Them

We spent the weekend with Papa and Nana this weekend.

Our own photo shoot with them,
(Photo credit above goes to our friend, Willow Brandt Photography)

blue skies
a chili festival, plenty of mexican food,

hopscotch,

leaf crunching,

yes,

plenty

of

leaf

crunching,

and some attempts at yard work...

It was just a nice weekend
of being together,

with him,

with them.


I've mentioned before that my Pop's writings were to be published soon.

And, last night, just about nine months after he reunited with his Savior, my heart was full carefully reading the first few pages for the first time. 

Let Them Say

it's called.

The ending phrase to his highlander family motto,

Do Well, and Let Them Say.

It's the epitome of him, really.

A strength, an inspired leader but with such a gentle humility, a divine grace not able to be completely appreciated, even known, until just his legacy remains here.

My grandma wrote in the foreword composed on her first Valentine's Day without her sweetheart that they had been together for fifty-seven years.

And after fifty-seven years, she still wishes she knew him better, more deeply.
How beautiful.
I reread that phrase a few times.
Lost in the romance, the miracle of a lasting love,
Lost in the man's lasting legacy.
Let Them Say.
He did well, and we all said then, and we all say now.
But it leaves me
just pondering
my own life,
my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my neighbors,
my them.


How can I more completely, more fully validate them,

appreciate them

love them.

Really, it's all just about
leaving them the legacy I've been left.