It was fun to show off Caleb. My dad couldn't believe Caleb is the same baby he saw 7 weeks ago. Cousin Addy was a great helper, and a beautiful one too!
All the Berkey kids enjoyed helping with bottle time.
And their beautiful momma was a pro at bouncing!
The first comment always made about Caleb was his size. He is one week younger than his 2nd cousin Tate and check out the size difference!
My sweet grandma was glowing the whole time. It was so beautiful to watch her. I was particularly touched whenever she approached the casket. There is no question that Grandpa was the love of her life and seeing her with him was to witness pure love. The day of the funeral when she said her final goodbyes before they closed the casket, she kissed him right on the lips. It was so sweet, not weird at all, as if he was just taking another one of his naps. I love them! One of the speakers at the funeral said their relationship shows you what the gospel can do for a righteous man and a righteous woman -- so true. She wrote this poem in the days after his death:What is the aching I feel deep inside
I've never felt it before.
I can't hear you speak, I can't feel your touch,
I can't hear your shoes on the floor.
Yet, also I'm feeling a peace I do know,
I have felt it before.
A spirit so calming and filled with great love
A feeling so sweet and so sure.
Oh, thank you dear Savior, for caring for me
And my family I love so dear.
Please stay with us, be with us,
Help us to know thy Spirit will always be near.
The funeral service was the best I've ever attended. (I just listened to it again online and it was still amazing!) The veil was thin. It was so spiritual, so filled with love and such a wonderful tribute to Grandpa and the life he led. He was such an incredible man, so full of love, and as someone mentioned during the funeral, it is so ironic that he died of a weak heart. His heart was the strongest part of him. After the services we all drove to Franklin, Idaho for the burial. Here's a quick shot of my immediate family that was able to be there -- man, did we have fun together!
All the grandsons
They all placed their rose boutonnieres on the casket...
...just as the small rain drops turned into huge hail stones. It was crazy! Within minutes it turned from the most beautiful afternoon into the wildest storm. It only lasted 15 minutes or so, but it got us all out of there in a hurry. We think Grandpa was playing a joke on all of us, letting us know it was time for the mourning to stop! As we drove away the sun came back out, creating the fullest, most beautiful rainbow. We could see the whole thing, end to end. It was amazing. We attempted a family lunch at the park and then hit the road back to Utah. As we passed back by the cemetery we noticed one car there, and the silhouette of a single person standing next to the grave. It was my father, saying his final goodbyes to his dad. It was a precious moment I don't think I'll soon forget.
Back in Utah we of course stopped for frozen custard. My brother Jason was so great with Caleb. He just became a father himself and suddenly loves babies!
We're looking a little rained out here, but we loved the special time with our oldest niece.
My immediate family all stayed at the same hotel that night so we could have a little more time together. It was so fun to have time uninterrupted by my wonderful children! I felt like I really got to catch up with my siblings. The next morning my dad got a little more time with Caleb -- such a great grandpa!
Before leaving town I got to see Aaron's sis, Lindsay and cute Chandler. They escorted Caleb and me to the airport.
I am so grateful for families. And I have an incredible one! So grateful to be able to see them and to honor an incredible man who started it all. I'm also grateful to my amazing husband who played Mr. Mom at home so I could be there. Thank you Aaron. I love you with all my heart!
No comments:
Post a Comment