Memorial Concert at IU

Around the first anniversary of Georgia's passing a group of friends and musicians at Indiana University put together a memorial concert in honor of Georgia.  It was beautifully performed and such a fitting way to honor one of their own, one of their music school "family members."  A whole chamber orchestra performed as well as some solos, quartets, and duos.  I will try to figure out the music links so all can hear the concert here on the blog, but for now, here are some snap shots of the concert.  Thank you all for a wonderful memory!

Nancy and Jerry - Georgia's aunt and uncle - flew out from Utah to hear the concert.

I swallowed my pride (don't mind my crazy eyes...) to include this photo because these other lovely ladies played so beautifully.  

Gregory and Jimmy

Friends at a reception afterwards at the Institute of Religion across the street from the music school.

The Festival of Trees

Every year in Utah The Festival of Trees opens in December.  It's a charitable organization that auctions off donated, decorated Christmas trees.  Every year the trees become more and more amazing and you can see every theme under the sun.  The Christmas of 2002 our cousin, Karen Sonkens and her mother (my dad's sister) Nancy went to town creating a tree in honor of Georgia.  It was absolutely gorgeous with violins, angels, gold music notes, twinkly ornaments and ribbon.  On a table next to the tree they placed a Book of Mormon with Georgia's testimony in it.  Since my parents were still in Brazil serving a mission for our church, my husband and I went together and relayed over the phone how beautiful it was, knowing someone would buy it and they would never see it.  Once the auctions were over and the trees taken home we got a phone call.  The father of Adam's mission companion in Korea had bought Georgia's tree and was bringing it to my parents' house in Salt Lake City.  Every year the Ashton family sets aside a large sum of money to give or donate or use to help someone.  The tree was his generous and tender gift that year to our family, so every year my parents take out "Georgia's Tree" and assemble it in it's place of honor - right by the front door.  Every Christmas a little bit of Georgia mingles with the festivities and quiet moments, thanks to our cousins, the Sonkens, and of course the Ashton family.

A Miracle

On the day of Georgia's funeral in Salt Lake City, we as a family gathered at our home after the funeral and the beautiful meal prepared for us by the Relief Society (the LDS women's organization).  The mood was quiet, pensive, tender and so to walk outside and see a gorgeous double rainbow right there in our backyard felt like a gift from the Lord.  It was like a reminder that He was really in charge and it would be okay.  This picture doesn't do it justice, but we think of it as our own little miracle, our tender mercy.

I thought I'd also include the program from the funeral in Salt Lake City.  It was a meeting unlike any I've ever attended and we were so blessed to hear from so many incredible people that day, including a surprise visit and talk from President Monson.  Hopefully you can read it.  We were missing two brothers who were on missions for our church: Adam who was in Korea and David who was in Portugal at the time.  Their own experiences through it all are remarkable as well (how does a young man take the news over the phone in a foreign country that his sister suddenly passed away?).  Maybe they will share them sometime here on the blog because they were both so strong, it's inspiring.

Good Old Georgia

I just love these pictures of Georgia growing up - in no particular order.

A decade?

I'm sure there are many heavy hearts today.  And rightfully so.  It's been ten years since Georgia left us.  And if by grieving we obtain a softer heart, or a greater reverence for life, or a greater determination to love each other and savor every moment of this sometimes difficult but always beautiful life, then let the grief come.  Let it change us for the better.

I think she appreciates the way we think about her and honor her memory.  I know so many little children who bear her name!  I know so many people who say that the memory of her life inspires them to be better!  I know so many people who are better for having known her! (and I hope that I am one of them)

And while I want to use today to honor her life, and to honor the way the memory of her reminds me to be a better person, I also want to find a way to smile today.  To find joy and laughter, because those things, more than anything, remind me of her.

And so, I will share a story.

The December after Georgia passed away, I was home from college for Christmas break.  I decided to visit her grave site for the first time, and take her a white poinsettia.  I had just met a guy who'd served in Nauvoo with her and, because he was in town for the holidays too, we decided to visit the grave together.

I can remember that day very well: the gray skies, the heavy snow, the coldness in my heart and in my hands.  My mother had described to me where Georgia's grave was located and I listened carefully so I'd be sure to find it.

