The Many Faces of Connor

After Connor first died, I was in a frenzy to try and memorialize him every way I could possibly think of. I had pictures printed, enlarged and framed.  I ordered religious and memorial-like jewelry to hold me over until his thumb print necklace charms were ready.   I even found a print on Etsy of a loved one hugging Jesus that could be customized to look like your loved one’s hair.  It may sound silly, but at the time, I was desperate to do everything I could to keep him present.

A friend from high school is an extremely talented artist (Trinity Revard) that does building murals all around the country.  His work is spectacular.   I reached out to him to see if he would be willing to do a painting of Connor.  Not only was I excited he said yes, but I was even more excited to see it finished.

He took some of my favorite photos and created a large and beautiful piece that hangs in my stairwell for all to see when they enter and for me to see every time I walk the main hall. 

I call it the “many faces of Connor” as it encapsulates his fitness craze, his stoic face, his happy and beautiful smiling face and his “too cool for school” face.   Every time I go up the stairs, I tell him how much I love and miss him. 

For the longest time it was the only thing that hung in the stairwell.  After a few months, I decided we needed to hang more photos so now it is adorned with the entire family.  Connor loved being the center of attention.  His painting is, by far, the largest of the photos, but he is surrounded by many that he loved and who loved him too.   ∞

What things have you done to memorialize your child, even if it was silly to others?