Granddad's Birthday Party

On February 18th, we celebrated the life of this wonderful man.

Granddad Burt - he turned 87.

The kids ALL wanted to sit in the banana chair. At the same time.

And Granddad let them help blow out the candles.

Quite a bit of family was there for the special occasion.

When I did a post for Grandma's birthday back in December, I was sad that I didn't have a current picture of her and I. So, I made sure to get one with both of them this time.

My parent's with Granddad. He is my father's father.

I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity of living close to my grandparents my entire life. I was able to observe my Granddad a lot. I learned much just from his example. Here are just a few things that stick out in my mind:

1. Granddad has always had a way of making everything around him beautiful. He can make the most dreary-looking place into the envy of the neighborhood. Once he has a vision, he has a way of making it happen. When they moved into the old brick home in Parker many years ago, it was considered a "haunted house". It sat on 5 acres, and they paid around $800 for it. All I remember growing up was a beautiful house with a beautiful garden, and plenty of room to run and play. He worked hard to make it so. (Although, I am sure my Grandmother had a lot to do with it as well.) I remember when he decided to dig a pond. It wasn't just a hole with water. It had a lttle bridge, an island with flowers and pretty rocks with a waterfall. I spent many hours in the canoe and paddle-boat. I also enjoyed walking around the pond fishing or feeding the fish. I loved watching them quickly jump out of the water to get the food. Sometimes, I would just stand on the bridge and stare over the side. I was mesmerized as I concentrated on the fish gracefully swimming past. My Granddad was a believer in hard work, and it showed in the beauty that surrounded him.

He and Grandma now live in St. Anthony. Their backyard is a big hill that meets up with the Snake River. It is breathtakingly gorgeous. This picture is just a sample. I wish I had a better one that showed more. This whole area was just brush and weeds when they moved in. He cleared it all out and planted grass. It seems like he even pulled out old stumps and dead trees. This was all just in the past 15 years.

I know I have posted about his golf cart rides before, but I just have to say, when I was young, it was Jeep rides. He had an old, green, army-looking Jeep that was the coolest thing ever. He would take us to the Sand Dunes, or just give us rides on the endless Parker roads. We thought we were pretty hot stuff. He has passed this tradition on to the next generation with his golf cart rides. The great-grandchildren think it's the funnest thing EVER! Is anyone else's great-granddad this cool? Seriously.

2. Granddad always had a way of making me feel like I was special. He made everyone feel this way, and still does. Every time we went to visit, I could count on him putting his arm around me and saying something like, "How's my gorgeous granddaughter?" Once I started playing the violin, he would always add, "Where's that fiddle? Are you going to play for me?" He was my biggest fan, and still is. His interest in my violin-playing really inspired me to continue on, and do my best. He was a great influence on me.

3. I will never forget in Jr. High when the vice principle asked me what my name was. When I told her, she stopped and said, "Are you related to Cyril Burt?" I proudly answered, "YES! He is my Granddad!" She paused for a moment with quite a serious look on her face (which was a common look for her - being a Jr. High vice principal and all.) and with a sincere tone pronounced, "Your Grandfather is an honest man." It wasn't what I expected her to say, but I have never forgotten it. He is an honest man. A good man. A humble man.

4. He now devotes the majority of his time to family history work. He has dedicated hours and hours to this selfless service. What an amazing example he is to his great posterity. I am proud to be one of them, and proud to call him Granddad.

Happy 87th birthday, Granddad! I Love you! :)