Oh the extended family :)

We got Mike buried yesterday. The service was so nice. I was surprised how much touched me. It was a whole lot harder than I had ever anticipated, I cried a lot....I think more than Dad. Mike looked more peaceful and and healthy than I had seen him. He was really thin, but not to thin - looked like he did in highschool, just grayer and a few lines on his face. Carl had the hardest job by doing his life history, but did a wonderful job. Paul did the family prayer, Terry did the opening prayer and Kenny did the closing prayers. I was so proud of them. Paul has truely taken over being the leader of those boys. He has taken care of his dad and of business for Mike and the boys through this whole situation. Olivia could call on Paul for help any time and he would be off to help.

We were able to spend time with cousins and aunts and uncles that a lot older than us. It is amazing how age just disappears after you all grow up. Aunt Thelma's age is showing and you can't help but wonder how long she will be with us. We saw cousins we had never met that were there to support us and cousins who didn't recognize me that made me laugh. I heard stories about us kids of when we were little. Friends we grew up with that I had to ask who they were because I wasn't sure who they were. I guess that's what happens when you don't come home more often than 6 years in between.

We drove around the old haunts and checked them out. Mom & Dad's house looked really good and pretty much the same. Ririe hasn't changed much except Brown's grocery is closed and that left no where to go in and check out for Mallownut bars. Marverick stores are still the same with the pink frosted cookies, and doughnuts that are almost as good as Krispy Kreme's.

Joe, Janet, Carl and I, along with our spouses and Barry, Kendi, Renee, Neal and the other kids could sit forever and talk and laugh about everything under the sun. Carl still needs to be right and be the loudest. We all complain that we don't get together enough, but we don't do anything about it. Joe and Janet were sure to get into a tiff to keep things normal and I can roll my eyes with the best of them when Carl is positive he is right.

Kendi and Sharon bonded really fast. They are both Relief Society president's in their wards and could talk about all of that. Joe's kids and Kendi's kids, and Irene all had a ball and found that the new cousins were really fun to be with.

I'll post more once we are finished visiting and I can put thoughts together better. I love my family and and so thankful for our heritage and our posterity.