Eric Graduates From Preschool

 Eric graduated from preschool a few days ago.  He is ready for Kindergarten and excited at the prospect.

Sarah is not quite sure about having her baby leave for kindergarten in the fall.  I think she will get used to it right away.

My mom's funeral

 When we got the call on Mother's Day that my mom had passed, as siblings we decided that we would meet on Tuesday there in Vegas to plan for the funeral arrangements.  Rick and I left the next day and drove as far as St. George.  We got up the next morning and got to Vegas at 9AM in time for the family meeting.  Paul and Vickie were out of town so they were on a phone call.  Everyone was in good spirits and we talked of how the funeral program would go.  It took a bit of finagling because the week that we decided to have the funeral on wason May 20th and that was the last week of school for the Vegas families.  There were graduations, teachers' last days and grandkids' finals to work around.  For that reason we decided to have the funeral on the Wednesday the 20th in the afternoon.

We worried that having it in the middle of the week and in the middle of the day would make it hard for some people to be able to attend.  (In actuality, there were an amazing amount of people who attended.)

We each had assignments...

We decided that we would each share memories of mom

Scott, Mare, Rick and I were to meet with L Paloma funeral directors the next morning to choose a casket, get the death certificates ordered and set up all the details for the funeral.

Terri had Trisha be in charge of the making of the funeral program.

Mare was in charge of the flowers.

Kathy and her girls were in charge of decorations and pictures.

Scott and Tori were planning to sing a "That's What God Made Mothers For".

Scott was going to organize the burial with Mesquite City and contact cousins

Our family was asked to prepare a song

Scott was going to ask the North Stake Choir if they could sing the opening song

Mare suggested that Skylar play the guitar and Sarah sing for the graveside service

Deanna was going to pick up some new temple clothes for mom

and all of the girls were going to meet the day before the funeral to dress her and fix her hair.

We decided that we would have the viewing start at noon and go for two hours.  The funeral was to last for an hour and a half and then we would go directly to Mesquite for the burial at 5:30-6:00.

After the meeting ended Deanna, Mare, Rick and I drove over to the funeral home to talk with Nathan who helped us with the process of choosing a casket, getting death certificates, starting an obituary on their website and other little things that needed to be done.  

Afterwards, we stopped to grab a bite to eat at Chic-fil-a.  Mare told a man who reached out to her after hearing of mom's death.  He told of how when he had to return from his mission early that on that first Sunday of returning to church he was super nervous to face the members of the congregation and the judgements that he would feel.  He said that he walked into the room and mom came over to him and hugged him and told him that she loved him.  He expressed to Mare how that act soothed his soul and how much he appreciated our mom for doing that.😊

This is the picture that was decided to be on the front of the funeral program.  It is such a beautiful picture and she looked so prety in pink, her favorite color.

After arriving back at the house the girls went back to mom's bedroom and I don't know why but we started going through her jewelry and laying it all out on her dressing table.  The girls suggested that I take mom's wedding band that she had on when she passed.  I think each of the girls had a piece of jewelry that mom had given them early on.  I was really thrilled to receive that piece of jewelry.  We left it all sitting there on the dressing table thinking that the younger generation would want to come and choose a piece of jewelry to remember her by.  That did happen later but after we left Scott put a lock on the bedroom door so that no on ewould randomly go in and start taking stuff.

That night we were able to meet as siblings at Scott and Kathy's home for dinner (catered by Mikey and Tanya) and enjoy some time reminiscing about mom.  It was a great night to be with my brothers and sisters and their spouses.  Everyone was there but Kelly and Deanna.  She had left to travel home by this point.

We traveled home the next morning and we got started practicing with our kids the music for the funeral.

I had seen posters of "memories of grandma" done at Brach's grandmother's funeral the year before and I loved the idea.  I reached out to my siblings to reach out to their kids to email me their memories.  It took a few days to collect them all but I was able to have them printed in 11'14 format and I think they turned out really pretty.  I believe my mom would have liked them.

