Graveyard

Without going into much detail - if you want more detail ask me some day when you have more time - today was the day to visit my Dad's grave.

The five sisters all pitched in and bought a stone, had it engraved and placed it today. Debbie and Jimi were on vacation from Texas, Cindy and my Mom came up from Merced, and we all enjoyed a nice lunch together at the Squat and Gobble on Chestnut before heading over the Golden Gate Bridge to Mill Valley.

It was a beautiful day in SF so the trip over the bridge was crystal clear!

Dick dug out the old marker.

We all told him to not go TOO deep!!

Then Jimi placed the rock.

I cut some geraniums from the yard. The rock looks GREAT and we were all very pleased.

Yup, 16 years ago. We've been wanting to place a headstone since we located the grave back in 2000.  

This morning I looked in my Bible for a verse that I felt was appropriate.  I had this Psalm tagged with a piece of paper because it stirred something in me at some point. I read it after the stone was placed.  It is one of my favorite Psalms and very fitting for my Dad - I hope.

Psalm 34

    ^1 [a] I will extol the LORD at all times; 
       his praise will always be on my lips.

    ² My soul will boast in the LORD; 
       let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

    ³ Glorify the LORD with me; 
       let us exalt his name together.

    ⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me; 
       he delivered me from all my fears.

    ⁵ Those who look to him are radiant; 
       their faces are never covered with shame.

    ⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; 
       he saved him out of all his troubles.

    ⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, 
       and he delivers them.

    ⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good; 
       blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

    ⁹ Fear the LORD, you his saints, 
       for those who fear him lack nothing.

    ¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry, 
       but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

    ¹¹ Come, my children, listen to me; 
       I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

    ¹² Whoever of you loves life 
       and desires to see many good days,

    ¹³ keep your tongue from evil 
       and your lips from speaking lies.

    ¹⁴ Turn from evil and do good; 
       seek peace and pursue it.

    ¹⁵ The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous 
       and his ears are attentive to their cry;

    ¹⁶ the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, 
       to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

    ¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; 
       he delivers them from all their troubles.

    ¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted 
       and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

    ¹⁹ A righteous man may have many troubles, 
       but the LORD delivers him from them all;

    ²⁰ he protects all his bones, 
       not one of them will be broken.

    ²¹ Evil will slay the wicked; 
       the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

    ²² The LORD redeems his servants; 
       no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

I can only hope that my father was able to hear these words in his life here on earth and MAYBE even know what God's spirit has to offer. MAYBE then he would have finally found peace.  I may never know but I do know that God planned this day a long time ago and I could not be more thankful to Him for more reasons than will fit this page!