I love my family!

Last weekend, the kids and I were able to go to UT to celebrate my great-grandma's 90th birthday. It was one of the best weekends I've had in quite a long time....and it was all because of my wonderful family. I was able to see so many cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and, best of all, my Mom, Dad and most of my siblings. It was so neat seeing everyone there and enjoying one another's company. I stayed at my cousin, Tammy's, house. My cousin, Lori, and her 4 kids and my Uncle Jessie stayed there also so it was a full house, but it was so fun. Paige had a BLAST with all of the kids (there were 7 kids altogether) and we were all sad to leave.

The birthday party for my Grandma was actually a surprise party, and boy, was she surprised! I'll never forget her face. She had the biggest smile on her face when she saw how many family members and friends were there. It was such a neat experience. We were told not to bring any gifts for her, but I found a book that I HAD to give her.

This book was about the First 100 year-history (1879-1979) of the little town that my great-grandma and great-great-grandma were born in. A friend of mine told me about and let me borrow her copy of it. While I was reading through it, I realized what a treasure it was for our family. It had so much of our family history in it, even an excerpt written by my great-great-grandma in 1979. I was blessed to know my Great-great Grandma Thorne, but since she died when I was young, I don't remember a lot about her. I was in tears when I read how she grew up with Grandpa Thorne and "began to keep company" with him before they were married, how she had to leave her 13-month old son, Ronnie, in the hospital when he had polio and how hard it was for her because the hospital was so far away, and how proud she was of her children, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Family was very important to her and that is one of the many qualities she has passed down through the generations.

After reading this book, I knew that I had to get one to give to my Great Grandma. My friend actually gave me her book because she knew how much it meant to me. (She's such an amazing woman!!) My cousin, Tammy, and I made little bookmarks to put whenever any of our family was mentioned. Between the Byingtons, Lasleys and Thornes, we had to make over 20 bookmarks. On Saturday, we gave my Grandma the book. As soon as she realized what it was, she put her hand to her mouth and began to cry. Of course, I began to cry when I saw how much it meant to her! One of my uncles told me that she has hardly put the book down since she received it!! I'm just so happy that she treasures this book and it will be able to be passed down through the generations so we can ALL read about our amazing, faithful ancestors and hopefully come to know the people behind the names! Oh, just writing about it all brings all those emotions back!! I am so blessed to be a part of my wonderful family!

My Grandma is in the middle, with her sister, Naomi, and brother, Ronnie, on either side. They're looking at the picture of their family that was taken around 1945.

On Wednesday, Brian, the kids and I went to the little town of Rockland to pick up more books (many family members wanted their own copy once they saw what was in it) and we went to the cemetery to see if we could find my ancestors' graves. I couldn't believe how many were there!! Here are a few pictures of the grave stones. It was cold and beginning so snow, so we only got one picture with the kids, but it's a picture of Grandma Thorne's parents' grave stone....so my great-great-great grandparents. Amazing, isn't it?!?

Isaac Thorne Sr. was my Great-great Grandpa Thorne's grandfather

My Grandpa Thorne's parents

The back of Grandpa Thorne's parents' grave stone. Can you imagine losing 3 of your children (Glen, Vera and Jessie) in 4 days?!? I hope we never have to go through that!

This is Grandma Thorne's maternal grandparents. Sarah Lasley was one of the midwives in Rockland.