My Roots

Saturday we celebrated my Grandad's 80th birthday. I'm proud of my family and my roots. They are all so kind and warm and beautiful, which humbles me and makes me feel like I want to be a better person. 

We did a tribute to my Granddad who has obviously deeply affected all of the lives of his grandchildren. My little contribution was this:

Growing up one of my favorite smells in the world was the smell of Grandad when he hugged me. One time my Mom told me he didn't wear deoderant. So, I stopped wearing it and although I'm sure I don't smell good like grandad, no one has ever complained.

True story :) Others talked about Granddad teaching them to love nature, he being a conservationist "long before it was fashionable" (that was my Mom), teaching them how to swim (and then I remembered he taught me too! So cool!), teaching them the importance of family, etc. I only felt a little bit silly that mine was so superficial! But the thing is, I wanted to be like Granddad and that was the underlying premise. My Granddad and I, as I've come to learn more in these last few years, really "get" each other. We think a lot alike and I love talking to him.

It was truly beautiful to see my Granddad's joy in all of us. I will never forget. I am excited for the time when I am older and I can look on my posterity with pride. I also want to allow my children the opportunity to grow up as individuals because although his posterity are all so different, we are all kind and non-judgemental(if I do say so myself, haha) and that is what matters.

Another thing I remember about my Granddad, a couple of years ago at our Radium Christmas I did pushups for the talent show. I was proud, but then my Granddad got up and did *20* perfect pushups and I was even MORE proud! That is how I want to be! He was in the Army. My Mom was a classic "army brat".

My Grandparents made up a quiz for us and there were 3 teams competing for a prize. My team lost :( Probably because of me :( And I felt bad :( That I know so little :( But SO excited to hear the answers and learn more of my heritage and country. The quiz says a lot about what is important to my Granddad. 

* I just realized my Mom only sent me the second and third pages and it's too late to call, so this will have to do for now!

Here is the QUIZ

There was a lot of love in that place. 

My Granddad is a photographer and I so fondly remember our slideshows at family gatherings. My favorite memories as a child were in Radium with my extended family. Pleasant pictures in my mind.

I never realized until this weekend how very alike my Mom and Grandma are! My Grandma, (who never seems to age, strangely) is very matter-of-fact but also warm and loving. They both have this amazing ability to lay down the law so that no one even thinks to question. But they only use it ever so rarely. I hope somewhere deep down I have inherited some of that power :)

My Mom is the sweetest, most honest person you will ever meet. Which is why I took so much pleasure in this story I heard that day:

My Mom told her little brothers they were giving away free marbles at the store. My Uncles were so excited, they left right away and stuffed every pocket they had as full as they could get them and came home with all these marbles. Of course when Grandma found out they got in trouble and had to take them back. Hahaha! I just cannot imagine my sweet mother being so mischievous.

My poor, unsuspecting Uncles that my Mom so cruelly duped are the two men on the right in this picture. Every story my Uncles tell is funny. I wonder if it's partly because of their accent. B.C. Interior? Yes, they have an accent! Why, Mom? My cousin Ryder inherited it also, and I love it! Like music to my ears! (That's little Carter in the front, Tyrel's cutie little boy)

My beautiful family Sharon, Justin, Max, Afton (yes my Afton is named after the same person as she was!), Asher and Rachel.

Our team. The Looo-hoo-hoo-sers :( Jamie, Vanya and her little one Darren, me, Dallas and Seth. The one beside Vanya is her fiancé and I can't remember his name :/

The winners. Candace, Derek, Mitch, Lara and little Megan. I dare say Lara and Mitch might be the most beautiful couple I've ever seen. Not sure where Tyrel is but he was on this team too.

Aren't we a wonderful little bunch? Sorry for the rambling, but this was an important day for me and I want to remember it.

XO