Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend Jodi Bray's funeral. Growing up our family was close with the Bray's as they lived in our ward. I also spent countless hours at their house hanging out with Jayne, babysitting the little ones, and even doing the occasional house/dog sitting when the family went on vacations. As they talked about Jodi's life and shared some of their stories about their beloved mother, sister, aunt, daughter, and friend at the funeral, I too thought of some of my fondest memories of Jodi.
When I was about 6 and first started going over to the Bray home, I remember that they had a POOL! Jayne, Angi, Elle, Becca, and I (and I'm sure a bunch of other neighborhood kids) would swim in that thing for hours! When we needed a snack after swimming so much, Jodi would slice up some green apples (which were always cold because she would keep them in the fridge) for us to eat. Sometimes the apples would be accompanied with peanut butter, but usually not so much.
When I was about 7, Jayne and I had our first sleepover at her house. Now when I was younger, waking up early on Saturday morning at my house meant that you could be the first to turn the TV on and therefore have control of it till Mom made you turn it off to do chores. I fully enjoyed my Saturday Cartoons, so when I woke up early at the Bray's house, I (as quietly as I could) tip-toed to the TV in the family room and turned it on. Well I wasn't very fast at turning the volume on the TV down, but I eventually got it to a lower level. As I started searching for the cartoons Jodi walked into the living room and asked me what I was doing. I promptly answered by telling her I was watching cartoons! She then informed me that it was 4:00 a.m. and to go back to bed.... I remember feeling SO embarrassed. I bet Jodi would laugh at that memory.
Throughout the years Jodi gave us many rides to and from school, dance lessons, Classic Skating, the mall, etc. in their big silver Expedition. It was so fun riding in that car because Jodi was a "cool mom." She would let us blast the music, roll down the windows when it was raining and have a freeze out, and stop on our way home to buy things like snow cones during the summer. I remember thinking, I'm going to be a cool mom like Jodi when I grow up :)
When I was about 12 or so, I went swimming with the Bray's up at Cottonwood Heights. Now it was here that they had those different level platforms that you could jump off into the pool. There were 3 or 4 different levels to jump from, and I don't know if Jodi was just afraid of heights, or what not, but one thing led to another and she bet me $20 to jump off the highest platform. Well I wasn't afraid of heights, so I did it, Jodi paid up, and Jayne and I fully enjoyed the nachos we purchased with the winnings.
Jodi will be missed. They talked a lot about how she loved her music, loved to dance, loved her family, and gave unconditional love to all. They had a beautiful service and the family seems to be doing well.
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