Our children have not been deprived of much, except for the opportunity to know their Grandpa’s.  Its something that both Stephen and I wish was different, but all we can give our children are memories.  Stephen’s father died when Julia was 2 and Grace was 3 months.  I lost my dad when I was 11 years old.

These important men left great traits that we love to share with our children.  Stephen’s dad was a great baker.  He loved chocolate and cooking.  He was extravagant in many ways.  If you ever enjoyed any kind of food he made, he would have twice as much the next time you showed up.  He loved kids and he was Julia’s biggest fan when she was a baby.  She adored her Grandpa and he adored her.  It was a great loss in her life when he died.

 My dad left me at a young age.  I have the fondest memories of my father sitting at the piano whipping out the blues.  He was an amazing musician, artistic and funny.  I was very proud of my dad because he made people laugh.  He died of a massive heart attack at the age of 47.  It was a tragic event in my life, but my amazing mom kept our family going and I never felt deprived.  I always missed the presence of a father, but took comfort in my God.   

Every Memorial Day we try to get to the Willamette National Cemetery with my mom to visit the graveside of my dad.  It’s a beautiful place and a great reminder of the men and women who have served our country in war.  On Memorial Day there are thousands of visitors that go to this cemetery, each with a story, and a loved one who they are remembering just like us. It’s a day where my kids can ask questions about our dads, and look around at the mass grave sites to recognize the sacrifice of many.  Today I learned that my dad was an instructor on mortars during the Korean War.  I never knew what he did in the Korean War.

Memorial Day is always a good day to talk about those we love and miss.  It’s a day to remember, and for some reason, it feels very good.