Goodbye Grandpa...til' we meet again!

I don't even know where to begin about these last few weeks...I have cried more tears than I knew I could, said more prayers than I ever have, and felt more peace than I knew was possible. I have truly been blessed by my Heavenly Father's tender love.

A couple of weeks ago Dale and I went to visit my Grandpa at the Care Center he has been staying at. He'd been sick for a while and had just been moved from the Veteran's Hospital to this new place. As we walked in my Grandpa was sleeping, and I didn't really know what to do. I ended up waking him up, which I'm so glad now that I did. He seemed disoriented and didn't really know who we were, which was very surprising because he's been very lucid. It scared me. He kept asking my name, but he couldn't hear very well, and thought I said, "Peggy". Considering he doesn't know a Peggy, he was pretty confused. I'd ask him questions and he'd answer as if these were people I didn't know. He kept referring to my grandma as his "wife" as he politely told me about his daily activities. He told me how "his wife" would come visit him every day and how it "brightened up his life" (a famous grandpa saying). About halfway through our visit he said, "Okay, we need to get this figured out" and starting asking me all sorts of questions about who I was. Finally, as I told him I was a teacher, and that Dale played the piano, he made the connection. What relief! We talked about his pains and he happily gave me the "Neck Brace Countdown" (he had broken his neck 2 months earlier). He just wanted to have his neck "Brace Free" and to go home. He kept mentioning too how disoriented he felt. He couldn't see very well with the brace on, and never knew what time it was. He didn't know whether it was day or night. Before we left we promised we'd visit again soon and bring him a CD of Dale's music and a big clock...and Dale joked about bringing him a pizza too (Grandpa had been on a liquid diet for weeks because they were afraid he'd choke with the neck brace on). This was the last time I heard him laugh. It melted my heart.

This next part I still feel guilty about. It's my deepest regret, and I'd do ANYTHING to change it. Dale and I didn't have the chance to come back the next week (that was the week we lost our sweet little Mikkie). Then my sister and her husband had a baby blessing on Sunday, and Dale and I told my Grandma we'd go visit my Grandpa the next day, which was a Monday, and that we'd bring him his clock. My Aunt Dawn had offered to bring him one, but he'd refused, saying that I was going to. Monday was a long day. I got out of school around 6, then we came home and finished up some things and then got dinner ready. By the time we headed to the store to but the clock it was around 8:30. When we left the store I was tired, and I started to worry about waking up my Grandpa. This is when I started thinking maybe we'd visit the next day instead. I called my mom to make sure she thought my Grandpa was doing okay, and that he'd make it until the next day. We decided to wait, and we went to get pie at Village Inn instead (I feel awful about how selfish this was), thinking I would go on Tuesday with my sister. When I made this decision I felt a bad feeling creep deep in my heart. I don't even know how to describe it...it was an unsettled feeling...a feeling of almost despair. It didn't leave me all night. I prayed that night that things would work out and that I'd be able to visit my Grandpa the next day. As I was climbing into bed I told Dale I should've gone...I think somehow I knew then that things weren't right.

The next day I left school right at 4. Dale had made dinner before work, and we were just sitting down eating when my Mom called Dale's phone. She had tried calling me, but mine was still on silence from being at work. She asked if I had left to visit my Grandpa yet, and I told her I was going to drop Dale off at work and then head over. Then she told me that he had passed away earlier that day. I couldn't believe it...I broke down crying. I was so mad at myself! Why had I been so selfish the night before? I should've gone. I could've had one last visit. I talked to my mom for awhile, and then took Dale to work. I decided to go over to my Grandma's house and visit...though I was nervous how she'd react. For whatever reason I honestly believed in my heart that she'd be upset that I didn't go over when I said I would. As I walked in my Grandma was sitting in her chair watching T.V., but she got up and hugged me as I cried and told her how Sorry I was. She admitted it hadn't hit her yet. She was with him when he died, and she mentioned how peaceful it was. I needed that. As I was driving home later that night I knew that my Grandpa didn't want me to feel guilty...that he loved me, and that he was now pain free.

