Oh death, where is thy sting...

We both knew it could happen while we were on our mission.  My mother, Helen Gubler Squire passed away on 16 October 2014.  I think there may be something wrong with me because I only find joy and peace in her passing.  I blame my mom for this, she blessed me with a rock solid testimony of the plan of salvation, so I know where she is and I know she is happy.  Tears do come when I think of the reunion of mom with her two children, Kirk and Krystal on the other side of the veil.  She was a good woman and while suffering from Alzheimers the last few years, I know her disease was more for us than for her.  She lived a good life and was able to look past resentment and jealousy the way the Savior taught us until the disease started to take her mind away.  I think the disease was also a test for my Dad.  He refused to even consider, except on really hard days, putting her somewhere else where they could give her care.  He would have his bad days caring for mom when she wasn't able to hold her bodily functions but would be back to expressing his great love for her an hour later.  I love that man and say "well done thou good and faithful servant."

I have wonderful bothers and sisters that have cared for mom and dad and I know they will continue to do so now that dad will be alone.  I have so much to be thankful for with the heritage from my own parents and my grandparents.  I love how being raised in LaVerkin built such strong individuals.  I could go from one grandparent home to another in a three minute walk.  Can you say lots of treats!  My mom was a wonderful homemaker and would make home made bread a couple of times a week and clean the house top to bottom every week.  She later complimented my wife for spending time with the kids and letting some of the small things go to spend time with the kids.  She recognized the importance of spending time with your children.  You would not find a more fierce protector of her children.  My fourth grade teacher did not figure I had much going for me, go figure :).  My mom lit into her and would never let another child go into her classroom.  Don't mistake that for letting us children not take responsibility for inappropriate actions, I had a lot of those as well and suffered the consequences, yikes! I have a mom that fasted and prayed for a wayward son for several consecutive days.  She knew one day would not be enough so she went the second, third, fourth and fifth mile in my behalf. 

When we are home we have all our children and grandchildren over to our home every other week.  Where do you think we learned that little trick?  I think of all the good traditions and parent skills that we have done as parents and we got many of them from the example of our parents.  While I will not be there for her funeral, I will be praying for my dad and my bothers and sisters with their spouses and my children, her grandchildren,  to find peace and comfort. I already know mom is happy and at peace.

Here she is in her past days of glory celebrating Cheryce's 5th birthday.

This was a photo when we were living in an apartment in SLC that mom and dad owned.

She loved boating as long as her children were there with her.  She liked to remind everyone that she was the first one to ski behind the new boat. I feel the same way.  It had to be hard because she was wearing her Levis.  We spent a lot of summers at Lake Powell.

One last one and this is precious to me and not just because of the heavenly glow all around them :).  The girls were able to go and see their grandma one last time last week .  Rachelle played the piano and they sang some songs.  When she was done she started to shut the piano.  Mom: "don't you shut that keyboard," so they sang and played a few more songs.  Feisty to the end!

Take care mom, see you on the flip side.  Go ahead and help where needed when you see the need.  "Oh death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:55, 57)