Our Memorial Day Week-end was one of the best that I can remember! We were surrounded by four generations of family, the great outdoors, and delicious food. This year we were also able to visit the cemetery to remember an individual who helped to make this country great.
After driving for over 20 hours, Andrea, Heather and Alex arrived to spend the week-end with us. It is absolutely wonderful to be a big happy family again and to realize what a gift each person is to each other.We have been having a blast together.
On Sunday we relaxed at home with the family after Mass. The ATV provided some entertainment. I learned to drive it in a field of daisies!
Little G-man only THINKS he's going for a ride!
While buying groceries for Memorial Day, I sprang for the patriotic paper plates to help set the holiday mood.Sam reminded me that picture taking, like texting, should not be done at the dinner table!
A bon-fire was fun in the evening as was music.
Andrea has learned to play Canasta and proved to be good competition.She and Meg played each other on dueling computers,also.We love that network, Jeff!
One of the highlights of the week-end was visiting Grandma V.'s grave.
Grandma was very faithful in visiting her relatives' graves to bring flowers on Memorial Day. In fact, she taught me what Memorial Day is about. I recently heard a quote stating that July 4th is for celebrating WHAT made this country great and Memorial Day salutes those WHO made it great. Mom was not a soldier and did not die for her country but she certainly Lived with every American Virtue there is: Hard, hard work, raising oneself out of poverty by work,sweat, tears and true grit, and taking pride in one's self, home and family.
Look at how big around this tree is.We then headed for the beach not realizing that most of the folks in our extended family had the same plan!!!!
Tom and Holly had prepared a feast for their family and invited all the rest of us to eat. Mom C. brought down some extra burgers and amazingly, there was enough food for all. Yeah, God! This just goes to prove once again that when we offer what we have, God takes it to the next level and makes it suffice.
I just did the math and counted 35 family members who happened to show up at the same place with no prior plan for it!!! A lot of the folks were still down at the water when this photo was snapped.We REALLY missed Aunt Catherine (but didn't forget your B-day!) and the whole crew with seven more cousins from W.V. Six of the eight children my parents raised were present,plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Thank you, Lord, for a safe, happy and FUN Memorial Day Week-end. Please have mercy on every American soldier who suffered or has died in the service of this great country fighting to protect our freedoms.Help us to remember their sacrifices so that we can worship You.Amen.