I am once again so grateful for the knowledge we have of Eternal Families. I have been reflecting a lot lately about our life here on earth, and the mission we have to fulfill. I don't know why we lost Mikkie and my Grandpa so close together, but it has really made me contemplate what I need to do to do to be able to be reunited with them. There's no doubt in my mind that they are once again with our Savior, and that gives me comfort...and peace.

Missing Mikkie...

I don't even know where to begin...it's been one of those weeks I wouldn't wish on anyone. Last Saturday Dale and I got the call that our sweet little niece Mikkie fell in the pool and wasn't breathing. Mikkie had been life flighted to the hospital and her parents were driving to the hospital to meet her. Dale and I knelt down in prayer and asked that Mikkie's life would be spared and that Laura and Tim would be comforted, but to let us be accepting of "His will." As Dale was praying a feeling of peace rested in my heart. I didn't say anything to Dale until we were on our way to the hospital...it was a definite peace that radiated through me, but was it an assurance that she'd live or comfort to accept the unthinkable? As I told Dale how I was feeling, he said he had a similar experience. We both assumed that meant our sweet little Mikkie would be okay. But Heavenly Father must have needed her in Heaven, because she passed away a short while later. My heart ached for for her sweet parents and 3 year old sister, and still does...but I am SO grateful for the gospel in my life. What a truly great blessing it is to know that if we live worthily we will one day be reunited with her and that her sweet little family will be intact for eternity.

Rollerblades and Road Rash

I guess I should start out by admitting that I am a huge klutz. Apparently I have absolutely no sense of balance and should not be allowed on rollerblades. Dale on the other hand is amazing. Tonight he was jumping benches and swerving in and out of basketball hoops with the grace of an olympian speed skater, while I was trying desperately to keep myself from eating gravel. We had the genius idea of taking up rollerblading a couple of weeks ago. It sounded completely harmless. We both knew I wasn't terrific, but thought if I practiced enough I would get the hang of it. So in our niaveness we went out and bought ourselves some brand new rollerblades. I will admit that we were trying to be smart and we also purchased me some nice knee pads and wrist guards. We've been out a few times and I've taken a few falls...more than I'd like to admit! Let's just say that my wrist guards are worn in :).


My rollerblades are the top ones and Dale's are the sleek black ones.


Well, tonight we went rollerblading with some friends, and we ended up at the top of a very LARGE hill. Hills terrify me...well, it's not actually the hill itself that scares me, but the speeding down and not being able to stop myself that sends shivers down my spine. Dale and I have conquered this problem in the past by tag teaming. He leads and I hold onto his waist and he guides us slowly down the hill. It's worked before, so once again we took off down the hill, Dale gracefully gliding and me clinging desperately to him. We started out pretty slow...but then we started going faster and faster until we were passing cars with ease. The only problem was that my feet couldn't quite keep up. I started wobbling and then just as we were nearing the bottom I lost control and tumbled to the ground, bringing Dale with me. I'm not quite sure what happened after that, except that Dale skidded and rolled, then came to a halt. He sat up with kind of a dazed look on his scratched up bleeding face, then jumped up and just shook it off. Poor guy, he got the worst of it. I'm not sure how I only managed a skinned elbow, because he's got a skinned face, knee and hip. The really sad part of all of this? It only makes me more determined to learn to rollerblade! So, instead of hanging up my skates and moving onto a sport that requires less coordination, we'll be back on the road as soon as we heal. Wish me luck!

Dale's battle wounds...all because he was trying to be a gentleman!



The pictures don't do it justice! What a sweet hubby I have!

Fun in the SUN!

Our Fabulous Mother's Day Weekend Getaway....to Parowan of course :). We also hit up St. George, which is where our Miniature Golf pics came from. We had a great time together, and we did a lot more than just miniature golfing, but for some reason we didn't take pictures of anything else! A lot of good came from this trip- Dale can finally say he has officially seen all of Parowan- I drug him on a Historical Parowan Tour. He saw the famous Parowan Gap and the equally exciting cemetery where he was privileged (YES, I did say privileged :) to see the gravestone of the first Martyr from Southern Utah. Super exciting, let me tell you! We Parowanites are proud of our heritage :).

