Memorial Day

I rarely write posts for the occurring holiday and I know that this is a weird one to write about, but for some reason I have felt strongly compelled to write a few words.

Yesterday we left church early to go and visit graves with Brandon's family. I have never had anyone close to me die, (other than great grandparents, all of my grandparents are still alive and well), so death is not something that I am familiar with. However, when we were visiting Paul's grave (Brandon's dad) his mom mentioned that they had been doing this for 16 years! Can you imagine?! Brandon has now spent more time without a father than he ever did with a father. It breaks my heart and my eyes swell with tears at the mere thought. It kills me to know that Cannon will never, on earth, know two of the greatest men in his life, two of his grandfathers, Paul and Kim.

I never knew Paul, but I often think that we know each other quite well. There have been many instances when I have felt very close to him. I think we would have gotten along well. Karen sometimes tells me how Paul wanted to name one of the girls Rachel, she said he got his way even in Heaven because now he has a Rachel in the family. It is weird to think of how it would be if he were still alive. I think about him a lot and I hope he is proud of Brandon and the things that he is accomplishing.

As many of you know it has been two years this October since Kim passed away. We found out we were pregnant with Cannon just two months after his death. Brandon and I loved to spend time with Kim. We would often go over on Friday nights to find Kim home alone watching a movie. He would ALWAYS turn off the TV and visit with us. We would usually end up staying and finishing the movie with him. Brandon and I always talked about what a great grandpa Kim was going to be to our kids. He had a quiet passion for family. He would have been something else to our little Can-man.

I like to think that the reason Cannon was TWO weeks late, was because he was having too much fun with his grandpa's in Heaven. What great men these were, and how dearly missed they are. I am so thankful for the plan of Salvation and for the opportunity that we all have to be eternal families. What a marvelous blessing that is. I know that we will be able to spend endless amounts of time with Paul and Kim someday, and I look forward to that. But for today, I will just take a minute to remember them and the great men that they were and continue to be.