Uncle David

Kelli Jo (top), Chamberlain, David, Zoey

 "Families are Forever" is our life motto here at the Burgess home. If anyone has taken a peek at previous posts, you'll know that I miss my kids terribly, and tend to sing "All By Myself" a little too frequently. So, it's a good thing I'm biz-buried and swamped with voice students, ward choir, and editing the next musical production we're doing in November. So, taking my son, Chris', advice of "mom, quit being sad," I'm focusing on catching up blogging, journaling and trying to write a life history, among other worthwhile things. 

Chamberlain and David

Yes, the house is too quiet and clean, and all of the kids are gone, all but one are married and having children of their own. And that one is my youngest, David. David is also a professional basketball player now living in Utah working out with his brother, Chris, awaiting his next contract. And from the outside David seems quiet, impatient, maybe a bit unfriendly, until you see him with his nieces and nephews. An entirely new David appears, all smiles and hugs. 

David and Jacquelynn

As soon as David walks into a room where any of the fifteen grand kids are playing, they all stop and scream, "uncle David!" He is then attached, climbed on, kissed, and they just can't seem to get enough of him. He's a kid magnet,and it's fun to watch. David's rough exterior (especially when he's sporting a beard) is softened with smiles, hugs and lots of love. He takes time to explain the secrets of a game on his iPhone to Chamberlain, and doesn't get mad when he's whipped at bowling on Wii. He doesn't get upset with Brooklyn hanging on his leg as he tries to walk to the couch from the front door. 

David and Sutton

Kelli Jo and David

He smiles when Jacquelynn is telling him, in detail, all about the bugs she saw outside, with just a quiet, "really?" And he is patient with the mess, the sticky fingerprints, the roll of toilet paper in his bathroom toilet. The kids all adore uncle David, and he them. 

Hanging with Kelli Jo

David & Chamberlain

And that's what families are all about - patience, love, support and kindness. Watching all of this makes me smile, makes me proud (the fulfilling mother-grandma-kind), and it warms my heart. Focusing on these memories truly keeps life on track. 

David and Siri

We'll finally all be together as a family, five grown children, four spouses, and fifteen grandchildren, in Utah in two weeks. It will be noisy. It will be chaotic. And, of course, it will be messy. We'll be constantly cleaning up after the kids, as they charge through the room, we'll go through more food than planned on, and we'll feel a bit out of control. But, I will love it and probably get very emotional. I always do. It will be fun to see if David actually gets a break surrounded by all of the kids when we get together. He may not need to do his daily workout. His arms will be too tired from throwing kids in the air, carrying them on his shoulders, dragging them around as they cling to his legs, and jump on him when he's trying to nap. We'll see.  Going to be fun!

David and Adelaide and Calvin