Mindless Monday

Good Monday AFTERNOON!

RANDOMNESS #1 - The good news... Josh is now wisdom teeth-free. The bad news... Well, there is no bad news. He's doing very well, and we are just kinda taking it easy the rest of the day.

As per his request, no videos or pictures will be shared on the blog or any other social network.

And let me tell you, that is going to be a hard promise to keep!

RANDOMNESS #2 - We had our annual Balloon Release Saturday morning remembering my Daddy during Father's Day Weekend.


As we have for the past nine years, we gathered around my Daddy's grave.



Tommy and Mike take turns saying the prayer around the grave. It was Tommy's turn this year.


We stand until the last person (usually Bev) admits he/she cannot see the balloons any longer.

And then we stand a few minutes more.


My Daddy would have been so proud of his six grandkids. Each and every one so very different and unique, but all six with many similarities.

They all love the mountains, and our annual trips together in the winter to spend a few days in a big house on an even bigger hill are precious memories.

My Daddy gave them that.

The boys all love to camp, fish and hunt. They love to build and feed fires. They love knives and guns. Brad and Austin would live in the woods, I think, and be perfectly content.

My Daddy gave them that.

Each of the kids know what it feels like to walk into a room and watch someone's face literally light up.

My Daddy gave them that.

Brad looks the most like Daddy physically. He is all charm and swagger.

Zac, at 15 years of age, has a very different way of "seeing things." My Daddy would have so enjoyed his point of view, and I'm pretty sure he would have totally "gotten" Zac.

Katie is the family cheerleader. She pointed out at one family gathering last year one cousin had lost weight, three cousins were dating and the mountain trip was coming up. "I'm just so happy for us," she said... and she meant it. My Daddy was the family cheerleader before her.

Austin, as the oldest grandchild, holds the most memories and although many people may not have used the word "sensitive" to describe my Daddy, he was... and so is Austin.

Josh is most like Daddy in personality and temperament. A little crusty on the outside, but oh, so sweet on the inside.

And Roxie... Well, Roxie is fire and sass and loyal and funny. And my Daddy would have sat back and folded his arms across his chest and thoroughly enjoyed watching The Chick keep everybody in line.

My Daddy gave all of them those attributes.

The six kids are all cousins, but more importantly, they are close, sweet friends.

My Daddy AND my Mom gave them that.

DISCLAIMER - The kids aren't perfect. Sometimes they bicker. Sometimes they take words a little too far. But at the end of the day, or the weekend or the annual mountain trip, they are very, very much Harold's kids... in every sense of the words.


Brad and Zac.


Mike and Austin.


Roxie and Katie.


Grandmother and Josh.

I cannot help but believe some day far in the future, all six of Harold's grandkids will be excellent grandparents.

They most definitely had one of the best teachers.

My Daddy gave them that.

RANDOMNESS #3 - I think the highlight of my day yesterday was meeting Baby Mackenzie, my new great-niece. She is sweet and pink and tiny and perfect. And I loved her even more than I thought I would.




It was unanimous. We're going to keep her!

Have a tremendous week. I'll be back Friday with a LOT of information and ideas for you and yours to use this Summer. I'll also tell you about Mikie's Father's Day.

Take care, and I'll talk to you the end of the week.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda