In my last blog, I mentioned my Memorial Bench. I would like to tell you a little bit more about it. First of all it was given to me by my nephew Michael, my niece Margaret, and their family for my birthday. My niece Margaret said they wanted to give me something special and they certainly did. Anyone reading my blog as of lately knows that my husband passed away this summer. This bench is in his memory.

The bench arrived in two very heavy boxes. It is made up of three pieces; the bench top and the two legs. The bench seat is engraved with a beautiful poem. I wanted to make sure that it was handled very carefully so as not to chip or break anything. I called my son Butch to assemble this for me as he is very meticulous about everything he does (just like his Dad). I knew he would be extra careful.

At first, I thought I would put the bench on my front deck. It is called a Garden Bench and I really do not have a proper garden in which to put it, but after very little thought, I knew that I would not want it outside. I wanted it where I would see it all the time. I decided to put it in my living room in front of a window. This is also where my husband's mother's African Violet plant is along with two other African Violet plants given to me by my granddaughters Dana and Michelle. I would have my own garden spot, but inside.

I picked the living room because my husband spent many hours in this room next to the fireplace. He liked to go there to read the paper or sometimes just relax. Because the bench is by the window, when the sun is out it shines on the bench. To me, it is the perfect spot. When my sister Pat came to visit one day, she said the bench was missing something. She then took a small picture that I have of my husband in his Army uniform and put it on the corner of the bench. She said "There, now it's perfect".

I would like to end this blog with the poem that is on the bench. It reflects my sentiments perfectly.

I thought of you with love today but that is nothing new

I thought about you yesterday and days before that too

I think of you in silence. I often speak your name

All I have is memories and your picture in a frame

Your memory is my keepsake with which I'll never part

God has you in His keeping, I have you in my heart

Thank you Mike, Margaret, Taylor, Michael, Joshua, and Maggie