My husbands Grandmother died last week after battling stomach cancer.  She was his mom’s mom.  May she rest in peace now without pain or further suffering.  She was a devout Mormon and a devoted wife.  Tomorrow is her funeral at an LDS church.  The weather tomorrow will be about 95 degrees and the funeral is at noon.

Today, I took the kids to get some clothes that fit, as they are growing so quickly out of their other things.  But what do kids wear to funerals?  Are they bound by the same ettiquite as adults?  It was a stressful day… shopping with two kids is stressful enough, let alone trying to find just the “right” looking things.  Is floral too much?  But she’s 8…. floral is pretty.  Is a sundress inappropriate?  It is a funeral, not a bbq afterall.  But it’s summer and will be hot.  And for my son… it seems that they only had longsleeved shirts with ties, and no short sleeve.  I bought the long sleeve, but in the end went to another store and got him a polo shirt instead with short sleeves because I worried that he’d be fainting at the internment.

I have a “funeral dress”…. got it a few years ago, tomorrow will be the third time I have worn it…. it’s only seen those somber days.

I vow that when I die… if I have a funeral planned for me, the attire will be manditory flip flops and t-shirts and shorts or a hawiian shirt and sandles.  If anyone comes in a suit or black dress, they will have to go to their car and change into something more comfortable.  If, perchance I die in winter… well, then I’ll make sure people come dressed in their comfiest jeans and sweatshirts.  Again, any dresses or heals, or nylons heaven forbid, and/or men in ties and suit coats will be reminded of the strict adherance to dress code and if they desire to mourn me proplerly, they will need to dress down for the affair.

I mean no disrespect here… I understand putting on your “Sunday Best” and all… what did my friend Reid say about that a long time ago?  Something to the effect that it’s all in the heart anyway.  Well, despite my black funeral dress bowing down to the ettiqute of a memorial, I will be wearing my heart on my sleeve… and I will be present in the moment and cherish life, and give honor to this thoughtful woman who God created.  I celebrate her life, and tomorrow  I will seek out life, and I will have my eyes reflect the Light of Life for anyone who will care to peer into them.  Comfort will be found in them, and in turn, in Him who is in me.  I will observe the ettiquite.  I will wear black.  But inside my heart I will be flowing with a floral print and with life abundantly.  This doesn’t make sense I am sure… I guess it comes down to what we will do for others to show our love and respect.