ARIZONA TRIP

DAY ONE: EASTER SUNDAY

Before we loaded up our dear babies, their Melin grandparents provided them with a fun Easter Egg hunt, as well as some Easter treats (blessings) for me: An activity bag for each child and a delicious lunch for the road.

James & Heidi hunting eggs
James, Heidi, and Addie

James with his loot!

***

After the egg hunt, we got in the car and drove 10 hours to Richfield, Utah (approximately half way to Tucson, with a $25 hotel room!). It was snowy most of the way down...look at our car:


Our van was all icy when we stopped in Ashton, ID!
It was much warmer past Idaho Falls at this Sinclair Station...James on the dinosaur. I remember this was during Elder Ballard's conference talk on Sunday (we were so lucky--we could hear conference starting near Norris, MT on KSL).

Addie also rode the dinosaur in Idaho.

DAY TWO (Monday) was almost strictly driving from Richfield to Tucson. We got to Tucson at 5pm and stopped at eegee's for dinner. My heart almost burst as my kids squealed with delight as they ate their pina-colada eegee's and enjoyed the warm breeze and gorgeous sunset that night. We checked in to the hotel and I took and shower and hurried over to the hospital and then to Gram's house (see "Some Letters" post below) and Walmart. We had a wonderful night's sleep--the beds at the La Quinta Inn were wonderful!
***
DAY THREE: TUESDAY

Tuesday Morning I went to the hospital at 8:30am and found Grandpa finihsing his breakfast (see "on Tuesday" post below). I had the best day with him and Gram and all the wonderful visitors. Richard took the kids to the zoo then back to the hotel to swim, but first he brought them to Grandpa's window (above). They were so excited to see him!

He felt so sick that day, but was happy to see the kids.


(We made the little sign on his wall there in this pic...each little circle has lyrics from "You Are My Sunshine")


Heidi was so happy to see elephants at the zoo!

James took a pretend ride!

Happy Heidi and her pachyderm friends

Addie in a log

My children at the Zoo Entrance

They loved this little Chihuahua in a bag at the zoo.

James at the hotel pool with Daddy

A German woman gave the kids swimming tips at teh hotel pool.

Later, Uncle Sam and Aunt Kristen came to the hotel with Owen!

James was so excited to see his little skyping buddy/cousin!

Heidi liked helping Owen walk

Late Tuesday night, my sister Jill and brother Michael and his friend Amber joined us for dinner at El Charro Cafe (birthplace of the chimichanga, right next to our hotel!). The food was sooo good, but the company was even better!

***

DAY FOUR: Wednesday

My sweet SIL Kristen offered to watch the kids at her parent' home so Richard and I could visit Grandpa and help out at Grandma's house. We took the kids up to Dever's house, grabbed a Yokohama rice bowl, and went to work fixing the computer, cleaning up the laundry room, and washing some of our clothes, too. LAter, we picked up the children and met Grandma and Aunt Marti at Trail Dust Town to eat dinner at Pinnacle Peak. My Uncle Matt is the director of security there--or, as we like to call him, the sherriff of Trail Dust Town--and we planned to meet up with him, but he had already gone home to Sahuarita. He did make arrangements for us to ride the train and carousel for free, though. We had delicious cowboy steaks and ribs at Pinnacle Peak (the kids LOVED the atmosphere AND the yummy food) with Gram and Auntie, then we stayed and watched the gun fight show, rode the train and carousel, shot rifles in the shooting gallery, and bought vintage candies at the candy store for dessert. It was a memorable fun time for the kids--thanks, Uncle Matt!

In the parking lot of Trail Dust Town, our van turned over 100,000 miles!

She's been such a good car! (2005 Grand Caravan)

We parked by the Trail Dust Town Cemetery

Somebody was super-excited about the train!

Daddy nd Auntie-M took the kids on a quick ride before dinner while I waited with Grandma.

Naughty kids go to cowboy jail!

Addie wanted her sneakers shined!

Grandma and Me

This is a strictly-enforced rule at Pinnacle Peak steak house.

Heidi with the wagons and flowers in town square.

