Settling in for a Long Winters Nap

Twas the month before Christmas and all through Grandpa's room,
Not a creature was stirring, other than Hannity and O'Reilly speaking of doom;),
The pictures were hung by the TV with care,
In hopes that Grandchildren soon would be there.

Grandpa was nestled all snug in his bed
While visions of Grandma danced in his head.
And Jimae in her bedroom and Dixie dancing to rap,
Then all settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
Grandpa sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the van Dixie loaded him with a flash,
Tore open the door, and tried not to crash.

The weather has turned cold including some snow
While Grandma is in Heaven, he lives here below.
When what to his wondering eyes should appear,
But the memory of them being together, it's almost been a year.

With the youngest daughter, a cute little pixie,
Making plans to be merry, it must be party Dixie.
More rapid than eagles the courses they came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Nicki! now, Laura! now, Alex and Ashley
On Dana, On Rachel, On Caleb and Marcie!
To the front of the porch! Knock on the door!
DON'T dash away! Dash away--Don't dash away all!"

And then, in a twinkling, Grandpa heard on the floor
The prancing and pawing of so many more.
As he poked out his head, and was turning around,
Great grandchildren came running in with a bound.

His eyes-how they twinkled! His laugh how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up with a yearn,
And the whiskers on his chin ready to kiss with a burn.

The remote of the TV he holds tight in his fist,
You might have to grab it and throw it out in the mist.
He has a slender face and a skinny little belly,
That shakes when he laughs, like a bowlful of jelly!

Grandpa is waiting for visitors, a right jolly old elf,
And he laughs when he sees you, in spite of himself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gives you to know you have nothing to dread.

So come for a visit, Grandpa will greet you with cheer.
Stay for a bit and it won't be unclear
That as you leave, 'ere you drive out of sight,
Grandpa wishes Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!

(Poem revised by Aunt Pam.  No I don't have my mother's poetic talent.)  

Honoring our own Veteran

"Freedom in never free."  Author Unknown

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms.  It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die."  G K Chesterton

"This nation will remain the land of the free only as long as it is the home of the brave."  Elmer Davis

 

"Lord, bid war's trumpet cease; Fold the whole earth in peace."  Oliver Wendell Holmes

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers."  Jose Narosky

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget the the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."  John F. Kennedy

"There never was a good war or a bid peace."  Benjamin Franklin

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!"  Maya Angelou

"Courage if fear holding on a minute longer." George S. Patton

We are grateful for the good fight fought by our Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather.  

Thank you, thank you.  

I glory in plainness

This week marks 7 months since Mom passed away.  

I miss seeing her, holding her hand, and singing to her. 

This week I was able to detour through all the Saturday errands and made my way to the cemetery, now not close to anywhere I regularly go.   Dad kept asking if I had been to see the marker.
 There is something so sacred and personal when you visit the resting place of one you love so much.    You just feel a bit closer to the other side.  There are moments I feel her close by and I want to turn and see her there by me.   One day that will be so.
I love you, Mom.

Another year older and wiser too!

Stacked to the ceiling!

Almost everyone that lived within 60 miles  and in some cases even further, came to the 

89th Birthday celebration for Grandpa Bodell.  

Each family brought one of their favorite treats to share, 

then Grandpa shared one of his favorites--Root Beer Floats--with all of us!

(Sorry we didn't get the picture before some of you had left.)  

We squeezed in tight into the party room at Atria.  It wasn't designed for a family of our size, but nobody cared as we all just loved another chance to be together and to wish Grandpa another happy birthday.

We missed Kriss, Tim and Dixie and the rest of you that live so far away.  

Grandpa wanted to thank all of you for coming and sends his love to all of you.

Waiting for Eternity

Today marks exactly six months ago

 that our dear Mother, Grandmother, 

and Great Grandmother 

left us to return to her eternal home.

And today Grandpa saw for the first time the 

monument that he will one day share with her.  

May it be a place that we can visit to 

honor and remember them for generations to come.  

Grandpa misses her so much that 

he feels his heart is really broken.  

Please keep him in your prayers.  

We miss you.  

