Grandpa

Grandpa passed from this life into the next on December 29, 2016.

His funeral was held on the 3rd of January.

I had been asked to accompany my mom and aunts while they sang Oh My Father.

It was somewhat of a challenging arrangement so I was quite nervous about it but it ended up being just fine.

The granddaughters were also asked to sing I Am A Child of God.

We were only missing one...Mandy, who is the oldest of us ladies, was traveling in Europe and wasn't able to make it back in time.

This many of us hadn't been together in quite a while though so it was neat to gather...and for such a special occasion...to celebrate such a great man's life.

I didn't think I would have much trouble singing...I guess I was so concerned about the piano for the other number that i didn't really worry about this song.

We were the closing song and I could barely get the words out.

I wanted to smile and sing confidently because I know that Grandpa is happy and that I will see him again.  Instead, I bawled through the whole thing.

 It was a lovely funeral though.

My grandpa was a man truly loved and revered by so many.

He touched countless lives in so many parts of the world and was a gentle, kind, valiant force for good.  When you were in his presence, you felt pure love and wanted to be a better person.

Grandpa was buried in the Avon, Utah cemetery, a place we have visited every memorial day together as an extended family for years.

It's a gorgeous secluded setting...up on a peaceful hill overlooking a green (or in this case, white) rolling valley.

Andy was honored to dedicate the grave.

I tried to grab a picture before he started but he was kind of hidden behind one of the speakers.

His words were very fitting and truly lovely.

He borrowed some words from my cousins's wife's blog and spoke of Grandpa as 'a careful gardener of souls'.

God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again

Me and Grandma at the luncheon.

She amazed me throughout the day and continues to amaze me.

She is a strong woman who is keeping her spirits as high as possible.

She and Grandpa had built something beautiful together while they were together and during this period of time while they are not, she is carrying on and looking forward to when they will reunite.