James says, "All Aboard!"

Going for a ride!

The cutest little cowboy

Rich and Addie shooting up the Saloon

Addie Get Your Gun!

HA! Rich is funny!

Addie and Heidi

Heidi and James

James on the carousel

Addie on the carousel.

After this, we went back to the hotel and actually got to bed at a decent hour. Thanks again, Uncle Matt. The kids had a great time and this made the trip more like a fun spring break than the sad visit it could have been. Thanks, also, Kristen, for babysitting. You always think of such kind and helpful ways to help in difficult situations (Of course we would have loved to spend the day with you, too! The kids loved being with you and Owen, though).

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DAY FIVE: THURSDAY

The day began with grandpa taking a no-visitors rest in the morning, so Richard and I took the kids out to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum west of Tucson. It was absolutely beautiful! I told Rich I need to start visting AZ in July so I don't get so homesick--March and April are just too beautiful! These photos are priceless!

After the museum, I went to the hospital and Richard took the kids to swim at the hotel. We met up with my Aunt Marti, my sis Jill, bro Sam and SIL Kristen and Owen at Grandma's house. We ate leftovers for dinner and picked oranges, then went back to the hotel to bed (but Addie went with Aunt Jill to eegee's first and brought me another pina colada :)).

***

DAY SIX: FRIDAY

We planned to get together with Aunt Lisa and Aunt Jill (my sisters) this day at some point, but decided to let Rich have a chance to visit Grandpa first. We knew we had to head home and wanted to find a way for the children to hug Grandpa before we left (since one of the reasons we came was for them to see him alive/coherent/etc. one more time and take photos). Rich went in and visited for a few minutes, then came out and said that the nurses said the kids could come in if they wore masks and hand santizer. So I parked the car and we went in to see Papa (those are the photos I posted below). By the time we got in, Harold and Joni Preston were there, too. It was a wonderful visit--worth the whole trip.

Then we met Lisa for lunch at Panda Express. We took Richard and James out to the Pima Air Museum, then Lisa and I (and her boys) went on a girl trip to the Miniature Museum. We met up again at about 4pm and headed up to Sam's in-laws' house again for a taco party. Cousin Dave Mayberry's family was there, too, and Jill and Lisa joined us. We ate Kristen's delicious food, enjoyed the Dever's gorgeous NW-Tucson-backyard, the kids jumped on the trampoline, swam in the pool, played on the lawn with their cousins, and we savored the AZ weather (blossoms everywhere, orange slossom-scented air!) and family time. While we wre there, Richard adn I decided to leave as early as we could so the ids would sleep part of the way to Utah. So when we got back to the hotel, the kids crashed hard and we cleaned out the car and got all packed up. I cried the whole time. It was soooooo hard to leave knowing how different everything would be next time I came down. Heartaches!!

***

DAY SEVEN: SATURDAY

(Happy Birthday to "big Heidi"--Heidi Egan!!!)

We left Tucson at 4am, stopping in Flagstaff for breakfast at 8am (which was 9am UT & MT time, back on the road an hour later), then--on a whim--stopping for lunch at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. This made a brutal trip even longer, but it was fun to let the kids see something that amazing. We got back on course in Page, AZ at 2pm, Kanab, UTat 3pm, and then the kids finally fell asleep and slept til sundown in Nephi, UT. We grabbed burgers and kept on truckin', arriving at my mom's house around 9pm. (I left my photos on her computer, which is why I haven't posted them yet!).

DAYS 8-9 and photos coming soon...

More From Friday at St. Joseph's Hospital

I just spent 2 hours editing a zillion pix from the past week, but I will just post these from our last visit with Grampy on Friday. Me and my Grampy (mama needs a haircut!)

Addie, Heidi and James with their great-grandpa Bill

(they snuck a little smile without their masks!)

...more...

Papa Bill holding Heidi's hand

Papa Bill bearing his testimony to James

Addie, James, and Heidi with Papa

Papa Bill holding Addie's hand

Heidi was concerned about Grampy's infected arm, but James just wanted to chat!