Happy Birthday Grandpa!
We love you so much and are so thankful Heavenly Father sent you to our family to live!
We wish we could come visit you today. We miss you and love you.
Savannah, Cole, Brighton, Charise and Billy

Cruise with Grandpa

Last week we went on a cruise with Grandpa.  We had so much fun!  He was such a trooper!  He loved sitting up in the crow's nest reading and sleeping on his comfy chairs.  The bottom photo of him eating his nachos is up in his little haven.  In Haines Alaska, we took him to the hammer museum.  He bought himself a new Tshirt there.  Then in the evening, we went bear watching.  As you can see....we found a bear!  Grandpa just sat in the front seat of the car chuckling.  I was very impressed with how well he got around the ship.   His room was in the back of the ship and the Crow's nest was in the front.  Stairs are definately more trickey then walking.



We had a great time with you Grandpa!  I am sure glad we got you that last room on the ship!  Can't wait to do it again with you.

Love you,
Mitzi

We're Glad We Came to Your House to Live

June 9th

Happy Birthday Grandma.

We are so glad that Heavenly Father sent us to your house to live.  

Jimae, Mike, Dan, and Pam had lunch with Grandpa then some were able to visit 

the cemetery with reminiscing of our dear 

Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother.  

Honoring and Remembering

As the sun comes up on Memorial Day 2012

The Veteran's are honored at a Memorial Day program held at Larkin Mortuary.  

 A Military Medley was sung, while the Veteran's stand during their anthem.  

 Off we go into the wild blue yonder climbing high into the sun;

Here they come zooming to meet our thunder, at 'em boys, giv'er the gun!

Down we dive spouting our flames from under,

Off with one heck-uv-a roar!

We live in fame or go down in flame,

Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!

 A musical tribute by the pipe band.

 A Three round Volley/Taps

Many stop by to say Thank You.  

A special Thank You from Congressman Jim Matheson, 2nd Congressional District of Utah

 Then FOX NEWS wanted an interview!  

(Excerpts were shown on the 5:00 and the 9:00 News) 

 If they show up online tomorrow I'll forward them to family. 

Family members arrived to remember David.  

Everyone was invited to pick a pinwheel and share a memory of David.  

If you look close you can see the engraving of David's Castle on his headstone.  

Next was the procession to Wasatch Lawn.  

Grandpa told about a man he met this week at the retirement home that asked him if he knew a Fern Bodell.  Grandpa said, "Yes, that is my mother."  The man went on to tell that she had been his 6th grade teacher and what a wonderful teacher she was."

Grandpa sat next to Mom's burial spot, right on top of his spot.  

telling all the great grandkids, 

that next year they could visit him there, 

or that he would be there telling them the same stories. 

It was the first time back for many of us 

that brought back the sweet memories of our dear 

Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother.  

Grandpa (pointing to Grandma's grave) :  "All of these kids are because of You."  

Our Cousin James resting place in not close enough for all of us to visit 

but we want Dan Polly Crystal Seth and Jena 

to know we think of all of you and him on this Memorial Day.  

Next stop:  

The very first KFC in the world on State Street and 3900 South.  

Mmmm, Finger Lickin' Good!  

Chicken for 35, Please.  

 Then tables and chairs set up in the Bodell Construction Company Garage 

made for a perfect Memorial Day Picnic.

Add watermelon, cold drinks, and Jimae's specialty lemon bars and 

carmel chocolate squares that melt in your mouth.

Then All Aboard!

 Milo and Brigham's very first train ride.  

Brigham couldn't stop grinning.

 A few parents decided to jog along side to watch the youngest ones on their first maiden ride.  

The 80 year old car was polished up for the event.  

 But Grandpa couldn't help sneaking a peek underneath with Jared to see why it wouldn't start.  

Any car enthusiasts are welcome to bring along their tools and work along side Grandpa to get it going before next Memorial Day.  

Next year we will add canoe and boat rides down the Jordan River.  

And as the sun began to set

I made the trek alone 

uptown 

to remember 

one more loved one.  

We will always remember....

A New Home Sweet Home

Saturday May 12
Kriss and Ed came to visit Grandpa Jim while Mike and Roxanne were out of town for a few days.  Grandpa has so enjoyed the loving care that everyone has given him.  Roxanne has spoiled him.  But he is alone much of the days and has been lonely since Grandma has "gone on ahead to get their new home ready."   So Kriss talked to him and he agreed that if he was strong and healthy enough that if he was ever going to live in a Senior Independent or assisted living situation now would be the time to do it.   They visited a few with one having bedroom "as big as a ballroom" coming from the man who has just lived the last 18 months in a 12 by 14 square foot room.

