Remembering....

Because tomorrow is memorial day I wanted to take a moment to remember those who have gone before me. My Grandparents... I have been blessed to have grown up most of my life with my Grandparents (both sets). They have lived and shared their love and examples with me. My mothers parents are in their nineties and still with us. I still have the blessing of visiting them and sharing my children with them. My children know them and love them. Today I will write about my Dad's parents. I will share memories of my other Grandparents later with pictures.
My Dad's Parents died many years ago but I have many fond memories of them.
My Grandpa was a special person. He always made me feel loved and special and he always took the time to get to know me. When he came to visit he would take me on special grandpa/grand daughter time, which was really unique since there were five of us to split time with. He took me shopping, lunch and called me his sweetheart. What I remember most was the wonderful life he led. He spent his entire life in service of his God. He always had a goal to become a millionaire and at one point in his life he was signing plans and the financing was in place to build his dream hotel... within days he was called to be a mission president in South Africa. There was no question what he would do, he took his family to South Africa and served his God and the hotel was never built. He served as a Bishop, Patriarch, Mission President, and Stake President (with Gordon B. Hinkley). I have always been proud to be his granddaughter and to be an Alldredge. I have always known I came from a very good family and I had a legacy to live up to, even now many years after he has been gone. I think of what I learned from him and what I want my life to be like, what is really important. When he died I remember they found in his church coat a note that said Goals one of them said "Ease mom's way". I have always been so touched with the way he treated my Grandma and that each and every Sunday he would renew his efforts to do more and be better. I remember him showing me the city lights that were visible from his study. I have so many fond memories. When he died he did have his million dollars but he had a lot more of value in his life than money. My Grandmother lived ten years after he passed and I know she wished everyday to be with him. My Grandmother was from South Africa and met my Grandfather and moved here. It was quite an adjustment. I was always fond of her british accent and her unusual sayings. She had four living children and raised each one with strictness and love. They all benefited from her talents. I remember her always teaching me to take care of things, and to be more responsible. She sewed me beautiful things, many of them I still have today. When I was in college I was blessed to be able to spend and occasional weekend with her. Being away from home and having a Grandparent to be with was special and I got to know her so much better. She took me to lunch and gave me what she called "pin money" which was money to be used for incidentals. She was such a great example to me and was sorely missed when she passed.

This people both have left me with such a legacy. Such a heritage of righteousness and Faith. I hope I can live a life filled with so many wonderful memories, examples, and joy. I hope I can teach my children to be good people and that they have a legacy to live up to.

A sidenote. Alan's step Grandma passed away tonight. She was so ready to go, but we are still sad the end is here. She will have her funeral Saturday. We may have to reschedule Lindsey's baptism or adjust some stuff.