remembering and celebrating

In the past I have left the remembering on Memorial Day to my parents.
For some reason I just didn't feel old enough for it to be my responsibility.
Well, I was foolish.

This year we took the time to go remember those we love who have passed on and it was wonderful.
Yes, the day was filled with going to killer sales (we got two suits for Robert who starts his job tomorrow!), eating lots of delicious food and relaxing, but my favorite part of all was the time we took finding the resting places of those we loved.
It just helped me feel a closeness to them, even to those I didn't ever have the chance to know.

My Uncle Greg was killed in Vietnam when he was 22 years old. 22!!!
I can't believe how young he was...too young. I'm excited to meet him one day.
My grandfather also passed on before I was born but my grandmother, Louise, was like a second mom to me and I miss her like crazy.
She's buried beside my uncle Michael, who died just before Minnie was born.
I like to think he and Min met before she came down to us.
She would have loved him...and probably been scared of him all the same.

Minnie was named after my great grandmother, Minnie Isabella Frame Mecham, who died a year after my grandfather was born due to complications from childbirth. 
Naming our little Minnie after her has meant so much to me.
It has given us a connection to a woman I never got to meet, but who made it possible for me to even be alive.
She wasn't quite 24 when she died. I can't even imagine. How grateful I am to her.

It was such a wonderful way to end an incredible weekend.
And let's all take a minute to appreciate the monstrous baby bump in all its glory.
32 weeks and refusing to wear maternity clothes is maybe not the best idea.
I just can't get myself to buy new clothes to last me just 8 more weeks.
Hence, the blouse that doesn't quite fit over the bump.
After looking at these pictures though, I'm starting to reconsider the maternity clothes.