Bless the Lord

oh my soul, ohhhh my soul.  This is currently my #1 favorite song.  CR, Kirby and I sing it all day long.  It gets stuck in your head, but what better song to have stuck?  While I was in Montgomery I had a wedding rehearsal (not my cup of tea, so if I turn down a request please don't take it personally - I just don't think I am good at that - I like pictures I have total control over) at my grandparent's church.  This church is beautiful.  If I didn't have to be Catholic to get married there, our wedding would have been there.  Awhile back they went in and completely restored it, keeping as much of the original church as they could.  It is breath taking.  One of the reasons my dad and grandmother love to go there is because they say you feel such peace out there, and you really do.

When my grandpa and grandma started going to this church, they instantly fell in love.  Even though most of the congregation wears boots and jeans,  grandpa wore a suit and tie for the longest time.  I don't think it was until his last year or so did he tone it down to slacks.  One lesson I will never forget him teaching me is that "to church, you always wear your best."  I wish I could shout this to the kids in churches today.  

Another reason I am so in love with this place is because this is where my uncle Steve and grandpa are buried.  I used to always make a point to stop by the graveside on our way back out of town, but since we have had Kirby once we get on the road we book it home!  It had been awhile since I had been out to the cemetery, so while I waited for the party to arrive, I ventured out to sit and pray, and of course snap a few pictures.  

The following verse from the song mentioned above came to my heart when I looked up from Steve's grave and saw this:

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

We sang this song this past Sunday in church.  When we came to this verse, it was all I could do to keep it together.  Here is God's amazing sun shining down on a son that passed away before we were ready, and now that son is kneeling and praising His Son!  Bless the Lord oh my soul ...

 I love how everything looks like new life around the cemetery.  When graves are first dug and headstones are first put in, everything is so unsettled and new.  Lifeless.  But now, as 4 years have passed since Grandpa was called home, and 5 since Steve, there is new life growing all around.  The ground has settled and everything just looks right ... looks loved.  

"His servants will serve Him."  Revelation 22:3