grandpa's hat

it's a big hat to fill.

I hope that through the years we can teach Gage just how to fill it.

George Horold Dotson

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, George Horold Dotson, Jr., age 71, passed away suddenly from a heart attack on December 9, 2010 in Richfield, Utah. George was born in Salt Lake City, February 26, 1939 to George Horold and Ether Fontella Dotson. On December 17, 1969, he married the love of his life, Onda Vee Curtis, in Richfield. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti Temple, where, together with their children, they were sealed for all time and eternity. Their family had recently surprised them with a celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary.

He spent his childhood years in West Jordan and attended Jordan High School. George served his country in the Navy during the Korean War conflict. He married JoAnn Lowe on November 8, 1958. They were later divorced. He spent most of his adult life in Richfield, an area he loved and was proud to make his home.

George earned a living working in the SUFCO coal mine in Salina Canyon for many years, and also as a truck driver and an owner/operator of his own trucking company. He worked tirelessly and with great zeal to support and provide for his family. He continued to drive truck more as a hobby in his later years because of his love for the road and the happiness it brought him.

He was a wonderful and devoted patriarch to his large family, and took great joy in assisting his sweetheart in organizing and carrying out family gatherings and vacations. He cherished and was tremendously proud of every member of his family, and together he and his sweetheart drove countless miles and spent countless hours traveling to attend every event in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Together they have created traditions, memories, and legacies that will be carried on for generations. It meant everything to him for his family to be happy.

George was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and took joy in being active and in serving in many callings through the years. His favorite callings were serving in his ward’s High Priest presidency in recent years, and as a ward clerk. Together with his wife, they served an 18-month mission with the LDS Employment Agency. He loved going to the temple. Beyond his church callings, he used the many skills he developed throughout his life to help others around him in any way he could, including service in many community organizations.

There was always a major project going on in his life, and he was always active and ready to move on to the next project once the last one was completed. He enjoyed hunting and spending time in the outdoors. He was an avid sports fan, his favorite teams being the Jazz, the Broncos, and BYU. He loved to travel with his wife, and in their retired years, they spent a great amount of time together visiting many exciting places. More than anything, he loved spending time with her. George was respected by all who knew him. His was a life well-lived, and a he was a man well-loved.

He is survived by his wife, Onda Vee; ten children: Matthew (Amy) Dotson, St. George; Rachelle Proctor, Richfield; Cindy (Scott) Farnsworth, Taylorsville; Landon (Tiffiny) Farnsworth, West Jordan; Ray (Mary) Dotson, West Valley City; Dan (Cyndi) Dotson, West Valley City; Russell (Christine) Farnsworth, Lehi; Rickard (Beverly) Farnsworth, Richfield; Rowanna (Keith) Mosier, Phoenix, AZ; Lynne, Phoenix, AZ; 35 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; brother Richard (Marilyn); sisters Joan (Hank) Salis and Elaine Martinez. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Pete; sister, Fawn Tillery; and one grandson.

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 13, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Richfield 7th Ward chapel, 159 N 400 W. Friends may call Sunday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Magleby Mortuary in Richfield, 50 S 100 W, and Monday at the chapel from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Richfield City Cemetery with military rites by the V.F.W. Sevier Post #5050 and the Utah Honor Guard. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online condolences at www.maglebymortuary.com.

so much love

We had the most amazing weekend ever.

Seriously, it could not have been better.

Korin met us up at the Temple after Gage's sealing and then traveled down to attend Gage's blessing. It was so great to see her. I have missed her so much. What a perfect weekend.

I have more to say, but for now I will leave you with a few pictures. (can you believe we didn't even take any after the temple. It was so cold, windy and rainy. Freezing!)

we are an eternal family

dear baby girl

I can't believe it's been 6 years.

Every once in awhile we still have a hard day and wonder why you had to leave us so early.

Knowing you are okay makes us happy. We only want you to be happy.

We miss you, but our heartache has lessened over the years. That doesn't mean we don't love you just as much. It just means that our hearts are healing. 

We can finally think about you and celebrate your short life and appreciate the experiences with joy instead of tears.

This last 6 months with your baby brother have been hard on us in a way. As we watch him go through stages and milestones, we wonder what it would have been like to watch you grow and learn. We wonder if you would laugh and giggle when we make silly faces at you or tickle your back. If you would be a petite little girl and actually fit into your 6 month clothes when you were 6 months old. If you would make squirmy faces when we give you vitamins. If you would be a snuggly baby and let your mom give you hugs and kisses, unlike your brother. 

Today on this special day, we are going to take your little brother to the temple to be sealed to our eternal family. What an amazing day to think of you and to celebrate both of our beautiful children. 

We love you and can't wait to be with you again. 

Love, 

Mom, Dad and Gage

p.s. You have the cutest baby brother ever. I can't wait to see you together someday. He is lucky to have a beautiful big sister like you. 

1 day

2 days

3 days

4 days

(image courtesy of Jake Chesley)

5 days

(image courtesy of Jake Chesley)

one week from tomorrow

it will be the sixth anniversary of Hannah's birth.

