Amazing Grace

We have been visiting the cemetery for over twenty years on Memorial Day, Christmas, Ashleigh's birthday, Ashleigh's day, and on many other just... regular days. We've been there when the snow was knee deep, when the sprinklers were on, when the wind blew or the rain poured, we've gone when other burials were taking place and we had to come back later; we've been there with a crowd, and we've gone alone, there have been times when we had to hurry or on other occasions sat there for several hours; we've watched the sun rise and set while at the cemetery; we've gone with family or with friends, we've prayed there silently and alone... or vocally with a small group. It is a part of our lives... a very real part. In all of the years and countless times that we have been there, last Monday night, Memorial Day, is one that I will hold dear to my heart forever.

It was after 7:00 in the evening when our family arrived. The cemetery was overflowing with the beautiful colors of countless flowers that had been left at the graves over the weekend. The crowds had long gone. There were a few lingerers, like our family. It was perfect as Mike and I and all of our posterity stood gathered at Ashleigh's grave. We had brought pink balloons for the grandchildren to send to Ashleigh and they were excited to let them go, and we all watched the sky until we could no longer see them. Not far from us stood a man who was playing the bagpipes. The boys, who had arrived just minutes before us, told us that the man had been playing "Amazing Grace" as they got there. "Amazing Grace" is a special song to us... Michael loves that song and it had been his request that a piper play it at Ashleigh's burial. It has been especially tender to us ever since.

My Jeremy approached the man and asked if he would come to Ashleigh's grave and play it for our family. He very graciously did. It was a spiritual moment as we stood there as a family listening to the piper as he played that beautiful song ... when it was over we just stood there reverently. There were a few tears shed, and some hugs and love yous. For me it was a tender moment of tender moments. I love my family. I'm grateful for each one of them and I will never forget the way I felt during those few moments we spent at the cemetery together.