Call me at Kirsten's

Myrna wrote: We will be leaving for the great state of Colorado on Saturday. Poor Julie still has more painting to do but they are going to Idaho on Friday. They are getting stone for their fireplaces from the same place that Jim's dad got his.

 I guess you can call me at Kirsten's.

Love, M


NO! Absolutely not! No one may call her here, EVER!!!!! Nor email her at our email address either! No one is to know that she and dad are secretly hiding out, pretending to watch our kids just so she can get out of doing the Mona city council meetings... I mean, really. Mom, you just about blew your cover. What were you thinking?!

Just kidding. Jared and I leave on Thursday, May 7 and are back on Tuesday morning, May 19. So, if you get a panicked call from Mom it's because she is watching two precocious boys under the age of three who have a knack for getting into things and (while she has done this many times before) she doesn't quite know how to handle them along with the big sisters telling her what to do every minute of the day ("That's NOT how my mom does it...), then please answer the phone and lend her much-needed moral support. I won't be answering mine (phone that is). *wink* And I don't want to hear about how anyone of my kiddos was shut up in a box by an older kiddo while we, the parents, were away touring the country...

Seriously, THANK You, Mom and Dad for taking time away from your real lives to come and save mine and play with my kids. Ryan keeps praying that you will be safe (notice, he doesn't pray for his own mom and dad, just grandma and grandpa), and the girls have a count down for your arrival! We love you and hope the roads are smooth and dry for your drive here.

love, Kirsten


Todd wrote: In that case, will you tell Whit NOT to do any of the things I told her I used to do. I mean, we all turned out fine, so I thought "no harm, no foul, let her play the game to."

I am jealous. I would like to go to Hawaii again. Gotta take care of Alaska first. Last state left in the 50/50 quest.


Kirsten wrote: HAHAHAHA!!! "Fine" is questionable... I still have a fear of bathrooms, locked doors, drawers being pushed in with knives....

:)

I'm up for Alaska.. How about next year?!

Kirsten


Todd wrote: Yeah. How you all did all that stuff without me knowing? I thought I used
to pay attention. <grin>

Alaska next year is part of my plan. 20th anniversary. Then there is still the question of the Jamboree.

Shawn's Letter to the Bender Family

Thanks Mom. I did send them an email which I will share with you, just being what little I can remember upon short reflection.

Dear Bender Family,

It was with a heavy heart that I received the news yesterday of Ryan’s passing. I had just been to the funeral of a great uncle the day before, who had lived a long life, but had died suddenly and quite unexpectedly. We do not know if our pilgrimage here on the earth is short or long, but I do trust in our loving Heavenly Father, and in the atonement and resurrection wrought by his Only Begotten.

I do hope that in these hectic and sad days ahead, that you will be able to find time to sit with family members and relate and record some of the good memories you have from his life. That is so important, to have those become part of the family histories of the parents and of each of the siblings. I trust that he has quickly made himself busy in the work of the Lord on the other side, so it is up to us to keep our hearts turned to a memory of those who have passed on, and to the legacy they leave for us.

I do not have much to contribute to a history, since he was older than me, but I did want to say what I remember about him. I do remember that I simply always saw him as being wise. Looking back on what I remember of him from my youth, I remember him as someone who liked to put in an extra effort in his school work and extra-curricular activities. I guess I could surmise by saying that I remember him as someone who was sober in his youth (even as Moroni). I also remember him being a good moderator/mediator when it seemed youthful neighborhood tensions ran high, when we would have little spats during games or what-not, which indicates that he was a caring person. That is how I remember him. I of course, can no longer remember what any of those spats were about, probably some interpretation of game rules or something that no longer matters, but I do recall him as being a well reasoned and caring person.

Sincerely,

Shawn Trauntvein

From Myrna:

Dad would like you to send your e-mail that you wrote to Benders to all the family. Actually, he wanted me to do it but, after the messages I received from the family about honoring privacy, I would rather you would do it than have me do it.

Anyway, we were both highly impressed and touched by what you wrote. I wish I had your gift for writing. This is beautiful. Love, M

Shawn wrote:

Oh, but Mom, you do. I only try to follow in your footsteps, and even though you are shorter than I am, I still have to lengthen my stride to do so.

From Myrna:

OK, you pushed my tear button for today. I LOVE YOU! 

