Grandpa Downs passed away in 2001 - I was 10 years old. I remember going over to Grandma and Grandpa's house often while mom visited. Grandpa always had his peppermint ribbon candy and bowls of brightly-colored licorice that he would share with us. I remember sitting on his lap and poking his nose, or squeezing it together. Each time Grandpa would make a silly sound -- a "boop", a "beep", a "bawp" -- and we'd erupt in laughter. Grandpa loved fishing and we used to go camping with them a lot. Sadly, I don't remember a lot of details about those adventures, but I remember him sitting and fishing and helping to teach us kids how too. Grandpa also loved to garden! He had the most beautiful, award-winning garden. I remember he would come over in the Spring and Summer to help mom plant her garden. He was an amazing Grandpa, and the first person close to me that I ever lost to death. I remember that even after he had moved on, he didn't feel far away. I remember sitting in my bed at night, crying, and thinking that he was still so close to me, that Heavenly Father wouldn't let him stay far away from his family.
Grandma Downs passed away on May 2, 2015 - I was 23 years old. My most vivid memories are the more recent memories I've made with her over the past few years, but I remember going to visit grandma and grandpa when I was little. While mom visited, Kristy and I would open up the toy closet and play with all of the random toys. My favorite was the marble track where you'd race marbles down one zig-zagging track to the floor. I remember one visit inparticular when mom was a little more set on what time we got to Grandma's, only to find out that we weren't just visiting but mom was taking us all out to get our flu shots. I absolutely hate needles and I remember feeling so sad that I'd been tricked to get mine done. I was really scared as we went in and so I cried (I probably was old enough not to cry). Grandma has teased me about it for years, even when we visited with her last fall before we moved to Virginia... I'll never live it down! I remember all of the parties grandma threw, even when it would have been so much easier to not have them. I remember the Thanksgiving and Christmas parties in her basement and I remember when our family started getting too big that you'd practically have to carve a way to the food table. I remember celebrating Easter in grandma's backyard every Easter Saturday where we'd have a BBQ with all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins. Grandma would make Jello Eggs which were my absolute favorite! I was always so excited, hoping she would make them. I remember camping and fishing with her and grandpa and seeing a deer while driving home in Grandpa's blue truck. I remember going over to help rake leaves and how the chore turned into so much fun jumping into them instead.
I remember when Grandma started to not do so well. Kristy and I went to visit with her while her kids had a family council. Grandma loved my purse so much and almost kept it as her own. I remember going over to visit grandma more and more at her home, at Orchard, and at Summerfield. I remember how blessed I felt to live in her home for the first year and a half of my marriage. It was such a sweet experience to live in my Grandma's home where she raised such amazing people in my family. I remember gardening in the same garden that my Grandpa used to tend to. I remember how supportive Grandma was coming to hear me sing in choir concerts, in church, and how she always loved when Justin and I would sing for her in her room at Summerfield. Grandma taught me so much about how to serve and how to do it with genuine love. She was such a talented, amazing woman of strength...and super, super funny! She was an amazing grandma and I'm grateful for every day I had her in my life.
Grandpa Benson passed away in 2014. The stroke that put him in the hospital was completely unexpected and an event that strengthened the Benson family tenfold. I remember when I first met Grandpa Benson at Kirk and Kathy's home. He introduced himself to me as "Grandpa Blue Eyes" and Grandma Benson as "Grandma Hunny". I didn't know he was kidding so the next time I saw him I called him "Grandpa Blue Eyes" and it made him light up. Haha, I guess he was always trying to get people to call him that but no one ever did. Grandpa Benson was a talented man. He published Time Sensitive Journals, was diligent about sending special food for thought quotes and scriptures to every member of his family each day, and was a talented painter. I remember he showed Justin and I his work in the basement of his home in South Orem. The paintings were beautiful and so unique. He told us that he would paint us one for our wedding. This is the painting he gave to us:
He painted the waterfall where Justin proposed to me. His painting now hangs in our home, with the reminder of his love for his family with it. I remember when he dropped it off at our house, I had just returned home from work and saw him parked outside our house (Grandma Down's house) across the street. I went inside and through the window saw him walk to our porch. I waited for him to knock on the front door, but he didn't. He opened the screen door, gently placed the painting down, and turned to walk away. Immediately I pulled the door open to catch Grandpa trying to sneak away. I picked up the beautiful painting and told him how
amazing I thought it was, and how happy I was that he’d done this for us. He
seemed embarrassed with the praise, but I gave him a hug and a beautiful smile
spread across his face. I won’t ever forget that smile. I am so glad I opened
the door. I wish I had more experiences with him.
These are our flowers for you on this day to thank you for the smiles you've given us, the love you've shared, and the lives you lived. We love you!
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