Gage, Dustyn and I will be sealed as an eternal family.

What an amazing journey we have had.

I love this one!

(Image courtesy of Jake Chesley)

How does a picture a day sound? :)

draper, utah temple

Dustyn and I went and had our pictures taken at the temple in preparation for our upcoming sealing. They turned out awesome. I am so excited to share more with you! For now, you get one.

(image courtesy of Jake Chesley)

Gage will be sealed to our eternal family on October 23, 2010 at 1:00PM. If you are coming to the temple, please arrive at 12:30PM. Afterwards we will be meeting at Chuck-a-rama to eat. (12344 Minuteman Drive, Draper, Utah) Around 2:30-ish.

On October 24, 2010, Gage will be given a name and a blessing in the Richfield 11th Ward at 9:00 am. We will have a luncheon at Noon at my Grandma's house. If you need the address, please email me at dustynkamieATgmailDOTcom.

more of my favorite boys

placement eve

I know I haven't really posted Gage's adoption story yet. I hope that someday I will. It's so hard to write it out and commit to remembering it a certain way when I know I could never recount it in a way that my heart remembers it. How do you capture the emotions, love, heartache, fear, and pain that comes with an adoption. You can't. It will never be as perfect as it was those few days we were able to spend with Korin.

A month or so ago I wrote a guest post for Aubrey. Since then, this post has been swirling around and around in my head. I wasn't going to post it, but it's the only way to stop it from swirling. :) Who knows how many times I will come back and edit it to try and make it perfect.

As I was writing my guest post, I started thinking back and remembering the days before placement. Remembering those raw, raw emotions brought tears to my eyes. (okay, so I may or may not be crying now)

The night before placement, Dustyn and I were in our hotel room. We were doing anything to pass the time. Dustyn was watching TV or something and I was trying to prepare the gift that we had purchased for Korin. It had to be perfect. But... how could it be perfect? She was placing her baby in my arms. Her child. The baby she carried in her womb and delivered only 24 hours ago. I was giving her pictures and few items that I hoped would remind her how much we love her. It felt inadequate. A gift could never tell her the way we felt about her.

As Dustyn and I crawled into bed, we laid awake. As I laid in his arms, the tears came.

"I won't be mad if she changes her mind. I want her to change her mind. I can't watch her hurt. It's too much, I can't do this. I want to be the one hurting."

"I know," Dustyn agreed with me and hugged me a little tighter.

As I laid there sobbing, I remembered that this was Korin's choice for Gage. She wanted to place him in our home. Adoption was her choice.

That didn't make it much easier, but it gave me strength to know that we could do this and it was what Korin wanted. Her strength and courage made me stronger. It made me a better mother.

The first time I held Gage, moments after he was born.

On the day of placement, my heart broke into a million pieces as Korin placed Gage in my arms and said goodbye for the last time. As she walked out of the room and the door closed, I cried. I sobbed. The hardest I have ever cried in my life. This precious baby in my arms was my baby. I was a mother. Because of a beautiful young woman named Korin.

Korin with Gage saying goodbye.

I wish I could relive those days again. I wish I could hug her a few more times. I wish I could tell her again and again how much she means to me and how much I love her.

Adoption is the most amazing blessing I have ever been a part of. It is the Lord's plan. He loves us and wants what is best for us. He knows what we need and when we need it. The hard part is putting our trust in the Lord. I think back to the three and a half years that we were waiting and hoping for a baby. I know there was pain. I know there was discouragement. I know I cried myself to sleep more than I care to admit. Today, as I sit and rock my baby boy (okay, so maybe it's not really rocking as much as him jumping on me. Ha ha!) I can not remember the pain I experienced. I know it was there, but he makes every minute worth it.

I can't believe that in 15 (or so) short days, Gage will officially be a part of our family. Legally, at least. He's very much a part of our family now, as much as he was the day we found out a young woman had chosen us to be her baby boy's parents. I can't wait to take him into the house of our Lord and be sealed to him eternally. I feel like my heart is going to explode with love and joy. What an amazing gift. I can't wait until I can tell him all about it.

days before 31

I never imagined this would be me days before my 31st birthday.

I can definitely say 30 was one of my best years yet.

I am thankful for my life and for the laughter, happiness, tears and trials that got me to this point. 

I love being Gage's mom and the wife of Dustyn. 

I have a feeling this might just be the best birthday yet.

happy independence day america

Although we are not really celebrating until tomorrow, we had all kinds of fun tonight. We had a big family dinner with fireworks and lots of fun! Loud fun! 

It was fun visiting and letting Gage meet everyone again.

We joked about "Gage's Entourage" because everywhere he went, he had plenty of followers. When grandpa said it was time for fireworks and wondered where everyone was... Gage's entourage was in the house, of course.

Gage slept through all the loud fireworks. Not even one tiny move.

We'll see what happens tomorrow when it's time for the city fireworks.

I absolutely love the 4th and I love spending time with family. 

Even Grandma Myrna came down to visit with us. (Dustyn's mom) We are happy to have her here! R-field is *the* place to be on the 4th of July.