Draco Malfroy's Gravesite

Poor Draco... He lived a good but short life. He was hit while trying to cross the road to get to the other side. He didn't make it but 2 feet when he was tragically struck by an oncoming car/truck. So we buried him behind the Duff's house and marked his grave with rocks. 

 

Covid sucks.

Our dear friend, Kerry's dad passed away due to covid and other health conditions. So we took her a little gift and picture and then we all wrote on hearts to say that we love her and how sorry we are. 

 

Nate Morin

Our good friend, Nate Morin passed away suddenly, leaving his wife and 5 children.  Unfortunately he took his own life, battling depression for years without letting anyone know.  His funeral was a very difficult one to go to, seeing his wife and children try to come to terms with him being gone.  It was hard for Christy and I also as he was a close friend. The knowledge that God is in charge and the atonement is in effect is the only way to find peace and solace in this case, and we have tried since then to stay in close contact with the Morins since that day.  Christy talks to JoAnna daily and we took her and her two oldest to a Boise State football game about 3 months after the funeral to try to cheer them up and have fun with them. 

This post was a hard one for me to want to write. Joanna and I have been such close friends these past 13 years. We met Nate and Jo when we moved into their ward in 2006 and have been close friends ever since. It was early on Monday morning before the kids went to school when I received a text from her saying that she couldn't talk right then, but that Nate had taken his life. They found his body in his car parked up in McCall Idaho.   They have come and stayed at our house through the years and we have come stayed at theirs. We love them and their kids. This funeral was the hardest one I have ever been to, besides our own son's funeral. It tore me up seeing Jo and her kids without their dad. Nate was a good friend, dad and husband, but he battled some heavy internal struggles that we wished we all knew about. I think he felt helpless and didn't know how to ask for help. It's a tragic thing, suicide. It always leaves loved ones heartbroken and wondering why.  Nate was the oldest child in his family. He had 5 brothers and 2 sisters. 

https://flahifffuneralchapel.com/tribute/details/143911/Nate-Morin/obituary.html

 

Grandpa Newman's Funeral

 

Grandma Gilmore's Funeral/ Girl's birthday Celebration

We had to take an unplanned trip down to Ceader City because Grandma Gilmore passed away. She got really sick and within a few weeks passed away on April 16th. She lived a good and full life and how grateful we are that we had many opportunities to spend with her before she passed. The girls have been able to spend a week down in Utah the pass few years and hang out with her and get to know her better as well. Uncle John came into all our lives just a year before this picture so it was extra special that he got to meet his birth mom before she passed away. John looks just like her! Doing family history and meeting new members of the family that we didn't even know existed! 

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Because Grandma Gilmore passed away during the girls' birthday week, we decided to do a few fun things while we were visiting grandma and grandpa. We went to Fiesta Fun Center  and did miniature golf, go-carts, bowling, laser tag, batting cages and water squirting! Then we finished with a night at Texas Roadhouse! It was a great way to spend the day. 

The next day we got to see the new Cedar City temple almost complete and took a drive over to Aunt Jerry's house to feed her horses.