My Mom called me yesterday afternoon and said the headstone company fulfilled their promise to have Dad's gravestone in place by, or on, his birthday. The company had it set yesterday, October 6th. Mom was anxious to see it, but I had a commitment until 7pm, so told her I'd be glad to take her tomorrow on Dad's birthday. It ended up that Dave had to be in Chariton during the day, so he picked her up and we met at the cemetery. It had been a gloomy, rainy day and when we stepped out of the car the brisk, cold winds reminded Dave and me of the winds at his burial. But suddenly the sky cleared in the west and the sun cast brilliant rays on the horizon and on the headstone, just as if Dad was saying, "Hi!". We shed tears and hugged and remembered his better days. The stone looks very nice - I did take a couple of pictures, but because I don't know how to download them, I can't share them with you. It is a black stone and has engraving on both sides. On the front it has their wedding date, their birthdates and dad's day of peace which was December 19. In the corner of the stone on Dad's side is a patch of mushrooms; in the corner on Mom's side are a book and quill.  At the bottom is the verse from Revelation 14:13: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord" under their names. On the back side it says, "Parents of Suzanne, Ned, David and Cynthia" This fall day was bittersweet...and the sunshine continued to cast its rays on us as I drove Mom back to Pleasantville. Yes, I miss him; but, through Christ I have a chance to see him again! As one of his favorite songs says I must live by faith in Jesus above, trusting, confiding in His great love!