Roses

Leo passed away the day after Brent and I returned from Chicago (see this link).  His funeral services were a week later,  on Saturday April 19.  My feelings are still a little tender and emotional when I look at the photos from the activities of the weekend.  But I think I can handle posting these and then I'll work my way through sharing the rest of the experiences over the next little while.  After the funeral, the cemetery, and the luncheon the family all congregated at Mom and Dad's home.  It was the day before Easter  and time for our traditional Easter egg hunt (I'll post more on that later as well).  The place was full of family, cousins laughing, people reminiscing, good things going on. 

After a while, someone declared that no one was allowed to leave until after they had pulled 20 weeds.  The biggest concern was Grandpa's rose gardens.   He had always taken such good care of them.  And even though some were still in their Sunday best, even though we did not come prepared with gloves and hand trowels, even though the kids were all on a sugar high from all the Easter candy, we all rolled up our sleeves and started working.

Many hands make light work ... many hands can accomplish much in a short time.

And we definitely had many hands....

It wasn't long before we had three garbage cans filled with rose clippings and weeds.  Bill managed to get the back garden tilled as well, and the bushes were freed from autumn leaves.  

And through it all the conversation and the reminiscing and the laughter continued.

But something else came as well... the sweet peace that comes with working the soil, and the joy that comes with service - a joy that was unique on this day ...

...because we sincerely knew that we were offering service directly to Grandpa Leo.