"Hello,” after a month, to our dear, dear friends.  Life has gone on and it has been full.  I have wanted to add a final up-date to this journal, but have waited until afterMemorial Day to do so.  It has been wonderful.  I am doing well, very well, and for that I am grateful.  I feel that the beautiful way Bill "passed", the loving support I have had from family and friends,  and staying busy has made this possible. (grandchildren are even "baby-sitting" me by staying over night).  Because there were so many unusual events that transpired, I have felt Bill was, and even is, still in-charge and orchestrating things.  It has been sweet to feel his presence, direction and "gusto", much like he lived.  May I share some of these things.

Following a very special funeral, we all proceeded to the grave site, which was just outside the church building.  Our oldest son, Marty, offered a magnificent prayer and all could feel Bill's influence, not only on what was said, but how it was said. It was if Bill was offering this prayer.  At the end we suddenly heard a "bagpiper",Eric Perry, play Fair Harvard and Amazing Grace.  This was a complete surprise to everyone but one daughter, Ivey. Bill had planned this delightful event and it was really neat. He had the last word! through music.  Prior to the prayer, as I sat looking at the casket, my eyes were rivitted on "hinges".  I looked at them often. This was not upsetting, distracting, or unpleasant.... it just happened.  Several days later I asked the mortuary representative, "When the casket is lowered, where is the head?"  He responded that it should be in the west so that when the Savior comes from the east, He can be seen.  I commented that we had a problem.  Bill was not buried in this way.  As we talked further and retraced the way the casket was carried to the grave site, it was determined that I was correct, and that we needed to turn Bill around.  (In our family when children were mis-behaving, we used to comment "turn yourself around"). Those "hinges" had allowed me to recognize that we were looking at the back of the casket and Bill was telling me, "Bonnie, I am not right. Please get this corrected".   This re-burial was a very special and even fun event.  As we gathered, you can imagine how little grandchildren wanted to look down this 9 foot hole in the ground.  They threw flower after flower and delighted in mixing the loads of dirt with more flowers.  As they often teetered on the edges, we imagined Bill looking on and smiling for many reasons.  A sycamore pod even exploded over my head from the tree above the grave.....and that's not all.

After returning to our homes on May 2nd (the day of the funeral, anniversary of our first and last kiss), we noticed a rainbow in the sky.  As we stood beholding it's beauty, a second one appeared.  There was also a rare occurance of double violet, indigo and blue colors on the primary rainbow. We laughed as we recalled Bill's much repreated saying "If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing". Westy raced to the cemetary, which is close by, and even took pictures that showed the end of the rainbow right into the chapel and another one right on to the grave.  A few minutes later,I looked up to the roof of the home he grew up in, and there was a single dove sitting there.  It watched us for about 5 minutes and then slowly flew away.  I wish I had taken it's picture.  How could we be sad when beautiful things like this occurred?Bill really loved us to the very end.  My cup does runneth over with love. I am filled to overflowing.We have no regrets.  We had 43 wonderful years of fun together.  Bill " lived lively" and "loved living".  These are the words I have coined for the 4 "Ls" in BiLLLLoyd.

Hopefully, none of us will fear death.  The Lord is truly at our side.  Thank you for reading from this website and adding comments.  We read and re-read them and they lifted us, they encouraged us, and they brought us great joy. May each of you be blessed for your goodness and love.  I love you.  Bonnie