My friend (whom I'd later marry and raise a family with) and I drove around and around the cemetery looking for it, but we couldn't find it.  We decided that it must be covered in the snow somewhere.  So we drove to where we thought it probably was, and placed the poinsettia in the snow.  I can still see in my mind's eye that lone flower surrounded by the snow on that gray, overcast day. I broke down in tears, and was so glad that I had someone by my side who had known her, and could understand why the loss of her life would affect me so greatly.  Without saying a word, he wrapped his arm around me and just let me cry.

It was a quiet drive home.

But, in talking with my mom that evening, I realized I had actually gone to the wrong cemetery.  No wonder I hadn't found her grave!  It wasn't there!  I had ended up leaving that poinsettia just in some random spot on the ground!   And I had stood there crying in front of a pile of snow and a potted plant.  How ludicrous!  And rather than feeling upset that I'd been to the wrong place, all I could do was laugh at the absurdity of it.  It was like Georgia was reminding me that, even in difficult times, there can be humor and joy and laughter.

So Georgia, while we mourn your passing today, I hope we will also remember the way you lived: with charisma, and joy, and life, and laughter.

With love,
Brittany

Haleigh, Georgia and me at the Columbus, OH temple in 1999

A Letter From Georgia

I was roommates with Georgia for one year (1999-2000) at Indiana University. We LOVED our CD player and we loved sharing our favorite songs with each other. Some of them became "our songs." At the end of our year together, we missed saying goodbye and moving out together because Georgia was auditioning to be a musical missionary for the summer in Nauvoo. I came into our dorm the day she moved out, and there was a CD she had made for me, a box of Nylons (because she had borrowed mine and used them all), and this beautiful letter. I found it the other day in my CD case, tucked right under the CD she made for me, and I wanted to share it with you all. It's so - Georgia!

Baby Georgia

I meant to publish this post long ago and never did.  My baby girl is now 2 years old...

This is my little Georgia, or "Baby Georgia" as my boys call her.  She is wearing my grandmother's pearls, the ones intended for my sister Georgia once she graduated from college.  Last week my baby "met" her great-grandmother and became the receipiant of those pearls.  It was a wonderful moment for me, remembering Georgia and passing on something to connect the two Georgias.  I feel so honored to use the name for my own daughter and hope that she will come to know what a special person her aunt is.

Georgia at Indiana University

Georgia finished three years at Indiana University, one of the largest and best music schools in the country.  Although the music school has well over a thousand students the musicians become a kind of family, tucked within a Big 10 University.  Students from literally all over the world come to study in Bloomington and so Georgia had a very international group of friends, all of them very talented in their own right.  Georgia studied violin with Mauricio Fucs whose studio was particularly close, but she also had a "family" through the LDS Institute which was right across the street from the music school, and well, ahem, if I do say so myself, a sister and brother in-law.  We were roommates during my last year at IU.  Wasn't I lucky?  I will try very hard to remember names here, but forgive me since it's been 10 years since I've seen most of these remarkable people.  I'll just put first names for privacy - my apologies to those whose names I have forgotten.

With Felix in Mr. Fucs' studio.

With Short-term roommate, Adrienne

Alan - also from Mr. Fucs' studio

On a hike 

At a dance with Marty

With Felix and Jimmy, her stand partner

In Austria while studying abroad

At an IU game with friends from church, Bruce and Sally

With roommate, Shanna and her brother

With roommate, Sally.  Shanna and Sally were Georgia's roommates during her senior year at IU and helped the family go through her room, arrange things at the funeral in Indiana, and communicate the news to friends so we didn't have to.  Thank you!

With Mr. Fucs and his wife

With friends from Mr. Fucs' studio

Hanging out with Bruce

After a concert in Gratz, Austria with her violin on her back.

Freshman year with roommate Haleigh in the dorm.

With friends from church (and Youming) at the Institute

Quartet

Church friends - roommates Shanna and Sally

With Michelle at the Institute

With Michelle and their hair for Locks of Love.  I went (as moral support) with Georgia to get her hair cut and when we walked out of the salon she cried and cried.  She really did have beautiful, long hair!

Lots of love and flowers after her Junior recital

End of freshman year.

Stand partner and dear friend, Jimmy

Jimmy was in Gratz with Georgia (I hope my memory is not wrong on this...)

At a performance with Jimmy

With Jordan 

Friends at church - Michelle

Post-concert with conductor and orchestra friends

After her recital with roommates Shanna and Sally

Hanging out with Sally (who must have given her many rides)

Another studio gathering - with Sarah.