A Crazy Weekend

Wow, and I thought "normal" weekends for college students were crazy!
To sum up why, I'll add this:

"Sandra Hansen Van Dyke, wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away at home in Duchesne, UT on April 4, 2012 from complications caused by cancer; she was 68 years old.

Sandra was born July 25, 1943 in Ogden, UT to Orvel and Orla Hansen. She grew up on the family farm in Warren, Utah for the first 21 years of her life. This gave her a love for the land and work. Her greatest career and joy was the role of wife, mother, and grandmother, which she made her full-time occupation. She enjoyed quietly giving service to family, church, and the community.

The gospel of Jesus Christ was her foundation and from that she and her husband, Laroy built a good life. They were married in the LDS Logan Temple for time and all eternity on March 4, 1965. She and Laroy served three missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, two to Russia and one to Ukraine.

She is survived by her husband, her mother Orla Hansen, her children: David (Charlene) Van Dyke, Teasdale, UT; Elizabeth (Chris) Jensen, Cedar Hills, UT; Keith (Lisa) Van Dyke, Kaysville, UT; LaDawn (Gordon) Moon, Duchesne, UT; Heidi (Kevin) Matis, Indianapolis, IN; Shirley (Daniel) George, Novi, MI; Caleen (James) Pickett, Kingman, AZ; 28 grandchildren, and siblings Larry, Douglas, Paula Brashier, and Karen Tucker.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 6 at 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Torrey, UT Ward chapel (89 East Main Street, Torrey, Utah). A viewing will be held at the same location Thursday, April 5 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm and on Friday, April 6 from 9:00 - 10:30 am.

Interment will be in the Warren-West Warren, UT cemetery (700 North 6700 West, Warren, UT) on Sat, April 7 at 1:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Humanitarian Fund would be appreciated."

Love you Grandma Van Dyke!

We took school/work off on Friday and drove down to Torrey, UT (by Capitol Reef National Park). Though her passing was expected because of cancer complications, it was still rough - she was 68 years old. I will say that it was great to have so many family members around though. And we know that she is in a much happier place now, free from the pain she has suffered for so long. It was a mournful day for us, but we were very grateful for the legacy she left and the freedom from pain she now has.

Saturday brought on another road trip to Warren, UT (near Ogden) where services were held for the burial. We were all able to be together as a family and watch them close the grave (Grandma would have liked that).  :)

 With family still in town, we spend that evening as well as Sunday together. Matt and I played with  a lot of our cousins, had an Easter Egg hunt, and all over enjoyed our time together. Though exhausting (physically and emotionally), it was a good weekend.

I am grateful for the Easter season - especially this time of year - and the knowledge we have that Grandma will live again in the flesh, just as Christ now does.  :)