Lois Jean Kiddle Young "The Quilt Lady" Lois Young, 80, after having a wonderful 24th of July, passed away early Saturday, July 25th at home with her family, due to incidents of life, her age and Parkin-son's disease.Lois Jean Kiddle was born March 21, 1929 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the youngest of seven children of Adelbert and Bertha Kiddle. She graduated from South High School in Salt Lake City. She was a member of the LDS Church, serving in various callings. She affectionately became known as the "Quilt Lady" of her ward, because of the many quilts she coordinated for the ladies to make and donate to the Youth Village. Lois was an accomplished seamstress, quilter and friend. She enjoyed crocheting, flowers and gardening. When newly married, she won her first cash prize of $5 and a job offer, in a contest with ZCMI for sewing men's slacks. Mother made all her own clothes, and many of her children's clothes. Lois started her professional life as a bookkeeper for Albuquerque Chemical in Albq., NM and State Brass Foundry in Salt Lake City, UT. She worked 25 years for Grand Central Department Store, until they closed. At that time, she was the Corporate Assistant Vice President in charge of Budgeting - the highest position held by a woman. She retired from Gubler and Carter Accounting Firm. Lois was an active member of American Business Women's Association (ABWA) for over 25 years. She won the National District 6 Vice President position and traveled throughout the western states, encouraging and supporting women in business. Lois' daughter, Christine, was deaf and blind. Lois was instrumental in working with professionals, special education and parents, to organize the Exceptional Child PTA in Utah. Lois married Joe Roestenburg and together had four children, later divorced. She married Joseph T. Yoakum and had two children, later divorced. In 1989, Lois married Kenneth Young, her "Knight in Shining Armor." Together they shared 17 wonderful years with family and friends, traveling, the theater, card games and many memories, prior to Ken's death in 2006. Lois is survived by her children and extended family, Robert K. Roestenburg, Steven C. (Ruby) Roestenburg, Jololene (Richard) Allan, Garon (Rosalind) Yoakum, the Young family and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren; her brother, Myron Kiddle. Preceded in death by her children: Joseph M. Roestenburg, Christine Roestenburg and granddaughter, Julie K. Roestenburg. Lois survived three husbands prior to her journey's end in this life. Funeral services will be Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, 12:00 noon at the Holladay 10th Ward, 4601 S. 2565 East. Family and friends may call on Fri. from 6-8 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road and on Saturday at the Church from 11-11:45 a.m. Interment, Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.

My Grandma Lois

My sweet Grandma Lois passed away this morning. I'll miss her a lot. She's lived with my mom for the last year, so I've had a lot of time to spend with her and bring the kids over. I'm grateful for that time yet sorry I didn't spend more, sorry I wasn't there at the end. Of course we never know when this life will end, but I just wish I could've said a better good-bye. I'm grateful the kids and I have had many opportunities to be with her. I cared for her in her home once a week almost my entire pregnancy with Kaitlyn. That was special and important time I'm glad I could be there for. My family is in Washington D.C. right now on a trip, and I feel for my mom not being there at the very end. She's doing ok with it as we knew this was coming, but I know it must still be hard. My mom has been such a saint with my grandma, truely. Grandma Lois has had Parkinson's for as long as I can remember and in the last few years, especially after losing my Grandpa Ken she's become pretty frail. My mom used to spend a lot of the week at her house across town so that my grandma could remain in her home. In the last year she moved to my parents house and it's been hard for my mom. Not hard having her there, just finding a way to balence everything and give my grandma everything she needed. My mom works full time at SLCC as a nursing instructor while also working at least part time as a family nurse practitioner at a local clinic. She devoted every second she had to making my grandma feel loved and comfortable. My mom was up several times a night every night to help her. All of her time was spent with my Grandma. Her schedule was such that she usually had several days off during the week and all of them were spent with Grandma. She took such initiative to make my Grandma feel needed and imporant. They are both master quilters and my mom would cut her quilt squares and sew upstairs with my Grandma, Mom always asking Grandma for her input and instruction on how to do something my mom knew full well how to do. She took her for outings to lunch, to get her hair done, to visit with old neighbors, she even just took her out for drives sometimes. My mom showed her so much love and at a time where I feel like I should've shown her more, I'm so grateful for that. The way she held grandma's hands, helped her around the house, tucked her in, she set such an amazing example of love for me to observe. Mom, you did well. You made these last few years of Grandma's life so much better. When someone else might have considered a rest home for their loved one, you were her rest and you were her home. You did well mom. I'm really glad my kids have had so much time to spend with their "Grandma-Great". They would sing her songs, play on the living room floor so she could watch, and tell her about their little lives. Mckayla most recently had a 15 minute talk with Grandma about her new belts she got for school. That makes me smile. They enjoyed Mckayla arranged picnics at the tray by her chair and even once out at the Daybreak lake. They were so sweet and would hold her hands and help her around the house. They always gave her hugs and kisses, some more gentle than others. Sweet Talm, that kid is built like a brick. We'd have to watch him close as he'd run in pretty hard to tell her bye before we left. Good thing most of the time she was sitting down!

