Okay – how fun does this sound? Leaving your wedding by paddling away in a canoe . . . a giant s’more instead of wedding cake? Playing color war? I love how couples are choosing to hold weddings in fresh outdoor places that spell a-d-v-e-n-t-u-r-e for them and their guests! I would LOVE to compose and lead ceremonies for couples holding their weddings at summer camps, ranches, horseback pack trips, you name it.
I am ready and game!
Kristine
Yes – really! Here is a recent Arizona Republic article on the topic of home funeral rites, to which I contributed the story about my dear friend, Ruth. (The title might conjure up confusing images of Home Depot, but keep reading!) I appreciate how the writer took careful time to compose this piece, gathering contributions from important leaders in the home funeral movement. Ruth was an educator and woman of strong opinions – especially about natural burial. So, I do believe she would have appreciated such an article, too!
Painting a cardboard cremation container at a Final Passages workshop.
People can participate in many creative ways during family-led funerals. It may surprise you how having a purpose to serve after a death occurs in a family or community may ease uncertainties and awkwardness. For example, people can build and decorate a container for burial or cremation. Young and old folks alike may find it healing to paint designs and express their feelings. People may also help with the filing of paperwork, decorating a room for the deceased to ‘lie-in-grace’, or cooking meals during the vigil.
May was a month full of meaningful work for me, preparing weddings and memorials. So, I meant to get this article posted sooner! And yet, the timing now is perfect because I had a home funeral consultation with a family earlier this week. They had complete clarity around caring for their elderly Mother at home during the continuum of her daily life now, throughout and after her passing. Because they birthed all three of their kids at home with birth midwives, they see death at home and my support services as a death midwife as a natural part of life, too. Simply and naturally beautiful.
The process of honoring Ruth’s wishes for natural care, as told in the Arizona Republic article, inspired me to add this work to my client services at Sweetgrass Ceremonies. I couldn’t be more thankful to her for the life-affirming journey I am on now. In April, I received certification as a Death Midwife from Jerrigrace Lyons of Final Passages. I am humbled by and grateful for the opportunity to serve families in this way.
Much love,
Kristine
As a Life Cycle Celebrant, I serve people at all stages of life’s milestones: new life, love and loss. I recently completed in-depth training about the loss end of the spectrum – to help families care for their own deceased at home. Today I found relevant articles that revealed two themes underpinning why I do this work: choices and connection for bereaved families.
One tells of the burgeoning home funeral trend, where we are returning to practices we know from our ancestors. The sobering photo in the article shows an elderly rancher looking at his coffin, handmade by his sons. It is a still shot from the film “A Family Undertaking“, which offers glimpses into contemporary family-led funerals. The other article tells how families are decreasing their funeral or memorial spending out of necessity during this slow economy. According to the independent funeral homes interviewed, families are more frequently opting out of the costliest line items and simplifying by choosing direct cremation.
Is the slow economy the only driver, I wonder? Or is this trend away from heavy spending on energy and material intensive products (steel caskets, concrete vaults and embalming) really a broader indicator? Is it a wake up call for not only Baby Boomers – yet all of us – to notice how we may return to simpler, less costly choices at the end of the road? Choices that involve deep connections through family care, support from a home funeral guide and perhaps even natural burial?
An interesting convergence of themes I think, these choices and connections for grieving families. Is a home funeral right for everyone? Well, no. Yet, with healthy planning and families holding an intention for death care at home, the end of the road may potentially become more emotionally healing and less costly in many ways.
With love,
Kristine
Looking for an earth-friendly place to hold a special event or wedding in the Tucson area? Consider Agua Linda Farm in Amado, just south of Tucson. Here are a few reasons why I believe it is such a lovely venue:
Outdoor dining at Agua Linda Farm
I especially love how Laurel and Stewart recognize that every event – a birthday, anniversary, wedding or simple family gathering – is totally unique and personal. They encourage creative personal expressions. (Much the way I view ceremonies for my clients at Sweetgrass!)
Plus, you can rent the facility at a reasonable cost, for the entire day. You can take your sweet time and enjoy the day, rather than rushing around to fit the time demands of a venue booked with back-to-back events.
You can read Laurel and Stewart’s website for more fun reasons to consider visiting and booking Agua Linda for an upcoming event. One reason I love: having sunflower or hollyhock seeds from the farm as favors for your guests!
Meanwhile, I am finishing my fresh salad of spring greens from the farm, with a squeeze of lime juice and drizzled olive oil. Thank you, Laurel and Stewart!
Kristine
Greenerprinter not only produces fabulous high quality products, it is an environmentally responsible company to boot. They offer great customer service and beautiful recycled papers, plus print with soy-based inks. (They printed my business cards and now I am a complete fan!)
If you are planning a wedding ceremony and want a ‘lighter footprint’ on the earth, check out greenerprinter’s new services for wedding items. They have a helpful design center where you can, for instance, create your own ’save the date’ cards or wedding invites.
Kristine