The journey to Utah Feb. 10-18

Elder Fishburn

We started the week saying goodbye to Elder Fishburn who completes his mission and will be returning home to Oklahoma.  We enjoyed serving with him and sharing Texas Oklahoma stories and our common love of Braum's ice cream.  His family was arriving on Thursday to pick him up and travel a little before returning home.  They lived in Germany for several years while his father was in the military.  He was a great linguist with the German language and helped others to learn and understand.  We look forward to meeting our new Elder.



We had a great District Meeting Monday morning in Freiburg.  It was Elder Fishburns last meeting so I asked what he wanted for lunch.  He said he would really like Chicken fried Steak.  Well, I did a little research to see if I could even get the meat and make it and found that Chicken fried steak originated with the German settlers to Texas who missed having their schnitzel and used the good beef that was available to them.  We looked at the market and decided it would be better to get really good schnitzel for the sake of time and money.  It turned out really good.  I made mashed potatoes and cream gravy and everyone loved it.  It was also my Birthday, so as I was trying to make it nice for his last day, he had planned a surprise party for me and they decorated and had a cake and it was really nice.  I was surprised.  I really appreciated their extra effort especially as we were leaving the next morning for Utah.  Russ and I ended the day going to one of our favorite Turkish restaurants.  Happy Day!

With the passing of my father, we were given permission to return to Utah for 10 days.  We had to be at the train station at 5:15 AM so we were up early and left our house at 5:00 am to walk to the train station.  It still amazes me what we do as missionaries.  Walking the streets that early with 3 suitcases reminded me of younger days and traveling.  We took the train to Zurich, Switzerland and then flew from there to Philadelphia and on to Salt Lake City.  We are so grateful for the flight benefits we have that allowed us to do this.  We were treated so good by all of the American people and we were able to fly home 1st class - the only way to enjoy International travel.  It was so nice and so much better than our trip to Germany on United Air Lines.  We had mechanical problems in Philly and it made a long day, but we arrived in Utah at midnight and were really glad to be home safe.  The past few days have been a whirlwind taking care of all of the arrangements for my Dad's funeral and taking care of his Estate as well.  Josh, Julie, Kelly, Shannon, Jamie, Jaime, Abby and Emma all arrived on Thursday and then we drove to Idaho on Friday for the funeral.

 We were worried about the Winter weather but it was a beautiful morning.  The sky and and mountains were majestic.  Very different from the mountains in Germany - the beauty of the Mountain West.  We had to take three cars to get us all there and I needed to be there early.  Just as we arrived in Twin Falls Idaho Emily got a call from Ian and the transmission in his company car had gone out.  He had stopped for gas about 30 minutes behind us and when he went to get on the freeway he had no gears.  So, Emily had to drop us off at the Church and go back to pick them up and make arrangements for

a car rental.  Our life is always an adventure.  She was a little late to the funeral but it all worked out.  Most of my family was there with their children.  A few could not arrive because of the winter weather.

 It was so nice to be back to my hometown that I grew up in and to visit with old friends who came to the funeral.  It was a nice celebration of my Dad's life.  My older brother and sister and I were the speakers.  2 granddaughters and 2 great granddaughters sang "How Great Thou Art" and then all of the great grandchildren, about 50 of the 77 living sang "Families Can Be Forever and Temple Medley" .  It was so sweet and a great remembrance of his posterity.  My Dad always wanted a handmade casket made by a craftsman in Idaho.  We were able to fulfill that desire and it was very simple and perfect for him.  I had to leave right after the funeral and meet with the attorney to take care of Estate business with me only having a few days in the USA.

  We also were warned of a severe winter storm that was hitting in the late afternoon.  We needed to get back on the road for Utah.  As soon as we hit the Utah border, we were greeted by a huge snow storm.  The roads were very bad and the trucks could not make it up the steep hills.  It was a white knuckle drive for all of those who were driving.  We had about 10 cars of family driving back and we all arrived safe.  Brian, Beth, Will and Nora flew in from Wichita Kansas and arrived in the middle of the storm.  They were about 4 hours late due to weather and mechanical in Dallas.  We were glad they were able to come.

 We had a viewing and graveside service in Salt Lake City where George E Haney, Jr. was buried at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.  There was a different feeling than the day before in Idaho and it was really nice to be with family and friends.  There was some healing taking place between some family members and we were blessed with tender mercies.  It was really nice seeing the little cousins interact with each other, many never having met each other.

 Two of our grandchildren having a great time together.

 We were so pleased with the honors given to this World War II Veteran.  When the mortuary came to pick up my Dad when he passed away they brought this flag and draped his body to take him out of the care center.  They made a special effort to honor a veteran and to have people pause and pay respects as they wheeled him out.  It has always been touching for me to witness the military presentation at a funeral.  Taps was played and then the flag folded and presented to my brother, George.  So grateful for the patriotism of my father and all that he taught me.  He was buried next to his father who was a World War I vet.  The cemetery representative commented that this spot had been hallowed ground for a long time.  My grandparents, my parents, my brother and my son are all buried next to each other.  I know there was a glorious reunion on
February 8, 2019 when Dad joined them. 

Joshua, Emily & Brian

 Always nice to have my children together.  We took a family picture of those who were able to be here.  We were only missing Jaime's boys and husband.  The grandchildren were really excited to fly on airplanes.  Again, we are so grateful to American Airlines for providing the travel and being so accommodating to us. 

 We had a luncheon catered by Costa Vida and Chick fil-a for everyone after the service.  I put it all together and everyone helped with set-up of tables and we had a great time together with about 70 of my family.  Grandma and Grandpa would have been so happy to see the family together.

These are my kids and their cousins.  There are about 11 missing, but for those that were able to come it was a great reunion.  They spent a lot of time together growing up and now that they are married or adults, they do not see each other very often.  Great to keep families together.

Everyone is returning to their homes on Sunday.  It has been a wonderful few days.  A lot of work feeding and keeping things happening, but I would not trade it for anything. I know the next five days will go so fast.  We still have to clean out Dad's apartment and finish up some legal things.  I will also help Emily and enjoy the time with her children.  We are so blessed and so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the knowledge we have of life here and beyond the grave.  Jesus Christ made it all possible for us to return to our Father in Heaven and be together with our families. 

Love,
The Grimmett's