12/29/13--Memories and a Showing of "The Ninja Nation"--Day 5

There's a couple of things I'd like to address in this post. This was a special day for me anyways. Three years ago today I returned from my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was an amazing experience. I will never forget it. I learned more about my life, who I am and what my purpose is by serving a mission. I know that God lives and that He loves me. I know He loves ALL of God's children.

My Grandma Thomas passed away today at about 10:00 this morning. I wasn't there. But, I think it happened the way it was supposed to happen. Only her children were there with their spouses. 4 of her 5 children were in the room and the last one called just minutes before she passed. My dad said, "It was like she was just waiting to hear all of our voices." They said it was peaceful. She just stopped breathing.

It was an emotional morning. My parents had to speak in church this morning. They were able to stay composed and gave two of the most beautiful, stirring talks I've ever heard them give. I only started bawling once, when one of the church leaders announced what had happened. My mom kind of lost it then too. But, a scripture kept coming to mind as I thought about my Grandma this morning.

 11 Now, concerning the ^astate of the soul between ^bdeath and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are ^ctaken ^dhome to that God who gave them life.

 12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of ^ahappiness, which is called ^bparadise, a state of rest, a state of ^cpeace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

I couldn't help but imagine my Grandma being taken home to God and finally resting from her troubles, cares and sorrows. I am so grateful for my Grandma and all she taught me and for how much she loved me.

AND NOW FOR THE VIDEO:

Today was a little crazy, what with funeral preparations. So, I decided to share a movie from my past. 3 years ago today, the first thing I did when I got back from my mission was make a movie with my siblings and cousins in my Grandma Thomas's house. You will see a clown in this. My grandma swears that we tore the head off of it, which makes sense when you watch the movie. But in ALL honesty, when we found it, the head rolled off all on its own. We just decided to capitalize on that.

This family film will live on in history because Grandma never believed that we didn't kill the clown. I hope that out of everything my Grandma has in her house, I'll get to keep the clown. I think I'll glue it's head back on just for Grandma.