SPRING CONCERTS DISNEY STYLE

I am months behind in keeping up with the blog. Sitting down now at the end of September, I am realizing that I have to go back to talk about things that happened in May! Yikes.

Well,  next on the list of things that happened months ago is Stella's spring performances. This year it was a Disney theme and they sang different Disney songs while looking a tiny bit like Minnie Mouse. Stella had so many opportunities to perform that it got crazy at one point. She loved it though. She had a solo during "Hi-Ho," which was always my favorite five seconds of the performance. Because, well, everyone thinks their kid is the best, and I am not ashamed to tell you that my kid was the best of all the kids.

We had to put her hair in curlers for each show, and get her all dolled up. I took these pictures one day when we had a few extra minutes before showtime.

This was her "parking lot" performance. It was a tricky one because the sun was setting right in her pretty little face. But she was a trooper. 

The next show where I brought my good camera along was to Wheeler Farm. Heidi and Wyn came all the way from Idaho for this one. It was very hot, and our little star got so thirsty! Thankfully she was on the side of the stage that was in the shade, because some of the other performers were not so lucky. Whew!

Stella loved all her performances this spring. It was fun, but man, I don't know how anyone would handle this if they had more kids. It is really time-consuming for a couple of weeks of your life. But of course we are now back for another year. Stella had the summer off but she is already back in the studio learning her Christmas songs. She loves it every week and I am so proud of our little star.

GRANDMA MABE

DORIS ALLETA MABE 


Doris Alleta Mabe, 81 of Caldwell, passed away Monday, August 18, 2014 at home of natural causes. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 23rd at Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell with burial to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Caldwell. Friends may call at Dakan Chapel Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 
Doris was born September 14, 1932 in Boise, Idaho to Harvey and Evelyn Lee. Evelyn divorced Harvey and married Walter Bowles who adopted Doris and her two siblings; they were later sealed as a family for time and eternity in the Logan, Utah, LDS Temple.
Doris met her husband, Lester Mabe, in the Nampa 2nd Ward of the LDS church. They were married August 26, 1951 in the Logan, Utah, LDS temple. They moved to Bremerton, Washington, where they made their first home, later moving to Renton, Washington. There they spent most of their married life raising a family of six boys and one girl. Doris’ family was her joy and life. She spent her life raising her children, and enjoying her time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a faithful member of the LDS church serving in many callings. She loved the ocean and the family spent many days camped on the Washington coast or whenever possible, just day trips to walk in the sand and waves.
Lester retired in 1999 and Doris and Lester moved to Caldwell, Idaho to be near Doris’s brother and Lester’s sister.
Doris was preceded in death by her mother and father; her sister, Lois Mabe; and a brother, George Bowles.
Doris is survived by her husband, Lester Mabe; a daughter, Teresa (Scott) Evans of Salt Lake City, UT; 6 sons, Jeffery (Gail) Mabe, of Salt Lake City, UT, Joseph (Tracy) Mabe of Renton, WA, James (Chris) Mabe of Seattle, WA, Jerry (Julie) Mabe of Murray, UT, John Mabe of Seattle, WA, and Lester (Dalyn) Mabe, of Salt Lake City, UT; 11 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. 

Exactly two weeks after my Grandpa Evans died, I got the call from my mom that my Grandma Mabe had passed away after a long battle with cancer. I knew the news was coming soon, so it wasn't a shock but I was still pretty darn sad.

I've been reflecting on the life of my grandma and my life as her granddaughter for months now after she left the hospital in April after coming close to passing then. I started by getting out the scrapbooks that she made for me that are full of pictures she took during my childhood and letters and notes that I had sent her. Many of the notes said that I missed her and wished that she had lived in Utah, which I do remember being a very strong desire in my heart. 

I have so many great memories of being with my grandma in Washington, my favorite visits being the ones I took alone. We had a special little bond and just seemed to "get" each other. I have images flashing in my mind of feeding ducks at her apartment, sitting in the car as she drove us through the green green greenness of Renton, Washington, walking together, talking a lot, making little crafts, riding the Seattle ferry, walking downstairs to get to her antique shop, dancing and singing to music, and falling asleep in her home. 

I love these early pictures of us together. 

Stella didn't get to know my grandma very well, but she was very much loved by her. I dug up a few pictures of them together:

My mom asked me to speak at the service. I shared how I remember my grandma telling me how boring her journal was as a teenager. She said she would write: "Went to school, came home, did homework, washed my hair..." And that would repeat each day. I think that my grandma thought of herself as just an ordinary gal, but to me and those that loved her, she wasn't just ordinary. She was very special. I loved how my grandma could laugh at herself. She never took herself too seriously and I loved her laugh. My favorite visit was when I was about 14 and my cousin Moncia was visiting at the same time. We all came up with this ongoing joke of sharing "bonding moments." One time we were all in her tiny bathroom together and she had to go to the bathroom and she was laughing so hard about us all having a bonding moment. It was hilarious. My grandma also loved family history work very much, and it was because of her that I first realized the depth of my Mormon roots.