The funeral was set for the 20th so on the 18th we headed back toward Las Vegas.  We stayed in St. George that Monday night and then got up early to get to Vegas by 8AM.  My sisters and I had an appointment to go to the mortuary and dress mom's body and prepare her for the viewing.  We got there and her hair looked terrible.  It had grown quite a bit since my dad's funeral six months prior when she had her last cut.  I had brought my scissors and did my best to cut her hair and then styled it with a curling iron.  Since her head was lifted on a headpiece her hair kept falling back.  She generally would where it around her face.  We secured it as best as we could with hairspray and hoped she would look good once she was placed in the casket and had a pillow behind her neck.

The rest of the day Rick and I spent together.  We had lunch and then stopped at See's Candies to pick up some chocolates to display in the foyer with all of Kathy's decorations.  After that we headed to the church to set up all of the memories posters while Kathy and her girls worked on setting up the display.  Everything looked really nice.

 That evening we stayed the night at the Towne Place Suites close to my parents home.  I woke up at 4AM the day of the funeral feeling very nauseous and sick.  I had stomach issues and really felt awful.  After an hour of praying that I could get feeling better I woke Rick up and asked for a blessing.  I could NOT be sick on my mom's funeral day.  I knew that if I didn't throw up I would still be able to go even though I had severe diarrhea.  He blessed me that I would be able to be well enough to make it through the funeral.  Thankfully, I did make it through the funeral and even though I was not feeling well throughout the whole day I did not have to miss anything because of it.

  The viewing was set for noon so I was able to rest in the hotel room for a while.  I did not eat anything the whole day because I just did not know what my stomach would do.  Rick bought me a Pepsi to sip on and that was what sustained me throughout the day.  That and water.

We arrived early to the viewing to be there when my mom's body arrived.  We made a last minute decision to have the viewing be in the Relief Society room instead of at the back of the church like my dad's was.  It was a good decision.  It was a smaller room but already decorated with nice pictures on the wall.  Plus, my mom attended hundreds of meetings in that room where she served as RS pianist for MANY years.  I'm so glad that we had it there.

The flowers that Mare ordered were beautiful.  My mom looked beautiful as well.  Her hair did end up looking nice.  I thought the funeral home did a nice job.

We had many people come to the viewing.  It was literally nonstop dor two hours straight of family and friends coming to pay their last respects.  I did not feel well through most of it.  I took a little hiatus for about twenty five minutes sitting in the car getting some fresh air and sipping on a little Pepsi.

When I went back in it was time for the closing of the casket.  Honostly since her passing I had not felt much sorrow.   Yes, I cried a few tears but nothing like what you would think after losing your mother.  I mostly felt relief for her.  Relief that she was released from the effets fo old age on her mind and body.  I also felt rellief that she was with my dad again.  

The closing of the casket was the most difficult time for me.  I could barely hold in my sobs at the fact that this was the last time I would see my mother's face here on earth.  I was overcome with emotion and tried very hard to hold back sobs.  The casket was closed and we all lined up in order of age to make our way into the chapel.  This picture is of all of us surrounding our mom's casket.

The service went as follows:

Presiding: President Mark Turner

Conducting:  Bishop Travis Houston

Family Prayer: Paul Hafen

Organist:  Ryan Gourley and Erin Hatch

Opening Song: North Las Vegas Stake Center Choir

"Our Prayer To Thee"

Opening Prayer:  Rick Phelps

Life Sketch:  Terri Shields

Memories: Deanna Blake

Scott Hafen

Paul Hafen

Janell Phelps

MaryEllen Nelson

Musical Number: The Phelps Family

"He Cares For Me"

Memories:  Jeremy Blake and Trisha Tucker

Musical Number:  Dick and Sherry's Granddaughters

"I Will Walk With Jesus"

Speaker: Ginger Ewell

Remarks: Bishop Travis Houston

Closing Remarks: President Mark Turner

Closing Song:  Scott Hafen and Tori Stutzman

"That's What God Made Mothers For"

Benediction: Pete Shields

The funeral was well done.  It lasted longer that we were wanting at an hour and forty minutes but I think we did our mom proud by the nice service and remarks that were given.

