I love summer time! Well... not how hot and humid it gets, but everything else! Grilling, playing outside, all the Americana decorations, the pool and the holidays! Oh the holidays! Growing up as an Air Force brat, we took our patriotic holidays pretty seriously.
I mainly remember the 4th of July. Mom would buy us a new red, white or blue shirt and we would decorate them with iron on and puff paint. We would always have at least one family we spent the day with. Dad would grill and make homemade icecream! Then we would wait for the fireworks. The best fireworks I've seen have been on the Mall in DC or on base. You can't beat military fireworks!
Having all these vivid memories has made me want to create times like that for Jeremiah. This spring my mom and I picked out a "patriotic" outfit for him. I want him to remember having people in our home and doing special during these holidays. So this Memorial day, we started!
Jeremiah's "All American Boy" outfit
I mainly remember the 4th of July. Mom would buy us a new red, white or blue shirt and we would decorate them with iron on and puff paint. We would always have at least one family we spent the day with. Dad would grill and make homemade icecream! Then we would wait for the fireworks. The best fireworks I've seen have been on the Mall in DC or on base. You can't beat military fireworks!
Having all these vivid memories has made me want to create times like that for Jeremiah. This spring my mom and I picked out a "patriotic" outfit for him. I want him to remember having people in our home and doing special during these holidays. So this Memorial day, we started!
Jeremiah's "All American Boy" outfit
Ms. Terri came over for a cookout
Spent the evening with Matt's side of the family. Travis and Chandler
Matt and I being the American flag minus the stars. :-)
Brenda and Ricky giving Jeremiah a toy car
He loves it!
During all the fun and excitement growing up, we always knew what the holiday meant. When you grow up in a military family there is always that, "what if daddy has to go to war???" My dad flew during the cold war, I was too young to remember it. But I remember when the Gulf War started being worried about my dad. He hadn't flown for years, but I knew if they needed him overseas he would go. We had a friend we tied a yellow ribbon on a tree for. Thankfully, God brought him home and he took the ribbon off.
This is what I want Jeremiah to remember. That the summer holidays are more then the outfit, good food, and the fun times with friends and family. I want him to know that there are men and women who have given up a tremendous amount to sever our country. Some have paid the ultimate price in the fight for freedom. I want him to learn and then have respect for our country and the people who faithfully sever. I know this will come as Jeremiah grows. This was the start though.
2 comments:
Ah yes, I do remember the famous, or infamous puff paint. I'm glad you have such good memories, can't beat the home made ice cream! But I know you and Matt will pass the importance on to Jeremiah. l grmm
wow, so intentional, I love it! You have a patriot heritage that you are passing on . . . A little girl in our church came up to me and D on Memorial Day and said really shyly, "Thank you for serving our country." I about died.
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