I really wanted to dedicate a post to our experience at Grandma Smiths funeral. When we heard the news, right away we looked up tickets for Steve to fly out there and be with family. In times like this you need your family, and you are reminded what is truly important in our lives. Among all other things we encounter, the loss of a loved one is by far one of the most difficult things we can go through. But there is an ever so glistening silver lining. We know that there is a life after this. And her spirit is ever so present with us still. Everyone will go through this heartache, because this is part of the plan. We all have our time where we are needed on the other side. But for us on earth still, what a burden to be lifted off our shoulders. The sting of death is only for a brief moment, when we realize that we will see our loved ones again. And gratitude fills my heart with that knowledge!
When thinking about sending Steve off to Cardston, it didn't seem like it would be complete without the rest of us (Graham and I) going as too! So we got a ticket for Graham and I to join him!
Hey there cute guy!
We always end up with 30 pictures of just the sky on our phones when we go to Canada.
Steve with our Grandmas famous sewing machine!
The viewing was so special! The room was full of love and remembrance. Grandma looked just beautiful. All of her 8 children and her sweet husband surrounded the casket and you just knew she was with them. My face filled with tears as they gave her kisses and the daughters turned her veil over sweetly and then closed the casket.
The funeral program was so great! Lots of stories were told of Grandmas firecracker personality and love of the gospel and of Christ. She loved her family. She loved her neighbors. She was a great woman!
It is amazing that the Smith family's roots in Cardston go back to the pioneers! The cemetery where she was laid is on top of a green hill, overlooking the rocky mountains, next to generations of smiths! So beautiful!
Such a bright sunny day!
We all celebrated Mothers Day the week we were there! My first real mothers day was great!
The awesome thing about this trip is that all of Steve's brothers and sisters were able to come! We missed Maren's family a lot though! But it was good to have all the siblings together.
It snowed, and we made a snow man. The next day the sun came out and all the snow started to melt. The girls even went on a walk, it was so nice! When we came back this is how we found our snowman....he looks just as happy for the sun to be out as we did! I have a feeling Steve was behind this...
Unfortunately we ended our trip going to the emergency room with Steve. He came up with this really weird sickness and he felt just terrible! Poor guy. Regardless we were so happy to have gone to see family we miss so much!!
