Memories that shaped the man.

Yesterday was memorial day and so this past weekend B and I decided it was time to go down memory lane and visit Leamington.  I haven't been back since my grandparents passed away and to be honest wasn't sure if I ever would go back to this little desert town in the mountains that still holds so many memories for me.  As we wound through the canyon under the cement factory and past the pioneer charcoal pits my soul seemed to want to go back in time.  Although I was driving with my wife and kids my minds eye caught flashes of riding in the back of my grandpa's truck down to the local store, now just a boarded up decaying building, I saw myself jumping from the banks of the river into the current below to laughter and jeers.  I saw myself flirting under the white bleachers during the Leamerado Days Rodeo and carrying various jellos' and salads from the kitchen surrounded by women that I loved and looked up to.  I saw myself leaping from the tops of sand dunes to sink into the cool sand below and eating lunch that my grandma lovingly prepared in her bushel basket carryall.  I saw walking through the fields my hands outstretched to feel the alfalfa as it brushed by.  I saw the terrific thunderstorms that raged across the farms that crisscrossed this little valley and feel the electricity in the air.  I saw a family gathered on my grandparents back porch in the heat of the summer air as hummingbirds danced above our heads.  I saw a boy who grew up to be a man in the shadow of some great people who knew the simple truths and what was really important.

We drove by my grandparents house with all the memories that it held and realized that now it was playing it's part in someone else's life.  Loving another family and creating memories that they will carry with them for a lifetime but as I slowed the car for one good look I knew that the house hadn't forgotten my grandparents and it seemed to call out to me that it never would but would stand as a testament to who they were.  I said a silent thank you and goodbye.

We then headed to my aunt Lori's house in Delta.  Lori had done some remodeling and we wanted to see the house and visit with her.  Lori looks the most like my mom and has the same sense of humor so in a way it was like going home.  We spent a few hours there and Sophie got to be friends with my cousin Maci's son Bladen who was happy to give her a ride on the back of his four-wheeler which she loved!

We then drove back to Leamington as it was on our way home with Lori and Craig following us to visit my grandparents grave.  Now Lori prepared B as to what the tradition was in Leamington for memorial day because unlike other cemeteries where you carry flowers and set them on the grave in Leamington you bring your shovels, rakes and hoes because it is more like a ghost town graveyard then a cemetery.  We filled in the snake holes and leveled the graves and tried to show Grandma and Grandpa that we will never forget them!  It seemed fitting that above my Grandpa's grave the wild yellow rose bush was in bloom as it was one of his favorite flowers. 

 

 It is sad that my girls will never know them but they will have a constant reminder in my mom and day and myself of who they were.

Lori and my aunt Julie posed behind the grave blowing my mom a kiss. 

As I left Leamington I honked my horn twice as is my family tradition.  Once for my Grandpa and once for my Grandma.

On Monday, the actual memorial day, B and I decided it was time to tackle our new garden.  We got our rototiller back from the shop and I set out to till the garden.  I started up the rototiller and started pushing.  I shoved and cursed and shoved some more.  I had done about one row and yelled to B who was weeding near by that I remembered this cursed thing pulling itself what was wrong.  She shrugged and said I don't know what to tell you.  After I had come around the bend and was full on pushing with all my might B asked if it was now working on its own and I snapped back "Does it look like I am not straining to push this &*$# tiller" as sweat poured down my face and I continued shouting that I am going to call someone to come and till this *$#% garden in the future"...it was at this point that B walked up to me and said "maybe if you try holding that handle up it will work"  I sheepishly looked and sure enough there was a lower handle and upon lifting it the tiller purred forward on it's own accord.  Lesson learned...what lesson I don't know but lesson learned all the same.  To be fair B had her meltdown later and loudly declared "It is probably because I'm PMSing" only to turn around and see our neighbor working in her garden not 20 feet away and I was there to calm her fears and laugh at her awkwardness as a good husband should.  

On a completely separate note...cross your fingers for me this week.  I have two final interviews for two jobs that I would love.  One at the University of Utah School of Nursing and one for Google.  I am extremely nervous but strongly feel that one if not both of these positions will pan out for me.  It is amazing that the Lord can offer such peace and surety after so much confusion and doubt.  I am moving forth with the faith that I now posses that the Lord is opening up windows and throwing open the doors.  I know we are blessed because of my parents service in Serbia and how grateful I am for them.  We recently had Stake Conference and had several speakers talk about the need for Senior Missionaries and how missionary work is moving forward at a fast pace.  Elder Holland in a recent statement about missionary work stated that "God is hastening His work" and you can feel it.  You can feel that the battle is looming and the Lord is calling his laborers to the vineyard this one last time as stated in Jacob 5:62 "Wherefore, let us go and labor with our might this one last time for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is the last time that I shall prune my vineyard".  I can't tell you how proud I am of my parents and their decision to follow the Lords call and serve a mission.  I am one lucky son!