Ryan Bender Died

Myrna wrote:

How many of you, friends of the Russell and Colleen Bender family, know that their son, Ryan, died yesterday? He was living in Germany, working for the government and had been at an Elder's Quorum party where they played "extreme frisbee." Colleen said that he had just left the party with some of his friends and went to see the new medical lab his one friend, a doctor, had set up. When he got inside, he sat down immediately. His friends asked him if something was wrong and he said, "Yes." He then collapsed. They tried saving him and called the ambulance. He could not be saved. He was dead. They think it was either a heart attack or a stroke. He was 51. He had never married. His funeral is pending. It will depend on when the military completes all the paperwork and can ship him home.

Russ and Colleen's e-mail address is: rcben32@sisna.com


Shawn wrote: Thanks Mom. I did send them an email which I will share with you, just being what little I can remember upon short reflection.

Dear Bender Family,

It was with a heavy heart that I received the news yesterday of Ryan’s passing. I had just been to the funeral of a great uncle the day before, who had lived a long life, but had died suddenly and quite unexpectedly. We do not know if our pilgrimage here on the earth is short or long, but I do trust in our loving Heavenly Father, and in the atonement and resurrection wrought by his Only Begotten.

 I do hope that in these hectic and sad days ahead, that you will be able to find time to sit with family members and relate and record some of the good memories you have from his life. That is so important, to have those become part of the family histories of the parents and of each of the siblings. I trust that he has quickly made himself busy in the work of the Lord on the other side, so it is up to us to keep our hearts turned to a memory of those who have passed on, and to the legacy they leave for us.

I do not have much to contribute to a history, since he was older than me, but I did want to say what I remember about him. I do remember that I simply always saw him as being wise. Looking back on what I remember of him from my youth, I remember him as someone who liked to put in an extra effort in his school work and extra-curricular activities. I guess I could surmise by saying that I remember him as someone who was sober in his youth (even as Moroni). I also remember him being a good moderator/mediator when it seemed youthful neighborhood tensions ran high, when we would have little spats during games or what-not, which indicates that he was a caring person. That is how I remember him. I of course, can no longer remember what any of those spats were about, probably some interpretation of game rules or something that no longer matters, but I do recall him as being a well reasoned and caring person.

Sincerely,

Shawn Trauntvein


Ann Olsen wrote: Thank you for letting me know about Ryan Bender and I appreciate getting Colleen & Russ's e-mail address so I can contact them.   My heart goes out to their family.

Love,
Ann

Myrna wrote: Dearest Shawn, I wish I had your gift for writing. This is beautiful. Love, M



Shawn wrote: Oh, but Mom, you do. I only try to follow in your footsteps, and even though you are shorter than I am, I still have to lengthen my stride to do so.

For Merle

This earth lost a beautiful person when my dear Uncle Charles died. Of course, I know the spirits on the other side were happy to welcome him. Uncle Charles was the uncle of my father, Howard Pitts, and the brother of my grandmother, Ruth Edwards Pitts. He gave a wonderful talk at my father's funeral. I so appreciated that, as did the rest of the family. He was a great man and was so kind and giving. He and Aunt Merle always attended the great events in my life. Beyond that, when my children went on missions, they were there; when they were married, they were there. My husband, Leonard, also loved Uncle Charles and shed tears when he read me the obituary this morning. He has been calling our children to let them know of his passing. He so enjoyed the part of the obituary so obviously written by Uncle Charles. In all aspects, he was my "great" uncle and I love him and will miss him. Leonard and I want to let you, Aunt Merle, and the family know that you are loved and that you have our sympathy. Aunt Merle, we also think that you are a great woman and pray that our Heavenly Father will comfort you at this time.
~ 
Myrna Trauntvein,
Nephi, Utah

Memorial for Uncle Charles

April 23, 2009

This earth lost a beautiful person when my dear Uncle Charles died. Of course, I know the spirits on the other side were happy to welcome him. Uncle Charles was the uncle of my father, Howard Pitts, and the brother of my grandmother, Ruth Edwards Pitts. He gave a wonderful talk at my father's funeral. I so appreciated that, as did the rest of the family. He was a great man and was so kind and giving. He and Aunt Merle always attended the great events in my life. Beyond that, when my children went on missions, they were there; when they were married, they were there. My husband, Leonard, also loved Uncle Charles and shed tears when he read me the obituary this morning. He has been calling our children to let them know of his passing. He so enjoyed the part of the obituary so obviously written by Uncle Charles. In all aspects, he was my "great" uncle and I love him and will miss him. Leonard and I want to let you, Aunt Merle, and the family know that you are loved and that you have our sympathy. Aunt Merle, we also think that you are a great woman and pray that our Heavenly Father will comfort you at this time.

