It is with such a heavy heart that I am once again packing up the family to head to my favorite Southern Destination. This trip is a celebration of a life and a family.
My Uncle left us last night and went on to a much better place. Everything he had to endure this last month and a half took its toll on his body and in the end, there was nothing else they could do. He has been surrounded by visitors and family and when the time came he was not alone. For that I am thankful.
My Uncle endured his Inlaws with grace and love and it is in his passing that we are all able to come together as a family again. We have not all been together for at least four years. Which is a long time for a family that used to spend a week each summer together at the very least. My Sisters are all coming, Cousins, Aunts and Uncles all from the far reaches of Canada and the US. To honor this man that gave us so much.
Tonight as we are getting ourselves ready for this journey, explaining to an almost five year old that, yes we are heading back to the beach, but it is a mixture of sadness and happiness that will greet us, we are also remembering the time we spent with my Uncle and thinking of my Aunt and Cousins and all of their kids who are now saying goodbye to their Grandpa.
This is going to be the hardest trip I have ever taken.
This is a photo of J and my Uncle last summer. My Uncle is not doing so well right now. He is in my thoughts, my heart and my prayers right now. If he pulls through this it will be truly a miracle. I am so glad I was able to tell him how much we loved him when I was there a month ago.
My Uncle was a military man, Army. When I was younger, I was always a little afraid of him. He seemed tough to me and me being a kid I didn’t always understand that we were maybe a little loud and screaming and perhaps running around his house.
As I got older and started to visit without Mom and Dad and eventually started bringing Hubby down to visit, I could see how underneath the tough exterior my Uncle was a big softy. He welcomed us into his home every year, no questions asked, this year included, he couldn’t wait for us to visit even though he was having surgery the week before.
We would camp out sometimes for a night, other times for a whole week. And sometimes we even actually ‘camped’ on the living room floor. He never complained, but fed us until we couldn’t eat anymore and stocked us up with fruit and vegetables from his garden. When Hubby and I were first married and in our new home. My Sister decided to get married and Mom and Dad didn’t have room for everyone at their house, so Hubby and I offered our house to my Uncle and Aunt. For all the times we had gone down and stayed with them, this was our turn to host them in our home. They were our first guests and I was so happy to be able to take care of them the way they had always taken care of me. When it was time for them to go, my Uncle turned to me on the front porch and with tears in his eyes, he said, ‘Thank you so much, this has meant everything to your Aunt and I”. I knew right then, that I had grown up.
Thank you Uncle.
Apple took five steps today! I don’t have a photo because we were at my friends house. And I was tearing up, not because she was walking but because Hubby missed it. I felt terribly bad. Hopefully she will take ten steps tomorrow. AND that I will have my camera handy.
Almost eleven months old, I just can’t believe it!
