Backyard Memories & American Flags

mastiff01
Jun 15
4 min read

Backyard Memories & American Flags

It’s hard to believe May is already behind us.

Seems like the older I get, the faster the calendar moves. Maybe it’s because life gets busier, or maybe it’s because I’m spending more time watching grandkids grow up and realizing just how quickly those years disappear.

Either way, May gave us a lot to be thankful for.

The month started with Dylan and Mackenzie getting married.

As a dad, that’s one of those days you never forget. You spend years teaching your kids how to ride a bike, throw a ball, drive a truck, make good decisions, and before you know it they’re standing at the altar starting a family of their own.

Grammy and I couldn’t be happier for them.

Not long after that, Maddox gave us another reason to be proud.

He graduated preschool.

Now, I know some folks might laugh at getting excited over preschool graduation, but if you’re a grandparent, you understand. One minute they’re sitting on your lap watching cartoons, and the next they’re walking across a stage headed to kindergarten.

I may or may not have gotten something in my eye during the ceremony.

We’ll leave it at that.

The rest of the month was spent doing what we do around here—working on the farm, moving dirt, spreading gravel, and trying to stay one step ahead of the next project.

Maddox was right in the middle of it all.

That boy helped Grammy paint, rode with me while we spread gravel, and climbed on every piece of equipment he could get permission to climb on. Truthfully, I don’t know how much help he was, but he sure made the work more enjoyable.

Brylee Ann spent the month doing what Brylee Ann does best—making everybody smile.

At a year and a half old, she’s got enough personality for an entire room. Watching her run barefoot through the grass chasing bubbles and laughing like she doesn’t have a care in the world is about as good as life gets.

We also finally got to spend some time with baby Krew.

Krew is our bonus grandson, and it’s been a long time coming. The good news is he settled right in. Before long we were hanging out together like we’d known each other forever.

I have a feeling he’s going to fit into this family just fine.

And then there’s Colt.

Now if you’ve ever wondered who Grammy’s favorite is, don’t ask her. She’ll tell you she loves them all the same.

But Colt has definitely decided Grammy is his favorite.

That little redheaded buddy follows her around like a shadow. If Grammy is sitting on the porch, he’s there. If she’s in the kitchen, he’s there. If she heads outside, he’s usually two steps behind.

They’ve got their own thing going on.

Truth is, one of my favorite sights these days is watching Grammy surrounded by grandbabies. Bonus grandkids, biological grandkids—it doesn’t matter. She loves every one of them, and they know it.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, Grammy and I snuck away for a motorcycle ride over to the vineyard in Clarksville.

Nothing fancy.

Just a beautiful ride through the countryside, some live music, a little wine tasting, and a few hours where neither one of us talked about project lists, dirt work, or what needed fixed next.

The older I get, the more I appreciate simple days like that.

Then Memorial Day weekend arrived.

The smoker was rolling.

Family filled the backyard.

Kids chased bubbles across the grass.

Friends stopped by.

Stories got told.

American flags moved in the breeze.

And for a little while, everything felt exactly the way it should.

As I sat there watching grandkids play under those flags, I found myself thinking about how blessed we really are.

The freedom to gather with family.

The freedom to worship.

The freedom to build a life.

The freedom to enjoy an afternoon in your own backyard surrounded by people you love.

None of that happened by accident.

It was earned by generations of Americans who gave more than most of us can ever imagine.

That’s what Memorial Day is really about.

Remembering them.

Honoring them.

And being grateful for the life their sacrifice made possible.

Looking back, May didn’t include a beach trip or a big adventure.

Instead, it gave us a wedding, a preschool graduation, a new bonus grandson, a motorcycle ride with Grammy, bubbles in the backyard, a smoker full of barbecue, and a yard full of family.

The older I get, the more I realize the best memories usually aren’t found hundreds of miles from home.

They’re found sitting in a lawn chair watching your grandkids play.

They’re found around a dinner table full of family.

They’re found on a backroad with your best friend riding beside you.

And they’re found under an American flag, grateful for the freedom to enjoy all of it.

I’d call that a pretty good month.

Actually…

I’d call that the American dream.

Until the next adventure,

Pop Pop & Grammy 🇺🇸❤️

Grubbs Travel Adventures

Making memories, one mile—and one moment—at a time.