What a great weekend. So many great things to be thankful for.

Thursday night my dad flew in. His plan was late, and then he went over to my aunt's house to go over some of the funeral plans- so I didn't really get to see him much till Friday.

Friday my brother came in. He went straight to Brighton to hit a half day there- and my dad went up to join him. Friday night my sister Sera and step-mom Shaun came in. By late Friday night we had everyone here. Saturday was the funeral. There was a viewing, family prayer, funeral, internment, and luncheon. Everything was done very nice. It was so neat to see SO MUCH family there. Though about 80% of the family is here in Utah already, we don't all get together like that very often, and others came from Oregon, Washington, California, and Arisona. It was a huge testament to the blessings of great posterity that my grandma always wanted. We all cried; but there really was a great sense of peace and happiness as well. Peace in knowing she was now with her mother and other family members. Happiness for an occasion for all of us together. Joy in those family ties that bond us all together, and knowing we will see her again.

Saturday evening we were pretty exhausted. So we ordered take out and rented Amazing Grace (good film) for a relaxing evening together.

Yesterday we left the boys here with my family while Jake and I went to stake conference together. Wow. It was so nice to sit snuggled together and listen to the talks! I forgot how inspiring moments like that can be! We were very thankful we didn't have to wrestle the two boys for two hours in the AF Tabernacle.

Sunday evening we went to Shuan's brother's house in Sandy to celebrate her mother Marie's birthday with her. Marie was cute saying that she kept thanking Mary (my grandma) for bringing her so much family to celebrate her birthday with her.

Its really just been so nice to have everyone together. Sera is so cute with the boys- I can't believe how much she's grown up! She's 14 now, and we're already making plans for her to come up and stay a couple weeks with us this summer. My brother Brian LOVES to be the big brother- always poking and bugging- but in a very loving way. He's up at Brighton with a friend today- and I hope he's loving it.

Its been real sweet to see my dad open up and be so vulnerable. He really loved his mom. I'm glad he was able to come out and have some special moments with her just a month or two ago.

I really can't put into words all the blessings of this weekend. That's why I didn't try to list or number them out. It's just been a sweet spirit that's accompanied us during this time together. As we heard the news of President Hinkley's passing yesterday my prayers are with his family that the same spirit may be with them. I'm so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and that it allows us to have an eternal perspective when we lose those we love and admire so much.