Coming Home is one of life's best moments. I believe it will be one of the next life's best moments also. So this blog is dedicated to what I view as the best moments of life.
Laurie, Susie, Melinda, Mary, Heidi, Mom and Dad, Carrie, Pete, Charlie, Sam
Bear Lake reunion 2001
Once there was a family. They loved each other very much. The mom and dad gave everything they had to create a place where children could learn and grow and work and sing and dance, try new things and learn truth. No one was perfect, but everyone was magnificent. Sometimes life was silly and fun, sometimes it was hard and sad, but no matter what, if a person belonged to this family, there was someone who loved them.
There were 10 babies born to the Millers. Six beautiful girls came first. Then a miracle happened, a boy was born to Robert and Janet Miller. After he came there was a girl and 2 more boys, all wanted and loved. This story is about Hans Peter Robert, the seventh child and first boy.
He was handsome, athletic, funny, charming (except when he wasn't) and smart. He played football and tennis, went to Boys State, attended BYU where he acted as student Vice President for a time. Pete donated his kidney to his father and extended his father's life for 30 years. Peter served a mission to Quebec and worked for Merrill Lynch for a time. He had 1 son, Hans Cosgrave. After that, we don't know very much about his life, but it came to a sad ending on November 23, 2019.
It's heartbreaking to lose a family member, and I expect it to hurt for the unforeseeable future, but last weekend, a few of Pete's family members and friends gathered to join our hearts together to love and heal and remember this beautiful son, brother, uncle and friend.
Thursday night, Megan and Tommy Liston flew in from Portland. Mary, Jeff, Anna Lisa, Kyle, Kristen, Natalie and Olivia Jones arrived from Idaho Falls. Carrie, Gabe, Josh, Claire and Skye came in from Niceville, FL and the party began.
Mary, Laurie, Megan
Friday morning started at the church preparing the building for the memorial and luncheon. Megan and Mom were in charge of the display table. Everyone else cleaned and set up luncheon tables. After the work was done, it was time for an Atlanta experience. What's more southern than Chick-fil-a? Susie Johnson drove right from the airport where we met Brandon at the magical place which is Chick-fil-a support center. We toured and ate and took pictures and enjoyed being together.
Megan, Carrie, Mary, Mom, Laurie
Dad carved each of us a treasure box with our picture on the top panel and then our favorite characters on the other panels. Pete chose Indiana Jones and superman.
Megan, Susie, Brandon
Anna Lisa, Brandon, Kyle, Carrie, Kristen, Natalie, Gabe Stephani, Jeff Jones, Olivia, Claire, Josh, Skye
Committing to the Chick-fil-a mission.
Tommy, Natalie, Kristen, Kyle, Mary
Gabe, Skye, Susie, Megan, Brandon, Mary, Jeff, Josh, Carrie. This is where we ate a lot of yummy food.
Skye, Claire, Natalie, Kristen having a lunch meeting.
CFA tie wall-Skye, Claire, Anna Lisa, Kristen, Natalie, Olivia, Josh, Tommy
Tommy and the Batmobile
Truett Cathy and Olivia, Claire, Kyle, Kristen and Natalie
Millers forever #IHEARTCHICKIN
Friday morning we gathered at Brandon and Mallory's home for pizza and games and reminiscing. To help with the reminiscing, Peter's college friends, Mark Stevenette and Dave Nibley, joined us from Utah. The fact that they would invest time and resources to travel all that way to be with us and remember Pete was powerful, and we don't have the words to express our appreciation.
Friday night, Charlie and Meg brought their beautiful Abbi, Maddi, Chloe, and Briggs to add to our happiness.
A nice January picnic on the deck and Brandon's house in PTC
Josh's best day ever-"Games with the teenagers."
Eli, Skye, Annabelle, Claire, Olivia
Kyle, Isaac, Anna Lisa, Tommy, Natalie, Josh, Kristen, Josh
The guys
Sisters-Susie, Mary, Carrie, Laurie, Megan
Luke and Mom
Carrie, Mark Stevenette, Mom and Dave Nibley
Saturday morning we convened at the Fayetteville, GA Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Redwine Road. It always takes some doing to get a group of family members at the same place at the same time. We practiced our songs and tended to finishing touches to prepare for the special day.
