July 4th - A Day for Birthdays

The 4th of July is always a bittersweet day for us. We started by decorating Dave's grave last night in preparation for his 28th birthday. Several people stopped by his grave during the day including Laura Lynn McIntosh who also stopped to tell us how often she remembers Dave. She always remembers Dave's birthday. Brenda Hoskins Colleli also called from their lake house to let us know she remembered Dave as well. Our morning started with a Fourth of July celebration that our ward always does - a big breakfast and patriotic program. Robin has cooked for this program every year since we have been in this ward. We get to associate with all of our neighbors on this special day that always starts with a fly-by of four F-16 fighters and a C-137 Tanker from Hill Air Force Base. This time Mark David led the children's bicycle parade. He was asked because he is really a kid at heart. This afternoon, we had a birthday party for Robin's mom at their home. Darlene is now 75 years old - a milestone unsurpassed by anyone with her condition, and a milestone none of us ever expected her to reach. God has blessed our family by allowing her to remain here with us. She has been able to see not only her own kids grow up, but now her great grandchildren get to enjoy her. Laura gave her a special hug that about broke my heart tonight and Michael sang her a well practiced Happy Birthday. Each of our grandkids did something for her 75th birthday - she got lots of colored pictures from the girls, and a messy house from the boys. We topped it all off with fireworks for Heather and Joseph's children at our home and some quiet time to read the letters we received when David died. Twelve years is a long time, but it can all come flooding back with a few reminders. Julia's David was also missing from our July 4th celebration, and the pain for her is almost too hard to bear. We will always miss his uncanny sense of humor and on this day especially, we will miss his neighborhood fireworks display in the circle. Bittersweet is probably the only word that can really describe a day like this. There are so many good memories, but they are all tinged with a bit of sorrow and loss.