Sarah, Tanner & Kelly Birthday 1999 Home Movie

Disneyland 1999

Since we are only a few hours from the home of Disneyland, it wasn’t uncommon for us to try get a trip to Disneyland or Knotts Berry Farm at least once a year. On a rare occasion, we even stayed overnight and made it a 2 day trip. On this occasion apparently only three children are with us. I don't know why or where the other three are??

Looks like we had a great time though, we always did!

More Beach Camping February 1999

More fun times with the Cooper family beach camping!

Christmas 1998 Home Movie

The Narrows 1998

Fun trip with the kids to Zion National Park, walking through The Narrows. Sarah was just a baby and my mom was with us too, so we stayed back while the others walked through the river.
 

Sarah Michelle Born May 20, 1998

Our family had grown beautifully, but as Tanner was getting ready to start school, I started to feel like someone was missing. We thought our family was complete, but I kept having these recurring feelings that someone was missing and I even had an impression that her name would be Sarah. I certainly had never experienced this with my previous children. I remember telling the Lord, that He was going to need send these same impression to Gary, because I didn't think he was going to be to crazy about having another baby when things were just starting to get a little easier in our life. How could we refuse a prompting from the Lord, Sarah was born May 20, 1998. It was really fun having a baby girl when we actually had an income and I could buy some fun stuff and the other children were in school for part of the day, so we could enjoy some alone time. Sarah was a light that brought our whole family together. Everyone loved to mother Sarah. (Interesting to note, that sixteen years later she would receive her patriarchal blessings that said that she was a "light" to others and that she chose her birth order. Afterwards Sarah had mentioned that she was praying that the blessing would say something to confirm that her Heavenly Father knew her and was speaking to her. The spirit witnessed to all of us that day that her Heavenly Father knew her well.)

1997 Easter Photo

Craig, Kelly, Kristi, Tanner, Amy Easter 1997

 

Big Bear/Craig's BirthdayHome Video

Yellowstone 1997

My grandpa Anderson has a cabin in just outside of Yellowstone in Silver Gate Montana. We don't get up there often because it is such a long drive. But this time, we took Gary's parents up and had a wonderful time staying in the cabin, exploring Yellowstone and Jackson Hole Wyoming. Beautiful country!

Father, Grandpa Richard Hardy passes away November 27, 1996

http://hardyfamilyhistories.blogspot.com/2010/10/1931-1996-richard-clair-hardy.html

My parents came to visit me before they left for Susanville where they would enjoy Thanksgiving with Maria's family. I remember how strange it was that they had bought a dog "Bandito". We always had dogs growing up, but this was a dog they bought for them in their older years, which seemed funny to me. Little did I know that my dad would have his final heart attack while on this trip to Susanville. I would never see him alive again. I often wonder how much inspiration when into the acquisition of Bandito just a few weeks before my dad passed away. Bandito became my mother's constant companion and good friend. While it was very sad to see my dad pass, it many ways he prepared us for this day. His own father died of a heart attack, as did his brother. My dad would tell us how he wanted to be buried in his "El Camino". Every time I went away to school I had a little thought in my head that I might not see my dad again. We knew that he had this genetics that might take his life early. The hardest part of his passing was that my sweet mother had to pick up the pieces from his business and organize all their financial affairs which eventually required her to sell their Rancho Bernardo house and move to northern california. It was a very stressful and anguishing time for my mother, but as is her character she handled it with the strength and grace of a strong woman doing what she had to do. Her home in Lake Almanor seemed to be a blessing from heaven where she is finally able to enjoy some retired years working on her projects and enjoying the nature and beauty of her surroundings.