It’s Father’s Day and I have already gotten my gifts. We are at the lake, my daughter is upstairs sleeping after, our son is home with his family after travelling home yesterday, and the dogs are curled up sleeping. It is a quiet Sunday morning, and the lake is still, cool, and overcast.
It’s been almost sixteen years since my father died. For me Father’s Day is a quiet day best spent with family. This year, it’s special as it is my son’s first Father’s Day.
Family at the lake
This past week my son and his family visited us at the lake. It was exciting, fun, and a whirlwind having twin grandies and their parents join us at the lake for several days. It was fun hearing them babble, cry, crawl, eat, and grow.
I remember his first visit as an infant and our daughter’s a few years later. We enjoyed their visit and celebrated several firsts – especially our first three generations photo!
Father’s Day
My daughter gave me my Father’s Day gift a few weeks ago. It is a hummingbird feeder with a camera. I opened the box this past week, installed it, and have been enjoying the feeder and its images since.
I am thankful to my blogging friend Margaret for encouraging me to be a birder with her book’s post from April 2018. I did read the book Where the Poppies Blow, and I am excited to return to Europe this summer and travel through the battlefields of northern France and the Netherlands. Also, I am thankful to the COVID lockdown for accelerating my curiosity and wonder for birds.
Sometimes we simply need a gentle push and I’ve been enjoying since.
European trip
I am excited and nervous about our upcoming trip to Europe. Nervous because I have been dragging my feet with planning and excited because, well we are going to be traveling to Europe. Every so often my wife will ask, what do you want to do in….. and I’ll feel a bit of panic of I have no idea.
I have been to Europe many times, but this will be first trip in fifteen years, perhaps my last trip overseas. We will be traveling to the United Kingdom – London and Wales, Paris, and finishing with a drive to Amsterdam before returning home. In all, our trip will last fifteen days from takeoff to touchdown.
The main purpose of the trip is to honor our stepmother’s final wish to have her cremains dispersed in the Mumbles in Wales. We will be doing that four weeks from today. Slowly our plans are coming together.
And that is it… three things for a Father’s Day. The sun is slowly breaking through the morning overcast and whether it’s sunny or cloudy, today is going to be an amazing day. Today is going to be a great day, if I can only trust it. So, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time making time to be present and patient.
What’s on your plate for the day?
Beautiful family
Thank you!
First off, that’s a beautiful lake. I always look at the tiny bit I can see from US 2 when I’m headed north in the UP. Second…TWINS? How cool is that! That’s perfect and must have been so much fun! Is this their first visit to the lake? Just think how much fun they’ll have when they’re about 4 or 5! And of course, the hummingbird camera/feeder…that’s brilliant. You’ll get hours of entertainment from that! AND Europe! Can’t wait to read all about it!
I am excited about four and five, though I hope I’ll be able to keep up with them! We are blessed with the lake, our daughter took us on a tour of the lake and we let the dogs play in the water and woods. It is fun to see them romp and play, that’lil be the grannies in a couple of years! Enjoy your Wednesday and thank you for stopping by.
A quiet day best spent with family – well said, Clay! Love your family photos and all the joy in the beautiful grandbabies! Here’s to making the day, summer and trip great! I know it will be!
Yes, it was an awesome day and I didn’t eat my ‘veggies’ until late! While it is good to visit and travel, it is good to be home. have a fabulous Wednesday.
Oh, Clay, thanks for the honourable mention. And for linking to that long-forgotten post of mine. I feel very proud if even a little something inspired you then, Although what I’ve always valued about you is your love of embracing new learning and new opportunities. You’re going to be a wonderful grandfather!
Margaret you are one of my ‘oldest’ and dearest friends on WP. Thank you for the vote of confidence about being a grandpa, I think it is going to be a wonderful new role and I’ll be working in progress and be open to learn and grow. Thank you for stopping in.