Christmas.....

No...I haven't forgotten about this blog. It still crosses my mind every single day. But it's still a little hard to post & talk about my Dad in the past tense. Christmas wasn't easy & definitely not as exciting this year. For the first time in my life...I felt a little bit like Scrooge....it was hard to truly find that "Christmas spirit". As I shopped for presents this year, every time I was in a store the thought "what should I get my Dad for Christmas" popped into my head & then I would remember he was no longer physically here. Christmas morning felt especially unusual...most Christmas mornings I have spent helping & watching Dad cook a big breakfast of sausage, hash browns, eggs, bacon, pancakes, etc. for all of us. This year I sat at a table eating Raisin Bran. It's strange to finally realize how important family traditions are. How much you miss them when they no longer happen. How much I missed my Dad that day. I knew I couldn't give my Dad a physical present for Christmas but I did go to the Farmington City Cemetery on Christmas for the first time since the funeral to wish him a Merry Christmas in Heaven. I really could feel his & my mom's presence there. I have ALWAYS felt my mom's presence there...but it felt so much different there this time...to look at the headstone & see the date of death for my Dad engraved there too...

I looked at the two hands clasped as I stood there crying.....I knew that they were holding eachother's hands in heaven....spending Christmas together again for the first time in 21 years. A feeling of peace came over me & I knew life is the way it should be. I knew that the best present I could give to my Dad is to live my life the way he & my Mom & my amazing step-mom have taught me to live. To live so that I can see them again someday & that we can be an eternal family. My Dad gave me the best present of all...raising me & teaching me to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. & for this I am truly thankful! There is no greater peace than believing & knowing that Families Are Forever & knowing that I can & will see my parents again someday. Thank you Dad! 

I read this Christmas poem a few weeks ago from someone in my ward & I also received it in an email from my Aunt. It hasn't left my mind...so I thought I would share it with all of you. I know Dad had a wonderful Christmas in Heaven!

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,

With tiny lights, like heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear,

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me.  I see the pain inside your heart,

But I am not so far away.  We really aren’t apart.

So be happy for me dear ones.  You know I hold you dear,

And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.

I send you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is the gift, more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.

For I can’t count the blessings or love He has for each of you.

So, have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.

Remember, I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

To listen to the funeral service....

I know there were many of you who were not able to attend the funeral services for our Dad. If you would like to listen to the service you can go to http://www.funeralrecording.com/. In the upper right hand corner click on "Listen to a service". In the search field type in - Osmyn Merritt Williams. Then click play.
This recording will be available to listen to until March 9, 2011.
I will warn you it is a tad long....but that's only because of the amazing person our Dad was & all the wonderful stories the speakers had to share! :)

How blessed we are.....

I know I still haven't posted a more detailed obituary than what was in the paper...I think a small part of that is because my brain has been so tired & hasn't fully comprehended that this has all happened. I know it has...but it's a little weird to talk about my Dad in the past tense. I have lived away from home for about eight years now & so I think the part of my brain that hasn't completely grasped the reality of this all yet is just thinking that he is still sitting at home in his recliner chair watching his favorite TV shows. 

I was reading through a recipe book the other day (a love of cooking that I acquired from my Dad...who was the best cook in the world! I still have some work to do :]) & as I was reading a question came to my mind, I thought, "Oh I can just call my Dad & ask him!" & then I remembered....oh wait....no I can't. It's a good thing I have been blessed with some brothers who inherited the cooking skills my Dad had & I can still call them with my questions! They are the second best cooks in the world!

One thing I have learned through this trial is all of the blessing that come to those who are experiencing grief & pain in this life. It was wonderful to see all of you who came to the viewing/funeral, who have sent cards & messages on facebook & through emails. How blessed I feel to be a part of the West Bountiful 9th ward....they stepped in without any complaint & without even knowing my Dad or the rest of my family & they supplied us with a yummy dinner at the church after the funeral services so that burden was taken off of our own shoulders! We didn't HAVE to have a luncheon but "funeral tradition" around here is to have one & my family is one that likes to eat & spend time together....after the week we had we all needed that time together. How thankful we are to all of you! For the flowers...the money...the hugs...the phone calls....the gifts. How blessed we are to be able to share this life with all of you! 

It's been a few days since I have checked my email....& even looked at this blog...I think last Friday when I posted about the address change was the last time I looked. As I was going through my emails today I came upon this sweet message.....   

"Hi to all of you. My name is Lanny Shea, I was a friend of your Mom and Dad's when you all lived on Broadway and we lived on Sandy Lane. Your father was our home teacher. He was so good to come all the time and to remember birthdays and other happy days in our lives. We spent time with your family on social occasions and just enjoyed the company of you and your fine and wonderful parents. The time I remember most was at an Elder's Quarom social "it was a sock hop" your mom and I had dressed the part and we sang many of the songs that were being played it was so fun.

You are so blessed to have your parents and for them teaching you so well the gospel of Jesus Christ. We all pray for you and we love you and your Mom and Dad so much. You are a good family hang on tight to each other and it will get you through. May the Lord bless all of you, may He send his peace and his comfort to you and may you feel His spirit wrap you in his arms so that you know that he is there with you.  Love Lanny Shea (Lisa Sowards Mom)"

Lanny thank you so much for taking the time to send me that message. I am not sure if I was even born yet when we lived on Broadway but I know there are amazing people, like you, from our past that bless us with the memories we have. You are so right....we truly are so blessed to have the parents we have had & for their teaching us the gospel & being the best examples of the way we should live our lives! I know this & I am thankful every day for them!

I promise, promise promise, I will get a more detailed obituary posted to this blog. & even though my Dad's life has ended I know the stories, pictures & his legacy has not ended. I would like to still share stories & pictures of his life....for if we talk about our loved ones who have passed on, we will never forget them.....& I don't ever want to forget this great man! So please check back often & if you think of any stories or words to share....please feel free to email

jiggyjaydub@hotmail.com

ADDRESS CORRECTION FOR CHURCH LOCATION....

THE CORRECT ADDRESS FOR THE CHURCH SERVICE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2010

1533 N. 1075 W. FARMINGTON, UT

We were given the wrong address for the church. Sorry for any inconvenience & we hope this gets to all you in time!

Work in progress...

I am working on getting a more detailed obituary posted to the blog. Please be patient with me....I have had LOTS to do the last few days. I will get it posted ASAP.
Here is written directions for the mortuary in Farmington....
North Bound I-15:  Take the North Bound Hwy 89 Exit (exit 324) toward South Ogden. Not long after, you will take the Kaysville/Fruit Heights exit (exit 397). Turn left at the light and you will see Cherry Hill on your right and Russon Brothers on your left.

South Bound I-15: You can either take the 200 N Kaysville exit and travel East to Main Street. Turn right on Main Street and go South quite a ways past Davis High School. Keep traveling a ways and eventually you will see Russon Brothers on your right and Cherry Hill on your left before you come to the Hwy 89 overpass.
OR
Travel South on I-15 all the way until the Farmington exit and back track on Hwy 89 North Bound and then take the Kaysville/Fruit Heights exit (exit 397). Turn left at the light and you will see Cherry Hill on your right and Russon Brothers on your left.

*The church for the services on Saturday is just south of Russon Brothers (not the church directly west across the street from the mortuary, but south about a half a mile down the hill.)
**Also the obituary will be in the Deseret News (Thursday paper) & the Ogden Standard Examiner (Friday paper). You can view it online at www.russonmortuary.com & sign a guestbook there as well.
Thank you again to everyone for your wonderful support & prayers at this time! We love you all!!!!!