AUNT EVON'S FUNERAL

November 21, 2015

My dear sweet Aunt Evon passed away November 16, 2015. Years and years ago (I think I was in Jr. High) she got breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. She had been cancer free for all those years and just recently was diagnosed with breast cancer in her eye! When we heard about it she was given 10 days to live! My Dad and Mona picked up my mom and Pat Toone (a neighborhood friend) on Sunday to go visit Evon. They were so happy that they did for she passed away early the next morning.

Aunt Evon lived next door to us growing up so we were closer to her than anyone else on my Dad's side of the family. I remember when she was my Young Women's President and going to Girls Camp with her. She was a lot of fun but mostly I will remember her for her sweetness, her mug of hot chocolate she always carried around, and her SOUTHERN SOUP!

Aunt Evon was my Dad's last living sibling and I know that must be hard on him. I dread that day! I'm the youngest sibling and I could one day very well be in his shoes. It would feel very lonely.

Aunt Evon's funeral was held on Steven's Birthday out in West Jordan. We attended her funeral which was very nice. It was fun to hear some of the fun memories of her. I enjoyed listening to my Dad talk about growing up in the back woods (swamps) of Florida, and what they endured growing up and then moving to Utah at age 14. It was a great service.

We will miss Aunt Evon but I am also happy that she is reunited with her husband, Uncle Wayne and her mother and other brothers. What a wonderful reunion that must have been.

I always feel funny taking pics at funerals just because others feel weird about it but I always regret not taking them. I just pulled my cell phone out and took random shots, none very good but here are a few of my Layton cousins and some old 5th ward friends.

Betty Babcock from old 5th Ward showed up and Mom was so excited to see her!

 My cousin Denise Putnam, my Dad, and my cousin Tammy Allred that lives in Washington that I haven't seen in 30 some odd years. She is Aunt Evon's only daughter and just finished going through chemo for breast cancer.

                                 My Mom, cousins Ron Duggar, Shelley and Mike Duggar

                         My cousins Ron and Mike Duggar talking to my cousin Bob Layton.

                                  My beautiful Aunt Evon. May she rest in peace. Love her!

FALL FAMILY PHOTO

November 14, 2015

We went to the Lagoon Trail for our pictures again this year. I wanted a picture on the bridge. Mikell's camera has serious issues and it was frustrating for her while taking our photo's. Her lens is all messed up and so it would take fuzzy pics. We did get some pretty good ones in the mix of the blurry ones. I am so sad that her camera is broken. She does such a great job! Well, here we are! It was quite the challenge trying to get all the kiddo's to cooperate. What a challenge, I tell ya but I just have to laugh as everyone is running around trying to grab a kid and doing everything they can to get them to look at the camera and smile. Super funny memories!

We put the camera on a timer so it's hard not having someone looking through the lens making sure everyone is in place and smiling. Mikell would push the button, then run fast to get in place before the timer goes off!

Ok, this is my favorite pic! These 3 cousins get so excited when they see each other. They are always hugging each other! I was so thankful Mikell was able to catch this one! Oh my heart melts!!

 Wish I was looking up where the kids were looking. This is the only one we could snap with me and the kiddo's.

You gotta look through all of these and look at Remi. He was so funny! He would just do his own thing and he was more excited about throwing the leaves! Waylon looks a little bored and Boston is just doing a great job holding on to Paisley who quickly gets tired of all this!

Mikell took a bunch of photos of her boys before we got there. They are adorable! Man, I love these boys!

 

I love Remington! He is a huge ray of sunshine in my life! 

 The cute Bastian Family. Zach was behind Mikell throwing leaves and being funny so Remi would laugh. Remington loves Zach cuz he is always making him laugh!

 I just can't get enough of this one! His whole face lights up when he smiles. He's got a bad owie on his chin, just in time for pics!

                             I love Waylon and Boston. These two boys bring me so much joy!

 Boston is getting so big! Stop it! This 4 year old is a foot taller than everyone in his Preschool Class. Oh I love him so much! Wish he could stay this age for way longer than a year!

                                                            The Wright's. Love this family!                          

                                                      

                       I love this family! I am so happy The Bastian's came down so I could get a family photo. This cute family makes me so happy!

There were so many pics to choose from it was so hard. Thanks Kell for doing this even though your camera had its issues!

DAD AND MONA'S SEALING

November 14, 2015

Today was a GREAT DAY for our FAMILY! My Dad and Mona were SEALED in the BOUNTIFUL TEMPLE just one day shy of their 7 year Anniversary! We all love Mona and so we are thrilled that we get to keep her in our family for ETERNITY. What a beautiful feeling it was in the TEMPLE as Mona and Dad walked into the SEALING ROOM. Mona had a smile from ear to ear. She was so cute!

I got a little choked up for several reasons;
1. I was so happy for my Dad and Mona
2. I felt my Grandma Duggar (who I have never met before) was there with my Uncle Leonard and Me, Zach and Mikell could all feel Ray was there as well
3. There is no greater feeling of love and gratefulness than having all your children with their spouses worthy to be in the temple with you. I am so thankful for that. Life does not get better than that!

I am so thankful for the TEMPLE and for the SEALING of FAMILIES. I am thankful we will all be together for ETERNITY.

 We all yelled out our Congratulations to the Eternal Newlyweds! This was the best day! So happy for them and for our family!

 I love this pic of Zach and Kell. I took one with their cell phone of them with the Angel Moroni in the back but don't have it to put on this blog. But I love these two. So proud of both of them!

 Kell was so sweet to take a pic with me so I didn't have to stand alone. She's always thoughtful of me! Thanks Kell!

                                                          I love this family of mine!

                                                          So happy for these two!

                                                     My family with the happy couple!

                                Diane's family (Morgan and Andy) with Mona and Dad

                                  Debbie's family (Brody and Jessica) with Mona and Dad

 I am so happy that my Mom and Dad have a great relationship. I am also very grateful that Mona and Mom love each other too!

                                                             A cute Brody and Jessica

                               I love these pics with the Angel Moroni in the background

                                           Dad and Mona...so happy their marriage is Eternal!

                                                I love these two cuties! Andy and Morgan

And Diane too!

 After the temple we went to Applebee's for Lunch. Anna had been watching Ashley's kids so she joined us for lunch when she brought them back down for Ashley.

 These pics didn't really turn out because of the light coming in from the window but I had to document this great occasion!

                               Remi grabbed Lytton's Dr Pepper! He wants the good stuff!

                                             Mikell and Jessica in a great conversation

                                      This little guy cracks me up! I love this little stinker!

Oh can you just say SWEETNESS?! This little cutie is as sweet as they come! Paisley is the happiest little girl 99% of the time. So lucky she's mine!