Phase 2: Elgin

(The grandkids sitting around Aaron's headstone with the big LONERGAN in the background.)

After spending a few days in St. Louis, we got back in the car late Friday morning to head north of Chicago to Elgin, Illinois. This is the town that Daniel's father grew up in and where his mother's side of the family immigrated to from Scotland and Ireland back in the 1800's. So this is where the family cemetery is located. In the middle of the cemetery is a one room Presbyterian church now referred to as the "Old Church." This church that once had weekly meetings for Daniel's ancestors now only has one meeting a year; a memorial service on the first Sunday in June to honor those that have died that year, years previous, and all those who have or are serving in the military. It is normally less than an hour and they always invite a guest speaker to deliver the sermon. Every year taps is played, every year we sing "Amercia the Beautiful" and "Faith of Our Fathers", every year we recite "The Lords' Prayer" and every year a collection plate is passed around. Tristan has done it for the past few years, but this year Alicia let it be known she wanted a turn. And so she did, and did a great job. Daniel and I committed that we would always make it to this meeting every year when his oldest brother, Aaron, passed away in 2004, as a way to ensure we visit his grave yearly. It is always a sweet moment when the grand kids gather around to place flowers on his headstone. It was especially sweet this year since Aaron's son, Austin, was able to be there for the first time since his dad passed away.

Now, you may be thinking this sounds like a depressing trip, but it really isn't. It is very sweet and nice and I think it is an amazing way to honor Daniel's ancestors. Since all of my ancestry is in Alberta, Canada and very far away, I am so grateful the kids have this immediate connection every year with Daniel's side.

Daniel's dad always reserves rooms for us at the same hotel every year, and the kids enjoy swimming in the pool. On Saturday we normally adventure out, but Daniel's brother, Nate, and his family had just toured the country practically and were in no mood to get back in the car...can't say I blame them! I figured my kids just wanted to hang out with their cousins, so we spend a nice relaxing day just chilling at the hotel and swimming in the pool.

Addi by Aaron's headstone.

Freeburg is Tam's mother's maiden name and also Daniel's middle name.

This is the man that delivered the sermon. He did a great job and after the meeting I found him explaining to the kids how to use this knife that he keeps in his sock to really hurt someone. Of course the kids weren't too interested in his sermon, but when he pulled out the knife they were all paying very close attention.

As I was busy taking pictures of the kids putting flowers on various headstones, I turned around and found this!!! Apparently Daniel isn't the first Dr. Dan in his family.