Headstone

The headstone was put in place today. I had been waiting for it and expecting it (I knew it would be before Memorial Day), but I had a much more emotional reaction than I thought I would. Thank goodness that Cheryl was home, and despite having about 30 things going on, she let me come and cry on her shoulder. This granite marker doesn't make it seem any more real or final--I've been feeling that every day for the last year--but for some reason it just hit really hard. The bench turned out beautiful and I'm pleased with the choices I made. Here are pictures:This is the front and it faces west (so when you stand and look at it, you are facing east towards Mt. Timpanogos). The bench top is smooth, with no writing, to make a nice place to sit while visiting the cemetery. The writing underneath the books says "Daughter, Wife, Mother, Friend" (under my name) and "Son, Husband, Father, Scholar, Scouter" (under Gary's name). The vases on the side can be turned over and placed into the hole in order to be flush with the cement. The grass and dirt are not quite as clean around the cement since they just put it in today, but the grass will grow back and the groundskeepers do a good job of trimming around the cement so it looks neat.

This is the back. The dark spot on the right side of the bench top is actually just a reflection of the tree just to the north. The scripture at the bottom is 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Hand of Cards

Carson & I attended the AFJH Choir Spring Benefit Concert last night. (Maren is in the Women's Choir this year.) Each year the choir kids nominate several people who they feel would be a good candidate for their benefit concert. They all get to vote for who they feel should receive the donations. After a couple of rounds of voting to narrow the field down, this year they chose Taylor Saari, an 18-month old girl who was born with hydrocephalus and without her right eye. She has undergone 16 surgeries so far and will require more in the future. The choirs dedicated the concert to Taylor and her family, not only for the money raised, but also as a gift of music. Mr. Thornton, the choir director, quoted Victor Hugo, who said, "Music expresses that which cannot be said, but on which it is impossible to be silent." Here's to those 12-14 year old kids who learned a little more about selfless love and serving others these past few months.

Taylor's father spoke to the audience to express his appreciation to the choirs and for Taylor and all she has taught their family. He used an excellent analogy that really struck me. He said that he has been teaching his 4-year-old daughter how to play UNO. He explained that she gets REALLY frustrated when she doesn't get the cards she wants/needs. He compared this to life and how we often don't get the cards we want, but only find success when we learn to deal with the ones we've been given.

So, as hard as it is some days, I've got to remember that this life is a learning experience and I've got to just keep trying to learn with the hand of cards I've been given. And, in the end, we can all win the game together.

It's Been a Year...

It can't have been a year already/Has it only been a year? Time is such a weird thing.

We've survived, possibly even well. I'm stronger than I thought I was. My kids are amazing.

I wish I could write something eloquent and thought-provoking, but it's just not happening right now. I think I will just post a few of the hundreds (if not thousands) of pictures of our family.