Memorial Day 2008

Sometimes when I think that Malakai isn't listening, he totally is! He has picked up on friends and family who have asked us what we are doing for Memorial Day. So of course, being the inquisitive three year old that he is, he asked me what Memorial Day was. Where do you begin explaining this special, yet usually forgotten, holiday to a three year old?

Obviously Memorial Day means a lot of things to different people. It is a day of remembering those loved ones in our lives we have lost. It is a time to remember those who have lost their lives during the course of the many wars our nation has endured. There are so many who have died to maintain our freedoms we have today. We don't know all of the names, or the faces of those we have lost to war, but they were someones father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, son, daughter, and they have given the ultimate sacrifice of their own life for the pursuit of American Liberty.

Malakai, as bright as he may be, does not need as detailed of a description. So, I proceeded to tell him that it is a day that we remember all the people we love who have left us to be with Jesus. Then the conversation went a little like this:

Kai: I have Jesus in my heart

Mommy: Yes you do

K: Is Thomas the Crab in my heart? He's with Jesus.

M: Yes he is

K: Is the Dr. going to cut him out like he did Leila?

M: No sweetie

K: Is Jesus hungry in my heart?

M: No, but you have to make sure you eat your vegetables so he doesn't get hungry

K: Who else is with Jesus?

M: Oh, well lets see. Great-Great Grandma Rader, Great Grandpa Miller, Baby Jacob. (Just to name a few, I could have went on all night!)

K: Oh..Pa Pa Miller flies planes like at the science center (for those who don't know, pa pa Miller flew in WWII)

M: Yes sweetie, he does.

By this time I am trying not to totally lose it and you can just see the wheels turning in his head.

K: Is his airplane with Jesus?

M: Uhhh, I don't think so.

K: I will take it to him when I go see Jesus.

M: He will like that

Totally changing his mood he proceeds to say with a huge grin:

K: Jesus can be the BLACK power ranger, cuz I'm blue!

I love that kid! Anyway, We need to remember those men and women that have served our country and respect what they have done for our nation, and everyone of us, this Memorial Day.

So what did we do this evening? We spent the evening having dinner with Uncle Toro and Miss Danielle. Malakai just adores Slugger and can't understand why Oscar isn't as big as he is!

Miller...out!