Grandpa Russell's Funeral was a very touching and spiritual moment I am so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of. It was worth the crazy travelling (As mentioned before, We were in Spokane visiting and I flew back to Utah for the funeral and then back to Spokane for the duration of our vacation and then back to Utah, which becomes crazier when you add that I did it by myself with a baby and many layovers)!
At the end of the Service at the church my Grandma Anna stepped up and said that she wanted to bear her testimony even though she wasn't in the Program. She knew that there would never be such a great opportunity with all of her children there and many of her grandkids and great grandkids. What an inspiring and spiritual lady with the ability to listen to the Lord whenever she is prompted. My favorite part of her testimony was ( very paraphrased) "Don't feel sorry for Grandpa or me. He has moved on and is happy. We are sealed for time and all eternity and will be together again. Just do what you need to so that you can come to the Celestial Kingdom and be part of our great family forever." She has such a great optimism and love of the gospel and I am honored to be part of her posterity.
Here is a picture of Grandma Anna so you can visualize the wonderful woman I'm talking about. (Taken by my Uncle John Poppleton)
My Father sang "Danny Boy" at the grave, which I have known he would sing at my Grandpa's Funeral for many years. It was very touching to watch it actually happen and know that it was exactly what my Grandpa wanted.
I thought this was a very touching scene of my Father and His Brothers with their arms around each other.
I was touched by my Mother and Father, still holding hands as they walk.
Grandpa's Nephew's Son in Law holding Lucy at the viewing with the most classic look of displeasure imaginable. My uncle Johnny took this picture, meanwhile I was waiting to swoop in right after the photo. And then... One of my favorite moments happened: Lucy reached her arms out to me and called "Mama." She has mumbled it in passing before, but this was the first time she just looked at me and really meant that she needed me! It felt great after all these months of hearing "DADA." Since then she has began using it regularly when she wants me, which is very very precious to me.One last touching memory I wanted to share: We visited my Grandpa for the last time during General Conference. When we were saying our goodbyes Grandpa was waving bye at Lucy and she waived Bye Bye (for the first time) to him. It took her another few weeks before ever doing it for anyone else. It was almost as if she was waiving goodbye because she knew she wouldn't see him again for a long time. That last conversation I had with my Grandpa was about him being so old and Lucy being so young and the circle of life. Grandpa's time is gone, but now it is our time. We must do everything that we can to live the best life possible. Love people, Serve people and treasure every the special moments as they come.
