The Front Row at Church

We have been sitting in the front row at church for a very long time. Our family had even grown too big for the bench, but somehow we would still squeeze in there tight together, because we loved our spot so much. Now there is a little more room, with Charles gone, and we fit just fine. *Sniff.* 

We love the front row at church for a few reasons... We like to be there to smile and greet people as they walk in the front door. We like to sit-up close to the pulpit, so the messages coming from the talks are more likely to make it into the children's ears. And most importantly, it is right next to an exit so we can run our screaming babies out into the hallway.

The front row has kind of become the "van Ormer bench." It just kind of happens after years of church, people find their "sweet spot" in the chapel, and they tend to keep going back to it -- the front row has been that sweet spot for us.

When I was at Charles' Life Celebration, I was speaking to some friends, and I mentioned to them that I would love to have some sort of plaque on our bench, for Charles. I wanted something hidden under the bench to help us (especially the kids) feel connected to daddy at church. Well, my friend (Janae Larsen), followed through with my request, and I found her sweet gesture underneath our bench last Sunday. It made my heart soar with happiness.

We had been given a little hint from someone to take a look under the bench. So before church started, the kids crawled under the bench to take a look, and I had William snap a picture with my phone. (I thought it might be too weird for me to lay on the ground, as people walked over me into the chapel.) As William handed me the camera with the image of the plaque, I was filled with tremendous gratitude.

It is perfect!

After William took the picture of the plaque, he asked if he could stay down there so he could, "sit next to daddy." I had him get up and sit on the bench, but the fact that the plaque made him feel close to his daddy made me incredibly happy.

That is what it is all about for us as a family, we are always finding new ways to stay connected to daddy. As we draw ourselves closer to him, he feels closer to us… though he is always there.

Just like with our Heavenly Father, we feel closer to Charles/daddy when we speak of him, look at pictures of him, read the words of his journals, listen to music he loved, when we go outside in nature where he was the happiest, and when we display or wear objects/art that remind us of him. All of these things cause a connection, and a closeness. And now this plaque is one more thing to keep that connection strong, while at church.

What a beautiful, glorious, treasure for me, and what a strong connection to church for the children!

My heart is overflowing with gratitude.