Family Reunion

When you put together a reunion, it's not just a lot of work that goes into it-- it's a lot of love. I walked down the path of so many memories with each old photograph I scanned from each auntie's album to make the DVD and I so enjoyed the time I spent visiting with Carole and the other cousins who helped me put it together. Getting ready for the reunion created memories of its own. My talks with each of Grandma's daughters as I looked through their albums and listened to the stories. The visits with Tom and Carole. The back and forths with Nancy and Dick. The phone calls with cousins I've haven't seen in years. Typing up Grandma's recipes from her old cookbook and remembering not only what so many of them tasted like, but what she looked like as she made them. Having my cousin Mary spend the night before the reunion and staying up late talking and laughing and reconnecting. You forget how much you love and miss certain people (like my cousins). So many memories relived. Good memories.

I know Grandma was there in spirit at her birthday party/reunion yesterday and I am thankful for all the memories and special people she put into my life. I love her so much and still miss her very much. We have lost Uncle Gary and Aunt Mary too and I know they were there as well. We could all feel that. It was so, so good to see my cousins. All the work was so worth it. I have laughed so much in the last two days that I am exhausted. Okay, it could be the late hours too, but the laughing has been good medicine. The food was great. The table decorations were great (thank you Anne). The pictures were great (thank you Stacy). The food was great (thank you everyone). The games were great (thank you Carole). The DVD was great (thank you aunties and my hubby). A big thank you to my sweetheart who helped me so much and understands how important it was to me. So many new memories created. And, not only was it Gma Tucker's birthday yesterday, it was JillyBear's birthday. We went to her birthday party after the reunion and all I can say is the girl loves Dora! :D And chapstick.

In the meantime...... I just thought about that word... meantime. Weird word. Anyway.... regular life also went on these past few days and with the heat gardens have been growing, yard work has made Greg skinnier and me tanner (which I will get yelled at for when I see my skin doc), and my auntie's happier as they have had constant visitors with us weeding, watering, and bringing grandkids and Jason to help. My hubby is one of their new favorite people. He fixed their fence last week and keeps seeing other things he needs to do for them. I think they feel like they finally have a man around the house and I know they have enjoyed all the company and watching the garden grow. It's funny how such a simple thing like a garden can bring people together.

I have been fighting a bladder infection all week amidst camping trips, reunions, and gardening and I think I might have to break down and go to the doctor Monday. It just isn't going away no matter how much water or cranberry juice I drink. Could be all the sun and sweating. Hmmm. Ya think! Then Jeremy, my son pulls his back out lifting bags of concrete and I can barely help him with all else going on. Berry Smoothies have been about it and just checking on him. Sorry Jer. I'll have to make him something today and take it over. I better check on Jason too. He was hula-hooping so hard yesterday he ripped the butt of his pants at the reunion. That was MITN (more information than needed) to the audience! :D :D We did bring Jeremy's three older kids home with us last night and they will be waking up soon to get ready for church. Their mom has had her hands full with Jeremy getting hurt, her dad having a heart attack, and just the normal business of raising five kids! When we got home they saw the hula-hoops hanging in my garage and decided they needed to practice since they couldn't do it at all at the reunion (unlike their mommy, Stacy, who won her division). Daisha was the most determined as she had a melt-down at the reunion when she couldn't do it. I am proud to announce that not only did she learn how to do it, she made up a few of her own tricks with two hoops at once! The boys however, need to pick different activities to participate in! :D I'm going to borrow the gunnysacks from Anne so they can practice up on that too. Good times.

So it's Sunday and now my attention turns to church and getting ready for primary. I am doing a dinner/workshop for all my teachers on Tuesday (the hubby's birthday), but tonight and tomorrow.... I am resting. I have to get recharged because we leave for the coast next Sunday! Yeah!