Love to run

Kevin has always loved to run. He ran all four years of highschool cross country and track. I've never really understood his passion for running but I've always been so proud of him for doing it. Kevin has run in a half marathon this year and a 5 and 10k. He is training for the St. George Marathon this fall.

Kevin has passed his love of running to Stacie. She just finished running her second 5K and got her personal best time today. I'm so proud of you Stacie. I don't quite know how Kevin convinced you that this is fun....but you seem to be enjoyng it.

Kevin was first place for his age group in a race he ran a few weeks ago. You're awesome bud! Way to go.

Almost Finished!

Carolyn started her practicum this week. She is teaching second and third graders down in Spanish Fork. I can't believe she is almost done and will recieve her degree. I'm so excited for her. She is going to be such an excellent special education teacher. Kids adore her because she is so much fun. I remember watching her as she competed in Special Olympics on the unified softball and bowling teams. Those athletes loved her. They would see her in a store months later and yell out to get her attention. Of course if she saw them first she was the one yelling across the store. I know....hard to believe from such a shy quiet girl.....ha ha. She has genuine love for people with special needs. I am so glad she decided to pursue a career in an area that will bless her life as well as those she teaches. Way to go Bug. December is just around the corner.....and then the new adventure begins. Good luck with your teaching. I sure love you and I'm so proud of you.

Kleenex anyone?

I've been meaning to blog about senior night for baseball for a few weeks but things got a little hectic around here when dad took a turn for the worse. So, now I'm playing catch up with the blog. Chris pitched a few innings of relief on senior night. He played right field for the chiefs this year and he was their middle reliever on the mound. When Blaine got hurt Chris had to be the starting pitcher in a few games. He had a really good season on the mound. He really perfected his curve ball and it was really difficult to hit. Even the state champion Richland bombers couldn't hit his curve.

Mom sneaking a kiss

Senior night was rather emotional. One of the mothers did some calculating and figured that since these kids started playing allstars together when they were 11 that they have played about 700 games. That is a lot of baseball. We have traveled all over the state and into Idaho and Oregon for summer ball. There were 7 seniors on the Moses Lake Highschool varsity team this year. All seven are the baby in the family. So, lots of moms tearing up on senior night. We decided we could have been a kleenex commercial. Thanks Chris for all the wonderful years and memories we will cherish of watching you on the field. You played with all your heart.

Well, bring on more kleenex. Tonight my baby graduates from highschool. I just don't know where the time went. It passed so very quickly. Somewhere between the swimming pool and the ball field he grew up and is ready to leave the nest. Not sure that I am as ready as he is but I'm excited for him as he will head off to college and room with one of his best friends. He is also excited about filling out his paperwork for his mission. He is taking steps to prepare spiritually and he has grown so much as he prepares. Chris has been an absolute joy in our home. He fills our home with laughter. He sent me a text the other day and said he thought he was predestined to bring laughter to the Jackson house. I think he's right. His wonderful sense of humor has brightened our lives. What a blessing he has been and what a joy it has been raising him. I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father entrusted him to our care. Way to go Chris! You are about to begin a new journey in your life. Remember who you are....and remember that we love you very much and we are so proud of the man you have become. Good luck buddy roo. We are always going to be right here if you need us. Now spread your wings.

A Fitting Tribute

Dad's service was just beautiful. The speakers were wonderful. Scott did a great job giving the life sketch and Tom told wonderful stories about his father. Kelly paid a wonderful tribute to her grandfather. Les was the concluding speaker and he spoke about Bishop Jackson. It was very moving. The music was beautiful. Sonia Butterfield sang an unaccompanied solo of "Oh my Father" It gave me chills. The Dodgen sisters sang a trio that was so pretty. I think dad would have approved of the service. We laughed a lot at the funny stories....and also cried a lot. The grandchildren sang the closing song "I am a child of God" By the final verse most of them had tears streaming down their face. Oh how they loved their dear grandpa Jackson.




Grandpa was known as the tootsie roll grandpa. He gave those candies out to every little kid in the ward, the store, or anywhere he came into contact with him. We had bowls of tootsie rolls at the guest book and Scott tucked one in dad's hand.

