Part of the Family

Happy 80th Birthday Claude! The memories I have of being in the Mills’ family involve both Claude and Joyce, so here goes. One memory that stands out in my mind is shortly after Brian and I got engaged, they invited me and my parents out to dinner to talk about our wedding plans. We went to the Mandarin and it was delicious, but what impressed me most was the concern I felt from them that we have the nicest wedding possible while staying within our budget. We had a wonderful wedding! I love thinking back on that day. I appreciate all the support and love that I have received from them from the time we met until now.

I have loved spending time with the family. I love the family dinners. They give us a chance to visit with each other monthly and stay in touch with each other. I love the waffles! Even though I make them now myself, they don’t taste as good as Joyce’s. I loved having family night with them. It was nice to have them both one on one with just our family occasionally. I enjoyed going on all the Labor Day vacations, and our whole family looks forward to our time at Wolf Creek.

I appreciate their love and support of my kids. I love them both very much! I love Brian with all my heart, and I’m so glad that I have had the opportunity to be his wife and to be a member of the Mills family.
--Kathy

Christmas Eve

Happy Birthday Grandpa! My favorite memory is having Grandpa and Grandma come to dinner at our house on Christmas Eve. I like eating dinner with them, reading Christmas stories, and modeling my cute new pajamas.

I like coming to their house for the family dinners where I can play with all my cute cousins. My favorite part is the ice cream and cake! I love Grandpa!
--Reagan

Grandpa's Love

I can remember from an early age when I was growing up, that Grandpa loves to tell stories. We were always over to see everyone since we lived close by. He always talked about growing up with his siblings and he talked about how much he loved his parents. I remember him always commenting on how much he loved grandma and his kids and grandkids. Although it has been 11 yrs since I have seen him, I still remember that he looks the same only more white hair and same smile.

--Christy

Singing in the Car

When we would go on family vacations, since we didn't have portable dvd players we had to find other ways be entertained. One of our favorite activities was singing in the car. Dad usually didn't sing with us, but every time it was his turn to choose a song he would choose "I Stand All Amazed" or "I Need Thee Every Hour." I remember being able to sing all of the verses to those songs at a very early age. I learned at a very early age of the love my father has for Jesus.
--Michelle

The Genuineness of Claude

I love Claude's sense of humor. The above photo and the note of "appreciation," which appeared on the back of the photograph, give us an idea of his humor upon his retirement from Questar. Moreover, it demonstrates that Claude is not afraid to be himself. He is comfortable with himself and who he is becoming. In a world where many things are fake, Claude is very genuine. He is without guile. Wonderfully I never have to second guess his motives or his desires--what you see is what you get with Claude.

Claude was not afraid to be himself when he was directing a session of a family investment club. The club lasted for a few years, from the late 1990s through the early 2000s, and included a monthly meeting to discuss stocks in which the family might invest. One particular stock caught Claude's attention like no other. His excitement of the stocks history and potential success elicited this response from him: "Great guns in the morning!" It was a classic line that included waving arms and profound study of the stock with bifocals locked onto the stock sheet. Meanwhile, the rest of the family enjoyed a great chorus of laughter. Claude did not mind the guffaws, he enjoyed the experience like the rest of us.

Finally, an aspect of Claude's genuineness is his gratitude. He frequently expresses his gratitude to me for the small amount that I do for him. He expresses his gratitude for doing yard work at his home, for helping him get some food at a family party, for helping his wife, or for simply visiting or being with him. His example of gratitude is worth following.
--Matt Crawford

Favorite Scripture

Dad loves the scriptures. I think one of his much loved callings is teaching gospel doctrine. One scripture that Dad wanted us all to memorize and one that he could apply to almost any lesson is found in Mosiah 3: 19.

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Dad has taken this scripture to heart. He personifies these qualities and is truly a SAINT. He has submitted to all that the Lord has inflicted upon him and smiles through it all.

--Lisa

Time with Dad

I have many memories of spending time with Dad spanning my life. As a child, it was always a good day when Dad came home from work and said he would play elevator. He would lay on the ground and I would climb on his hands. He would then lift us up in the air. Then he would lift up his legs and I would grab on and do a somersault forward to the ground. Then run back to his head for another turn.

Occasionally, Dad would sit me down and have an interview. I would set goals and he would see how I was progressing with what we had talk about before. Many Saturdays, Dad would pile the kids into the car and we would head to the athletic club in Salt Lake to go swimming. Dad would get his run in while we would swim, sit in the hot tub, sauna and steam room (no 16 or older signs here), and then we always had time to explore the weight room, the roof or the dressing room. Our favorite was the fat jiggling machine. (What was the point of that thing?) After he finished exercising he spent time with us in the pool and hot tub.

As the years have flown by, Dad continues to find time to spend with his kids. I never like it when my car has to be in the shop, but I always know that I can count on Dad to drive me over to pick it up when it is done. Riding with Dad, he always asks about my life and then proceeds to tell me how grateful he is to have such a wonderful daughter. I leave the car feeling better about myself and thankful to have spent time with him. I know my kids feel the same way when he picks them up after events. I can always count on Dad!
--Lisa