After the funeral we headed straight off to Mesquite for the burial.  Rick hadn't eaten all day so we stopped at Farmer Boys to grab a bite.  We had Rafe with us and while they chowed down on their food (while driving) I tried not to vomit in the passenger seat.😳

We got to the cemetery just as the hearse was ready to be unloaded.  The graveside service was short and sweet.  Skylar and Sarah did their musical number of "In The Garden" and then Boyd gave the dedication of the grave.  We took pictures and mingled for the next hour visiting amongst all who were there.  I kept trying to leave but it was difficult saying goodbye to family.  Finally, I told Rick that we REALLY needed to go.  I felt really weak and awful by this point and was ready to get myself into bed at the hotel in St. George.  

All in all it was a really beautiful day and a beautiful tribute to my dear mother.  She will be sorely missed!  I am happy for her that she lived such a good life.  I am sure that there is much rejoicing in heaven with her parents, brothers and friends!💗

MOM

 Today is Mother's Day.  I got word this morning that mom was only expected to live for a few more hours. I went to church feeling at peace knowing that Mother's Day would be a perfect day for my mother to pass through the veil.  

She has been a mother to me in every sense of the word since I can remember.  She held, nursed and loved me as a baby.  She corrected me as I grew and taught me right from wrong.  She instigated family prayer and scripture study and taught me how to pray.  She was my champion as I learned to be athletic in grade school and could beat all the boys in foot races and tetherball.  She listened to me talk about my childhood crushes.  She let me talk on the phone for hours at a time with my first ever boyfriend.  She helped me get through the heartache of a breakup with that said first ever boyfriend.  She followed me through teenage years of cheerleading, volleyball and softball...and of course, boys.  She cried with me when failure came my way and encouraged me to try again.  She was a great example of loving and honoring my dad.  She always answered the bishop's call for leadership and any other calling that came her way.    She was there taking pictures before me leaving on my very first date and she was awake when I got home to tell her all about it.    She cried with me when I left for college but was excited for me all the same.  She always welcomed me back when I needed to come home for the weekend.  She was there when I came home to tell her that I met the one that I thought I was gonna marry and then happy for me a few weeks later when I got engaged. (even though she had never met him)  She helped me plan and prepared for that amazing day when I got married.  She (and my dad) funded our beautiful reception.  She let me come home when my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage and I was physically and emotionally shattered.  She came to visit and give me guidance after I had given birth to each of my children.  In family life, she celebrated the highs with me and helped to build me when things were falling apart.  She gave great counsel when I needed it.  She loved my family as they grew and loved to talk with each of the kids.  She was a great mother to me and a good grandmother to my children through the years.   I have been blessed for fifty eight years to call her MOM. 

I got the call earlier this evening to let me know that she had passed away.  She passed at 5:10 PM surrounded by some of my siblings and some of her grandchildren. 

Interestingly enough, when the news of her passing came, I did not feel extreme sorrow.  I felt a relief that she had lived a good life and knew that she had been welcomed back home by "that God who gave her life"  I knew that she was reunited with my dad, her parents, siblings, friends, and extended family.  I felt happy that she was released from the body that had aged to the age of eighty seven and that her spirit was now young again.  

How blessed am I to have had such a mother.  

I love you, mom!

PS. She also taught me to love ice cream!

San Francisco and Mariners Game

On May 7th Rick and I got up super early to catch a flight to San Francisco.  For Christmas I had bouyght us tickets to the Giants game and this was the weekend!

After arriving and picking up a car we stopped at a place called The Breakfast Club for some really good breakfast.  Rick got a huge plate of chiliquiles and I got my normal eggs, meat and potatoes. (My fave)

Along with our meals we shared blueberry lemon pancakes because who can resist??

After stuffing ourselves silly we drove into the North district of San Fran and went to the Walt Disney Family Museum.  It was interesting.  We got to see some of the makings of how Disney created his cartoons back in the day and how the music was set to the cartoons.  It was pretty innovational for it's time and was a lot of work.  Pretty cool to see the beginnings of the Disney Empire.

