"A Day of Contrasts"...but mostly Very Sweet

Today was our sweet nephew Bennett's funeral.

While is was a day filled with tears shed for a little boy that died so young and for his family that misses him more than anything...it was also a day celebrating the beautiful, happy life that he lived.

This picture of Bennett, below, was drawn by a family friend of the Kjars (please excuse the reflection of the lights in the room)...isn't it absolutely beautiful?? My heart fills with the Spirit when I look at it because I know that Bennett was called home by his loving Father in Heaven and his brother, Jesus Christ. You'll see this picture again at the end of this post because I want to remember (and to remind anyone reading this) that while Bennett's passing is a tragedy as he is dearly missed by his family and loved ones, it is also a beautiful thing because he is Home.

The program were read by throngs of loved ones last night at the viewing and today at the funeral...it was filled with loving words and sweet pictures of Bennett.

{cover}

I loved that on the cover was written:

"There's one more angel in heaven!"

{inside}

{back}

Bennett's two lovely, older sisters (Emma & Gracelyn), cousin (Kalia), and two friends (Lauren & Brianne) started the program with a tender song called "I Know He Lives"...it was sung by cherubic voices :) Emma & Gracelyn then read adorable, heart-felt "love letters" they had written to their baby brother. So sweet!

The beautiful hymn "Be Still My Soul" was played softly, yet passionately on the harp by Sharla (Adam's sister and Bennett's aunt). A perfect song for today.

Then it was Mandy and Dave's time to speak. They walked up to the pulpit hand-in-hand...and they stayed together as they spoke. They do everything as a team...they raised their sweet son Bennett together...and their joint message touched every heart in the room.

They said that a favorite family tradition of theirs is story time...Bennett loved story time! So they told us a story... I know I will not be able to give it justice, but I'll share a few of the parts that touched me deeply. They talked about how they were married on September 11th, 2001. It was a day of contrasts for them. Such beauty, happiness, love, and hope for their future together...yet despair for the all of the lives lost that day. And today was oh-so similar.

Many times during their remarks, my heart stung with pain in seeing their sorrow...yet most of their talk was filled with the numerous reasons they loved their little boy and what he did to bring such joy into their family's lives. They shared with us some tender, sweet memories they have of their little boy. Mandy and Dave smiled as they told us how he loooooovvved helping his Mommy sweep the kitchen floor (he would drag a broom around all the time) and be a big-boy by assisting his Daddy with the dishes. After they put him to bed, he'd say "Nigh-nigh...nigh-nigh..." and melt his beautiful Mama's heart. He was just starting to sing a few of the words to his very own "Bennett Song" that Mandy and Dave would sing to him (each of their children have "their own song"). And Bennett also recently started folding his arms for family prayer, how precious.

Overall, Bennett was a PURE JOY.

They both bore tender, heart-felt testimonies that they know Christ's Atonement is not only for sin, but for every kind of suffering. Our Savior has been there, and He will be there with the Wilkinson family as they go through some dark times ahead. They know that Christ rose from the dead...He lives, so that we may all live again. Mandy and Dave's faith is awe-inspiring!! They know that the covenants they made to each other and the Lord on September 11th are what gives them hope in this time of anguish and loss, and what will keep their family together, forever. They will see their son again. But for now, He is home with a loving Heavenly Father.

After the lovely, intimate service we proceeded to the cemetery.

{Adam was a pallbearer, along with Luke & Ben (Adam's brothers & Bennett's uncles) and Mark Stoddart (Bennett's uncle)...missing Danner (Adam's brother & Bennett's uncle) there, he is serving a mission in California and was dearly missed today}

Dave gave a beautiful, spirit-filled dedicatory prayer over his beloved son's grave.

And then we were all reminded of Bennett's love for balloons! :) So we were all able to write a note to little Bennett on a balloon and, in his honor, release them into the sky all together.

{adorable cousin Kalia}

{Grandma Kjar holding her balloon...loved her message: "Reach the *STAR*s..."}

{so much love on so many balloons...}

{our message to our nephew we adore so much}

As they rose into the sunny sky, everyone was in awe as we saw about seven bald eagles soaring above us. What a sight. Absolutely stunning.

{I loved the little "Kjar" bears around his sweet, tiny casket}

Back at the church, the Wilkinson's ward did a great service of making a delicious lunch for the [large] family of Bennett.

SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE THAT LITTLE BOY.

{There were multiple TV's around the church that had a slideshow of adorable pictures of little Bennett...loved it}

{I personally know Bennett had a little sweet tooth :) These cupcakes made me smile imagining him with frosting on his cute face}

While much heartache was felt today, it was also filled with joy as we celebrated the life of sweet Bennett and his homecoming to his loving Father in Heaven.