today we buried Jose

Today we buried Jose. Lisa helped plan the funeral and it went very well. The family asked me to give the opening prayer and they asked Lisa to give one of the eulogies. She did a very good job. Since it was actually Kira and Claudia who introduced our families Lisa called Kira and half of Lisa's eulogy was Kira's memories and the other half was her own. Many people told her how wonderful she did (I was the first to do so) and one man even told her it was the best eulogy he has ever heard. In the picture, Alex is the big boy in the middle, Claudia is on Alex's left and Rosario is on his right. The cemetery was beautiful and Lisa and I are thinking that maybe this is where they can bury us when the time comes. I always figured that I would be buried in the Leavitt plot in Cardston but after living here for sixteen years this has become home.

The Temple Robes

Today I helped dress Jose in his temple robes. For members of our faith it is considered an honor to be able to be buried in the ceremonial robes that we wear in the temple and it was a great honor to me when Jose's family asked if I would help dress his body in the temple robes. I have watched Jose's large and strong body wither away over the last few years (and especially the last few months) until his passing on Wednesday morning at which point he was little more than skin and bones. This morning, however, as we dressed him in his white clothing and put upon him his robes it seemed as if his body took on his former majesty and he was now ready to go and meet his God.
I consider this experience one of the greatest I have been able to have in this life. Because of the distance I lived from home I wasn't able to help dress my own father but I do hope that when the time comes, my own boys will be able to perform this service for me.

Jose Luis Lincoln

I lost a good friend today. I know he isn't really lost but it feels like it. We met Jose and Rosario about 15 years ago when Kira was in the sixth grade. Their oldest daughter, Claudia became good friends with Kira and from there our families came to become good friends as well. In October of 2003 Jose was diagnosed with cancer. It was all through his body and he was given 3 to 6 months to live. Through the prayers of many and through the faith of Jose and his family he was granted four extra years. He was able to see his son graduate from high school and Claudia graduate from college. He was also able to encourage Rosario through the very difficult process of becoming a certified dentist here in the US. Rosario was a dentist in Mexico and as of last month she is now practicing here in San Diego. This morning Jose passed peacefully on to the next life and even though we know he is in a better place we sure do miss him.