Alina's Birthday

We have muddled through one more month of May, managing to stay out of town for the second anniversary of Wallace' death once again but were here for Father's Day. I was thinking about going to see my Dad, having some time with my extended family, not about the kids missing their dad, when we went to church on Sunday. Dumb mistake. I really would have stayed home had I remembered what Sunday it was and how it might affect them. After watching a video tribute to dads, Anya started to tear up and then the flood came. She sobbed into my shirt sleeve almost the entire church service while the big boys squirmed uncomfortably. When I picked up the little kids, they all had Father's Day cards and wanted to take them to the grave. Life is so full of complications, unexpected turns, I can never seem to keep up with it.
Alina had a great 5th birthday. The women of the family took all of the kids to the creek at Unicoi State Park for a day in the creek, hot dogs on the grill and cake. We had a good time and Alina's last words as she fell asleep that night were "Is it still my birthday, mom?"