Grandma Bees

Nita Jean Beesley, 1929 - 2009

This year on August 16th I didn't get to hear Gramda's sweet voice singing "Happy Birthday" over the phone. She always called on my birthday; in fact she never missed any of her 6 children's, 16 grandchildren's, or 12 great-grandchildren's birthdays. Instead my mom & dad showed up at my door after church to tell me what had happened. Our family's so big chances are that she would go on someone's birthday and she must have known I wouldn't take it personally! Grandma had sat down on the stand before church and put her head in her hands, waiting for the meeting to start. But when the music began, she didn't get up to lead it.

It's an odd feeling I have about the whole thing; I almost feel bad about how I don't really feel very sad. Grandma was always talking about Grandpa so much that as soon as I heard I immediately imagined her in a young, vibrant and spunky spirit body getting all giddy when she sees him again. Knowing how much she loves Grandpa makes me all sappy and sets an example for eternal marriage and what I should be doing now to strengthen mine. She would talk about how her body was getting old & slow but her mind was still young & active, always wanting to learn more. I think about how she's not limited by her slow body anymore and that she must be jumping at the chance to go to work with Grandpa. She's always worrying about everyone else & finally she's done something for herself (whether she meant to or not). She's a great example of the Atonement to me - she was humble & often admitted things that she could improve about herself. She knew she wasn't perfect but death didn't scare her. Yes, I'll miss her temporarily but I'm also so excited for her.

The funeral service on August 22nd was wonderful, filled with fond memories and stories from friends & family. One thing that I enjoyed hearing was that when Grandpa died 20 years ago someone offered sympathy to Grandma and that she said that she was not sorry - she was excited for Stan because it was "like he had graduated." I think that explains nicely how I feel about Grandma. She was good with words. Thank you to everyone who has sent their sympathy and encouragement to my family.

It was fun to catch up with many family members whom I hadn't seen in too long. We had fun singing together & playing games late into the night.

I had the opportunity to help make the program for the service. I had fun spending many hours scanning in all of the old pictures we had collected of Grandma. She seems to have had such an exciting life, but I think it was what she made of it. Here are some of my favorites.

a beauty at 13

scandalous!

this is how I'll remember her

Family Vacation 2009 - Part One

On Wednesday, July 22nd we left home at 7pm & drove to Las Vegas. There was rain & lightning all through the desert which looked spectacular over the city lights.

We stayed on the 29th floor (of 30) at the Luxor pyramid overlooking the Excalibur - good typical room, nothing to write home about.

Thursday morning we barely left the room by check-out time. We drove down the strip & headed for Grandma & Grandpa's house. We arrived around 8pm & visited for a while.

Friday morning we went on a drink run with Grandma & Grandpa - a 6 day per week ritual for them. We went to TJMaxx & picked out some footie pajamas for Brody ('cause I just had to have more - look how fun...)

& Great-grandma got him this super-cute book.

We had lunch with my friend Kathy at Cafe Rio (yum!)

and then went back to Grandma & Grandpa's where we took Brody swimming for the 1st time.

We could only find little swimmers in size 16 lbs & up so we had to improvise with duct tape. Here's our little sumo kid.

Brody didn't know quite what to think of the water. He loves bath time but this water wasn't as warm & it was twilight out so it wasn't even hot outside. He didn't cry for more than a second, though.

On Saturday we went with cousins Brooke & Brandon to Utah Olympic Park at Park City. They were having the Festival of Flight.

We saw the K120 Long Jump contest & my favorite was the Flying Ace All-Stars. We video taped the show. I love my little Canon point & shoot. Check it out:

Family Vacation 2009 - Part Two

On Sunday we went to church & then Grandma cooked a yummy dinner & had the cousins over. Brooke & Brandon announced they're prego!

Grandma & Grandpa Sorensen

Brody with 2nd cousin Auree

On Monday Justin, Brody & I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. I really enjoyed all of the beautiful artwork depicting the life of the Savior, some of which I had never seen before. Watch: Why Mormons Build Temples.

Tuesday was a looong drive home. We brought Auree down to visit her dad. She likes to talk! We left at 12:45 pm & after eating at Cracker Barrel in St. George & several stops to calm Brody who was screaming, we got in at 1:30 am. From the experience Auree decided that she's not having kids.

Brody's Blessing

Brody's baby blessing was July 5th. It was very nice. Justin blessed him & Grandpa Beesley, Neil Galyans Sr & Jr, & Don Stapp stood in the circle. Justin got teary & when he sat back down he said, 'I'm such a woos." After church Justin ran in & took off his church clothes before I could get a picture of him & Brody together so I waited one more week before I took any pics. Brody's growing so fast - I'm sure glad he still fit in his clothes. Later that evening we had my family over for burgers.

July 4th

The 3rd & 4th felt like the last few hours of Extreme Home Makeover. We wanted to have a party but really didn't have the seating space so Justin ran around like crazy trying to finish some things around the house. He finished grouting the floor in the living room 2 hours before our guests arrived & had just enough time to move in the tv & some couches & call it good. I love the floor - it's so pretty! And I love having a distinct living room and dining room.

Justin made a slip & slide in the back yard & Alex, Andrew, Sam & Sierra had a blast with it. The next day Sam & Sierra decided that their bodies were much less forgiving than when they were 12 & that maybe they'd seen the end of their slip'n'sliding days. Since I haven't been photographing much these days I forget things when I get out my camera - really basic things like checking the film speed. So, these pics are horrible quality.

For dinner we had a Chinese potluck. Odd, yes? It was wonderful. Stephanie made wontons, Justin made Oriental beef, orange chicken and postickers, Sam brought Chinese sausage & long beans, & Jessica brought ice cream & fixings for dessert... yum! Our neigbor Don & some of Jessica's friends joined us & we had a great time.

Everyone walked down the street to the park to watch the BC fireworks. Before the show started some intelligent guy thought it would be a good idea to light a firework in the middle of the park... on the grass... that really heated things up. Just as the finale began the sprinklers came on & everone in the park was screaming & running around. As you can see the kids had fun lighting our own fireworks in front of our house. Here's Alex's fire dance.

I love this little guy

This video was taken at 2am. I had been trying to get him to sleep for hours & I changed his diaper & he started smiling & cooing at me. He fights sleep to stay up & play. Last night every time he woke up to eat & I changed his diaper he made the biggest smiles at me. It was the hardest thing to keep a straight face, I wanted to bust up laughing. If he gets too excited it's a fight to try to get him back to sleep.

Brody's New Trick