memorial

we stopped at ft. logan this morning. national cemeteries are so overwhelming to me...like gettysburg is overwhelming. it's hard to get my mind around the number of people at rest there. so quiet with a sense of peace, but brimming with another sense that you can't quite place. the cemetery is very uniform and dignified...or anonymous. very heavy for me.

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sweet pea, of course, was trying to make sense of it all in his own special way. papa was in the army. so was grandpa john. who else do we know that was in the army? grandpa chester...he received a purple heart. why were they in the army? did they have guns? will you and daddy buy me a gun when i'm in the army? keri, cole's mommy is in the air force. uncle bob was in the air force. mommy let's see the other people. who is this person? this is mr. so and so, and mr. so and so. did they protect our country too? who do they protect us from - the bad guys?

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so many tough questions this one asks. he understands so much more than a 4 year old should, and yet so literally doesn't understand. we spent a lot of time talking today about being proud of our country and proud of the people who serve and protect us. what it means to be free. how fortunate we are to spend a frivolous afternoon at the ballgame and lucky to have dinner with friends. we are so blessed to live here enjoying ourselves while others are on guard. and it's nice to remember that not just today, but every day. we are so thankful for those men and women.