Happy Birthday-Big B

Dear Dad,

I know that it's a day early but Happy Birthday. You're getting so old, or would be. I would love to see what the last three years has changed about you. Would there be more gray hair or just less hair altogether? Would you and mom have bought a little home on the big lake, been getting ready to retire, or take your birthday off to go and play golf?

Mom and my family will be heading to your brother's house for a little T Family get together. Your oldest brother is in town on business and well...your parents aren't getting any younger-so we need to make the most of the time we have. I'll think of you often as I look into their faces and listen to their conversations.

The last couple of weeks have been rough, haven't been feeling myself-easily irritated, aggressively driving, impatient- you know, all those lovely traits I learned from you. I not trying to excuse it but now looking back I can say it's probably in anticipation of your birthday. I think mom is sad too. We got her a pretty sassy bike for Christmas and she rides it all the time. You'd probably laugh at the funky teal bike-but we love it.

While summer is always fun-it's always the hardest too. The anniversary of your death, your birthday, your and mom's anniversary are always written on my calender but it's the impromptu things like Abby's family coming up for a week, camping with my family, baking in the sun, eating blueberries and washing the cars that make it the hardest. All of those things you loved to do.

You would die, forgive the expression, to see all seven of your granddaughters play together. They can hardly wait to see each other and they all love the time we get to spend together. When Abby and Brandon came up a couple of weeks ago the very first thing we did was pick blueberries. It would have been so much fun to have you there. The girls searched for the biggest and bluest berries for their buckets-while Kate searched for the fullest bucket to consume it's contents. She ate them almost as fast as we could pick them. Ab made the best blueberry pie with them-she even put vodka in the crust-she says that makes the crispiest crusts. Thought you might like that!

Ainsley and Kate viewing the bunny house at Lewis Farm Market

We then took all of the girls up to Rainbow Ranch to ride. Hannah and Meg have been looking forward to this since their birthday in Jan. This year they got to ride their very own horses. They even got the chance to trot a couple of times. After an hour long trail ride we were ready for lunch and what better place to eat then the local dairy. Pretty sure you would have enjoyed the hamburger I got there-not many can appreciate my love for burgers like you.

Mom, Abby and all of your granddaughters at the ranch.

Ainsley and Brandon trying one on for size...

Megan, happier than can be with her horse, Eclipse.



Mom, strapping Kate's helmet on her before joining me on our horse, Rudy.

Georgia found her courage.

Sophia and Grace on their horses.

Hannah is ridding, Chief.

Your mom and dad came out for an afternoon too. I've got to be honest and say that it's pretty comical to watch them try and communicate. Grandma can't hear for anything and Grandpa's voice is very weak so Grandma just shakes her head and continues her conversation despite Grandpa's effort to say anything. Bless their hearts, their house to has to be quiet.

Kate feeding a cow at Country Dairy.

I sat at the beach the on Tuesday with the girls, watching them play. They are all so very different-maybe you were watching them to. I'm not sure if that is how it works up there or not. I digress. As they all three made sandcastles Hannah, my industrious little girl, made the most and spent her time instructing her two sisters how to make theirs as well. Megan, she's my orderly one, had to have the most level area to turn her bucket over on and would perfectly space them. Kate, she's my "walk to the beat of a different drummer" child, she just stuck feathers and sticks in sand and called it good. She had more fun crashing her sisters castles then anything else.

I miss you dad. I miss hearing your voice, talking to you about what's going on at work, seeing you out washing your cars or sit in the sun. I wish you could see me be a mom and Charlie a dad. He's the best, you know, he's always coming up with something special for us to do. He makes life so fun and yet he works so hard. You would be so proud of him but you might get ticked because you still couldn't beat in a game of golf. I've even converted Charlie to camping (or Ludington did it for me). We now own a camper-never thought the day would come. He loves it but I love it even more because most of my best memories come from our camping trips to Ludington. I love you, Dad.

Praise the King,

Linz