FAMILY

If you don't believe in ghosts, you've never been to a family reunion. ~Ashleigh Brilliant

OK I know, I am terrible at keeping up with this blog. I will work on that. We had our Family reunion this weekend. We have the HOLT family reunion every Memorial Weekend. It used to be down south in Enterprise, then St. George and now they seem to always be up here in Salt Lake. I have so many wonderful memories of loading up the old Buick regal and heading on down south. It was so fun to see 1st, 2ND and I'm sure 3rd cousins. My grandmother had 8 kids in her family so all of them and then all of there kids and then all of their kids would come. I can remember running around on some cool rocks can't remember the name of them. My grandma and her sisters would make flowers out plastic bags and we would take these flowers to the HOLT family grave. It was a long drive and it was always hot. My parents would tell me about the people that were buried there and for the live of me can't remember one story. So I think it was today listening to my dads talk in church of hearing his memories of his father that makes me want to know more about my grandmother and grandfathers life. I know my grandmother was very close to her family. But I want to know about how they fell in love, how the suffered through the hard times, how they grew old together. My grandfather died when I was 18 and I still can remember that day as if it was yesterday. He was a wonderful wonderful man. Every grandchild thought they were his favorite, and yes I still believe its me. He was so so considerate of others. He was always working on something. Tinkering in the garage or in the yard. As I watch Kevin tinker on his trucks I can't help but think of my grandpa. I still remember the first time I hung out with Kevin I was amazed at how he could fix things. I can remember my grandpa's soap that he had in his bathroom. It was that hard lava soap to wash the grease off his hands. His hands were so rough. But you loved to hold them. Because they were such strong but gentle hands. They were hands that would do anything for you. I can remember his whistle. I love him so much and wish he was still here with us. But he left behind a part of him with my dad. Who like him can fix anything. Who takes care of stuff before you even know it needs to be taken care of. My father was always there for me. He took me to soccer practice every week. He came to every single soccer game. I started soccer at 6 or 7 and played until my senior year. And he was always there. I remember riding in the back of his big Diesel engine truck to get a Slurpee after my games. Riding in the back of the truck to our cabin, or California. I remember when I could hear his truck down at the end of the street of him coming home for work and I was so excited for him to come home. I hope I can pass on the strength that my grandpa and dad have shown me and how to serve others as they have. To my Grandpa on this memorial day, thank you for serving your country, your wife and kids but most of all for serving me. To my dad thank you for being just like your dad.