Two weeks ago, my grandfather turned 90 years old. He is a WWII veteran, has conquered colon cancer twice, still runs his own business, and plans to live to be 100! Yes, he is quite the guy! In celebration of his birthday as well as his and my grandmother's 65th wedding anniversary, a grand party was recently held in Houston. Friends and family came from all over the country to join in the festivities. My sister and her family even came from Ukraine where they live as missionaries to take part.
Unfortunately, I was unable to be present at the celebration. My hemorrhoids had just started to heal up again and I was afraid another trip to Houston might cause a relapse. It was hard to miss such an important milestone in my grandparents' lives, but in the long run, it was for the best.
Thankfully, my cousin, Katherine, took lots of wonderful pictures commemorating the special occasion! I thought I would post a handful of them here.
Lydia, Katelin and Nathan's youngest, who just turned one!
Melissa, the big sister, age 2 1/2.
My sister, Katelin, and her precious girlies.
It's party day! Mom, Melissa, and Papa pose for the camera.
Grandmommy and Grandaddy with the ever stylish Melissa.
Some of my cousins' children from Arkansas.
The Day Family - back in America!
The happy couple.
Mema and Papa with their four daughters.
During the celebration, the floor was opened for the guests to share memories and tributes about my grandparents. After my sister shared her memory, she read this letter that I sent in for the occasion:
Dear Mema and Papa,
Well, today’s the day of your grand celebration! I so wish I could be there in person to honor your lives and your marriage, but since a painful physical condition keeps me homebound for the time being, I am sending this letter in my stead.
My understanding is that today’s special occasion features the sharing of memories. As I have thought back over 28 years worth of memories with you two and tried to select a particular one to write about, I have realized the difficulty of this mission. In the words of a poetic movie heroine, “I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the sky.”
Do I share about the frequent shopping excursions I went on as a little girl with Mema and all those times she wanted to bless me with a new, frilly dress or a pair of pretty shoes? Do I write of the Monday evenings I spent sitting on the couch next to Papa watching baseball and cheering on the Astros?
Maybe I should share about the times Mema cared for us when Mom had to coach gymnastics all day. After we finished our school assignments at her kitchen table, it was time for playing cards, renting a movie from Blockbuster, and eating cookies that only Mema kept stocked in her cupboards! And if we spent the night, it was practically a guarantee we would be served cinnamon-sugar toast for breakfast - a speciality I have yet to be able to replicate in the same way to this day!
Of course, I could also share about summer days at your community pool which was way more amazing than ours! Yours had a slide, a high dive, and push-pops from the snack bar. Not only did you take us to the pool, but you also got in the water and played with us! Now that’s the kind of memory that sticks in a kid’s mind!
I remember you coming to every play I performed in over the years as well as taking our family to Broadway productions like The Sound of Music and Beauty and the Beast. You were there for every birthday party, and you made every Christmas full of the kind of tradition that lingers with a person long after she grows up and moves away.
Not only do I remember a myriad of little things in connection with you two like cinnamon toast and baseball, but I also remember the big events: high school graduation, my wedding day, and introducing you to my baby son.
So many memories woven together like a tapestry creating a beautiful picture over the years! And in this tapestry are the strands which characterize you and for which I honor you today: Generosity. Family. Hospitality. Tradition. Loyalty and faithfulness.
I will forever be grateful that I was privileged to grow up having grandparents who cared so deeply for me and who were an active presence in my life.
Sending much love across the miles,
Katrina
Listening to the memories being shared...
Mom's turn!
A special birthday song Texan style!
Mema and Papa dance to some love songs.
Aren't they sweet?
Kisses!
Father and Daughter
I'm so grateful for the legacy of love and faithfulness I have witnessed in their lives!
1 comment:
What a precious couple. You have a lot to be thankful for! Thank you for sharing this day with us, even though you didn't get to be there.
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