The military service at the cemetery was very moving. As taps began to play everything became so quiet. It was almost a sacred feeling as those soldiers folded the American flag with taps playing in the background. I had no idea they were presenting the flag to Scott. What an honor for him. As they presented the flag the sailor looked right into Scott's eyes and said "On behalf of the President of the United States I would like to thank you for your fathers service to this country." I don't remember the rest....I was crying to much at this point. It was just so moving....and so well deserved by a man who loved his country and was willing to die to protect it. Thank you dad for your service during the WWII.

Thought I would include some pictures from the cemetery that I took yesterday.

This was the beautiful hearse that carried dad to the cemetery.

The pallbearers were some of Lloyds grandsons. Kevin and Chris are on the end.

Sailor in the United States Navy Honor gaurd.

Preparing to fold the flag.

Scott with all of his brothers and sisters.

Scott having a last and quiet moment with his father.

We are all so happy that dad's suffering has ended....but we will miss him terribly. What a presence he has been in our lives. What a blessing for my children to have grown up right next door to this remarkable man they call grandpa. Since dad was in the nursing home Chris was assigned to take the sacrament to his grandpa every sunday. It was such a great opportunity for Chris. Well, this Sunday.....Chris's last Sunday as a priest.....he knelt for the final time to bless the sacrament in our ward....as he began the prayer his voice cracked and I knew he was having a struggle. He continued the prayer very slowly. When he arose from the table he had tears coming down his face. Other is the congregation were also crying. The spirit in that meeting was so strong. Chris was also the concluding speaker at sacrament on Sunday. At the end of his talk he paused and said "I think it is a good idea to pay tribute to my grandfather. I used to always be jealous when I was growing up that so many people called him grandpa. He was my grandpa and I didn't want to share him. Now that I've grown I am thankful to have a grandpa that so many others wanted to have him for a grandpa." We will miss you Dad. You will be in our hearts forever.

Lloyd George Jackson

Thanks for all the nice comments. Thought I would post the information about the funeral and dad's obituary. Save me a little time this way. It has been a whirlwind here. I think we will collapse after it is all over....except we can't....we have to still get through graduation.

So many things are falling into place that are giving us comfort. We wanted to have a military honor guard at the cemetery to honor dad for his service in WWII. In order to have that you must have the discharge papers. Are you kidding me? Mom has been gone for 6 1/2 years....she would have been the best one to ask. The next best would have been dad. How the heck were they going to find the paperwork. Scott remembered seeing it out in the office in the filing cabinet a few years ago. They started there. Not a military paper in sight! Went through the legal documents in the house. They couldn't find it and Scott was really sad about that. They gave up. Scott walked in and looked around in dads bedroom and had some memories....and he saw an envelope.....opened it up.....and DISCHARGE PAPERS! So, dad will be properly honored for his service in the United States Navy. It has brought us great comfort.

I just returned from the funeral home where Scott and his brother Tom dressed dad. He looks so much younger. He was pretty beat up from all the falls and the struggle he had the four days before he passed. He look amazing. He even has a smirk on his face.....just the way I remember him. He was quite the prankster.

August 14, 1917 - May 28, 2009Obituary: Lloyd George Jackson, 91, passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2009. He was born in Sutherland, Utah on August 14, 1917 to George and Rhoda Jackson. He was married to Melba Robinson on January 23, 1945. Lloyd enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1940 and served in the South Pacific during WWII. In 1951, Lloyd and Melba moved from Delta, Utah to Moses Lake, Washington. He founded and operated Jackson Electric and worked as an electrical contractor for over 40 years. Lloyd was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in numerous church positions throughout his lifetime, including twice as a Bishop in Moses Lake. He had a great love and concern for children, his own and any he would happen to greet at church or around town. They returned that love for him and he was highly regarded as a grandpa to more than just his own grandchildren. He spent his free time riding mules, working in his garden, and taking care of others' needs. Lloyd is survived by his children David and Sharon (Widdison), Susan Pahl, Bina Jean and Charles Virgin, Robert and Kim (Breuninger), James and Cindy (Carpenter), Thomas and M'Lee (Holmes), and Paul Scott and Chandra (King); 26 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. Those preceding Lloyd in death are his parents, George and Rhoda Jackson, his beloved wife, Melba, and his eight brothers and sisters. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 1st at the Moses Lake LDS Stake Center on Division Street. The family will greet friends at Kayser's Chapel of Memories on Sunday, May 31st from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and also at the church on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to your favorite children's charity in Lloyd's memory. Visitations: 4:00PM to 6:00PM on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at Kayser's Chapel of Memories (map/driving directions)9:00AM to 9:45AM on Monday, June 1st, 2009 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Stake CenterServices: 10:00AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Stake Center on Monday, June 1st, 2009

