Ty's Bday

Ty's bday was in October. I surprised him with what was suppose to be a Jeep cake. But seriously it turned out horrible. In the middle of frosting it I just said, "Screw it!" and didn't even finish! He had a yellow Jeep a few years ago.Check out that artriculation!
Ty really liked it though. I had some people comment on how they thought it was a short school bus. But whatever..I tried!

Antelope Island

We took a family trip to Antelope Islnd during General Conf. I had never been there before and I've lived here my whole life! It was a really cloudy and stormy day but the weather over there was beautiful! We also had just gotten a new camera and wanted to test it out!It was cold! There are 4 animals in the backdround.

On the way home:

Great News

So to those who don't know, I thought I would let you in on something going on in the Parkin family, we are getting ready to go to the Temple and be sealed as a family! Yay!

We had family and close friends over this past week to make Ty an Elder. It is so nice to have the Priesthood in our home. Even though it's only been a couple of days, I seriously can feel a difference! We should be all set to go in a couple of months! See--if you keep praying, keep having faith, keep having hope you will receive the answer to your prayers!

Cipher in the Snow

I recently found the dvd of the classic church dvd "Cipher in the Snow". On the dvd case there is an image of a bus from the show. Nick always grabs it and says, "Buh...Buh.." meaning bus. He wants to watch Cipher in the Snow all the time. He likes the bus part and the ambulance part. But his favorite part is when the kid gets off the bus at the very beginning and falls into the snow and then it pauses on him hitting the snow for added drama...he always laughs! It's suppose to be a sad part but he just laughs.
I have a great history with Cipher. See- I grew up being a cipher myself. I watch that movie and see him playing by himself and other kids ignoring him, I can relate. Even now when I am grown up I still am a cipher.
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When I was a teenager, my brother and I use to pass eachother notes and silly drawings to eachother during sacrement meeting. One Sunday, Cipher in the Snow was our subject. I came up with this poem:

Ode to Cipher in the Snow
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There was a kid who didn't feel to well
He got off the bus and he fell
And nobody did know
That he was the Cipher in the Snow
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There was a kid who went to a dance
He put on his corduroy pants
He only stayed by the door
He fell again and became the Cipher on the dance floor
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But this time he didn't get up
He decided to just give up
And so he got to be buried
And became the Cipher in the cemetery
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Good Bye

Last week was my Grandpa's funeral. My brother came down from Oregon for it. It was so great to have the family all together! That doesn't happen very often.

My brothers

Mike, Dave, Chris, and Steve

My brother, Steve, had back surgery a few weeks ago and he could hardly walk so we were way happy he made it out.

My grandpa and my dad. THis was taken a couple weeks before he died.

There was a display of pictures and things at the viewing. I lost it when I saw this display. My grandpas cane, hat and sweater he always wore.

72+ great grandchildren

my dad and his siblings. They grew up singing hymns so there was a lot of nice music that day.

My bro Mike was a pallbearer. He's 2nd from the last.

We were standing at the grave. We were all singing but I just couldn't!

All 35 grandkids! I'm on the front left.

It was a nice time with family. It was probably the last time the Luker extended family will ALL be together. It's sad to see that chapter of my life close. I had a lot of spiritual experiences and feelings that I will carry with me all my life from that day.

Grandpa's Obit

IRVIN LUKER

1914 - 2009
Irvin Kenneth Luker, age 95, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2009, at the home of his daughter, Ramona Watson, in Smithfield, Utah.Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to all, Irvin was born in Bountiful, Utah, on March 1, 1914, the son of William and Charlotte Ann Littlewood Luker. He had two brothers, William and Howard, and five sisters, Marie (Clough), Mabel (Armitage), Florence (Bain), Irene (Henderson), all of whom are deceased, and Deane (Knoles), who survives him and lives in Lehi, Utah. Irvin lived his whole life in the northwest section of Salt Lake City, where he served for 15 years in the Bishopric of the 29th Ward, and then in the Riverside Stake Presidency for 10 years. He worked as a watch repairman at Daynes Jewelry in downtown Salt Lake for 19 years, and then opened his own business, Rose Park Jewelry, on 500 North in 1959. He was very involved in civic and political activities throughout his life, and had a particular concern for moral issues confronting this country. He spent the last 33 years of his life doing all he could to protect the lives of unborn babies. Irvin married Afton Reid on Sept. 8, 1937, in the Salt Lake Temple. She preceded him in death in 2002. He is survived by their eight children: Leone (George) Medley; Irvin Kenneth, Jr. (Linda); Jerold Ernest (Lynn); Gordon William (Marlene); Ramona (John) Watson; Roy Douglas (Ellen); Mary Elva (Randy) Holt; and LaDawn (Steven) McNeal. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Elna Luker and Rachel Nelson, 38 grandchildren and 78 great-grandchildren. His many descendants will always remember Grandpa's ready sense of humor, his "airplane rides" and paper boat races on the river, as well as his wise counsel and insightful analysis of world events. He and Afton set a great example of Christian service to their community and loved ones. This legacy will be cherished by the entire family. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon on Monday, November 9, 2009 in the Riverside Stake Center, 1148 W 500 North, Salt Lake City, UT. Viewing Sunday evening, November 8, 2009 at the Russon Mortuary, 241 S 200 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 5:30 to 7:30, and again at the Stake Center prior to the funeral on Monday morning from 10:00 until 11:30. Online condolences at www.russonmortuary.com The family expresses deep gratitude to Hospice of Utah for their loving, tender care of their father, and to all the CNA's from Sunshine Terrace who provided much-needed respite care to the family, and with whom he enjoyed laughing and sharing his Cheetos. In lieu of flowers Grandpa says to do something good for someone else. "Touched you last, Grandpa!"

