She emailed my mom telling her she had roughly 8 days to live. That was a pretty big shock for us. We had no idea it was that bad. She didn't want to tell anyone (except her own family of course) and wanted us to keep it from some other family as well. She didn't want a big funeral. Just a small graveside service. It was hard to take in. I just was thinking, she is so young! My dad is hardly older than her. I kept thinking about my cousins who were losing their mom and her amazing example. She was always sharing her testimony and knew without a doubt the gospel was true. She was the only aunt that has ever reached out and tried to even keep in touch with me. I always loved seeing her comments on facebook. She always had positive uplifting things to share. She was just the sweetest and so beautiful. Such a loving, kind woman. She must have something really important to do in heaven because I can't see other reason why she would be gone. One good thing is now she can be with her mom who she's been apart from for 27 years and her dad for almost 8. I am also so thankful she is not in pain anymore. From what I understand is that she couldn't swallow anymore and was on a feeding tube and taking a lot of different medications to ease the pain. I think my cousin told my mom she was 80 lbs when she died. She was always a little smaller and petite but that is just tiny for her.
The thing I am most grateful for right now is my knowledge of the gospel. I know the plan of salvation and have an understanding of it. I know I can see her again. And I know she will be one of the first there to greet me. She always was when we'd go to visit. She loved giving out hugs and kisses and even though I was shy she always got me to come over and get a hug. I think only one of my cousins is active in church and her husband was recently baptized and they are preparing to go through the temple. I know my aunt is so proud of them and their decision and I know she'll be there the day they receive their endowments and are sealed to their girls. I just know my testimony has been strengthened from this. The last 2-3 weeks have given me plenty of time to reflect on what's really important. I put myself in my cousin's shoes and what would I be doing. The things of the world seem to not seem so important anymore. Strengthening my family and teaching my kids the right things hold so much more importance.
Saturday we had gone up to Logan for her funeral. It was short and sweet and my favorite part... her pink casket. It's just so her. She told my mom she ordered it herself from Costco. How weird would that be? Her and my uncle had a plot they bought a long time ago next to her parents. So we got to go back to Logan and back to some family roots. My dad's mom grew up there so the majority of her and her family are buried there. We still have a lot of family living there too. I got to see a couple of my dad's cousins and my Grandma Leah which is basically his step mom. I got to see my cousins whom I hadn't seen in years. My cousin Michael is just all grown up and a man now. Still boggles my mind. My cousin Jamie looks so much like her mom and so do her little girls. I got to see my other cousins Lori and Kerri too. My heart definitely aches for them. I loved every minute we got to spend with family. We don't see extended family really ever so this was really nice. Afterwards Jerri wanted her husband to take everyone out to lunch. We ate at this place called Elements and it was really good. Charlotte got the kids spaghetti and meatballs... best I have ever had in my life! The kids were running around kind of crazy but it was so nice to visit with family and hear about each other's lives and tell stories about stuff when we were growing up. I of course was horrible at getting pictures but did get some from later in the day.
After we left the lunch we decided to do a little exploring with my parents. My dad wanted to take Chloe to the Cache Valley cheese place but I guess it burned down years ago and they never rebuilt it. But there is another place called Gossner Foods so we tried that. I got some Cox cinnamon honey butter, chocolate milk cartons, sharp cheddar, and taco cheese curds. It was all so good! Then we stopped at a Walgreens so my dad could grab some pain meds for Chloe's cramps. I snapped these pictures while waiting in the parking lot.
Jackson was playing peek-a-boo.
Then we drove up to my grandpa's old house. I miss that place so bad. I wish I was wealthy and could have bought it when they were selling it. But I do have memories of that house in my house now with the furniture and decorations from my grandpa's house and now we're making our own memories with it. But this house... seriously... it was awesome. It had 5 or 6 bedrooms and 3 full baths. A living room and dining room and kitchen upstairs with a covered porch. Then downstairs there was another small family room with a fireplace and a big game room with an organ, piano, pool table and couches. Then outside the river ran through the back and there were like two sections of yard. There was a walkway that went around the back of the house then had stairs going down to a grass area and a little stream you could put your feet in or play in. There was a small bridge that went over the small stream to another grassy area where they had a deck that sat right along the river. The backyard was always my favorite to play in summer or winter. Just so much fun!
After that stop we had to go to the creamery and get some Aggie Ice Cream. Oh man was it good and busy! On the way back toward the highway I tried to get a picture of the temple.
We decided we were skipping Peach Days this year and stopped in Perry to get the amazing peaches they sell each year. Our favorite little place is right by Maddox. After that we headed home. We're hoping to go up in the next couple months before winter hits so we can get a picture of my aunt's headstone. I think they told my uncle 6-8 weeks.
My Aunt Jerri was definitely a great example to all of us and loved her Savior. She had such a strong testimony and is missed by so many people right now. But we are all thankful for the time we had with her. I wish it hadn't been over 7 years since I had seen her (at my wedding) but I'm so glad she reached out to me through facebook and we could still talk there. I wish I had taken pictures at the funeral but I left my camera in the car. Scott did get a couple pics I think. I'll have to see if I can get them off his phone. I am just really learning not to take anything for granted. Life here on earth is short and precious and that little bit we do here depends on how we spend the rest of eternity. I just hope I can continue to grow and change the way I need to to always be able to be with my family and my Savior.
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