Love and loss

We drove to WA in November 2015.  Clayton's Dad had been sick and I questioned whether it would be his last Thanksgiving.  I had made plans with my Mom for Turkey day dinner and then later on at work I knew I needed to cancel those plans and tell Clay we needed to go.  

Just after we left WA it was discovered that Clay's Dad, Warren, had many tumors in his abdomen and the prognosis wasn't good.

He passed away on Feb. 2nd.

We made another trip up there for the funeral.

Warren had a PASSION for photography and was very good at it.

Who's that little child going around stealing flowers from the other plots?  She's adorable, but really someone needs to control her. Honestly parents these days.

Funerals are sad but the family time is incredible.

There was a whole group photo taken at the church as well, but I have yet to get my hands on those photos.  Just picture a ton of people dressed nicely.

 The cute little lady in blue has a very devoted shadow.

While away we still practice good dental hygiene.  This one has a flare for the dramatic, I have no idea what she was doing.

 These 3 were so happy to be together again. 

Cousins=sheer joy (and also trouble:) 

During the loss of Clay's father it made us realize how important it is to have a will. (Ugh how adult of us.)  We knew that we needed to have one done but you know how those things get pushed to the back burner.

In March, the day that Clayton was made Elders Quorum President for our ward, we heard that some members of our ward had been in a plane accident.

Later on that day I heard that my cousin and her husband were also on that plane.  

None of them made it, leaving behind 7 orphaned children.

At my cousin's and her husbands funeral my uncle spoke of how neither family had left a will and encouraged everyone to have one done.

Here it is August and we finally have a completed will in our possession. 

It's not as painful of a process as you might think.

Not that paying is easy, but it's a lot easier to pay than to decide where your kids should go if you and your spouse are no longer here.

I'd encourage you to have your will done now too as well if it has not.  Your family is already dealing with the loss of a loved one, to know their wishes would be a blessing.

Warren passed away 4 months after his 70th birthday, leaving behind a beautiful, devoted wife and 5 kids, 5 daughter/son in laws and 12.5 grandchildren.