where my father was born. Although the farmhouse
he lived in is long gone, my grandparents and several other relatives
are buried there in a quiet, country cemetery, surrounded by corn and soybean
fields and a few scattered farmhouses.
We lived in NM for over 20 years before we returned to the Midwest 7 years ago,
so I hadn’t visited this cemetery for many years and had no idea
where to locate my family members graves.
Our family split up into different parts of the cemetery
to try to locate their gravestones.
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One of my sons found our family’s plot first.
This is the gravestone of my grandparents.
I remember my grandfather’s funeral, as I was a teenager,
but my grandmother died before I was born. My niece is named after her.
My grandfather purchased 5 spaces in this plot for family
members to be buried.
My father was the baby in the family of 10 children.
My Aunt Dorothy was the oldest sibling and she was
22 when my father was born – old enough to be his mother!
She never married and cared for my grandfather until he died.
My grandparents lost one child. She is the only other sibling buried here.
It might seem a little strange, but I find cemeteries
to be fascinating and beautiful places.
Every gravestone has a sense of mystery.
Who were these people, what were their lives like,
did they live full lives and die in peace
or was their life story a sad one?
But an old gravestone…a really old one, is a thing of beauty as well.
From the larger, more prominent obelisk gravestones…
To the smallest, least noticeable ones – each one marks the passing of a life.
I must admit, I think old gravestones have a special beauty
different from their modern counterparts.
used to create them, and part comes from the more unique
variety of sizes, shapes and styles not as typical today..jpg)
Time takes its toll on these old gravestones.
Some shift and start to lean with the passing of years.
Some have broken completely.
Some can barely be read because the stones have deteriorated,
but that adds to their beauty.
who died believing in the Lord Jesus, graves don’t mark the end of a life…
they mark the entrance into eternal life with the Father.
what will your epitaph say?
It makes me want to go to my local cemetery and take some photos! When my aunt died a couple of years ago she was buried in the old cemetery with my grandparents and her brother who died when he was 11. Each one of the graves has something beautiful to mark their love of Jesus. My grandmother’s says “In God’s Keeping” my grandfather’s say “Peace Perfect Peace”, my Aunt’s says “with her Lord for eternity” and her brother’s says, “love fadeth not for our sweet sunbeam in heaven”, unfortunately, our grandparents’ graves were in danger of collapse, so all the nieces and nephews agreed that we would spend some of the money from our aunt’s estate to fix them before it was too late, they had to be completely redone, they say the same things but now look very modern!
Angie, this post on your visit to the cemetery where some of your family rests is beautiful. I am reminded of my Midwest roots. Many of my family rests in St. Patrick, MO not far from you. I now plan to visit the older cemetery here on our island and take pictures. It has the ocean as the background and many old, old graves. I love you and your blog. Nancy Carr, Vieques, Puerto Rico nancythedove@aol.com
This post brings back memories of me visiting my relatives in Wisconsin, taking pictures and gathering memories. At first, I was startled because the cemetery looks so similar. Such a feeling of poignancy and sadness came over me as well as the feeling that it was a treasure for my heart remembering my parents and grandparents and learning so much about my ancestors. Thanks so much.
I agree with you about cemeteries. So mysterious they are and full of stories… Here’s my post on my recent to my loved ones. Hope you enjoy the read! =o)
http://eckdesign.blogspot.com/2012/07/day-8-hello-goodbye.html
What a nice post, Angie. I am fascinated by both the lettering (fonts) and the grey distressed stones.
I too love the beauty and history of old cemeteries. My dad was the second youngest of eleven and his older sister was also in her early 20’s when he was born. We must never forget those who paved the path before us. And thanks for including the gospel in this post…..that too is something we must never forget!
wonderful post, Angie. beautiful markers, engraving, and history!
Lovely post. We recently walked through an old abandoned cemetery on the outskirts of town and marveled at the beauty of the gravestones, too. There were many children buried there as it was used during the time of one of the plagues. So sad.
I love to visit old cemetaries. And I love to read the headstones. They are beautiful and tell wonderful stories. Now you will think I am really crazy, but I read obituaries. They also tell a story of a life lived….Your one way sign is perfect for this post. That is what gives the comfort when we have to say goodbye to loved ones and when we have to face our own mortality. This I know!!
I too, love visiting old cemeteries…there is indeed such a peacefulness..and beauty.
I enjoy walking through old cemetaries also. my sisters and I did that once together and found our great grandmother and great great grandmother buired in Oakview cemetary in Charleston Missouri.
Our great grandmother died in child birth when she was 36
those baby gravestones are heart breakers for me , bless their little hearts , as my family always says
I do believe Jesus has a special place for us all,I have been reading a couple books about people who have had near death experiences, Dr Mary Neal is the latest book , To Heaven and Back
I thin cemeteries are really interesting places, too, Angie…and such a tangible way of remembering those who have gone on before…
So glad you were able to find your relatives gravestones. My mother travels all around the countryside doing that and also piecing old ones back together so she can photograph them. She is currently about to publish a family history book that covers the tress of all 4 of her grandparents. A huge undertaking that’s taken many years. The headstones help so much with getting spelling and dates just right.
Thank you for sharing your photos and a little bit about your family history, Angie. We are a composite of those who came before us. During very dark days, I am comforted that I am never truly alone, because my ancestors live on in me and give me strength.