A legacy

Sometimes there are no words sufficient. Sometimes words are not needed.

As we gathered around the casket, the pallbearer's laid their lapel flower on top. Everyone else was invited to give a last tribute if they so wished. Without hesitation or coercion, one by one, each child took a flower and walked up and laid it on as well. As neices, nephews, sons, daughters, grand-daughters, grand-sons, sisters, step-daughters, son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws...for a solid 5 minutes there was a silent, symbolic laying down of our love. It was beautiful. It was overwhelming as there was not enough room to hold all of the love.

Linda Grace Streeper was a woman who was well loved. I don't believe she allowed herself to bask in that nearly enough. But this day I know she was aware of it. Her greatest legacy were all of the little ones gathered around her body...surely she was able to look upon it in spirit. I'm so very fortunate to be able to hold hands daily with a man who was shaped into a sensitive, caring, thoughtful, hard-working person due in large part to this woman. She instilled these values in her children and taught by example. More than once I arrived at her house to find her outside kneeling, pulling weeds or planting bulbs and aerating the soil. She loved beauty and had a respect for the divine.

The bold, beautiful, bright flowers that surrounded her on this day were simply not ornamental, they were representative of her.

Her beautiful children

Her Beautiful grandhildren gathered with their Grandpa Lanning

Gathered at the Idaho Falls Temple, remembering that Families are Forever. (we never got every child in this shot!)

Our family - a part of a much bigger and more extensive one.

(for a beautiful tribute to Linda please go over to Cami's blog at : http://cami-lu.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-moms-my-heroes.html Cami has a beautiful, descriptive way with words. A talent I don't possess to even half the degree. Sadly, Cami also lost her grandmother that week. I send my love to the side of the family who lost two very dear people within the same week.)