Memories

This week has been a tough week for me. It has also been a week full of memories. Last Saturday a dear person to both Daniel and myself went to be with the Lord - Daniel's Uncle Milton. Milton was diagnosed with liver cancer only 3 months after Daniel passed away and he put up a courageous battle for 14 months. Milton was only 57 years old and is survived by his wife of 27 years, 3 children, 1 grandchild, and many many other family members. His wife is Daniels' Aunt - Daniels', mothers', sister - did you all follow that? :) Very very special people not only in Daniel's life, but also continue to be very special to me.

It was a great loss and Uncle Milton will be missed. His earthly body was laid to rest yesterday, Wednesday, only a day after what would have been Daniel's 29th birthday. Uncle Milton was buried at the Gregory family cemetery, a place where he put many hours of hard work in to get it ready for Daniel. I am forever grateful for that. So, there both their bodies find rest after very long battles on this earth, one who created the idea of a family cemetery, and the other whose hands built it. It is continually amazing to me how God works.

It is always hard for me to go there, honestly, the family cemetery was the only "argument" Daniel and I in regard to his passing, but I am thankful that now there is a place for Milton's body to be laid to rest.

Daniel Floyd officiated the memorial service and he made an excellent point, telling the family to always remember, always share stories, and always hold on to their memories. This is something that has been important to me as well and important for healing in general. However, I am beginning to think that this week was just too hard with all the memories. My heart needs a short break.

Please keep the Trigg family and all those that love Milton and miss him in your prayers.

Here are a few pictures that I took....This is the oak tree that Daniel was persistent about being buried by - His plot faces this tree - It looks more beautiful this fall than I have ever seen it.
Daniel's (very large) :) memorial stone (with bird feeder attached). :)
Another view - you can see the wind chimes and the bird feeder in the background that I put up - Daniel loved to hear the chimes and absolutely loved to keep the birds fed. :)
Uncle Milton's plot is in the opposite corner from Daniel - there were so many beautiful flowers sent.Auntie Dale - Milton's wife told some of us to take some flowers and keep them for a little while and when we saw them, we could remember Milton. I found some purple and orange ones in the mix (Daniel's favorite colors) and I placed them on Daniel's memorial plot at my parents house. Many people may not know this, but Daniel's ashes were separated in half and the half that weren't buried in the cemetery in Spotsylvania, were buried at my parents house in Mechanicsville. There is a light that shines on Daniel's plot all night, so I placed the flowers there in remembrance of both Daniel and Uncle Milton, and I took this picture last night.
(Trust me, the words are spelled correctly on the stone - when the granite gets wet, the words fade until the stone dries, that is why it looks like "lives" is spelled wrong.)