Two weeks of family events - Jordan's Homecoming

The day after Joe's funeral we headed south for Elder Ika's homecoming luau and mission report in La Verkin, Utah. Going south from Provo logically means less snow. However, traveling south from Provo one gains altitude before losing altitude and the warmth of St. George. This trip that translated to a blizzard once we hit Beaver. It was slow going but we were glad to be south bound and not north bound on Interstate 15. There were several accidents in the north bound lanes and traffic was at a stand still for miles. More than 30 vehicles were involved in accidents like the one pictured above. It was a mess. We finally left the snow coming down from Cedar City. Now there was rain, not the best weather for a luau. When we arrived, they were setting up tables and chairs in the church.

We had a fun time watching the Ika clan perform dances as well as singing while we enjoyed Polynesian food at the luau. The next morning, also at the church, we were able to listen to Elder Ika report on his mission to the Billings Montana Mission. It was an excellent report.

Jordan is Glen's youngest sister's baby. Wylene was the baby of the family as well. It was a very happy time for her.

Jordan's grandma is in the red jacket. Grandma Ika was the mother of eight sons. All eight sons and many members of their families were in attendance. They had called this special weekend a family reunion and came from throughout the west.

They were trying to gather together all 35 + cousins to take a picture. Grandma Ika told me that she currently has three other grandsons serving missions. The Ikas came from Tonga to Hawaii to work at the Polynesian Cultural Center before moving on to Hawthorne, California and the same LDS ward as the Jensen family growing up.

Proud papa, Oni Ika. He is the second of the eight sons of Anna Ika.

Our baby, Nathan, holding his baby next to Jordan. They, along with Cory Jensen, are the youngest of the Jensen cousins.

Oscar made a beeline for the grassy area south of the church. This is where they had hoped to have the luau the night before. Look at that beautiful sky. What a difference a few hours make.

Oscar and Grandpa Glen get their wiggles out before climbing back into the car.

Grandpa Glen thought that he and the Ika brothers should have had a football game in the rain on Saturday. I guess that was the drill in California. If it rained, everyone met in the park for some muddy football. When he mentioned it Sunday, they were pretty sure that if they had played football it would have only lasted one play.

Our drive back to Provo on Sunday afternoon was beautiful with fluffy clouds. The roads were clear but we could see the marks in the median where the several cars and trucks had landed the day before. It was an eventful 24 hour trip. Welcome home Elder Ika!

Little Free Library

Glen and I will be celebrating our 37th wedding anniversary this week. Our gift to each other was the purchasing of a Little Free Library to place in our front yard. We love books and we love sharing books. While I was in California and Glen was in Utah in March, Glen called me to tell me about a newscast he had seen on the Little Free Library program. Long time partners think alike because I had already torn a page out of a magazine about the same program. We ordered our little library online once we were together again.

The idea is to leave a book and take a book. The grandchildren have been our first patrons.

Julianna demonstrates how to use the Little Free Library. We hope to have it up on a post instead of the bench soon.

She moved a little stool from under the lime tree to make her reading time more enjoyable.

I love this little girl!

Maybe grandma will read this book to me.

She ended up taking three books home with her. I hope she remembers to bring three back.

Today is World Book Night. I wish I had clued in to it earlier. Next year I hope to be on the list of people who receive paperback books to pass out on this night. This year's goal is one million books shared. Please feel free to come on by and check out a book from our Little Free Library.

Two weeks of family events - Joe's Funeral

We returned home from Utah last night. We were able to interact with family on all sides at separate events, the most sobering being that of the funeral of our brother-in-law, Joseph Cappo. We received word of his sudden death on Easter Sunday. He will be missed. Family from across the country arrived to honor his life.

Family members gathered at the church before funeral services including Elma's siblings and Glen's aunts and uncles with spouses.

Joe and Karen, Aunt Reva Norris (Elma's aunt) who is sitting next to Rita and Marvin, Bob and Bonnie. Reva and Rita are just 23 days apart in age as Reva was the youngest of Melissa Smith's children and Rita was the oldest of Melissa's oldest daughter, June's children. Joe and Bonnie are also June's children and Elma's siblings.

Elma's sister, Kathleen, and husband John Petty arrived just minutes later. The only living sibling of Elma not attending was Phil Baker.

