Last Saturday I started off the week by deciding to slip on a melted ice cube that was dropped and forgotten on the floor and broke my toe nail from the cuticle up and possibly damaging some ligaments in my big toe. I was unable to put pressure on my whole foot for almost 2 days and was on crutches until my arms hurt so bad it took my mind off my foot. I wasn't going to let it get me down though, I had a lot going on and I wasn't going to sit on the couch and cry about it. Sunday I went to church and taught my Sunbeams and then went to Temple Square with my family and my parents to see Sister Hale sing in the Assembly Hall with the Temple Square Sister Missionary Choir. All of the leaving sisters got to sing a solo and/or a duet with their companions. It was beautiful music. As you can see, I started off the evening on crutches. See my mom in the background? She is asking the Senior Elder for a wheelchair (I think she knew how bad my arms were hurting). So I was wheeled into the Assembly Hall by my want-to-be-race-car-driver children, who where very excited to be taking turns pushing me around. It's a good thing there weren't very many people in our line of fire...crazy drivers!
I had never been in the Assembly Hall, for some unknown reason. It is as beautiful as the Tabernacle, not as big, but still as beautiful. The organ pipes are beautiful, as are the stained glass windows. All of these pictures, by the way, are courtesy of my dad's photo skills. I had a hard time carrying my camera, so I let the urge pass and gave up the photo taking to my dad.
After the concert we had the opportunity to visit with Sister Hale and some of her dear friends and companion Sisters. She introduced us to everyone she could as she relished in the moment. She even took Kendrie and Kortlan on a private tour of roped off areas in the balconies. It was cute to see them sneaking up the stairs all hunched over like they were trying to hide.
She would be leaving in 3 days from this place she called home for almost 18 months. Happy, excited, eager to get on with the rest of her life, and yet sad and heartbreaking. Friends and memories that will stay with her forever.
Mom and I turned my car into a RM Transportation Vehicle the night before we picked up Sister Hale from her apartment in Salt Lake. Where were these window paint pens when I was in High School? It would have been a whole lot easier to decorate for games!
Anyway, we painted the windows and made bows for the doors and mirrors that would be put on after the drive to Salt Lake. It was more fun then trashing cars at a wedding reception (good practice though, hee, hee! Hey, I'm just sayin'...).
Once we got to Salt Lake, we pulled over just down the street from her apartment and "bowed" up the car, we then put the sun roof back and blasted "I Hope They Call Me on a Mission" from the RM soundtrack all the way up the street until we saw her...
Standing outside the building with the custodian who was keeping her company while she was waiting for us. He liked the music and even did a little dance to it.
After the greetings of hugs and kisses were exchanged came they fun part...the unloading of the apartment and the loading of the car. With a little limp and shuffle on my part, we made it up to her room and (thank goodness!) made it down the elevator without incident. Bring on the baggage!
Kortlan was happy to be in the back with all the balloons and had himself a little party kicking them around and screamin' yahoo every now and then. We all were though, we would just look over at Kourtney and Yahoo! every now and then. Welcome back, Kourtney! Temple Square just won't be the same without you there. So you better move here so we can go visit it together :)
On Monday, Jan. 14th, my mom called to let me know that my Aunt had found my Grandma Hale unconcious on the floor of her Rigby, Idaho home. They rushed her to the hospital and found that she had had a massive stroke and that it would only be a week or so before she passed. Wednesday morning we were told that she wasn't going to make it another day. We pulled the kids out of school and drove to Idaho Falls to say goodbye. We returned home late that night and Thursday morning she let go and was reunited with Grandpa, who had been gone for 20 years. Friday we drove back up there to be with my family and on Saturday we had the privilage to go through the Rexburg Temple Open House. Although it was below 10 degrees outside, the warmth and beauty of the Lord's house gave me comfort in knowing that I would see my Grandma again. She is happy where she is and she is at peace. In 6 degrees on Monday morning, amoungst the clear blue skies of Idaho Falls we buried Grandma next to Grandpa and said goodbye. During the funeral services, my sisters Kari and Kourtney and I were asked to read memories of Grandma that family and friends had put down on paper. I had a hard time trying to come up with a specific memory of my Grandma to share. After a long time thinking, this is what I remember: holding her hand as she listened intently to the stories of our lives. Her soft hand on my arm as she responded with wise and whitty comments. A kitchen drawer always filled with vanilla cream sandwich cookies, frozen milk, and every National Geographic Magazine ever published. Although she couldn't see us, she could hear very well and always welcomed us with a big happy smile and a pat on the cheek. 
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