Remembering Sheri on Memorial Day (Part #2)

We spent Memorial Day remembering Sheri and our other relatives who have died. First Scott posted the flag in front of our home:


Then we cut flowers (snowballs) from our yard. Brent brought iris and peonies from his garden as well:

We drove to the Orem City Cemetery (there were lots of people there):

where we placed flowers on Sheri's grave. Eric and his brother and sister-in-law (James and Wendy) also sent flowers:

Brent, Melissa, and Russ and their families were with us:

Then we visited the graves of Sheri's grandparents in Provo and her grandfather and aunt in Lehi. In the afternoon, we went back to the Orem cemetery with Andrea and her family:


It was a wonderful day. We love you Sheri:

Andrea Remembers Sheri

Dear Abbey and Ava,

You probably won't completely understand what your mother means to me until you are grown women, enjoying the love and friendship that comes with your sisterhood. You are so lucky to have each other, just as I was so lucky to have your mother in my life.

With our first Memorial Day since your mother's death just around the corner, I have been thinking about her non-stop. No matter where life takes you, there are a few things I want you to remember about your mom.

Your mother loved you. Most of our conversations (via phone, e-mail, Instant Messenger, or in person) were about our children, balancing our careers with our desire to care for our children, and things we could do to be better mothers. Your mother took a particular interest in my children before she had her own, and when you both came along, I got to hear all the stories about you. I once got a call from Sheri when she was on her way home from work. She wanted me to hear Abbey singing, "Drive My Car" by the Beatles. It was your favorite, Abbey. And I heard very early on, the joy Sheri had about the upcoming birth of Ava. We talked regularly throughout the months before you came, and she was very excited to have you. Those were the things we shared--a love for each other and our children. Your mother loved you, and I love you too.

Sheri and Skylar

(Skylar and Abbey)

(Melissa, Sheri, Andrea, and kids)

(Abbey, Andrea, Ava--on our "boat")

Andrea with her "favorite girls"

Your mother valued an education: Your mother was so proud of her college education. She worked hard to graduate from BYU. She felt that every woman should obtain an education and use it to benefit her family. That is what she did, and it is what she would want for you. One of my favorite memories of college life was taking Geology 100 with Sheri. Neither of us cared for the material, but we liked studying together--if you want to call it that. We basically would buy lots of candy from the bookstore (chocolate jelly sticks for your mom and sour salad for me) and eat and laugh. We passed the class, but mostly had a lot of fun. When I graduated, a year after Sheri, she came from out of town to support me.

Your mom had a testimony: I knew your mom had a testimony. Even though we didn't talk about it all the time, I knew from her actions that she did. I was there when she left for the MTC to serve her mission, and when she came home. I remember one day shortly after she came home from her mission, I was looking through her Book of Mormon and noticed how marked up it was. I started quizzing her. I'd simply say a chapter and verse, and she knew exactly what it was about! I was so impressed that she had that type of knowledge of the book. I knew she must have spent hours reading it. I was at the temple (waiting outside) the day she married your dad, and she was at the temple (inside--lucky me!) the day I married Uncle Nate. I helped her pick out the blessing dress that you were both blessed in. These things were important to her and she would want them for you.

I learned so much being the younger sister of your mother. She taught be about the fun things in life--music, movies, and "girl stuff" (I'll tell you what that means when you're older). We went shopping together, ate ice cream together, and swapped recipes. We also shared the important things in life--our children and our beliefs about relationships, God, and life.  I loved her with all my heart and miss her. Please girls, try to be kind to each other and continue caring for one another. Believe me, your sisterhood is one of the most precious gifts that you have been given.

Love,

Aunt Andrea

 

Remembering Sheri on Memorial Day (Part #1)

With Memorial Day coming on Monday, our thoughts turn to memories of Sheri. Here are some things I would want Abbey and Ava to know about their mother.

Sheri Lynne was born on Sunday, March 21st in Ithaca, New York. Although it was the first day of spring, it was snowing when she was born. Her three older siblings (Stephen, Brent, and Suzanne) loved to hold her and and watch her smile. They made a fort by her crib so that they could play by her:


Sheri was a patient and good-natured baby. She loved to sit in her high chair. She especially liked to eat:


and make messes:


Sheri liked to help in the kitchen. For several years, she was the family's official cookie and brownie maker. Her peanut butter cookies were especially good. She also liked to help in the garden:


When Sheri was 15 months old, her brother Russell was born. Within a few months, he was almost as big as she was. People used to ask if they were twins:


Sheri was a kind person and treated everyone well. In elementary school, she won an award for being the most courteous student in her class and later she was recognized as being the most courteous student in the school. You can see her sweet personality in this picture---our favorite one of her as a child.


Sheri had lots of hobbies and was an avid reader. She loved to hike and to visit Utah's national parks (especially Zion). She was an excellent swimmer and loved to go swimming at the Scera pool, the Orem Fitness Center, and at the condo in St. George.


Sheri always wanted to do what was right. This picture was taken the day she was baptized.


This one was taken the day she entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC):


This picture was taken the day she left for her mission to the Montana Billings Mission:


And this one was taken the day she returned home:


Sheri was a fun-loving person. Her many scrapbooks are full of pictures of her smiling and laughing with her friends --- from her friends in elementary school to her missionary companions to her college roommates:


Sheri had a special relationship with her mom:


Her dad:


Her siblings (Note, this picture is missing Suzanne):

especially her sisters:

and all of her nieces and nephews:


One of Sheri's many accomplishments included graduating from BYU. She attended BYU-Hawaii:


and graduated from BYU-Provo with a degree in English. (She was the only child in the family to take a class from her mother):


Sheri had a wonderful sense of humor. Here she is dressed up as a suffragette for a Young Women's program:


and here she is dressed up as a turkey (!) as part of her job as an Operations Manager at DirecTV in Missoula:


A truly happy day in Sheri's life (and ours) was when she married Eric in the Salt Lake Temple on August 7, 1999:


Sheri was an excellent wife and mother. She loved her "Little Miss Abbey" dearly and looked forward eagerly to the birth of Ava Lily:


We love you Sheri. We miss you!!!

Klein Girls in Orem

While Eric went to Mesa for a wedding, Scott and Bev took Abbey and Ava back to Orem for two days. Abbey had a wonderful time with her cousin Grace. They ate at a little table:

watched TV and pulled silly faces:

and danced and twirled in their pretty dresses:

Ava played with Gabe (he called her "Isaac"):

and watched TV ("Sports Center") with Grandpa. We had to raise the height of the ExerSaucer because she is getting so tall:

She slept in the crib in the lavender bedroom:

and sat in a real highchair to eat her favorite food (bananas and pears):

We were sad when Abbey and Ava went home to Montana. We hope to see them again soon: