Annie

Grandma took the girls to Annie

Holland was more than excited

She sung all the songs

Sat on the edge of her seat

and told me how when she grows up she wants

to sing on a stage in front of lots of people

And in good star struck form

we waited in the lobby to meet

the dog

and Annie

Holland bravely waited to tell Annie,

"You did a really good job"

And it just so happens that Daddy Warbucks

is in our Ward

He talked with Holland for a bit and after he walked away,

"I just can't believe it! Daddy Warbucks goes to my church!"

Groupie.

Handsome Man

I love this picture of my Grandpa

and

I love this last picture of my Dad with his Sibs

There is a lot of love in this Garner family

I love knowing that

I love that all my Sibs were there

I love that we all slept in one big room together

(even though we had our own)

and stayed up until I don't really remember falling asleep

laughing and crying and planning

I loved hanging out and catching up and eating treats

with my cousins

and aunts and uncles

and great aunts and great uncles

Garners love their treats

Leslee always made sure Grandpa had his

I loved hearing the stories

from Jo about the tricks and memories and heartaches

they shared

I loved hearing my Dad say that Grandpa was

the best complete father anyone could hope for

I can agree on that....for him and for me

I loved hearing Blair say that Grandpa taught him

to love his wife

That Grandpa and Grandma had quite the

love affair

with each other

I love that Scott threw out a marshmallow egg

to each of his Sibs

Because they were Grandpa's faves

I love that the funeral home let us give

Grandpa one more ride in his pick up truck

He always loved to drive his pick up truck

Fast

Hunched over the steering wheel

Smiling

I love that all of his Grandsons

rode with him

and his Sons

drove him

I love that he received a 21 gun salute

and the dignity that the honor guard gave him

and that now he is resting next to Grandma

I love that the ward made ham for the luncheon.

Since Grandpa was a butcher

He was a ham snob.

He would have loved that ham.

I love that

we drove down to Grandpa and Grandma's house

one last time

and climbed the box car

to scan the property

and looked over the canals

and stood in front of the cow barn

and listened to the birds in the trees

and listened to each other say

'remember....'

And then,

we all (except me because I had to drive)

jumped in back of Dad's pick up truck

and rode down to Kelly's Market

where Grandpa use to work

and where he and Dad always took us for candy

Oh, we got candy too, one last time.

$28 worth

I love this family.

Easter

We love Easter Egg hunts

and got to share ours with the cousins

The Bun Bun brought Holland a hula hoop

and shook her booty all day long!

The Silver Fox

I am kind of excited

for my Grandpa today.

Today, he is with Grandma

and Kathy

who I have never met

but who I love

because she loved my dad

and took care of him

Like Grandma and Grandpa

took care of each other

And can again after 21 years

He has waited for this day for that long

and to be with Kathy for longer.

Grandpa Garner always

smelled like wintergreen lifesavers

buttoned just a few on his shirt and let the breeze flap his tails

always had a crackly fire going

beef barley soup on the stove

banana chocolate chip cookies in the jar

and chocolate cream pie in the cupboard

His silver hair was always combed in waves

His hands were rough and spotted

His boots were always on

Grandpa gave kisses kisses kisses

while he held your chin in his hands

Love was never a question

His eyes were the color I have

His voice was deep and happy and easy going

He taught me how to balance on the

stool while I milked the cow

and laughed while he chased the turkey

around the pen, grabbed it and wacked its head off

all in a few quick strides

And after he and dad cooked a pig under ground

and carried it in on a stick, not forgetting to wedge an

apple in its jaw

Grandpa carved it, soaked the ribs in sauce

and then let the the dutch over do its magic

At 1 am, I stood around the counter with

Him

and

Dad

and Scott

and sucked those ribs clean

All while he licked his lips

and giggled at how good it all was

the ribs and life

He and Grandma were so smooth together

They seemed to know each other's moves

and needs without words

They were always in the kitchen together

Somehow I remember lots of kissing and tush pinches

and laughter

They seemed to do a lot of that

It must feel good for them to be doing that again.

I miss you

but I am so happy for you