Papa Bill holding James Ole's hand.

Saying Good Bye to Papa Bill (Friday)

Visiting Great-Grandpa Bill on 04.09.10 from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

On Tuesday

I got my family all dressed and sunscreened and ready for a day at Reid Park and the zoo, then I went over to the hospital at 8:30am. I heard Grandpa talking to the nurse as soon as I entered the hall. He had just eaten his breakfast and had his vitals checked. I walked in and he said, "Well, Jamie Lynn! Look at you!" We sat and talked for a while --he was a little groggy from taking a pain pill--and he asked about each of my siblings. He asked about my mother three different times. He kept saying, "It's so good to see you. I'm glad you're here, but I wish you hadn't come...it' so expensive...you're so busy...How's your mother? Tell her to stay home and get well...her children need her." He asked me to rub his back, which four of us (gram, aunt marti, and cousin Joseph) did all day long. At one point, the three of us girls ended up gathered around the bed talking--Marti at his feet, me at his back, Grandma applying topical eczema cream to his arms and face--and Grandpa piped up, "Know what I'm thinking about? I'm thinking about how much the Savior must have loved and blessed those women who anointed Him." Yes, that pretty much slayed us. I was so thankful for the privilege.

Grandma Lyn is clearly being buoyed up and strengthened by the Spirit. She is being remarkably brave and organized and clear-minded about all of this. Yesterday she got all the legal and financial papers in order and Jay Busby came with a notary to get them signed. He promised Grandpa he would be sure she was well cared for, as did Joe Ballantyne (their financial guy) last night. The great thing about these men is that, not only are they excellent at their jobs as attorneys and accountants, they LOVE my grandparents with all their hearts, and what a joy and relief it is to have people you know and trust in those positions at such a time as this! Bless Grandma's brave heart! She reminded Grandpa all day long, "I am okay...I am being loved and cared for, you don't have to do this, you can go whenever you want..." It's really the most exquisitely bittersweet thing.

Being at the hospital all day was like a This Is Your Life episode. First thing in the morning, sweet Bill Doane came by--he was my Bishop in High School and saved me from a world of hurt. There are no words for how nice it was to see him, nor for the stab of pain in my heart as he took Grandpa's face in his hands, with tears running down his cheeks and said, "We love you, President. You've blessed our lives so much." He took a tissue as he left and I saw his shoulders shake as he walked away crying. What a wonderful man. Later, other friends and the current Bishop came, my sister Jill and brother Michael, my Elrey uncles and cousins Joseph, David, and Scott, and President Busby and Joe Ballantyne.I had lunch in the cafeteria with Grandma while Aunt Marti and Jill went to the Cheesecake Factory and bought cheesecake for the nurses. During lunch I talked on the phone to my sister Laura and my brother Sam. Later while Grandma was picking up Chinese food for Grandpa's dinner, my sister Lisa called--she lost her father in law last night...sad days (our prayers are with you and your family today, Chris).

I took Grandma to renew her temple recommend at the stake center, where Barney Lewis interviewed her through tears when she told him that Grandpa had signed what was certainly his last Patriarchal Blessing today. "He always said he wanted to live to be 85 and give 700 blessings," Grandma explained. "He turned 85 last Monday and today's blessing was number 701, so I guess he's done!" Amazing.

It's so good to be here...I am thankful for he chance. But I want our loved ones who can't be here to know that Grandpa is mindful of you. I know he feels your prayers and knows of your love. He wants us to know that "all is well"--he said that over and over yesterday (he repeated the phrases, "all is well" and "so much love" several times yesterday, which I think says a lot about his state of mind...at peace). He wants us all to be focused on our families, to attend to "the holiness of daily living," and to continue his legacy by building eternal families of our own. Don't break the chain! ;)

I am too sick to visit him today. They gave him some immunosuppressant drugs last night and he nurse said I can't expose him to my germs. So I plan on hanging out with Kristen and Owen at her mom's for a while and doing chores/errands around Grandma's house (goal #1= fix her computer! I read her all your emails and facebook messages from my laptop yesterday and she loved it!). Laura, call the room today and see if he's well enough to talk--520-873-5108. He said he would love to talk to you yesterday, but there was never a long-enough, quiet moment. Thank you for your messages and prayers. We feel them. XO

