THANKFUL: MEMORIAL DAY 2017

Some days it feels like a struggle just to make it to bedtime. And then others, like pretty much this entire weekend, it just hits me like a ton of bricks: "Wow, we are so blessed!"

I've been doing a lot of reflecting throughout this long weekend, particularly on the loved ones we have lost. And, in doing so, we were able to make some pretty wonderful memories as a family, while reminiscing on some great ones, too. Here's a quick peek at what I'm thankful for this Memorial Day:

Yesterday started out just like every other Sunday: church. With the holiday weekend, Sunday School wasn't available, which meant all five kids would be sitting with us at church (does that give anyone else anxiety just thinking about it? Yeah, me too.). I gave myself a big pep talk, packed a bag with every snack imaginable and a couple of kid Bibles and activities. En route, I decided it would be too much to have them all there, and that we should send Beckett to the nursery -- great idea in theory. 

We arrive to church early (never happens!) and I head to drop Beckett off. He sees us walking in that direction and already starts to cry. "He'll be fine," I tell myself.

I peel him from me and drop him off. Just like at daycare, I figure once I leave, he'll stop crying ...

Well, church didn't even get started before we were paged by the nursery, letting us know that he hadn't settled down. Poor buddy! So, off Joey went to get him. Here we go! Five kids, under six, with a little over an hour to sit still ... we can do it!

Aside from a few trips to warm up bottles, bathroom breaks and Beckett getting antsy, we made it through (thanks to extra hands from my parents, brother, sis-in-law and her mom!)! And, through it all, I have a number of things I'm thankful for:

• That church is a priority for our family. Church isn't something we make an option for our kids; it's a habit. In fact, after the twins arrived and we were sleep-deprived like no other, barely hanging on by a thread, unable to take them anywhere. Emma sadly told me one night, "Mommy, why can't we go to church anymore as a family?" Break. My. Heart. Right. There.
• The reminder that Beckett won't always be little and want to just be with mommy and daddy. Would it have been easier had he stayed and played in the nursery? Absolutely. But, those Sunday mornings spent trying to get him to sit still snuggling him are short-lived, and ones I don't want to wish away!
• A great children's sermon! I grew up going to the same church we now attend. When my family joined, there was a children's sermon prior to the actual sermon, and all of the kids were invited to come forward to listen. Now, the children's sermon takes place during Sunday School so it's no longer a part of the main service. Well, this weekend, with no Sunday School, they decided to add it in there, and it was so fun watching my kids go forward and listen to a message in a way they could understand it (just like I had done when I was little). The message? Jesus loves you! If that's the only thing anyone took away that day, that was enough. 

After church, we decided to visit the cemetery where my grandpa is buried. The cemetery is so beautiful at Memorial and Veteran's Day time ... flags and flowers everywhere. My grandpa is buried right next to a beautiful pond, which is always filled with ducks and swans. Typically, we bring bread with us to feed them, but a lady who goes to the pond daily and dubs herself "The Swan Lady" let us know last year that bread is actually bad for them, and that they need to eat things like spinach instead ... who knew? So, this year, we decided to go bread-less and just enjoy being there. My thankful points:

• For an opportunity to take some time to remember my grandpa. His laugh, his ornery personality, the smell of his cologne and his big hugs.
• To have the chance to share my grandpa with my kids. And, even though they never had a chance to meet him, upon looking at his tombstone, Emma (with her newfound reading skills was able to read the tombstone for the first time) looked up at me afterward and said, "Mommy, that makes me sad." Me, too, sweetie. Me too.
• To enjoy the outdoors together! To see Beckett get so excited to see the ducks! And to hear him scream "Water!" once he saw the pond (which turned into a tantrum of tears and crying out for that very same water when we had to leave and strap him into his car seat ...). 

Beckett is too focused on the ducks to take time for a picture.

