo
booth. We really enjoyed our date.
We spent the
weekend seeing friends, and the adults saw Rogue One while the boys saw
Moana. Sweetheart got bold and knocked on our old front door.
The new family shared with us oranges, tangerines, and lemons from the trees we planted.
We had such a wonderful time and could put some closure on our
rapid exit from Tucson.
Retainer
Hurricane's
front and bottom teeth touch. The dentist is concerned he will slip in
the snow/ice and break his front teeth. Originally we were going to have a
pallet expander but an easier option was to have a retainer. Hurricane has
been very responsible and has only lost it in our house.
Glen Allen Hoggan
When
my Grandpa answered the phone, he would say, "Glen Allen Hoggan here."
My Grandpa had a stroke on December 5. He was taken to the hospital and
treated by the ER staff and then the ICU staff. He wasn't getting
better. In fact, he started to decline more. His children came together
and discussed options. The decision was made to move him to hospice care
on December 20. On December 23, he passed away. My Grandma LeRae
passed away Easter weekend 2008. Grandpa Glen passed away at Christmas.
They loved the Savior Jesus Christ, and even though they didn't choose
the time of their passings, their deaths are marked by 2 significant
events in Jesus Christ's life. He wrote his own obituary which is here.
To celebrate his life, we had 2 of his favorite things - Bubble Up and Ding Dongs. Bubble Up is a precursor to Sprite.
Christmas
We spend Christmas Eve with Sweetheart's childhood friend's family, the DeMonbrum family. We laughed, played bingo, and the boys were spoiled by Miss Sharon. We had the chance to share our love of Jesus Christ through different faiths.
We spend Christmas Eve with Sweetheart's childhood friend's family, the DeMonbrum family. We laughed, played bingo, and the boys were spoiled by Miss Sharon. We had the chance to share our love of Jesus Christ through different faiths.
The Stable and Shepherds
The VERY full Inn
The 3 Kings
The boys were so excited to have the
3 Kings come that they wanted to be in bed by 6:30 pm. Unfortunately
for them, they had to help clean up the house and get packed for the Locey family reunion. They FINALLY got to bed at 8:30 pm. Hurricane
couldn't go to sleep and stayed up until 11 pm.
The 3
Kings did come with some modest gift, but they were tricky. Instead of
putting the gold, frankincense, and myrrh by the tree on the main floor
they moved the Jesse Christmas tree upstairs to the loft.
The treasure
hunt was on with the boys thinking the Kings had come to their room after exploring the downstairs. We
attended church and listened to beautiful music. Bishop Marchant shared a
messaged about joy taken from President Russell M. Nelson's talk in October.
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| Chocolate Waffles with Hot Sauce |
After
church we put Christmas away. We have been learning about Hanukkah and
had latkes for supper. We were reminded how the Maccabees defended their
desire to worship God and how we need to share and stand for our
witness that we believe in God.
Locey Family Reunion
The
reunion was different this year. Sweetheart had invited his siblings and
parents to read The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. By Thanksgiving
some of them had read it and started a discussion when they were
together in Utah. Sweetheart, with some encouragement from his sister Merris, made
arrangements for a 90 minute counseling session.
Suffice it to say they
came out feeling hope that they could be better siblings, parents, and
spouses.
One of the adventures we did was to go to
Sugarloaf. Sugarloaf has DIXIE written on it. My great-great Grandfather
carved his name in the sandstone when was working on the St. George
temple in the 1870s.
We found his name carved in the rock. We were
really happy we found it after walking around most the rock.
Sweetheart also wanted to go the Fiesta Fun Center and drive the go-carts. He drove
them a lot. We did one round of miniature golf. By an unfortunate swing,
I got clipped in the chin. The club swinger felt awful. He was
forgiven, and we moved forward. The highlight was doing lazar tag with
all the Locey family in attendance.
GAH Burial and Memorial
Colonel
Hoggan was buried with military honors. Before his death, he discussed
who would receive the flag from his casket. He vacillated on the recipient until he had a
brilliant idea to buy 5 additional flags so each of his children would
be a recipient. The military honor guard were outstanding. The Colonel
who came to give the flags went to each sibling and thanked them for
Grandpa's service. One of the honor guard stayed until every family
member had left.
Grandpa Glen was a little progressive. He
listed all of his grandchildren as pallbearers even the women. By
assignment some women carried the casket.
