Haphazard Holidays

Alana, Chris, Joshua, Aaron and Brittany Brundage

Aaron and Chris

Brittany Brundage, Annie, Joshua, Channing, Chelsea, Britt and Aaron

The place I call home! This is where loved ones surround me at every turn. This is where I cook for my kids and they say WOW it's been so long since I had a home cooked meal. This is where my sister and I hang and my brother's are happy to see me. This is where I can serve my mother, and show my dad how much I love him. All of these things happened on a little 10 day visit to Utah.

First I had a road trip with my sister Diana and her Husband Dan. We had two weddings. One in St George for Ashley and Jason's wedding. Lovely drive, great day. Nothing better than to meet in the temple with family to celebrate good things.

Next day off to Manti to Selina's and Boddie's Wedding. Two totally different experiences, two totally different couples. Yet ea

ch was a great event. I felt like I was temple hopping, which was actually a delightful thing. Then a drive back to Payson where I stayed with my mom so my dad could attend Selina's reception. My mom was in a very deep sleep. Seemed to boarder on unconscious. My dad had the nurse come by for the second time that day to check on her. Dad said to the nurse "just keep her alive!" I then had to gently say in reply "dad you know one of these times they just won't be able to do that." He quietly said "I know".

As my mom came to something of a conscience state dad came back to a somewhat conscious state himself. He seemed happy. He then hauled her off to watch jeopardy in the little TV room next to their bedroom. They need each other more than they ever did before. They are both great examples of my hope of eternity.

Saturday was a funeral of my dear Draper ward friend Jolene Roden. Her death was more sudden than I expected. I was very thankful I was there for the funeral. My emotions were over flowing as I entered the church. And

then my heart couldn't take the overwhelming emotion of the death and of the reunion with so many loved ones. I actually felt deep pain from the reuniting of these treasured friends. So overwhelmed in fact that I chose not to attend church in Draper for that very reason. I had to remove myself from them in order to survive.

Although through the following days that came I ran into many friends, hugged them, laughed with them, and then left them.

First order of business decorate the Lehi house. Actually first order of business WHERE DID I PUT THE CHRISTMAS STUFFFF? No tree insight. I guess I really did a good clean out when I moved. No one around to go get a tree with me. Poor poor pitiful me. Oh wait, let's try Chris and Alana! Yes, lets check down the street at my son's house. I drive up to their house. There is Chris on the roof in the snow hanging Christmas lights. Alana in the house decorating for their own Christmas. Well, OK so I cried when I saw Alana. ( Mother- in- law's really!) As my dear Alana kindly said sure we'll go with you to get a Christmas Tree. Chris finished the lights and Chris, Alana, Milo and (me) drive to out in the snow to find me a

Christmas tree. If that wasn't enough they also came and helped me decorate that new Christmas tree. Aaron and his girlfriend Brittany came in the mist of all that dumping snow. They added to the fesitvities. Not to stop there, Josh came in as well. AHHH now I'm feeling good. My kids fill that empty cup of mine every time.

Begin the Preparations for Thanksgiving. Guests 19 then 17, then 14! The storm scared of my sister Lisa from St George. And my mother just isn't well enough to leave the house.

But determined to have

a good party I cooked the biggest feast ever! Really what was I thinking?

But man I did it right. I just can't be humble here, it was good. All my kids helped out before hand. James and Britt flew in Wednesday and joined the party.

Diana, Dan, Chelsea and Channing came to add color to our day. I would have kept them forever, locking the doors and post a no exit sign. But dear Channing was licked one to many times by Alana's new puppy Milo and broke out into a terrible rash. After Channing looked at Grandma Diana with a red swollen face and said "I hurt" I knew the party was over.

Never ending party weekend. We celebrated James birthday again. For Brittany it was the third time to celebrate. We used pies for the cake, and James went out and

bought his own candles! Terrible I know, but really a girl can only do so much.

Time to leave this comfy cozy place. Time to put on a brave face and a determined heart. Take off again in so many ways. I feel ripped apart in so many ways. And yet choice in these circumstances isn't really a choice

PS

The morning after I arrived back in HBM the sun was shinning, the beauty breathtaking, the ward members warming, the outlook positive.