Grandpa Blackburns Funeral

Since Grandpa Blackburn passed away on the 10th of march we have all been walking around like zombies. Trying to come to terms that he is really gone. After only 15 weeks since Grandma passed away Grandpa went to join her. I guess after being married to someone for nearly 64 years 15 weeks was just to long to be separated. He will be missed by so many people especially by me!!! I worked on putting together a video for the funeral, and what an honor that was to do. It was one of the hardest and yet healing things i have ever done. Looking back on what a great life him and my grandma had really helped to teach me what life is really all about. The little things!!!! Spending your time with family and friends.
Grandpas funeral was amazing all of the son in laws talked since all the sisters had talked at Grandmas funeral. They were really his sons since he had 6 girls and no boys.

Grandpa you will forever be missed we love you and miss you so much!!!

The greatest Grandpa Charlie...

Grandpa Blackburn came down to St. George March 7th so he could work at the temple the next day. I went over to see him I guess i surprised him since he didn't know i was in town, and we got to visit for a little bit. He sat down in front of his little fire place and i sat on the couch and we visited. He kept telling me how beautiful i was and how pretty my hair was, and that he was so glad i was doing good he would quit worrying about me. I told him i was glad i could stop bye i was worried about him and how he was doing since grandma had passed 15 weeks earlier. He said he was getting by and that he was really excited to go back to the temple the next day.

(teaching him how to use the camera on his phone last fall, the last picture i took with him. not great but glad i have it)

Thursday after Grandma Amidan's funeral Josh and I went back over to check and see how his day had gone at the temple. He had an amazing day at the temple visiting with everyone and just being back after the temple break. He was all smiles that night, he even had mom go get him a tuna sandwhich from Subway. He loved the sandwhich said it was the best he had eatin in a long time. Grandpa and Josh had a really great conversation, josh says it was the best one they had ever had. I asked him questions about his history book that he just finished in December and had published for all of us. I sat in the 2nd unit and just talked with him and mom and played with little Paxson for a while. He was so happy that he had been able to have such a great day.

Friday morning Josh and I decided to head over and try and catch grandpa before he left to go back to Cedar City. He was outside working on his car doing something with the trunk netting. Joking around and giving us hugs. We chatted for a minute then ran into the 1st unit to see my sister and her family. When we left her house we went to say bye to grandpa he was out washing the window on his car. He said he was getting ready to head back up to the cold weather and that he had sure enjoyed the beautiful spring weather in St. George and all the sunshine we were having. We gave him hugs and kisses and told him we loved him and that we would see him next time we were down and told him to drive home safe.

 Saturday we hung out with Josh's family that was still in town and were getting ready to head back home to Elko. We decided to go to the movie the Lorax before we left town Saturday we had the car all packed so we could leave right from there. About half way threw the movie my mom came in and found me just bawling her eyes out. I grabbed her and we left the theater and im thinking something had happened with my dad and all of his commuting or something like that. When she told me that Grandpa  had just had a massive heart attack and passed away the floor fell out beneath me. We somehow got it together and got out to the car i told josh to stay with bay and finish the movie and i would let him know what was going on. We drove the short distance back to my moms house and just sat and cried together. Complete shock had taken over we were complete numb this couldn't be happening he had just received a clean bill of health that Wednesday when he had gone to the doctor in St. George. So that Saturday March 10th, 2012 I lost my grandpa Charlie, he has been so many things to me in my life. Usually only living a couple doors away i could go to him for anything. He let me live in one of his townhomes, I was the first grandchild he sealed in the temple, and he made so many wonder things for me that i will always treasure. I was one of the finest people i have ever known and am so greatful I was able to call him my Grandpa, my name sake, my friend!!! I will miss you forever Grandpa Charlie!!!!!

Grandma Amidan

Josh's Grandma Amidan passed away March 5th, 2012 after kidney and liver failure. We were able to come to town the 1st and spend some time with her in the hospital before she passed. What a great woman she was to me and my family. It has been a hard lose not only for us but for Grandpa Amidan who has lost his wife of 66 years.

Grandma requested we all wear red (her favorite color) for her funeral. These were her Pallbearers what a good lookin group. The cool side with there sunglasses on and i guess the uncool side that didn't get the memo. :)

 Josh and I with his Mom and step-dad Brett and all his siblings on this side of the family. All in our red attire after the funeral at the luncheon.

 Everyone was lining up to get a picture with Grandpa Amidan when we were taking pictures. He just stood there and said 1 2 3 Cheese while about 15 people took there picture with him.

The funeral was nice but very sad, but what an amazing lady we all had a chance to get to know. She will be forever missed!

Kids

Josh picked the kids up on Dec 26th in New Mexico we were only suppose to get Ryker for 2 months but we got Baylie for a week too. What a fun time to see and play with the kids. We played with Baylie for that week and then she flew home and we had Ryker for 2 months.

 Baylie and her cousin Mason playing at anti gravity during Christmas break.

 Ryker and his Daddy catching a fish, which he thought was pretty dang cool. The face he pulled when he touched it was priceless!!!!

 Ryker playing with his new train set at grandmas house. He got 2 of these and had a blast with them.

 Ryker and I decided to go outside and play and he found some snow that hadn't melted. So he made a snow ball and was trying to hit me with it.

He loved to go get prime rib with daddy. Josh would litterly cut his prime rib in half and Ryker would eat half. He even had to have dipping sauce just like his dad to dip it in.

This kid loves any kind of hat or helmet! This is just one of many that he will wear around the house and out if you let him... :) Such a cutie!!

Braden Temple

Braden decided to go through the temple the day after Christmas to take out his endowments. It was a great experience, it was the first time all 6 of us had gone threw together. It was a wonderful and spiritual time to be there with all my immediate family. Grandpa Blackburn was there with Aunt Margene and Joann along with Brett and Brooke Brown and a couple of Braden's friends.

On Thursday the 29th My mom, Brandalee, Nathan, Braden and I decided spur of the moment to go to the temple and do sealings with grandpa. We sealed 30 children to there parents and what an amazing experience. After Grandpa was able to take us on a bit of a tour which was beyond breath taking, just the arciticture of the structure was amazing. An experience i will remember for the rest of my life that's for sure!

Christmas 2011

We had Christmas at our Property in New Harmony with almost all the family, minus my step kids. It was very fun pretty quite and laid back.  My brother Nathan and I decorated my parents house also, and the tree.

Josh, Braden, Nathan and I all went to see the temple lights in St. George and Salt Lake which was a lot of fun to hang out with them.

Braden Mission

My brother Braden got his mission call on the 9th of Dec. We were all gathered at the house and he came home from Ely after working with dad. Calling everyone he knew on the way home from Ely so everyone could be there. At about 10 that evening he opened his Calling to Russia West Moscow Mission Leaving Feb 1st.

His best friend Jake was set to leave the same day, however they changed Braden's date to Feb 15th due to changing his language program. However Jake got on the detail to pick Braden up when he arrived.

Braden's friend Devin entered the MTC April 4th and Braden was able to get on the detail to pick Devin up. I received this photo from some of bradens facebook friends.

We were able to talk with him on March 12th about Grandpa Blackburn Passing. His friends Elder Brown and everyone there were able to help him so much. He knows know he has one more gaurdian angle to look after him. He is set to leave in a couple weeks pending his Visa arrival. Cant wait for him to start this new adventure. Very proud of him to have made this decision in his life. It will be very hard not having him around for 2 years but know he is where he is suppose to be.