Giving Thanks

I wrot this blog in the car about 40 miles from Reno, but I'm just getting around to posting it. Better late than never, right?

We had a really great trip to Cache Valley for Thanksgiving, but more importantly to celebrate Lawrence’s grandfather’s 100th birthday. Can any of us imagine living that long? If I were guaranteed that I could live it like Frank Leishman, with my mind intact and my body functioning as well as could be expected for someone of his age, not having to live in a nursing home, I’d be ok with it. You’re never gonna find two people who are more loving, warm, humble, accepting, funny, gospel centered, fun, or hospitable than Grandma and Grandma Leishman . All you have to do is be in a room with their family to know this is true. I always felt like a blood relative at a Leishman reunion.

Our Thanksgiving dinner was just wonderfully delicious. Donnetta does a fantastic job with her Thanksgiving dinner. I am proud to say that although it would have been very easy to eat my self sick, I restrained my self. On Friday we went shopping “because that is what we do when we travel” according to Lawrence. It’s just that there are great stores is Utah that we don’t have in Bakersfield. We HAVE to go to Goessner’s and get squeaky cheese, root beer milk and other goodies. I like to go to Deseret Book and we usually go to the distribution center, but we ran out of time and energy and didn’t make it there. It’s so hard for me to get out shopping at home, that when we travel I have more time and energy to spend shopping so I like to take advantage of the opportunity.

Grandpa Leishman’s 100th birthday party was just wonderful and I got all overklempt. I should have worn waterproof mascara. They played a DVD that was taped previously of Gpa Leishman talking about his memories. One poignant story was of when his mother died young of blood poisoning from stepping on a rusty nail; of how her nine children gathered around her bed weeping as she passed during a lunar eclipse. Just as the sun passed over the moon the light of their lives was extinguished.

One of the cousins, Dana sang some of Grandpa’s favorite songs and she sounded so mush like Grandma Leishman (when she was younger, I’m sure) and she even sang some songs in a “duet” with some of Grandma Leishman’s recorded songs (she passed away this past January). That really made the tears flow freely.

One interesting fact: Grandpa’s brother, Norman, went to Scotland where the Leishman clan originated from. It seems a lot of the early Leishmans were doctors in the time when they use leeches for blood letting. Hence the name Leishman.

Grandpa has been that he wants to live until his birthday and after that, he would be ready to go. To which Lawrence’s Aunt Geniel replied, “It isn’t up to you”. That was quintessentially Geniel. As hard is it will be to let him go, I hope he gets to go be with his precious Nellie before too long. It has been a blessing and a privilege to have known him and Grandma Leishman.
As this is a season for giving thanks, I’ve listed my blessing at right: