Memorial Bench

When my son was a senior in high school he took a Biology class. Part of the Biology class requirement was to grow something in their school lab. Graham took some seeds from a Fuji apple that he ate and planted them. Surprisingly, they did well. He had four apple trees growing. They looked like little twigs. When the school year was over he brought them home. This was in June of 2004. The following year we bought a home and moved in April of 2005. We were so happy to stop moving after years in the military and to have a home of our own. One of the first things Graham did was to plant his apple trees in our back yard (they were still small enough that they had been in plant pots up to then). 

On September 22, 2007, our world changed in an instant when we learned our dear Graham had passed in a tragic accidental fall. He had just started his senior year of college. The first spring after Graham died (2008) was the first year that his apple trees had some blossoms on them. We went out and took a picture of one of his trees. I was crying and talking to Graham and saying, do you see your beautiful trees? When we downloaded the picture there was this beautiful rainbow beside his tree! This special picture is the picture we used on the back of my book, A Mother's Tears.

Graham's apple trees have grown so much. A couple of months ago I had the thought that it would be so special to have a memorial bench to sit on under this special tree. We ordered this outdoor bench and are so happy with it. We also wanted to have this be a lovely landscaped area. I was really hoping that it would be completed by tomorrow for Graham's angelversary. I never know when the landscaping people will show up. It's been in various stages for the past month or so. Friday they were here planting the last plants! I just knew that Graham would help to see it done by tomorrow. We are so grateful for the gift of his beautiful apple trees.

I also had this poem come to me. Thank you, Graham. You live in our hearts forever.

Memorial Bench

We now have a memorial bench to sit upon,
In our back garden lawn,
Under one of your apple trees,
That you planted and grew from seeds.

LOVE NEVER ENDS is engraved on the plaque,
That is on the bench’s back,
In your loving memory,
Of life, love, and legacy.

There could be no more perfect place,
For a reflective resting space,
Among the scented blooms and leaves,
Your love permeates the air we breathe.

We love you son and feel you near,
Love does not ever disappear,
You are in our hearts forever,
Loved, cherished, and remembered.