Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day with friends this year at Lake Sardis.

The kids got restless (ready for some water-play!) so while the adults were finishing eating/talking/laughing (all those fun grown up things) I showed the kids how to build a lean-to out of sticks, and they went. to. town:

(No.  Ty is not peeing in this picture:  I don't think...)

Eventually it became a game of girls protecting their "home" from the boys who were trying to "destroy" it.  Although that game caused some minor yelling, it was nothing compared to the complaining, whining, and general repetitive-question-asking happening before my grand shelter building idea.  Ha!

An "attack": 

We did eventually make it to the beach. 

The kids had a b.l.a.s.t.

The water was murky (ew.) and crowded, but it really was fun.

And even though Isaac's attitude about the whole lake-thing started out like this:

he ended up having as great a time as anyone.  :)

 

We headed home with four filthy, sandy, worn out kids. 

 Even though the majority of our Memorial Day was spent having fun and enjoying the freedom we have, we did not neglect to remember why we have this holiday. 

On the way home we stopped at our local cemetery (literally right behind our house) and put out our traditional thank-you flowers on graves of soldiers.

We're trying really hard to raise thankful children.

And praying children.

Memorial Day is such a special day to combine the two:  We're so thankful for the sacrifices our soldiers and their families made and still make for our freedom, and for the freedoms of others around the world.  We lift up our soldiers in prayer, praying for safety, for wisdom for their leaders, and for comfort while they're away from home.  And we pray for those who have lost loved ones in wars, and for those who have loved ones still putting themselves in harms way as they wear the uniform of our country. 

We don't make these flowers to be cute, or to have some sort of fun tradition.  It's serious. 

We're serious. 

And thankful.