Roselawn

Returning to Livermore is always fraught with emotion. It usually includes a visit to Roselawn cemetery to visit Tony and Amanda’s grave. Perhaps if I’d lived there longer than 2.25 years there would be more to remember than just those difficult post-divorce years that were closely followed by Tony and Amanda's death.


I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Where would I be without that hope of a glorious resurrection and the promise of being with my dear “babies” again? I am so grateful for the whispering of the Spirit that came to me on the last anniversary of their death: “Tony and Amanda have been spared the last 27 years of earth-life’s trials.”

With some planning this visit was perhaps a little less emotionally draining than previous ones. I brought a potted mum and my computer. I wanted to record some of my feelings there at the cemetery.


I visited with Cindy on Monday, the day before my visit here, and that is always a uplift for me. Then in the morning before I went to the cemetery Sue and I talked about them and the profound influence their passing has had on so many of the people we interacted with in our short time there.

At their funeral Bishop Probst told a story about a child who was critically ill and the herculean effort to fly the child to the United States for medical treatment. Just before the child was going to fly for said treatment she passed away. When people asked "Why?" the answer was so that many hearts could be stretched and touched. I saw that with Tony and Amanda... from the little lady who made Tony a white bow tie to be buried with to the Cub Scout troop from Sacramento that sold Christmas gift wrap and then brought the proceeds to me to help defray costs to the packed Pleasanton Stake Building for their funeral. There were so many wonderful people who reached out with prayers, gifts, and kind words. There are so many long lasting repercussions from their death that have shaped peoples lives for the better.