[pics incl] A couple of weeks ago, I took this photo of our kitchen remodel, in progress. This photo tells a story that many of you may not realize. With Father’s Day approaching, I feel like sharing how our hearts ache and yet, that cannot compare to how our dear friends must feel.
This picture shows how William spent the day helping Jeff and John layout the flooring tiles. William doesn’t often have the experience of “all males and no females.” Our kids LOVE to spend time with the Lambrecht’s and this photo documents William “soaking up the attention.” This photo also documents the poignancy of who is missing. This is most certainly a day that Dalton might have chosen come down here and hang out with the guys. While usually our family has no problem speaking & crying & laughing about Dalton; this day… we could not. While we did speak about Dalton, none of us could talk about what it means to us that John & Roni continue to treat all of us (especially the kids) with the same heart that they have always shown. How difficult it must be for them to relive “this age” with William and stand here and watch Ashley prepare for graduation.
I have always taken photos to document stuff and I always TRY to take pictures when we are with other people. I hope that I am always able to do these things! But now, I take photos of mundane, boring, daily stuff… and I do this, because of Dalton’s death. I do this because of all the times over the years that we brought Dalton home from school… we have no pictures of him with any of us.
I took this picture to document the work on the kitchen. I took this picture to capture William helping out, and to document, the 6th TEST PAINT Jeff is putting on the wall! 🙂
I took this picture knowing that it would probably show us all, the gaping hole in our hearts (and I mean anyone that misses Dalton’s daily presence). But I also know that it helps me appreciate the time we had with Dalton. As I look at this picture, it shows so much more than a kitchen remodel, it shows families and friends working to make memories.
What you cannot see, is Dalton here with us.