Me, Ash, and my mom went to visit her in August. She was able to meet Finn and we spent the day with her. The last thing she told me was of her love of family history and how it had blessed her life. She also told me that I was a wonderful person. When I started to cry, she said: "You are, Michelle--a wonderful person." 

This is a picture that my cousin took when she visited in the spring. I love it because she is looking at a picture of me and my cousin Sarah. 

 

I've always been weird about taking pictures at funerals. I don't know why, I just like to take pictures with my mind I guess. But I did take a few since this family is never all together. 

So sweet Grandma, I love you and thank you for all the wonderful love you have shown me. It makes me feel a bit better knowing you are up in heaven watching over my little Stella.

It has been a crazy month with so much loss it almost feels like August didn't even happen. It has been wonderful though for me at least to be able to think about the blessings of my youth and the love that I have had in my life. It was an honor to speak at both my grandpa and grandmother's funerals and say out loud how much I love them. I am a lucky girl.

I LOVE OLD PICTURES

Courtney and I were put in charge of making a video of old pictures of Grandpa's life. I absolutely adore all the old pictures and since they were already scanned in, I had Courtney make me a CD of the pictures.

Beverlee and Norman's Senior pictures:

This is a picture of my grandma that my aunt had out during the funeral. She looks beautiful in it. I was really amazed when I took the picture out of the frame to take a picture of it to find a note from my grandpa on the back.

"This is the only girl I have ever really cared for in my life, I'm going to marry her, she is the most wonderful, sweetest girl in the world. To the sweetest most wonderful girl in the world I give my love forever! Non"

My grandpa went by Non during his early years and so these two were always "Non and Bev."

Me and my grandpa. He loved to feed me stuff that I was too young to eat. My grandpa gave me my first bite of ice cream. Because ice cream never hurt anyone.

I was so stressed out about making the video, but thankfully Courtney stepped in and made the process a lot easier. Picking the songs was tricky, but I sort of think Grandpa helped me with that. In the end, it turned out really great and I love it. I am so glad to have something so precious to watch to remember him and my grandma.

GRANDPA EVANS

Norman Richard Evans

1932 - 2014

Norman Richard Evans

1932 - 2014

In Loving Memory

Salt Lake City, UT-Norman 'Non' Richard Evans, our loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend passed away living life to the fullest on August 4, 2014.

Norman was born on May 11, 1932 to Beatrice Payne Evans and Ansel Leroy Evans in Ogden, Utah. He was one of 8 siblings; he had 4 brothers and 3 sisters. He married the love of his life Beverlee Jean Johnson Evans in September 1952. Together they had three children. Norman was a skilled boxer in his youth and worked with the State of Utah D.O.T. as a respected welder for over 30 years. Norman loved dancing, camping, boating, spending time outdoors, and was an avid fishermen and swimmer. He loved spending time with his family and spent many hours passing on his love for nature, fishing and the water to his grandchildren, who will be forever grateful for having him as a grandpa. He was a great friend to many and his amazing storytelling, sharp personality, and honest advice will be deeply missed. Norman was a member of the LDS church and will be dancing with his wife Beverlee for time and all eternity.

Norman is preceded in death by his wife Beverlee, daughter Nonalee, three brothers- Ross, Robert, Gene , and three sisters Jolene (Sis), Sharon, and Jeannette. He is survived by his brother Jerry, children Scott (Teresa) Evans, Mickeleen ( special son-in-law, Joe) Thomas, grandchildren- Charice, Michelle, Ashely, Tyler, Daniel, Lennon, Matt, and Julia, great grandchildren, and many dear friends.
A service to honor Norman's life will be held Redwood Memorial Mortuary on Friday August 8, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. with a viewing to be held one hour prior to services.

A celebration of Norman's life will be held following the service at his daughter's home (4580 S. Thousand Oaks Drive Salt Lake City, Utah 84124).

It has barely been over a week since I received the shocking news that my sassy, loving, and very active grandpa had passed away. This is the first time in my life that someone I have really loved has passed away unexpectedly and also the first time that Stella has lost someone that she knew and loved. I have been surprised actually how sad I have felt this week. I'm not sure why. Maybe it is because now that both my grandparents are gone I feel like it is the end of a particular time in my life. Anyway, I don't know why but I am feeling more empty than I ever thought I would. 

Stella and I were lucky enough to visit my grandpa one week before he died. My grandpa had been saving his coupons for me and every few weeks I would head over to see him and pick up coupons. We always had a really nice visit. I have loved these visits because we've spent a lot of time chatting about everything from the very important to the very unimportant. Stella loved going over to his house and picking fruit from his trees. So while we were there last time, Grandpa took us outside and they picked some fruit. The light was lovely so I took some pictures. They are the last pictures taken of him.

Grandpa then made us ice cream cones and Stella did a dance performance for him. It was to a High School Musical song and since it was filmed at East High, I had Stella ask Grandpa if he knew anyone that went to East High. He said: "My wife, your great grandma went to East High, and she was the best dancer in the school." And the way he said it was filled with such love that it totally struck me. Those two were high school sweethearts, and I know my grandpa missed my grandma more than anything. As we were walking out of his house, Stella told me that she couldn't wait to go back and she already knew which song she wanted to sing for him the next time we came over.

