Losing my dad, Steve, in high school changed me in ways I did not fully understand at the time. Visiting his grave always felt cold and unwelcoming. I wanted to be near him, and at the same time I did not want to be there. Now my twin daughters are about the age I was when he died, and that has brought so much of that experience back to the surface. It has made me think deeply about what I needed then but did not have: a peaceful place where I could sit, bring friends, have a coffee, and feel close to my dad instead of alone.

That is why I am building Legacy Grove Gardens near Austin, Texas. This vision grew from my own loss and from wanting to create something different for other families. My dad was very creative and worked as a stone mason, and honoring his memory is part of what led me here. Legacy Grove Gardens is meant to be a place families actually want to visit, with native gardens instead of rows of headstones, a café and flower shop called Blooms & Brews, spaces for celebrations of life, and grief workshops for anyone who has lost someone. More than anything, I want people to feel peaceful and even happy when they walk into the gardens, with room for both remembrance and comfort.

Building this with my daughters has turned my grief into purpose and healing. What began as a personal pain has grown into something I hope will outlast all of us and serve families for generations.

Your support will help fund the first phase:

• Securing our first 10-acre site
• Survey work, soil and hydrology studies, and cemetery platting
• Legal work, our Texas cemetery certificate of authority, and trust setup
• The initial deposit into the perpetual care fund required before a cemetery can open in Texas
• The master plan and landscape design for the gardens

This fundraiser will stay open as we build, and every gift at any amount moves us closer to opening our gates. We will post updates as we reach each milestone.

Legacy Grove Gardens is a for-profit company, and these gifts are personal support. They are not tax-deductible and do not include rewards, ownership, or a financial return. If you feel connected to this vision, I would be deeply grateful for your support or for you to share this fundraiser. Thank you for helping us plant something that will last for generations.