Granny's Funeral

 

Leah Tanner Cardon

 

My Granny passed away in July 2011.  It was such an amazing funeral.  I have had so many thoughts about that day that every time I try I just cannot find the words. For now, here are the photos. 

 

Here is an excerp from the letter I wrote to her for her 90th Birthday.

"I have often thought of Granny as a young lady. In a time when girls just didn’t do things like go on missions and attend college, she did. At a time when women married young and stayed in the home, she experienced life, then married and still had eight children to boot! With all of the smarts and talents that she possessed she mothered her children. She cultivated their interests and fostered a love for beautiful things, poetry, music, literature, and the arts. She scrimped and saved so that she could provide opportunities to her children that they would never have otherwise had. She thought outside the box, parenting with creativity and cleverness. She was quick witted and saucy, yet respectable, appropriate, and unassuming. Always there to lend a hand, she led a lifetime of service. Never above the most menial tasks, she worked her entire life for the betterment of others.
Somehow, from her modest home in Farmington New Mexico, she managed to inspire her eight children to explore all facets of life; to taste, create, and experience all of what our world has to offer, all of the while, staying true to the thing most precious above all, a testimony of the Savior. What a legacy she leaves behind. In her own quiet way, she has inspired us all. Her name will always mean dignity, selflessness, humility, intelligence, strength, resilience, faith, and endurance. Leah Tanner Cardon. We love you! Love, Niki"

Passing Time Frozen Memories

It's late.  I am too tired to be clever or articulate.  However, I want to remember this weekend.  I want to remember how excited Adam was when he read me the entire book of "Go Dogs Go," how he awoke just this morning excited to read to me again.  I want to remember Claire's little voice as she repeated line after line to me as she "read" me one of her new library books.  I want to remember Rachel's excitable confidence when she discovered a new pattern and shortcut in her math homework that lead her to say, "Mom, school is going to be so easy for me now!"  I want to remember how enthralled Audrey became in the documentary we watched for American History, how she didn't want to have to pause it for me while I switched the laundry.  I want to remember how all four of the kids sat together tonight at Chick-fil-a, laughing like a bunch of teenagers at each others jokes.  How they came single file out of the play area disgusted at the germ invested state of the place.  I want to remember how instead of dying to put them to bed Friday night, I watched the time pass and didn't mind that they were up because I was so enjoying their company.  I want to remember the simple pleasure that they found in picking out a fish at petco and then naming him on the way home; tie die, moonlight, violet, to name a few.  I want to remember listening to Rachel carrying on about how second names aren't important, "Adam have you ever been called James? or do we ever call Claire Noelle, or Audrey Niki??"   I want to remember Audrey and Rachel giggling incessantly in the entry way at one thing or another.  I remember giggling when I was their age.  Is there anything better?  I want to remember Adam telling me that his tooth was "wiggly" over and over, nervous and excited at the idea of losing his first tooth.  Most of all, I want to remember the joy I feel to be with my kids.  They are growing up, becoming individuals who are full of energy and personality.  Once I heard someone say that they would have eternity to know their child as an adult but only this moment to know him as a nine year old.  It hit me to the core.  I want to remember 10 year old Audrey, 8 year old Rachel, 6 year old Adam, and 4 year old Claire.  I adore.