A Sad Month - Leif's Ashes Urn

It's been a month since Leif died, though his death certificate says Thursday, April 10, 2008 (found) and doesn't give the actual date of death. It's been a very sad month. We have been grateful for the love and support of family and friends, and today the last family visitors departed, Leif's brother and his family. Now we must try to make some sense out of life again, carry on taking care of Leif's affairs, and take care of each other.

This is probably the last photo I will post of Leif's memorial services until we see the engraved plaque on his niche at the cemetery, and that won't be ready for another month. I am going to try to focus on his life now, not his death.

Leif's father decorated this wooden box with Leif's military insignia. It seems odd to me that even when the container for the "cremains" as they call them now, though they are still ashes to me, is a box, they call it an "urn." It's hard to believe that a man as large as Leif was can be reduced to such a small amount of matter.

We will always love Leif. He cannot know what grief he has left behind.