Memorial Day is one of my favorite holidays. It signifies the start of Summer for us! I love being able to have family time after a crazy end of school month of May. It’s fun to spend time together and to remember loved ones who have passed on.
Some years we visit my grandparents, aunts, and uncles that have passed. The cemeteries are so beautiful this time of year with all of the flags and flowers. My mom is a really great example of remembering those who have passed on, and I’d like to follow her example more. She would show us how to clean up the grave sites and cut back the grass around the headstone. I liked seeing the ones that were already taken care of and had beautiful flowers! We always wondered which cousins had been there.
There are lots of ways to remember loved ones. I have a friend from Mexico and on Day of the Dead last year, she set a table out and put memories of her mother-in-law who had passed and they ate her favorite food. I loved this tradition! What a great way to honor loved ones and to have your kids learn more about them. Another great way to celebrate Memorial Day is by telling your kids stories about your loved ones who had passed on. How often do we really take time to remember our ancestors? You can learn more about your ancestors on Family Search. You’ll find pictures and stories about many of your ancestors. You can also add stories and pictures that you have of your ancestors. It is truly a great way to honor and remember them.
If you want to take your kids to the cemetery, you can look on Billion Graves and type in an ancestor’s name and it will bring up info about their headstone and location. You can also go to the Salt Lake City Cemetery to see the graves of many of the Latter-day prophets. That makes a fun family field trip!
We like to talk to our kids about cemeteries and what happens to us when we die. It is great time to have those important discussions with your kids and helps alleviate any fears they may have. I find comfort in knowing that those loved ones’ spirits live on.
Our family also likes to spend time together during this weekend. We like to go camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and swimming together. Most of the outdoor pools open that day. Although the weather has not been great this year, so we may be doing indoor activities like bowling or a movie or something fun like that. What are some of your favorite family traditions for Memorial Day?
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