David's wonderful grandpa passed away on December 5th in Utah. Josh and I had been planning to go to Arizona for a visit before Christmas while David studied for his finals. However, Josh and I ended up changing our plans to go to Utah in order to attend Grandpa Choules' funeral.
While we were home in Utah we went with my mom, Emily, Carter, and Tyler to the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum. Josh loved it!
Carter and Josh are such a cute pair. They had fun making sugar cookies with their grandma.
Sweet little guys.
Grandpa Choules' funeral was so inspiring. He was an emeritus Seventy so several apostles attended the funeral including Elder Christofferson and Elder Anderson, as well as Elder Oaks who gave remarks. Grandpa lived a life dedicated to service in the church and dedicated to his family. He truly was an incredible example to me, and I am so grateful and proud to have him as a grandpa. David flew out from Philadelphia in order to attend Grandpa Choules' funeral, and then he flew right back to Philly to prep for his finals . Josh and I caravanned down to Arizona with David's family the day after the funeral to start our Christmas visit with David's family.
Following is Grandpa's obituary:
Elder Albert Choules Jr., an Idaho-born businessman who served for six years as a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died of natural causes Dec. 5. He was 86 years old.
Elder Choules was sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy at the October 1988 general conference, to the Second Quorum the next year and was released at the October 1994 conference.
During his general authority service, he was first counselor in the Utah Central Area, a counselor in the Europe Area and a counselor in the Utah South Area presidencies. He spoke at the October 1988 and April 1994 general conferences.
He was born Feb. 15, 1926, in Driggs, Idaho, the third child of Albert Choules and Rula Wilson Choules. He married Rosemary Phillips on June 24, 1952, in the Idaho Falls Temple. She died on June 27, 1984, and he married Marilyn Jeppson Lowry on June 8, 1987, in the Salt Lake Temple.
He was the father of two sons and a daughter, and stepfather of two sons and a daughter.
Elder Choules was involved in several different businesses during his professional life, including the Western Savings and Loan Association and Romney International Hotels. But his first love was his service in the LDS Church, which included assignments as president of the New York New York City Mission, president of the Scottsdale Arizona Stake and regional representative for LDS regions in New Mexico and Texas. Following his release as a general authority he served as bishop of the Salt Lake Emigration 2nd Ward and as president of the Mesa Arizona Temple.
A viewing will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, as well as two hours before his funeral at the LDS Holladay 27th Ward building at 5450 South Holladay Blvd. in Holladay, Utah. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 15, at the same location beginning at 11 a.m.
We Choules' women had a very special night out seeing The Nutcracker performed by Ballet Arizona. The ballet was so magical, and it was so fun to have a girl's night together!
The weather was gorgeous, and Josh loved playing outside in the Cozy Coupe.
We celebrated Shannan's 2nd birthday!
Josh was jealous watching Shannan blow out her birthday candles and insisted that he get to blow some out too...silly boy! I knit the cabled sweater Josh is wearing in this picture! Josh is so handsome in it.
Shannan and Josh taking the Cozy Coupes out for a spin with Dan.
On Christmas Eve morning, David and I took Josh on a bike ride to downtown Gilbert. It was fun watching this dancing fountain for quite a while!
In the evening, Josh and Shannan acted out the nativity and dressed up as Joseph and Mary.
They are too cute.
After acting out the nativity, these two opened up their Christmas pajamas!
Josh takes his work of unwrapping gifts seriously!
Mom Choules made them these darling Gingerbread men pajamas! They also got a beautiful copy of The Gingerbread Man story.
All of us kids and grandkids on Christmas Eve.
All of the kids and grandkids waiting to see our presents Christmas morning.
Josh with a favorite Christmas present: his solar system balls from the Franklin Institute! Josh had been asking for weeks for these in the gift shop at the Franklin Institute during our weekly visits to the museum.
We had a delicious Christmas dinner at Uncle Bill and Aunt Melanie's home. Shawn, Shannan, and Josh had a great time playing together!
The day after Christmas David and I took Josh on a bike ride to ... It was fabulous to be out in the Arizona Sunshine!
We took Josh and Shannan to the Phoenix zoo.
David, Josh, Julie, and Shannan riding on the zoo's carousel!
Grandpa Choules' internment service was a couple days after Christmas. Here is our family all together at the graveside.
David with his parents and siblings. We are grateful to know that families are forever!
