It was a beautiful day here last Wednesday. I've been visiting Corey's grave usually once a week because it is so peaceful there and just being there seems to help me feel better. Last Wednesday the temperatures were around 80 degrees which felt so good. I spread a blanket out and just laid in the warm sunshine staring up at the few clouds that were in the sky and the leaves falling around me from the trees above. Yes, the leaves have been turning. I am dreading winter. It will be hard to have the snow and cold weather come. Trips to Milton Mills where Corey is buried won't be as frequent I suppose. I don't believe they plow the cemetery in the winter.
Anyway, the picture below was taken the day of Corey's funeral at the committal ceremony. It was a hot and humid day but the sky was pure blue. Abigail started calling the events of the day "Daddy's party" (since I had explained that we were celebrating Daddy just like we would on his birthday). So of course there had to be balloons, right? After the short service at the cemetery we released 35 gold balloons - one for each year of Corey's life. To help Abigail say good-bye, since she didn't get a chance before Corey died, she drew a picture for him to express her love. We attached it to 3 balloons just to be sure it would take off. I didn't realize that the photographer took a picture of her drawing. There is also a picture of her and I at Corey's casket as she was drawing the picture for him. I will try to get more of the pics online soon.
The photography was done by a member of our church, Tris Fowler. Thanks so much Tris! You did a beautiful job and I am SO grateful to have these! Tris also videotaped the service which I am hoping to find a way to get online so anyone who would like to view it can. Both the photos and the video are a beautiful remembrance of what, for me, was one of the hardest days of my life to get through. I feel blessed to have these, particularly for the girls since they likely won't remember much of that day. I know it probably seems weird to have wanted pictures/video of such a sad day. But the fact that it was all about Corey and his life makes it well worth remembering. I remarked to someone that ironically the day of Corey's funeral felt much like our wedding day with so many people helping me with all the small details to make it special and trying so hard to be sure it went just the way I had hoped (and it did!). However, the elation I felt as a bride preparing to wed was such a stark contrast to the sorrow I felt on this day at the loss of my groom. I can't wait for the day when we are reunited!
Letting go...
Priceless artwork...
So, I just got chills because I just wrote Lamentations 3:19-22 on another girl's blog because she had referenced a verse from Isaiah 43, which talks about how when we have trials they will not destroy us...then I check your blog and, I guess I knew you had the Lamentations verse on the side, but it was one of those loud talks from God when I just noticed it tonight. Struggles will come, sorrow, despair, but they will not overtake us. You were a clear picture of that on the day of Corey's service. It would be impossible to look at you that day and not see the strength of God carrying you. Abi's picture just breaks my heart. I pray that God will use this devastating loss to make her stronger. I've had the same thoughts about how the planning of a funeral feels similar to the planning of a wedding...technically it is a wedding. We are the bride and Christ our bridegroom. Jesus was waiting there to recieve Corey and spend the rest of eternity with him. Well worth taking LOTS of pictures and videos - not weird at all! There is sadness, but you are not overcome...and here's something "strange" for you - I just wrote that as the song on your blog was saying "Jesus has overcome, and the grave is overwhelmed, the vicotry is won, He is risen from the dead" - what a "coincidence" :o) I love you, Jill. You are on my heart all the time. I don't know how you do it, but I am so proud of you.
ReplyDeleteLove, Stacy