Grateful to be a part of...

 this family and so many memories of the legacy and ancestors we share.  

Massive Move

 After almost 45 years of living on the hill my parents new house is finally complete!   What a massive job it is to move a house that has been lived in since 1976.   My family along with my other sisters have spent a couple long weekends down in Teasdale helping with the move.    Here are some in the middle of the move mess pictures curtesy of Jane.  Forgive me mom but  I post these only for memory sake of the hard work everyone did.  

Last weekend we arrived to an empty horse trailer setting in the driveway and decided to "swallow the frog" ( do the hardest thing first) and tackle "under the house."  It's basically a crawl space 3 feet high that goes under my parents living room and kitchen.  When I was a little girl  I spend hours setting up house with my older sisters there.   Now it's just a storage place that is hard to move around in so it's mostly been left alone for years.  It was like uncovering a time capsule.  You can tell by my face it was fun work.  

  Here are a few treasures we found.   

This doll was made for Sarah from our YW president Beth Durphy for accomplishing some goal with Personal Progress.  I was just a new beehive when she got this doll and was so envious.  Sadly Beth was released before I was awarded one.  

There are some things that are hard to throw away especially if it has meaning.  My mom debated about keeping this jewelry box because my dad gave it to her one Christmas early in their marriage.  She no longer uses it so I took a picture and placed it in the DI pile 

A vintage Troll from our childhood

I uncovered my first cabbage patch doll.  Her name was Agatha and I dearly loved her.  As you can tell I did not put my dolls on the shelf and look at them.   She was well "loved and played with."   I probably would have kept her but I'm assuming some little sister of mine had a hay day with scissors.  

My mom has kept probably every pair of jeans in hopes of making some amazing jean quilt.  Emily was in hog heaven to uncover some vintage Guess and wrangler jeans.  She said she's been salivating buying some of these just like them worth a hefty $100.   "There vintage" she says.   😂.   I'm still not sure how I feel about reliving the '80's. 

We uncovered the old Halloween costume Tubs.   Spencer enjoyed dressing up for days with the Hawaiian shirt and partial clown outfit.  

Every year my Grandma Morrell would take us girls to a store called "mini world" and pick us out a dress for Christmas.   My girls use to climb under the house and give us fashion shows with the dresses.   None of us know what to do with them but we just can't part with them.  Now they are nicely folding into 3 tubs and are the only thing I allowed to stay under the house for now.  

It's hard to say goodbye to my parents living in their hill top home but as we were enjoying each others company in their new magnificent home with the kids downstairs and the adults with room to spare it still felt like home because home is not the house but where the family is together.    

Chapman Meeks Morrell (December 3, 1928- November 15, 2020)

The world lost one of its greatest.    I woke up on Sunday Nov. 15th to a family text saying that Grandpa Morrell died last night.   A tear instantly swelled up in my eye and sadness was beginning to sweep over me but almost instantly I felt this great sense of joy that my Grandpa was happier because he was in a better place with my Grandma Morrell the love of his life.  

He was a tall handsome tough cowboy who lived with integrity, grit and patriotism.  Although he only attended Snow college for a year and then needed to come home to help run the ranch he was the wisest and most well read man I know.   He kept up to date on events and politics.   I remember one 4th of July picnic the topic was on some political decision  and I remember my Grandpa saying "All anyone cares about anymore is money."   I often think about that when I see the corruption in the world.  

Growing up we spent a great deal of time at my Grandparents house.  Almost every Sunday they would either come down and visit us or we would go to their house.   We also stopped by after any sort of school event like the Spring Festival or a basketball game that one of us was participating in.  I remember their front room always had a roaring fire and was at least 100 degrees.  My grandpa was usually sitting in his sweats.  Something he and Bart share a love for.  I would quietly sit and listen to the conversation between my dad and grandpa.  Which was usually about cows or politics.   My grandma would always say go get yourself a Schwans Ice cream or some oreos in the cupboard.  As soon as we emerged with them my Grandpa would say "Are you going to pay me for that?"  or "That will cost you fifty cents".   Being young and unable to understand sarcasm he scared me with his humor.   If it wasn't for my Grandma saying "Oh Meeks,  you kids take as much as you like" I probably wouldn't have dared to eat anything at their house.  

As I've grown older I've realized his sense of humor.  He can be quite the ham when he wants to be and likes to chuckle and tease.   

The funeral was wonderful.   They had each of us 17 grandkids tell a favorite memory of him.   I loved hearing all of my cousins tell a memory because they were often memories I had shared but had forgotten about him.   

I told about how when Bart and I were engaged we were shopping to buy our first home.  We had travelled down to St. George for a Morrell reunion and were talking to my Grandpa about a recent contract we had signed on a house and then because of dishonestly it was sold out from under us.   My wise Grandpa calmly said "Well something better will come up".  Something better for us to come up and I often rely on his solid faith when I've been faced with disappointment and have seen that things always work and often just requires patience.  

I've heard the story about his birth many times.   His mother was well into her 40's with solid grey hair when he was born.  He was a whopping 13 lbs.  The Dr joked to hurry and take him off the scale before he gains any more weight.   I also heard that in the hospital there were many people who would say "you've got to come see this lady with the gray hair who just delivered the biggest baby.  

My favorite story from the funeral was read from his personal history.  He talked about being on his favorite horse riding along and all of the sudden he was sinking in quick sand.  The horse was frantically trying to get out but was sinking instead.  He said he said a prayer that he and his horse could get out of the predicament.  He said he had a calm feeling come over me, and he felt the Holy Ghost guide him about what to do.  He rolled the horse over on his side took off his saddle and blanket and used them to crawl to solid ground.  When he got to shore he threw the rope over his horses head and pulled him toward the shore.  He said he knew the Holy Ghost had given him extra strength and wisdom.  When he looked down the river the cow was completely sunk out of sight.  He knew it was Divine Interventions that saved him that day.  

 

My Grandpa's siblings.  L-R.  Rube, Dora Dean, Elwood,  Rebecca Lyle,  Meeks

Grandpa Morrell and his horse Fox

Goodbye Grandpa Morrell.  It's hard to think that that a huge part of my childhood with you and Grandma is gone.  I hope to live with as much faith, hard work and grit as you did so we can all be together again.  

 

Halloween 2020

 Halloween was very simple this year.   No ward or big School parades and parties.  Just costumes and trick or treating.    Most importantly we got to spend the day together enjoying the excitement of the Holiday.

Introducing.... 

 

Emily the Alien

Jane the Giraffe Beanie Boo

Aaron the Madalorin "protector of the child" 

Spencer as "Sheriff Woody" 

The Gang....

Late in the afternoon our Bishopric drove through the neighborhood as the Covid Crew.  

What a relief most of the neighborhood kids were up for trick or treating and posing for the traditional picture.  

Emily was a little bummed that Alta skipped the Halloween Dance this year but she and her bestie Alix used their creative minds and sewed these adorable alien costumes!