We Remember

Today is Phil's dad's birthday. Wayne McGrath passed away a little over three years ago, but we still think of him often and feel grateful for his influence and testimony.

We didn't see him as much as the other kids just because we lived so far away. We always loved it when he came to visit, tho. The children loved playing with him and going out for that memorable trip to the Dollar Store - Wow! They were given a whole $5 dollars to spend however they wanted. Such fun!

I still hear his chuckle in my head sometimes. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was a very gifted speaker. You were never bored listening to him talk. He loved to have his family gathered around him while he told his great stories.

Each Christmas Eve he would retell "The Night Before Christmas". He always did it by memory and every year was different. Some years were shorter than others, and each year usually had the adults rolling in laughter by the time he was finished.

He had a great testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The most time we ever spent with him was when he was the Mission President of the St. Louis Mission. We lived only three hours away and was able to visit often. He would often share with us his experiences in the mission field and bare his testimony of Jesus Christ and how wonderful and simple the gospel was. Be obedient and endure to the end - it was that simple.

We still sing the songs he used to sing - Froggy Went-A Courtin' and "The Squirrel Song" (does that song even have a proper title??). Ethan wants to hear them every night before he goes to sleep.

He was a creative inventor. I have never seen simple projects become so complicated. Phil has picked up that gene somehow, he is his dad through and through with that trait.

He was a great husband, dad, grandad, mentor, teacher, coach, and disciple of Christ. His children and grandchildren have a great legacy and name that they can be proud of and carry with honor.


Always doing anything and everything with the grandkids (this is Megan at 11 months).

Taking time to wrestle with Logan while serving a mission in St. Louis.
He overcame a lot of adversity and trials growing up. He was successful in everything he did.
This is a picture with Bryan when he was about 3 years old.
Picture with his wife, Barbara, when they let for their mission.
He was a great basketball player, tennis champ, and coach.

More Pics

Elder McGrath and Elder Akomah-Mordi
Elder McGrath with children from Church.
Elder McGrath and his roommates in Nsawam, Ghana. I'm not sure what this pose is supposed to represent...haha.

Who Could Ask for Anything More?

My son sent me pictures!!! For my birthday!!And his companion did too....(alright, I know it's the same pictures, but still...)This is Bryan with Elder Mullaney - his first companion and trainer.This is the first picture I have seen of him for 8 months!Funny, he just seems to fit right in....
Bryan recently went back to the temple in Accra. They are allowed three visits a year.
An excerpt from his letter this week:

"This temple trip was a much needed and appreciated spiritual high. I really learned a lot and now I have a lot to think about. I just remember how lost I used to be when it came to the gospel, and the scriptures, and the temple. Man, I’m kind of glad that I haven’t had to spend to much time learning a language. I feel like a totally new person when it comes to my spiritual knowledge and the ways and dealings of man and God. But for every little piece of spiritual gravel I pick up, a colossal dump truck unloads more and more on the eternal pile that there is to attain.

Well that is that.......thanks for all of your support and love. I really do appreciate the opportunity I have to be out here, and I know its only because of you and dad and the love you showed me....I know that. I love you both."