Uncle Sterling
conducted at the graveside happenings. He gave the opportunity for anyone to speak.
Many shared how Grandpa's positive attitude and tenacity had inspired
them.
My Grandpa would use the phrase "Goodbye unto you" when you
would leave his home then he along with my Grandma LeRae would follow
you outside and salute you until you left. We reciprocated with a salute
and the farewell bidding of "Goodbye unto you."
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| This cousin led the salute and "Goodbye unto you." |
We even left a Ding Dong in the vault.
After
the cemetery we went to his house to pick treasures. My Grandpa used a
green foot locker and called it the treasure box. Every time you went
you could pick a treasure. Grandchildren were allowed to pick whatever
treasure(s) didn't have a name on it. My Grandpa growing up had 2 pairs of
overalls (one for church and one for every day) and a shoe box of
treasures. The comment was made repeatedly that he worked so his
posterity could pick treasures. Cousins shared memories, and we had fun.
Saturday
was the memorial service, and it was magnificent! Grandpa Glen's sisters'
families and Grandma LeRae's brothers and their families came. The Hoggan
siblings were awed at the people that came to celebrate with them. Uncle
Shaun spoke in the words of his mother how much she loved him. Uncle Shaun shared the following attributes: creative, good clean sense of humor, dependable, reliable, hard worker, and thoughtful. He shared the story of the example of Grandpa Frank, Glen's Dad. Grandpa Frank would visit his deceased wife's mother during the depression and secretly put a silver $1 in her cup in the kitchen before they would leave. Grandpa Frank was thoughtful of his mother-in-law, Grandma Pete, when his salary was only $60 per month.
Uncle David shared the he would rather see a sermon than hear one any day.
He shared multiple examples of the service given by his Dad and how he
hoped to continue to give service.
The grandchildren sang "I Know that My
Redeemer Lives." When my Grandpa Glen was a teenager, he sang that hymn in a
quartet. He sang the 3rd verse. The other boys sang and
then my Grandpa. They were laughing so hard by the end of the 3rd
verse that the last boy didn't sing the 4th verse. The grandsons sang the 3rd
verse. Those young men were awesome!
My Mom spoke about Hogan's Heroes, a 1965
television series. She said she knew who the real Colonel Hoggan was instead of the television actor,
and that Glen Hoggan didn't see himself as a hero. He shared his testimony of the
Savior by going about doing service quietly. His life's mantra was
"Lives Dedicated to Service."
The stake president shared that he first noticed
my Grandpa at the temple was when Grandpa went and thanked the
organist for playing such lovely music. The idea was new to this man to thank the
"help" at the temple. He witnessed that my Grandpa cared for the
individual.
We had such fun associating with Cousins, Aunts, and Uncles. We ate together afterward and shared more memories.
On
Friday night, my brother Scott suggested that we go as adults and eat
dinner at the best restaurant in SLC together as siblings.
We called our
sister, Katie, and shared the day with her. We missed seeing her but
know that traveling with a newborn and 2 other children is stressful.
The best for us Kirkhams is fish, and it was good. Our parents joined
us, and we had a wonderful evening!
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| Oyster Love |
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| Jill is not so sure about the oysters. |
New Year's in Wyoming
Part
of my treasures necessitated that we rent a u-haul to bring back a
trunk and chairs. We learned after an highway patrolman pulled us over
that the running lights on the trailer weren't working. He gave us a
warning and asked that we drive with our emergency lights on. My Grandpa
liked to give away knives, and we had few knives in our treasures. Underfoot gave the officer a
knife, and he gave the boys bicycle license plates. We arrived at the
hotel and watched the NY ball drop, ate ice cream bites, and drank a
little soda to salute the New Year!
Return to every day life
We
have returned to work, school, and home life. We've unpacked,
laundered, and made goals. Last night we followed through with our
family tradition of New Year's bowling.
It was the nicest bowling alley
we've ever been. It opened only 6 days ago so the shoes haven't been broke
in yet.
We hope you are well, and your challenges are
manageable. We are grateful for the cards we received through the
holidays. If you have a chance, drop us a line so we know how you are
doing.
Be Well.
*****
Chucho
Utah State Capital
Fresh Donuts for the Locey Family Reunion
Hot Chocolate at Frost in Tucson
Mint Chocolate Milkshake
Our Jesse Tree - The one the 3 Kings moved.
Our friends, the Ryans, came from Vegas to visit at the reunion.
Salt Lake Temple