I have so many amazing memories of my grandpa as a young child. He made everything fun and like a game for us. My favorite thing that he did was to take us on walks to the "secret place" which was actually just a little river in their neighborhood that you had to use a half-hidden walkway to get to (very secret and exclusive). We would each pick a stick, throw it in the river and then watch them float down the current in a race.

My grandparents loved to camp, boat, and fish. I think to this day that my early memories, although very good, are the reasons that I don't really like to camp, boat, and fish. In fact, this week I have really been digging up some old memories that I had completely forgotten about. Like being stuck on the boat all day with NO food and the only thing to eat on the boat was Velveeta cheese (which was really for the fish) and being absolutely starving. I remember getting seasick and Grandma making me a little bed by the co-pilot seat to rest in while I wanted to die. I also remember having to go to the bathroom so bad but I was of course stuck on the boat. I had Grandpa yelling at me to just "pee in the bucket!" and I just couldn't do it. To this day, I seem to have a fear of being stuck places where I can't go to the bathroom. Of course, I also got to drive the boat sometimes and also caught my fair share of fish. So it wasn't all bad.

I did love being in the motor home. I loved sitting on the top bed above the driver's seat while Grandpa drove and watching the road fly by beneath me. I remember waking up and having it be so cold outside of my sleeping bag and watching Grandma cook up Jimmy Dean sausage while I dreaded getting out of bed. (I have never even considered buying anything but Jimmy Dean sausage because my grandparents told me that it was the best.) Funny enough, even though I hate boats I freaking love motor homes.

Of course, no amount of wonderful childhood memories will ever compare to the joy I felt being in the temple with my grandpa and watching him be sealed to my dad, grandma, and aunt. It felt surreal in the best way. My grandpa always supported me growing up when I spoke in church or with my mission, but all that time, he never really wanted to be one of those Mormons. It was amazing to see his heart softened and humbled as he made covenants in the temple. I also adored sitting next to him in the Draper temple at Tyler's wedding.

Stella says her best memories of Grandpa are how he came to her and Ava's birthday parties, how he smiled at her, and how he often laughed so hard that he would clap along with the laughter. She does a pretty good impression of it actually. I will NEVER forget his face along with my grandma's face the moment they first saw Stella. Oh how they loved her. It was the first time I even had any idea how much they loved me. I know that they are always going to be watching out for her and keeping her safe.

I wrote a book in school in about first or second grade and gave it to my grandpa for Christmas. It was called Ann's First Fish, and it was based on a true story of us fishing together. My favorite line from it is: "Once in a city there lived a girl named Ann, she was five years old and her favorite friend was her grandpa."

This is a picture of me giving my grandpa his book:

I am so sad he is gone, but so happy that he isn't in that house alone anymore. I know the moment he saw my grandma he didn't look back. I'm sure that reunion was sweet. I count myself lucky to have known them both. To have been loved unconditionally by them was a great gift from my Heavenly Father.

Norman Richard Evans

1932 - 2014 | Obituary |  Condolences

In Loving Memory
Salt Lake City, UT-Norman 'Non' Richard Evans, our loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend passed away living life to the fullest on August 4, 2014.
Norman was born on May 11, 1932 to Beatrice Payne Evans and Ansel Leroy Evans in Ogden, Utah. He was one of 8 siblings; he had 4 brothers and 3 sisters. He married the love of his life Beverlee Jean Johnson Evans in September 1952. Together they had three children. Norman was a skilled boxer in his youth and worked with the State of Utah D.O.T. as a respected welder for over 30 years. Norman loved dancing, camping, boating, spending time outdoors, and was an avid fishermen and swimmer. He loved spending time with his family and spent many hours passing on his love for nature, fishing and the water to his grandchildren, who will be forever grateful for having him as a grandpa. He was a great friend to many and his amazing storytelling, sharp personality, and honest advice will be deeply missed. Norman was a member of the LDS church and will be dancing with his wife Beverlee for time and all eternity.
Norman is preceded in death by his wife Beverlee, daughter Nonalee, three brothers- Ross, Robert, Gene , and three sisters Jolene (Sis), Sharon, and Jeannette. He is survived by his brother Jerry, children Scott (Teresa) Evans, Mickeleen ( special son-in-law, Joe) Thomas, grandchildren- Charice, Michelle, Ashely, Tyler, Daniel, Lennon, Matt, and Julia, great grandchildren, and many dear friends.
A service to honor Norman's life will be held Redwood Memorial Mortuary on Friday August 8, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. with a viewing to be held one hour prior to services.
A celebration of Norman's life will be held following the service at his daughter's home (4580 S. Thousand Oaks Drive Salt Lake City, Utah 84124).

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/saltlaketribune/obituary.aspx?pid=171987581#sthash.4nEa7tij.dpuf