Sister,
The Fourth of July has come and gone without you.
I started getting nervous about the upcoming weekend early last week. On ordinary days, your absence feels like a dull, overall ache, but on special days it feels more like repeated jabs to the gut.
Chase learned the twelve disciples and Tish sort of learned three. She reported them to her teacher as “Simon, Alvin, and Theodore.” Close enough, baby, I said.
Friday morning, we were off to the beach, of course.
Order this book, Sissy.
The houses on our street, Sister . . . they each looked so elegant and proud.
I know you are where you belong for now, Sister. But someday soon you belong in a sun dress on one of these front porch swings. With me and Tisha. And some ice tea. With some important things to discuss, and nowhere important to go. Watching little ones running around barefoot in the front yard and feeling the breeze off the water and smelling the crabs cooking inside.
Saturday morning we were up early for the Annual 5 K.
Chase ran the whole thing with Craig for the first time.
He was so, so proud, Sister.
Tish requested a chauffeur. Even so, after the first mile, she asked me to stop because her “legs were very sore.” No comment.
After the race, the real action began.
When we were sufficiently soaked and dirty, we rushed home to get ready for the main event, The Parade.
Bubba and his boatshop buddies hung out by the beer on the porch, but they still managed to submit their two cents. For example, when I walked by them during the loudest point of the parade, while the firetruck sirens were blaring so loudly it hurt, Bubba yelled, “Hey, G…it sounds just like your family room.” Things like this. It’s how he passes the time till you get back.
My favorite float of the year isn’t shown here. It carried a family of five – minus one – standing in the bed of a pick-up truck. The truck was decorated with waving flags, dancing streamers, and a large poster that said “My daddy is my hero.” The children had added drawings of families and hearts and soldiers and the mama had written Iraq, along with the date her husband was deployed. The heroes’ kids smiled and waved and threw candy to my kids.
There’s no picture because the truck was moving quickly, and I didn’t have enough time to both salute and shoot. So I dropped my camera and saluted…with the wrong hand, as always. I caught the Mama’s eye and mouthed
Thank You. And I thought about how brave and beautiful people are and my throat got tight and my heart swelled all by its lonesome since you weren’t there.I wish I could have stopped the parade and made sure that the children of those two heroes . . . the soldier and his wife . . . knew that all of it – -the decorated homes, the waving flags, the parade, the race, the fireworks, the huge smiles –
all of it, was for them. Just for them.There was no time, though. Thank you would have to suffice.Military families,
thank you.As you can see . . . all was peaceful and beautiful, Sister. Right up until this point:
Sister, don’t worry. I met her at the end of the parade route, beat her severely, and removed the sash that is so rightfully yours.Charges are pending, but it was worth it.
Tisha soaked it all up, Sis, like she does. She clapped her elegant hands and laughed regally and held court over that front yard. I want to be just like her when I grow up, Sis, don’t you? She also started most of her sentences with…”Next year, when Mandy and John are here…” which helped.
Sister, we miss you. We are grateful for you. We know that the work you are doing makes us all safer and truer and braver.
God Bless America. God Bless Rwanda. God Bless us, Every One.
All Our Love,
Him….
Her . . .
Hurry Home, Sweet Sister.
Wow, that camera of yours is really doing it's job. These photos are filled with pristine happiness. I love them all! Beautifully written as usual Glen…powerful and special, just like your bond with your sister. MMmmmmmmmmmmm.
Beautiful, Glennon! (Can I move to your town? We just need jobs….)
Beautiful, Glennon! Your love, your town, your sister, your words.
My living room sounds loud too. I think it's because I'm so busy trying to drown out the kids that I just keep turning up the TV.
Thanks for sharing your family with us.
oh my goodness, G, this one is a doozy for me. I'm weeping for so many reasons. I agree with Tova, you just put me over the edge of a long day.
I love how you guys LOVE each other. What a wonderful example.
I love how you showed so many Americans LOVING our country. I love how your family loves our country. I needed to see that today. I know I don't know the woman to whom you mouthed thank you, but I'm fairly confident that it was a huge comfort to her. That was when the real tears began to flow. That was very personal for me.
Yes, may God shine down His grace on all of us, and this incredible country in which we are so blessed to live.
Lastly, I am also crying because I thought what it would look like if I had attempted to wear Glennon's bathing suit to the beach this weekend!
Gorgeous pictures, awesome post and so good to hear from Sister! Been thinking about her lots and checking her blog. Glad to hear things are still going well.
Beautiful post Glennon.
Beautiful beyond words. The love your family shares is divine. Can't stop laughing at Bubba's description of the noise level in your living room : )
My half-heart breaks a thousand times a day for being away from you.
And I have never been more certain of where I need to be since I have been away from your kids.
Thank you for sharing every second of Independence Day with me — you know how much it hurt to miss it, and you made it right. As always.
I love you with all of my half-heart. Can't wait to be wholehearted again.
I am hurrying home. Lickidy Split.
Sister
That was beautiful! Thank you for sharing, and giving me hope that there are areas still very patriotic. Mike and I commented on our disappointment that there weren't many flags displayed in our neighborhood…it made me sad to see. Thank you for reminding me of my childhood, and sharing your beautiful family with us.
Love, Laura
It's true, her living room is just a little louder than 5 screaming fire engines.
Bubba
Ok, I was already weepy this morning. This post just put me over the edge.
No kidding Colleen, I agree with your last paragraphe completely. Actually I agree with the first 2 as well. Damn you skinny bitches. I mean that with all the love in my heart, truly I do
And oohhhh, does this mean things are serious with John? YAY for sister!
What beautiful photos, G. I wasn't with the CC Crew this weekend, but missed each and every one of you at your own places of celebration. The pictures look lovely. I love our neighborhood during the 4th as well. All the lovely porches dressed up – so patriotic. I just love it!
We miss you terribly. Each time I see your photos my eyes tear up. I love to see your smiles, I just wish they were still right up the street. Please give our love you your wonderful family!
G,
I do realize how personal this love letter to Mandy is and it feels a bit wrong to even tarnish it with a comment, but I couldn't let it pass without telling you how beautiful and touching it is. Your family continues to be an inspiration in many ways but mostly in how deeply you love each other.
The pictures and your town and your LOVE FOR EACH OTHER are awesome. Thanks for continuing to let us peek in, although many of us are strangers.
(And seriously, it is in fact criminal to look that hot in a bikini and cowboy hat AT YOUR AGE. It was even distracting me from looking at your hot husband.)
xoxo
colleen
I was just checking out my latest brochure of Chincoteague longing to go back there (used to go every year) and then read today's post….which looks very much like Chincoteague. Made me want to move to the beach and eat crab every day.
What a lovely story and lovely "letter" to your Sister. And I know exactly who would have been there ripping that sash off with you …. one guess! A friend we share!
Happy Tuesday!
Terri
Beautiful.
I loved reading this…thanks so much for sharing! My sister lives in California, and though she's not doing amazing things, I miss her just the same! (although raising a family of 3 teenagers is pretty amazing to me!) We had our yearly 4th of July picnic and parade in our little waterfront community and we all missed her and her family! We spoke on the phone yesterday for hours, but it's just not enough, though it has to do!
xoxo ~ kristi