Memorial Day

As Memorial Days go I will remember this one for a very long time, perhaps for a life time.

It started Friday when Jamie and I went out to the Matinee of Thoroughly Modern Millie at Hale Center Theatre. Though it wasn't our favorite play, spending time with Jamie is always fun. We then went to dinner while the kids ran the show at home. When we got back I was blown away. They had cleaned the entire house, and finished their Saturday chores a day early! This left Saturday morning wide open to go to the lake. Great job, kids!

Saturday rolled around and the winds seemed to suggest less than ideal boating conditions. Jamie called the lake authority and they said everything looked great. We headed down, and low and behold, Utah Lake was glass! We ate lunch on the boat and had a blast. I wake-boarded till I couldn't raise a finger and am still feeling the effects days later.

Sunday was very laid back, with one small exception. Jamie was called as Primary President this week. We will miss her dearly.

We finally make it back to where I began...Memorial Day Monday. The day started at 6am (brutal) with the family dragging ourselves out of bed and heading up above the Capitol Building to climb Ensign peak. We met Jamie's family and made the climb. The view was fantastic!

(view from Ensign Peak)

Adam tracked our progress on the GPS while Maddi sang "Our Lovely Deseret." It was a great way to start the day.

We then made our way over to the SLC Cemetery where Jamie's Grandparents are buried, and then to lunch at Hire's. I had the Reuben on rye in case you were wondering.

After lunch, most of the cousins joined forces and went in separate directions while Jamie and I took Maddi to meet Grandpa A. After picking up some flowers, we all drove together to the Holladay Cemetery to visit Grandma's grave. We arrived and made the short walk to her headstone.

Grandpa sat with head bowed and cried softly while I stood next to him with my hand on his shoulder, looking down. All the memories of Grandma's funeral went through my mind, and how wonderful everything had been. Grandpa wiped his eyes and said "How long will it take until I don't cry every time I think of her?" It was very touching.

I said that I think it is good we feel and tear up. Why else are we here but to long for love, to love, and then to be loved. It is in these moments when we tear up that we are reminded of our life's purpose. Then, slowly, we are drawn back into the day to day and numbed by the "more important" things of life until something happens and we tear again.

I will not forget this Memorial Day soon. It was truly a day of memorializing. I sincerely hope it is not too long before I remember again.