But then they visited a center just over a mile from Jimae's home. 
http://www.atriaseniorliving.com/atria-sandy-ut.aspx?CommunityNumber=10278   

Atria is best known for their Chef who cooks from 7:00 in the morning straight through until 7:00 in the evening.  Grandpa's mouth began to water after what he has had to eat the past year.  They visited a few rooms, one was a model room to show you what it could look like.  He wanted that room, but they only charge an extra $10,000 to have it furnished, so we decided we would do it ourselves.  Now remember this is from a man that he and his wife divided and deeded most of their earthly belongings to children, grandchildren and strangers over five years ago when they began living with children.  They didn't even have a fork or a dishcloth.  Now we have one week to furnish a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.  Dad was a bit nervous and decided that he wanted it all to be a surprise and would leave it all up to the children to choose everything.   He wanted everything to be new and light colored and look like a new model home to start this new, no matter how short chapter in his life.  We told him if he doesn't like it he can move out at any time.  What courage this all takes at almost 89 years old.  

Jimae, Kriss and Pam all met at RC Willey and found the perfect small strong masculine light colored chairs with an ottoman and then we were off and running trying to match the rest of the needs to those colors.  Mike just happened to call Kriss and she announced the news that Mike and Roxanne would be losing their houseguest.  Roxanne was going to be so sad to see him leave so soon.  I want to thank Mike and Roxanne, especially Roxanne, for the wonderful home that  they opened their doors to Grandpa and he absolutely loved being there with both of them.  Then Jimae and Kriss both left town leaving the charge card with Pam to "shop 'til she dropped."

MOVE IN DAY
Saturday, May 19. Mike, Mark, and Dan arrived with trucks full of items that had to be assembled from Tim's donated electric bed, to new TV cabinets and bookshelves they picked up from IKEA.  Mike brought everything from his house that Grandpa has been using the past two months. Roxanne, Ashley, and Mike Jr helped move all of that in and get it unpacked and on shelves and drawers.

Lauren, Rick, and Spencer helped unload an Explorer full of towels, bedding, pillows, frames, silverware, soaps, dishes, hangers, hampers, storage bins, and all kinds of accessories of many different colors and styles from many different stores so that Pam and Jimae could decide what looked best when it was all put together. Laura, Rachel and Brandy were making plaques and a matching magnet board. Furniture finally arrived at 4:00.      Jimae and Pam arrived after a full day of Craftapolooza  to finish what Uncle Mike called "the woman's touch" and we only had one hour until Grandpa was showing up to see his new home.

Grandpa was very nervous when he entered the building Saturday evening.    We took him up to his new apartment.  There is a ledge on the wall just by the door where we had four pictures placed so other residents know who lives there.  There is one of Grandpa and Grandma at the ranch.  He sweetly smiled at her and tears came to his eyes.  Then we opened the door and upon entering he was warmed by what we had been able to do with this small "cosy" space in just one day.  We gave him a quick tour of where things were, explaining that we have a few more pictures for two of the blank walls that we will get up this week.    He sat down on his new electric recliner that literally pushes him up out of the seat.  Then that look of a deer in the headlights as he  teary eyed thought we were just going to quickly desert him there alone, saying that he hasn't been alone at night without Grandma or one of his children or grandchildren for many many years.  

Dan, Jimae, and I assured him we weren't rushing off quite yet and took  him downstairs to the dining room, making it down just minutes before they closed. Dan and Grandpa got the last two pork chops with dressing of the day. Jimae then left, and Dan and I went back up to hang the last of the pictures on the walls.  At the door he stopped a moment before going through the door, this time lightly touching the picture of Grandma, and said something quietly to her.  It was a sweet connecting of their past-- and  going to take a touch of her with him as he enters his new future.  

After the last nail was pounded in and pictures hung,  Grandpa asked that Dan and I have a prayer and a dedication of his new home with him before we left.  He prayed for peace and love to be within the walls of his new home, and that where-ever Mom is and whatever she is doing that at times she might be there close to him.     Upon saying Amen, he gained the strength he was praying for.  He smiled and seemed more at ease.  He knows that the Lord wants for him to find that peace and happiness that is promised to each of us.

Grandpa was up early Sunday morning to attend his 3 hours of church services less than 20 yards from his front door, then had a wonderful Sunday brunch with Dan.  

Atria has a Veteran's Hall you will need to visit and hunt for one of the frames that will be honoring our dear Father and Grandfather.

Please stop by and visit Grandpa Jim when you are in the area or drop him a card or letter to this address.   10970 South 700 East   Room IL223  Sandy, UT  84070