cemetary questions

Today we had to waste some time while we were waiting for a prescription. We decided to just drive around the town. There are a lot of places we haven't seen yet. We went up this steep hill and it led us to a cemetary. We were so amazed at the different headstones. The kids wanted to know why they were all so different. I told them that the families left behind chose that for them and that they were very very expensive. We talked about their baby cousin, Allison. That was the reason she only had a flat stone. It was just so expensive. We continued on and they asked more questions. WE talked about how our bodies and spirits would join back together. WE saw the cutest stone of a double heart that I am sure was for a husband and wife. I looked at Caleb and told him that would be cool for your dad and I. He then said, NO WAY, that is too expensive. Smart kid.

We looked for familiar names. We were amazed at how old some of these stones were. It was fun taking the kids and showing them the life of those that have passed on. There was a couple of funny remarks like when Caleb said he wanted air conditioning in his casket when he dies. Then Zach said he wanted to bury Don and I in his back yard. HOW SWEET. WE talked about all being buried together as a family. They didn't seem upset about anything we talked about. It was just a matter of fact thing for them.

It was a good time waster and it sparked a lot of good questions. I think they enjoyed it too. We found someone that shared Caleb's birthday. He was excited about that.

I remember a couple of years ago when Don took me to his dad's grave in Pittsburgh. His dad died when Don was 12. It had been awhile since he had visited it and so we went together. I just bawled. It was just so sad to think how many years he didn't get to have a dad to do things with. He didn't have that example in his life and it really got me thinking how grateful I am for my own dad and how I take it for granted. I guess we sometimes don't realize what we have until it is taken from us.

I am not one to really like going to graves but it is such an amazing place. I now enjoy going and looking at the stones and the dates on them. I took the kids to a HUGE cemetary for Memorial Day. They seemed so interested in it.