Jakin's Service

One week ago today, we were blessed to give Jakin a service and celebrate his life  Almost eighty people came to recognize his life and so many more were with us in spirit.  I made it through the day easier than I thought.  Saturday was really rough and Sunday morning I felt pretty sick, but by the time 1:00 came around, I was feeling better and had emotionally prepared myself for what the afternoon held.

A very good friend traveled a long distance to be with us and take photos for us.

Once again, my husband and I stood beside that small white casket and greeted friends and family as they walked that aisle and with tears in their eyes hugged us and said they were sorry for our loss.  Some couldn't say anything.  Some said they wished they could take our pain.  Others prayed with us and told us they were proud of us and how we were handling this.

I held in my hand a little blue blankie and rubbed, twisted and played with it until it was warm.

Ethan played and ran up and down the aisle until too many people were there for him to do so.  That might have been bad...but its what he needed to do that day, so we let him.

What a beautiful, precious gift this little boy is.

Jakin's obituary and eulogy was read.  My favorite part was, "He was loved, wanted and cherished all the days of his life".

Then a sermon was given.  Our Pastor spoke from Psalm 139 and about how Jakin (and all of us) are beautifully and wonderfully made.  I have seen our pastor get so emotional he could not speak two times in my life and today was the second.  Shyla's funeral was the first.

After the service, our friends and family left us to have a few moments alone before we went to the cemetary.  Just as everyone was leaving the chapel, Ethan began bawling.  I mean heartwrenching cries.  When I finally got him calmed down enough to talk, he said it was because he wanted to go with his uncle.  He thought everyone was leaving.

As a family, we carried the small casket to that long black car and settled it into the back.  Snuggly placing little bumpers around it to keep it from moving.  It looked so small in the back of that vehicle that has carried so many to their earthly resting place.

We got in our vehicle and began the long drive to the cemetary.  Other cars turned on their lights, slowed down and stopped as we passed.  I noticed some people staring and wondered if they saw our age and wondered why we were the first in the procession behind the police car and hearse.  They probably thought one of us were burying a parent...I bet it didn't cross the minds of many that we were burying our baby.  Much less that it was our second time doing so.

When we got to the cemetary, again, as a family, we carried the small casket together.

Our pastors prayed and said a few more words about his precious life.

We played the song, Better is One Day and Ethan released blue balloons.  He has released balloons before and I think the symbolism really helps his mind process things.  I asked him if he wanted to do it for Jakin and he did, so we did it for him.

 As the balloons drifted up into the sky, a few got stuck in the tree.  Ethan ran after them and wanted to climb the tree to help them float away.  As we spoke to everyone again and thanked them for coming, the balloons slipped away and my beautiful friend got some beautiful photos of Ethan, our strong little man.