Memorial Day 2015
When I was a kid, on Memorial Day we would get up extra early and climb in the car (if we kids hadn't slept in the car the night before) and head north a few hours to my aunt and uncle's home somewhere in the wilderness outside Greenfield, California. I remember watching for the old green bridge that we would cross as we approached their home, and looking for the horses as we turned into their long driveway. Our arrival was often heralded by barking dogs, and then the smiling faces of uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins. I still remember waiting impatiently for the adults to decide it was finally time to go swimming, and being devastated when temperatures or inclement weather meant that we couldn't that year. Lunch time meant gathering around the huge outdoor table with the lazy Susan in the middle and feasting on hamburgers, chips, salads and soda. Afternoons meant a game of whiffle ball on the huge lawn under a giant oak tree. And dessert usually included a birthday cake for my grandpa. The entire day was spent playing with cousins and talking with aunts and uncles and grandparents. After a long day, we would climb wearily back in the car for the long drive home. It was a day of family, good food, and fun.
Yesterday, I was reminded slightly of those old childhood Memorial Days as our family climbed into the car in the late morning. We went for a drive to Fort Collins, not quite an hour north of where we live. We no longer have family living in Colorado but in Fort Collins the church is building a new temple, and we went to see the progress. As we turned off the freeway we started watching for a glimpse of it, and became excited when we caught a glimpse of the spire and thought that might be it! We pulled into the parking lot of the stake center across the street and admired the beautiful building that is taking shape. We walked along the fence for a way to see as much as we could.
We had a light lunch of fruit salad at a pavilion at the church building, talked with a lady whose car had broken down and was waiting for her son to come help her, and then climbed back into the car. We stopped again at Johnson's Corner, where they boast of "World Famous Cinnamon Rolls". We decided to try some, and they were good, but huge. Most of us only managed to eat about half of ours in one sitting.
We returned home, only to have a few of the kids asking if we could go swimming. I ended up taking Hannah, Josh and Peter to the pool, while Steven took a nap and John worked on the computer. We enjoyed the pool for about half an hour before we had to hurry home because it started raining. Dinner last night was hamburgers, with potato salad. Steven even made a pound cake for dessert.
Memorial Day 2015 was a day spent with the family, eating good food, and having fun, just like those Memorial Days when I was a child. I am grateful for those servicemen who gave their lives to protect the freedoms that I enjoy, so that I can spend days like this, enjoying my family, my liberty, my religion, and this wonderful country that I live in.
Yesterday, I was reminded slightly of those old childhood Memorial Days as our family climbed into the car in the late morning. We went for a drive to Fort Collins, not quite an hour north of where we live. We no longer have family living in Colorado but in Fort Collins the church is building a new temple, and we went to see the progress. As we turned off the freeway we started watching for a glimpse of it, and became excited when we caught a glimpse of the spire and thought that might be it! We pulled into the parking lot of the stake center across the street and admired the beautiful building that is taking shape. We walked along the fence for a way to see as much as we could.
We had a light lunch of fruit salad at a pavilion at the church building, talked with a lady whose car had broken down and was waiting for her son to come help her, and then climbed back into the car. We stopped again at Johnson's Corner, where they boast of "World Famous Cinnamon Rolls". We decided to try some, and they were good, but huge. Most of us only managed to eat about half of ours in one sitting.
We returned home, only to have a few of the kids asking if we could go swimming. I ended up taking Hannah, Josh and Peter to the pool, while Steven took a nap and John worked on the computer. We enjoyed the pool for about half an hour before we had to hurry home because it started raining. Dinner last night was hamburgers, with potato salad. Steven even made a pound cake for dessert.
Memorial Day 2015 was a day spent with the family, eating good food, and having fun, just like those Memorial Days when I was a child. I am grateful for those servicemen who gave their lives to protect the freedoms that I enjoy, so that I can spend days like this, enjoying my family, my liberty, my religion, and this wonderful country that I live in.
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