Joe's daughters, Kristin and Jolene.

My son, Nathan, holding baby Jack, son of Jared, in the pink tie, and Miriam.

It was a cold and blustery day at the cemetery.


A small storm cell dropping snow remained overhead for a bit causing everyone to cozy up under the awning including John and Melissa, Lisa, and Michelle.

Glen did not cozy up.


Joe talking with Nathan.

Richard holding darling baby Abby, Jolene's husband Randy, and Peggy holding Ryker.

Another sweet Abby, granddaughter of Joe and Peggy.

Shauna, daughter of Joe, with friend. They had driven in from Wisconsin.

Mark with Lisa and Leanna showing us their best faces.


Perhaps these are their best faces. That is Miriam in the white jacket with her back towards the camera.

Amy with daughter Zoe in pink jacket. Mark is in the background and Lisa. Amy and Zoe came the farthest traveling from Rhode Island.

Joe's only son, Shaun traveled from Boston. We all felt he so resembled Joe when young.

Joe's daughter, Kristin, traveled far, too. Is south Florida farther than Rhode Island? Probably so.

Joe's daughter, Stephanie, with her son, Ryker.

Time for dedication of the grave by Joe's brother.

Joe's widow, Peggy, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Peggy had served as Joe's caretaker since an aneurysm burst in his brain at the age of 37 and after just 13 years of marriage. That Joe continued living was a miracle as he was in a coma for several months. The resulting stroke caused paralysis on Joe's left side limiting him in many ways but his great sense of humor and kind ways continued on. He and Peggy would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on May 5th. Joe was looking forward to celebrating that special anniversary with his special one to whom he always expressed his great gratitude.

We last met with this many family members as we honored Grant Ray, Glen's brother, at this same cemetery. Glen's parents are also buried near this spot. We loved them all.

Elder Richard G. Scott shared the following in his General Conference address just a week before Joe left this world.

"Another example of revelation is this guidance given to President Joseph F. Smith: “I believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings. We are not separate from them. … We are closely related to our kindred, to our ancestors … who have preceded us into the spirit world. We can not forget them; we do not cease to love them; we always hold them in our hearts, in memory, and thus we are associated and united to them by ties that we can not break. … If this is the case with us in our finite condition, surrounded by our mortal weaknesses, … how much more certain it is … to believe that those who have been faithful, who have gone beyond … can see us better than we can see them; that they know us better than we know them. … We live in their presence, they see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever. For now they see the dangers that beset us; … their love for us and their desire for our well being must be greater than that which we feel for ourselves.”¹

Relationships can be strengthened through the veil with people we know and love. That is done by our determined effort to continually do what is right. We can strengthen our relationship with the departed individual we love by recognizing that the separation is temporary and that covenants made in the temple are eternal. When consistently obeyed, such covenants assure the eternal realization of the promises inherent in them."

Grandpa's little helper

It was Toby's turn to spend the night at the grandparents' house. He and Grandpa Glen ate pizza and watched Tin Tin Friday night, but on Saturday morning it was on to chores.

Grandpa came into the house where I was cleaning and told me to grab my camera because Toby was going to mow the grass for the first time ever!

First he would need to start the mower.

Then he would have to push hard.


Grandpa stepped in to provide a bit of guidance.

Looking good Toby.

This was my final picture, but he finished it all up.

Then it was on to the back where he was put in charge of fishing out the bougainvillea petals from the pool.

That's one handsome little helper.

There were many petals. He filled that big flower pot.

Looking good Toby. You are welcome back anytime.

Polka dot bathrobes

The oldest girlies had Good Friday off from school so came for a sleepover on Thursday night. They LOVE spending time with each other. This visit the surprise was new bathrobes for their American Girl dolls. Heather had mentioned last visit that her dolls needed a bathrobe. When patterns are only 99 cents at JoAnn's, I buy up the doll patterns. I had two in my stash for bathrobes and selected the Butterick.

I came across a pink polka dot fleece remnant at a very good price at JoAnn's. I soon discovered it was only big enough for one bathrobe. Fortunately, the week before their visit, fleece went on sale and I found that there were more colors in polka dot. The girls were DELIGHTED!