Beautiful Resting Place

Last weekend, I received a handmade, special gift. Not long after Chris and I started dating, I received the box in the mail from my Mom that contained 1/3 of my Dad's ashes and I didn't have a plan as to how I was going to store them. He asked me if he could make something for the ashes. I suppose that was unusual since we had only known each other for a month or so, but I found it incredibly thoughtful.

Chris asked me for dates, my Dad's full name and any images that I wanted carved on the wood box. And last weekend, the project was finished! I wanted to help, even if it was a little bit, so Chris let me help him stain the box. It turned out absolutely beautiful...Chris did a wonderful job and I think it's such a nice 'final resting place' for Dad.

I knew that I wanted to have the ashes in order to have Dad close to me in a weird sort of way, but I also did NOT want some big traditional urn to freak people out that there were human remains laying around. I think this carved box was the perfect solution. When you take the cover off, the top part is a storage area for keepsakes and little items, pictures, etc. Under that is the section for the ashes. The inside of the box is lined with red velvet (we picked that out together) and it's gorgeous.

I think Dad would be proud that we wanted to honor him in this way and now when I walk past the memory box, I can not only think of Dad, but also what a meaningful gift that Chris gave to me. What a great guy!

Here are a million pictures of the memory box:


"Richard Robert Larsen"

He carved the picture that I love of my Dad and I when I was a baby.....

1939 - 2003

Here's Maggie, being curious and checking out the box:


This is the top section for mometos, pictures, etc. If you pull up on that string, then it opens up to the bottom section where the ashes are kept.

He even carved the inside of the lid!

The dark color matches my living room wood furniture perfectly.