Memorial Day, a day of remembrance and thanks. Remembering the men and woman who give or gave their lives to keep thousands of people they don't even know safe and alive. And thanks to them all for doing it, I for one have a deep gratitude and respect for our troops.
Well, beside the remembrance part, Memorial Day for us is a large and happy event. And annual party that brings together up to fifty friends and family for a day filled with laughter, games and food.
Starting at 11:00 am. our party consists of various games scattered around the lawn of my pastors yard, (where the party is held, it is a very large backyard) there is a huge lunch and dessert later on as well.
On the porch are four jars varying in size and shape, each filled with a different kind of candy. At this game we have to write down how many pieces of candy we think are in each jar, whoever comes the closest gets the jar of candy. (my brother won two of them this year :)
When it is time for lunch everyone makes a couple lines. There is so many different things to choose from, potato salad, macaroni salad, watermelon, a fruit and whipped cream dish, chips and so many others. It was all amazing.
The eating is done and the competitions haven't started yet, so Sarah and I get on the trampoline with a couple little girls, Kaya and Jo-Jo (a nickname) Those two girls are the sweetest things you could ever imagine. Both of them got a hang of jumping on the trampoline pretty quick. Squealing and smiling they said I was Bullseye, Sarah was Jessi, Kaya named herself Buzz Lightyear, and Jo-Jo was Woody. And that is how Jojo got a ride on my back, I mean, I was Bullseye after all ;)
After a few minutes of that we entertained them by pretending we where 'Gonna get you!!"
But when my back was turned both little girls tackled me from behind. I almost couldn't get up I was laughing so hard. I still smile and laugh at the memory of that thirty minutes playing with them. It is a special feeling knowing little kids and babies like you so much :)
Later on there is the balloon stomp, and the water balloon toss.
At the balloon stomp we have an order we go in, so first there is the younger children. Each with a fully blown balloon tied to their ankle, they all stand on the tarp spread out on the grass and wait for pastor to say go.
The point of this game is to stomp on everyone else's balloon and pop it. So after about three minutes of squealing, laughing and determined gusto, there is only two kids left. They both go after each other until finally we hear one last POP!! And the last kid standing is the winner of that age group.
Next is the teens-twenties, then adults.
I being in the teens group do what I always do. I hop around staying out of the way until there is only me and a fully grown guy left on the mat. We circled each other for quite awhile trying to pop the others balloon, being the last girl standing I was getting a lot of cheering. But alas, a few minutes in, I backed up just too much, and the grass popped my balloon. He won, but most of us thought it wasn't quite fair seeing as how he didn't pop it. I will be back for redemption next year!!
The games are over and lunch is eaten, dessert finally makes it out and everyone is sitting and talking. Four of the men are in the farther part of the yard playing Horseshoes like they do every year, and the woman are all sitting around chatting and holding the newest addition of a friends family.
I got a lot of good pictures yesterday :) I think days like that are perfect memory and photo album makers ;)
Next to birthdays, Memorial Day is the most looked forward to event of the year, and I have so many years of memories on those days. It amazes me how many wonderful and happy memories can be made in six hours, and I am blessed with all the time I can spend with friends and family in Christ.
My thoughts are filled with happiness, and the memories of the past with joy.
*God bless our troops
Well, beside the remembrance part, Memorial Day for us is a large and happy event. And annual party that brings together up to fifty friends and family for a day filled with laughter, games and food.
Starting at 11:00 am. our party consists of various games scattered around the lawn of my pastors yard, (where the party is held, it is a very large backyard) there is a huge lunch and dessert later on as well.
When it is time for lunch everyone makes a couple lines. There is so many different things to choose from, potato salad, macaroni salad, watermelon, a fruit and whipped cream dish, chips and so many others. It was all amazing.
The eating is done and the competitions haven't started yet, so Sarah and I get on the trampoline with a couple little girls, Kaya and Jo-Jo (a nickname) Those two girls are the sweetest things you could ever imagine. Both of them got a hang of jumping on the trampoline pretty quick. Squealing and smiling they said I was Bullseye, Sarah was Jessi, Kaya named herself Buzz Lightyear, and Jo-Jo was Woody. And that is how Jojo got a ride on my back, I mean, I was Bullseye after all ;)
After a few minutes of that we entertained them by pretending we where 'Gonna get you!!"
But when my back was turned both little girls tackled me from behind. I almost couldn't get up I was laughing so hard. I still smile and laugh at the memory of that thirty minutes playing with them. It is a special feeling knowing little kids and babies like you so much :)
Later on there is the balloon stomp, and the water balloon toss.
At the balloon stomp we have an order we go in, so first there is the younger children. Each with a fully blown balloon tied to their ankle, they all stand on the tarp spread out on the grass and wait for pastor to say go.
The point of this game is to stomp on everyone else's balloon and pop it. So after about three minutes of squealing, laughing and determined gusto, there is only two kids left. They both go after each other until finally we hear one last POP!! And the last kid standing is the winner of that age group.
Next is the teens-twenties, then adults.
I being in the teens group do what I always do. I hop around staying out of the way until there is only me and a fully grown guy left on the mat. We circled each other for quite awhile trying to pop the others balloon, being the last girl standing I was getting a lot of cheering. But alas, a few minutes in, I backed up just too much, and the grass popped my balloon. He won, but most of us thought it wasn't quite fair seeing as how he didn't pop it. I will be back for redemption next year!!
The games are over and lunch is eaten, dessert finally makes it out and everyone is sitting and talking. Four of the men are in the farther part of the yard playing Horseshoes like they do every year, and the woman are all sitting around chatting and holding the newest addition of a friends family.
I got a lot of good pictures yesterday :) I think days like that are perfect memory and photo album makers ;)
Next to birthdays, Memorial Day is the most looked forward to event of the year, and I have so many years of memories on those days. It amazes me how many wonderful and happy memories can be made in six hours, and I am blessed with all the time I can spend with friends and family in Christ.
My thoughts are filled with happiness, and the memories of the past with joy.
*God bless our troops
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