What a stud! I especially love how you can see the shadow of me taking the picture!

Crazy hair! It was super windy :)



Dale looks guilty in this pic...he probably is :)


Aw...lovin life with my hubby!

Time for an update :)

The last few months have been crazy busy and I decided something had to go, so it ended up being my blog. But I'm feeling a little less frazzled now so I'm excited to get back to posting! Dale and I moved to a new deluxe 2 BEDROOM apartment in October and are glad to be here!!! We have a killer amount of cupboards and an extra bedroom that has now become the storage/piano/craft/computer room...gotta love it! We love our new ward and love being here together! It's been a great move for us. Hmmm...what else has happened in the last few months...Dale put on his first Christmas Concert in December and it was a great experience! He did an incredible job and I can't wait to see what's in store for him as he continues to work on his piano career. He has also started teaching piano lessons (after some pushing on my part :), and is a great teacher! I'm still teaching school and absolutely love it, though I am probably more excited than my kids to be going off-track on Friday. Dale and I are both loving life and are super happy where we're at right now. I am definitely blessed!

P.S. Today is Valentine's Day, and check out the BEAUTIFUL flowers and DELICIOUS chocolate my sweet hubby surprised me with this morning! He was gone when I woke up, and he returned with a smile on his face and these sweet treats! Then he took me out to P.F. Changs for a wonderful Valentine's Night Dinner :). Chocolate and a sweetheart husband...what more could a girl ask for?




B-E-A-U-TIFUL flowers and delicious chocolate! There was more chocolate, but I devoured it before we could get a pic :) That's how good it was!

July 4th: Let Freedom Ring!

I've always been a huge fan of the 4th of July...what's not to love? Fireworks, family, friends, watermelon, parades, soaking up the sun (most years :). But for the past few years the 4th of July has meant much more to me than all this. It holds a special place in my heart. This year I kept thinking about the summer my dad went to Kuwait with the Army. He stayed with us on the 4th just long enough to watch the fireworks and say a few goodbyes, and then he left to serve our country for 7 months. He was in an Arabic Nation on 9-11, and continued to serve us willingly. I have really come to love that quote, "Freedom Isn't Free." I've seen firsthand, first with my dad and then again with my younger brother, that our freedoms haven't come without a price...whether it's through blood and trauma or simply time away from home, it's a sacrifice I'll be forever grateful these men and women willingly take.



Getting ready to go to Riverton Days :)


The camel we saw...isn't she cute! She's only 3 months old.


We got to feed the camel!


My sister Racheal and her husband Sam. They were kind enough to invite us to go see the Bees game with them on the 4th.


Dale and I at the game- it went 12 innings...wow, L-O-N-G game! The fireworks afterwards were definitely worth it!

No more pencils, No more books! No more teachers, dirty looks :)

Well, school is officially out for the summer. Well, "Summer"...3 weeks isn't much of a summer, but as I am constantly reminded by my sister and brother-in-law, not everyone is lucky enough to get even 3 weeks off. I had really mixed feelings about letting my class go...I absolutely love teaching, and have especially loved the sweet class I have had this year. To be honest, I've been blessed with such a good class that I'm a little nervous about what's in store for the new school year! Oh well, only time will tell, right? One reason I love teaching is because these kids are hilarious! These are my 2 favorite memories from this year:

- My kids earned a class party- poor kids, I made them fill this jar with marbles...it took them all year. Apparently the jar was a lot bigger than I thought :). They chose to have a Pajama Day/Popcorn Party, so they all came dressed in their adorable PJ's and slippers. Well, this one skinny little boy dressed in these cute little sports PJ's came up to me and said, "Mrs. Jessee, I hate wearing these shorts- they show my leg fat." I couldn't help but laugh :).

- Dale came a few times to play the piano for my class- my kids were absolutely mesmerized by him. One little girl came up to me after he had left and said, "If you and Mr. Jessee ever get a divorce, let me know!" Apparently a few of my girls had a little crush :). Dale and I both got a kick out of that one.