Each year since I can remember, my family has made a trek to Utah Valley for Memorial Day. My Grandpa is buried in Springville, as is my two great-grandpas, a great grandma, my great-great-grandparents, and some great aunts.
My outstanding fiance agreed to make the pilgrimage with me this year (even though it was only 20 minutes south) since my family didn't come. We stopped at Walmart to buy nine mums and a sunflower bouquet.
Our first stop, as always, was Grandpa Sheldon's grave. This year it meant even more to me. As many people know our wedding colors are black, white, and yellow which are based around the sunflower. Grandpa Sheldon did a lot of work with sunflowers when he was living in Minnesota and North Dakota and in my head there has always been that association. On his headstone there are sunflowers- they were a seemingly big part of his life. So- in honor of him, we chose the sunflower and have patterned our wedding decorations after that.
So today, besides the flowers from my family, I found a lovely bouquet of long-stem sunflowers to leave for him as well. As you may be able to see, Grandpa Sheldon died in 1980 which is ten years before I was born. For one reason or another I have been fascinated with his life and have felt a closeness and love for him that I cannot explain. I don't feel I need to. It's only a matter of time until we meet again.
Today I am thankful- from the bottom of my heart- for Grandpa Sheldon. It was an emotional afternoon, but also one filled with testimony. The greatest thing in the world is knowing that God lives, He loves us, and He has provided a way for us to live with our family throughout time and the vast, incomprehensible eternity. Love is truly unceasing and joy is everlasting.
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