Oh My My My My My

My heart has been full today. Full of sadness and full of happiness and full of the Spirit. My Grandpa Irvin Kenneth Luker died this morning at 7am. He was 95 years old. His dear wife Afton passed 7 years ago. He has missed her so much. My thoughts are turned to both of them right now. How joyous a reunion that must have been! I can just imagine them gazing into each others eyes and all the love they are surrounded with. I'm sure my Grandpa will take a leisurly walk around Heaven as he did many times here on Earth and ponder what great things are now revealed to him.
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I have many memories of this great man. When I was young, we would always give him a block of cheese for his birthday. Kind of odd to think about it but he seemed to enjoy receiving it! I remember taking walks to the park with him in his cute little hat he always wore. He also seemed to always wear a greay little sweater. He was always dressed nicely and his hair nicely combed. I rememeber him telling the "Pay the Rent" story using a napkin as a hair bow, a mustache, and then a necktie. So hilarious! When I was young we would go visit him on Sundays. He really liked to talk and to lecture. Me, being as young as I was, never really listened. I just remember one such time when he stared talking about sheep and then about an hour and a half later he ended on talking about the Liberty Bell. How the heck do you go from sheep to the Liberty Bell???!!
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More recently, after Nick was born, we visited him. He and Nick have the same birthday. After saying our hellos and showing the baby, we sat down and started chatting. He asked how I was doing, etc. Then he says, " I have a grandson, maybe you know of him, who is an airline pilot." I go, "Yes, Grandpa. That's my brother! I know him well!" And then he goes, "Oh, well, I have a granddaughter who lives up in Kaysville on the land that I used to go farm for the Church." And I say, "Yes, Grandpa, that would be me!" It was kinda funny but sweet that he remembered his grandchildren. He has over 30 of them!
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We would always play the game "Touched you last". Where he would hurry and touch me and then hurry and try to leave before I could touch him again. He was a quick little guy!
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The last time I saw him was about a month ago when we went to visit my grandmas grave. I hugged him and said that I loved him. He said, "I love you too. And if I see you in heaven, I shall wave to you." I thought that was so sweet!
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I am very comforted right now that he is no longer suffering from his old and weak body. I am also very comforted that there is a life after this world. There is no doubt about that. I am so grateful for such wonderful example my grandparents were. They left such a great legacy. I often wonder what kind of legacy will I leave this world. It makes me work harder at being a better person and better example to others and especially to my children. I wish that I had the time to talk to both my grandparents and ask how they did it. They raised 8 children, all are still strong in the church and have not gone astray at all. I maybe would listen to my grandpas lectures more carefully.
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My grandpa is on the right and my grandma Luker is on my left.

That's my Granny Shipp on the very left. She's still kickin around at my parents!

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So until we meet again, Grandpa, I love you!

And when I get to heaven, I'll be looking for your wave!

Blogger Problems

For some reason Blogger is not letting me put up pictures. I have tried several times and it doesn't work. So one day when it does work I'll update! Not that our loves have been interesting or anything but I need to write about Ty's bday, Cantelope Island, Halloween, Pumpkins, etc.

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Here is a Deep Thought to think about until Blogger works:

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Maybe in order to understand mankind we have to look at that worditself.

MANKIND.

Basically, it's made up of two separate words "mank" and"ind."

What do these words mean? It's a mystery and so is mankind.