As difficult as it is to believe an entire year has passed, I didn't want this day to be defined only by grief. I wanted it to be a day of gratitude—a day to honor the man Ricky was, the faith he lived, and the legacy he continues to leave behind.
This weekend, our family dedicated the altar flowers at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ricky's memory.
From the beginning, I knew exactly what I hoped they would represent. Red had to be the heart of the arrangement because it was Ricky's favorite color. But God has a way of adding little details that become some of the sweetest gifts.
Dee Ann at Brenham Wildflowers captured my vision more beautifully than I ever imagined. The pictures truly don't do these arrangements justice. Tucked among the vibrant reds were delicate yellow blooms, quietly reminding me of the flowers from our wedding day thirty-one years ago. I don't know if anyone else would notice that detail, but I certainly did. It was one of those gentle reminders that God knows the desires of our hearts, even in seasons of grief.
As I stood looking at those flowers, I realized they reminded me so much of Ricky himself.
He never needed recognition to make a difference.
He wasn't someone who sought attention or praise. He simply lived his life with a quiet, humble heart. He loved deeply, worked faithfully, served generously, and gave of himself without expecting anything in return. His life was never about being noticed—it was about caring for his family, helping others, and quietly doing what was right.
That kind of legacy doesn't fade.
It continues to bloom in the lives of the people who were blessed to know him.
One part of the arrangement was especially meaningful to our family. We chose to place the flowers beside our Blessed Mother because of Ricky's lifelong love and devotion to her. Seeing those beautiful flowers there felt like the perfect tribute to the faith that guided his life every single day. It brought a quiet peace to my heart, knowing that the same faith Ricky lived by is the faith that continues to carry me.
As this first year comes to a close, I realize grief hasn't become smaller.
Instead, God's grace has become greater.
I miss Ricky every single day. I always will. But I am incredibly thankful for the thirty years we shared, for the family we built together, and for the countless ways his love continues to shape our lives.
Love doesn't end when Heaven begins.
It simply waits.
Forever loved. Forever missed.
Until we meet again, my love, my heart will always belong to you. ❤️🕊️
"Love is patient, love is kind... Love never fails." — 1 Corinthians 13:4,8