Gone Home

When we visited dad on his last good day this past Saturday we walked into the nursing home with my friends Les and Janine. They are very dear friends of dads. As soon as we walked in dad reached for Janines hand and said "I want to go home." Well, after quite a struggle dad has gone home. He had a rough day yesterday. Very restless. We got a call at 5am yesterday and dad had partway fallen out of bed and had his head wedged between the bed rail and the mattress when the nurse checked on him. I broke down and cried at that moment. Had much more did he have to suffer? Scott ran right up to there and I followed close behind. Scott spent about 14 hours up there yesterday and I was by his side for most of them. We left around 10:30 to get just a few hours of sleep. We left dad in very loving hands. His grandaughter Kelly sat at his bedside holding his hand through the night. When we left dad's breathing was still very strong. Both Scott and his brother that is the doctor said he would make it through the night. Well, dad always did like to be in charge and have things his way. Kelly called at 2:45 this morning to let us know that dad had just slipped away. When we arrived and I walked in the room my face was flooded with tears.....but tears of joy. His struggle was over. He looked so peaceful. He was in the loving arms of his dear sweet wife....and he had many siblings that have waited so long for him to arrive. Dad was the last of all of his brothers and sisters to go. I am sure there was a joyous reunion this morning. I am so thankful for the gospel and for a knowledge that he is safely home after a valiant journey in this life. He was a remarkable man....and an amazing father and grandfather. He filled such a whole in my heart when I lost my dad. I couldn't have hand picked a better grandfather for my children. Chris has had the amazing opportunity these past three months of administering the sacrament to dad up at the nursing home. He would kneel at his bedside and whisper the prayer into his ear. It is something that seemed to calm dad and it is a memory that Chris will forever cherish. Welcome Home Dad. Welcome Home. I love you.

A little weary

As I was walking in for my missionary meeting on Sunday I met up with my hubby. He said the Nursing home had just called and dad had taken a downturn. The night before he was quiet but up in his wheelchair and we took him outside and fed him a blizzard. Well, he refused breakfast sunday morning and they couldn't bring him around for lunch. So....we went straight to the nursing home. Dad was weak. He would open his eyes for short moments....but didn't say anything. We went and got Scott's brothers. We spent 11 hours up there on Sunday. Memorial Day brought about the same results. Very weak. Finally got a bit of soup and juice down him at dinner. My brother in law Jim rushed up from Boise where he was visiting his brand new grandson that had been born the night before......Congrats Leslie and Matt. He gave dad a beautiful blessing. Talked about how valiant he had been. Told him how many people were anxiously awaiting his arrival on the other side. It was an emotional blessing....but it also gave each of us great peace. I went and sat with dad this morning for three hours. Normally the room is crowded with family but today it was just me and dad. He was very restless. Opened his eyes about every five minutes and asked for help....but then would close them again. If I held his hand and stroked his hair he would settle down. Once he was getting agitated and I took his hand and told him "It's okay dad. I'm right here with you." He took my hand to his mouth and kissed it and whispered "I love you" That made the whole morning worthwhile. The nurse finally gave him some valium and he calmed down allowing me to run home for a couple hours. It is so hard to see him struggling this way. My faith is taking a beating the last couple of days. We are all praying that the Lord will release him from his earthly body and let him go home to be with mom. It is heartbreaking to see him. We just sit there....but it is so emotionally exhausting. He is such a good man. So many people in this town love and admire him. I pray that the Lord will bless him for his goodness and bring him home.