And my sweet baby Kaitlyn. She had a special place in my grandma's heart. As I said I spent most of my pregnancy up at her home, so she got to watch my belly grow. She came over and met my Kait when she was only hours old on a beautiful peaceful Sunday morning with the sun shining in the windows. She loved to hold Kait and and Kaitlyn was always so calm around her. The last time we were over there last week as my mom was holding Kaitlyn in front of my Grandma, Kait leaned in on her own to give her sweet gentle kisses. Kait is so mobile and moving now that doesn't happen very often, but she gave her such sweet kisses. My grandma loved to watch her as she was getting to her milestones. She would coo with her when Kait was tiny laying on a blanket at her feet. She loved to watch her smile, crawl, walk, and race up the stairs next to Grandm'a chair. She'd watch Kaitlyn make faces and smile at her through the railing.

I'm so proud of my little brother Tyler too. He was such a big help with Grandma. He was a caregiver when mom wasn't home. He really did put a lot of time in, yet I never heard him complain about it. He was gentle and kind and compassionate and attentive with her. He showed great maturity and love for a 17 year old boy. Thank you Ty.

I'm sad. I'm sad I didn't spend more time with my grandma. I'm sad I didn't make more trips over there with the sole purpose of keeping her company and visiting. I always told her I loved her and gave her a hug and kiss when I left, but there's always more I could've done. Life's been hard for my grandma these last couple years. It's been hard for her to not be able to do things herself and get around, hard for her to move away from her home, friends and neighbors, hard for her to not have her mind as sharp as she'd like it. She's missed my Grandpa Ken a lot. I'm so happy she's at peace now. I'm happy she's with our Father in Heaven, but I'm still sad. Love you Grandma Great!

What you get when you tell your 3 year old to get in the car.....

Silly boy!

Friday we went up to This Is The Place Heritage State Park, for free!! I love free stuff. The Day's of 47 people made this "family fun day" possible.
It was fun to explore, although we only got to maybe a third of it. I don't recall going before (my Dad says we went as kids, but that was long time ago), so didn't realize how much time it'd take to see everything, we'll have to go back again sometime.
At Talmage's request we headed past a dozen things we could've stopped at and straight for the train. Not the best of pictures, but the kids had a blast. It took us around the whole park and told us some interesting facts the kids enjoyed. Talmage also pointed out that "hey Mom, that train has tires!". He's kind of a locomotive purist you see, I don't think he knew what to make of this particular train. :) It was a very warm day!
Luckily Day's of 47 also provided free water and popsicles. Yum!

There are lots of buildings to tour at the park, most are actual pioneer homes/buisnesses. One of the replica buildings we entered was the Deseret Hospital (lovely bright air conditioned building). Amongst other things they had a marvelous quilt collection. Many that they had on the beds looked very old, but were actually just made for the Work and The Glory movies. They also had a large floor to ceiling cabinet of 100+ year old quilts. The quilting on them was amazing! Every single inch was quilted in some cases, I am in awe they did that by hand.
The above was one of my favorites, the "LoveBird" quilt. Below is a antique doll made entirely from fabric.

We visited a Native American display with tee-pee's and wigwams the kids could go in, checked out the bank, the school house where the kids got to sit on the benches and desks with chalkboards. There we learned the Deseret Alphabet, something I wasn't even aware of. Brigham Young developed an alphabet based on the way things sound since there were so many immigrants in the valley. We checked out the blacksmith shop with a really cool bellow on the ceiling, walked through a tithing office (the kids found it interesting they gave things, not just money), and through several pioneer houses. It was a neat teaching experience telling them this little cabin the size of our living room was a house for a large family. I was impressed with how much Mckayla already seemed to know about life at that time.

They had another mini-train, so we of course had to ride that, twice. Very cute little thing, and this one pleased Talmage with it's real tracks and puffing. They were talking with the assistant conductor above.
It was a nice little ride that went around a large pond with amazing views of the valley. They also got to go through a nice tunnel. Honestly, I was a little nervous for them and really hoped they didn't freak out and I would have to be that parent that, in my case, hobbles into the dark tunnel to retrieve my screaming children. But alas, they loved it.

After a lot of walking in the 90 degree sun we headed back to the car and off to Kaitlyn's well child check. Would you believe this little girl of mine really is little? She was 50th % in her height, 75th in her head circumfrence, but only 10th in her weight ! Now I'm not a parent that worries a lot about those things. She's happy, healthy, smart, and rather squishy if I do say so myself :) I just find it interesting that she's only double her birth weight at almost 15 months old. It's not so bad though when you consider she was a healthy 9lbs6oz. We went over to a neighbors last night and I got to hold their sweet 7lb baby. You forget so quickly how tiny they start. It was a funny thought though that their 3 week old baby was still not as big as the babies I've birthed. I'm still in a bit of awe these 8, 9, and 10lb babies come out of me. I do love em though!

Remind you of anything Sis?

Adorable...but suspicious