Once we left there, we headed to the cemetery to visit my cousin, Barrett. Just a couple of months older than me, Barrett left us far too soon about a year and a half ago. My thankful points:

• When we got there, my cousin (his sister) was there with her kids, along with our friend and his daughter. We were able to share some laughs together, and without anyone having to say anything, we knew each one of us was there because we loved Barrett. And, there's a lot of comfort in that.
• When we were in the car and driving away, Finley quietly said from the backseat, "Bye, Barrett." And, while that broke my heart, I quickly shifted my thinking to what Barrett always said, "Every day is a blessing." And today was a blessed day, indeed.
• That thanks to running into my cousin and her kiddos, we ended up with an impromptu BBQ at our house later on with them ... and the kids all had a blast together! I can't help but think that Barrett had his hand in making that all happen -- that guy sure loved to have a good time!

Visiting Barrett.

Cousin BBQ.

After the BBQ, we headed over to our neighbors' house where they had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows for the kids (OK, and us adults, too). SO thankful for great neighbors and built-in friends that our kids love to play with! And, also thankful for my talented Boy Scout husband, who is able to toast the perfect marshmallow every time.

Memorial Day morning, Beckett made a special trip to Camp Dodge with my dad and grandpa (Great-Great as my kids call him). My grandpa is a Korean War veteran, and seeing this picture of him with Beckett brought tears to my eyes the moment I opened it on my phone. 

Beckett and Great-Great.

Here are my thankful points:

• That Beckett (and all of my kids) get to have quality time with their grandparents and great-grandparent! Grandparents are so special, and I love watching the bond they have with all of them.

Beckett getting a little spoiled with some ice cream.

• For my grandpa's service. My grandpa is a storyteller, he could literally tell stories for hours. My favorite story he tells of his time in the service is that he has always gotten extremely seasick. So, when he enlisted, he knew he didn't want to join the navy (or anything that would require him being on a boat for extended periods of time). So, he joined the Air Force ... and was assigned to air/sea rescue where he spent many a days on, you guessed it, boats! Oh, the irony!

Later in the afternoon, my whole family joined my grandpa for a Memorial Day band concert at the Capitol building. 

Side note: The Capitol is a special place for our family. My grandma worked there for years and years as a secretary. So much so, that instead of us calling it  "the Capitol," we refer to it as "Grandma's Castle." My brother and I would have races when we were kids and driving downtown with our parents and shout out, "I see Grandma's Castle and I saw it first" when we caught the first glimpse of it. It warms my heart to hear my girls call it that, too.

We brought food for a picnic and enjoyed the music, along with each other's company, all in honor of the service and sacrifice of so many people. My thankful points:

• My family. I love them all so much, and I love when we are all able to spend time together. It is my absolute favorite.

My people.

• A beautiful day. The weather, albeit a tad windy, was perfect. Couldn't have asked for a better afternoon!
• Visiting the Statue of Liberty in Iowa ... for real! See:

Statue of Liberty in Iowa

OK, maybe not the same. But, Emma and Finley have been bugging us to take them to see it for about a year now in NYC. So, thanks, Des Moines, for helping us check that one right off the good ol' bucket list!

• Watching Beckett dance to the music like no one was watching (even though a good majority of them were).

• The twins sleeping through the whole thing! Thanks, girls, for taking it easy on us!

• The feeling of thankfulness that overcomes you as you listen to the songs and think about all of the men and women who sacrificed so much. And, that it's because of these men and women that my family can have moments like the ones we were having.
• Seeing my grandpa stand up when the Air Force's anthem was played, and the sense of pride we all felt in watching him do so.

• Being flooded with memories of attending the same band concerts with my grandma and grandpa growing up. They would pack a cooler that was usually filled with Sprite and Ritz crackers, and bring my brother and I. Tears came to my eyes today thinking about how much fun we had doing that, and how much fun my grandma would have had seeing her great-grandkids experience the same thing. But, those tears turned to smiles, looking around and seeing all of these wonderful memories my kids are making:

Finnie enjoying her walking taco and fruit with daddy.

Dancing with Gigi!

Papa and Beckett exploring.

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How did you spend your Memorial Day?