Streaks of sun through darkness

 It’s been a heavy week. 

It started out nicely with Glen being on the news for some of the good he is doing at his school. It was definitely not because he promoted it. Here is the short segment. 

He also was interviewed by a different news channel for a short radio segment because of the first interview.  It is way more spotlight than he likes. 

Next was parent teacher conferences for high school and middle school. I helped with the dinner for the teachers at the high school and met with Lucy’s teachers. I am so thankful for them and the good they do for her and all the other kids in the school. Later in the week I met with some of Daryl’s teachers, just the few I hadn’t met. They are doing great things as well. 

Tuesday night there was also a combined youth activity. The goal was to heart attack five houses in our ward. It was an adventure. It all happened but I decided that kind of activity needs to be carried out in a different way with the group of younger young men we have. :/ 

Then dark skies covered our sky. In the span of about 48 hours, five people we know died. It started on with my Uncle Bill, my dad’s oldest brother. His passing was the only one somewhat expected because of his long term health problems. Then our neighbor’s twin sons, Josh and Jake, that were Glen’s age,  left life by suicide.  Multiple police cars are not what you want to see at your neighbor’s house. 

Next we heard of Joel passing in a motorcycle accident. And finally an email was sent out from Riverton High saying a student, Joshua Kochever, had passed away by suicide. I worked with his mom is Stake sports for years and before that she was a coach for me when I was in young women’s growing up for a short time. 

Though we were not very close to any of those that left, they were in our bubble of people. It was a lot of loss. 

With heavy hearts, we carried on through the rest of the week. The weekend spreading us out over multiple states. Lucy flew out to Arizona for a volleyball tournament.  I drove to Idaho, with my sisters, on Saturday for Uncle Bill’s funeral. Lilly went on a planned trip to the Grand Canyon with roommates. Glen and the younger kids filled in the potato cellar that was in the back of the garage. 

It was a great drive to Idaho riding with Marian and Ali. Getting to spend a day with them doesn’t happen too often and driving gives plenty of opportunity for visiting. It was so good to see so many of my cousins. I remember making many trips to the Blackfoot, Idaho area through out my childhood to visit. All but one of Uncle Bill and Aunt Bonnie’s kids were older than me Abe was the same age. I have good memories of those cool older cousins being friendly and either trying to include me in things or being great teases. Besides Uncle Bill’s kids, Rachel, Thad, Ben, Sarah, Josh and Abe, and their families, three of Uncle Ren and Aunt Paula’s kids were there, Jake, Sam and Tarmy. It’s the best family reunion on the Egbert side, we have had since the last family funeral. :)  

Lilly + the Grand Canyon

Filling the potato cellar project required using Grandpa Egbert’s equipment. It wasn’t too hard for Glen and Daryl to decide to do it. 

Success! 

Grandma Richins hung out with Ruth and Beth on Tuesday while Glen was at his school for PTC and the rest of us had the youth activity. 

Displays from Uncle Bill’s funeral.

The black and white picture is of my Grandma and Grandpa Egbert’s farm. It was taken by my cousin Jake who is a photographer as well as a finance guy. I think everyone in my family that was there asked to get a print of it. It brings back many good memories. 

Uncle Bill was a bow tie wearer. I don’t think I ever saw him with a regular tie if he was dressed up. 

Abe placing his pallbearer flower with Garrett and Rachel Pallo and Aunt Bonnie sitting in the chairs. 

 Most of the siblings and spouses. From left to right- my mom, my dad, Uncle Aaron, Aunt Melanie, Aunt Susan(kneeling), Uncle Rennald, Aunt Paula and Aunt Bonnie(Bill’s wife). Aunt Kristine (Aaron’s wife) was there but couldn’t be found for the picture. Aunt Megan and Uncle Jeff couldn’t make it from Washington. 

This is Uncle Rennald and Aunt Paula with Three of their four kids. When they were talking I was reminded at how lucky I am to see my siblings and parents so often.  In the last year they said they have seen each other more than in the decade before that. 

Marian, Jed and Ali talking with Aunt Kristine

To end on a lighter note, AI created some interesting pictures of Glen.