~ 

Myrna Trauntvein,

Nephi, Utah

Melanie wrote: I know that some of us left memorials at the russonmortuary.com website. I didn't know if you knew that there were two guest books that were being signed. 

Mel

Uncle Charles' Funeral Program

They ran out of funeral programs for Great-Uncle Charles Edwards this morning. Shawn gave me his and found one for Uncle Bob. Meanwhile, Bob's daughter, Kim Pitts, had asked another lady for one and had received it, although the lady was not too happy to give it up, Kim said.

At any rate, I thought you all might be interested in seeing it or in printing one for yourselves. So, here it is.

As you can gather, his death, like Grandpa Pitts' came as a surprise. However, according to his bishop, he seemed to have had a premonition that his time was short. He wrote his own obituary a week ago. He was not sick, however. He just had a sudden heart attack and that was it.

It is hard for Aunt Merle, as you can well imagine. He had been exercising, went in to take a shower and died.

Love, M

Advancement for Kyle and for Benjamin

Myrna wrote: Kyle is being advanced to the office of Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood this Sunday (tomorrow) at 3 p.m. in his ward.

Todd wrote: Congratulations to Kyle.  I hope all are well and it is a beautiful day.  We have nice weather here today (85).

Kirsten wrote: Does Ben get advanced to "Priest" this Sunday, too?  The great thing about having the same birthday, two years apart! :)  

Melanie wrote: (Written on Sunday) Ben was advanced to the office of Priest today at 1:10 pm. I have two Priests for about one more month. Braden will be made an Elder on June 4th, in the evening. I was actually looking forward to having two sons in the same office for a little while, but alas, it isn't meant to be a very long while. 

Congratulations Kyle!

Melanie 

Dr. Charles E. Edwards Funeral Program

Dr. Edwards was born on April 9, 1923 and passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

Dr. Edwards was a resident of North Salt Lake, Utah at the time of his passing.

He was Educated in Myton and Roosevelt schools and attended Utah State Agricultural College where he received his BS Degree.

During World War II he fought front line combat in the Philippine Islands. He earned a Purple Heart for wounds received and a Bronze Star for meritorious service. He later held a reserve Captain's Commission in the U. S. Air Force.

He is survived by his wife Merle.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Orchard 3rd Ward Chapel, 261 East Center Street, North Salt Lake. A visitation will be held Friday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main and Saturday morning 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment-Bountiful City Cemetery.

Dr. Charles E. Edwards

Dr. Charles E. Edwards 1923 ~ 2009 NORTH SALT LAKE- I guess it was time for me to depart from my earthly sojourn. It has been a fabulous trip. I have loved and been loved by my wonderful family. The choice people I have met along the way have brought me much joy and satisfaction. Thanks to all who have made my life so great. See you all again, but you needn't hurry for my sake. I will be patiently waiting.

Charles Ellis Edwards, born April 9, 1923, Myton, Duchesne Co., Utah, to Albert Elisha and Ida Pearl Musig Edwards. Educated in Myton and Roosevelt schools. Attended Utah State Agricultural College where he received his BS Degree. 

Married Merle Roberts, daughter of Elmer LeRoy and Ella Gagon Roberts. The couple lived in Cleveland, Ohio, where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from Western Reserve University. Charles set up his dental practice in Layton, Utah, where he practiced for 20 year. Later the family moved to North Salt Lake, Utah. 

Charles was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many positions, including being a member of the Bishopric and serving as High Priests Group Leader for many years. He was a long time member of the Layton Rotary Club and served as President during 1970-1971. 

During World War II he fought front line combat in the Philippine Islands. He earned a Purple Heart for wounds received and a Bronze Star for meritorious service. He later held a reserve Captain's Commission in the U. S. Air Force. 

In addition to dentistry, he was active in a number of Real Estate developments while living in Layton, such as converting a large LDS Church into a professional building. 

He is survived by his wife, Merle; sons, Richard, Vernon Edward and Larry; and daughter, Jane. Preceded in death by his son James. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Orchard 3rd Ward Chapel, 261 East Center Street, North Salt Lake. A visitation will be held Friday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main and Saturday morning 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment-Bountiful City Cemetery. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com

Published in Deseret News on April 23, 2009

Train Station

Kimberly wrote: I love this.  Thought you might appreciate it like I did. Sound of Music-- Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k



More than 200 dancers were performing their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt!
Added on 3/23/09
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