SomeLetters

Dear Grampy,

I am writing by dim light on my tiny travel keyboard that always skips the "m's", so this may turn out goofy. I am in a hotel room, half a mile from your hospital bed, and a half mile in the other direction from your home, which is where my heart is--well, part of it, at least. I still get butterflies when I pass the yellow fire station sign and get ready to turn down the street to your house (once my house, too). I called from the road near Flagstaff to check on you today and was surprised when you answered the phone, sounding so normal. The sound of our voice nearly made me cry. It reminded me of one time when you called from Africa, and I did cry for joy at the sound of your voice because it was very much like a "voice from the dust"--you were so far away and I missed you and needed you so much then!

When I came alone to your room tonight, the lights were off and you were asleep, half sitting up with your mouth open a little. Your hair was toussled a bit, with just the silver catching light, and your face was so gaunt from that angle, I did not recognize you. Oh, no, I thought, I'm going to wake this poor little man--I'll go ask where my grandpa is. And then the nurse sent me back to room 8. I went back and looked closer, walking roun to the other side of the bed, and in that light, I saw the rest of your hair, and your soft cheeks and knew it was you. I put my hands on yours and watched you for a minute. You began to struggle to breathe and your mouth seemed dry, so I moved your chin to close your mouth a bit and tried to give you a drop of water. You didn't stir, so I kissed each cheek and told you I love you and hoped you'd make it through the night. Then I walked back out to my family, where my big, sweet husband gave me a big sweet hug that reminded me that I am going to be okay.

I hope I get to see you awake and that you recognize me. I hope you remember all the things I have said before, about how much you have meant to me, how your love gave me the self-respect to make good choices and led me to understand my Heavenly Father's love, and planted the seeds of the testimony I have today that makes me strong. Don't get me wrong--my heart is so heavy thinking of this world without you in it, without our weekly chats and special visits--but I am also excited for you to progress, to graduate from "this mortal coil" and be free from what ails you. God knows you have fought the good fight! I will continue to strive make my life a worthy memorial to you. Your love will always motivate me, no matter which side of the veil you happen to be on.

I'll see ya in the morning, lovey...Love, Jamie.

***

Dear SisterFriends and Mom Melin in Montana,

I would so love to be going through this with you by my side. I miss each of you so much and I am so touched and blessed by your thoughtful words and acts. I listened to my BYU Classic Speeches podcast today on our long drive thru AZ. The talk was from 1964 by apostle GB Hinckley and it was called "How Lucky Can You Be?" Even in this hard time, I truly feel blessed and lucky because there is so much love and so much Spirit in my life, and much of it comes from YOU. You do the errand of angels thing so well!

Love, Jamie
***

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for giving me a Grampy to show me Your love and The Way home. Thank you for giving me a kind and patient husband and brilliant, hilarious children to light up my days. Thank you also for giving me the experience of feeling joy in the temple on Friday, then edifying me with conference on Saturday and Sunday, so that I can face this week with grace. You are always so good to me; you always prepare a way.

Love, Jamie

I have only been facebooking this week. No time! My dear Papa Bill is on his death bed, my mom is at his heels--she is better, but not well. We got home from Utah on Wednesday afternoon, and we are turning around and heading for Tucson tomorrow. Heaven help us...

I have so many beautiful pictures, stories, and conference thoughts to share, but I will be occupied for a while. I'll get online as soon as I can. Happy Easter, dears.

Yesterday we went to the Billings Temple for the wedding of Kim Larson to Matthew Triplett. Rich took pictures and the kids played/ got babysat by Haylee Holm.

James, Addie, & Heidi at teh Billings Temple

What's up with the tilting heads?

See what I mean?

The Billings Temple

The joyfulest bride

a darling couple

(I told Kim she looked just like Elizabeth Bennet...such a great dress!)

I won't share any more pix, but there are tons of great ones.

Congrats, Tripletts!xo