Elder Andrew Okazaki

Yesterday at Sister Okazaki's funeral I found out her grandson, Andrew, is serving in the San Fernando CA Mission. That is the neighboring mission to me. In addition, I found out he is serving only 45 minutes from me. I took an extra program home with me and drove out to hand deliver the program and tell him about the funeral. I brought my brother, Brock, with me. We had a great time visiting on our drive out and back.

Andrew was surprised to see us, but was genuinely happy I was there to tell him about his Nana's funeral.

Mary Poppins

Michelle, Bryn and Lori invited the girls to join them in Costa Mesa at a showing of Mary Poppins on stage. The drive down (through LA and Orange County) was a nightmare! However, we had a great time together! Corrine and I took Hallie with us. The stage play differs some from the movie, but it was fun to sing along with the cast. THANKS to the Birds for inviting us to join you!

Happy Birthday in July

Today we celebrated the five of us with July birthdays (me, Zack, Leanne, Bryn & Mac). Thanks to everyone for making this a fun day!



Love this picture of Zack trying to blow at the candles and hold Reed at the same time.



Thanks to grandma, the kids had a yummy BIG STICK with the cake.

Happy Birthday Mac

My nephew Mac LOVES cars. When he is at my parents house is always plays with a car mat my aunt made McKay when he was a young boy. As Mac's birthday approached McKay mentioned that Mac would love his own for his birthday. I decided to take on the challenge. Hopefully he will be able to play with it with his children like McKay plays with his son on his car mat.

Happy Birthday Mac!

A Mother's Blessing!

In addition to Mother’s Day, we celebrated Ethan and Wyatt today. With grandma’s Santa Monica memorial service on Friday, Todd and Chelsea came down here so they decided to bless the twins with all of the family here. It was so much fun to have them here! These boys have stolen my heart!

A tribute to grandma

Today we all gathered to pay tribute to a wonderful woman...my grandma! The funeral service was beautiful with my mother and her sister giving a wonderful eulogy and each of her brother's sharing memories and testimony. Uncle Richard also played an organ medley. There were so many extended family members there and we had a wonderful time visiting and remembering grandma!

It was especially fun to be together with all of my siblings and their families. THANK YOU to Melinda and Kate for hosting us all! Friday night we all got together and had a wonderful Mexican style dinner with 14 nieces and nephews running around and having fun together! I love spending time with my family! That is what it is all about! My heart is smiling today!

Farewell to an Elect Lady

We said good-bye and Heaven said hello to an elect lady early this morning! It will be said of her, 'well done thou good and faithful servant'. She is now happy with Grandpa after a long separation! Until we meet again....



This is her obituary...it is hard to sum up almost 92 years in such a short space.

Edith Woolley Jex Clayton was born on June 22, 1919 in Duchesne Utah. She is the third of six children born to Mark Stringham and Kate Pyper Woolley. She passed away on Monday, April 18, 2011.

On July 3, 1939 she married Richard Thomas Jex in the Manti LDS Temple. They are the parents of five children – Richard (Lana), Gordon (Maryann), Marilyn (Chris) Bird, Lorraine (Dave) Barlow and Keith (Lianne). Mom provided us with a loving and comfortable home where she taught us the value of hard work and determination. She was an example of service to her extended family. Her life was spent in the service of loving and caring for her family, they always came first. She will be known for her selfless service to her family and to the Church.

In 1976, Mom lost her eternal companion. Over the next sixteen years she spent her time loving and serving others. After many years in Santa Monica, Mom moved to Orem Utah in 1981. She was active in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and served a temple mission in the Provo Temple. In 1986 Mom served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Virginia Roanoke Mission. In 1992 she married Vaughn Miner Clayton and they enjoyed 15 years together traveling the world and visiting family. He passed away in 2007.

Above all Mom’s testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and her Savior is her greatest legacy. She was active in the LDS Church her entire life and served faithfully in many callings. Her greatest desire was for her children, grandchildren and all her posterity to live and be guided by the teachings of our ancient and modern-day prophets.

Mom is survived by her five children & their spouses; 24 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren; her sister Kathryn (Clark) Wager; sister-in-law Louisa Jex Ahlgrim and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Vaughn’s three children, Will Day, John (Roberta), Keith (Connie) & Christine Springman and their grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husbands Richard & Vaughn; her grandson, Ryan Thomas Jex; her great-grandson Samuel Mark Keiser; her step-daughter Yvonne Clayton Day; her step-son-in-law Rob Springman; her parents; three brothers (Henry, Allen & Briant) and her youngest sister, Merle Griffin.