Exhausting... and exhausted...

Alright,
So the day after my last post, my grandfather died. He was a great man, whom I literally known all of my 41 years. (His obituary is posted at the bottom of this blog post). He died on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. It was a full week later on Friday Oct. 18 that was his funeral. This for the most part is a good thing, since his dear wife and my grandmother died 8 months earlier and he was miserable without her. His death is a bittersweet reunion for all involved. The hardest part was watching my kids weep openly right after my brothers and cousins laid the casket in the hearse (as we were the pallbearers). My heart was breaking knowing the deep emotions that ran with my kids who knew their great grandpa well. They are old enough to keep his memory forever.

The incredible creepy part for me, was after the luncheon where the grand kids were all asked to go through the house and pick items from the thousands (no lie) of items that they (mostly Carrie, my grandmother) collected or made. It was like watching a house be picked clean like a thanksgiving turkey. It felt wrong (at least for me). Oh well, I am sure that I was the only one that felt that way.

Also, in the middle of all the funeral activities, I got 5 projects dumped on me, three in Saint George and two in Alaska. So, when it rains, it pours or from famine to feast in a matter of a day.

Also, a note about our foster (the reason I started this little blog...). It appears that as of yet, she has not been enrolled in school just yet. (hummm...) She's bounced from her new legal guardian's house (her biological brother) to her grandmother's house and back. I could dive in to the rumor mill, but it wouldn't do anyone any good, and only cause me to be even more deeply troubled.

So, it's on to a tomorrow, of which no one knows what will come be it good or evil. I am tired of treading water in life. I am ready for SOMETHING to happen that I can finally do better in life, but I guess that's just not in the grand scheme of things... Oh well... Until next time...


Blaine Herbert Hall

St. George

Blaine Herbert Hall lived for his family. His favorite words were, "You make the grandpa's heart happy!" Blaine left this life on October 11, 2013 to join his beloved wife, Carrie, to whom he had been married for 71 years. He was born on January 30, 1921 in Alpine, Utah, and was 92 ½ years old. He lived a rich and full life and is survived by a family who loves him. His five children are Dean Hall, Allen Hall, Karren Willard, Miles Hall, and Colleen Earnshaw. He also leaves 31 grandchildren, 49 great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.

As a young man with only a high school degree, Blaine worked hard to receive his pilot's license. He then became a flight instructor. He and his new bride, Caroldean "Carrie" Candland, were married on August 28, 1942 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, just a week before he began flying commercially for Western Airlines. He flew for Western for over 38 years until he was required to retire on his 60th birthday. His work took him to various locations, but they called Thousand Oaks, CA home for 32 years. For the past 19 years, he has enjoyed living in the St. George desert which he loved.

Blaine lived his life serving the Lord by serving others. He had served in many different callings and was a beloved bishop in Thousand Oaks for 9 ½ years. He served as a Stake Patriarch for over 40 years and gave over 1800 blessings in his life. He also served as a Temple worker and Sealer. He and Carrie served two missions at the Mesa Arizona Temple Visitor's Center, and in the Philippines Quezon City mission.

Blaine was always reaching out to those around him and was always looking for what good he could do for others. He was continually giving to everyone he knew. His heart was gold and his dedication to following Jesus Christ was stellar. His life was long and full, and he is now happily reunited with the love of his life who he has missed terribly since her passing. We know he is happy. May we never forget his great example.Funeral services will be held Friday, October 18, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Little Valley LDS Stake Center, 1762 South River Road, St. George, Utah. Visitations will be held Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd. and on Friday, at the Stake Center, at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be held Saturday, October 19th at 2:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.

Oh man... What to tell? I guess this is going to be a hodge-podge of life's recent kick in the nadds...

Well, like I predicted, I am missing my foster, though the rest of the family is slightly relieved she's gone. We are slowly returning to a "normal" life. Still the house seems a bit more empty than normal. The teen attitude from both of my kids are now kicking into high gear... so life marches on.

Since we got news of our foster leaving, I've had several different illnesses, one right after another. The good news is I am over all of them. The bad news, the residual coughing due to my asthma is really getting old (a persistent cough that's lasted a week now). My kids are teasing me about a 4 pack a-day habit (funny because I have never touched a tobacco product in my life. Though it's really cool to finally have a deep raspy voice that would put Barry White to shame. The last couple of podcasts has my new voice. The worst part is how much my chest and diaphragm aches from the constant coughing.

Finally, work has really slowed down to 2009 levels. Construction is really falling behind in the Mountain West, at least in the Southern Utah / Southern Nevada arena. So if anyone needs a custom home designed, let me know... I am very good.

Well that's about it, as I need to start dinner for the fam.