We began with a family prayer in the Relief Society Room, given by Jeff Jones. Bishop Dale Stanton conducted the meeting. His wife, Suzanne Stanton accompanied the musical numbers and provided prelude and postlude. Mom, Laurie, Susie, Megan, Charlie and Brandon sang "How Great Thou Art" (verses 1,3 and 4) for the opening song. Gabe Stephani gave the opening prayer. Laurie, Susie and Mary spoke. They each shared memories. Laurie quoted from Elder Oaks talk from November 2019 conference and Steven Eastmond's article "The Power of Grief." Susie reminded us of the importance of being grateful and framed her memories in the form of thanking Pete. Mary, Carrie and Meg Miller performed "Come Thou Fount/If You Could Hie To Kolob" accompanied by Laurie. The next speakers were Carrie, Megan, Charlie, Mark Stevenette and Dave Nibley. The closing musical number was Families Can Be Together Forever by Peter's nieces and nephews. The benediction was offered by Paul Stoker.
If you would like to hear some of the talks, DM me and I will share the link.
Mom and her sweet grandchildren
People in attendance outside of those previously mentioned were Mallory, Annabelle, Josh, Isaac and Luke Stoker, our cousin-Kim Weinreb, Peter and Carrie's friends from high school-Kristen Nicoletti and Jeff Swinney, Mary's friend and roommate, Amber Peterson and her brother, Lance Hilton. Mom and Laurie's friends from the ward-Betty, Buck and Kim Collins, Melinda Jennings, Sue Foxworth, and Lee Ann Robinson. Sherry Turner, Ann Butler, Robyn Donaldson, Brittani Lovelace, Joann Daniels, Shelyse Denison, Sherry Brown, Vanessa St. Onge, Reagan Moskon provided a beautiful lunch. Eric Ochsner and his son, Tate, came for dishwashing and clean up. My heart was bursting with gratitude.
Melinda and Mary. (Melinda's best HS friend was Mary's great mission companion)
Brandon, Eli, Susie, Kim Weinreb (our cute cousin)
Mary and her dear friend Amber Peterson
Mom and Jeff Jones
Tommy Liston, Josh Stephani, Kyle Jones
Megan and Charlie and the beautiful buffet provided by dear friends from the ward.
Jeff Swinney, Gabe, Kristen Nicoletti Hardy, Carrie
Meg Miller, Mallory Stoker, Kyle, Natalie, Kristen and Anna Lisa Jones
Laurie, Paul, Brandon and Mallory Stoker
Siblings not present were Melinda Christensen, Heidi Miller and Sam Miller.
Megan, Gabe, Jeff Swinney, Kristen Nicoletti Hardy, Charlie, Paul, Meg, Laurie, Mom, Susie, Carrie, Mary Jeff, Mark Stevenette and Dave Nibley
When the dust settles it's time for some hoops.
What goes on behind the curtain when the adults are still talking during lunch.
We stayed and stayed. We didn't want to leave the love nor separate the hearts knit together. I personally felt so grateful to Heavenly Father for granting this special time and to each person who came and the gifts they gave.
Saturday night was spent at my house eating leftovers, playing and visiting. We recorded "Come Thou Fount" and shared pictures. We wanted to remember everything.
Sunday Morning we sat in a block in the back right of the chapel. Between the Miller family and the Denison family (Caden gave his mission farewell talk) we threw the attendance off the charts. Stephani's were leaving right after sacrament meeting so we said our quick goodbyes pretty much through all of Sunday school. Charlie and Meg left after stopping at Brandon and my house for hugs and kisses and forgotten jackets and priesthood blessings. The Sunday night party dwindled to 19 people. We ate some more food, played some more games, did more talking.
Briggs and Gabe
Charlie, Carrie, Megan, Mary, Mom and Laurie
Monday morning was going to be quieter with just Megan and Tommy, but then we got a bonus day with the Jones so of course it was off to the thrift stores (The best thing about Fayetteville.) We purchased some amazing treasures. Megan may have won the day with some gorgeous shoes sleuthed out by Jeff. How high would you say those heels are, Megan, 7 inches? She'll rock them. I dropped Tommy and Megan off at the ATL for a grateful but sad "Come back soon."
The BYU-I kids finished their homework so we celebrated on Monday night by Jeff taking us to dinner at Casa Vieja. We stopped at Brandon and Mallory's for a quick golf cart ride on the way. You can't have a complete Peachtree City experience without a ride on the golf cart path. We ended the fun night with "Guitar Hero" and "Come Follow Me."
And now it's over and we have some wonderful memories and tender hearts and greater appreciation for the time we have to build and nurture relationships with family and friends. Stay in touch, everyone. Time together is precious.
"I'd go almost any place if it's any place you are. Cause when we're together it's my favorite place to be."
