What's On My Happy List?

Goodness me ya'all! 

It has been awhile.

I seriously feel like I've 

lived a lifetime 

since I last posted.

😔

Here is a peek into March at our house!

My favorite guy celebrated his birthday!

**************

Kate celebrated her 15th birthday!

She can be such a good 

little helper in the kitchen...

This particular Sunday she made 

Toscano Soup and anti-pasta salad!

****************

In March Kyleigh & Tyler started having us 

come down to their place for dinner on the 

first Sunday of the month. 

They are great hosts and serve 

yummy food!

Emmsie made the yummiest gluten-free 

picnic cake to celebrate Poppi's birthday.... 

and a gluten-free tres de leche cake 

to celebrate Kate's.

*****************

BYU made it to the Sweet 16

in the NCAA tournament.

WHAT a season we had! 

👏

So dang fun!

Both the football & basketball teams had

incredible seasons.

I was seriously liv'in my best sports life

this past football & basketball season.

😂

*****************

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day!!!

 

Hannah is training Brady right. 

Made him wear green! lol

Sent Lilly Belle on a little hunt

for gold!

😌

***********

These three went to the Eccles

to see Dancing with the Stars!

Yummy yummy Indian food at Little India 

in American Fork!

******************

My sweet mama passed away on March 13th...

two months ago now..

It's been so HARD! 

I do not recommend losing your mother.

😔

Thankfully there is no time

line on grief...grief is hard work!...

it's a journey...and not a fun one. 

Ugh!

I posted over a 100 pictures 

on her obituary page. 

I'll share a few of my favorites here...😉

Only picture that exists of her together 

with her siblings as children...

{My mama is on the far left...

her twin is across from her

on the right.} 

The one and only school picture we have of her 

as a child...

{she is sitting on the front row, third child in from the left}

with her girl cousins...

{second one in on the left sitting down}

with her twin brother Arthur in high school

with her older brother and sisters...

My dad first laid eyes on my mom 

when she landed in the newspaper...

The loan office was robbed a second time! 

She happened to be wearing 

the same dress as the first robbery...

{one unlucky dress I'd say..lol}

Picture with her mom and dad 

and her siblings in the 

early 60's.

There were 11 children total..

9 lived to adulthood.

When my mama was three yrs old 

her 6 mo old baby brother died.

When she was thirteen a 7 mo old 

baby sister died. 

So sad!

With her dad!

Young mother of 5...

My mama had me when she was 40 yrs old!

My siblings were 16, 14, 12, 10 and 8.

She had had a full-term stillborn baby boy

4 yrs prior to my birth.

Needless to say, everyone was pretty thrilled 

when I was born.

My mama became a grandma when she was 46.

I became an aunt at 6 yrs old

when my niece Amber was born.

In her golden years....

**************

The Viewing...

My family wore green as it was 

one of her favorite colors!

I will never forget the sight 

of all the beautiful 

flowers against her white casket! 

I got the honor of picking out her 

casket flowers etc but 

it seemed like anyone else that 

gave us flowers got

the memo about the color scheme. haha

They all just kinda matched... 

which was a lovely sight to behold for me.

  

Day of Funeral...

I was able to speak at the funeral 

with my oldest sister 

about our wonderful mama.

It was a miracle ya'all that I didn't 

have an emotional

breakdown while up on the stand. 

So many people were praying for

me that I could get up there and 

do it! And I did!

🙏

Grandkids!

At the gravesite a bagpiper played 

Highland Cathedral...

One of her favorites, mine too!

😭

Our ward provided a yummy ham & potato

luncheon for us after...

Some of the cousins got together 

after the funeral to hang...

they did it after gpa died too. 

So sweet that they love being 

with each other.

I had an outpouring of love and support 

after my mama died

which I'll always be so grateful...

Thoughtful gifts, food, cards, visits,

texts, phone calls, flowers...

I'll never forget everyone's acts of kindness. 

I had a plethora of flower bouquets from friends

AND THEN we added the ones from the 

viewing and funeral and we were living

in a blooming flower shop!!!...lol

ALL the beautiful flowers...

I LOVED them as I adore flowers

as much as my mama did.

This was the viewing display we did 

for my mama...

Grandma memories...

two of the grandchildren spoke

at her funeral about the memories

the grandkids had...it was really

sweet and touching!

The grandkids all have memories of

graham crackers, apple juice, 

mac 'n cheese and ice cream at gma's!

Her obituary...

Arlene Hatch Bell March 19, 1932 – March 13, 2025 Our precious, sweet mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, Arlene Hatch Bell, passed away peacefully at home on the afternoon of March 13, 2025, six days before her 93rd birthday. Born in Panguitch, Utah, on March 19, 1932 with her twin brother Arthur, she was the fourth of eleven children born to Roy Cooper and Martha Heywood Hatch. Despite the hardships of the Depression, she always spoke fondly of her childhood and loving upbringing. Arlene graduated from Panguitch High School in 1950. She attended Dixie College and worked at a finance and loan company before marrying her sweetheart, DeVaughn Brown Bell, on November 26, 1955 in the St. George, Utah Temple. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, love, and service. Residing in the same home on Turpin Street in Murray, Utah for 60 years, they created a haven filled with joy, peace, and devotion to their family and community. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Arlene lived her faith every day, exemplifying charity, kindness, humility, and her love for the Savior. She served faithfully in her Primary, Young Women and Relief Society callings, the German Name Extraction Program, and with her husband in the Cottonwood Hospital Branch. She and Dad also participated in the Lamanite Placement Program welcoming Elbert Burbank into their home for four years. Arlene’s favorite pastimes were listening to beautiful music, reading, and watching a good wholesome show. In her younger days she enjoyed attending the temple, gardening, journaling, scrapbooking, taking morning walks and vacationing with family. She made the most delicious potato salad, funeral potato casserole, pumpkin pie, and banana bread. Above all, Arlene adored her family. She cherished her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and the time spent with them laughing and sharing fun memories. Ever the listener, mom occasionally would surprise us with a witty remark or comment! Her family was her greatest blessing. Her nurturing heart, positive and calm spirit, and unwavering love created a legacy that will inspire and uplift generations to come. Arlene was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years DeVaughn Brown Bell, son Jason Bell, daughter-in-law Shari Johnson Bell, and grandson Robert DeVaughn Kimball. She is survived by her six children and their spouses: Melanie (Kim) Kimball, Karen (Randy) Campbell, Devin (Tracy) Bell, Brad (Karine) Bell, Shannon (Dave) Webster, and Angie (Jaren) Cooper. She is also survived by 30 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, sister Carol Hatch Moss, brother Rell (Suzanne) Hatch, sister-in-law Daleen Andrews, and a host of extended family members who loved her dearly. A funeral service to honor Arlene's life will be held on Thursday, March 27th at noon at the Little Cottonwood Stake Center located at 6180 South Glen Oaks Street, Murray, Utah. A viewing will be held Wednesday evening, March 26th, at the same location from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friends and family may also visit from 10:30-11:45 a.m. prior to the funeral service. Those unable to attend may view the livestream service at www.jenkins-soffe.com. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. The family would like to sincerely thank her in-home doctor Marcia, nurse Meggan, and CNA Cecilia, as well as the staff at Bristol Hospice for their tender and compassionate care of our mother. Arlene's life was a beautiful reflection of her deep love for her family and her Savior. She will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and loving her.

The month of March will be unforgettable 

for many reasons...

I had a 32 year old cousin die the 

same day as my mom AND my 

mom's only remaining sister alive

died three weeks after she did.