Next we drove up to telegraph hill, a large hill right in the busy part of the city.  There is a beautiful park and a cool tower called Coit Tower.  We were excited to get to the top but the elevator wasn't working and it was WAY to many steps for me THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE to be exact.  I got a new knee and all but I figured that would be too much for me but Rick on the other hand loves a good challenge so he went up and got the beautiful views of the bay and the city.  

After Coit Tower we had to get over and drive down Lomard Street.  It is an iconic thing to do in SF.

This picture was taken from the bottom.

Next we drove over to Pier 39.  It's a fun place for tourists to see the cool sea lions and do some shopping and eating:)

I had been looking forward to eating at the famous Tony's Pizza in the North District (Little Italy).  I had seen on line that they had Detroit style pizza and I was in!

This pizza was massive... I mean just look at that thick crust.

We shared a salad beforehand and absolutely could not finish this deliciousness.

Unfortunately after bedding down for the night Rick vomited it all back up.😟

He said he had eaten too much but felt better afterwards.

The next morning he wasn't completely better but was still up for the days adventures.  At least he made himself be up for it.  What a grand day we had!  

We drove over the bridge to Sausolito and rented some e-bikes.  We wanted to ride across the bridge and it was absolutely fantastic.  First we rode down into Fort Baker by the Coast Guard Station for some pictures.  It was so cool to have the whole bridge right there in front of us with the city across the bay.

Next we rode over to the bridge and went across.  There were lots of other bike riders and walkers to maneuver around but man, this was just a fantastic activity!  There were a number of pullouts to just stop and admire the view.  Truly, it was such a highlight of our trip.

After getting to the other side we snapped a few picturew than headed back.

We found this cool looking flower all over the hillside.  I thought it was so unique.

Next we rode through Sausolito to the other side.  I had read that you could walk through some old time houseboats.  Well, there were lots of old houseboats but people were living in them.  It was kinda fun to see the houseboat neighborhood, though.

In the interim of riding our bikes I got a call from Mare telling me that mom was not doing well and that my cousin, Travis, who is my mom's bishop was coming over at 6:00 that night to release her from this life.  She was not expected to live for many more hours.  We decided to see how things played out with her.  The last few times that I have been with my mom I always said goodbye thinking it might be the last time I would see her alive.  I had done that but was torn about not being able to be there for the releasing.  Knowing this was the case we continued on with our day, with  the heaviness of her always being on my mind.  

After turning in our bikes we had time to kill.  Rick went to rest in the car while I grabbed some lunch and just sat and enjoyed the view of the city across the bay and of course, thinking about my mom and shedding a few tears.

After leaving Sausolito we drove to Oracle Park, the reason for our trip in the first place.  We parked our car, FOR FIFTY BUCKS, and then went to grab some dinner.  Rick hadn't eaten all day but felt like he could at that point. 

We stopped at a pub near the park and got some grub.  After dinner at 6:00 I got a call from Mare because it was time for the Bishop's releasing.  We were just standing next to a busy street trying to hear everything that was said while cars were zipping by.  Afterwards, Terri had the phone and asked if I wanted to say some last words to my mom.  It was just so awkward.  I knew people were listening in and cars were speeding by, just not a good moment, but I attempted to tell my mom how grateful I was for her and how much I loved her.  I probably should have just declined because I had already talked to her the last time I had seen her.  Anyway,  after the phone call we walked over to Oracle Park for the game.

Luckily we were able to enjoy the game.  

We bought some merch at the team store.  It was a chilly night so I bought a sweatshirt.  Rick got a tshirt to put on top of his hoodie.  The Giants won and it was a good game.  

After the game we got a good night's rest.  Thankfully for Rick, he was feeling much better.

We got up and drove back into the city and went to the Farmer's Market.

We enjoyed our time there looking at all of the shops and getting some lunch.

 We ended the evening by catching our flight home.  The next day was going to be Mother's Day.